Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Holiday Dog Bite Risks Abound in South Florida

November 28, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

For many lucky homes, a new puppy will be part of the holiday plans. For others, a constant flow of holiday company will require special consideration for family pets.

Prospective families should do their research and take all of the proper safety precautions to make sure that the transition is as smooth as possible.

According paw-rescue.com, you can count on a dog marking or having accidents in the first few days, even if he was house-trained. Have pet-specific cleaning products on hand. Also be prepared for other transitional behavioral problems and integrate your pet into the family’s life in stages.

Our dog bite attorneys in Fort Myers understand that getting your new dog acclimated to your home, and your home acclimated to your new dog, can take anywhere from a few days to several months and it is a process that should be allowed to occur naturally — not rushed. The key to helping your new dog make a successful adjustment to your home is being prepared and being patient. First, bear in mind your new adoptee is under a lot of stress. And your new pet has no way to know what’s coming next. It’s a lot to take in even for the friendliest of animals.
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Shopping Injuries a Holiday Threat in Naples, Fort Myers

November 27, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Black Friday is here, and many are ready to jump into the holiday shopping season feet first. Unfortunately, many of us aren’t looking at the risks and the hazards that come with this joyous time of year.

Just take a look at US News, there have been employees killed, shoppers killed, property damaged, customers arrested and some serious injuries on this consumer holiday, which opens the busiest shopping month of the year.

Our premises liability lawyers understand that accidents caused by dangerous property conditions, either inside or outside a building, can result in serious, even fatal, injuries.
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Uninsured Motorist Accidents – Florida at Highest Risk

November 25, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Across the United States, chances are roughly one in seven that a driver is uninsured, according to new estimates from the Insurance Research Council (IRC). The estimated percentage of uninsured motorists declined four straight years before rising to more than 14 percent in 2008. The struggling economy, many believe, is a major factor in the increase.

“This forces responsible drivers who carry insurance to bear the burden of paying for injuries caused by drivers who carry no insurance at all,” said Elizabeth A. Sprinkel with the Insurance Research Council (IRC).

Our Naples car accident lawyers understand that insure.com reports that about a quarter of all drivers in the state of Florida are uninsured. We were actually ranked in the top three areas in the nation for having the most uninsured drivers. Unfortunately, bodily injury coverage is not required by Florida law to obtain or renew license tags. As a result, uninsured/ underinsured motorist coverage is an extremely important coverage to carry on your own auto policy.
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Traffic Fatalities on Steep Rise in Florida

November 25, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Traffic statistics aren’t working in Florida’s favor, according to the recent release of the 2012 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from the National highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

According to the recent release, the number of traffic accident fatalities in 2012 rose by more than 1,080 from 2011. Most of these fatalities (approximately 72 percent) happened during the first quarter of the year, and most of these increases included pedestrians and motorcyclists, whom already face increased risks here in the state of Florida.

Our Cape Coral car accident lawyers understand that Florida continuously ranks as one of the most dangerous states in the country for pedestrian and motorcyclist fatalities. With our year-round sunshine, both residents and visitors get the gift of being able to utilize these forms of transportation nearly 365 days a year. With all of these vulnerable travelers along our roadways, we’re destined to see dangerous fatality numbers.
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SWFL Traffic Safety in Focus Through Busy Thanksgiving Weekend

November 24, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Our roadways are expected to be packed for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Wednesday before Turkey Day is expected to be the worst travel day of the entire weekend, reports Florida Today.

“If gas prices weren’t as low as they are, things probably would have been flat compared to last year. With the low gas prices, people have more incentive to travel,” said Jim Bak with INRIX, a traffic-congestion tracking firm in Kirkland, Washington.

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys understand that the national average for a gallon of gas is about 21 cents lower than it was about a year ago. With all of us itching for a vacation, and travel more affordable than ever, you can expect millions to hit the road and get out of town for the holiday weekend. Since Thanksgiving always produces a high volume of traffic, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will increase its presence on Florida roadways during the upcoming five-day holiday period.
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Tired Drivers Increase Southwest Florida Traffic Accident Risks

November 15, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Each year, officials with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey drivers throughout the country to get an insight into their driving attitudes and behaviors. This year, officials with the AAA talked with drivers about their outlook on drowsy driving, as part of National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (Nov 10-16). This annual campaign provides public education about the underreported risks of driving while drowsy, as well as countermeasures to improve safety on the road.

According to a poll from officials with the National Sleep Foundation, roughly 60 percent of driving Americans have driven while feeling sleepy, and more than 35 percent admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year. However, many people cannot tell if or when they are about to fall asleep. And if sleepiness comes on while driving, many say to themselves, “I can handle this, I’ll be fine.” Yet they’re putting themselves and others in danger. What they really need is a nap or a good night’s sleep.

Our Fort Myers car accident lawyers understand that there are more than 100,000 police-reported accidents caused by drowsy drivers each and every year in this country. These accidents take the lives of more than 1,550 people and injure another 71,000. These figures may be the tip of the iceberg, since it’s so tough to attribute crashes to sleepiness. There’s no test for it like there is for drunk driving.
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Join Associates and Bruce L Scheiner at Cape Coral Bike Night

November 14, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Cape Coral Bike Night is upon us. The next is scheduled for December 14th, Associates and Bruce L Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, proudly sponsor this year’s bike night season, helping to raise awareness about some of the most vulnerable travelers on our roadways.

“Promoting motorcycle safety and awareness is a critical step in reducing the number of these tragic accidents through the winter riding season,” said Founding Attorney Bruce L. Scheiner.

Our Cape Coral motorcycle accident lawyers are inviting you out to Cape Coral Bike Night. It will be help December 14th at 47th Terrace in Cape Coral from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Helping to educate motorists and to raise awareness about our two-wheeled travelers, can help save lives. In the state of Florida, there were more than 400 motorcyclist fatalities and more than 7,000 motorcyclist injuries in 2011. According to Ride Smart Florida, more than 90 percent of motorcyclists fatally injured in 2011 in Florida were also Florida residents. Although motorcyclists account for less than 4 percent of the motoring public, motorcyclist fatalities accounted for close to 20 percent of all accident fatalities in 2011.
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MADD Efforts Paying Off — Much Work Left to be Done to Combat Teen Drunk Driving Accidents

November 13, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reports the number of teens who are consuming alcohol is on the decline. A new survey indicates that more than 75 percent of teenagers do not drink alcohol. But how true are these results?

Do we really expect underage high school students to openly admit to consuming alcohol? It’s illegal after all. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 1,000 16- to 20-year-olds who were involved in fatal drunk driving car accidents in the U.S. in 2011. That’s a lot if “75 percent” of teenagers aren’t drinking alcohol.

Our Fort Myers drunk driving injury lawyers understand that the state of Florida saw close to 1,000 alcohol-related car accident fatalities in 2011. Don’t let improving statistics lull you and your family into a false sense of security. Our teens are out there and too many are consuming alcohol. The fact is that a large number of teens are killed in drunk driving car accidents each and every year.
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Fall Injuries a Common Risk for Elderly in Southwest Florida

November 8, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Residents of assisted-living facilities and nursing homes are at high risk of fall injuries. Of those who experience a fall accident, over a third will suffer a head injury as a result of the incident, according to a new study.

As reported in US News, researchers looked at more than 220 fall accidents among more than 130 seniors who were living in long-term care facilities. Of these falls, residents hit their head on the floor close to 65 percent of the time, hit their head on furniture about 20 percent of the time and hit their head on a wall in 15 percent of the cases.

Our Fort Myers nursing home neglect attorneys understand falls are common causes of serious injuries. To put it in perspective, younger people rarely hit their heads when they fall. This is because when we age, our ability to react lessens and our risks for accidents increase. That’s why it’s important that we choose an assisted-living center for our loved ones that we are sure will properly care for them.
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Child Gunshot Injuries on the Rise – Properly Secure Handguns at Home

November 7, 2013 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

According to MSNBC, the number of children and teens in the U.S. who are killed by gunshot wounds has increased about 60 percent in the last 10 years. A new report by two Boston doctors was presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics, and found that there are about 500 children who are killed in these kinds of accidents each and every year. Another 8,000 are hospitalized annually because of these same incidents.

“Policies designed to reduce the number of household firearms, especially handguns, may more effectively reduce the number of gunshot injuries in children,” said Dr. Arin Madenci of American Academy of Pediatrics.

Our Lehigh Acres personal injury lawyers support gun rights. In part, that means properly storing and securing firearms when not in use, and properly instructing children about gun safety. When our youngest family members get their hands on these devices, accident risks run high. Children may not understand the consequences of misuse.
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