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- Parvo prevention is priority in Southwest FloridaJohn Sheehan of Fort Myers watches his dog Doozer sing at the Estero Community Center Dog Park in Estero on Sunday. […]
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- Motorcyclist killed in Lehigh crashA 23-year-old motorcyclist was killed on Saturday after colliding with an SUV on Lee Boulevard in Lehigh Acres. […]
- Private Catholic school in Fort Myers celebrates 10 yearsCauses is a segment that's about your causes, big and small. Share your story, send us your calendar items and let us know what type of advocacy matters to you. […]
- Field notes: Tropicalia gets letters, gives adviceLoved, loved, loved your piece on the beach sunflower . I have several spots around my property that would benefit greatly from having it planted there. […]
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- Fatal shooting stirs conversationSince August, readers have been able to post comments on news-press.com articles using their Facebook accounts. […]
- Esperanza steps into paradeA 30-second walk from The Franklin Shops two doors down, The Nest is a slim slipper of a space with... This week's wild file subject reminds us of the old saying, "A camel is a horse designed by a... The Ruffino II model in Esperanza is one of four in the community on display during the annual Parade of Homes this month. […]
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- Parvo prevention is priority in Southwest FloridaJohn Sheehan of Fort Myers watches his dog Doozer sing at the Estero Community Center Dog Park in Estero on Sunday. […]
- Decade of teaching: Naples Holocaust museum had roots in middle school projectScott McIntyre/Staff Cindy Erickson, left, and Mary Fontaine browse through a program in part of a gallery of paintings by Myra Roberts from a series called Project Tolerance: Faces of Anne Frank at the Holocaust Museum in Naples. […]
- Neal Communities Expands Into Lee and Collier CountiesCapitalizing on the national notoriety of being named America's Best Builder by BUILDER magazine and a record-breaking 2011 that has continued its momentum into 2012, Neal Communities has begun its home building business expansion into Lee and Collier counties. […]
- Real Estate briefs: Builder breaks ground on Bonita LakesToll Brothers has broken ground for a new community of single-family homes on Imperial Parkway in Bonita Springs, to be called Bonita Lakes. […]
- Just a tasteKim Paylor and Angela Morales, sommelier at Angelina's Ristorante, chat during a Breakfast Scramble at Panera Bread, Coconut Point mall, Estero. […]
- U.S. Senate hopeful Mack IV campaigns in south Lee CountyConnie Mack campaign kickoff: U.S. Rep. Connie Mack kicks off his run for Senate against Senator Bill Nelson at Coconut Pint Mall in Estero. […]
- Fugitive Friday - 02/03/12If you know anything about these fugitives, you can earn up to $1,000 by calling Crime Stoppers at 780-TIPS. All information below courtesy of Crime Stoppers. […]
- Stay natural at CREWUndisturbed watershed perfect for outdoor exploration, sightseeing or just a place to get away and enjoy the peace and quiet Florida Master Naturalist and CREW tour guide David Cooper talks to more than a dozen hikers at a memorial for Joel Kuperberg, founder of the CREW Land and Water Trust. […]
- Authentic ArtArt in the Park: The monthly juried art far showcasing Naples Art Association members; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. […]
- Burglaries, thefts rose 24 percent in south Lee County in 2011Criminals targeted cars, homes and businesses in south Lee County more in 2011, with a nearly 25 percent jump in the number of larcenies and burglaries reported in the Sheriff's Office's Delta District. […]
- Two accused of transporting marijuana grow equipmentTwo people were arrested Saturday, accused of transporting equipment used to grow marijuana. Raidel Cordero Artigas, 30, of Tampa, and Ana Maria Mendez Lazo, 25, of Port Richey, are both facing charges of transporting drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. […]
- Trader Joe's set to open, will traffic light at U.S. 41 and Creekside be needed?Trader Joe's is opening Friday, Feb. 10, –. It is replacing a Borders bookstore in North Naples that went dark last year. If a traffic signal gets installed at U.S. 41 North and Creekside Boulevard, it won't be the state or county government that pays for it. Private businesses would share the cost of the signal, including the developer of […]
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- Capital Column: At midpoint, will session be a meal or a snack?The next five weeks will determine in the parlance of the Bravo cooking TV series Top Chef if lawmakers will succeed or be asked to pack their knives and go home. […]
- Red Sox new spring stadium down to final permitting issues, almost ready for openerThe new exhibition and training park for the Red Sox at 11581 Daniels Parkway in south Lee County will be ready by opening day on March 3 and may even come in under the $77.8 million budget. […]
- Firefighters battled pickup fire in Naples ParkA Ford pickup burst into flames this weekend in Naples Park, filling a street with thick, black smoke. “There was a lot of black smoke everywhere,” Bush said. “You couldn't see down the street.” It took firefighters about 10 minutes to extinguish the flames. […]
- Police Beat: Sunday, Feb. 5, 2011 -- MUG SHOTSCollier and Lee arrests and mug shots […]
- Police: Teen caught eating pot after traffic stopThey found marijuana leaves on Garcia-Parra’s tongue and in the molars of his teeth, reports said. […]
- Suds and sun: Naples soon will open its first breweryIn May, Will Lawson will open Naples Beach Brewery, a small brewery at 4110 Enterprise Ave., Suite 217, in East Naples. […]
- Routine stop leads to human trafficking case with Immokalee tiesThe report says an investigation found that five Mexicans in the car were being transported from Alabama to Immokalee. The group is being held pending deportation. […]
Distracted Driving Causes Crashes
Florida Car Crash Attorney Addresses Distracted Driving, Driving While Texting
The statistics are shocking. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports 5,870 people died in 2009 in car crashes involving texting and driving. Another 500,000 people were injured in accidents involving a distracted driver, which can involve eating, using a navigation device, grooming, switching the radio dial, talking to passengers and more. The under-20 age group had the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal accidents.
What is Happening?
Using a cell phone while driving, whether a hand-held device or a hands-free system, delays a driver’s reaction in the same respect as a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent, according to NHTSA.
The lack of common sense is staggering.
Trying to Drive While Doing Other Things (i.e. Do Two Things At Once)
- Drivers who use hand-held devices while driving are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves or others.
- The portion of drivers reportedly distracted at the time of the fatal crashes increased from 7 percent in 2005 to 11 percent in 2009.
- One of the most commonly recognized distractions is cell phone use. Cell phone subscriptions have grown exponentially from 1988 through 2009. About 89 percent, or approximately 277 million of all Americans, have a cell phone, according to CTIA – The Wireless Association. For many, it is the only kind of telephone they possess.
- In a recent NHTSA survey, most individuals (77 percent) reported that they talk on the phone while driving at least some of the time.
Everyone Has A Personal Responsibility
Drivers simply do not realize the dangers that are posed when they take their eyes and minds off the road and their hands off the wheel and focus on activities other than driving. If you have been injured by a careless driver, or a reckless driver distracted by texting while driving, then contact a Florida car crash attorney at the Harris Law Firm.
Young Drivers Are Especially At Risk
Younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes. Their lack of driving experience can contribute to critical misjudgments if they become distracted. Not surprisingly, they text more than any other age group and the numbers of young drivers who text is only increasing. Causing such serious crashes upends the lives of the innocent.
Contact Experienced Counsel If Your Life Has Been Changed Because of a Distracted Driver
If a distracted driver has harmed you or your loved one, then contact a Florida auto accident lawyer serving Southwest Florida today at the Harris Law Firm.
We proudly serve the injured throughout Southwest Florida and beyond. Locally, we help our neighbors in:
- Charlotte County: Englewood, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda
- Collier County: Everglades City, Golden Gate, Immokalee, Marco Island, Naples, Ochopee
- DeSoto County: Arcadia
- Glades County: Moore Haven, Palmdale
- Hendry County: Clewiston, Labelle
- Highlands County: Avon Park, Lake Placid, Sebring
- Lee County: Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Estero, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers
- Manatee County: Bradenton, Ellenton, Palmetto
- Sarasota County Florida: Nokomis, North Port, Osprey, Sarasota, Venice
Southwest Florida Car Accident Causes
Southwest Florida Car Accident Causes
Car accidents happen very quickly but usually leave a lasting and devastating effect. Due to these accidents, countless individuals and families are left changing the direction that their lives are taking. Unfortunately, we see this throughout Southwest Florida every week.
Think about just the last 30 days throughout Southwest Florida: Ft Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Port Charlotte, LaBelle, Lehigh Acres, etc. There have been more than two dozen traffic fatalities. Staggering.
Personal injury sustained from a car accident is a huge burden for our residents. Medical bills, lost income, lost productivity, etc.
Insurance companies drag out valid and serious claims or deny them altogether, adding insult to injury.
An experienced, principled, and dedicated car accident lawyer at the Harris Law Firm PA in Ft Myers and serving all Southwest Florida in serious claims, focuses on vehicle accident claims and lawsuits. We are dedicated advocates focused on battling for your rights and securing just compensation for your harms and losses.
Among the factors cited in the recent wave of serious vehicle accidents and traffic fatalities afflicting our neighbors throughout SW Fla. include the following:
- cell phone use while driving
- aggressive driving
- DUI
- drowsy driving
- physical impairment or medical condition
- driver inattention
- careless driving
- road construction
In sum, car accidents are a combination of driver error, road conditions, and other human factors. If you or your loved one were seriously injured in a car accident, then contact a car accident lawyer at the Harris Law Firm PA immediately to ensure that your rights are protected.
It’s time.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) Claims
What happens if I am hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist?
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM) is insurance coverage that you purchase for yourself in the event of an automobile accident where the at-fault driver either has no insurance or not enough insurance. It is elective, not mandatory, auto insurance. Because it is elective and don’t understand it, unfortunately, many people waive this coverage. Waiving UM or failing to “stack” your UM coverage is a big, big mistake.
Many drivers in Florida do not have any auto insurance at all. Others purchase the absolute minimum coverage to stay “legal” per Florida laws – only to find out after an automobile accident that they do not have bodily injury liability coverage (BI).
Although Florida law states that a driver may have his or her driver’s license suspended if they cannot cover damages exceeding $10,000.00 after an accident, I recommend that you purchase UM coverage of your own. Without your own UM coverage, you might be left without any way to obtain payment for the medical expenses, physical injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and inconvenience that you have suffered.
If you or someone you know has been injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist in a car accident and needs a lawyer, contact a car accident attorney at the Harris Law Firm, P.A. serving Cape Coral, Fort Myers, LaBelle, Lehigh Acres, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and the rest of Southwest Florida.
Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawsuits
UM cases are more complex than a liability case against the at-fault driver. In a UM case, your uninsured motorist carrier will stand in the shoes of the negligent driver at trial. In these accident cases, our Southwest Florida firm will file a lawsuit on your behalf against your own insurance company when they fail to pay you the UM benefits that you are due.
Many times, your insurance company will assert that they have not denied your claim but, instead, do not value the claim in the same manner that we do. Your insurance company has a duty to act fairly and honestly while settling your claim; we may pursue your rights with a Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violation with the Florida Department of Financial Services.
In certain cases, the Department of Financial Services may fine or punish the insurance company for denying your claim. After the filing of the Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violation, your insurance company has 60 days to pay your claim.
Uninsured Motorist Claims after a Car Accident: Contact an Accident Attorney
If you are having difficulty resolving insurance claims after being hit by an uninsured driver, contact a car accident lawyer at the Harris Law Firm, P.A. to assert and protect your rights.
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