Articles Posted in Personal Injury

For the entire month of June, officials with the National Safety Council (NSC) will be pushing their National Safety Month campaign. This month-long campaign is an annual observance to educate and encourage safe behaviors around leading causes of preventable accidents in Cape Coral and elsewhere.

This year’s campaign is helping to encourage residents to practice safe behaviors all day every day.

From the 10th through the 16th of June, NSC officials will be working to educate residents about the importance of Ergonomics.

Our Cape Coral injury attorneys understand that there are small changes we can all make both at home and on the job to help to eliminate the risks of injury and to make ourselves more comfortable. Soft tissue injuries can be difficult to prove and slow to heal. Conditions like carpel tunnel are typically caused from repetitive motion at work. But many such conditions can be aggravated by an injury at home or in an auto accident.

Ergonomics is the act of creating a work environment that fits you and fits your needs. This is oftentimes a hot topic of debate when talking about office and desk workers. Ergonomics is all about learning how to work smarter to prevent conditions such as overexertion.

Ergonomic disorders can affect your soft tissues, more specifically your ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, spinal discs, blood vessels, cartilage and joints. These disorders can be the result of working repetitive motions on an assembly line, overexerting when using heavy equipment or even typing on a computer all day. These disorders and conditions can happen outside of work and at home, too! At home, residents should beware of the time they spend playing video games, when using muscles to move heavy items and the movements they’re making on home projects. Common symptoms of these kinds of conditions, disorders and injuries include tingling, pain, loss of grip strength, swilling, numbness, etc.

When doing work at your computer:

-Avoid keeping the keyboard on the top of your desk. Use a keyboard tray if your desk has one.

-Don’t place the monitor above your head. Keep it just a tiny bit above eye level and make sure you’re looking slightly down at the middle of the computer screen.

-Avoid sitting in a ridged upright position.

-Avoid leaning forward.

-Avoid working for a long time without getting up and moving. It’s important to take frequent breaks to get up and stretch.

-Try not to rest your elbows on the desk.

-Keep your wrists in a neutral position when typing.

-Trying not to bend your neck or your trunk repeatedly. Keep the items you use most directly in front of you.

-Alternate duties at your desk to avoid repeating the same movements over and over again.

-Avoid excessive reaching.

-Position your computer’s monitor so that there’s no shine or glare reflecting into your eyes.

Every year, there are more than 3 million people who visit an emergency room because of overexertion-related injuries. These types of injuries account for the leading cause of unintentional injuries across the U.S.
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Here’s come the peak of the spring travel season. And right behind that we’ve got the summer travel season. During both of those times, consumers from around the country, including locals, will be looking to busing companies to find a safe, convenient and inexpensive way to get to and from their vacation destination.

Now, there’s a new app that’s going to help consumers to pick the safest busing company to travel with. It’s the SaferBus app and it was recently released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

It’s helping bus riders to get an inside look at the safety ratings and other important information regarding potential bus companies. This app can also help to keep consumers away from a potentially fatal bus accident in Fort Myers or elsewhere.

“This new app gives Americans the information they need to make smart safety decisions when they book their next bus trip,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Our Fort Myers injury lawyers understand that college students, families, snowbirds, tour groups, church groups and many others are using busing companies to get to and from their vacation destinations. As we all know, a majority of those vacation spots are right here in Southwest Florida. Even local residents take these buses to visit friends and family members in various parts of Florida. All bus riders are urged to check out this information before booking a trip.

The SaferBus app was designed for iPads and iPhones. Owners can access the app for free in the Apple iTunes App Store. If you don’t have one of these devices, don’t worry! You can also get to this information by visiting the FMCSA’s webpage “Look Before You Book”.

Through all of this information, consumers will have access to about 6,000 interstate commercial passenger carriers throughout the United States. These carriers include tour bus companies, school buses and privately operated motorcoach.

Anne S. Ferro with the FMCSA says that this is the easiest and most convenient way to get this information to consumers. She says that you can access virtually any busing company and its safety information through the click of a button, and it’s all in the palm of your hand. She hopes that this new app will help to raise awareness about the importance of safe travel and will help to provide companies with an easy way to highlight their positive safety records.

Experts also believe that this information is more beneficial than ever as more and more Americans turn to motorcoaches to get to where they need to go. There were over 700 million motorcoach passenger trips taken in the U.S. in 2009, according to American Bus Association.

Included in the safety info is information regarding the company and instances of fatigued driving, unsafe driving, controlled substances and alcohol use, driver fitness and vehicle maintenance.

If you’re planning a trip any time soon, you’re urged to check out this information. Choosing a safe busing company should be job one.
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After a 14-year legal battle, a Broward County man is set to receive $10.75 million after suffering brain injury in a Florida car accident by a speeding Broward deputy, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Few accidents are as devastating as those that result in a spinal cord injury or brain injury. As veteran Florida spinal cord injury attorneys, we understand the importance of securing the resources necessary for life-long care.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about 200,000 people in the United States are living with a spinal cord injury. As many as 20,000 new cases occur annually. Cost of living with a spinal cord injury is estimated at $30,000 a year, with lifetime costs often exceeding $3 million.

Nearly half of all spinal cord injuries are the result of car accidents.

Brain injuries are even more common, although many of the 1.7 million cases each year involve mild TBI, such as a concussion. Still 52,000 die as a result of traumatic brain injury each year in the United States.

In this case, the 32-year-old man has lived with a brain injury that has left him largely confined to a wheelchair for 14 years after the 1998 accident. The college-bound high-school student was injured when a speeding Broward sheriff’s deputy slammed into his vehicle on the way to work.

Complicating this case was law that protects government agencies from liability in excess of $200,000. It illustrates the complex nature of pursuing a government liability claim in Florida and why an experienced law firm must always be called to handle such cases.

A jury ruled that the sheriff’s office should pay $30.7 million. However, liability limits prevented the payout. The family ultimately reached agreement with the Broward Sheriff’s Office and its former insurance company. The $10.75 million will go to pay for the victim’s care.

The settlement requires the legislature to pass a claims bill. The Senate began that process this week with a 37-2 vote.

These are very serious, complex cases. Insurance companies, and even doctors and hospitals, may quickly begin to distance themselves from liability after an accident. We have all seen and marveled at the recovery of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords after she suffered a brain injury in an assassination attempt a year ago. However, it’s important to remember that the Congresswoman has had world class health care.

When it comes to rehabilitation, insurance companies may be particularly reticent. Yet it is rehabilitation that will make the greatest difference when it comes to a victim’s ability to recover.

When a brain or spinal cord injury occurs, only the most experienced and resourceful law firms should be trusted with a victim’s future and a family’s financial well-being. Do not speak to the insurance company. Do not sign any paperwork. Do not accept any payments. And do not admit any fault.

Contact an experienced law firm to meet you at home, at their office or in the hospital. The most respected firms in the state will not charge you unless they are successful in making a recovery on your behalf.
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The Edison Mall, Miromar Outlets, Coconut Point, the Coastland Center Mall, Gulf Coast Town Center, Walmart, Best Buy, Target and even some car dealerships will be rolling out their biggest sales of the year to lure in consumers for this year’s Black Friday sale.

Unfortunately, this shopping event brings about increased risks for injury in Fort Myers and Naples. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is here to address some of these risks and to provide companies with some safety tips to help prevent injury to both shoppers and workers on the biggest shopping day of the year.

Crowd-related injuries are a common occurrence during Black Friday sales. Back in 2008, a worker even died during the opening of a Black Friday event. Our Fort Myers injury attorneys would like to remind employers that they have a responsibility to provide employees, shoppers and site guests with safe conditions. Employers should start considering Black Friday safety procedures now to help ensure the safety of everyone on the biggest shopping day of the year and the kickoff to the holiday season.

Setting up for Black Friday:

-Make sure your business has the appropriate security officers and policy personnel to handle large crowds.

-Make sure you have enough employees on the clock. Strategically place these individuals in areas to ensure the safety of the event.

-Make sure all employees are trained on how to properly manage the event.

-Make sure you event meets all required safety measures. Permits and licenses should be obtained and the fire department, the local police and other emergency services are aware of the event.

-Designate an employee to be the contact person to get in touch with emergency responders if needed.

-Place signs throughout the area to indicate restroom location, entrances, exit, store operation hours and locations of sale items.

-Prepare an emergency plan to address the crowd. Train workers to handle these situations.

Before the event:

-Make sure heavily populated areas have barricades and rope lines to manage the crowds.

-Allow customers to enter at individual intervals to break up the rush.

-Designate employee to explain operating procedures to customers.

-Make sure your employees have an effective way to communicate with one another.

-Consider using an internet lottery for popular sale items.

-Make sure that shopping carts and other potential hazards are kept in a safe spot away from crowds.

During your sale event:

-Let all employees and customers know when the doors are about to open.

-Keep security personnel near entrances and exits.

-Keep an eye on your building’s maximum occupancy limit. Stop customers from entering once you’ve reached this limit.

-Provide shoppers with disabilities with a safe way to get in and out of the store.

-Keep emergency exits clear.

-Keep first-aid kits and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on site.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year and if you’re a smart shopper you can snag some great deals. Everyone’s urged to be a safe shopper too!
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The Fort Myers personal injury lawyers and the staff at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured would like to wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend. Please celebrate responsibly, don’t drink and drive, and stay safe in traveling to see friends and family or to and from your vacation destination this weekend.

AAA reports an estimated 27 million motorists will travel more than 50 miles from home this weekend, increasing the risk of a car accident in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Port Charlotte or elsewhere in Southwest Florida.

And, as we reported on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, authorities will be out in force looking for drunk drivers and other violators. Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is using the weekend to launch the anti-drunk driving campaign it will use for the next five years: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

“Law enforcement officers across the country are out in force, cracking down on anyone who breaks the law and drives drunk,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “If you’ve had too much to drink, don’t even think about getting behind the wheel. You may not see them, but they will see you. Don’t risk it.”

The National Safety Council estimates 400 motorists will be killed on the roads this weekend — nearly 40,000 will be seriously injured.

Aside from your risks on the road, family gatherings can bring increased risks of dog bite injuries, Fort Myers swimming pool accidents and accidents involving outdoor grills. In fact, grill safety should be a primary focus. After a long summer, many grills are in sad shape.

The National Fire Protection Association reports more than 7,000 house fires are caused by gas and charcoal grills each year. The Consumer Products Safety Commission offers the following grill safety tips in Lee County.

-Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

-Check for cracks, leaks or faulty hoses.

-Move hoses as far as possible from hot surfaces.

-Replaced damaged equipment.

-Check for leaks and immediately turn off the gas if you smell gas or otherwise detect a leak.

-Do not attempt to make repairs to a tank valve.
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