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5
Mar

Deadly I-75 crash leads to warning signs

March 5, 2012

In Tallahassee, Florida, lawmakers are racing against a looming deadline. They are considering spending money on interstate warninging signs as part of their effort to reach a deal on a new state budget.

In the wake of a horrific crash in January that left 11 people dead, Florida legislators have decided to set aside $2 million to put up large “real-time” signs that will warn motorists about dangerous driving conditions on I-75, reports My Fox/Tampa Bay.

Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, said that the money will be used for signs in Alachua County, but also it will help purchase signs that will go elsewhere on the state’s interstate highway system.

“It’s a response to the I-75 accident,” said Horner, the chairman of the House panel that oversees transportation spending. “But we decided that we wanted to look at doing this across the state.”

Florida lawmakers have until Tuesday to reach a final deal on a budget for 2012. That’s because state law requires the budget to be placed on the desks of lawmakers 72 hours before a final vote can be taken. The session is scheduled to end this Friday.

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The Florida auto accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene want you and your family to drive safe on the Florida roadways.

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2
Mar

Two-vehicle Collision Kills One Woman

March 2, 2012

A 91-year-old Bradenton woman was killed Wednesday when the car she was a passenger in pulled in front of oncoming traffic, reports the Herald Tribune.

She was a passenger in a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis being driven by a 90-year-old man, eastbound on Cortez Road near 24th Street West around 2 p.m., according to reports.

The 90-year-old man was attempting to turn left into a Home Depot parking lot, crossing the westbound traffic lanes, troopers reported.

But, he pulled the Mercury into the path of an oncoming 2005 Honda Pilot, driven by a 46-year-old woman.  The Pilot struck the passenger side of the Mercury.

Crews responded and transported both of the people in the Mercury to Blake Medical, and the woman in the Honda to Manatee Memorial.

The 91-year-old woman was pronounced dead at Blake Medical Center shortly after 4 p.m., some two hours after the accident on Cortez Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 90-year-old man suffered serious injuries, and the 45-year-old woman suffered minor injuries.

All involved were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, troopers reported, and alcohol is not considered a factor.

The 90-year-old man was charged with violation of right-away.

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The Florida auto accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene send our condolences to the woman’s family and friends.

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1
Mar

Elderly Drivers Have Trouble Navigating American Roads

February 29, 2012

Older drivers are facing problems on the road, and Florida is taking innovative solutions to address these problems, reports NPR.

As baby boomers advance through their 60s, the likely consequences on America’s roads are not good. Older drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents.

Based on their amount of travel, older drivers are twice as involved in fatal crashes then younger drivers.

A key problem for older drivers appears to be the left-hand turn. The left-hand turn is considered one of the more difficult driving challenges–trying to keep track of the vehicles coming at you, trying to gauge their speed, trying to be conscious that there are vehicles behind.

If you are an elderly driver in Florida, you can reduce the price of your car insurance by taking a course and watching training videos.

Florida is taking a lead in designing its roads differently to improve safety. One of these improvements is clearer and brighter road signs.

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Have you or someone you know been injured in a Florida auto accident? The Florida auto accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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27
Feb

Nine Employees Busted for PIP Fraud

February 27, 2012

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jeff Atwater announced a big personal insurance protection (PIP) bust in Tampa, reports the Sunshine Slate.

Fraud investigators posing as victims of auto accidents were encouraged by employees of various clinics to sign fraudulent treatment forms indicating medical services that they had never received.

The clinics included Tampa Rehab Center, Auto Injury Doctors of Tampa, and PVC Medical Center. After the forms were completed, the clinics submitted the fraudulent paperwork to insurance companies such as Nationwide, Farmers, Progressive, and 21st Century Insurance.

Facing up to 15 years in prison each for their crimes, the nine employees were arrested and charged with third-degree felonies related to “patient brokering and filing fraudulent insurance claims.”

A statewide grand jury report on exactly this type of PIP fraud noted that prosecutions are rare. “Unfortunately, a number of greedy and unscrupulous legal and medical professionals have turned that $10,000 coverage into their personal slush fund,” said the report. “The result is loss of coverage and marginal medical treatment for those who are injured, as well as higher insurance rates for all drivers.”

CFO Atwater encourages anyone with information about suspected PIP fraud to please call 1-800-378-0445. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and there are possible rewards of up to $25,000.

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Have you or someone you know been injured in a Florida auto accident? The Florida auto accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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24
Feb

Should Roadside Memorials Be Removed?

February 24, 2012

Are the roadside memorials sprinkled throughout South Florida intended to stand eternally?

Some Florida cities don’t follow their own rules for regulating the erection or duration of roadside memorials. They want to avoid the delicate and emotional issue of taking down a marker in memory of somebody who was killed, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

After receiving its first complaint, the city of Coral Springs agreed to start taking down memorials within city limits.

“The families have every right to erect memorials on their own properties or at cemeteries or wherever, but we should not be forced to be the permanent memorial site for their grieving,” a resident wrote in an email to the mayor.

He said that the memorial on Brokenwood Drive is in violation of city rules. Families are allowed to erect their own memorials for 12 months, at which point the memorial is to be replaced with a nonreligious sign.

Whether someone has the right to put up a memorial on roads in Florida depends on where the road is. Some cities don’t allow memorial markers on city roads; some do.

On state roads, the Florida Department of Transportation will install “lollipop” markers unless local governments ban them.

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Have you or someone you know been injured in a Florida auto accident? The Florida auto accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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