car accident attorneys

Elderly Florida Drivers May Pose Heightened Crash Risk

May 22, 2018 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The lives of three Florida teens were ended or dramatically altered by drivers who were born during WWI.

The Miami Herald reports on two separate crashes – one in Fort Pierce and another in Davie – with drivers who were 99 and 100, respectively. In the Davie case, the 100-year-old motorist reportedly struck a 16-year-old student pedestrian as she walked to her bus stop. The teen has needed to undergo two emergency brain surgeries – so far. In the second crash, the 99-year-old driver killed two teens – 17 and 18 – when driving his recreational vehicle on the wrong side of State Road 70 (traveling west in the eastbound lanes) with no working headlights. The 99-year-old later died of injuries sustained in that crash.

It was later revealed that while both motorists had clean driving records. The 99-year-old driver had recently undergone a vision, paper and road test – all of which he passed – after someone reported to the Michigan Secretary of State’s office that medical issues made him a potentially unsafe driver. Continue reading ›

Company UIM Benefits Affirmed in Rear-End Collision Case

October 25, 2017 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Uninsured motorist benefits are critical for drivers in Florida. While not technically mandated (though insurers must offer it, and motorists must sign a waiver if they choose not to buy it), this coverage is often the only way to obtain adequate compensation for losses suffered in a Fort Myers car accident.

But just because you pay for this coverage doesn’t mean the insurer will pay up without a fight. Auto insurance companies are notorious for rooting out any and all possible loopholes to either deny coverage or minimize the amount payable. Fighting for just compensation is important to our injury lawyers, and we have a long track record of success in this arena. Many of these cases are resolved through negotiation – often long before trial and many times without even needing to file a lawsuit. However, we will not hesitate to bring a case to trial if that’s what is in the best interests of our clients.

Recently in Alabama, the state supreme court affirmed a jury verdict against a UIM insurer favoring a plaintiff in a car accident lawsuit that has been ongoing since 2011. Continue reading ›

Report: DUI Conviction Wasn’t Enough to Keep Bus Driver Banned from Work

October 18, 2017 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Commercial drivers – particularly those who ferry human passengers or hazardous materials – are beholden to more stringent federal and state rules when it comes to their conduct on the road.

For instance, F.S. 322.61 disqualifies commercial drivers from operating a vehicle for a year if they are convicted of operating a commercial vehicle with a bodily-alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher. For most other adult drivers, the limit is 0.08. If a commercial drivers is convicted of two or more serious offenses (i.e., reckless driving, following too closely, unlawful speed of 15 mph or more over the speed limit, causing a crash resulting in serious injury or death, etc.) in a span of three years, the driver will be disqualified from driving a commercial vehicle for 60 days.

However, there are some apparent loopholes, as a recent bus accident revealed. Last month, U.S. News & World Report detailed the background of a bus driver who ran a red light and slammed into another bus in New York City, killing himself and two others. It was later publicly revealed the driver had a history of crashes and even a drunk driving conviction. However, he was still legally permitted to drive under federal rules that grant “one strike” before a driver can be banned for life. Continue reading ›

More Children Injured, Killed in Car Accidents, Data Shows

March 31, 2017 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Car accidents are increasingly common in the U.S. A new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that unfortunately, children are not immune to the risks.

As you may know, motor vehicle crashes are on of the main killers of children under 14, who comprise about 19 percent of the total population. Of the more than 35,000 people killed in traffic crashes in 2015, 3 percent were children. What’s especially troubling is that there were 1,132 children reportedly killed in car accidents in 2015, and this marked a 5 percent increase from the 1,073 who lost their lives in 2014.

What this means is that every day, three innocent children were killed in crashes. Another 487 were injured, amounting to 178,000 for the year. Of those fatal crashes in which we know the status of child restraint use (775 cases), 39 percent weren’t wearing a seat belt or properly strapped in to a car seat. We also can’t overlook the fact that children made up 4 percent of all pedestrian accident fatalities (223 out of 5,376) and five percent of all bicycle accident deaths (44 out of 818). Additionally, 16 percent of child crash victims died in alcohol-related crashes. Continue reading ›

Fridman v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Ill. – Insurance Bad Faith

March 12, 2016 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Despite slogans that promise to be “on your side,” “like a good neighbor” and to keep you “in good hands,” auto insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart. Time and again, we see examples of insurance companies doing everything in their power to low-ball customers or outright deny legitimate claims.

They hope you’ll eventually give up and take less than what you’re owed. At Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, we make it our top priority to make sure that doesn’t happen.

When an insurer is playing hard ball, one avenue of recourse is a bad faith claim. Insurance companies owe a duty to consumers to act in good faith toward their insureds. That means if they delay, discount or deny payment without just cause, they may be required by courts to pay triple damages. Continue reading ›