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Florida Car Accidents on Private Property Driving on private property happens more frequently than most people may realize. Most of the time that you park your car in a grocery store parking lot, you are on private property. In Florida, many neighborhoods have private roads. According to the Florida Highway Safety Car Accidents Crash Facts Report 15% of all accidents that involve property damage happen on private property. These car accidents can be more serious. On June 22nd, 2017 a woman was killed in an Englewood, Florida, parking lot after a car backed into her. Who is at fault in private property car accidents? Some people don’t realize that rules that apply to public property may not be the same on private property. In some cases, it may be difficult to get a police report for a car accident on private property. Even with a police report, the at-fault party may not be clearly established. In many of these cases getting crucial evidence from a property owner can be a challenge. Southwest Florida Property Owner Liability Improperly maintained private property may shift liability to the owner of the property. The following are examples of neglect on the part of a property owner. Missing stop signs Blind spots due to overgrown foliage or other conditions causing line of sight issues Missing direction signs Poorly maintained driving surface Liability may belong partially or entirely to the property owner. Property owner liability can create an extra wrinkle when determining the at-fault party in a private property car accident. Who to call if you’re the victim of a car accident on private property As the victim of a car accident on private ,property it is important to seek legal representation. Knowing your rights can help begin the recovery process. We have six offices in Southwest Florida. Our offices are conveniently located in Fort Myers (two offices to serve you), Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres and Port Charlotte. Call Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz today to schedule your appointment for a free consultation.

Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz is a community leader in advocating for reducing drunk driving accidents. Accordingly, for the third year, the firm is a presenting sponsor for Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD) Walk Like MADD 5/10k walk and run. Importantly, the event raises money to ensure no one in our community suffers from drunk driving accidents. The Southwest Florida virtual event is planned Sept. 26 or Sept. 27 and hopes to raise $65,850. Although virtual, the Walk Like MADD still includes food coupons, finisher medals and custom neck gaiters. “Having committed community and event partners like Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice and Purtz, brings us closer to a community of No More Victims of drunk, drugged and impaired driving,” said Lori Burke, executive director of the MADD Southwest Florida Office. Why We Support MADD Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz staff and attorneys see the impact of drunk driving accidents through their clients, reinforcing their support for MADD. Firm partners Christopher and Andrea Smith personally support MADD. Chris leads fundraising for the the firm’s walk team. In addition, both Chris and Andrea have lost family members to drunk driving accidents. In fact, Chris was named after a family member who was killed by a drunken driver. Other Support for Reducing Drunk Driving Accidents Also, attorneys from the firm have been active in reducing drunk driving accidents, supporting area multi-jurisdiction DUI checkpoints. For the briefing dinner before these events, our firm often provides food for the officers. “Supporting the checkpoints demonstrates to the officers that the law firm and the community supports them in their dedication to make our community safer,” Burke said. Reducing drunk driving accidents is high on the list. On average, drunk driving harms two out of thee people in the U.S. during their lifetime. Every two minutes, a drunk driving crash injures someone. Every day, imparied driving kills 28 people. For information, to donate or to sign up for the Walk Like MADD click here.

Parking Lot Car Accidents Whether you are a pedestrian or a driver, parking lots can be an especially dangerous place mainly due to increased traffic congestion. Often, pedestrians and drivers are lulled into a false sense of security, because the pace of traffic is much slower than on the roads. Accident Statistics There are several statistics that illustrate the seriousness of parking lot accidents. 1 out of 5 motor vehicle crashes take place in a parking lot 14% of all automobile insurance claims involving damage to a vehicle take place in parking lots On average, there are 206 fatalities/year One quarter of all parking lot accidents involve vehicles travelling in reverse How to Avoid Parking Lot Accidents Abide by signage such as stop signs or speed limit signs Use headlights and park in well lit areas Avoid traffic congestion – parking further away from your destination will reduce the likelihood you are involved in a collision Avoid distractions such as phone usage What to Do If You’re In A Crash Parking lot accidents can be tricky to navigate because oftentimes these are relatively minor compared to an accident on a road or highway. According to the InsuranceHotline.com you should treat this type of crash as if it were any other vehicle accident. The Insurance Hotline offers these recommendations: If possible, move your vehicle out of the way Check vehicle occupants for injuries – Call 9-1-1 if necessary If you feel safe to do so check on the safety of the occupant(s) of the other vehicle Report the accident to authorities – when in doubt it is better to be safe than sorry Contact your insurance company to report the accident Who to Call If Injured In an Accident Accidents can happen anytime. While many of these accidents are minor, the consequences can linger. From minor injuries to fatalities or even financial loss, it is important to seek qualified legal counsel to assist you. The attorneys at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice and Purtz have over 5 decades of legal experience to serve you. Give us a call today to schedule a free consultation.

Can’t wait to celebrate the end of 2020? Be careful! Unfortunately, personal injuries on New Year’s Eve and Day are not uncommon. Causes of personal injuries on New Year’s Eve can include: Car accidents Drunk driving Slip-and-fall accidents Premises liability accidents Fireworks accidents Pedestrian accidents Dog bite accidents While officials are not quite sure what to expect for New Year’s Eve 2020, they do know that alcohol consumption has increased by 14% over a year ago, including 17% for women, according to a report published in the JAMA Network Open. Also, alcohol sales at the beginning of the pandemic in March rose 54%, according to a Nielsen survey, with health experts explaining that people are turning to alcohol to cope with a life-altering global crisis. Personal Injuries on New Year’s Eve from Drunk Driving According to SafeAuto.com, compared to an average night on the weekend, there are 71% more crashes with drugs or alcohol as a contributing factor between Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. and Jan. 1 at 6 a.m. In just that 12-hour period, alcohol and drug related car crashes skyrocket. As a result, the National Safety Council estimates that 384 people may die on U.S. roads this New Year’s Day holiday from 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 to midnight on Sunday, Jan. 3. In addition, nationwide, alcohol-impaired fatalities (involving blood-alcohol content of 0.08 g/dL or higher) in 2018 represented 29% of the total traffic fatalities. Also, curing the 2018 (latest available data) New Year’s Day holiday period, 39% of fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver. New Year’s Eve Safe Driving Tips Before heading out to New Year’s celebrations this year, drivingschool.net recommends the following tips: Designate a driver who will not drink on New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day. If drinking, spend the night with a friend or family member to avoid needing to drive home. Never allow someone who has been drinking to get in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. Take their keys. Don’t ride with someone else who has had even one or two drinks. It’s better to call a friend or family member for a ride, even if it’s embarrassing then to get behind the wheel and cause a serious accident. Call the police if they see an impaired driver out on the road. SoberRides.org provides a desktop and mobile site with options for how to get home safely. If you host a party, contact a local cab company to provide rides for your guests, or have a trusted designated driver ready to take guests home if necessary. According to MedicalDaily.com, hosts could be held responsible if someone leaves their home and kills or hurts someone in an alcohol-related collision. Other Personal Injuries on New Year’s Eve Drunk driving is not the only source of personal injuries on New Year’s Eve. Other injuries can include: Pedestrian accidents. New Year’s Day is one of the most hazardous day of the year for pedestrians. Be sure to stay on paths and watch traffic. Cross at crosswalks and frequent well-lit areas. Projectile Champagne corks. To avoid a forceful cork explosion, chill Champagne to at least 45 degrees and place a towel over the top of the bottle when opening, pointing away from yourself and others. Fireworks. Keep fireworks away from children and pets. Sparklers burn at temperatures of 2,000 degrees! Keep a bucket of water handy, light fireworks one at a time and stay clear. Better yet, leave fireworks to the professionals. Anxious pets. Many pets have anxiety about fireworks and noise and can bite, run away, cause accidents or become lost. Keep them indoors and comfortable. Make sure fences and gates are secure, and that your pet has a current ID tag or microchip. Gunfire. Some cultures have a tradition of celebratory gunfire at midnight. It’s illegal, and falling bullets can be fatal. According to the American Safety Council, a young teen was killed in 1999 in Phoenix by a bullet that was fired into the air more than a mile away. Personal Injuries on New Year’s Eve May Happen! We all want to enjoy a safe and happy new year. We hope you don’t need to call us, but when accidents or injuries do occur, we offer free consultations and are here to help you understand your rights. From our family to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy and safe 2021. With nearly 60 years of experience in the community and five offices throughout Southwest Florida, we are your personal injury experts.

RV Accident in Southwest Florida Many people come to Florida to enjoy our beautiful weather and scenic surroundings.  A recreational vehicle is a popular way to explore the beauty of nature without giving up the comforts of home.  RV usage is expected to reach an all-time high in 2017, per the Recreational Vehicle Association.  This increased usage of RVs naturally leads to a rise in accidents involving RVs.  Here are some things to consider if you are the victim of an RV accident. Cause of Motor Home Accidents / RV Accidents RVs are unique types of vehicles that many people are not familiar with.  In many cases, there is no extra license requirement or training necessary to operate a motorhome or tow an RV.  According to Geico, here are some of the common causes of RV accidents. Tire Blowouts: Overloading, under inflated or old tires Clearance and Height driving mistakes: RVs hitting bridges and gas station overhangs Overloading: Uneven weight can cause restricted braking and steering Type of RVs / Motorhomes on Florida Roads RVs fall into two main categories.  The first category is the motorhome, these are the vehicles you see that may look like a bus or a truck with a built-in camper.  The other category is towable, these are trailers that have living quarters.  Different RVs have different insurance coverage requirements. Motor Home Insurance / RV Insurance in an Automobile Accident In many ways, motorhome insurance works the same as the insurance for your personal vehicle.  Motorhome insurance policies have limits to how much the policy will pay.  Towable RVs are covered under the policy of the vehicle towing the RV.  As the victim of an RV accident, it is important to understand how policy limits affect you. Who to Call If You’re Involved in a Car Accident with an RV (Motorhome) in Florida When you are the victim of an RV accident it is important to know your rights.  The attorneys at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, and Purtz have over 5 decades of experience with personal injury cases. We have six offices located in Southwest Florida. Our offices are conveniently located in Fort Myers (two offices to serve you), Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh and Port Charlotte. Call us today to set up your appointment for a free consultation.

Dry January Observing Dry January by abstaining or reducing alcohol consumption is a growing trend, and this year, Dry January may be needed more than ever. According to Nielsen’s market data, total alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants have surged roughly 24% during the pandemic. Spirits with higher alcohol content rose more than 27% over last year.  These alcohol trends in the midst of the pandemic were despite evidence that alcohol has the ability to decrease immunity! In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes alcohol increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon and breasts among women. Women are at greater risk for some of the negative effects of booze, including absorbing more alcohol than men and taking longer to break it down. Also, women are more vulnerable to brain and heart damage then men from alcohol. Limiting alcohol has been listed as one of four simple New Year’s resolutions that will reduce the risk of breast cancer. Dry January: Benefits Another New Year’s resolution that is gaining traction is Dry January. Social mentions of the practice of stopping or reducing drinking for the month of January increased 1,083% from 2015 to 2019. Dry January started in the United Kingdom by Alcohol Change in 2013 and has been growing worldwide ever since. It’s a New Year’s wellness trend that allows people to start the year clearer, more refreshed and safer. Alcohol Change estimates that four million people, or around 1 in 20 Britons, now participate each year. Benefits of Observing Dry January Abstaining from alcohol is not without benefits. Here are some of the bad effects of drinking alcohol: Masks underlying depression and anxiety, making symptoms worse Degrades sleep quality Dehydrates and can spike blood sugar Suppresses your body’s immune system Here’s another bonus of observing Dry January that often goes unmentioned. When you stop drinking, you will not risk drinking and driving. But you don’t have to give up tasty drinks altogether when observing Dry January. Town and Country magazine offers these recipes for delicious mocktails. We Stand Against Drunk Driving Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz is a community champion for putting an end to drunk driving. For three years, the firm has been a presenting sponsor for Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Walk Like MADD 5K walk and run, which raises money to ensure no one in our community suffers from the impacts of impaired drivers. Our staff and attorneys see the impact of drunk driving through the clients we represent, reinforcing our advocacy for MADD. Nationally on average, two out of three people will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime. If you or anyone you love is suffering from injuries from a drunk driving accident, our attorneys can help.