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Ask The Lawyer – Radio Show
Bruce L. Scheiner speaks with Todd Matthews on KIX Country 92.9 every Wednesday morning at 9am to answer questions related to Personal Injury. If you have missed any of these features, we have archived audio files of previously broadcasted features here on the “Ask the Lawyer” page.
Dec 11, 2024
My sister was in a big box store with her nine-year-old daughter when, suddenly, a large box fell and struck her daughter. She was knocked unconscious and was taken to the hospital by an ambulance with several broken bones and a severe head injury. One of the employees who came to help my sister said the box must have been knocked off the shelf by a worker on another aisle. When we contacted the store manager, they indicated that the worker was a vendor, not a store employee, so they were not liable. We are getting a runaround, and we were hoping the attorney could tell us what we should do.
Dec 04, 2024
My daughter, attending school in Gainesville, was sexually assaulted by a maintenance staff member at the apartment complex. It turns out that the maintenance person who was hired by the complex had a previous sexual assault conviction in Orlando two years earlier. The maintenance person had a master key and could access her apartment when her roommates were away over the weekend. My daughter is devastated and will need psychological therapy to deal with the trauma for a long time. We wanted to sue the apartment complex but were unsure if hiring a lawyer in Gainesville was necessary. Can you ask the lawyer who we should contact? Shouldn’t there be better laws to protect apartment renters?
Nov 27, 2024
Could my sister pursue legal action against the company that owns the tractor trailer, considering she was struck by one of the vehicles that the truck hit after the driver had fallen asleep, and she was severely injured as a result? She will need surgery and extensive physical therapy, even though her car wasn’t directly hit by the truck but rather by another vehicle in the chain reaction. Would the company be held liable for her injuries if the driver’s negligence led to the accident, despite her not being directly in the truck’s path? Also, what kind of evidence would be helpful to support a claim in this situation?
Nov 20, 2024
My mother was shopping at a local supermarket when she went down one of the aisles. She slipped on a slippery substance that was on the floor. The fall caused her to break her hip and wrist. She will have to have surgery on both her hip and her wrist. The manager came over and stated that he had told one of his employees to clean up the mess 15 minutes ago. The store acted like they would pay all the medical bills and even lost income, but then their insurance company claimed they were not liable and didn’t believe my mother slipped on anything. A friend of mine who works there said someone had seen the accident on their video system. Can a lawyer help us, or is it too late if we have already spoken to the insurance company? Is there anything you can do if they destroy evidence?
Nov 13, 2024
My son was riding on the back of a motorcycle. The motorcycle driver cut in front of a car a little too close, clipping the bike’s back and causing it to go down, killing the driver and severely injuring my son. We found out the motorcycle driver only had minimum motorcycle insurance, and I didn’t know what to do. My son is covered under my insurance, including our umbrella policy. However, I am concerned that our insurance won’t cover the accident since the driver he was riding with might have been at fault. My son is only 19, and this accident will likely affect him for the rest of his life. I am on disability and don’t have any money; can the lawyer help?
Oct 30, 2024
I loaned my son my car to drive to work a few days ago. While he was driving to work, a construction company pickup pulled out and crossed two lanes of traffic, sideswiping him, pushing him into oncoming traffic, totaling my car, and injuring my son. We have a recorded video of the accident from a bystander showing the incident. FHP reviewed this view on the scene and used it to deem the construction company driver responsible for the accident. My son was hospitalized with multiple injuries and will need physical therapy for weeks. I am curious about my legal options as my son was not on my insurance. I don’t even know if my insurance coverage will be enough to cover how severe my son’s injuries are. Can you ask the lawyer what our legal options are?
Oct 23, 2024
My Uncle was riding his motorcycle home from work when he was struck by a drunk driver who ran a stop sign. He has just been released from intensive care and will need multiple surgeries. The driver was arrested and charged with drunk driving. The driver only has minimum insurance, which won’t begin to cover his medical expenses. A TV news story indicated that the driver had been flagged for drunkenness several times by the bartender at a local bar. However, the same bartender still served him multiple margaritas because it was his birthday, according to one patron. The patron said he tried to get the driver’s keys less than an hour before he struck my brother-in-law. Can you ask the lawyer if anything can be done to help my brother-in-law?
Oct 16, 2024
My son was walking down our street and was struck by a hit-and-run driver. He was hospitalized with multiple broken bones and will be unable to work for at least three months. He and his wife have been living with us for the last year. He doesn’t have a car right now, so he doesn’t have insurance. I have a small landscaping business and have full coverage, including uninsured motorist coverage. Can my insurance help pay the bills and lost wages even if my son has no car?
Oct 02, 2024
My wife and I were stopped at a light on Daniels Parkway when a pickup truck slammed into the rear of our vehicle at a high rate of speed. My wife and I were both taken to the hospital by ambulance. We both have severe injuries which will require lengthy rehabilitation. The at-fault driver was not injured and was ticketed. When we contacted his insurance company, they indicated that he had a seizure. Thus, it was an act of God, and he is not liable. Our neighbor is friends with the at-fault driver’s wife, and she had told them that her husband had experienced seizures for the last few months. Is the insurance company correct about it being an act of God, and thus, the driver is not at fault? Please ask the lawyer what we can do.
Sep 25, 2024
My daughter was riding her motorcycle in Punta Gorda through an area of road construction when she was struck head-on by a car in the single lane she was directed to enter. Although she wasn’t going very fast, my daughter was thrown from her motorcycle and received a broken leg, several broken ribs, and needed surgery for a shoulder injury. The men directing traffic got their signals crossed and sent both drivers into the single lane. The driver of the car is claiming my daughter hit his vehicle. A witness was driving behind my daughter and confirmed the man directing traffic had sent her into the single lane. My daughter is severely injured, and she only had minimum insurance. The construction company foreman denies his men screwed up. Can the lawyer help us figure out what we should do?
Sep 18, 2024
My brother was driving on Tamiami Trail when a Semi-Truck with the name of a major retailer on it swerved into him, causing his car to flip over and crash into the guard rail. The trucker was ticketed for reckless driving. Unfortunately, it turns out the driver of the truck is underinsured. My brother was in intensive care and was scheduled to have multiple surgeries, affecting him for the rest of his life. My sister-in-law contacted the major retailer; they claim that they leased the truck; however, the driver was an independent contractor, so they are not liable. We have insurance but not nearly enough to cover the medical bills, not to mention the therapy and medical assistance he will need for years to come. Can you ask the lawyer what we can do?
Sep 11, 2024
My daughter was vacationing in Miami and rented an e-bike with some friends. While crossing in the crosswalk with the light in her favor, a car took a right turn and struck her. She was taken to the hospital with a broken arm and leg. She will need surgery and a lot of physical therapy. The at-fault driver didn’t have insurance. We have full coverage on our cars, including Uninsured Motorist coverage. I read an article that said e-bikes aren’t considered vehicles, so I am worried our car insurance won’t help. Can you ask the lawyer?
Sep 04, 2024
My sister recently rented an Airbnb home in Naples. The house had a swimming pool, which my sister wanted for her children to enjoy. The pool had a fence around it, but my sister didn’t realize the gate was broken, and her 3-year-old son found his way into it. Tragically, she discovered him floating in the pool, and he was unresponsive. My sister was able to perform CPR while waiting for an ambulance, and she was able to resuscitate him. At the hospital, they told my sister her son had probably been in the water for three or more minutes and was suffering from brain damage, which would require lots of therapy. She contacted Airbnb, who told her to contact the host’s homeowner’s insurance. The host said they were not responsible and to contact Airbnb. We are so confused. Can you ask the lawyer what we should do?
Aug 15, 2024
My uncle was riding his bicycle to work the other day, and a guy driving a van side-swiped him, causing him to crash. The police came and ticketed the driver for reckless driving. My uncle was taken by ambulance to the hospital with severe injuries. His leg was crushed and will need multiple surgeries, and he may not be able to walk for quite a while. The driver of the van had minimum insurance. An electrical supply company owned the van, but the driver had just been fired and was told to take his tools home and return the van. The company claims they are not responsible for his actions because he is no longer an employee. Can the lawyer help?
Jul 24, 2024
My son was walking down our street and was struck by a hit-and-run driver. He was hospitalized with multiple broken bones and will be unable to work for at least three months. He and his wife have been living with us for the last year. He doesn’t have a car right now, so he doesn’t have insurance. I have a small landscaping business and have full coverage, including uninsured motorist coverage. Can my insurance help pay the bills and lost wages even if my son has no car?
Jul 17, 2024
A girl struck a neighbor riding his bicycle in the evening with her car. My neighbor has a broken leg that will need surgery, and he will not be able to work for months. The girl fled the accident scene and later claimed someone had stolen her vehicle while she was sleeping. However, one of her friends said she had a call from the girl on her cell phone and was distraught. Her father owns an accounting firm, and this was a company car. None of the family was home to confirm the girl was sleeping. The father’s insurance company denies responsibility. Is there anything a lawyer could do for my neighbor?
Jul 10, 2024
My nephew and one of his friends were crossing the street in the crosswalk with the light in his favor when he was struck by a vehicle headed in the same direction, making a right-hand turn. The drive struck my nephew, sending him to the hospital with a broken leg and other injuries requiring surgery. The driver’s insurance claims he had the green light and was not at fault. My brother has five children, and his wife is disabled, so they can’t afford the hospital bills, not to mention the physical therapy his son will need. My brother doesn’t know what to do and is afraid to call a lawyer because he doesn’t have the money to pay legal fees. Can you ask the lawyer what my brother should do?
Jul 03, 2024
My husband and I rented a condominium through Airbnb. Our kids were playing in the back area. There was a pool with a fence around it, so we weren’t worried about the kids, who were 3 and 5 years old. We didn’t know that the gate on the far side of the pool was broken and stuck open. The kids wandered in, and our 3-year-old son fell in the pool. Our daughter yelled for help, and we came as quickly as possible. Our son had been in the water for several minutes and wasn’t breathing. I was about to perform CPR, and he finally gained consciousness. However, the doctors are saying he was unconscious for so long that he has brain damage and will require a lot of therapy for possibly years. The condominium is saying that we are not owners and they are not responsible for our son’s injuries. The homeowner association said they had notified the management company about the gate and were responsible for making repairs.
Jun 12, 2024
I was in a big box store two weeks ago with my wife. My wife left me to go to a different aisle, and all of a sudden, I heard her scream. When I arrived, she was lying on the floor in a puddle. One of the store employees called over the manager, who immediately called an ambulance. The manager told us the roof had been leaking and that he had already called back the roofing company, which was supposed to have repaired the roof earlier in the week. The manager said this was the third leak in this aisle that day. My wife broke her hip and will need to have it replaced. When we contacted the big box store’s insurance, they claimed it was the roofer’s responsibility and were not liable. It turns out the roofing company doesn’t have any insurance. Can you ask the lawyer what we should do?
Jun 05, 2024
My sister was a passenger in a car struck by a late model Lexus making a right-hand turn. The driver of the vehicle my sister was a passenger in told the police that the other vehicle was speeding. My sister was taken to the hospital with severe injuries requiring surgery. The at-fault driver has denied he was speeding, and there are no witnesses. Is there anything a lawyer could do?
May 29, 2024
My uncle went to the low-price superstore just after 8 pm. He was walking toward the door when an employee ran into his back with a bunch of shopping carts. My uncle fell and shattered his knee, and he will need surgery. The manager came out and called an ambulance. He told my aunt that he would file an incident report and that the store would handle the medical bills. Three weeks later, when they contacted the corporate offices, they said that the employee denied running into my uncle and that they would not pay for his injuries.
May 22, 2024
While staying at a friend’s house in Sarasota, my son borrowed his friend’s motorcycle. He was riding on State Road 45 when a driver ran a red light and struck him. He was thrown over 10 feet and was taken to the hospital with severe injuries. The driver who ran the stop sign had a suspended license and no insurance. His friend who lent him the motorcycle only had minimum insurance. He has already spent ten days in the hospital, and the medical bills will be enormous. I recently added something called stacking uninsured coverage to our car insurance at my brother’s recommendation. Still, we are worried because my son wasn’t driving in our cars and doesn’t have a motorcycle license. Can the lawyer help?
May 15, 2024
My son and one of his friends were crossing the street in the crosswalk with the light in their favor when he was struck by a vehicle headed in the same direction, making a right-hand turn. The driver struck my son, sending him to the hospital with a broken leg and other injuries requiring surgery. The driver’s insurance claims he had the green light and was not at fault. I have five children, and my wife is disabled, so we can’t afford the hospital bills, not to mention the physical therapy my son will need. I don’t know what to do and am afraid to call a lawyer because I don’t have the money to pay legal fees. Can you ask the lawyer what I should do?
May 8, 2024
My daughter and I were crossing in the crosswalk with the light in our favor on Main St in Naples when a delivery courier on an E-bike struck my daughter at a high rate of speed. An ambulance took my daughter to the hospital with a broken leg and severe internal injuries. The courier was also injured, but he has no insurance. I contacted my insurance company because I carry full insurance coverage, including uninsured motorist coverage. Still, they informed me that an E-bike is not considered a motor vehicle, and thus, my car insurance does not cover the accident. Can you ask the lawyer if that is true? Am I out of luck?
April 24, 2024
My brother-in-law was riding his motorcycle home from work on March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) when he was struck by a drunk driver who ran a stop sign. He has just been released from intensive care and will need multiple surgeries. The driver was arrested and charged with drunk driving. The driver only has minimum insurance, which won’t begin to cover his medical expenses. A news story in the paper indicated that the driver had been flagged for drunkenness several times by the bartender at a local bar. However, according to one patron, the same bartender still served him multiple drinks on St. Patrick’s Day. The patron said he tried to get the driver’s keys less than an hour before he struck my brother-in-law. Can you ask the lawyer if anything can help my brother-in-law?
April 17, 2024
My daughter was a passenger with a college friend who ran a stop sign and caused a terrible accident. My daughter was taken to the hospital with multiple broken bones, a concussion, and a severe neck injury. The driver was ticketed and only had minimum insurance. We have always maintained full insurance coverage, including uninsured motorist coverage. Will that protect my daughter even though she wasn’t driving? Does the fact the person she was riding with was at fault for the accident eliminate any claim? Please ask the lawyer if he can help.
April 10, 2024
My wife was killed in an auto accident. The at-fault driver only had $25,000 of bodily injury liability insurance. I later learned that the at-fault was en route to pick up a customer as an Uber driver. Can we do anything besides collecting the driver’s small insurance policy limits?
March 27, 2024
My sister was crossing on a crosswalk with the walk sign on when a van struck her. She has multiple injuries and will need surgery. She was struck by a man driving a work van who only has minimum insurance coverage, and he is claiming he was not responsible because the sun was setting at the time of the accident, blocking his vision, so he never saw her. Can you ask the lawyer what we should do?
March 20, 2024
I own a pickup truck insured by Allstate. My wife owns an SUV insured by Progressive. Last week, my son was home from college and was struck while driving his motorcycle and was taken to the hospital with severe injuries. The at-fault driver who hit him only had minimum insurance. Unfortunately, my son didn’t have insurance on the motorcycle. We were told that because he didn’t have insurance, our insurance didn’t cover him. Can you ask the lawyer if this is true?
March 13, 2024
My brother was riding his motorcycle south on Tamiami Trail and came to a stop in the left-hand lane to make a left-hand turn. He saw a vehicle in the distance, but he made a turn given the distance. The car heading northbound struck the rear of his motorcycle, sending him in the air over 10 ft. He has many severe injuries and requires both leg and shoulder surgery. He was wearing a helmet, so he only got a concussion, which could have been much worse. Several witnesses told police that the other car was traveling at a very high rate of speed. The driver has denied that, and although he has full insurance coverage, his insurance company is blaming my brother for the accident. I am told there is no way to prove my brother was not at fault. Can the lawyer help?
March 06, 2024
My son was home from college in Alabama and was riding an electric scooter. He was crossing the road in the pedestrian walkway when he was struck by a vehicle making a right-hand turn. My son was taken to the hospital with severe injuries, including two broken legs. Unfortunately, the vehicle that hit him only had $10,000 in bodily injury coverage. Our family owns multiple cars, including two work trucks, and has full coverage on all the vehicles. Our insurance company is saying because our son attends an out-of-state school, he was not a resident relative and, thus, not covered by our insurance. Can a lawyer help?
February 27, 2024
My daughter and her family were driving to spend a few days at the attractions in Orlando when she was involved in multiple cars and tractor-trailer accident on I-4. Her car flipped over and landed in the median. My daughter and her 5-year-old daughter were both taken by ambulance to the hospital with serious injuries. The reports on the news indicated that several witnesses thought one tractor-trailer driver was speeding and switching lanes, causing a multi-car accident. We don’t know who struck my daughter’s car. She has full insurance, and her husband thinks they should leave things to the insurance company. This situation will be complicated, and the insurance company may try to minimize my daughter’s claim. Could you ask the lawyer to explain why my daughter shouldn’t wait to contact a lawyer?
February 20, 2024
My nephew was crossing Route 41 in the crosswalk with a light in his favor. A vehicle turned from the intersection and struck him, sending him to the hospital with severe injuries. The driver was also taken to the hospital because he had a seizure. The insurance company for the driver has told my brother (his dad) that the accident wasn’t his fault because he had a seizure. My brother got a copy of the police report, which indicated that the driver’s wife said he had been having seizures for several months. Can you ask the lawyer if the insurance company is correct that the driver is not responsible because he had a seizure?
February 19, 2024
My grandson recently moved into my house to attend FGCU and go home to his parents in the summer. He uses a bicycle for transportation even though my wife and I have three cars and would gladly lend him one. Unfortunately, while riding down the street, a car pulled out of the driveway, crashing into him, causing severe injuries as well as hospitalization. The doctors are saying my grandson will need multiple surgeries and rehab. I learned that the driver was uninsured. Since my grandson didn’t have a car so, of course, my grandson didn’t have car insurance. Is there anything my grandson can do?
February 07, 2024
My 20-year-old son was driving his buddy’s motorcycle and had an accident. He has been severely hurt and spent over a week in the hospital. His buddy didn’t have any insurance on the motorcycle. We know his friend’s family well, and like us, they carry full insurance on their cars and trucks but not the motorcycles. A friend of our insurance agent says we might be out of luck because the car insurance coverage may not cover the motorcycle. Is there anything we can do to get some help with the enormous medical bills?
January 31, 2024
My wife was a passenger in her vehicle being driven by her friend. She was involved in a severe accident, which resulted in her hospitalization with a broken hip. The other driver was ticketed for being at fault for running a stop sign. The at-fault driver had no bodily injury insurance. When I purchased insurance for my wife’s car, I made a big mistake by not purchasing uninsured motorist coverage. What made things even worse was that my wife’s friend, who was driving, had just lectured me about uninsured motorist coverage and stacking uninsured motorist coverage. Is there anything a lawyer could do?
January 24, 2024
My Uncle was driving on I-75 when a Semi-Truck with the name of a major retailer on it swerved into him, causing his car to flip over and crash into the guard rail. The trucker was ticketed for reckless driving. Unfortunately, it turns out the driver of the truck is underinsured. My Uncle was in intensive care and is scheduled to have multiple surgeries, which will affect him for the rest of his life. My Aunt contacted the major retailer, and they are claiming the truck was leased and the driver was an independent contractor, so they are not liable. The leasing company says they are not responsible either. They have insurance, but not nearly enough to cover the medical bills, not to mention the therapy and medical assistance he will need for years to come. Can you ask the lawyer what we can do?
January 17, 2024
My wife was crossing the street in a crosswalk when one of our neighbors, driving a golf cart, struck her. I took my wife to the hospital. The emergency room doctor indicated my wife had a broken hip, which would need surgery and months of therapy. The person driving the golf cart gave me his car insurance information. The insurance company says they are not responsible because a golf cart is not a motor vehicle. I was surprised considering so many people in our area use golf carts to travel the roads, run errands, etc. I have full coverage on my cars, but now I am not sure my insurance will cover the accident. Would you ask the lawyer if what I am being told is true? Is there anything a lawyer could do to help?
January 10, 2024
My brother was working for an electrical company installing lighting in a new tunnel that was being built. The tunnel collapsed and caused my brother to have severe injuries which required surgery. He’s also having to undergo physical therapy. The electrical companies’ workers compensation is paying all his medical bills and lost wages. The company that was building the tunnel was investigated, and it turns out they had violated several state safety regulations and were fined a significant amount of money. My brother has been told he is not entitled to any additional money for how much he suffered. The state workers compensation insurance only covers medical and lost wages. Could you ask the lawyer if he can do anything to get reimbursed for his pain and suffering?
January 01, 2024
My brother was driving his motorcycle safely when a commercial truck ran a stop sign and hit him, causing severe injuries. The doctors say he will require multiple surgeries, including having a metal rod inserted in his leg. The medical bills are going to be enormous. The commercial truck company will not pay for his injuries because they discovered my brother’s license was suspended. He didn’t know that his license had been suspended for failure to pay parking tickets. My brother didn’t carry enough insurance to pay all his medical bills. Can you ask the lawyer if he is out of luck?