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11
Apr

Teens cautioned not to drink and drive

April 11, 2012

Spring is a season that brings lots of fun events for young people all across the United States, and Florida teens are no different. Springs breaks, proms, graduations, and senior trips are just a few of these significant springtime events.

Because too many tragedies that involve drinking and driving in connection to these events are reported by the media each year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has declared April as Alcohol Awareness Month.

The Miami Personal Injury Attorneys at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene are encouraging teens to celebrate these events without the use of alcohol or illicit drugs. While many teens are choosing to say no to alcohol and drugs, springtime and its events bring added pressure to drink and drug for teens.

We are asking you to consider a couple statistics:

1) The NHTSA’s estimate of the number of 15- to 20-year-olds that die in alcohol-related crashes is six death each day.

2) More than four million young people (ages 16-20) reported driving under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs in 2011.

Considering stats such as these, the accident and injury lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene are asking teens not to drink and drive. Remember the life you save may be your own or a friend of yours.

Help keep your spring events safe and yourself sound to live out the rest of your life.


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9
Apr

Accident becomes a death investigation

April 9, 2012

A February accident near Tampa is now being worked as a “delayed fatal crash investigation,” reports Hernando Today.

On April 5, one of the victims of that accident, a 72-year-old Illinois snowbird died from injuries sustained in the crash. After the accident, he clung to life for 50 days. Now that the man has died, more charges against the responsible party are possible.

The man who caused the accident was driving his Ford when he crashed into at least three vehicles, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The last vehicle that he hit was the older man’s Toyota pickup.

The Toyota flipped over several times. One witness at the scene said that he was shocked when the man was pulled alive from his vehicle because of the condition of the truck.

Shortly after crashing into the pickup truck, the 38-year-old man’s Ford van came to a stop. The man’s charges include “leaving the scene of an accident” and “battery on a law enforcement officer.”

A friend of the older man’s family said that the driver responsible ”robbed a man of his life. He might as well have had a gun and used it to shoot people because he got into his (van) and used it as a weapon. . . . We want justice to be done.”

Read more.

The Miami car accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene extend our condolences to the family and the friends of the man who died in this accident.

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4
Apr

Small plane crashes into grocery store

April 4, 2012

On Monday evening an experimental plane crashed into a Publix grocery store at a Florida shopping center, reports MSNBC.com. Five people were injured with burns as fire shot through the roof and the store.

Moments before the plane hit the roof of the supermarket, calls to 911 said that the single-engine plane showed signs of trouble.

The plane had taken off from DeLand Municipal Airport, and then it suffered engine failure.

The crash occurred at about 7:20 p.m. at the Northgate Shopping Center in the 200 block of International Speedway Boulevard, a half-mile from the DeLand Municipal Airport.

“It was horrific,” said a customer. “When I turned around, I saw the ceiling caving in. Once the tiles were down, there was just pure fire, and then the fire was propelled towards the doors almost to the cash registers.”

The injured include three shoppers and the two people on the plane. The plane’s pilot and passenger suffered critical injuries.

A 20-year-old college student who suffered burns was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was in stable condition. Two other shoppers were treated at Florida Hospital DeLand and are expected to be released soon.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Safety Transportation Board have been notified and will be investigating.

Have you or someone you know been injured in a Florida accident?

The South-Florida personal injury lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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2
Apr

Changes Coming to Florida’s Car Insurance Laws

April 2, 2012

Curbing fraud in the state’s no-fault car insurance law was a top priority for 2012 for lawmakers and the governor, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

New legislation alters how drivers use their insurance, attempts to reduce crash-related lawsuits, and seeks to lower insurance rates.

After Gov. Scott signs the bill into law, some of the changes will begin this summer, but drivers won’t see their policies change drastically until 2013.

The measure (HB 119) includes a requirement that insurance companies reduce personal injury protection (PIP) premiums at least 10 percent by Oct. 1, and 25 percent by 2014.

PIP reform restores no-fault car insurance to its core mission, lawmakers say.

“My goal was to put PIP back into its original character as emergency treatment to get you back on your feet,” said Sen. Joe Negron, the Stuart Republican who helped craft the changes.

The Senator also said, “There is a strong alliance of senators who are going to hold the insurance companies’ feet to the fire and make sure they reduce rates dramatically.”

Tougher licensing standards for medical clinics, a new statewide anti-fraud task force, wider use of long-form accident reports, and stiff penalties for providers caught defrauding the system are some of the expected changes.

Read more.

Have you or someone you know been injured in a South-Florida or Miami car accident?

The Miami personal injury attorneys at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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30
Mar

3-vehicle accident in St. Pete causes minor injuries, closed roads

March 30, 2012

In St. Petersburg, a 29-year-old man from Pennsylvania hit a stopped car with his Lexus and triggered a three-vehicle accident Wednesday on the Howard Frankland Bridge, according to Old Northeast Patch.

The Lexus was traveling in the center lane on the Howard Frankland Bridge when the driver swerved to avoid hitting a Chevy Suburban that was stopped in traffic.

The vehicle hit the left back end of the Suburban being driven by a 30-year-old St. Petersburg woman. Her three children–ages three months, 4, and 6—were all passengers in the car.

The impact of the Lexus propelled the Suburban into the path of a Chevy Blazer, causing the SUV to roll over. A 37-year-old man and a 40 year-old-woman, both from St. Petersburg, were inside the Blazer at the time of the crash.

The accident closed down the northbound lanes for an hour so that emergency vehicles could respond to the crash. In all, seven people suffered minor injuries and were transported to area hospitals for treatment: the Lexus driver to St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Suburban driver and passengers to All Children’s Hospital, and the Blazer driver and passenger to Bayfront Medical Center.

The Lexus driver was charged with careless driving in the accident.

Read more.

Have you or someone you know been injured in a South-Florida car accident?

A Miami personal injury lawyer at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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