Ride of Silence Puts Focus on Vulnerable Road Users in SWFL

June 2, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

This month’s Annual Ride of Silence put the focus on keeping cyclists and other vulnerable road users safe on the streets of Southwest Florida.

The North Fort Myers Neighbor reports the 21st annual event was hosted by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club. The Silent Ride on May 17 departed from Bell Tower Shops. Our Fort Myers injury lawyers frequently report the increased risk to bicyclists and pedestrians throughout SWFL. In the first three months of this year, 81 bicycle accidents in Lee County were reported, resulting in two deaths. Last year, 319 crashes resulted in nine fatalities.

“The reality is motor vehicle drivers, cyclists and pedestrians all have responsibility for safe mobility,” Norm Nesbitt of Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, told the publication.

April Focus on Distracted Driving Risks

April 5, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Distracted driving killed more than 3,500 people on the nation’s roads last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In those cases, driver distraction was determined to be a primary factor in the fatal collision. However, the true number is much higher because distraction often is not revealed as a factor of causation. By some estimates, 4 in 10 collisions, or some 15,000 deaths per year, involve some form of distraction. These hidden risks are another reason why thorough investigation by an experienced car accident law firm in Fort Myers or Cape Coral should be conducted as soon as possible after a serious or fatal collision.

Driver Distraction in SWFL

Stay Safe This Holiday Travel Season

December 20, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

If statistics from Thanksgiving are any indication, one thing seems certain this holiday season: Not even a pandemic will stop many from visiting friends and loved ones this year.

After two years of Covid quarantines, many have been reluctant to cancel plans, despite the recent emergence of the omnicron variant.

AAA estimates more than 53 million Americans traveled over the Thanksgiving weekend, a jump of 13 percent over last year, when many plans were canceled during the first year of the pandemic. That’s about 6 million more people. While air travel was down slightly, 2.3 million passed through airport checkpoints the day before Thanksgiving,the busiest day since the start of the pandemic, according to the Transportation Safety Administration.

Still, most people will drive.

Fourth of July Travel Safety in Southwest Florida

July 3, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral wish each of you a safe Fourth of July weekend. Please be mindful of the pandemic restrictions and social distancing requirements, but find time to enjoy yourself with close friends and family.

July is typically among the quietest times of the year on the roads in Southwest Florida. But July 4th always brings peak travel and this year is expected to be no different. In many cases, people are hitting the road precisely because they have been quarantining at home since the spring and vehicle travel offers the best option to get out of the house while maintaining social distancing and minimizing exposure.

RV and camping resorts and sales centers are reporting record sales and bookings. Combined with hotel and resort closures, the COVID restrictions make planning your trip more important than ever. Know your destination. Make sure they are expecting you.

Preparing for your COVID Road Trip

May 15, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

As Florida and the nation move toward a re-opening amid the coronavirus pandemic, there is much that remains uncertain about what the “new normal” might look like.

Uncertainty is what the COVID-19 crisis has brought to every corner of the world. History shows us that the world adapts. Polio and the 1918 pandemic are just two 20th century examples. Hotels and motels are in the process of re-opening as we approach Memorial Day weekend. And, while traffic is expected to be lighter for the traditional holiday weekend kickoff of the summer travel season, many predict a sharp uptick in the number of families traveling by car this summer.

CNN reports European destinations are pushing to re-open in time for the annual summer tourism season. But uncertainty means many American families are likely to avoid international air travel. Airlines will try to combat the uncertainty with bargain rates, but that same uncertainty will make many cautious about booking and paying for airfare over the coming months.

Southwest Florida Traffic Fatalities Highlight Holiday Travel Risks

December 16, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The deaths of two Fort Myers sisters in a traffic accident is a sobering reminder of the risks of driving in Southwest Florida as we head into the height of the holiday travel season.

The sisters, ages 56 and 52, were killed when their car struck an oncoming vehicle while making a turn at the intersection of Daniels Parkway and International Drive, according to NBC-2.The Florida Highway Patrol reports the driver of the other vehicle was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The sisters were beloved in the community and were involved in numerous charitable organizations and fundraising efforts.

Drivers will face increased risk through the remainder of the holiday season. As our injury lawyers in Fort Myers reported, the shortened holiday season will likely lead to frayed nerves as it coincides with the beginning of the long winter tourism season.