SWFL Motorcycle Safety – Cape Coral Bike Nights

January 23, 2024 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Snow is paralyzing the Northeast, with areas of East Tennessee getting more than a foot of snow for the first time in decades. Millions have spent a good part of January snowed-in.

In Florida, it’s time to get out the motorcycles and go for a ride! The next two months are prime winter-riding season here in Florida. Daytona Bike Week in February will bring thousands of riders from all over the country to the Florida Coast. Here in Southwest Florida, we have a number of events, including Cape Coral Bike Nights, the areas premiere family friendly motorcycle event:

Helmetless Motorcyclists at Greater Risk Under New Florida Law

November 2, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

On July 1, 2023, a new law went into effect in Florida that could have a significant impact on helmetless motorcyclists. HB837, also known as the “Comparative Fault” bill, changes how personal injury lawsuits are handled in the state.

Under the old law, Florida followed a system of pure comparative negligence. This meant that even if a plaintiff was partially at fault for their own injuries, they could still recover damages from the defendant, as long as the defendant was also at fault. The amount of damages that the plaintiff could recover would be reduced in proportion to their own negligence.

However, HB837 changes Florida to a modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar. This means that if a plaintiff is found to be 51% or more at fault for their own injuries, they cannot recover any damages from the defendant, even if the defendant was also at fault.

Tort Reform Blames Accident Victims – Motorcyclists Beware!

May 4, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Changes to Florida’s comparative negligence law will impact the rights of car accident victims found partially at fault for a collision. Changes will also significantly impact the rights of motorcyclists as the summer riding season gets underway.

Florida’s new tort reform law went into effect March 24. Whenever you hear tort reform, you can be assured lawmakers are limiting the rights of injury victims to recover compensation under the guise of protecting corporations from trial lawyers. The reality is that studies continue to show that large jury verdicts have little impact on the overall costs and profits of large insurance corporations. Limiting the rights of victims is just a handout to lobbyists and large insurers, which are routinely among the largest donors to political campaigns in Florida.

Among the most egregious changes (and there are many), is that Florida now follows a modified comparative negligence standard, rather than a pure comparative negligence standard. Under previous law, a victim found to be partially at fault could still collect damages in proportion to the liability of an at-fault motorist. So even if a victim was found at 80 percent fault, he or she could still recover 20 percent damages from another at-fault motorist and his or her insurance carrier. Under the new law, victims found at majority fault (50.1 percent) will be barred from seeking a recovery.

Motorcycle Rider Safety in Focus

January 29, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

At Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, we know most motorcycle riders keep safety at the forefront of everything they do. Getting out and enjoying their hobby, and making it home safely to their families, is all they ask.

The vast majority of collisions with vehicles are the fault of the vehicle’s driver. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t steps riders can take to help reduce their chances of being involved in a serious or fatal collision.

As the winter riding season gets underway in earnest, our motorcycle injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral want to share some of our best tips, earned through more than half a century of promoting motorcycle safety in Southwest Florida, and fighting for the rights of riders and families.

Motorcycles Hitting the Roads in SWFL

January 27, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Visiting motorists and tourists are often surprised to learn that we are entering the height of motorcycle riding season in Southwest Florida. Veteran motorists in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties can also benefit from frequently reminding themselves to watch for riders this time of year.

Plenty of riders hit the roads in summer. But it’s hot and rainy. The perfect riding weather in the early months of the year, combined with many riders visiting from out of state, make it prime time for motorcycles on the roads of Florida.

Our motorcycle injury lawyers have spent more than half a century fighting for the rights of riders and their families, and promoting rider safety and awareness. For nearly two decades, Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, has provided primary sponsorship to Cape Coral Bike Nights, the area’s largest, family-friendly motorcycle event.

Motorcycle Safety a Year-Round Concern in SWFL

October 1, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Riding is a year-round activity in Florida. While motorcycles are being stored for the winter throughout the northern parts of the country, motorists should expect to see them hitting the streets in large numbers here in Southwest Florida.

In fact, winter is the busiest time for bikers in our area. When the rain ends and cooler temperatures return, solo bikers and large riding groups make their way onto our local highways and byways. A number of large motorcycle events—from Cape Coral Bike Night to Daytona Bike Week —will also draw riders to our area from across the nation.

For more than half a century, our motorcycle injury attorneys have been fighting for the rights of motorcycle riders and their families in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties. Riders are often blamed for collisions in the court of public opinion, but statistics show that more than half of all crashes involving a passenger vehicle are the fault of the passenger vehicle’s driver.

Motorcycle Safety Month Opens Summer Riding Season in SWFL

May 31, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

May is motorcycle safety awareness month. It is also the start of the summer riding season in Southwest Florida.

While Florida weather permits year-around riding, it also exacerbates the risks, both because motorcycles are on the road all year, and because the never-ending ride breeds complacency among motorists who, because they see riders all year long, might not see them at all.

The truth is the vast majority of motorcycle accidents involving a motor vehicle are the fault of the vehicle’s driver. But that does not mean motorcyclists are powerless when it comes to reducing the risks. Our motorcycle injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral have been representing riders and their families in personal injury and wrongful death claims for half a century. And there are a number of lessons we have learned over the years when it comes to safe riding on the roads of Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.

Motorists: It is YOUR job to prevent motorcycle accidents

May 30, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Here is the hard truth: If you are involved in a collision with a motorcycle, it is probably going to be your fault.

May is Motorcycle Safety Month. Too often, when we think about motorcycle safety, we think about things riders can do to protect themselves from being involved in a serious or fatal accident. In other words, most motorists do not understand we are talking to them. Yet our motorcycle injury lawyers in Cape Coral and Fort Myers know most motorcycle accidents involving a motor vehicle are determined to be the fault of the vehicle’s driver.

Motorcycles are on the road all year long in Florida. That can build complacency among drivers, who simply stop paying attention to them. Know that even a low-speed collision with a rider has every chance of resulting in very serious or fatal injuries. Motorists must avoid the heartache of being involved in a tragedy, as well as the very serious liability, by respecting their rights and always giving riders the right of way. The few extra seconds it takes to avoid a tragedy is well worth it.

Motorcycle Safety Tips for Drivers

As veteran motorcycle injury lawyers, we have been representing riders and their families in personal injury and wrongful death claims in Southwest Florida for more than half a century. Here is our best advice for you, the driver:

Yield: Always, always yield to a rider. Let them pass. Let them turn in front of you. Give them time to get going after a light turns green. Essentially, avoid any potential conflict or contact.

Beware turning riders: Motorcycles take longer to stop and generally slow by downshifting, not applying the brake. Turn signals are not self-cancelling and may not activate, so should not be relied upon. Let a rider complete a turn by slowing down well before they make their move.

Look twice: Riders are difficult to see. They can be easily missed or hidden in a blind spot. Whether turning, or changing lanes, always look twice for riders.

Be careful at intersections: These are a leading spot for accidents. Look for cross traffic. Riders sometimes cannot stop in time to avoid a yellow light. Make sure the roadway is clear and don’t jump the light. Understand a motorcycle takes a moment to start from a dead stop, as a rider gets his balance. Don’t tailgate. A surprising number of accidents occur when a vehicle rear-ends a rider.

Don’t try to judge speed: Because of their small size, motorcycles are often traveling faster than it seems. Don’t try to turn in front of an oncoming rider, which is the leading cause of collisions. And slow well before you come upon a rider.

By doing your part this summer, you can avoid being involved in a tragedy. Every motorist has an obligation to do whatever they can to make sure these riders make it home safely to their families.

If you or a loved one is injured, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, at 1-800-646-1210. Continue reading ›

Join Us for Cape Coral Bike Night April 9

March 23, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

We hope you will join us April 9 for the final Cape Coral Bike Night of the season. While it is the final event for the season, it’s important for motorists to know that summer riding season is just getting underway. Please look twice for riders, always give them the right of way, and do what you can to send them home safe to their families. The few extra seconds it takes to allow a rider to safely pass, is well worth avoiding the potential liability of being found responsible for a serious or fatal collision.

For 15 years, Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, has provided title sponsorship for Southwest Florida’s largest family-friendly gathering of motorcycle riders. Visitors are greeted by live music, dozens of vendors, and a variety of contests and entertainment that have made the event bigger and better every year.

Our motorcycle injury lawyers have built a reputation as staunch advocates of motorcycle rights through 50 years of representing riders and their families, and through dozens of events promoting motorcycle safety throughout the communities of Southwest Florida.

Bike Week Starts Spring Motorcycle Season in SWFL

February 21, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Daytona Bike Week has arrived.

Traditionally the start of the long spring riding season in Florida, motorists need to be extra vigilant in watching for riders in the coming weeks.

Our Motorcycle injury attorneys know riding season is year-around in the Sunshine State. There is never a time motorists should not look twice for riders, yield the right of way, and allow them to pass. However, summer rains and heat, and winter wind make the spring and fall the best times of the year for motorcycle riders to hit the roads.