Paul Rebein Chosen for Florida Legal Elite for 2010

Paul Rebein has been chosen as one of the Florida Legal Elite for 2010.  The Legal Elite selection process was rigorous.  It began with an invitation to all members of the bar to provide the names of the Florida Lawyers they hold in the highest regard–lawyers they have worked with personally or would recommend to others.  The votes were tallied by an independent research firm, and a Blue Ribbon Panel of prominent lawyers reviewed the list of attorneys who garnered the most votes.

We are pleased to accept this prestigous award and look forward to living up to the title of Florida’s Legal Elite!

Should Law Enforcement Crack Down on People Who Don’t Wear Their Seat Belts?

Today marks the kick of f of a “Click it or ticket” seat belt enforcement program. During the crackdown, Florida law enforcement officials will be setting up seat belt enforcement checkpoints and ticketing drivers and passengers who aren’t buckled up. Obviously, seat belts save lives and everyone should be encouraged to wear them. Every day we see people killed in accidents who are not buckled up. This is especially true for young children whose lives are in the hands of adults who should do everything they can to protect them. But some argue that seat belt usage–like other risky activities–is a matter of choice and you should not be penalized for not wearing them. What do you think? Should law enforcement ticket people who are not wearing their seat belt?

Florida Should Pass Ban on Texting While Driving

It is so tempting.  You are driving down the road when, “ding” you get a text.  Initially, you keep your eyes on the road, but as time passes the temptation to find out what important message has just been sent to you is just too great.  You pick up the phone and glance down at the text and read it.  This takes about 2 seconds.   You keep driving, but soon the temptation to respond gets to you again.  You grab your phone and start typing in the response.  You might even steer with your knees so you can type with both hands.  As you finish typing, you look up and suddenly see that you have been looking down for 5 seconds and you have almost run into the car in front of you that is stopped at a light.

This is an all too common scenario.  Tragically, drivers often don’t react in time and plow into the back of the vehicle in front of them.  It is unclear how many accidents are caused by drivers who are texting, because drivers rarely admit that they are texting.

Florida is considering passing a bill to ban texting while driving.  Please contact your representative  to urge them to pass this important piece of safety legislation.  To read more on this topic, click here.

If you or a loved one is injured in an accident, please call Paul at 813-305-PAUL (7285) or email Paul@rebeinlaw.com for a free initial consultation.

What Should I Do if I am Injured in a Bus Accident?

Some people get a false sense of security when they travel in a large bus.   They think that, because the bus is such a large vehicle, they won’t get seriously hurt if there is an accident.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for a number of reasons.  First, bus passengers are usually not wearing seat belts.  As a result, when the accident happens, the passengers are often thrown about the bus.  Second, large tour buses have a very high center of gravity.  When they veer off the road, they often roll and cause serious injuries.

Both of these things happened in a recent tour bus crash in Highlands County.  The crash happed on US 27 and lake Francis Road.  A charter bus was  heading north when  a car failed to yield the right of way and crashed into the left side of the bus.  The bus veered off the shoulder of the road  and flipped, ejecting several passengers.  Sadly, two passengers died at the scene and many more were injured.  Read more about this tragic event here.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, call the Rebein Law Firm at 813-305-Paul (7285) or email paul@rebeinlaw.com for a free initial consultation.

Was accident with Hillsborough County Deputy caused by Toyota Sudden Acceleration?

Three teenagers were injured, one of them critically, in a crash with a Hillsborough County Deputy’s cruiser.  The accident happened outside Citrus Park mall on Friday.  The teen’s car was stopped at a red light at the Gunn Highway exit of Citrus Park Mall.  Suddenly, the car accelerated for an unknown reason and smashed into the side of the police cruiser.

It sounds like this accident may have been caused  by “sudden acceleration” problem we’ve seen in Toyota vehicles.  The car driven by the teen was a 2007 Toyota Corolla.  If this is the case, Toyota should be held responsible for the injuries caused by the accident.

To read more about the story click here.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, call us at 813-305-Paul (7285) or email paul@rebeinlaw.com for a free initial consultation.

Accident Shuts Down I-275

A three-car accident shut down a south-bound portion of Interstate 275 this morning around 11:30 at Sligh Avenue. A garbage truck driver lost control of his vehicle causing it to end up over a guardrail. The right lanes of the Interstate were then closed for 45 minutes. A driver failed to notice that cars ahead were slowing down and crashed into the car in front, causing that car to crash in the one in front as well. The injured drivers were immediately taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Click here to read the full story.

If you or a loved one was injured in a traffic accident, please call 813-305-PAUL or email Attorney Paul Rebein at paul@rebeinlaw.com for a free initial consultation.

Homeless Man Dies After He Gets Hit By A Car

A homeless man was killed crossing a street in Pinellas Park late Monday night. The man appeared to be stumbling as he attempted to cross Park Boulevard, walking into the path of an oncoming vehicle. He was immediately taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Click here to read the full story.

If you or a loved one was injured in a traffic accident, please call 877-305-PAUL or email Attorney Paul Rebein at paul@rebeinlaw.com for a free initial consultation.

The Dangers Of Texting While Driving

The Dangers Of Texting While Driving:

Click here to view the video

New Red-light Cameras To Be Installed At 10 Intersections In Tampa

Red-Light cameras should be installed at different intersections in Tampa by next Fall. The list of intersections has not yet been finalized but officials are developing a plan to include intersections that are most accident-prone. This initiative will hopefully reduce the number of accidents at the most dangerous intersections in Tampa.

Click here to read the full story.

If you or a loved one was injured in a traffic accident, please call 813-305-PAUL or email Attorney Paul Rebein at paul@rebeinlaw.com for a free initial consultation.

Man In Motorized Wheelchair Hit By Car In St Petersburg

A man in a motorized wheelchair is in critical condition after a car hit him Tuesday evening in St Petersburg. Witnesses say the man in the wheelchair attempted to cross First Avenue N without using a properly marked crosswalk. He also did not have any lights and was therefore not visible to the driver of the car who hit him. He was immediately taken to Bayfront Medical Center with, according to St. Petersburg fire officials, traumatic injuries.

Click here to read the full story.

If you or a loved one was injured in a traffic  accident, please call 813-356-0567 or email Attorney Paul Rebein at paul@rebeinlaw.com for a free initial consultation.