A San Francisco company remains under investigation for the deaths of five women who suffered fatal burn injuries last week as they were trapped in a burning limousine.
After five years of prolonged legislative debate and delays, Florida lawmakers have finally approved a compromised bill that if signed into law by Governor Scott would ban driving while texting, instant messaging, and emailing.
Mere weeks after Carnival passengers arrived in Mobile, Alabama, some have already hired attorneys and filed lawsuits against the mega-liner. That a life-threatening outbreak did not occur on the impaired ship was purely a matter of luck.
In Florida, over-sized umbrellas at beaches and sidewalk cafes or restaurants are abundant, creating the risk of significant personal injury.
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.”
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.
Last year, Florida governor Rick Scott announced with great bravado his plans to implement strict measures to prevent the rampant neglect and abuse of disabled and elderly residents at assisted living facilities (ALFs). A year and a half later, Scott has receded dramatically from his previously valiant stance on ALF reform.
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.
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.
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.
