Jacksonville Personal Injury Blog

It is one of the most important things that hospital workers can do to keep patients safe. It is virtually no cost and can be done by anyone in the matter of a minute. The statement, “Wash your hands,” is drummed into hospital personnel during their training, through orientation, and in pamphlets. Washing one’s hands not only stops the spread of bacteria and viruses, but it can also stop deadly MRSA from spreading in a hospital setting.

Hospital Recommendations
Hospitals recommend that doctors and nurses wash their hands before seeing every patient and on their way out, but medical professionals can forget to uphold this important responsibility. In fact, only about 40 percent of health care workers in the U.S. wash their hands as often as it’s recommended. Hospitals are beginning to pay attention to this practice and are even using new surveillance technologies.

Surveillance Technologies
A new device has been installed at Baptist Princeton Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. A special badge tells hospital administrators exactly how often doctors and nurses wash their hands through information that is transmitted wirelessly. Nurses have mixed feeling about the technology. It is sort of a “Big Brother of hand washing” looking over their shoulders. Many do not care for the invasive surveillance and the message of distrust that it sends. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is using focus groups to gauge how sensitive healthcare workers are to the surveillance. But the bottom line is that the technology is being used to change behavior, not just to be punitive.

Continue reading " An Emphasis on Hand Washing - Prevent Medical Negligence " »

It is not the typical type of vehicle that can do harm. But a 62-year-old man has died after being hit by a golf cart over the weekend. The accident occurred at the Queen’s Harbour golf course when the man stepped out of the cart to look for a ball and another car hit him and pinned him between the carts. He then hit his head when he fell.

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of this man for this unfortunate accident.

Liability Issues
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reports that no charges will be filed, but if I was the family of this man, I would want to know whether there was alcohol involved. Driving a golf cart while intoxicated could place liability on the second driver. A golf cart is unlike a motor vehicle because they are not supposed to be used on roadways. They are not supposed to travel over 20 mph. However, they can be used on the roads inside certain communities and recreational facilities. What happens if someone is injured by a golf cart? Where does the liability fall?

Florida actually defines a golf cart as a dangerous instrumentality because they can be involved in many different types of accidents that cause injury. Because of that, I would want to research whether the owner of the golf cart was responsible for the damages and harm caused. An investigator could determine who the vehicle belongs to and if he had liability coverage in case there is bodily harm or property damage. It is not uncommon for the owner of the golf cart to be named as a defendant in a lawsuit for damages or death.

Continue reading " Man Dies After Being Hit By Golf Cart " »

An investigation is uncovering the amount of influence former NHTSA employees may have had over the current Toyota probe. Critics in Congress say that Toyota had help from two former NHTSA employees. Christopher Santucci worked as a defect investigator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator. He then got a job at Toyota, the very company he had been in charge of investigating. He worked for Christopher Tinto, who also used to work for NHTSA. Now with these two together at Toyota they helped to limit probes into Toyota records show. Together, they pointed the NHTSA probe to focus on the brief burst acceleration instead of the runaway vehicles that have led to so many accidents and deaths.

Toyota documents that CBS News obtained from 2006 show that while NHTSA wanted company documents on “a broad testing and analysis question” concerning the Camry and Solara vehicle engine surge, Toyota in negotiations with NHTSA, got the agency to “reduce the response” and essentially provide much less data. A third ex-NHTSA employee also helped Toyota, former NHTSA attorney Kenneth Weinstein. Joan Claybrook, who used to head NHTSA, characterizes it like this. “They maneuvered and manipulated and I think Bamboozled the agency.” Congress is taking the apparent conflict-of-interest question before Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Absolutely not” he said.

Continue reading " Toyota Pulls Strings Within NHTSA To Kill Probes " »

A three-year-old girl was mauled to death by a Pit Bull tied to a tree. It happened Saturday, February 20, 2010 in Ocala at the home of the girl’s family who owned the dog. The mother was not supervising when the dog attacked the little girl and when the mother came outside and found her, the girl was already dead. The family breeds pit bulls for a living and Marion County Animal Control removed four dogs in all from the home. The three other children who live there and the father were not home at the time of the attack.

Our condolences go out to the family for the death of this little girl. No matter what the circumstance, losing a child is a tragedy that will never be forgotten.

Florida Dog Bite Statistics
Every year it’s estimated there are about 4.7 million dog bites in this country that result in 30 deaths. And the number of canine homicides, as they’re called, seems to be growing from the 80s and 90s. About 800,000 dog bite injuries end up seeking medical treatment. Men are twice as likely to be injured as woman, but often children are the victims of vicious dogs who perceive them as easy prey. Often it is more than one dog, or a pack, that will attack. About two dozen breeds have been linked to fatal dog bites, with Pit Bulls and Rottweilers at the head of the list.

Continue reading " 3-Year-Old Killed By Pitt Bull " »

Also referred to as the “Gateway to Florida,” Lake City is located in Columbia County and is home to approximately 12,000 individuals. Being located within Columbia County’s estimated population of 68,000, Lake City is quite a diverse, popular, and eventful area. Similar to other largely populated cities, Lake City encounters incidents of bike collision in which bicyclists may endure serious injury due to another person’s negligence. When a driver is distracted, under the influence of alcohol, or otherwise negligent and a bicyclist suffers as a result, an injured rider may seek legal counsel from an experienced Lake City bike crash lawyer.

Based on 2008 accident statistics from the Florida Highway Patrol, 118 bicyclists died in collisions and a total of 4,775 crashes involving bicycles took place. While helmet use helps prevent bicyclist injury, drivers must uphold the important responsibility of checking blind spots for bicycles before changing lanes as well as following the posted speed limit.

Whether a bike crash causing death or injury takes place in Lake City, FL or anywhere else in the U.S., these types of accidents may create physical, emotional and financial challenges for an injured individual and their family to overcome. Some of the most frequently occurring bike accident injuries relate to bruising, broken bones, disfigurement, lacerations, permanent scaring, paralysis, brain injury, and even death. Although these injuries vary, many of them can lead to high medical bills, loss of past and future wages, emotional suffering, and other damages.

At Farah and Farah, our Lake City personal injury attorneys have helped several bike accident injury victims in their legal efforts so that they can get their life back on track. In our many years of experience, we have acquired the legal knowledge and resources to take on any personal injury or bike accident case. Contact Farah and Farah today to learn more about your legal rights and to receive a free consultation by calling us at our Lake City office:

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


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A father and son were both injured in their 1974 experimental plane that took off from Williston Florida, Sunday, February 21. The 65-year-old father and his son 40-year-old son had taken off successfully, but when they were returning to the Williston Airport Sunday morning, the plane took a nose dive, landing upside down. Both men were taken to Shands Hospital but reported to be in stable condition. According to the Levy County Sheriff’s department, the two had taken off for a Sunday morning flight in their home- built plane.

Thankfully, this plane crash did not result in deadly consequences. These two men are counting their blessings, I’m sure.

Accident Statistics
There has been a 600 percent increase in the number of homebuilt airplanes since the 1970s, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. They are much less expensive than single-engine general aviation aircraft. But the FAA allows anybody to buy the plans and assemble the parts for an aircraft. There are at least 25,000 experimental aircraft homebuilt in the U.S. though many are based on conventional design. This aircraft can be built and flown by any licensed pilot and the aircraft must be certified for flight by an examiner.

Liability Issues
Experimental aircraft can raise serious liability concerns. Small experimental aircraft don’t have the same FAA requirements as factory-built aircraft and the homemade planes are more dangerous as a result. People literally can build them in their garage. Experimental aircraft can use automotive or motorcycle engines.

Continue reading " Williston, Fl Plane Crash Injures Two " »

This is a story that no one wants to experience, but medical malpractice in Florida and throughout the U.S. is real and far more common than the public realizes. A woman from Tampa felt there was too much bleeding after her dental surgery, and too much pain. There was a very good reason for that. Her dental surgeon had left a drill bit burr in her right maxillary sinus where it stayed for nearly a year as the 35-year-old held down a job and cared for her kids. The woman has since undergone surgery to have the drill bit removed.

We wish her a speedy recovery and the peace of mind knowing that a foreign object has been removed from her face.

Medical Malpractice
The woman in this incident has hired an attorney to try and get back some of the11-months of her life. This was not only a preventable error, says her attorney, but a simple follow-up X-ray would have detected the metal piece in her jaw. Instead, the woman was sent away and told that her healing process was normal, her lawyer says.

In order to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, a patient has to have suffered some loss and injury, and according to this complaint, the woman was experiencing numbness on her right side where the burr was, as well as dizziness. It was only when she was taken in for emergency treatment at St. Joseph’s Hospital in July, 2009, that a magnetic scan caused the object to move inside her head, something that caused excruciating pain, she says.

Continue reading " Dentist Leaves Drill Bit in Patient's Jaw " »

Orange Park is located within Northeast Clay County and is a popular town and suburb of Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to attracting a variety of visitors throughout the year, the city of Orange Park is home to more than approximately 9,043 residents and Clay County encompasses over 180,000 individuals. As a major section of such a densely populated area, Orange Park experiences its share of bike accidents, especially with an increase in residents attempting to save money on gas and get more exercise. When a bike injury collision is caused by a negligent or distracted driver, an injured bicyclist may want to get in touch with a skilled Orange Park bike accident attorney.

It is an unfortunate reality that several motorists fail to yield the right-of-way to bicyclists, and even pedestrians and other vehicles. Statistic estimates from the U.S. Department of Transportation reveal that about 2% of all traffic accident deaths and incidents of injury involve bicycles. Whether a bike crash causing death or injury takes place in Orange Park, FL or anywhere else in the U.S., these types of accidents can impose several physical, emotional and financial consequences for an injured individual and their family to surmount. Some common bike accident injuries include broken bones, permanent scaring, disfigurement, lacerations, bruising, paralysis, brain injury, and even death. Although these injuries range in severity, many of them may contribute to steep medical bills, loss of wages, emotional trauma, and other damages.

The experienced Orange Park personal injury attorneys at Farah and Farah have dedicated many years to assisting those injured in bike accidents due to another person’s negligence. We have the legal resources and knowledge to handle any personal injury case, whether it relates to a bike accident, pedestrian injury, or another kind of automobile accident. Get in touch with Farah and Farah for more information regarding your legal rights and to schedule a free consultation by contacting us at our Orange Park, Florida office today:

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

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An analysis by USA Today finds that among 15,700 nursing homes nationally, about 20% receive low marks for overall quality, and those with the lowest ratings – one or two stars – are owned by for-profit companies.

There are an estimated 1.4 million Americans in nursing homes. About a quarter-million live in the low-ranked nursing homes. But even they must satisfy the basic Medicare requirements. USA Today examined the federal government's data from the first ratings of the homes' performance. Late in the Bush administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began assigning the Zagat-like ratings based on quality, staffing, and health inspections. The Five-Star Rating System launched at www.medicare.gov.

Among the lowest rating - one star- nursing home, there was an average of about 14 deficiencies per home, including safety violations and quality-of-life measures. Unfortunately, in many states, homes with poor ratings may be the only nursing homes for miles.

Problems include infected bedsores, medication errors, poor food, and abuse and neglect of nursing home patients. About 20 percent of the more than 37,000 complaints inspectors received last year concerned abuse or neglect of patients.

Continue reading " Nursing Home Ratings - Low Overall Quality Found " »

A one-year-old girl who was in a car involved in a wreck in Wesley Chapel, Florida, died Saturday, January 9, 2010 according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The young girl was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Hospital, where she had been in critical condition since the wreck.

She was one of three people in a Honda that was struck by an SUV that crossed over the center lane of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, just south of State Road 54. The driver of the 2010 Cadillac SUV was a 67-year-old man from Brando, who died in the collision. He wasn't wearing a seat belt.

There is no word whether the infant was properly restrained in an infant car seat. Our hearts go out to the family of this little girl. There is very little information about whether she was strapped into a child restraint system as is required by law.

Continue reading " Injured Tot Dies in Wesley Chapel Crash " »

News4 in Jacksonville reports that a St. Augustine pedestrian died after he was hit by a car driving down U. S. Highway 1 near Old Moultrie Road in St. Johns County. Traffic investigators say a 57-year-old man was standing alongside the highway around 4:15 a.m. He was wearing dark clothing. A 24-year-old man was driving down U.S. 1 and didn’t see the pedestrian in time to avoid the accident. The male pedestrian later died at Flagler Hospital. The motorist was not injured and the Florida Highway Patrol reports no charges are pending.
Our condolences go out to family and friends of the deceased pedestrian.

Pedestrian Dangers in Florida
The Florida Department of Transportation reports the state’s pedestrian fatality rate during nighttime hours is double the national average. A recent review of all pedestrian accidents in the state, released in 2008, ranked Florida #2 nationwide for pedestrian fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that between 1997 and 2007, more than 5,000 pedestrians died on the state’s highways, 10.4% of all pedestrian fatalities across the nation for that same period of time. A study conducted by the University of Florida points to a number of reasons for Florida’s high fatality rate: warmer weather which encourages walking during longer winter nights and urban sprawl which creates a reliance on high-speed arterial highways such as U.S. 1. These highways are not always well lighted, adding to the danger.

Continue reading " Pedestrian Killed in Early Morning Auto Accident " »

A devastating crash involving a Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy cruiser and a Honda Civic leaves an Oakland Park, Florida teenager dead and two others in the hospital. According to police and witnesses at the scene, the accident happened at the corner of Dixie Highway and Northeast 56th Street. The investigation into just what happened demonstrates how difficult it can be to find the cause of such a tragedy and how important it is to seek legal guidance to make sure justice is done.

According to police and news reports, a 21-year-old girl was driving the Honda, headed north on Dixie Highway. She was attempting to turn left at Northeast 56th Street when the police cruiser, headed south on Dixie, slammed so hard into the Honda that the back end of the car was sheared off. A 14-year-old a passenger in the Honda was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and another passenger, who is 15-year-old, were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The Sheriff’s Deputy driving the cruiser, a 21-year-old man, was also taken to the hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released. He is new to the Sheriff’s Department and has neither commendations nor reprimands on his record. He has not been placed on leave from his job.

Our hearts go out to all the victims of this terrible accident. The loss of a child is especially difficult and our prayers are with the girl’s family and friends as they try to come to terms with what happened.

Reconstructing An Accident
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office says it may take months to determine who is at fault and as more details come to light, it is easy to see why.

First—one witness at the scene who gave an account of the accident to investigators is now accused of having lied about what happened.

Second—while witnesses claim the cruiser was driving at a high rate of speed, the Sheriff’s Office says it is unclear at this time how fast it was going. Furthermore, officials say Honda had a green light, but not a green turn arrow, which means it should have yielded to oncoming traffic.

Third—witnesses asked why the Sheriff didn’t have his emergency lights or siren on during the crash but officials say he shouldn’t have, since he was responding to a routine call at the time.

Fourth—both drivers have a record of traffic citations, both for speeding, and one for charges of improperly changing lanes and failing to wear a seat belt.

Continue reading " 14-Year-Old Killed In Crash Involving Police " »

A study by Ohio State University shows the dangers of walking and talking on a cell phone. Hundreds of injuries have been reported from distracted pedestrians. Just over 1,000 pedestrians have visited emergency rooms in 2008 because they tripped or ran into something during a cell phone conversation or texting while walking. The New York Times reports on the case o a 16-year-old boy who walked into a telephone pole and suffered a concussion. A 28-year-old man trapped and fractured a finger while he gripped his cell phone. And 68-year-old man fell off his porch while talking on a cell phone.

We think of the dangers of driving while distracted, but the rate of ER visits has doubled from 2007, which doubled from 2006. And consider this – most people injured while walking and talking would not even thing to call it into a hospital if the injury is minor.

Florida is already the most dangerous state for pedestrians, with nine out of the ten most dangerous metro areas in the south, according to Transportation for America. Far too many pedestrians are killed on an annual basis in Florida. With the explosion of personal communications devices, there is no reason to believe that there will be any improvement in the dangerous practice of distracted walking. To help prevent pedestrian accidents in Jacksonville and throughout the state of Florida, please do not use your cell phone while crossing the street or engage in other distractions when doing so.

Source report: http://www.justicenewsflash.com/2010/01/19/study-talking-walking-injuries-pedestrians_201001193036.html

Two teenagers were killed in Ocala following a crash, Tuesday, January 12, 2010 when the BMW they were riding in collided with the rear of a dump truck. The driver of the 1987 BMW 325i was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, when he topped a hill on Northwest 100th Street, near North U.S. 441, and crashed into the rear of a Mack Granite dump truck. His passenger died an hour after the crash. The driver died on Thursday. Both teens were 18-years-old and both were seniors at North Marion High School. The dump truck driver received minor injuries.

Seat belts were in use at the time of the accident.

Our hearts go out to the families of these two young men who were best friends. The driver’s father says his son never drank or smoked and was a good son. We are sorry for your loss.

An investigation needs to determine just how fast that dump truck was traveling when the collision occurred. The FHP says that the truck was slowing for road work and that there were numerous signs along the hilly street to indicate road work was ahead. An investigation needs to confirm that information.

If there were not adequate warning signs posted behind that working dump truck, the company responsible as well as Marion County could be liable.

Continue reading " 18-Year Old Killed Rear Ending Dump Truck in Ocala " »

The beginning first months of any New Year bring some new traffic laws to Florida. One specifically addresses bad drivers, sending them back to school when they are at fault in three crashes with a 36-month period. 322.0261 was enacted during the 2009 legislative session.

"In an effort to make our roads safer, those who display a pattern of poor driving ability or judgment will be required to complete a driver improvement course," says Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director, Julie L. Jones. "The new law is designed to modify the behavior of some of our worst drivers."

As many as 1,000 Florida drivers may be subject to the new requirements during 2010, especially when traffic transgressions go back as far as 2007.

Beginning in early January, those drivers who are among the worst will receive notices that they are subject to the new law. Drivers will be given 90 days to complete the approved course. If they fail to do so, they could lose their driving privileges.

Continue reading " New Law: Three At-Fault Crashes Sends You Back To The Florida Classroom " »

A man from Fort Lauderdale is a former Florida smoker with lung cancer. He, like thousands of other Floridians, have filed lawsuits against Big Tobacco in Florida for hiding the dangers of smoking, and in fact, promoting smoking as something that was good for your health. Years later, when people were addicted and could not stop smoking, the dangers were revealed.

But has dropped his lawsuit against tobacco giant Philip Morris USA. Instead, he has accepted a $1,000 settlement against Big Tobacco. In his case, the fear of having to pay the legal fees of Philip Morris outweighed the risk of going to trial and losing. Two smokers recently had to pay the company $100,000 and $30,000.

When the Engle class action lawsuit against tobacco companies was decertified along with its $145 billion damage award, individuals were free to file their own cases. That meant that about 4,000 cases were filed in state court and about 4,000 in federal court. In the first case filed by the family of a man and a Florida jury awarded $8 million to his widow.

Based on the original Engle findings, the Florida Supreme court decided to reinstate a portion of the decision determined by the class. As a matter of fact these answers have been determined by Engle – that smoking causes certain diseases, that cigarettes are addictive, that cigarettes are defective and unreasonably dangerous, that tobacco companies conspired to conceal or omit information regarding the health effects of cigarette smoking or the addictive nature of smoking cigarettes and that they lied about cigarettes.

Philip Morris USA, a unit of Altria Group Inc. has vowed to fight the cases.

Source article: http://www.wtop.com/?sid=1818194&nid=111

The 20-year-old was a good nurse. So when she was told to show up at Jacksonville Naval Hospital’s Mayport clinic in 2005, despite the fact that she had a cold and worsening headaches, she did so. But that decision turned deadly for a young pregnant woman.

An undiagnosed sinus infection became bacterial meningitis taking her life. Monday, December 28, 2009, the government finally settled with the family. Most of the $850,000 will go to her 4-year-old daughter who was delivered seven weeks early by C-section as he mother lay dying. The child will not go without, but she will go without her mother.

Our condolences to the family for their immense loss. It is a complete tragedy, especially considering that the failure-to-diagnose case is the third settled by the family’s attorney with this hospital.

Medical Malpractice
By failing to diagnose this young woman simply by taking her temperature, determining she had a bacterial infection and treating the infection with antibiotics, the hospital committed malpractice. She had shown up at the Mayport clinic with the respiratory infection and a two-to-three day history of headaches, but told to continue taking over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Even the young woman’s mother called the clinic herself to demand they give her daughter a prescription for antibiotics. Instead the daughter received a different OTC medication.

Malpractice occurs when a standard of care is violated and that clearly happened here. By the time the bacterial meningitis was diagnosed, it was too late. She died two days later and her organs were donated. Her mother says her daughter was her best friend.

Continue reading " Navy Settles Medical Malpractice Case " »

The Southeast city of Brunswick, GA, is an industrial area known for its city life as well as its seafood and automotive production. Brunswick is home of the eastern United States’ number four largest automobile port and is often called the world’s “shrimp capital” for its ample shrimp and crab supply. Brunswick is also the number twelve most populated metro area in Georgia State and its estimated city population of 16,235 does not include the 101,792 metropolitans that dwell in the central city and surrounding neighborhoods. With such a large number of residents, many opt for public or personal transportation, including the use of a bicycle. Unfortunately, bike accidents and instances of personal injury can occur, and the victim may be in need of a personal injury lawyer.

There are many preventative measures bicycle riders can take to protect themselves from injury. To name a few, a helmet can be worn to protect head damage, and awareness of weather conditions can help a rider to choose a better route or prevent an unnecessary slip and fall from wet or icy ground. Unfortunately, not all bicycle accidents and injuries are the fault of the rider and collisions may arise from third party negligence. A distracted motorist may fail to yield to a bike rider when merging lanes or an intoxicated driver could recklessly strike the biker. In such cases, motorist negligence can cause a bike accident that may result in personal injury, including broken bones, paralysis, or severe body lacerations. Many of these injuries can leave lasting scars on the skin, cause victims to suffer long-term emotional trauma, and create financial debt from intense medical treatment. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident as the result of someone else’s negligence, a Brunswick Georgia bicycle accident lawyer may be able to help you and your family receive due compensation for pain and expenses.

The skilled and dedicated lawyers at Farah and Farah have many years of experience protecting the rights of Brunswick, Georgia personal injury and bike accidents victims. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have the legal knowledge and resources to help you receive compensation for personal injuries, emotional grief, and financial losses. To receive a completely free consultation of your case, please contact Farah and Farah at our Brunswick, Georgia office today:

(912) 466-8896
4216 Coral Park Drive,
Suite 107
Brunswick, GA 31520

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A 20-year-old Fort Myers, Florida, man lost control of his truck on Interstate 75 and lost his life. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that the man was heading south at a high rate of speed when the vehicle hit a curve north of the Bayshore Road exit. Because of the speed, the 20-year-old’s vehicle skidded onto the west side of the highway and then overturned four times. The young driver was ejected when his driver’s door opened. Despite the fact that he was wearing his seat belt, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Our condolences go out to the family of this young driver.

Young Driver Traffic Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, young drivers, ages 15-to-20, represent 9 percent of the U.S. population in 2007, and 6 percent of the licensed drivers. But they also represent 19 percent of the fatalities in the United States in 2007.

Approximately two-thirds of the people killed in fatal young-driver crashes are the young drivers themselves or the passengers (of all ages) of the young drivers.

Of the passengers killed riding in vehicles with young drivers, 67 percent are in the same 15-to-20-year-old age group as the drivers. And 56% of the fatal crashes and 57 % of the fatalities involving young drivers occur on rural road-ways.

Continue reading " Fort Myers Man Ejected From Truck " »

A 24-year old driver was arrested at Orlando International Airport Tuesday, January 12, 2010 and accused of causing a crash that killed two women in 2008. Authorities had “flagged” his passport after he went to Lebanon last year. The man is facing two counts of DUI manslaughter and two counts of vehicular homicide for a July, 2008 crash that killed a 20-year-old woman and a 19-year-old woman.

The driver was trying to reenter the country when he was arrested on an active warrant. He is being held in jail since FHP considers him a flight risk.

Vehicular Manslaughter
The two young women were traveling north on Dean Road after leaving SR 408 exit, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The man reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .085 when he ran a red light driving his 2008 Infinity south on Dean road. He was speeding according to troopers, going 68 mph in a 45 mph zone. The speed literally split the Acura in two, killing the two women at the scene.

Friends of the male driver say he was not leaving the country to avoid prosecution, but to visit his relatives. Our condolences go out to the families of these two girls who have had to wait for justice for so long.

Florida Accident Statistics
Florida drivers ages 15 to 19, have the highest rate per 10,000 licensed drivers of crash involvement (399.04) and drivers 20-24 have the highest rate in fatal crashes (4.24), according to 2008 statistics from the Florida Highway Patrol.

Continue reading " Driver Arrested at Orlando International for Vehicular Manslaughter " »

Some budget changes apparently are needed in Miami. But budget cutbacks have also cut back the response time of emergency personnel. In this case, a bicyclist was hit by a car on the busy South Florida causeway into Key Biscayne Sunday, January 17. The car was driven by a man who is facing DUI manslaughter charges. His driving record has previous incidents and he has been accused of battery. But it took rescue personnel 12 minutes to respond. The nearest fire rescue station at Key Biscayne is only opened part time. So Miami-Dade sent rescue personnel from its open station, which is in South Miami, which explains the 12 minute wait.

Unfortunately. that time was too much for the cyclist who did not survive the crash. Both Key Biscayne and the City of Miami Fire Rescue are closer to the scene of the accident. The family issued a statement, “Lives were changed forever, and two families are grieving and going through an extremely difficult time.” The county is launching an investigation.

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of the affected individual. The response time is a strong factor in survivability of a bicycle crash with an automobile.

Florida Bicycle and Passenger Fatalities
While bicycle and passenger fatalities decreased 2.5% from 121 to 118 in 2008, 118 bicyclists were killed in 2008 in Florida. There were also 4,380 injuries during that time period from 4,775 crashes. Unfortunately, car drivers will often tell you they did not see a bicyclist or a motorcycle. That is often because they are not looking.

Continue reading " Emergency Response to Miami Bike Accident Delayed Because of Budget Cuts " »

The Chrysler Group is recalling 24,000 Dodge and Jeep automobiles because of a defect that could cause the brakes to fail. The bulk of the recall applies to the Dodge Ram pickup truck, model years 2009-2010 as well as the 2010 Chrysler Sebring, the Dodge Avenger and Nitro, the Jeep Liberty, Commander and Grand Cherokee.

The problem is a rod-retaining clip that has been fitted incorrectly and in some Ram trucks the part has not been fitted at all. No accidents are reported as a result of the brake issue, but Chrysler says the problem with the braking system could result in brake failure without warning, “which could cause a crash.” As auto defect attorneys in Florida and throughout the U.S. are monitoring recall updates, Chrysler is working closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the recall.

The auto giant is in the midst of trying to rebuild its image after going through bankruptcy last year and receiving federal bailout money. NHTSA is encouraging consumers to call Chrysler to obtain the fix.

Source report: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703837004575013263719462230.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

A 19-year-old from Atlantic Beach near Jacksonville suffered fatal injuries when the pickup truck in which he was riding got a flat tire and rolled over. The crash happened Thursday afternoon, January 14, 2010 at about 4:15 p.m. on Interstate- 95 and LPGA Boulevard in Daytona Beach.

The teen was one of two passengers ejected from the vehicle, a 2005 Ford, after the driver lost control and the car went into the grass median before overturning twice. He was not wearing a seat belt. The other passenger, a 21-years-old, also of Atlantic Beach, was not wearing his seat belt and was hospitalized. The 29-year-old driver from Atlantic Beach was wearing a seat belt and sustained minor injuries.

Our prayers go out to the family members of the young man who did not survive and the other injured man who was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach and is recovering. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Florida’s New Seat Belt Law
Many people argue that they should not have to wear a seat belt if they do not want to and they refuse to buckle up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 20% of drivers are still not buckling up.

Continue reading " 19-Year-Old Killed in Daytona from Flat Tire, Rollover " »

The city of Palatka rests in the county seat of Putnam County, Florida and currently approximates a population of 10,796 - a significant rise in births since the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2000 count. Many attractions involve Palatka residents, including a bluegrass music festival that occurs biannually, and Ravine Gardens State Park, which students of nearby St. Johns River Community College can visit to enjoy the scenery or study at. With two available Amtrak services and a local public-use airport to accommodate residential travel, the population of Palatka is an educated, busy city that continues to grow. However, from time to time, an accident can occur, such as birth injury or hospital malpractice, and these traumatic incidents can permanently affect the well-being of an individual or a family.

Birth injury will devastate a significant number of families each year, with an estimated six to eight newborns out of 1,000 having difficulty during the birthing procedure and suffering an injury. A certified physician has the responsibility to provide adequate and proper care for a patient about to give birth, including accurate diagnosis, identifying a future child at risk of stroke, and taking measures to prevent premature birth.

An annual estimate of 200,000 patients will experience grief from acts of hospital malpractice by medical professionals who have not given proper treatment or correct dosage of medication to their patients. Mistakes from negligence can be irreversible and drain the earnings of those who have suffered mistreatment. In cases of neglect, a skilled Palatka hospital malpractice attorney is available to help anyone in need of repairing medical damages due to the negligence of a doctor, nurse or employed medical practitioner.

If you or a family member has experienced emotional trauma, physical pain, birth injury or personal loss at the expense of a medical negligence, the skilled and confident Palatka personal injury attorneys at Farah and Farah can help protect your rights. Loved ones and victims of neglect have trusted our lawyers for many years in hospital malpractice and birth injury cases. For a free and confidential consultation of your case, call the Palatka office of Farah and Farah today:

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


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A new crib recall policy could be part of the newly beefed up crib safety rules initiated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). When consumers find that they own a defective crib that has been recalled, CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum recently told congress that her “Safe Sleep Initiative” would require a crib maker to offer a refund or store credit to the owner of the defective crib. That is, as long as it does not force a company into bankruptcy. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) says what is most shocking about this is that all of the recalled cribs were certified as meeting the industry’s safety standards.

The problem with many recalled cribs is that they continue to resurface in the second-hand market, whether it is through a garage sale or consignment store.

Tenenbaum says she plans to ratchet up the public outreach for baby and toddler products by using multimedia tools, print, radio, television and social media to find the recalled items. Also CPSC is partnering with Safe Kids USA, Keeping Babies Safe, and the National Safety Council.

Recently the CPSC recalled more than 2 million Stock Craft drop-side cribs as well as 600,000 Dorel Asia cribs. Be sure to visit the CPSC Web site if you are planning to purchase a used baby crib or toddler equipment to check that it is not a defective product that has been recalled.

Source report: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/01/cpsc_cribs.html

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated its guidance for people who work late-night in retail establishments due to the number of people killed on the job. According to federal statistics, 167 retail trade workers were killed behind the counter in 2007 with nearly half working in gas stations, liquor and convenience stories. 39 were killed in convenience stores, 32 worked at gasoline stations, and seven worked at liquor stores. And while retail outlets experience a disproportionate amount of violence in the workplace, those premises that made any changes to improve conditions is fewer than 2%.

The only good news to report here is that the number of retail workers who died at workplace violence has declined over the past 10 years from 286 in 1998 to 167 in 2007. OSHA recently updated its guidance report, Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments, which was published in 1998. The updated Recommendations identify risk factors and feasible solutions.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, all employers are required to provide a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. Otherwise, someone injured on the job through no fault of their own, may have a premises liability case against the owner of the place of business.

In terms of other types of dangers on the job, OSHA reports that 5,071 workers died on the job in 2008. Employers under federal law are required to report any work-related deaths or in-patient hospitalization of three or more employees to their OSHA area office or call OSHA toll-free at 1-800-321-6742.

Source report: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=17115

A 24-year-old Merritt Island, Florida woman was killed when the truck she was riding in was struck by an oncoming truck on South Tropical Trail. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the young woman was pronounced dead after the crash, which happened at 5:36 a.m. near Crooked Mile Road.

Traffic investigators say the woman was riding in a 2001 Toyota truck driven by a 26-year-old man from Orlando. According to troopers, the motorist was speeding north on South Tropical Trail. He overcorrected when he drove onto the shoulder of the road, veering into the path of a southbound 1997 Ford truck. A 45-year-old Merritt Island resident was driving the Ford. Both she and the driver were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The crash is under investigation and charges are pending.

We offer our condolences for family and friends of the young woman and our prayers for a full recovery for the injured parties.

Speeding Vehicles Cause Accidents
We do not know the specific causes of this accident or who will be held responsible. But we do know that speed kills. Federal statistics from 2008 indicate that speeding is one of the most prevalent factors in traffic fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says speeding was involved in about 31% of fatal crashes in 2008, causing 11,674 deaths.

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