Beach and Restaurant Umbrellas Post Significant Injury Risks in High Winds
In Florida, over-sized umbrellas at beaches and sidewalk cafes or restaurants are abundant, creating the risk of significant personal injury.
Category: Personal Injury-Liability
Recent Tragedy Raises New Concerns about Inflatable Sphere Safety
n March 2011, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning to consumers about inflatable spheres, stating that they create the risk of suffocation and drowning. One major concern with the product’s design is that users have no way to escape in the event of an emergency; the spheres are air-tight and may only be opened from the outside. For this reason, the CPSC warned that the product “significantly heightens the risk of injury or death when a person inside the ball experiences distress.”
New Florida Laws in 2012: A Year in Review
Florida lawmakers were busy in 2012, passing a number of controversial and widely-criticized bills. The most notorious of these among Florida personal injury attorneys was HB 119, also known as the PIP Reform Act.
Lawsuit Filed Over New PIP Law; Auto Insurance Rates Not Decreasing
A group of chiropractors, massage therapists, and acupuncturists have filed the first of numerous anticipated lawsuits over Florida’s recently overhauled personal injury protection (PIP) law. Nearly eight months after the PIP law passed, auto insurers have not yet reduced any premiums. In fact, State Farm recently proposed increasing the PIP portion of its insurance by 22 percent, but it is willing to settle for a mere 7.9 percent increase.
Energy Drink Deaths Reveal Lack of FDA Regulation
The FDA is continuing to investigate the deaths of five individuals as well as a non-fatal heart attack potentially related to energy drinks such as Monster, Red Bull, and 5-Hour Energy. It is unfortunate that, yet again, multiple tragedies must occur before any measures are taken to warn and protect consumers from unscrupulous product manufacturers.
Meningitis Outbreak Reaches Florida, Raises Need for Better Regulation
The recent deaths and illnesses caused by the outbreak of a rare strain of meningitis underscores the deadly repercussions of ineffective and lax government regulation of pharmaceutical companies.
Golf Cart Accidents in Florida Raise Safety Concerns
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.”
New Initiatives for Curbing Traffic Accidents and Fatalities in the Tampa Bay Area
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.
Maintain Your Independence from Accidents and Injuries this Fourth of July Holiday
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.
Man Convicted of DUI Manslaughter Loses His Lawsuit Against Victims
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.