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HOLIDAY ROAD SAFETY TIPS

Fall is officially upon us, which means that the holiday season is about to begin. From Halloween until the New Year, you can bet that many Americans will be traveling to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. If you plan on traveling to celebrate with family and friends, you’ll need to prepare your car for colder weather travel and for emergencies.  Here are some holiday road safety tips from RHINO Lawyers to ensure that your holidays are fun-filled and safe.

Prepare Your Vehicle

Though we have some of the warmest winters. There are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of getting into a crash or needing roadside assistance while driving this holiday season. Here are some useful tips to help get you prepared:

• Make sure your car is ready. Basic maintenance is essential to maintaining the life of your vehicle. Just follow the maintenance schedule found in your owner’s manual. Because being stranded on the side of the road is not fun in any temperature.
• Check your tires. Your tires lose air faster at colder temperatures. While this is not as much of a concern for Florida residents, your tires do wear down. Check your tires’ tread and tire pressure often to make sure they don’t need rotating or replaced. If you aren’t sure about your tires, a tire shop attendant will check them for you.
• Be prepared for anything. Carry emergency supplies with you when you travel. Things like water, nutrition bars, a first-aid kit, and other emergency supplies are beneficial in case you are involved in a crash or are left stuck by a weather occurrence that causes an extensive delay.
• Don’t Drive Drowsy or Under the Influence. Driving drowsy or under the influence can affect your ability to drive, don’t get behind the wheel as you’re more at risk to cause a crash. Instead, use an option like UBER or Lyft to get you home safely.

Bad Winter Weather Driving Safety Tips

Whether you do see snow flurries this winter or you travel to a snowy destination here are a few things to make your travels safer:

• Check the weather forecast before traveling. Being caught in a blizzard by surprise or a thunderstorm is no way to spend your holiday.
• Let someone know where you’re going. Make sure to give them addresses to where you plan on staying and information about the other people that you are traveling with. Additionally, check in with your loved ones regularly so they don’t worry.
• Before heading out defrost your car. Take the time to clear the snow off your entire car and double-check that you can see out of all the windows.
• Reduce driving speed and increase your following distance. When road conditions this will ensure you have enough time to come to a safe stop.

What to Do After an Accident

Even, after all, we do to prevent an accident, it still can happen. If you find yourself in this position RHINO Lawyers recommend doing the following:

• After the accident, immediately put your emergency lights on to warn other drivers. If possible, move your car to a safe place.
• If you are not alone, check your passengers for injuries, and if needed call emergency numbers. Call the police if another vehicle has been involved or if you need further assistance.
• Exchange required insurance information with the other driver. Do not discuss the accident with the other person; wait until the police arrive.

CONTACT TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

If you receive a ticket or you’re in an accident this holiday season contact RHINO Lawyers. We can help and guide you through a system that has been molded by law enforcement, judges, and lawyers for decades. Having won cases for our clients in similar circumstances, our personal injury team knows what it takes to fight on your behalf.

Let the Tampa traffic ticket attorneys at RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. Get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.329.3491.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Help keep your children safe if they’re trick-or-treating this year with these great tips from Safe Kids Worldwide:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds of trick-or-treating.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• If your older children are going trick-or-treating alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind trick-or-treaters:
  • Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
  • Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
  • Carry a cellphone for quick communication.
  • Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
  • If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
  • Never cut across yards or use alleys.
  • Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or driveways.
  • Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
  • Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

Have a safe and happy Halloween.

CONTACT RHINO LAWYERS

Injured or Arrested? Our mission is to form a lasting partnership with every client. Our passion is the people we help and the lives that we help change. Don’t become just another case.

Lastly, let the personal injury team at RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. Get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.329.3491.

THE HEAT IS ON – SAFETY TIP

First of all, according to the National Weather Service, heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, and it results in hundreds of deaths each year. Surprisingly, excessive heat claims more lives on average each year than other seemingly more sinister weather events. Like, floods, lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined. So, here is a safety tip to help keep your kids and pets safe as the temperature rises.

Safety Tip: Parked Cars, and Warm Temps – a Bad Mix

To begin with, leaving children or animals alone in parked vehicles is never a good idea, but it’s especially dangerous on warm and hot days. Thus, dozens of children die each year after being left unattended (knowingly or not) in vehicles. Yet, sometimes even it happens when they are left for just a short amount of time. Consequently, the temperature inside a vehicle – even on a warm day that’s just 80 degrees – can rise to levels well over 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, leading to heatstroke once the child’s body can not cool itself down. Furthermore, this applies to animals too. So, remember if it is unsafe for humans, then it is unsafe for animals too.

Save a life. Please call 911 immediately if you see a child or an animal left unattended in a vehicle.

CONTACT RHINO Lawyers

Injured or Arrested? Our mission is to form a lasting partnership with every client. Our passion is the people we help and the lives that we help change. So, don’t become just another case.

Lastly, let the personal injury team at RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. Get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.329.3491.

KIDS & CAR ACCIDENTS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 150 kids between ages 0 and 19 are treated every hour in emergency departments for injuries sustained in car accidents and more children ages 5 to 19 die from crash-related injuries than from any other type of injury.

KIDS & CAR SAFETY TIPS

One of the best ways to help keep your kids safe in vehicles is to know and understand the appropriate age, height & weight limits for car seats, booster seats, and seat belt use:

• Birth up to Age 2 – For the best possible protection, infants and children should be buckled in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat. Keep the seat rear-facing until age 2 or when they reach the upper weight or height limit of their seat.
• Age 2 up to at least Age 5 – When children outgrow their rear-facing seat they should be buckled in a forward-facing car seat, in the back seat. Use car seats until at least age 5 or when they reach the upper weight/height limit of their seat.
• Age 5 up until seat belts fit properly – When children outgrow their forward-facing seat, use a belt-positioning booster seat until seat belts fit. Seat belts fit when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and not the stomach. Also, the shoulder belt will lay across the chest and not the neck.
• Back Seat is Safest. Buckle all children aged 12 and under in the back seat. Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an airbag. Buckle children in the middle of the back seat when possible, because it is the safest spot in the vehicle.

CONTACT

RHINO Lawyers know that car accidents can happen at any time. After a car accident, you may not know what to do or who to call. Don’t struggle through the process alone. Our personal injury team is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding injuries from a car accident.

Let the Tampa auto accident attorneys at RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. Get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.329.3491.

WHAT TO DO AFTER A BIKE ACCIDENT

No matter your level of experience or how careful you ride – a bicycle accident can happen. Unfortunately, these accidents can result in serious injury. It is important to know what to do if you are involved in a bike-car accident.

Being prepared will help you during this tragic event. According to Consumer Reports, there are 10 steps you should do after a bike accident. Where all are important, I believe these steps are essential for your safety and recovery:

• Get to safety. This will prevent more damage from occurring.
• Contact the police. It is important to make sure there is a police report.
• Seek medical attention. Often, injuries are not immediately apparent. Don’t wait, seek medical attention at your local emergency room or by seeing your family physician right away.
• Get your bike checked. Take your bike to a shop to have a professional assess any damages.
• Get Legal Help. Most importantly, consult with an auto accident lawyer.

PROPER SAFETY COULD PREVENT A BIKE ACCIDENT

Bicycle safety is important for both the cyclist and motorist. FLSMV (Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) states motorists must pay special attention when driving around cyclists. Here are some safety tips for everyone to follow:

Motorists

• Drivers MUST give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance when driving alongside or passing them. It’s the law.
• When turning, yield to any bicyclist in the bike lane and make your turn behind the cyclist.
• Avoid using high beam headlights when you see a bicyclist approaching.
• Before opening a car door, check for bicyclists who may be approaching from behind.

Cyclist

• Always wear a properly fitted helmet and securely fasten the strap.
• Be seen. Wear bright colors when riding or wear something that reflects light (reflective shoes, reflective tape, etc.)
• Pay attention. Do not wear headphones so that you can hear the traffic and pedestrians around you. Never text and ride.
• Ride in the same direction as traffic and stay as far to the right as possible. Use bike lanes whenever you can.
• Obey all traffic laws, including signs, signals, and lane markings, when riding on the roadway. If crossing a roadway upon or along a crosswalk, abide by pedestrian crossing guidelines.
• If riding between the hours of sunset and sunrise, Florida Law requires that the front of the bike be equipped with a headlight lamp which exhibits a white light visible for 500 feet, and the rear of the bike equipped with a taillight lamp and reflector visible for 600 feet.

CONTACT

If you are a victim of a bike-car accident don’t struggle through the process alone. Our personal injury team is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding injuries from a bike-car accident.

Let the Tampa auto accident attorneys at RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. Get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.329.3491.

DUI, Hit & Run Driver Injure Cyclist and Pedestrian

In a tough weekend for cyclists and pedestrians, a couple of tragedies underscored the dangers of those who travel among the cars on the roads and highways in Tampa.

In one case, a 17-year-old girl’s lost her life after a drunk driver struck her as she was riding her bike in a bike lane on the Indian Rocks Causeway Bridge. The accident happened around 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 28, 2019, when a BMW veered into the bike lane and struck her. The driver is in jail awaiting trial on charges of DUI and manslaughter.

Paramedics rushed her to a local hospital, but unfortunately, she died from her injuries. Friends and classmates were shocked and upset at the news. The victim had signed up to become a Marine after graduating high school, and she played on the school’s football team.

In another case, a pedestrian hit by a car near the I-75 northbound rest stop in Hillsborough County on Saturday, June 29, 2019, around 12:15 p.m. According to witnesses, the deceased was on the side of the road on I-75 when a Volvo commercial vehicle struck him. The driver kept on going, and California Highway Patrol is asking anyone with information to call them at (813) 558-1800.

Pedestrians and Cyclists

There are laws that protect cyclists and pedestrians from being injured by cars, but even with these laws, accidents occur. Both groups are especially vulnerable to injury. They do not have protection when traveling on the roads and streets where motor vehicles run.

Even the slightest bump by a car that weighs at the least around 15 to 20 times the weight of the average person—even with a bicycle—can be deadly. A cyclist is almost always knocked to the ground. And, a pedestrian has nothing protecting him or her from the vehicle.

The Law and Negligence

When a driver breaks the law and injures a pedestrian or cyclist, what happens? Does this mean it’s automatically the driver’s fault? Can the injured person just sit back and wait to collect compensation?

The answer is no, a law violation doesn’t mean that the driver is automatically at fault. In fact, Florida state law says that a violation of a criminal law or traffic code is not to be used to automatically say a driver is at fault in a personal injury case.

This means that the injured person—or their family in a wrongful death case—must prove that the driver was at fault. More importantly, they must determine the driver to have acted negligently.

DUI

If the person was impaired, it sure seems that the driver is going to be at fault, and more times than not, this is the case. However, an impaired driver may not be the one that ran the light or drove into the side of the other car. The injured must still prove that the impaired driver was at fault.

Hit-and-Run

The same goes for a hit-and-run driver. They will face criminal charges when caught. In some cases of serious injury felony. However, at a civil trial, the court will look at which person was responsible for the accident.

Do I need an Attorney?

Injured as a pedestrian or a cyclist by a hit-and-run or drunk driver, then don’t make any assumptions. Speak to our personal injury team who can give you an unbiased evaluation of your case and inform you of your rights.

At RHINO Lawyers, we offer a free consultation to go over your case and help you to get the best possible outcome.

Wrong Way Driver Kills Motorcyclist in Head-On Collision

A man driving the wrong way on a freeway hit a motorcycle rider head-on killing the rider. The tragic accident happened on I-75 in Pasco County around 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 19, 2019. According to Florida Highway Patrol, the 84-year-old driver of a 1994 Lincoln Town Car was getting on the onramp to I-75 northbound from I-275, and when he came to the end of the onramp, he inexplicably made a turn to the south and begin driving the wrong way on I-75.

Another car swerved out of the way and hit a pickup truck in a minor collision. The Lincoln swerved as well and ended up driving on the west shoulder of the freeway. A 45-year-old man riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle swerved to avoid the cars in front of him and also went to the west shoulder and met the Lincoln head-on.

Police are still investigating the accident and say that it’s too early to tell if any charges will be filed.

Wrong-Way Accidents

Each year, around 350 to 400 people die in wrong-way driving accidents across the country. Most of these end up in a head-on collision which is one of the deadliest types of crashes. These accidents happen primarily because someone enters the freeway or other divided highway on an exit ramp, or turns the wrong way when using the on-ramp.

According to the Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are four primary scenarios that lead to a WWD incident: Impaired drivers, confused drivers, poor signage and weather.

In the crash above, police say the driver was confused.

What do I do if I’ve Been Injured in a Wrong-Way Driving Accident?

The best thing to do after you take care of your immediate medical needs is to talk to an attorney. Don’t talk to anyone from the insurance company or their lawyers until you have spoken to an attorney. At RHINO Lawyers, our personal injury team offer a free consultation where we can inform you of your rights under the law.

We have the experience to deal with the insurance companies and their tactics. Then we can deal with the insurance company and work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.

RHINO Lawyers is the powerful, results-driven law firm, that takes Insurance Companies and Bullies “head-on!” We describe our bold modern approach to “Accident & Personal Injury Law” and “Our Personal Mission” to empower Florida’s families to “Take Charge!”

Lime Scooter Rider Collides with Tractor Trailer in Tampa

A 33-year-old man was seriously injured when he crashed with a tanker truck in Tampa Thursday evening, June 20, 2019. According to Tampa Police, the accident happened when the scooter rider was traveling northbound in the bike lane on N. 20^th Street, and the scooter veered a bit off course and was struck by the tanker traveling in the same direction.

Local witnesses say the scooter was demolished, and at one point, the rider was lying on the ground. The rider was taken to a local hospital and is listed in critical condition.

The driver of the tanker stopped at the scene and was cooperating with authorities. The accident is still under investigation, and no charges have been filed at this time.

Update: We are deeply saddened to learn that this man has succumbed to his injuries: Tampa Bay Times.

Scooters and Tanker Accident

Obviously, a scooter is no match for a tanker truck, so, the idea is to keep them apart. To do this, Tampa has bike lanes that allow bikes, e-bikes, and scooters. Just a few days before this accident, scooters were restricted to sidewalks, but Governor DeSantis signed a bill on June 18, 2018, that allowed Florida cities to make their own rules regarding bikes and other similar vehicles that determine where they can travel.

This was a huge win for Lime and other companies, and many people will be glad to see at least some of the scooters off of the sidewalks and into the street. However, the downside is that with scooters being in the streets in the bike lanes, this puts them alongside the cars which, as this story shows, can be risky for the scooter rider.

Scooter Injuries

When a scooter crashes with just about anything, it can be serious for the rider. The speed limit for scooters in Tampa is 15 mph, but at that speed, a crash can produce a fair amount of damage and injury. You should also consider the vehicle involved in the collision. Just about any motor vehicle outweighs a scooter and rider by a factor of at least 20, and even a small bump can be deadly for the scooter rider.

Larger vehicles like tankers and tractor-trailers can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. In addition, any contact with one is more likely due to the large blind spots on these larger trucks.

Once scooters hit the ride-sharing scene, local emergency rooms have seen a huge rise in the number of injured scooter riders. Some of the most common injuries are:

• Head Injuries
• Shattered elbows and knees
• Broken ribs
• Deep contusions
• Road Rash
• Face fractures
• Fractured wrists

What if I’ve Been Injured in a Scooter Accident?

The first thing to do is to attend to your immediate medical needs, but then you may want to consider speaking to an attorney about your circumstances. There are many questions about insurance and compensation that get raised when injuries occur on these scooters.

Whose insurance will pay? What if I’m at fault, can any of my medical bills be paid? Can the scooter company be made to pay?

Present all these questions—and many more—to an attorney familiar with these scooters, insurance, and personal injury. At RHINO Lawyers, our personal injury team offer a free consultation where we can evaluate your case and outline where your compensation might come from.

RHINO Lawyers is the powerful, results-driven law firm, that takes Insurance Companies and Bullies “head-on!” We describe our bold modern approach to “Accident & Personal Injury Law” and “Our Personal Mission” to empower Florida’s families to “Take Charge!”

Accident Fatalities and Liability in Florida

Accident fatalities have dropped slightly in 2017 and 2018 and have steadily been dropping—with a few exceptions—for the last several decades. Unfortunately, they still occur.  However, when accident fatalities happen sometimes questions raised about liability.

Insurance v. Estate Liability

Auto insurance is to cover the losses of the driver when he or she injures someone else. So, many people think that auto you use insurance to cover the damages for the injured. But, the insurance company is not contractually obligated to pay the injured driver. They’re obligated to pay any financial losses their driver incurs because they caused an accident.

Why is this important? Because when the at-fault person dies, the insurance company doesn’t owe the injured (as we discussed), but the estate of the deceased does owe the injured because of probate and inheritance laws. Thus, the obligation to pay for the losses incurred by the estate lies with the insurance company.

In many cases, the insurance company will work with the injured to settle, but if there is no satisfactory offer for the injured, then it becomes necessary to sue, and since the person at fault is deceased, his or her estate must be sued.

A Recent Crash

An 81-year-old-man died Saturday, June 22, 2019, when his car collided with two others. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the man was driving a Toyota Corolla on Little Road toward Denton Avenue. He apparently ran a red light, struck a semi-truck which then struck a Ford F-150 that was in the intersection waiting to make a left turn.

Both drivers of the other cars plus one passenger were taken to a local hospital for serious injuries, but it’s not clear which vehicle the passenger was riding in. The FHP is still investigating the accident.

Although we don’t know who was at fault in the above-mentioned accident. When the at-fault person dies, it can be uncertain who now owes for the damages caused by the driver.

Do I Need an Attorney?

Most likely yes. It’s not as simple as making a typical insurance claim. While the law does not require an attorney if an estate owes money to an injured person. At the least, you should talk to an attorney for unbiased advice and case evaluation.

At RHINO Lawyers, our personal injury team offer a free consultation to go over your case and help you to get the most compensation you can for your injuries. RHINO Lawyers is the powerful, results-driven law firm, that takes Insurance Companies and Bullies “head-on!” We describe our bold modern approach to “Accident & Personal Injury Law” and “Our Personal Mission” to empower Florida’s families to “Take Charge!”

Liability when Passengers are Injured in Auto Accidents

In most accidents, there are two cars and one at-fault driver which makes liability simple to understand. Under Florida law, those injured by the negligence of someone else can recover damages from that person.

Florida law also requires that each person has auto insurance. Typically, the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay for the damages. However, sometimes things aren’t that simple. What happens if a car crashes due to the driver’s negligence injuring their passengers?

The law still applies, and when the passengers are traveling with the at-fault driver. Then that person’s auto insurance will cover injuries and even pay for a wrongful death.

Reluctance to Make Claim

But many times, people don’t feel comfortable making a claim against someone who is a friend or another family member. This is understandable, but the truth is, if the driver had insurance, it was just for that reason.

Statistics show that less than three percent of all personal injury claims go to trial. This means that around 97 percent are settled by the insurance company. Chances are you won’t be taking your friend to court.

At-Fault Driver’s Without Insurance

What if the driver doesn’t have insurance? Florida law requires that all motorists have at least $10,000 property damage and $10,000 bodily injury. However, if they don’t, they face a ticket, fines and will be on the hook for all the damages.

Florida also requires each motorist to have what’s called personal injury protection or PIP. Which will pay out damages without regard to fault, and because fault is not an issue. So, any passenger that has PIP can use that money to cover the damages from a car accident. In fact, even if the driver has insurance, with PIP, any injured person who has that coverage will use their own policy to cover damages up to $10,000.

Wrongful Death Liability and PIP

One problem is PIP only covers medical bills and property damage but not for a wrongful death or other losses like pain and suffering. Unfortunately, many motorists don’t have insurance except the mandatory PIP which means that if they hurt someone and that person dies, then their insurance won’t cover it.

This is why many Florida motorists have additional coverage like uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) which will pay for losses when there is no other insurance or that insurance isn’t enough. This means that if a passenger has UM/UIM on their policy, then that will pay for a wrongful death claim made by their family.

A Recent Crash

As a tragic example: the driver of a 4-door sedan lost control of the vehicle and crashed killing all three occupants. The tragic accident happened just after midnight, Wednesday, June 19, 2019, on the John Ringling Causeway in Sarasota. According to the Sarasota Police Department, three teens were traveling westbound on the bridge when the car crashed.

Family and friends converged on the scene and left flowers and stuffed animals to remember their loved ones and support the families in their time of grief. Several friends expressed their dismay and remembered how kind the teens were to other people.

Contact a Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer Today

If you were a passenger in an accident where the driver was at fault, don’t try to figure out the insurance on your own. The personal injury team at RHINO Lawyers know Florida insurance laws and have a great track record of standing up to them and getting all the coverage the law allows.

RHINO Lawyers is the powerful, results-driven law firm, that takes Insurance Companies and Bullies “head-on!” We describe our bold modern approach to “Accident & Personal Injury Law” and “Our Personal Mission” to empower Florida’s families to “Take Charge!” Contact us for a free consultation after an accident resulting in a serious injury.