personal injury

Traffic Accident Risks Increase as Home Delivery Surges

April 10, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Brick-and-mortar businesses were in trouble long before COVID-19, thanks to the increasing ease and convenience of ordering from online retailers like Amazon. But the flu pandemic has brought a new wave of shoppers to the Internet, many of whom are likely to continue to rely on delivery of everything from toilet paper to televisions long after the economy restarts and local retailers reopen their doors for business.

There are many as-yet unknown consequences to this shift away from local businesses in favor of this international online bazaar of retailers. Dangerous and defective products are an often overlooked risk. And. as our Fort Myers injury lawyers know, holding multi-national companies responsible can be much more complicated. Amazon, for example, has more than 2.5 million independent sellers.

But perhaps nothing drives the risks home like the battalions of gray Mercedes Amazon vans and white cargo vans that can be seen zipping through almost every neighborhood in Southwest Florida. If you are ever at one of their distribution centers, including the one off Treeline Avenue, hundreds of delivery vehicles can be seen exiting these facilities dozens of times a day, bound for neighborhoods across Lee County.

COVID-19 Increases Pet Adoptions in Southwest Florida

March 24, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a significant increase in the number of fostered and adopted pets in Southwest Florida.

The New York Times reports animal shelters across the country are seeing increased interest in pet fostering and adoption. From a practical standpoint, spending weeks working from home can be a perfect time to introduce a new pet into the home and get past the worst of the house and obedience training. However, our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral urge you to do your homework before bringing a new pet into your home. Particularly if you have small children, choosing a pet can have a significant impact on risk of injury.

While the pandemic has most of us familiar with the workings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta as it relates to combating the flu and other viruses, the agency conducts research on a broad range of health topics, including pet ownership.

Pandemic Scare has More People Cycling in Southwest Florida

March 23, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The COVID-19 pandemic has many Southwest Floridians in isolation. An increasing number are venturing out for long walks or bicycle rides. While bicycling can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors in a solitary pursuit, taking care to avoid injuries during these challenging times should be a priority.

May is traditionally Bicycle Safety month, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsors campaigns to remind drivers and bicyclists to do their part to help reduce deaths and injuries on our roads. However, bicycle shops in Southwest Florida are already experiencing unprecedented demand for sales and service as home-bound adults look for options for outdoor activity.

Our experienced injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know that novice adult cyclists are among the most likely to be injured as they embark on a new hobby and, in many cases, relearn a skill from childhood.

The San Francisco Chronicle is among the media outlets reporting the surge in cycling during the pandemic. Currently, 40 million California residents are under a shelter-in-place order and walking and cycling are among the few remaining outdoor options. In major metropolitan areas, including New York City, which has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, authorities have actually promoted cycling as the safest transportation option.

Florida’s Senior Face Nation’s Highest Traffic Accident Risks

March 6, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A number of new reports have the focus on seniors and the rising risk of car accidents.

The Florida Times-Union is among the media outlets reporting more drivers over the age of 65 are killed in Florida than anywhere else in the country. Last year, 682 fatal traffic accidents in Florida involved at least one senior driver, according to TRIP, a national nonprofit transportation research group in Washington.

Florida is second in the nation in the number (3,341,250) of drivers 65 or older. TRIP’s report says 23 percent of the 3.3 million licensed drivers in Florida are 65 or older, based on 2012 to 2016 statistics.

Spring Break Increases Risk of Visitor Injuries in Southwest Florida

March 2, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Spring training and spring break are upon us as Southwest Florida enters the height of the winter tourist season.

Traffic is reaching its annual peak in Lee and Collier counties, as the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox bring thousands of visitors to the area. On the beaches, spring break and visitors escaping frigid northern temperatures mean hotels, resorts, bars and restaurants are managing burgeoning workloads and reaping profits that will sustain them through the slower summer months.

While visitors can be injured at any time of the year, our experienced injury lawyers in Fort Myers know March is statistically the most dangerous month. Everyone faces an increased risk of car accidents this time of year. However, vulnerable road users, including bicyclists, pedestrians and motorcycle riders, are at even higher risk. Visitors are not only more likely to be bicyclists or pedestrians, but are traversing unfamiliar areas often crowded with vehicle traffic and lacking the adequate sidewalks, bike lanes and signs and signals that could help reduce the risk.

Continue reading ›

Florida Ranks Among Nation’s Worst for Road Safety

February 18, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Florida ranks as one of the nation’s worst states for safety laws and enforcement, according to a new report by the Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety.

The Miami Herald reports the Sunshine State is one of a dozen states listed as “Dangerously Behind,” and the only state in the Southeast to be rated so poorly. Our Fort Myers injury lawyers noted in a recent blog post about enforcement of Florida’s updated texting and driving law that our state lawmakers continue to underperform when it comes to improving the safety of Florida’s roads.

Inadequate primary rear seat belt laws, lack of a motorcycle helmet law, and weak child seat laws, were all among the reasons cited. Florida is one of 31 states without a motorcycle helmet law for riders over the age of 21. The state gets middling marks for efforts to discourage distracted driving. While it bans text messaging during driving, the organization finds Florida’s efforts to restrict cell phone use are inadequate.

Growing Number of Construction Injuries in Southwest Florida

February 3, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The booming Southwest Florida economy is thanks in no small part to the housing and construction industries. However, an increasing concern is the growing number of serious and fatal construction accidents that result from such rapid development.

The Palm Beach Post reports the number of serious and fatal construction injuries in South Florida has skyrocketed, up 140 percent in the 7 years since we exited the Great Recession.

More than 100 fatal construction accidents were reported for the first time in 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2011 the department reported 42 construction fatalities in Florida. That means that in just seven years, the fatality rate more than doubled. Continue reading ›

Teen Driving Safety a Critical Issue in SWFL

January 20, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A crash that seriously injured four teenagers in Estero is a sobering reminder of the risks young drivers and passengers face on the roads of Southwest Florida, particularly as we approach spring break and the height of tourist season.

NBC-2 reports the four teens were seriously injured in a collision at the intersection of Three Oaks Parkway and Estero Parkway. The kids, ages 15, 16, 17, and 18, were in a Honda Civic that collided with a minivan, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Two of the teens were taken to Lee Memorial while the others were taken to Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Our Fort Myers injury lawyers have posted a number of articles about the dangers teens face on the roads, as well as a number of parental resources, including this guide on buying a vehicle and insuring your young driver.

Be a Better Driver in 2020

January 20, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions?

Regardless of whether you are finding challenge or success in your personal goals for 2020, quietly resolving to be a better driver is a commitment that could save your life and will pay dividends for you and your family for years to come.

Our Fort Myers injury lawyers have been representing injury victims throughout Southwest Florida since 1971 and we remain active in promoting traffic safety throughout the community and in supporting a number of causes to prevent senseless accidents, including combating drunk driving and raising motorcycle safety awareness.

The News-Press reports 95 people were killed in traffic collisions on Lee County roads in 2019.

Media Blamed for Downplaying Liability in Traffic “Accidents”

December 18, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A recent report published by City Lab highlights the role media plays in downplaying the fault of drivers for causing auto “accidents.”

Safety advocates have long complained that media outlets tend to blame pedestrians and cyclists who are hit by cars. Research suggests they’re right. But our Fort Myers injury lawyers know the issue also includes motorcycle accidents and a significant number of vehicle-on-vehicle collisions.

The term “accident” is almost always a misnomer; the vast majority of serious and fatal traffic collisions in Southwest Florida are caused by avoidable driver error. Media coverage, and official crash investigations may tell part of the story. But an immediate and thorough review of the evidence by an experienced personal injury law firm can serve to uncover additional factors of causation, and may even uncover error or bias on the part of the investigative agency or one or more involved parties.