by Spencer Aronfeld | Apr 4, 2019 | Uncategorized
Florida drivers are consistently listed as some of the worst drivers in the country. As experienced Miami auto accident attorneys, we know the financial and emotional toll an auto accident can take on the victim and their family. The Miami Herald reports that failure to use turn signals results in 2 million collisions annually in the U.S., according to research by the Society of Automotive Engineers. That is more than twice the 950,000 annual collisions attributed to distracted driving. Based on the analysis, all 2 million of those collisions take place in Miami, where a basic safety feature could have been used to avoid the accident. Drivers fail to use turn signals 48 percent of the time when changing lanes and 25 percent of the time when making a turn, according to a report by automotive engineer Richard Ponziani, who observed 12,000 turning vehicles. That adds up to two billion times a day that Americans do not use turn signals. The use of a turn signal is one of the most basic functions covered in driver’s education. The turn signal indicates to drivers which direction you will be traveling in the future. It may seem like common sense, but using a turn signal when changing lanes on the highway or making a turn onto a different street can eliminate the risk of a Miami car accident significantly. If it is that easy, however, why are more drivers not using their turn signals? To provide a bit of history on the turn signal, this safety feature was first introduced in 1939. It was added to alert drivers as to whether a...
by Spencer Aronfeld | Apr 2, 2019 | Cruise Ship Accidents, Cruise Ship Injury
Eight people were injured after a large construction crane smashed into the Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas Monday as the ship was docked in a shipyard near Freeport in the Bahamas. The ship was undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the incident. Video of the destruction was captured by witnesses and quickly went viral after showing a large crane crashing into the cruise ship was posted Twitter. The construction crane smashed into the stern of the boat where the ship’s AquaTheatre is located. Because the ship was docked for maintenance, only crew members were on board at the time of the accident. All injuries involved the dock workers who were around the ship at the time. One dock worker reported being so close to the crash that the crane barely missed him. At this time, Royal Caribbean does not know the full extent of the damages. They are aware of the damage done to the dock structure and construction crane but are still assessing just how much damage was done to the vessel itself. After the incident, Royal Caribbean sent the ship home early and offered refunds to all affected passengers. The Oasis of the Seas is one of the fourth largest cruise ships in the world. The ship is 1,187 feet long, 215 feet wide, and has a gross register tonnage of 225,282. At one point in time, this four-deck luxury ship was the biggest cruise ship in the world, but it was eventually surpassed by sister ships through the Royal Caribbean line, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas....
by Spencer Aronfeld | Apr 1, 2019 | Cruise Ship Accidents, Cruise Ship Injury
A Wisconsin woman is facing criminal charges in the Cayman Islands and even possible prison time after a gun was found in her luggage. This story is a cautionary tale for other cruise passengers regarding the importance of reading the restrictions on what can and cannot be brought on a cruise vacation and the consequences of what can happen if a prohibited item is found. Carol Ann McNeill-Skorupan left Florida for a nine-night cruise through the Caribbean last month. The first stop on the cruise was in the Cayman Islands. While the ship was stopped at port on February 3, McNeill-Skorupan received a notice that her third piece of luggage, which did not arrive with her on the flight from Wisconsin to Florida, had finally made its way to the George Town airport. She left to retrieve her bag where she was arrested due to a .25 caliber handgun and six rounds of ammunition that the Cayman Island authorities discovered in her bag. These items were found during a routine X-ray of the third bag when it arrived at the airport. McNeill-Skorupan argued that she had a valid Wisconsin concealed carry permit, which allowed her to possess the firearm and ammunition. However, despite her claims that the permit justified the weapon, the Caymans considered it an illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm. She spent three nights in jail before finally being released on $10,000 bail and a surrender of her passport. She was released and allowed to stay at a local hotel, although she has reportedly been allowed to return to Wisconsin. Depending on how this plays out, she...
by Spencer Aronfeld | Mar 28, 2019 | Car Accidents
A bill that would let law enforcement pull over Florida drivers they see texting and driving is moving closer to becoming law. This week, House Bill 107, filed by state Rep. Jackie Toledo, R-Tampa, was passed unanimously by the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. The bill will now go to the House Appropriations Committee. The new proposed bill would shift texting while driving from a “secondary” offense to a “primary” offense. Under current law, a police officer cannot pull someone over simply because that person is texting and driving. The driver must commit another infraction first- for example, speeding or reckless driving. Out of the fifty states, Florida is one of the most lenient ones in terms of penalizing drivers who have caused an accident due to taking their eyes off the road to finish a text. According to a study done by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, after examining 3 million crashes, the study showed that accidents occurring because of texting have increased by 11 percent from 2013 to 2016. The problem is now considered to be an epidemic. The Senate proposal would begin with a public-awareness campaign, with warnings being handed out to violators from Oct. 1 through the end of the year, at which time citations would start to be issued. Drivers’ billing records for wireless devices would be admissible as evidence when the drivers are involved in crashes involving death or serious bodily injury. What to Do if Involved in a Distracted Driving Accident It is easy to see that distracted drivers are frequently at fault for car accidents on Florida’s roads. This means other drivers...
by Spencer Aronfeld | Mar 26, 2019 | Cruise Ship Accidents, Cruise Ship Injury
Norwegian Cruise Lines wants to reward teachers who inspire their students and their communities by giving them a FREE cruise vacation. As Teacher Appreciation Week approaches in May, Norwegian is looking for nominations for teachers who inspire and share the joy of learning. Now until April 12, 2019, Norwegian is accepting nominations for teachers to win a FREE cruise on the Norwegian Joy. Anyone can submit a nomination, including the teacher themselves. If you want your favorite teacher to win, you can also share your submission on social media to gain more votes. The more votes the teacher receives, the better chance they have of being selected as a finalist. Norwegian will select the TOP 15 nominees who will receive a free cruise vacation for two, an exclusive invitation to an award ceremony on May 3 in Seattle (including airfare and accommodations) and the chance to win the grand prize of $15,000 for their school. To nominate your favorite teacher, go to the Norwegian Cruise Line’s website. Nominations will be accepted now until April 12, 2019. INJURED ON A CRUISE SHIP OR CRUISE SHIP EXCURSION? SPEAK TO A CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY: 1-866-597-4529. If you have been injured on your cruise, on a wet and slippery deck, down a poorly lit staircase or steep gangway, in port on an excursion, or on a tender boat- it is important that you speak as soon as possible with a lawyer who specializes in personal injury claims against cruise lines. Most cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Disney, Holland America, Princess, Costa, Regents Seven Seas and Oceania require...
