Jacksonville Personal Injury Blog

It’s hard to believe this happens, but it does.

Two doctors have reached a settlement with the Florida Board of Medicine after they allegedly treated the wrong patients at the wrong hospital rooms in two separate incidents. A nephrologist of Fort Myers, Florida, is facing a fine of $5,000 and a Surgeon of St. Petersburg, Florida, was fined $10,000.

The agreements to settle were reached between attorneys for the doctors and the Florida Department of Health. In the nephrologist’s case, the Associated Press reports there was no permanent harm to the patient, however, we don’t know the outcome of the other case. Both of the situations were caught by alert nurses.

Thankfully, the nurses saw the problems and were not afraid or intimidated to speak up. They are truly life savers.

A newly released report says that there will be 200,000 fatalities from hospital errors and infections this year, and they are mostly preventable.

Hearst Newspapers, in a national reporting effort, “Dead by Mistake,” finds medical errors happen all too frequently and there is a lack of systemic reform underway to ensure patient safety.

Ten years ago another federal report, “To Err is Human,” said that medical error could be improved and showed how to cut errors in half. Actually, Hearst reporters found the rate of medical error is increasing. Doctors regularly make errors such as the doctors above, confused about who to treat and what to treat them for. Other problems involve hospital infection, failure to color-code medical tubes, illegible handwriting, and prescription errors.

Continue reading " Florida Doctors Fined for Treating Wrong Patient " »

A construction worker was hit and killed by a motorist driving an SUV Tuesday morning.

A 37-year-old died at the scene. The Nissan Xterra was driven by a 42-year-old man who stopped, but it was too late. This Florida car accident and work accident happened around 11 a.m. when visibility should not have been a problem. Fraser worked for Superior Construction and was painting strikes on the J. Turner Butler Boulevard ramp to I-95 North when he was hit.

Co-workers say that Fraser was very safety conscious and made sure everyone paid attention to their surroundings. It is people like Fraser who make our lives easier on the roads. Our condolences go out to his wife and family for this senseless loss and to his team members for the loss of a valuable member.

Exactly what happened is unclear and it is possible the Florida Highway Patrol could file charges.

Excessive speed would be the first thing to consider in this kind of auto accident in Florida. Drivers are known to travel at excessive speeds through the area. 70 to 80 miles per hour is not uncommon, even though construction zones generally have clearly marked “Reduce Speed” signs of 45 mph. One driver remarks that he faces horns honking and a driver even spit on his car when he slowed around a construction site.

Was the driver distracted? The American Automobile Association reports somewhere between 25 to 50 percent of all motor vehicle crashes have a distracted driver as their root cause and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports there were 37,313 traffic fatalities last year.

Continue reading " Construction Worker Killed at I-95 " »

Six officers, escorting a funeral party for Bruce Rossmeyer in Ormond Beach Tuesday, were involved in a motorcycle crash, according to an article. The irony here is pretty amazing. The six were accompanying one of the largest Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealers in the country who died last week on a motorcycle in Wyoming.

The officers from various agencies were riding along with the funeral party in Florida when the lead rider slowed down. The others behind him did not and that caused a chain reaction motorcycle crash in Florida involving six motorcycles at the corners of North Halifax Drive and Granada Boulevard. They represented the police and fire departments of Daytona Beach, as well as the Ormond Beach and Port Orange police departments.

Rossmeyer was in Wyoming on his way to a motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota when he passed a truck pulling a trailer on the left just as the truck was making a left turn. He didn’t see Rossmeyer, 66, and turned into him. Rossmeyer died instantly.

The officers were wearing their helmets and sustained minor injuries. Two of the officers were hurt, though not seriously and they damaged their motorcycle. Rossmeyer was not wearing his helmet when he died. In 2000, Florida decided to repeal is mandatory helmet law and that year there were 933 motorcyclists killed in the state, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that motorcycle deaths tripled after that time.

It was Rossmeyer who put Daytona Beach on the map as the Harley-Davidson center of the country, along with the image of freedom taking to the road.

Continue reading " Six Motorcycle Officers Crash in Ormond Beach Funeral Process for Harley Dealer " »

St. Augustine is home to the oldest port in the continental United States – in fact, St. Augustine is commonly referred to as “the nation’s oldest city.” In 2004, the population was estimated to be 12,157. Home to beautiful beaches and museums, St. Augustine continues to be a popular tourist destination in Northern Florida. Located about 40 miles south of Jacksonville and 60 miles north of Daytona Beach just 5 miles east of Interstate 95, St. Augustine is also a well traversed location. As a vastly populated area visited by many, St. Augustine residents and guests navigate through various properties such as department stores, hospitals, private homes, and many other public places in which certain safety precautions are overlooked and can result in injury. In such incidents, a person who suffers from an accident on someone else’s property can seek legal assistance from a skilled St. Augustine premises liability lawyer.

Property owners are responsible for any safety hazards on their premises that could cause harm to guests or customers. A far too common example is a homeowner with a pool who neglects to take necessary steps to protect children from drowning. Another unfortunate injury could result from a store with a wet floor that did not post a warning to shoppers. At Farah and Farah, our dedicated and experienced St. Augustine slip and fall attorneys may be able to hold the business owner responsible for neglecting to uphold his or her premises in a reasonable safe condition for the welfare of all customers.

Businesses and property owners must do everything possible regarding their premises to warn, repair, inspect, and maintain any dangerous or hazardous conditions. In the most serious of cases, a slip and fall accident or other premises incident can result in wrongful death, in which the decedent’s family may be able to seek compensation. Being injured on another’s premises can result in steep medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of wages, and other expenses associated with your injury. For a free consultation regarding your premises liability or slip and fall accident case, contact Farah and Farah today at our St. Augustine office:

Phone: (904) 797-7977

1301 Plantation Island Drive

Suite 206A

St. Augustine, Florida 32080


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A Florida resident has called President Obama to come over to her custom home in Port St. Lucie and see for himself what Chinese drywall is doing to her, according to a report. She has organized a number of people, organized from the internet, all living in homes constructed with the defective drywall that emits sulfuric odors and gasses responsible for corroding wiring and who knows what else.

She is part of a new trend – homeowners who are rattling some cages to try and get federal and immediate help so they can move out of their homes. She has contacted hundreds of people who she hopes will join her in her campaign to get the White House interested in these defective products in Florida.

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson has suggested the President create a “one-stop’ federal drywall assistance center, where homeowners can go for the latest information on the problem and resources to try and find a solution.

About 100,000 households were built with drywall from China between the years 2000 to 2008, and their insurance policies have decided not to cover them. Unless they can afford to move out, while the federal government concludes dozens of investigations, they must stay put, or sleep in a tent in the yard, not knowing what the corrosive qualities of the sulfur might be doing to their family’s health.

Continue reading " Florida Chinese Drywall Victims Call on Washington " »

The Jacksonville newspaper, the Florida Times Union takes a complete look in an article at the crisis of property insurance in the state. All it could take is for one major hurricane to hit a large metropolitan area, such as Miami, for the state to boost taxes on insurance policies and take out billions in debt as our state-backed insurance plans fall short.

Funding that kind of debt would be difficult, causing an increase in taxes on almost everything and a debt that could take years to repay. Some even predict bankruptcy from a major hurricane.

A little background – The reinsurance market prices have skyrocketed by 75 percent in recent years following the more damaging storms of 2004 and 2005. When that happened in 2006, private companies passed that onto their customers.

State Farm Florida says it is leaving the state because the insurance commissioner says it can’t raise its rates 47 percent. Gov. Charlie Crist said ‘good riddance.’

If State Farm leaves, it would force nearly one million policy holders into new insurance carriers including Citizens, the state insurance plan that at the present time could be strapped if it had to pay out millions. Citizens is the largest insurer in the state with State Farm Florida being second. State Farm is trying to stay, and by eliminating discounts to some customers, it boosted rates an average of 28.4 percent.

Continue reading " Who Will Insure Florida if a Hurricane Hits? " »

Brunswick is located in southeastern Georgia about 30 miles north of Florida. In 2007, the city proper had an estimated population of 16,235 and an estimated metropolitan population of 101,792. Brunswick’s metropolitan area is the twelfth-largest in the state of Georgia and includes the counties of Glynn, Brantley, and McIntosh. With a region that encompasses such a diverse area and a population that is on the rise, residents and visitors alike traverse through various properties such as department stores, hospitals, private homes, and many other public places in which certain safety precautions are overlooked and can cause injury. In such incidents, a person who suffers from an accident on someone else’s property can seek legal assistance from a Brunswick, GA premises liability lawyer.

Property owners are responsible for any safety hazards on their premises that could cause harm to guests or customers. A far too common example is a homeowner with a pool who neglects to take necessary steps to protect children from drowning or being injured. Another unfortunate injury could result from a store with a wet floor that did not post a warning to shoppers. At Farah and Farah, our dedicated and experienced Brunswick slip and fall attorneys may be able to hold the business owner responsible for neglecting to uphold his or her premises in a reasonable safe condition for the welfare of all customers.

Businesses and property owners must do everything possible regarding their premises to warn, repair, inspect, and maintain any dangerous or hazardous conditions. In the most serious of cases, a slip and fall accident or other premises incident can result in wrongful death, in which the decedent’s family may be able to seek compensation. Being injured on another’s premises can result in steep medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of wages, and other expenses associated with your injury. For a free consultation regarding your premises liability or slip and fall accident case, contact Farah and Farah today at our Brunswick, GA office:

Phone: (912) 466-8896

4216 Coral Park Drive

Suite 107

Brunswick, GA 31520


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According to a report, one man is in critical condition in North Florida following an all terrain vehicle crash Sunday morning. St. Johns County deputies are trying to figure out what caused the recreational vehicle (or all terrain vehicle, ATV) to overturn on a private dirt road on Bartram Air Park property off County Road 13 in northwest St. Johns. Apparently, all three men were riding an Arctic Cat when it rolled. Emergency crews responding to the scene do not know who was driving.

A 39-year-old man of St. Augustine was the most seriously injured. He was taken to Shands Jacksonville and is in critical condition. We sincerely hope he pulls through from his injuries and he is in our prayers.

One person was treated at the scene and a third man from St. Augustine was taken to Flagler Hospital by emergency crews. At this time it is suspected that alcohol may have been a factor in the all terrain vehicle auto crash in Florida and none of the men was wearing his seatbelt.

Even the manufacturers warn that riding an ATV can be dangerous. The ATV industry encourages riders to always wear proper protective gear, including a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing. You are told not to carry passengers unless the ATV is specifically engineered to accommodate them. And of course, excess speeds, stunt riding, unknown terrain, drugs or alcohol are all discouraged as part of the safety basics when you purchase one of these ATVs.

If indeed alcohol was involved and three men were riding on one vehicle, this accident could well be due to negligent operation.

Continue reading " St. Johns County ATV Accident Injures Three " »

A Jacksonville Beach police officer will have to give up 50 hours of vacation time as his punishment for causing a motorcycle accident that seriously injured the rider. According to a story, the motorcycle accident in Florida happened on Florida A1A last May. The officer who has worked for Jacksonville Beach for 20 years was found to have violated police policy by failing to yield the right of way to the motorcyclist. The man was ejected from his motorcycle and fractured his left leg. The officer said he just failed to see the motorcycle in the left lane.

When the accident occurred, the officer has just concluded six months of probation for showing up off-duty but intoxicated at the police department. Police Chief Bruce Thomasson says, “It was clear that your actions were both negligent and careless.” Thomasson says that the officer has positives on his record as well.

Five days of vacation is equal to 50 hours because police work in ten hour shifts.

Continue reading " Jax Beach Police Officer Discipline after Series of Accidents " »

There are about 2,421 families who call Palatka, Florida their home. With a total population of 10,804 people (as of July 2007 estimates), consumerism is undoubtedly alive and well. The city has an area of 7.5 square miles, and has experienced a 7.5% rise in population since the year 2000, meaning that more and more people each year move into the city limits, bringing their consumer goods and products with them.

From cars to clothing, home appliances to children’s toys, products can take a variety of different forms. However, there is always the possibility that those products, despite supposed testing, can be found to cause harm to people all over the country, Palatka residents included. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is responsible for monitoring products throughout the country, ensuring that those products are free from defects and risks that could pose serious harm to consumers. However, when products fail and do injure consumers, it is the job of Palatka defective product attorneys to ensure that those parties responsible for the products are appropriately held liable for their actions.

Manufacturers have an obligation to create products that are free from any and all defects that could pose serious risk to consumers. In the event that products do harm a consumer, skilled Palatka product liability lawyers will examine the circumstances surrounding the harmful product, and will seek compensatory damages on behalf of victims to help cover the costs associated with the faulty product.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a defective product, contact the Palatka product liability and defective product attorneys at Farah and Farah today. Our skilled legal team will examine the details of your case, and hold negligible parties responsible for their actions. Contact us today at our Palatka office for a free consultation, and we will see to it that you receive the compensation that your deserve:

Phone: (386) 328-2889
417 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, Florida 32177

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There is still a lot of confusion out there over the “Cash For Clunkers” program, primarily whether it is still alive. First Coast car dealers seem to be moving ahead with the program despite the question about depleted funds, according to an article.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be administering the program and the official website you can check to see if your car qualifies.

New car buyers are receiving anywhere from $3,500 to $4,500 credit on their old gas guzzlers, presumably to trade the vehicle in for a more gas efficient vehicle. Early reports were that the $1 billion program was tapped out, but the government has approved more money to extend the program.

In Jacksonville, Duval Ford employees are reportedly working late into the night submitting documents to the Department of Transportation. The dealership received about 25 clunkers last weekend alone, all rated at 18 miles per gallon or worse.

One of the top cars for trade-in is the Ford Explorer. In fact the top four spots on the list of trade-ins are taken by the Ford Explorer - 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999. 1995 and 1994 help round out the Top 10 list.

Not only is this a good idea because of the gas guzzling engines, but up until 2005, the Ford Explorer was a very unstable car. In late 2005, the Explorer SUVs came equipped with Roll Stability Control, featuring roll-rate sensing and correcting capability to allow drivers to more easily maintain vehicle control during extreme maneuvers such as correcting the steering wheel when the car was drifting off the road. Stability control debuted on the 2003 Volvo XC 90 and Lincoln SUV in 2004.

Continue reading " Cash for Clunkers: Good Riddance Rollover Cars " »

The father of two toddlers pulled them from the family Westside swimming pool Saturday morning, according to a story. Unfortunately it was too late for little two-year-old and her 18-month-old sister.

The family had just moved into the rented home the night before, so the pool area had not yet been secured at the house on Niska Trail near Collins Road. Apparently the two little girls woke up around 8:30 and got out of bed. That’s when officers believe the older girl opened the door to the backyard and went to the pool with her little sister following. The father found the girls at the bottom of the pool about a half hour later. One girl went to Baptist Medical Center and the other to Orange Park Regional Medical Center but neither could be revived.

Our prayers go out to this family who lost two little children. Our deepest sympathies go out to this family for their double tragedy.

Drowning accidents are the leading cause of injuries and wrongful deaths in Florida among children under 5, and are entirely preventable, although in this case, it is easy to understand how a family, their first day in a new home, would not have had time to childproof the house thoroughly.

In Florida in 2006, 72 children drowned in pools, up from 67 children from the year before. Duval County is one of the top counties for child drowning and most occur in a backyard pool or spa.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Drowning of Two Young Sisters in Westside Pool " »

Amelia Island, Florida is located off the coast of Florida and is part of Nassau County. With a population of about 68,437 people, Amelia Island, otherwise known as the “Isle of Eight Flags,” is only 18.2 square miles in size. However, tourism is alive and well on Amelia Island, with visitors flocking to one of the many festivals that the island hosts each year, in addition to enjoying the sites and sounds while camping and sailing.

With such a large number of people coming and going each year, there are bound to be accidents along the way caused by defective products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 2.4 million deaths in the United States in 2006, 121,599 of which occurred as the result of accidents and the unintentional injuries associated with those accidents. While not all of these deaths occurred as the result of defective products, some of them undoubtedly did. Defective products can injure unsuspecting consumers almost anywhere, including Amelia Island. In the event that defective product injury does occur, it is important to seek the assistance of a skilled Amelia Island defective product lawyer.

At Farah and Farah, our product liability and defective product attorneys will fight for you, holding negligent manufacturers accountable for providing the public with potentially dangerous products. In the event that a faulty product causes injury of any kind, an experienced Amelia Island product liability attorney will examine the details surrounding the accident to determine negligence and who should be held responsible for it. Call us today for a free consultation, and we will examine the details of your case in order to surmise the best possible actions needing to be taken. Don’t hesitate to act now:

Phone: (904) 261-4440
501 Centre St.
Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034

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Witnesses reported that a 60-year-old man was walking back and forth across Main Street in downtown Jacksonville around 2am Thursday morning when he was struck by a car in the 10700 block of North Main. According to an article, the car was driven by 30-year-old woman who stopped after hitting the man and called police. The man was identified to be from Fernandina Beach and was pronounced dead at the scene by Jacksonville Fire-Rescue.

Our condolences go out to the family of the man killed in the pedestrian accident in Jacksonville. Toxicology tests on him have been conducted and are not yet complete. The female driver was not speeding or impaired by alcohol, the Florida Highway Patrol has determined.

Our heart goes out to the family of this man. Online they are fighting cruel comments, but oftentimes someone is impaired by things that are out of their control. In this case, the family reports that the decedent suffered from dementia. He was a kind man a friend reports, who cared deeply about the homeless and always tried to help them. Those who add unkind comments online are too quick to assume someone was drunk, and make themselves look foolish with their online comments.

Last October, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law Florida’s Silver Alert system, which allow for the broadcast of information on a missing adult who might be suffering from dementia or some other cognitive impairment. Not unlike an Amber Alert, the signal goes out quickly so citizens can assist law enforcement in finding someone before something tragic happens.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Pedestrian Accident on Main Street Kills Man " »

Anyone from Daytona Beach, Florida knows the area is synonymous with Harley-Davidson motorcycles and also is synonymous with one of the largest Harley-Davidson dealers in the country, Bruce Rossmeyer. Ironically, Rossmeyer was on a motorcycle trip around the country when he died in a motorcycle crash on his way to a rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, according to a report.

Rossmeyer, 66, and five of his friends were traveling on Highway 28 around 11 in the morning when they approached a pickup truck pulling a camper. Four of the motorcycles passed on the left, but when Rossmeyer tried to do the same thing, the driver put on his left turn signal and turned left. Rossmeyer hit the truck’s driver door. He was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene.

We are so sorry for the passing of this man who was as known for his contributions to the community and children’s charities. He helped found the Camp Boggy Creek for children with life-threatening illnesses as well as the Boys & Girls Clubs. Rossmeyer always said the kids in the club reminded him of himself when he was a young man and got in a lot of trouble. He leaves behind his wife Sandra and five children.

Rossmeyer was an entrepreneur with 13 Harley dealerships in Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi and Tennessee.Additionally, Rossmeyer co-owned three car dealerships. He also owned a complex in Daytona Beach that includes shops and restaurants which employed about 500.

Continue reading " Florida Harley Motorcycle Dealer Killed " »

An 18-year-old, who was driving a pickup truck that rolled and killed a passenger last January, has been charged with DUI manslaughter, according to a story. The 18-year-old male of Bryceville was driving eastbound on Roy Booth Road, just south of Callahan, when his truck veered off the road at a curve, then traveled through a ditch, back across the roadway and then overturned. A 20-year-old male passenger of Callahan was killed.

We offer our sincere condolences to the family of this young man who left this world at such a young age. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated and determined that the 18-year old was the driver. Initially there were some claims he wasn’t, and that alcohol was involved. DUI manslaughter charges will be added to vehicular manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, and failure to wear a seat belt. The 18-year-old in this Florida drunk driving accident faces fifteen years in prison for one night of carelessness in his criminal case.

In a civil case, a personal injury attorney will need to be involved to ensure the defendant is not allowed to deny that DUI was a factor in any wrongful death lawsuit to follow. Determining the driver was drunk establishes that they were driving recklessly and could open the door to punitive damages against the drunk driving teen.

In this particular case, it is not clear why the decedent was ejected from the pickup truck. Family members may want to determine whether he was wearing a seat belt and whether the restraint system worked as it is supposed to. Generally, the assumption is that the passenger was not wearing a seat belt, when the truth may be that the product, the seat belt, was defective in some way. In that case, the family may have a Florida auto product liability action against the vehicle manufacturer or the maker of the seat belt.

Continue reading " Nassau County DUI Accident Kills Passenger " »

Jacksonville Beach, Florida has a population of 21,849 people as of July 2007. Part of Duval County and often referred to as “Jax Beach” by the locals, Jacksonville Beach has a population density of about 993 people per square mile, and is more or less an extension of the city of Jacksonville. Operating as a prime tourist spot, Jacksonville Beach is made up of an assortment of locals and out-of-towners, all of whom, undoubtedly, use products in their day-to-day lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidents and unintentional injuries were the fifth leading cause of death in the United States in 2006. Even though said accidents only accounted for 5% of the total number of deaths that year, the percentage could have been much lower had negligent manufacturers ensured that their products were safe before introducing them to consumers. In the event that consumers are injured or negatively affected in some way as the result of defective products, it is vital that a skilled Jacksonville Beach defective product attorney examine the circumstances surrounding the accident to ensure that negligent parties are held liable for their actions.

Manufacturers have an obligation to provide safe products for consumers. Whether the product is an automobile, a tent used for camping, or a household appliance, that product is supposed to have been rigorously tested to make sure that it is safe to use by consumers. When products are found to cause potential harm to consumers, a Jacksonville Beach product liability lawyer is needed to make sure that injuries caused by those products are appropriately compensated for by those responsible for the injury.

At Farah and Farah, our product liability and defective product attorneys will fight for your rights as a consumer. Our lawyers will examine the circumstances surrounding your product accident, and will devise the best strategy for your defective product case. Please contact us today for a free consultation at our Jacksonville Beach office:

Phone: (904) 249-2585
472 Osceola Avenue
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250

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This is a dubious distinction for the city of Jacksonville.

Our city is one of three in Florida that tops the list for deadly crashes involving teen drivers. A recent study from Allstate puts Jacksonville third behind Tampa and Orlando as the cities with the deadlines teen drivers, most of them texting, talking, changing a CD, or the radio, all made up 77 percent of deadly crashes involving young drivers. Of course, you don’t have to be young to be a distracted driver, but more experienced drivers are likely to resist the novelty of electronic communication.

Because car collisions in Jacksonville are the number-one killer of teenagers, Allstate is initiating Action Against Distraction driving course for Jacksonville to teach teen drivers how to stay focused on the road. As part of the course, teens are told to talk on the cell phone, listen to loud music, even eat a pack of Oreos as they drive – all to illustrate distracted driving.

One 17-year-old male who totaled his father’s car a few months ago decided to take the course. He tells the Florida Times-Union, “Everybody’s driving needs improvement”. As part of the improvement, he learned to weave through a line of cones that had been made part of an obstacle course at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. He was also asked to read a text message as he drove through the cones at about 10 mph. It was more difficult than all of the dozen teens thought it would be. All vowed no more texting or eating while driving.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Among Top Cities for Distracted Teen Drivers " »

A 16-year-old high school girl was killed early Monday morning on July 27, 2009 when a pickup truck in which she was riding along with six others, over corrected, then struck a curb and overturned, according to an article. The teen, a student at Lee High School, was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. We are so sorry for the loss of this young person. Our hearts go out to her family at this tragic time.

We now know that there were six people in all were in the small pickup truck, three in the cab and three in the bed. All three in the bed were thrown out when the vehicle appeared to be traveling too fast around a curve in Bartram Park Boulevard, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Another passenger from the cab is also reported to be in critical condition with a broken neck, vertebra, and broken ribs. Altogether, four others were injured. The car crash in Jacksonville happened around 4 a.m. according to JSO. Alcohol use was involved, according to law enforcement.

Investigators have determined the teens were at a birthday party that wrapped up early Monday morning. When the party was over, the three jumped into the truck bed for the ride home.

The driver is now identified as a 19-year-old whose birthday everyone had just celebrated.

Continue reading " Jacksonville Rollover Pick-Up Truck Accident Kills Teen " »

As if the problems with the foul smell coming from Chinese drywall is not enough to drive some Florida residents from their homes, now we learn that the state Fire Marshal’s Office and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are testing to see if the toxic drywall contributes to fires, based on a story. The source of two fires is in question and tests are underway by the state. We already know that as a defective product in Florida, the odorous drywall corrodes electrical wires and air conditioner coils.

The CPSC has received 608 incidents reports from 21 states about the Chinese drywall, most of the complaints coming from Florida, Louisiana and Virginia as we now find out in a CPSC status report on Chinese drywall in this country.

It finds that some of the drywall was made with a radioactive phosphorus substance—phosphogypsum—that is banned for use in construction in the U.S. and the health risks of phosphogypsum are uncertain. The analysis of content should be completed by the Environmental Protection Agency by August 21.

CPSC staff is currently pressing for approval to visit China, including specific mines and manufacturers.

The CPSC has asked China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine for a list of all drywall producers that used the LuNeng mine, which is located in the ShanDong province.

Continue reading " Is Chinese Drywall Flammable? " »

Jacksonville, Florida is the 12th largest city in the nation of any major U.S. city with a population of at least 100,000 people. The largest city in the state of Florida, Jacksonville has a population of 805,605 and stretches a total of 874.3 square miles in size, the largest land area of any city in the United States.

One of the more popular tourist destinations in the state of Florida, with its sprawling beaches and sublime weather, Jacksonville not only houses a large number of people, but hosts a large number of visitors each year as well. Consequently, a wide array of products, from automobiles to kitchen appliances to camping equipment to children’s toys, all are a part of the daily lives of Jacksonville residents. In the event of a defective product causing an accident, serious injury, or wrongful death, it is important to know that a skilled Jacksonville product liability attorney is available to assist all victims in the Jacksonville area.

Product manufacturers have an obligation to make and sell products that are free from defects and safe for consumer use. If manufactures fail to adequately provide safe products for consumers, such as those consumers in the Jacksonville area, then those manufacturers become liable for all accidents associated with their products. Experienced Jacksonville defective product lawyers can hold negligent manufacturers accountable for their actions, and seek monetary damages on behalf of their clients.

At Farah and Farah, our product liability attorneys and defective product lawyers will fight for you, holding manufacturers responsible for providing the public with dangerous products. Contact us today and we will examine the details of your case in order to surmise the best possible actions needing to be taken. Please don’t hesitate to call us for a free consultation at our Jacksonville office location:

Phone: (904) 396-5555
10 West Adams Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

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You can’t go down the road without seeing someone behind the wheel talking on the phone, doing their make up or eating breakfast. That’s what makes this news so upsetting. In 2003, officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) halted a plan for a large-scale look involving 10,000 drivers to see whether cell phone use behind the wheel was risky, according to a report. It also withheld research warning about the dangers of talking on the cell phone while driving.

What’s most upsetting is what the information said. It was revealed that drivers talking on cell phones caused 955 fatal accidents and 240,000 car accidents in 2002. And that was when approximately 6 percent of drivers were on the phone at any time. Now cell phone use has doubled.

The information was not easy to obtain. Public Citizen and the Center for Auto Safety had to file a freedom of information lawsuit to pry the information from NHTSA.

Why was the information withheld? The former head of NHTSA told the New York Times that officials at the Department of Transportation wanted NHTSA to gather safety data. Period. Any other information would be considered lobbying the states. How can saving lives be considered lobbying? NHTSA had found that not only talking on cell phones, but even using hands-free devices caused distraction.

Continue reading " Government Hid Distracted Driver Statistics " »

There are an estimated 300,000 public pools in hotels, schools, camps and parks and thousands of public pools may be in violation of a new federal safety rule, says a national consumer group, putting many children at risk for personal injury in Florida and across the county.

The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) estimates about half of the pools your child is using this summer may have failed to install the new required anti-entrapment devices. Named for Virginia Graeme Baker, who in 2002 died when suction from a hot tub drain kept her pulled to the bottom and she drowned. The NSPF estimates about half of the public pools that are supposed to be retrofitted with the new dome style drains have not been updated.

George Pellington of the Pool Safety Council told CBS in a report that he’s seen the unsafe drain covers in many pools that have not yet complied with the law.

The problem is that a body can actually seal off the covers which then create hundreds of pounds of suction that cannot be broken. The problem has been three-fold because there is not enough enforcement, there are not enough drains, and not enough pool owners understand the new code.

What can parents do?

Parents can look for drain covers that are dome or pyramid shaped. Parents can also inquire if there are new pool drain covers that are recognized by any one of three organizations that conduct testing on drain covers and issue certification. They are: the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

Continue reading " Swimming Pools May Be in Violation " »

A 23-year old woman was killed on the morning of Saturday July 25 in a single car accident in Jacksonville along I-295. The Florida Highway Patrol says the woman was traveling south on Interstate 295 in the left lane when she hit the guardrail then crossed all southbound lanes of traffic and drove into a patch of trees near Old St. Augustine Road. Based on a story, her car hit a tree then caught fire. The woman, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. The accident happened at 9:10 am, FHP reports.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the woman for their tragic loss. Friends and family writing into the news accounts say she was the mother of three boys. I offer my deepest sympathies to them as they go through this difficult time.

This week the Florida Highway Patrol plans to partner with a safe driving program in Lee County, Stay Alive…Just Drive! To promote safe driving practices with a focus of eliminating distractions. Though we don’t know what happened with the woman in the above incident, it is possible she was distracted by a radio, a cell phone, or changing a CD. Sometimes people actually read the newspaper while driving. Some are distracted by Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

The American Automobile Association reports somewhere between 25 to 50 percent of all motor vehicle crashes have a distracted driver as their root cause and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there were 37,313 traffic fatalities last year. A Prevention Magazine survey finds that more than 85 percent of 100 million cell phone users talk on the phone while driving, putting many at risk to the susceptibility of auto accidents in Florida and throughout the nation.

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Lake City is located in Columbia County, Florida and is known as the “Gateway To Florida.” With a population of about 12,000 and in a county whose population is on the rise (Columbia County has close to 68,000 inhabitants as of 2006), Lake City has become a popular tourist destination as well as a stop for those on route to Southern Florida. With such an expanse of visitors and residents who rely on a variety of products to maintain healthy living or add enjoyment to life, incidents of injury or death relating to a defective product tend to take place from time to time.

As consumers who expect that products they purchase and use themselves or give to their loved ones are safe, reliable and risk-free, it is devastating to have that trust violated. When children, adults, and the elderly use products that result in personal injury or wrongful death, a Lake City product liability attorney from Farah and Farah can help the injured person or the decedent’s family receive compensation for financial hardships.

It is understandable that a lot of people don’t want to admit that defective products in Lake City exist and can be capable of causing injury or death to innocent children, the elderly, and adults alike. However, defective medical devices, defective auto parts, defective children’s furniture and toys, defective electronics or household products are all an unfortunate reality and can have serious life-altering consequences.

If a defective product was the cause of you or loved one’s injury, or if someone you care about has been wrongfully killed, the skilled Lake City defective products attorneys at Farah and Farah can be of assistance during this difficult time. We will aggressively defend your rights and ensure that the negligent manufacturer is held responsible for the harm their dangerous product has caused. Contact Farah and Farah today to speak with a member of our legal team or contact us at our Lake City offices:

212 N. Marion Ave Suite 208
Lake City, FL 32055
Phone: (386) 754-7534

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State Farm Insurance has done a lot of threatening lately. The insurance giant wants to leave Florida because of the downside of having to pay claims in case there is another hurricane this season.

State Farm proposed a 47 percent statewide rate increase in property insurance to stay in the state, according to an account. Last week the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee upheld a decision last December to reject that outrageous hike, joining the state Office of Insurance Regulation.

State Farm had already been granted a 52 percent increase in 2006. Right after that State Farm said it would take its business out of the Florida property insurance market, even though they got the rate increase. That would mean one million hurricane policies would not be written by the insurance giant.

State Farm would like the state-run insurer, Citizens, to take over the policies. An appeal is set to be heard in October as to what terms State Farm can withdraw from Florida. Negotiations are still possible and probably the best outcome for consumers. Let State Farm hike rates slightly in exchange for continuing to write hurricane coverage.

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Orange Park is a suburb of Jacksonville located in Northeast Clay County just south of Jacksonville, Florida. Rich in history and a thriving community, Orange Park has a great deal to offer. Clay County, which Orange Park is located in, is also a bustling region of Florida. With a population in excess of 180,000 and a very high population density, hundreds of residents and visitors rely on a variety of products to maintain healthy living or add enjoyment to life. Many people understandably don’t want to believe or admit that defective products in Orange Park exist that are capable of causing injury or wrongful death to innocent children, the elderly, and adults alike. However, defective medical devices, defective auto parts, defective children’s furniture and toys, defective electronics or household products are all an unfortunate reality and can have serious life-altering consequences.

As consumers who expect that products they purchase and use themselves or give to their loved ones are safe, reliable and risk-free, it is devastating to have that trust violated. When children, adults, and the elderly use products that result in personal injury or wrongful death, an Orange Park product liability attorney from Farah and Farah can help the injured person or the decedent’s family receive compensation for financial hardships.

If a defective product was the cause of you or loved one’s injury, or if someone you care about has been wrongfully killed, the skilled attorneys at Farah and Farah can be of assistance during this difficult time. We will aggressively defend your rights and ensure that the negligent manufacturer is held responsible for the harm their dangerous product has caused. Contact the personal injury law firm of Farah and Farah today for a confidential consultation:

1534 Kingsley Avenue
Orange Park, Florida 32073
Phone: (904) 264-0700

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When a 14-year-old went into a CVS Pharmacy in Middleburg in North Florida, he bought a bag of Skittles candy. However, the teen got more than the little colorful candies, according to a report. He found a bag of cocaine next to the bag of Skittles in the candy box that was sitting near the front register and brought it to the attention of his father.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office tested the bag and found it was cocaine. The family then went back to CVS and talked to the manager who told them there was no reason to remove the remaining bags from the box.

A CVS spokesman later went on record to say that security cameras were unable to see who dropped off the 1.2 gram bag and the store says there is no evidence someone placed the drug near the candy. The spokesman denied that the manager initially laughed off the problem and said that at the time of the purchase, the cocaine was not brought to their attention.

The teen’s mother stated:

"What upset me was the fact that it was in the candy…a lot of times we let our 3-year-old pick out the candy he wants, and had it been my 3-year-old that got it and we were not paying close attention, then he would not have known to give it to me. He would have put it in his pocket and eventually in his mouth."

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A 53-year old woman was killed Thursday night driving in Jacksonville Beach. According to an article, the woman was on Butler Boulevard on the east side of the Intracoastal Bridge about 10:30 pm when she lost control of her vehicle. She then hit a retaining wall and slid across two lanes of traffic, then slammed into another wall. Friends commenting on the local news web site say there is no way that drugs or alcohol were involved. There is no word on whether she was wearing a seat belt or why she might have lost control of her vehicle. Sadly, the female driver died at the scene of the auto accident in Jacksonville Beach.

Our condolences go out to the family of this woman. Apparently two other people were injured in a separate crash right after the woman died from hitting the retaining wall, but the news report doesn’t say if that crash was related.

Without any more information on this circumstance, we can only assume that something distracted the woman, or she became ill, or perhaps the road conditions led to this crash.
When it is raining out, as it has been frequently this summer, there is a thin film of water on the road that can mean tires have less traction. That is the leading cause of hydroplaning. That is why the Florida Highway Patrol says always slow down in the rain. Not only do you not see as well, but once you start hydroplaning, if you brake suddenly or turn the wheel, you could lose control even more and skid, causing a crash.

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