Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Leaving children unattended in South Florida's sweltering heat can be a killer. As reported by the Miami Herald, a 22-month-old boy from Homestead died earlier this week in a van outside a daycare. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the boy's death. The family of the boy has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the daycare. The family's attorney believes the boy's death is heat-related.

This story follows the death of a 2-year-old girl who died from the heat outside a Delray Beach daycare in a van last August.

An estimated 3.5 million children are the victims of abuse or neglect each year in the U.S., according to preventchildabuse.org. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 1,770 children died in the U.S. in 2009 as a result of child abuse or neglect. 35.8% of these deaths were linked to neglect.

Continue reading "Wrongful Death of Child Left in Van Leads to Immediate Miami-Dade Lawsuit" »

At least one person has been injured following a single-vehicle car crash in West Palm Beach. The auto accident happened in the morning hours of July 14, 2011, when a car lost control and crashed into a tree, resulting in the car catching fire. It is yet undetermined how many passengers were in the vehicle. The vehicle hit a utility pole before striking the tree, resulting in nearly 3,000 people losing power for about two hours on the morning of the accident.

More than 1.75 million single-vehicle crashes happened in the U.S. in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of those crashes, 18,745 were fatal and 489,000 resulted in injuries.

Single-vehicle accidents are sometimes caused by defective vehicle equipment or design, such as defective brakes, steering systems, or tires. These types of equipment and design problems can lead to car accidents with catastrophic injuries, and in some cases, death. A product liability attorney can help determine liability and hold the negligent party accountable for damages in a single vehicle accident.

In some cases, single-vehicle accidents are the result of poorly maintained roadways. Unsafe road conditions may be caused by a construction company that set up a road improperly, or other defect in the maintenance or traffic control of the road.

Continue reading "West Palm Beach Car Accident Results in Residential Power Loss " »

A Coconut Creek crash has resulted in the death of an 18-year-old man from Boca Raton and a 27-year-old man from Deerfield Beach. The accident, which occurred in the early hours of July 12, 2011, involved a motorcycle and a pickup truck. Police are currently investigating this motorcycle accident.

Motorcycle accidents are caused by a variety of factors, including rider inexperience, speeding, drug or alcohol use, not checking blind spots and failure to obey traffic laws. According to the Ocean State Chapter Harley Owners Group (oshog.org), two-thirds of motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle were caused by the other vehicle driver's failure to yield the right-of-way to the motorcycle.

Continue reading "Coconut Creek Motorcycle Accident Kills Two Men in Broward County" »

Amusements parks are visited by millions of people nationwide each year. Unfortunately, thrills can quickly turn to tragedy in an amusement park accident. Earlier this year, a young boy was killed and 20 others were injured when a train ride derailed at a South Carolina amusement park.

According to reports, the train inspector was fired for falsifying maintenance documents. The inspector gave the train passing grades despite mechanical problems, including issues with the train's brakes and wheels.

According to National Safety Council statistics, an estimated 1,181 injuries occurred at fixed-site amusement park rides in the U.S. in 2009.

Amusement parks have a responsibility to maintain their equipment and facilities to the highest safety standards in order to ensure the safety of their guests. When injuries or wrongful death occur due to the negligence of amusement park staff and owners, the emotional and financial effects can be devastating to the person injured and their family.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Amusement Park Injury Lawyer Comments on Theme Park Accidents" »

A family from Destin, Florida, was killed in a plane crash on Saturday, July 9, 2011 as they were flying home from St. Louis. According to a report in the Palm Beach Post, the airplane, a Cessna C421, lost an engine prior to the crash.

An airplane crash can happen due to a variety of factors, including pilot fatigue, pilot error, mechanical problems or defects with the aircraft, and negligent maintenance. In the tragic event that a family member is killed in a plane accident, the family of the victim can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the persons or company responsible for the accident.

Continue reading "Florida Plane Accident Results in the Death of 7 People" »

An ATV crash over the July 4th weekend has resulted in injuries to three people and the firing of two Miami Beach police officers. Kitzie Nicanor and Luis Almonte were injured when an ATV driven by officer Derick Kuilan crashed into them. The ATV was also carrying a female (non-police) passenger, who sustained minor injuries. Kuilan was on duty when he operated the ATV, which had been issued by the Miami Beach police department. The Miami Beach police department confirmed that Kuilan and his partner, police officer Rolando Gutierrez, were seen at the Clevelander Hotel prior to the accident. An investigation is on-going to determine whether alcohol was a factor in this ATV accident.

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) first became available in the U.S. in the early 1970s and have gained popularity ever since. Unfortunately, these vehicles have also been linked to serious injuries and deaths over the years. According to ATVSafety.gov, there were 376 deaths and an estimated 131,900 injuries related to ATVs in the U.S in 2009.

Continue reading "Miami ATV Accident Leaves 3 Injured" »

A crash in Margate on July 5, 2011 involving a fuel truck and a Broward County transit bus has injured 25 people. Police are investigating the cause of this truck accident, in which the fuel tanker apparently rear-ended the bus. The drivers of the vehicles involved were not injured.

Truck accidents can be caused by many different factors, including driver fatigue, improper vehicle maintenance, careless or reckless driving, improper driver training, speeding and drug or alcohol impairment. Accidents involving large trucks often result in serious personal injuries, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and damage to internal organs. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, 74,000 people were injured and 3,380 were killed in accidents involving large trucks.

Accidents involving buses can be very dangerous because of their large size and weight. Additionally, buses don't provide the protection of safety belts found in many other motor vehicles.

In Florida, many buses fall under the category of common carriers, meaning the owners and operators must follow high safety standards for their passengers. When people suffer serious injuries or death at the hands of a negligent bus driver, the bus company may be vicariously liable for the accident, meaning the company will be held responsible because of its relationship to the driver.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Truck Accident Lawyer Comments on Margate Accident Involving Fuel Truck and Broward Bus" »

A Palm Beach County bus accident on July 1, 2011 has left at least five people injured. Police are investigating the cause of the accident, which involved a car and a public bus.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 58,000 crashes involved buses nationwide in 2009, 221 of which were fatal. Bus crashes in 2009 resulted in injuries to approximately 12,000 bus occupants and death to 26 bus occupants.

Due to the large size and capacity of buses, a bus crash can result in serious personal injuries for people involved in a bus accident. These injuries can include spinal cord injuries, head injuries, broken bones, neck and back injuries, and in some cases, wrongful death.

Continue reading "Bus Accident Results in Injury to Five from Crash" »

We hope you and your loved ones had a safe and happy Independence Day. As families and friends gather at homes during the year for celebrations including New Year's Eve and the 4th of July, it is important to practice safety when using fireworks, sparklers and firecrackers, in order to avoid personal injuries.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 8,600 injuries linked to fireworks occurred in 2010. More than 50 percent of these injuries were burn injuries. Other injuries included cuts, eye injuries, hand and finger amputations, and other harms serious enough to send people to the emergency room. Approximately 73% of injuries linked to fireworks in 2010 happened between June 18 and July 18 of that same year.

The following are some safety tips to avoid burn injuries from fireworks:

• Keep fireworks away from children. Do not let children light any type of fireworks.

• The use of sparklers by children should only be practiced under adult supervision. Sparklers can be extremely dangerous and potentially cause personal injuries.

• After lighting fireworks, make sure you move away quickly and don't stand over the fireworks.

For more fireworks safety tips, please visit the CPSC website

Continue reading "Coral Springs Burn Injury Attorney Provides Fireworks Safety Tips" »

Riding a jet ski can be one of life's most exhilarating experiences, if practiced safely. However, as highlighted recently by the jet ski accident of Miami-born singer Sean Kingston, riding a personal watercraft can lead to a crash resulting in personal injuries.

On Memorial Day weekend of 2011, Kingston and his passenger crashed into Miami's Palm Island Bridge and were ejected from the jet ski into the water. Kingston suffered injuries including a fractured wrist and a broken jaw.

According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, personal watercrafts accounted for 20 percent of reported boating accidents nationwide in 2010. There were 1,221 accidents and 38 deaths involving personal watercrafts in the U.S. in 2010.

The following are some safety tips to steer clear of a jet ski accident:

• Make sure you are familiar with the operator safety manual and understand how to operate the watercraft before riding.
• Be mindful of your surroundings. Keep away from boats, other vessels, and swimmers in order to avoid an accident.
• Never stand on the jet ski while it's in motion.

For more jet ski safety tips, click here

Continue reading "Coral Springs Injury Lawyer Offers Jet Ski Safety Tips" »

The Fourth of July is right around the corner and we hope you enjoy celebrating with your friends and family. We also want to remind you to stay safe on the roads during this holiday, as the Fourth of July is one of the deadliest holidays for car accidents linked to alcohol use.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics for the past quarter century, on average, approximately half of all fatal car crashes on the 4th of July are alcohol-related. The latest data available shows that in 2009 in the U.S., 410 people were killed in auto accidents on the Fourth of July. Of those accidents, 40 percent involved drunk drivers.

Memorial Day was the deadliest holiday in 2009, with 473 deaths (42 percent of which were linked to drunk driving); New Year's Day was the second deadliest holiday for that same year, with 468 deaths, 40 percent of which were alcohol-related.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Accident Lawyer Reminds Drivers to Stay Safe This 4th of July Weekend" »

An auto accident on I-75 that occurred early Thursday, June 23, 2011, has resulted in the death of two men. A 37-year-old man from Broward County, who was allegedly driving the wrong way on the road, and a 44-year-old Peruvian man were involved in the accident. Police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,382 drivers and motorcycle riders were involved in deadly motor vehicle accidents linked to driving the wrong way in 2009.

There are many different reasons a person can end up going the wrong way on a road, including driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, inexperience, cell phone use, distraction, or confusion. Drivers should be completely focused on the road and read road signs carefully in order to avoid driving the wrong way. If you encounter a wrong-way driver, you should try to safely pull over to the side of the road and attempt to get the driver's attention by beeping your horn and flashing your lights.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Comments on Fatal Wrong-Way Broward County Accident" »

Imagine you are in your car and your friend sends you a text. You're tempted to read it and respond. You think this will only take a second.

But even a few seconds of taking your eyes off the road could lead to a car accident.

Distracted driving is everywhere nowadays, and it's not just automobile drivers that are contributing to the problem. While this blog focuses mainly on the distraction of mobile devices, it is important to know that any activity that takes your eyes, mind, and focus off the road is considered a distraction.

Pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders, and even runners have become distracted by cell phones, mp3 players, and mobile game systems. Distractions from mobile devices have also made their way into people's work environments. In fact, headlines from the past year show that boat and train operators have been distracted by their phones while on the job, in some cases affecting the safety of others.

An NBC New York report from November 2010 discussed a train driver who was allegedly texting while operating a train. The driver's texting, thankfully, did not cause an accident, but is an example of the threat that distracted driving poses to public safety. The train operator was suspended indefinitely.

Last summer, an accident involving a duck tour boat and a barge led to the death of two people. Mobile phone use was to blame for this accident. Wrongful death lawsuits have been filed by the families of both victims.

Driver distraction is becoming such a safety issue that it should be in the same category as drunk driving, according to the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB). The Board met this week regarding the tour boat crash mentioned above, and to urge a call to action for people to stop distracted driving.

Continue reading "National Transportation and Safety Board Urges Drivers to End Distractions " »

Earlier this month, three vehicles were involved in a truck accident in Palm Beach County. According to the Palm Beach Post, at least one person involved in the accident may have had minor injuries. The vehicles involved in the accident were two cars and one semi-tractor trailer.

Thankfully, the above story did not result in catastrophic injuries or death for the people involved in the accident. However, there is a high likelihood of serious injury or death when a large truck is involved in a crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009 in the United States, 503 people were killed and 17,000 people sustained injuries as passengers or drivers in large trucks. In total, 3,380 people were killed in 2009 as a result of a crash involving a large truck and 74,000 people sustained injuries. More than 80% of those killed and more than 77% of those injured in truck accidents in 2009 were not passengers or drivers in the truck, but were instead occupants of the other vehicles in the crash or pedestrians.

NHTSA statistics also show that 3,215 large trucks were involved in deadly accidents in 2009 in the U.S. For that same year, 53,000 large trucks were linked to crashes involving injury.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Truck Accident Lawyer Comments on Lake Worth Multi-Vehicle Crash involving a Truck" »

A boating accident earlier this year, which caused a teenage girl from Palm Beach County to lose a leg, has resulted in the arrest of two teenage boys. 14-year-old Gabby DeSouza's right leg was struck by the propeller of the boat operated by the two boys, who fled the scene of the accident. Criminal charges have since been brought against the boys in connection to the accident.

According the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Palm Beach County ranked 3rd out of 10 Florida counties with the most boating injuries in 2010. Last year there were 18 accidents with injuries and 6 deadly accidents in Palm Beach County. Miami-Dade County was 2nd, with 28 accidents with injuries and 3 fatal accidents. Broward County was 6th, with 6 accidents resulting in injuries and 3 deadly accidents.

There were a total of 389 injuries resulting from boating accidents in 2010 in Florida. Injuries ranged from lacerations and broken bones, which were the most common incidents, to neck injuries and amputations.

Florida boating regulations restrict any person under the age of 14 from operating a personal watercraft. In order to operate a boat in Florida, a person is required to pass a written safety test online or by attending a classroom course, which must be authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Boat operators must have their Boating Safety Education ID card and picture ID while boating.

The U.S. Coast Guard offers valuable safety information on its website, including boating regulations as well as information on boating safety courses and carbon monoxide dangers.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Boat Accident Lawyer on Accident that Injured Palm Beach County Teen" »