Gregory Perenich, a partner at PERENICH The Law Firm, and his associate, Jowita Wysocka, have been invited to speak at an upcoming Clearwater Bar Association lunch seminar hosted by the Civil Practice Section. The one-hour seminar is titled “Highlights of the New PIP Law” and will begin at 12:00 noon on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at the Clearwater Grand Hotel, 20967 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, Florida.
Stand up paddleboarding (affectionately termed “SUP” by those in the know) is the latest water activity to take the beaches, lakes, and other waterways by storm throughout the country. SUP is particularly popular in Florida, where locals and tourists are able to enjoy the sport year-round. Unfortunately, this popular new sport has been marred by injuries and even a recent death. With the following tips in mind—along with a little practice—your stand up paddleboarding experience should be exhilarating, enjoyable, and free of accidents or injuries.
The recent death of a 70-year-old man at The Villages community in Lady Lake, Florida has raised new concerns about golf cart safety. According to the St. Petersburg Times, David Tillman was a passenger in a golf cart when he was ejected as the driver made a left-hand turn. He later died at the hospital from his injuries. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), “there are approximately 15,000 golf car related injuries requiring emergency room treatment in the US each year.”
A recent article by Car and Driver magazine examines a disturbing yet growing trend that is one of the leading causes of car accidents, injuries, and automobile deaths in Florida and throughout the country. Until Florida’s lawmakers and leaders come to appreciate the immense risk of injury and death to thousands of Floridians caused by texting and driving, all drivers should remain ever vigilant and cautious on the roads.
Politically, socially, and economically, the United States is in a state of constant flux. Health care is evolving; politicians come and go; and technology progresses almost in the blink of an eye. What have remained constant, however, are car accidents, particularly in Florida, which has the third-highest traffic fatality rate in the country. It is therefore critical for each driver in Florida to purchase uninsured/underinsured insurance (UM) coverage.
On behalf of the attorneys and staff at the Perenich the Law Firm, our hearts and collective prayers go out to the families and victims of the Aurora, Colorado shootings. At the same time, last Friday’s senseless acts and resulting horror once again raise the issue of gun violence in our country.
In light of the statistics and inordinately high numbers of auto accidents and pedestrian deaths caused by reckless drivers throughout the Tampa Bay area, the public is well served by the recent efforts by Tampa and St. Petersburg to make major intersections safer by installing cameras. Another way to dramatically reduce traffic congestion as well as improve the safety of Tampa Bay area roads and highways is through public transit, particularly in the form of light rail.
As the 4th of July approaches, most families are busy preparing plans for Independence Day weekend. Unfortunately, so too are car crashes and other highway vehicle accidents.
The lure of a much desired goal can lead many college students to succumb to the pressure of violent hazing in a desperate effort to be accepted by their peers. In the case of Robert Champion, FAMU owed a legal duty to its student body to monitor illegal and life-threatening activities on and off campus during school-sponsored events; the school may therefore be liable for the wrongful death of its student. It is tragic that the leaders of FAMU apparently ignored such dangerous hazing incidents and tacitly permitted such behavior among their students.
On average, nearly 250,000 traffic accidents occur in Florida every year, resulting in nearly 3,000 fatalities, according to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles. Each of these tragic motor vehicle crashes is terrible in its own respect, but the case of David Belniak sent ripples of shock throughout the Tampa Bay, Florida area and surrounding counties. On June 12, 2012, the jury determined that Mr. McWilliams was not at fault in the crash and awarded a total of $14 million to the relatives of the victims Belniak in compensatory damages. The parties later reached a settlement of $1 million in punitive damages.
