Posted On: March 31, 2011

Gainesville Man Charged with DUI after Fatal Car Accident on U.S. 1

A tragic accident occurred one year ago and led to the death of a 54-year-old St. Augustine social worker. Now, a 20-year-old Gainesville man, charged with DUI manslaughter, is set to go on trial May 16, just days before his 21st birthday. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) responded to the accident on March 12, 2010. Daniel Doyle Rocca, 19, was southbound on U.S. 1 near Estrella Avenue around noon and reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .212, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent for an adult driver when he allegedly slammed into the side of the woman’s Lexus, forcing it over a concrete median and into oncoming traffic where her vehicle was T-boned by another vehicle driven by a 66-year-old retired Duval County school board employee. The Lexus driver died at the scene. The other woman had to be extracted from her vehicle by the Jaws of Life and was in a coma for 10 days. She lost one leg below the knee, has had 15 surgeries, and spent months in rehabilitation. Rocca, who was driving a Pontiac Vibe, and his 22-year-old passenger received minor injuries.

Our condolences go out to all of the friends and family of these two accident victims.

The young man was 19 at the time of the collision and still considered a minor under the legal drinking age of 21. A DUI manslaughter conviction can bring a driver up to 15 years in prison.

The Florida car accident lawyers at the Farah & Farah law firm reminds drivers that the only thing worse than causing an auto accident is to leave the scene, especially when there are injuries or a fatality. Call our offices immediately following an accident at 1-800-533-3555 so we can begin to advocate for you in your time of need.

Posted On: March 30, 2011

Car Accident in Boynton Beach Severs Woman’s Arm, Possibly from Faulty Airbag Deployment

According to a report by The Palm Beach Post, an elderly woman rear-ended a Florida Power and light truck around 7 p.m. recently and may have had her left arm severed above the elbow due to airbag deployment. The collision occurred in the 100 block of SW 18th Street. There is no further word in this article whether or not the driver of the Mercury Grand Marquis was wearing a seat belt. The woman was taken to Delray Medical Center and there is no word on her condition.

When an airbag deploys, it is supposed to keep a person from hitting the steering wheel, windshield, or dashboard of a vehicle. In order to be effective, the airbag deploys at speeds of up to 200 mph.

While airbags are designed to keep vehicle occupants safe, inadvertent airbag deployment can lead to serious injuries. Between 1990 and 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded 290 deaths due to the deployment of air bags in low-speed crashes. Sixty-eight percent were passengers and more than 90 percent were children and infants who were in child safety seats too close to the exploding airbag. About 80 percent were unrestrained when they were killed by the airbag. It is recommend anyone who sits closer than 10 inches to the steering wheel should use pedal extenders to avoid injury from a deployed airbag.

However, in some cases, an airbag can be defective. An experienced Florida defective airbag attorney will want to launch an investigation to determine if the vehicle’s airbags may have been under a prior recall and were never serviced.

Posted On: March 29, 2011

FDA Considers Banning Menthol Cigarettes

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has stopped short of recommending a ban on menthol cigarettes, despite the evidence that they contribute to a rise in smoking among adolescents. The Chicago Tribune reports the advisory panel issued its long-awaited report recently but urged the issue of menthol in cigarettes needed further study, a relief to the tobacco industry, which has been nervous since 2009 when the FDA gained authority to regulate tobacco.

The panel even suggested that removing menthol cigarettes would benefit public health in the U.S. The FDA does not have to follow the advice of its expert panels but usually does.

Smoking cigarettes is blamed for the deaths of 443,000 every year and $100 billion in uncompensated medical care and $100 billion in lost productivity, reports the newspaper. Smoking is not only linked to lung cancer, but also bladder, kidney, esophageal, pancreatic, and other cancers.

Tobacco giants have for years misled the public regarding the dangers of cigarette smoking, handing out cigarettes to military personnel, advertising through cartoon characters, having doctors do ads testifying to the calming effects of smoking, and even lying to Congress about cigarette dangers. As the public and science have learned about the health effects of smoking, tobacco giants have diversified, buying up food companies and exporting cigarettes to third world countries.

The Florida tobacco attorneys at the Farah & Farah personal injury law firm has represented thousands of victims of smoking and misinformation by Big Tobacco. If you have been a victim of the tobacco industry, it may be important for you to contact an experienced tobacco lawyer to protect your legal rights, but please note, there may be a time limitation within which to act.

Posted On: March 28, 2011

Man Receives 20 Year Sentence for Fatal Florida Car Crash during Police Pursuit

A North Florida man will spend the next 20 years behind bars for causing a fatal crash in Lake Butler while being pursued by deputies, according to a report in The Miami Herald. The 26-year-old was before a Union County judge recently and he received the sentence after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident with great bodily harm, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers. The original Florida car accident occurred last July when a deputy spotted the driver in Lake Butler and lit his emergency lights to pursue the driver, who sped away, ran a stop sign, and struck an SUV driven by a 23-year-old female, who died at the scene. Even though he ran from the crash because his license was suspended, the driver turned himself into troopers two days later.

Our condolences go out to the family of the young woman who died in this crash. The article does not say whether or not officers had probable cause to pursue this young man, which led to the chain reaction and a fatal outcome.

According to Pursuit Watch, a group formed after the death of an innocent bystander due to a police pursuit, 40 percent of all police car chases end in a collision, 1 percent result in death, and 20 percent in serious injury. On average, police chases kill at least three innocent bystanders each week. And the public is not the only one in danger. Once every 11 weeks, a police officer is killed in such a collision.

Even if someone has a suspended license, is driving a stolen vehicle, or had drugs or alcohol in their possession, many citizens and police agencies are re-evaluating whether that is worth the life of an innocent civilian. Some agencies have amended their pursuit policies to include pursuit only if there is a violent crime. Unfortunately, with about 70,000 police chases every year in the U.S., there is still no national database to track the outcomes.

The Florida car accident lawyers at the personal injury law firm of Farah & Farah suggest without that data and knowledge of the outcomes, it is difficult to control or amend a pursuit policy. Please contact our office if you have been injured in one of these actions. We may be able to help you seek compensation for your injuries and medical care, as well as lost wages and pain and suffering.

Posted On: March 25, 2011

Notoriously Bad Driver Faces Trial for Boy's Death in Florida Pedestrian Accident

A Merritt Island man is facing an April trial for a traffic ticket after he struck and killed a 10-year-old boy who ran in front of his car. Legally, the driver cannot be charged with the boy's death since he ran in front of the vehicle, but the driver has a long history of driving offenses. WESH-Television reports the man has two pages of offenses, including speeding, careless and reckless driving, DUI, and driving without a license. The Florida Highway Patrol is questioning how such a man stays behind the wheel. He had just completed a drunken driving school and was traveling 12 mph over the speed limit when he struck the boy. The lawyer for the boy’s family, in a separate wrongful death action, says if the driver had been going the speed limit he would have been able to stop in time. The driver insists he has done nothing wrong.

Florida law gives drivers many opportunities, some would say too many opportunities, to become repeat offender. Under Florida Statute 316.193, any driver convicted of a third DUI within 10 years, or a fourth or subsequent DUI, has committed a third degree felony which can bring up to five years in prison. Even after a third conviction a driver can get his revoked license back after two years. It is the fourth and subsequent conviction that revokes a license permanently.

Our hearts go out to the parents of this little boy who did not get that many chances at life. It is possible that the judge in this ticket case in April will finally take some action against a repeat offender and finally revoke his license.

If you or a loved one have been in an accident that was caused by a reckless driver, the Florida accident attorneys at Farah & Farah will fight for your right to hold the at-fault driver responsible for his actions.

Posted On: March 18, 2011

Five People Injured in Palm Harbor Car Crash

Five people remain hospitalized after a car crash that shut down portion of U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor in Pinellas County, on Tuesday morning, March 15. Tampa Bay.com reports a 2005 Pontiac struck a Toyota as it turned north onto U.S. 19 from Colonial Boulevard around 10:15 a.m., causing it to spin into a light pole and knock it down. Witnesses report the Pontiac, driven by a 28-year-old man from Tarpon Springs, was northbound when it hit a Toyota Highlander driven by a 68-year-old man from Palm Harbor. The FHP believes the crash did not involve alcohol but may have involved excessive speeding. Both drivers are hospitalized in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa in serious condition.

The Pontiac driver’s two passengers are in Bayfront Hospital in serious condition. Everyone involved was reportedly wearing their seat belts. Let’s hope all involved in this tragic crash recover from their injuries.

Although this story does not mention it, it is possible that a traffic ticket could be issued to the Pontiac driver if it is determined he ran a stop sign or light. A moving violation not only adds points to a license but it may cause the driver to lose his license.

Florida Statute 316.123 says that every driver must stop at a clearly marked stop line, and a failure to do so mandates the driver enroll in a basic driver improvement course. If you have questions about a moving violation that involves speeding, running a light, or a stop sign, Farah & Farah’s experienced Florida auto accident attorneys will be able to answer questions in a free consultation on your accident.

Posted On: March 16, 2011

Woman Dies in Clay County Head-On Crash, Driver Investigated for Drunk Driving

According to a report by Channel 4, a 22-year-old died and a 17-year-old was injured on Saturday, March 12, in a head-on collision in Clay County. The 17-year old teen was driving his Ford pickup on County Road 218 about 11:40 p.m., east of Courson Road, when he drifted into the oncoming lane and struck the other vehicle head-on. The driver of that car, a 22-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene of the fatal Florida car crash. The pickup truck driver was taken to Shands Medical Center in Jacksonville and is in serious condition. The accident victim was wearing her seat belt while the teen, who caused the collision, was not. The FHP indicates that he was driving while intoxicated and charges will likely be filed.

Our deepest sympathy is extended to the friends and family of the young woman killed through no fault of her own.

Drivers who get behind the wheel after driving and are over the legal limit for intoxication, 0.08 percent blood alcohol count (BAC), caused upward of 1,004 fatalities in Florida in 2009, according to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety. Florida Statute 768.125 states that the party who sells alcohol to an underage drinker can be held liable for any injuries or death that result. A bartender or party host has the responsibility to make sure that everyone served liquor is at least 21, which is the legal drinking age. They can also be held liable if they know the person served is “habitually addicted to the use of any or all alcoholic beverages” and causes injury, damages, or death while intoxicated because there is a foreseeable risk of injury when alcohol is provided to this person.

Unfortunately, a bartender can deny they knew the individual was habitually addicted to alcohol to avoid being held responsible. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident that was caused by an intoxicated driver, the law can be complex. The Florida car accident lawyers at the personal injury law firm of Farah & Farah have experienced auto accident attorneys to advocate for you and your family and the experience to take the at-fault driver all the way to trial. Call our Jacksonville offices at (904) 396-5555 so we can meet and discuss your case.

Posted On: March 14, 2011

Reclast Linked to Kidney Failure, Risks Underreported in U.S.

The consumer group Public Citizen wants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to warn consumers and doctors about a link between the osteoporosis drug Aclasta and serious renal toxicity, which can be fatal. Canada warned the public five months ago, and in a letter to the FDA, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group reports that Canada took action after it was revealed there have been 265 cases of kidney impairment after taking Aclasta, known as Reclast in the U.S. Even though it has a different name from the drug sold in Canada, the drugs are identical.

While Canada has reacted by requiring Novartis, the drug maker, to issue additional and more serious warnings, Dr. Sidney Wolfe wrote to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg that the FDA has failed to require Novartis to alert the public to the possibility of a life-threatening adverse events.

Reclast is given once a year to treat osteoporosis and Public Citizen reports that with one million infusions of the drug, the adverse event rate is about 20 cases per 100,000 patient-years of exposure.

When drugs are released to the public, the FDA frequently does not know whether they will have a long-term benefit until a number of people have taken the drug. Consider it the last stage of a clinical trial when thousands of different types of people are prescribed a drug, and frequently under those conditions, is when we see whether the benefit will outweigh the risk. Certainly, if a patient is prescribed Reclast, they should at least have all of the information about its possible downside, especially since there are other drugs used to treat osteoporosis.

Florida product liability law allows an injured person to hold the manufacturer, seller, and distributor responsible for a dangerous product that may also be defective.

Farah & Farah’s Florida product liability lawyers have experience in handling product liability and negligence cases and have helped injured Floridians pursue compensation for injuries, wrongful death, disabilities, and life-changing events that occurred through no fault of their own.

Posted On: March 11, 2011

Auto Regulators Drop Safety Rules for Power Window Safety Requirements and Backup Cameras to Protect Kids

Every other day a youngster under the age of four is killed in a non-traffic accident that involves an automobile. Whether a parent backs out of the driveway and runs over their toddler or a child’s head is caught in an electric auto window, Consumer Reports says that under the Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act (s.1948), lawmakers were supposed to set deadlines which would require automakers to fix the blind spots behind SUVs with backup cameras and require an auto-reverse function on power car windows.

Now the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has done an about face. Consumer Reports notes that in a notice issued on Monday, February 28, the NHTSA dropped the proposed new rulemaking, saying that it would largely prevent finger pinch injuries and would likely not prevent any deaths or serious injuries. The agency points out that many newer high-price vehicles already have an auto-reverse window feature.

According to Janette Fennell of the safety group Kids and Cars, about 80 percent of autos sold in Europe have the auto-reverse technology for all car windows and her group would like the technology imported to the U.S.

Under the 2007 Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act (s. 1948), the NHTSA had agreed to seek deadlines to required backup cameras on new vehicles to show little people and animals behind a car in the blind spot. The NHTSA is also seeking a delay in requiring those rules be implemented.

According to the Act, since 1999 at least 1,000 kids have died in vehicles in non-traffic related accidents. The government does not collect data about such tragedies but the NHTSA estimated in a 2007 study that about 2,000 emergency room visits were caused by power windows.

Consumer Reports found that the blind zone behind a vehicle can stretch up to 50 feet, hiding the presence of a child.

Fennell says her group will continue to work on an appropriate rule that requires the power window fix.

Consumers can still find a newer vehicle with the auto-reverse safety feature on the Department of Transportation’s website at http://www.safercar.gov.

If your or a loved one have been injured by a poorly designed vehicle or defective product, the Florida personal injury attorneys at Farah & Farah will offer you a free consultation on your case so that you may seek compensation from the at-fault party to cover medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.

Posted On: March 9, 2011

Cigarette Manufacturers Fight Back as FDA Considers Ban on Menthol

Sides have been drawn in the debate over the tobacco additive, menthol, which is sprayed on tobacco to give the smoke a minty, throat-numbing, cool sensation. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a ban on menthol because it tempers the harsh burn of tobacco and masks the dangers of cigarette smoking to public health.

Round one was lost in 2009 when the FDA gained the regulatory authority to ban chocolate and candy-flavored cigarettes, claiming they lured youngsters to smoke. Now with menthol on the hot seat, an FDA advisory panel met in Raleigh last week with tobacco executives and Reuters reports the tobacco giants argued there were “conflicts of interest and bias among members” of an FDA advisory panel that is expected to make a final report on a menthol ban on March 23. Lorrilard and Reynolds tobacco companies filed suit against the FDA on Friday, February 25, trying to block any FDA move to consider banning menthol-flavored cigarettes.

Menthol-flavored cigarettes make up about one-third of the U.S. market with Lorrilard’s Newport the top seller and Kool brand, by R.J. Reynolds, also a popular brand among the $83 billion in cigarettes sold annually.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that cigarette maker Philip Morris USA told the advisory panel on Wednesday, March 2, that menthol does not make smoking more dangerous than unflavored cigarettes. The advisory panel, the 12-member Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, will advise the FDA but the agency does not have to adopt its findings.

Many Americans may smoke light or menthol cigarettes believing they do not pose as great a danger as unflavored or regular cigarettes. Cigarette makers have encouraged this belief even though the National Cancer Institute found that a lower-yield cigarette does not reduce the risk for disease.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with heart disease or cancer associated with smoking, you may be entitled to receive compensation with the help of an experienced Florida tobacco attorney.

Posted On: March 8, 2011

FHP Seeks Public’s Help in Finding Motorist in Fatal Gainesville Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Accident

The Gainesville Sun reports that the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) wants the public’s help in solving a mysterious hit-and-run crash involving a Gainesville motorcyclist who was killed on U.S. 441 in May 2010. The 27-year-old motorcyclist was struck by a white Chevy or Ford pickup that had large tires, chrome rims, and may have been suspended. After the accident, it would have had damage on the right front bumper from where the pickup hit the motorcyclist’s bike from behind. The rider was ejected from the bike and landed about 10 feet from the edge of the highway. The FHP report says he was not wearing a helmet and the pickup truck driver left the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call Cpl. W.J. Berger at 1-800-387-1290, extension 120 or 955-3181 extension 310.

Our condolences go out to the friends and family of the motorcyclist for their loss.

In 2009, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported that there were 376 motorcyclists killed in the state and 8,313 injuries, a decline from the previous year (9,618).

Under state law, in an accident where there is personal or property damage, you have a duty to stop and render aid and answer questions to law enforcement. Leaving the scene where there is an injury can bring a third degree felony change and 15 years in state prison. Leaving the scene where there is a fatality can bring up to 30 years in prison.

Because hit-and-run collisions are such a problem in our state, the Florida motorcycle accident lawyers at the Farah & Farah law firm is a member of Hit-and-Run Reward, a national program financed exclusively by American personal injury attorneys who believe if you report a hit-and-run driver you will keep a dangerous driver off the road and you could receive a financial reward of $1,000 for anyone you turn in who is later convicted. This program is offered in addition to the Crime Stoppers reward program, so doing the right thing could yield you $2,000. The phone number for Hit-and-Run Reward is 1-800-644-8678.

Posted On: March 7, 2011

NHTSA Asks Congress for More Time to Finalize Backup Camera Regulations

The Detroit News reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking more time to finalize rules that require automakers to have rear visibility cameras in all new cars by 2014. The NHTSA says the new rules could prevent almost 300 backup accidents and save the lives of more than 100 people a year, most of them young children, but want more time to finalize the rules, which were supposed to have been ready on Saturday, February 26.

What’s the holdup?

The auto industry claims it will cost up to $2.7 billion annually with a cost per vehicle between $150 and $200 for the rear visibility cameras. If the vehicle already has a screen in the dashboard, it will cost about half. The Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers asked the NHTSA for more time.

Using a risk versus benefit calculation, the NHTSA estimates the cost of the new regulation will outstrip the cost of lives saved if you calculate that one life is worth about $6.1 million. This cost-benefit analysis is how laws are frequently made, regardless of the value of the life of your loved ones.

The parents of Cameron Gulbransen felt the new legislation was worth saving one life. The little boy was killed in the driveway when his father accidentally backed over him. The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act required the backup cameras on 40 percent of new cars by 2013.

The other part of the Act was the requirement of adding an auto-reversing mechanism to power windows so that little heads and hands would not be crushed, saving about 2 lives and preventing 850 injuries a year, according to the NHTSA.

In a further concession to the auto industry, Bloomberg reports that the plan for the automatic reversal on electric window has been scrapped by the NHTSA. The auto safety group Kids and Cars had pushed for the rule but the auto industry said implementation would cost from $6 to $8 a window.

The Florida car accident lawyers at Farah & Farah feel that a few extra dollars per car are worth the life of a child. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective automobile or were involved in a car crash, either as a passenger or a pedestrian, our personal injury attorneys will offer you a free consultation on your case. Call us today at 1-800-533-3555.

Posted On: March 4, 2011

Progressive Insurance's Snapshot Program Analyzes How Motorists Drive

Progressive Insurance wants to know how you drive and in return it is offering a discount on your auto insurance premium of 10 to 30 percent, reports The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Progressive is one of the country’s largest insurers and the program in Florida is called Snapshot.

Here’s how it works – a driver agrees to install a device in his vehicle which calculates the speed of the vehicle, the time driven, and braking. The palm sized device is installed under the steering wheel and Progressive can measure in real-time, as you drive, what you are doing for up to six months, at which time you mail the device back and receive a discount. The insurer insists there is no GPS system in the device and it cannot track where you are going in response to critics who fear they will be tracked.

Florida is the 30th state to receive the Snapshot program. While low-mileage drivers may benefit from Snapshot, it is probably not the program of choice for those who choose to speed or drive long distances.

The newspaper reports that a 2008 study by the Brookings Institution showed that about two-thirds of American households would pay less for insurance if there was some way to monitor the usage of their automobile. But consumers beware - Progressive says if you drive poorly your rates will not go up; however, insurance companies are not always known to have the consumer’s best interests in mind.

The Florida car accident lawyers at Farah & Farah have daily interactions with insurance companies and we consistently find that big insurers would rather the consumer take the lowest amount offered to settle an auto accident claim. Our experienced attorneys and case managers make it their business to advocate on your behalf in a language that the insurance companies understand in order for you to receive the most advantageous settlement in your favor. That’s our job and we take our job seriously on your behalf.

Posted On: March 3, 2011

Woman Killed After Car Sinks in Brevard County Canal

A 21-year-old woman from Titusville, FL was killed early Saturday morning, February 26, when her Honda Accord went off a seawall and sank to the bottom of a canal in Brevard County, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

The young woman was alone in the car when she drifted at a curve on Mullet Road and went off the edge of the seawall around 2:30 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The car rolled onto its right side and sank in the canal. The young woman was pulled out of the Honda by divers but was pronounced dead at Cape Canaveral Hospital. Tests will be taken to determine if alcohol or any other substances may have contributed to this tragedy.

Our condolences are extended to the family and friends of this young woman for her sudden passing.

The article does not say what may have happened to cause this tragic fatal Florida car crash. While a blood test should show if alcohol or drugs were present, an experienced personal injury attorney will also want to look at the phone records to determine if this person was texting or talking on the cell phone or otherwise distracted. Farah & Farah investigators will also back track her activities that night to determine if the young woman might have been served alcohol at a bar. The bar or liquor store might not be liable for injuries unless the driver was under the age of 21, which would be verified, or if the alcohol supplier knew the person was addicted to alcohol. In that case it could be predicted that there was a foreseeable risk of injury and that individual or establishment could be responsible for compensation for a wrongful death.

There are many avenues for investigation in an unfortunate accident such as this one, from a defective automobile, to road debris, or the involvement of another vehicle. Let an experienced Florida car accident lawyer from a reputable personal injury law firm help you in your search for answers.

Posted On: March 2, 2011

Toyota Announces Recall of 2.17 Million Vehicles to Repair Accelerator Problems

According to a report in Consumer Affairs, Toyota has just announced it is recalling about 2.17 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the United States as a follow-up to the 2009 recall that allegedly addressed the same problematic issue of accelerator pedals becoming stuck under floor mats.

A 10-month federal investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just determined that Toyota’s electronic system was not to blame for unintended acceleration that has taken many lives and led to the recall of 19.2 million Toyotas worldwide and 13.7 in the U.S. That leaves investigators looking again at floor mats as the probable cause of trapped gas pedals.

In the latest recall, which was announced on Thursday, February 24, Toyota said it will recall 20,000 Lexus vehicles to reconfigure the shape of the plastic pad that is in the driver’s side carpet. Without the fix, Toyota believes the plastic pad may cause the accelerator pedal to become stuck in a depressed position causing unintended acceleration. Two consumers have notified Toyota that they experienced that problem.

Also, about 372,000 Lexus RX models and 397,000 Highlander vehicles model year 2004 to 2006 are part of the recall. Those vehicles will have the driver side carpet replaced.

Owners can expect to receive recall notices next month.

Product Liability in Florida
Product liability law allows consumers who are injured by a defective product or their loved ones to be compensated for an injury or wrongful death. A defective product is one that is improperly designed, improperly labeled, or made of shoddy materials. Whether the manufacturer, supplier, or distributor, any party along the line can be held responsible for the injured person’s medical expenses and lost wages.

Farah & Farah’s experienced Florida auto product liability lawyers will meet with you to discuss any injury that resulted from a defective car or any other product to determine if your claim is valid. If so, Farah & Farah will outline the best way to proceed on your behalf.

Posted On: March 1, 2011

Florida Motorcyclist Killed in Collision with Disabled Car on I-95

WBPF- Television in Palm Beach Gardens, reports that a 58-year-old motorcyclist from Stuart died after his bike slammed into the back of a disabled vehicle in the northbound lane of I-95 north of the Donald Ross Road exit. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the accident occurred when the biker did not slow down with the traffic ahead and instead hit the back of a disabled Toyota Corolla that was being moved onto the median at about 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23. The biker was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center after being thrown from the bike. He later died, while the Toyota driver was not injured.

Our condolences are extended to the family and friends of the man lost in this tragic crash.

We have no word from this article whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. Beginning in 2000, Florida removed any legal requirements for motorcyclists to wear helmets. As it stands now, a biker must wear a helmet only when he is under the age of 21 and does not have medical insurance coverage of at least $10,000.

In Florida in 2009, the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety reported that 402 motorcyclists and their passengers were killed in the state in Florida motorcycle crashes. Florida initiated a safety campaign for new riders in 2008 after it was determine that motorcycles make up about 6% of all Florida traffic but 18% of all traffic deaths.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Florida, the experienced Florida motorcycle accident injury attorneys of Farah & Farah will offer a complimentary consultation on your crash. Even if you are partially responsible for your motorcycle accident, you may be able to find compensation from the other side for their involvement in the motorcycle accident.