Articles Posted in Motorcycle accidents

Motorcycle injury attorneys and the staff of Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, have teamed up with the Southwest Florida Chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education and Harley-Davidson/Buell of Fort Myers for the 2008 holiday run to the Gulf Coast Center – a state home for challenged adults in Buckinham.

The firm has been teaming with the motorcycle club to put on the event for more than 20 years.

“We bring the holidays to them every year,” said Frankie Kennedy, local ABATE president. “These are adult people who still believe in Santa Clause and he shows up on his Harley to hand out presents.”

With about 1,000 friends – more than 600 motorcycles made the drive last year from Fort Myers Harley Davidson to the Buckingham facility with presents strapped to their bikes, including Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, Florida Senator Dave Aronberg and attorney Bruce Scheiner.

“They love to see the motorcycles,” said Michael Mayfield, the home’s administrator. “For that hour or two everybody gets together and kind of becomes as one.”

Mayfield said many of the residents have no family in the area.

“It’s really the thought that counts,” Mayfield said. “We really appreciate everything that everybody does for this gala event. It’s really wonderful. You see everybody from all parts of life and all walks of life just getting together and giving back.”

The Motorcycles depart Fort Myers Harley-Davidson on Colonial Boulevard at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday Dec. 14, 2008. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. Participants are asked to bring gifts to brighten the holidays for the 50 men and 30 women of the home.

Presents may also be dropped off anytime at Harley-Davidson/Buell of Fort Myers, 2160 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers.

Much needed and appreciated items include:
– Adult sleepwear and slippers – Pillows, blankets – Bath towels – Shoes, shirts, blouses, dresses, pants, socks and watches – Games and arts and craft items – CD Players and radios – Dental floss, brushes, toothpaste and toothbrushes – Other personal care items like cologne, deodorant, etc.

The home respectfully requests people not donate stuffed animals or other toys as they are not age appropriate.
Continue reading ›

Scooter drivers beware with a summer of record-high gas prices and the pending tourism season, more little motorized bikes and motorcycles on the road increases the danger of scooter and motorcycle accidents.

Tourists in cities across Southwest Florida – including Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, Cape Coral, Naples, Port Charlotte, Sebring and Venice – will be taking to the road on rented scooters and motorcycles where they will join new riders prompted by skyrocketing gas prices.

“If in a car, that victim likely walks away,” said John Moore of the Denver Post in a recent Naples Daily News article of the prospect of being rear-ended on a scooter. “But on a scooter, he dies. It’s a risk every scooterist assumes.”

Scooter sales are up more than 24-percent in 2008, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

“The beautiful state of Florida offers many free and exhilarating riding opportunities,” said Bruce L. Scheiner, founder and senior attorney of Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, which has been representing Southwest Florida motorcycle accident victims for four decades. “But remember, whatever you ride, ride safe!”

Authorities say scooters can be particularly dangerous in part because often inexperienced riders have a tendency to treat them as toys and can lack the proper rider training.

By law, scooters over 50cc are considered motorcycles and require a motorcycle endorsement and a rider-safety course. Directions on obtaining a motorcycle license and attending a rider-safety course can be found on our sister site, www.flbikers.com, a website dedicated to Southwest Florida motorcyclists and their safety.

The Naples article contained some standard safety tips for all riders:
Continue reading ›

Florida motorcycle riders might cut the risk of death or serious injury from a motorcycle accident nearly in half by riding bikes with antilock brakes, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

While ABS usually adds about $1,000 to the cost of a motorcycle, the study found riders with anti-lock brakes had a fatal crash rate 38 percent lower — 4.1 per 10,000 registered motorcycles, compared to a rate of 6.6 fatal crashes for bikes without ABS.

The institute said the brakes were standard or optional equipment on about 40 models for the 2008 model year, including BMW, Harley-Davidson and Honda.

“It’s definitely a bonus,” said Frankie Kennedy, president of the Southwest Florida chapter of American Bikers Aimed Towards Education. “It takes some getting used to from senior riders who have been riding for years without them, but the advancement of antilock brakes on motorcycles is definitely a good idea.”
Continue reading ›

Florida leads the nation in motorcycle deaths, according to statistics recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, based on 2007 motorcycle accidents.

Tragically, 537 motorcycle riders died in Florida last year — far more than anywhere else in the United States. In fact, more than twice as many riders died in Florida than any other state in the country except California (495) and Texas (375).

Florida motorcyclists are encouraged to visit www.flbikers.com for information on motorcycle safety and Florida motorcycle licensing information, area locations for rider safety courses and area motorcycle events and other information dedicated to Florida motorcycle enthusiasts.

“We want you, as a rider, to experience the ride of your life each time you get on your bike, without any chance of an accident,” said Bruce L. Scheiner, the sponsor of www.flbikers.com and founder and senior attorney of Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, a firm with four decades of experience fighting for the rights of motorcycle accident victims.

Florida motorcycle deaths have skyrocketed in the last 10 years – from 158 in 1998 to more than 500 in each of the last two years, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Nationwide, motorcyclist were about 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash.

Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, offers free consultations to injured riders and their families throughout Southwest Florida. The firm has offices in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, Arcadia, Sebring and Venice and can even arrange to meet you in your home or hospital room.

National Motorcycle Crash Statistics:
Continue reading ›

Southwest area motorcycle safety courses in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres and Bonita Springs are reporting heavy attendance, thanks to high gas prices and a law change on July 1 that make the courses mandatory for all new riders.

“It’s been pretty busy since the law change,” said Dustin Munoz of Harley Davidson/Buell of Fort Myers, which offers a 5-day, 25-hour course that can be taken day or night.

A check of the area found courses available in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and Port Charlotte. The courses range from 2-5 days at a cost of $200 to $300, which includes the use of a motorcycle and helmet.

For a complete list of courses and contact information, visit www.flbikers.com and click on safety.

“I can’t express the importance of taking a rider safety course enough,” said Bruce L. Scheiner, founder and senior attorney of Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, which has been representing motorcycle accident victims since 1971. “Our roads are as safe as we make them.”

The state no longer issues temporary permits or conducts skills testing, according to Steven Zarabatany, president of Motorcycle Training Institute, which has a branch in Lehigh Acres that offers courses ranging from 2-4 days.

“In order to get your motorcycle endorsement you need to take a rider education course,” Zarbatany said. “Upon graduation, you are eligible to get your license.”
Continue reading ›