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.
As you and your family set out to enjoy Florida’s many theme parks and other attractions this summer, you will likely encounter one or two releases or waivers of liability and wonder whether they are legally enforceable in the event of a personal injury. Florida law generally disfavors waivers and construes them strictly against the defense.
While many people work hard to maintain their property and keep it presentable, they may not realize that they are under a legal duty to make sure their property is safe, particularly for workers who must enter their property for business purposes as well as social visitors.
The effects of long-term concussions have appeared recently in national headlines as more former players are taking legal action against the NFL, claiming that the league did not take appropriate measures to protect its players against head injuries.
The new PIP Reform Bill of 2012 will usher in a swath of questionable requirements and limitations on personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance coverage that may ultimately do more harm than good to Florida drivers. The following are a few recommended steps to take following an auto accident to maximize your PIP benefits.
