personal injury

Intersection Safety in Focus as Area Expects Record Visitors

November 20, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Neighbors are calling for change at a North Fort Myers intersection after separate collisions killed a child and injured a teenager.

NBC-2 reports a 5-year-old girl was killed when she rode her scooter into the road near Castleview Drive at Bayshore Road, where she was struck and killed by an SUV driven by a 91-year-old, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Days later, a 16-year-old girl was seriously injured after she was hit by a pickup truck. Neighbors in the area complained of speeders and unsafe drivers.

The two tragedies have the patrol reminding motorists of a message often delivered here on our blog: Always be extra cautious around bicyclists and pedestrians, who continue to be disproportionately victimized in Southwest Florida traffic collisions.

“Anytime a pedestrian is near a roadway or bicyclist, you have to be 100% cautious behind the wheel, focus on your actions because we want to do everything in our power to prevent those tragedies from occurring. This season, we noticed the difference already, traffic in our roadways, the volume of cars, and unfortunately the tragedy that is occurring in our roadways. We want to do everything in our power to prevent these tragedies from occurring,” said Lt. Greg Bueno with Florida Highway Patrol.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage Best Defense Against Hit and Run

October 6, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Fort Myers police have made an arrest in a deadly hit-and-run crash on State Road 82, NBC-2 reports.

The arrest comes several months after a 30-year-old man was killed in the June 1 collision in the 11900 block of State Route 82. Authorities say the defendant caused the collision through “reckless driving and actions.”

Our car accident attorneys in Cape Coral and Fort Myers note it’s a tragic reminder of the risks responsible drivers face in Florida. Several years ago, lawmakers updated F.S. 316.027 to make it a third-degree felony to leave the scene of an accident involving injury and a first-degree felony for leaving the scene of a crash involving death. Previous to that legal change, drivers faced less severe consequences for being caught leaving the scene than for staying and being charged in the wake of a crash that caused serious or fatal injuries.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports the number of hit-and-run collisions has increased steadily in the state, with such crashes now accounting for one-fourth of all traffic crashes. The new law allows for license revocation for at least three years and up to 5 years in prison. for injury crashes. Leaving the scene of a crash involving death is now punishable by a prison sentence of 4 to 30 years.

Sexual Assault Victims Deserve Justice

July 27, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Sexual assault has been in the news in an increasing number of cases this year. From Bill Cosby to Jeffrey Epstein, to the Boy Scouts, Catholic Church, local massage parlors, and even Olympic Gymnasts.

While you might be tempted to think the rash of publicity highlights a drastic increase in such criminal conduct, our sexual assault attorneys know that the truth is that victims are becoming more willing to come forward about crimes that have long taken place in the shadows.

It takes courage. But holding abusers accountable is the only way to ensure they do not continue to prey on other victims. The fact of the matter is that these criminals rarely, if ever, stop victimizing people on their own. For decades they have counted on the shame and silence of their victims to allow them to avoid the public shame and criminal penalties their actions deserve.

Back-to-School Safety in Southwest Florida

July 26, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

It’s that time of year again when students head back to class. Whether attending Florida Gulf Coast University, another institute of higher learning, or heading to a private school or one of the more than 200 schools operated by the Lee, Collier or Charlotte county school districts, there are a number of things you can do to stay safe.

Our personal injury lawyers at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys of the Injured, salute all of the men and women who work in education, whether in the classroom, school administration, or the hundreds of coaches, custodians, maintenance workers or support staff. Your work and commitment to our youth is always to be commended.

But our primary focus is always on the health and safety of our children and their families.

Southwest Florida Roads Growing Deadlier

July 25, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

There is growing evidence that Southwest Florida’s roads are more dangerous than at any time in recent memory, as the nation struggles to emerge from pandemic isolation.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports 55 traffic deaths through the first six months of this year in Lee County, putting the area on track to surpass 100 road deaths in 2021. That’s 11 more than during the same period last year. In 2020, Lee County reported 101 fatal crashes, which claimed 109 lives. Despite the pandemic, last year’s fatalities were up 11 percent compared to 2019.

Lee County has surpassed 100 road deaths in 9 years since 2000. However, prior to the pandemic there was evidence that South Florida roads were getting safer. By comparison, Collier County has only reported more than 50 road deaths on one occasion since a record of 79 deaths in 2003.

In-Car Technology Impacting Personal Injury Claims

July 12, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

While there is no question that advanced safety features on new vehicles have the potential to save lives, there is increasing reports of confusion surrounding such technology leading to serious and fatal traffic collisions.

While Tesla’s auto-pilot technology is most often in the news, the reality is that new vehicles continue to hit the road with a startling array of technological features that are being promoted as safety improvements. Our car accident lawyers know these are some of the most complex cases a personal injury or wrongful death law firm can handle, pitting motorists against some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world and, increasingly, some of the world’s most profitable tech companies, including Apple and Google.

Walkers Face Highest Collision Risks in SWFL

July 10, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

There is new evidence that traffic deaths among pedestrians have reached epidemic proportions.

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral have continued to highlight the risks in Florida, which is the deadliest state in the nation for these preventable tragedies. While the overall number of road fatalities was declining steadily before the pandemic, many areas, including Southwest Florida, have continued to see an increase in fatalities among walkers and riders.

Now a new report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows the number of pedestrians killed increased 53 percent from 2009-2018, after steadily declining for three decades. Today, 1 in 6 fatal accidents involves a walker.

Florida Lawmakers Pushed to Pass Seat-Belt Law for All Passengers

July 9, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

It’s no secret that seat belts save lives. But new research highlights the real-world impact for front- and rear-seat passengers, prompting safety advocates to encourage states to adopt laws that address backseat seat-belt use.

Florida is among the states that only require seat belt use of front-seat passengers.

Our car accident attorneys on Fort Myers and Cape Coral have frequently noted Florida’s lax safety standards – from lack of adequate distracted driving laws to the state’s rock-bottom minimum insurance requirements of just $10,000, Florida is among the worst states in the nation when it comes to mandating good traffic-safety habits.

Bicycle Safety a Critical Focus this Summer

June 22, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The COVID pandemic has brought many new cyclists to the roads of Southwest Florida. The cycling boom is so pronounced that many local bike shops report wait lists for adult bicycles under $1,000.

While cycling can be a great way for adults to exercise while enjoying the outdoors in properly socially distanced fashion, it is also an uncommonly deadly activity, particularly for older adults coming to the activity for the first time in many years.

Our Fort Myers bicycle accident attorney know that Florida was already the deadliest state in the nation for bicyclists, even before the recent boom in interest.

Road Construction a Summer Threat in SWFL

June 21, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Summer is road construction season in Southwest Florida. That is true every year as crews race to complete major projects during off-season, and before tourists and snowbirds start flocking to the area for high season.

But it’s particularly true this year as Florida and the rest of the nation emerges from the pandemic. Federal investment meant to stimulate economic recovery, and the yet-to-pass infrastructure package being debated in Congress, both mean road construction will be even more commonplace in the coming months.

Our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know construction zones are high risk when it comes to serious and fatal accidents. Please do your part to keep work crews and fellow motorists safe on the road this summer.