Jacksonville Personal Injury Blog

This story has been heard all over the country and unfortunately a Florida Highway Patrol officer is the latest victim of his exploding patrol car.

The widow of Patrick Ambroise, 35, who died when his Ford Crown Victoria patrol car was rear ended and caught fire May 15, has filed a Florida product liability lawsuit against Ford in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. Ambroise’s Crown Victoria was pulled over to the shoulder when it was hit by a Lexus being driven by Jonathan Robert Garcia, of Miramar, and Euclides Garcia, the car’s owner who have both been named in the action.

The lawsuit alleges that Ford sold a vehicle with a defective design that places the gas tank in the rear “crush zone” of the vehicle where it can rupture and explode if hit from behind.

While Ford didn’t comment to the Palm Beach Post on the lawsuit, the Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Car, and Grand Marquis all were designed with the gas tank within the crush zone even though it is considered dangerous.

There are estimates up to 5 million of these vehicles with this design defect on the road today, including passenger cars.

In September 2002, CBS News reported that the Ford Motor Company agreed to install safety shields around the rear fuel tanks. Ford acted after pressure from the state of Arizona where three police officers burned to death. Some 350,000 cars were retrofitted at a cost of $50 million. The shields were designed to cover any protruding sharp edge that could puncture the fuel tank in a collision.

An experienced Florida defective auto attorney would want to check if Officer Ambroise’s vehicle ever had a safety shield installed.

If you or a loved one has experienced a fiery collision in one of these Ford vehicles, you would be well-advised to explore your options for compensation with Farah & Farah. Ford has let the public down by not making public information about the availability of the shields and has clearly failed to disclose the dangers of this defective design.

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As safety investigators continue their probe into the unexplained and unintended acceleration of Toyotas, the automaker says it has reviewed nearly 2,000 cases and drivers appear to be the problem, not Toyota vehicles.

Federal officials have attributed a number of wrongful deaths to the runaway vehicles, so the outcome of this investigation has a direct bearing on those lawsuits. Toyota, not surprisingly, says it has found no problems with the electronics that control the acceleration, initially blamed for the runaway vehicles.

Adding insult to injury, Consumer Affairs reports that Toyota says it found some instances where drivers simply made a mistake, mixing-up the accelerator pedal for the brakes.

Those sentiments were echoed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which has found, by looking at the black box recorders, that no pressure was applied to brakes and the throttles were opened in a few cases of runaway cars.

Toyota has insisted since the early reports, that driver error or misplaced and heavy floor mats affected the cars’ acceleration, the basis of the Toyota automobiles recall.

Due to runaway Toyotas, a barrage of federal lawsuits has been certified as class actions around the country. Individual wrongful death lawsuits have been filed too, including one by the family of Mark Saylor. The California Highway Patrol officer and his family perished when their runaway Lexus plunged off a hill in San Diego in August 2009 after Saylor, an experienced driver, couldn’t bring the racing vehicle under control. Toyota claims that oversized floor mats trapped the gas pedal of the Lexus.

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According to a News4Jax article, the lawyer who represents many of the families of the high school students who died in an SUV rollover crash in Jacksonville on the last day of school a year ago, sued Cooper Tire and Rubber Monday, June 7, 2010.

Attorney Eric Block called the “Cooper Tire” case a “preventable accident.” The 35-page complaint names Cooper Tire, Ford Motor, Big Chief Motor Company, and Imagine Cars of Orlando that sold the family the 1997 Ford Explorer that rolled.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Shannon Broome, one of four students from Ed White High School who piled in a Ford Explorer on June 5, 2009 heading for the beach. Behind the wheel and wearing his seat belt was 15-year-old unlicensed driver, Brandon Hodges. When the rear left tire experienced tread separation at 65 mph on an I-295 ramp, the driver lost control of the Explorer and the vehicle rolled.

Broome was injured in the crash but survived along with four others. Kimber Krebs, 15, Dennis Stout, 17, John Kiely, 15 and Erin Hurst Livingston, 15, all died. The driver, Hodges, was the only one wearing a seat belt and was not seriously injured. Block says this is the first of eight complaints.

Why file against Cooper Tire? Block says the American company knowingly manufactured a dangerous product then lied to the public that the tire was worn and had no tread, shifting the fault for the crash on the car’s owner. Indicating what his arguments in court will be, he says the Explorer was in the shop just two weeks before the accident and Big Chief Auto put two new tires on the front, not including the one that blew, but did not warn the car’s owner about any visible problems with the tire. “It’s their job to sell new tires,” he says, and if the Cooper Cobra tire looked worn they would have suggested replacing it.

“Big Chief would not let them leave the premises in a worn condition,” Block said to reporters at a news conference Monday, June 7.

Cooper Tire is facing hundreds of lawsuits over tire tread separation.

Continue reading "Lawsuit to Be Filed in Fatal High School Crash" »

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General Motors will recall 1.4 million vehicles to fix a potential fire hazard. The problem is a windshield washer fluid system that can heat up, thus sparking a fire. Two years ago, GM recalled more than 900,000 vehicles for the same problem but the “fix” was not adequate. Instead, the automaker will now disable the system, according to a CNN Money article.

Although it’s not needed in Florida, General Motors had created a way to heat windshield washer fluid in cold climates so it would work better. Two years ago, GM dealers put a fuse in the vehicle to prevent a short circuit which was causing a grounding wire to overheat, leading to smoke and problems with other electrical components. The company that made the heating system went bankrupt in 2008.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there have been five incidents of fires in GM vehicles that had the original repair, so the overheating is not being stopped by the fuse. There have been no injuries reported.

Among the 1.4 million vehicles affected by the recall are the Buick Enclave and Lucerne; the Cadillac CTS, DTS, and Escalade; the Chevy Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe and Traverse; and the GMC Acadia, Sierra, and Yukon; the Hummer H2; and the Saturn Outlook, reports CNN. The models fall within the 2006 to 2009 years.

Any owner will receive $100 from GM as compensation and can contact GM customer service or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

Jacksonville vehicle defect injury lawyers will continue to monitor updates regarding the GM recall as they are announced.

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The numbers continue to come in from consumers concerned about their runaway Toyotas. Based on a recent report, new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests there may be as many as 89 fatalities due to unintended acceleration since 2000. From 2000 through mid-May NHTSA has received about 6,200 complaints regarding Toyotas taking off on drivers including 57 injuries and the 89 deaths. Previously, NHTSA said that 52 fatalities were possibly involved with runaway Toyotas.

The problem has been that law enforcement in the past did not always look at such a possibility. While Toyota says its fixed nearly 3.5 million vehicles for defective auto parts among those recalled, the giant automaker insists that electronics are not to blame for the unintended acceleration. 5.4 million Toyotas have been recalled to fix a floor mat that was suspected as trapping accelerator pedals, but that explanation is increasingly the focus of skepticism. In addition Toyota has recalled another 2.3 million vehicles, including trucks to repair a sticking accelerator pedal. NHTSA says it has not seen any evidence that pedals were entrapped or accelerator pedals stuck in any vehicles that were properly repaired. A glitch in the computer system has long been suspected of causing the cars to speed out of control.

Toyota has already paid $16.4 million, a record fine, for its delayed response to the accelerator pedal recall. Hundreds of state and federal lawsuits are waiting to be heard.

Toyota said in a statement that it "sympathizes with the individuals and families involved in any accident involving our vehicles. We are making an all-out effort to ensure our vehicles are safe and we remain committed to investigating reported incidents of unintended acceleration in our vehicles quickly."

The entire Toyota debacle has NHTSA reinventing itself asking Congress for upgraded auto safety laws, and to stiffen penalties against automakers. NHTSA also needs more power to demand recalls rather than waiting for the automaker to comply with a request from the agency in a classic tail wagging the dog scenario. If you or a loved one has had a trouble or been in a crash with a runaway Toyota, call the dealership, call Toyota and certainly call an experienced Florida auto accident attorney to make sure your rights are preserved.

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There is a longstanding problem with automobiles that most people are not aware of that was recently discussed in a MyFoxLA report in Los Angeles. When you are rear-ended, even at a low speed, you are thrown backwards. You expect your car seat to hold you, but beneath the plush seating, most car seats have a frame that is no more stable than an aluminum beach chair. Under federal regulation 207, the chair seats do not have to be any more structurally sound than that, although some auto manufacturers choose to make car seats stronger, such as Mercedes and Sebring.

What can happen is that the car seat breaks from the frame in a rear-end collision and collapses straight back. The story talks to Jacqueline Romine who was thrown backward in a rear-end collision. Her head went into the back seat and she broke her neck in four places. She is now a paraplegic. Stephanie Collins was rear-ended and her head went back into the chest of her 9-year-old daughter killing her by tearing her aorta.

95% of all vehicles on the road all have the defect - the weakness of the frames and gears in car seats – because they meet the NHTSA regulation 207. The cost to fix the seats- about $5 to $6 dollars a car say safety experts. If you or a loved one has been injured in a front seat collapse you would be well-advised to consult with a Florida car defect injury attorney to determine if the car you were riding in had a defective seat that could so easily have been fixed.

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Have you ever driven a BMW where the airbags deploy on their own? If so, you may be eligible for joining a class action lawsuit if you or a loved one have been injured by a defective airbag. A Washington state couple is leading the class action lawsuit after the airbags on the 2000 BMW 323i deployed without warning. The driver was seriously injured. Dori Richardson was driving her BMW in February on a clear roadway with no bumps or potholes when the driver’s side airbags inflated. Richardson suffered “serious internal, orthopedic and head injuries, from which she has not fully recovered” says the complaint. This is not the first time the luxury automaker has had problems with airbags. In 2002, BMW recalled and 1999 and 2000 3-Series models warning the airbag could deploy when they hit potholes or curbs at substantial speed. The solution was to recalibrate the central air bag control.

200,000 cars were recalled by BMW in August 2008 for the opposite reason - the front passenger airbag did not deploy even in a severe accident. An updated sensor was added to the passenger seat. The problem comes from a design defect and seeks economic damages and non-economic damages in an amount to be determined at trial. Among other things, the lawsuit seeks loss of consortium and companionship on behalf of Richardson’s husband. Consumer Affairs has a list of contributors who talk about the problems they have experienced with the BMWs. Florida car liability lawyers know that if you have had a problem with an airbag, you may have a potential defective product lawsuit against the manufacturer. Auto manufacturers are responsible for designing and creating vehicles that are safe and do not pose danger to innocent motorists.

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Business Week is reporting that 11,500 Lexus vehicles are being recalled because of a steering problem. The recall includes about 3,800 vehicles sold in the U.S. Look at models LS 460, LS 460 L, LS 600h, LS 600hL as the models all included by Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan. The problem, as reported by a number of consumers, is that the car wheels do not return to the original position quickly enough following a turn. Toyota believes the problem is mechanical as well as software-related. The automaker has been plagued with recalls and rumors and fines. It just paid a record $16.4 million for failing to initiate a recall over a sticky pedal the company knew about for at least four months since September 2009. The recall was finally issued in January of 2.3 million vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there were three deaths and seven injuries due to the 4Runner SUVs and T100 and Hi Lux compact pickups because of faulty steering rods. Most recently, Consumer Reports issued a “Don’t Buy” recommendation because of an electronic stability problem in the 2010 Lexus GX 460. The magazine has since lifted that warning after an adjustment was made to the electronics of the vehicle.

The Sienna minivan had a problem spare tire carrier cable that tended to rust out in states that use ice to makes roads more passable in the snow. 600,000 vehicles were involved. The Sequoia 2003 model year is subject to a recall of 50,000 vehicles because of a traction control problem. And NHTSA is now going back two years to examine the 68 consumer complaints coming into Toyota from vehicle owners. If you or a loved one has had a problem with a Toyota vehicle, you must bring your problems to the attention of NHTSA, to the dealer’s attention and it would be well-advised to alert a Florida auto defect injury attorney to determine if your vehicle has been involved in the many recalls involving Toyota.

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Toyota is halting Lexus SUV sales. It’s only happened once before in ten years. Consumer Reports, the well-respected consumer magazine and nonprofit organization, has issued a ”Don’t Buy” warning about the Toyota Lexus GX 460 because the consumer group calls it a “safety risk.”

The problem – the vehicle can roll over during sharp turns because it has handling problems. 6,000 of the vehicles have been sold since it went on sale in late December. Toyota is now asking Lexus dealers to stop sales of the GX 460.

Consumer Reports tested the $52,000 vehicle on its race track and said it was prone to slide when driven in sweeping turns, reports the NY Daily News. The 4Runner and GX460 are built on the same platform but the 4Runner did not have a similar problem.

“In a real world situation if they were to slide out on a paved road in that manner the rear wheel could hit the pavement and could cause a rollover. It’s called a trip rollover and that’s the most common type of rollover,” said Rik Paul of Consumer Reports.

And electronic stability control takes too long to kick in. Toyota says its tests provide a good indication of how they will perform in the real world. Toyota vows to try to duplicate the CR test to determine if appropriate steps need to be taken. The “Don’t Buy” warning is only for the current year and not for past models, reports Associated Press.

Auto product defects have the potential to affect thousands of Americans. Jacksonville accident attorneys who handle automotive product liability cases can attest to the tragic loss that serious crashes caused by auto design flaws can create. Hopefully, auto manufacturers can better maintain their responsibility of designing and creating vehicles that are safe for consumer use.

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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" »

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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

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A woman driving in the Middleburg community near Jacksonville was fatally injured Sunday after being involved in a two-vehicle accident, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 67-year-old woman from Venice, Florida was initially hospitalized in critical condition. The accident occurred on Blanding Boulevard at County Road 215. Investigators believe that she drove her Toyota Prius into the path of a southbound Ford SUV, failing to stop at both a stop sign and a flashing red light. The accident happened about 5:15 p.m. so it was still light enough to see. The SUV was driven by a Jacksonville man who suffered minor injuries.

Both individuals were wearing their seat belts. The woman died at Shands Jacksonville hospital.

The Toyota Prius has had its problems with unintentional acceleration.

While the story here does not say if that was a problem it certainly should be considered as part of any investigation. Other drivers have found themselves behind the wheel of the accelerating Prius they have no control over and have reported the incidents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Continue reading "Woman Dies From Runaway Prius" »

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Toyota has had its share of problems recently with the sudden, unexplained acceleration in some of its vehicles that led to a recall of 4 million vehicles. While the floor mat was initially blamed, Toyota will add additional safety features to prevent the accelerator and brake from applying at the same time as part of the fix.

The company is facing another federal safety probe. Now regulators are trying to understand why Corolla and Matrix cars from model year 2006 are experiencing engine stalling problems. That can occur even at highway speeds and intersections. The 1ZZ-FE engines are named specifically.

The Corolla is a top seller for Toyota, ranking fifth among all vehicle sales this year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched the investigation November 30 after it received 26 complaints from drivers. Neither model is included in the previous recall of 4.2 million cars.

Continue reading "Toyota's New Problem - Stalling" »

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110,000 Toyota Tundra pickup trucks are being recalled. The announcement was made the day before Thanksgiving, a good time to hope something goes unnoticed.

The problem according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is that road salt used in the winter can cause the underside of the Toyota Tundra’s frame to corrode.
That is the area where the spare tire is mounted and a falling spare tire can cause road hazards. That is also the area where the rear brake lines are located and corrosion can lead to a brake system failure, according to NHTSA.

Tundra trucks from model years 2000 through 2003 can be brought back to the dealer. 20 states are affected where they use chemical de-icers or road salt including: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

Tundra trucks, model years 2000 through 2003, can be brought back to the dealers to be repaired.

Toyota says it will contact owners.

However, the bigger story is Toyota’s announcement that it will reconfigure the accelerator pedal in 4 million recalled vehicles in the U.S. to avoid the pedal from becoming stuck under the floor mats causing unintended acceleration. The pedal will conform with the floor mat and in some models the shape of the floor surface will also be reconfigured.

In addition, the company plans to install a brake override system in the Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models as “an extra measure of confidence.”

Continue reading "Toyota Recall of 110,00 Tundra Trucks" »

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A 14-year-old from Mississippi was killed Saturday in Laurel Hill, Florida while racing at a motocross park in an all-terrain-vehicle, or ATV. The accident happened at the West Florida Motocross Park in Walton County. Witnesses say that the ATV flew into the air after the driver topped a hill, throwing him over the handlebars and onto the ground. At that point, the ATVcrashed on top of him with such force that it split his helmet in half. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

As Christmas approaches, many parents might think getting an ATV for the kids is a good idea. Think again. Recently a five-year-old was killed in South Carolina, a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina, and a three-year-old boy in central Wisconsin. A 15-year-old from Georgia was killed when he lost control of an ATV and crashed in rural Chattooga County. While ATVs were developed as a fun sporting three-wheel vehicle for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, the next generation - the four-wheel version – includes the Yamaha Rhino side-by-side or SXS.

It has two bucket seats, an open cage with roll bar and no doors. The Rhino is a particularly dangerous type of ATV. Described as a “golf cart on steroids,” and a width of 54 inches and a high center of gravity, it is particularly prone to tip, even on flat surfaces or turning at slow speeds.

It’s fair to say this is an example of the tail wagging the dog. The Rhino SXS is new to the market and government regulations have not caught up with design. Classified as a recreational off-highway vehicle, or ROV, it is in a largely unregulated category of vehicle, not low speed, and not cars, and not exactly ATVs because it can go up to 40 mph.

CBS News tells the story of a young mother who went for a ride in the Yamaha Rhino in November 2005. Her husband sat next to her and their 2-year-old was in the back. Traveling down a rocky road in Arizona, the woman tried to turn left and flipped the Rhino causing it to roll onto the driver’s side. The woman hit her head on the roll cage and died instantly. Her husband suffered three skull fractures, while their boy was okay.

Continue reading "Rhinos, Rollovers and Death" »

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The city of Palatka is home to approximately 10,804 and has seen a 7.5% jump in population since 2000. As a popular city in Florida, Palatka only has a population density of 1553 people per square mile in its stretch of 6.96 square miles in size, which is fairly low compared to other cities comparable in size. Situated in Putnam County, a little over 20% of Palatka residents both live and work in the city. With such a large amount of people commuting within and outside of Palatka’s area limits, the reliance on privately owned vehicles is evident.

With the amount of vehicles on the road in Palatka in mind, an unfortunate occurrence of accidents, injuries, and death have been known to occur due to defective vehicles. Whether these catastrophic incidents are brought on by disjointed auto manufacturing standards or the negligence of a particular auto maker, the failure of auto parts can have damaging repercussions for drivers and passengers to endure.

One of the most controversial vehicles when it comes to auto product liability is the 15-passenger van. Despite continuous warnings about the risk and inadequacy of 15-passenger vans provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, consumers still buy and use these vehicles. Defective in their design, 15-passenger vans possess a high center of gravity that creates a vulnerability of “fishtailing” and overturning. Tire inflation which can cause a rollover accident is also a major issue of concern with 15-passenger vans.

When a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part causes innocent people to suffer serious injury, compensation may be sought on their behalf from negligent parties responsible for manufacturing the vehicle or its parts. The experienced Palatka auto product liability attorneys at Farah and Farah have many years of experience helping defective vehicle injury victims in receiving just restitution. Whether you think that your auto accident and resulting injuries were brought on by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our Florida personal injury lawyers can help. Please contact Farah and Farah today at our Palatka office for a free consultation:

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


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Amelia Island, Florida is situated just off the coast of Florida and is a bustling part of Nassau County. Also referred to as the “Isle of Eight Flags”, Amelia Island has a population of approximately 68,437 within 18.2 square miles. As visitors continue to flock to Amelia Island, tourism thrives and many are drawn to desirable camping sites, sailing spots, and the several festivals hosted by the island every year.

Considering the vast number of visitors and residents throughout Amelia Island, accidents, injuries, and even wrongful death take place as a consequence of vehicles that are defective in some way. Whether these incidents occur because of inefficient auto manufacturing standards or the pure negligence of a particular auto maker, the failure of auto components can inflict several harmful circumstances for drivers and passengers to overcome.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has continuously warned consumers against the potential dangers linked to the inefficiency of 15-passenger vans. However, these vehicles are still purchased and used. 15-passenger vans are poorly designed and create a significantly high center of gravity. Thus, the vehicles have a tendency to “fishtail” and overturn. Tire inflation problems also pose serious issues and can cause a rollover accident to take place.

As an auto product liability injury victim, you may be able to receive compensation from negligent parties to help pay for expenses associated with your grievances. The skilled Amelia Island auto product liability attorneys at Farah and Farah have devoted many years to helping defective vehicle injury victims obtain the restitution that they deserve. Whether you think your auto collision and subsequent injuries were caused by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury lawyers can help. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Amelia Island office for a free and confidential consultation of your case:

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


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As the largest town within the Jacksonville Beach community, Jacksonville Beach has an estimated population of 21,849. The population of Jacksonville Beach has grown by 4% since the year 2000. Often called “Jax Beach”, the popular area is a major section of Duval County. In being called home by thousands, Jacksonville Beach also attracts several tourists throughout the year to its beautiful beaches and vast cultural attractions.

With its immense population and large amount of visitors taking to the road and local highways, it is an ill-fated reality that accidents, injuries, and even death take place in Jacksonville Beach due to defective vehicles. Whether these tragic incidents are caused by the negligence of a particular auto maker or auto manufacturing standards that are unorganized, the breakdown of auto components often create detrimental circumstances for drivers and passengers to endure.

At the head of auto product liability concern, the U.S. Department of Transportation has constantly cautioned consumers about the threat and inadequacy of 15-passenger vans. These vehicles are defectively designed due to possessing a high center of gravity which creates a tendency to “fishtail” and overturn. Additionally, 15-passenger vans have demonstrated serious problems with tire inflation which can cause a rollover collision. These accidents may sometimes lead to a roof caving in and seriously injuring anyone within the van.

Those who have been injured by a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part have legal rights and deserve to receive compensation from negligent parties. The skilled Jacksonville Beach auto product liability lawyers at Farah and Farah have years of experience helping defective vehicle injury victims obtain the restitution that is owed to them. Whether you believe your auto accident and resulting injuries were brought on by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury lawyers may be of assistance. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Jacksonville Beach office for a free consultation of your case:

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


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The city of Jacksonville has a population of about 805,605 and is the most populated city in the state of Florida. Jacksonville is also the 12th most populous city in the U.S. Covering 874.3 square miles in size, Jacksonville is the biggest city in the country for total land area. As more and more people are drawn to the vast culture and lively nature of Jacksonville, the area’s popularity for tourism also increases. Taking the large amount of inhabitants and visitors throughout Jacksonville into consideration, accidents, injuries, and even wrongful death occur as a result of defective vehicles. Some of these incidents take place due to shoddy auto manufacturing standards or the negligence of a specific auto maker. Nevertheless, the failure of auto components can create numerous life-altering effects for drivers and passengers to endure.

One major point of concern for auto product liability and auto defects pertains to 15-passenger vans. Even with the U.S. Department of Transportation issuing warnings for consumers regarding potential dangers associated with the inefficiency of 15-passenger vans, these vehicles are still purchased and used. 15-passenger vans are defectively designed with a notable high center of gravity which creates a propensity to “fishtail” and overturn. Issues with tire inflation are also a serious problem with 15-passenger vans because this can contribute to a rollover collision.

Individuals who have suffered property damage, physical injury, or emotional trauma from an accident involving a poorly designed auto part or defective vehicle have legitimate legal rights. As an auto product liability injury victim, you may be able to receive compensation from negligent parties to help pay for expenses associated with your grievances. The skilled Jacksonville auto product liability lawyers at Farah and Farah have dedicated many years to assisting defective vehicle injury victims in obtaining the restitution that they deserve. Whether you believe your auto collision and resulting injuries were brought on by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury attorneys can help. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Jacksonville office for a free and confidential consultation of your case:

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


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Situated within Columbia County, Florida, Lake City is also known as the “Gateway to Florida.” Lake City is a typical stop for travelers on their way to Southern Florida and is a popular tourist destination. The population in Lake City continues to increase and was recently estimated to be about 12,000. Columbia County, where Lake City is located, has approximately 68,000 inhabitants as of 2006. With such an array of residents and visitors taking to the road, it is an unfortunate actuality that accidents, injuries, and even death take place in Lake City as a result of defective vehicles. Some of these tragic incidents are caused by the negligence of a specific auto maker or are caused by inefficient auto manufacturing standards. No matter what the exact cause, the failure of auto parts can inflict serious ramifications on drivers and passengers.

15-passenger vans are a big concern when it comes to auto product liability and defective auto parts. Despite constant warnings from the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the inefficiently and danger of 15-passenger vans, consumers continue to purchase and travel in these vehicles. One of the issues associated with the vans connects to tire inflation which can contribute to a rollover crash. In addition, these vans are defectively designed and have a high center of gravity which can lead to the van “fishtailing” and/or overturning.

Those who have suffered from a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part in Lake City have valid legal rights and may be able to obtain compensation from negligent groups. The experienced Lake City auto product liability attorneys at Farah and Farah have many years of experience helping defective vehicle injury victims. Whether you believe your auto accident and subsequent injuries were caused by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury lawyers can help. Please contact Farah and Farah today at our Lake City office for a free consultation of your case:

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


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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident

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Orange Park, Florida is a prominent suburb of Jacksonville situated in Northeast Clay County. Located south of Jacksonville, Orange Park possesses a dynamic community full of culture and history. Orange Park’s population exceeds 180,000 and has a high population density. In addition to those who call Orange Park home, several visitors and passerby traverse along the local streets and highways in Orange Park.

Within its vast region, residents of Orange Park greatly depend on privately owned autos to get around. With its large population taking to the road, it is an ill-fated reality that accidents, injuries, and even death occur in Orange Park as a consequence of defective vehicles. Some of these catastrophic accidents are brought on by the negligence of a specific auto maker or are caused by disjointed auto manufacturing standards. No matter what the cause, the failure of auto parts can impose life-altering repercussions on drivers and passengers.

One of the most questionable modes of transportation when it comes to auto product liability is the 15-passenger van. Despite continuous words of caution from the U.S. Department of Transportation warning about the inefficiently and danger of 15-passenger vans, consumers continue to purchase and travel in these vehicles. One of the problems associated with the vans relates to tire inflation which can lead to a rollover accident. Also, these vans are defectively designed with a high center of gravity that can lead to the van “fishtailing” and/or overturning.

Those who have suffered from a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part have legal rights and may be able to acquire compensation from negligent groups. The skilled Orange Park auto product liability lawyers at Farah and Farah have many years of experience helping defective vehicle injury victims. Whether you believe your auto accident and consequent injuries were brought on by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury lawyers can assist you. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Orange Park office for a free consultation of your case:

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


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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident

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If you are driving a Toyota, I hope you are aware of what is going on.

Last month, Toyota announced it was planning its largest recall ever of nearly four million vehicles over the issue of loose floor mats that may be interfering with the accelerator pedal, causing the car to speed out of control.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted an investigation into a high profile crash in California and is raising questions as to whether the floor mats are the only culprit in Toyota and Lexus models.

Last August, a Lexus ES 350, speeding out of control, killed an off-duty California Highway Patrol Officer, his wife, their daughter, and brother-in-law. All four died when the 2009 Lexus in which they were riding, a loaner car from the dealer, plummeted over an embankment in suburban San Diego at more than 100 mph before it burst into flames. The family was able to contact a 9-1-1- operator to say they couldn’t stop the ES 350. The brother-in-law, said the Lexus had no brakes.

Bob Carter, Toyota’s U.S. brand chief told the annual Reuters Summit recently said that speculation about a troubled fuel delivery system, braking, or runaway accelerator system is inaccurate.

"There's no evidence to support any of that," Carter said, adding that the automaker was working closely with the U.S. government to address the planned recall of up to 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles reports Reuters.

Since then, Toyota has warned consumers to remove the driver-side floor mats from eight Toyota models as a safety precaution, including the Prius.

These models are affected by this consumer alert:

• 2007-2010 Camry


• 2005-2010 Avalon


• 2004-2009 Prius


• 2005-2010 Tacoma


• 2007-2010 Tundra


• 2007-2010 ES 350


• 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

Continue reading "Toyota's Ongoing Problems" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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Home to the longest-standing port in the continental U.S., the city of St. Augustine is often called “the nation’s oldest city.” Surrounded by beautiful beaches and museums, St. Augustine is home to approximately 12,157 residents and caters to many visitors passing through Northern Florida. As a well traversed area, St. Augustine is situated 60 miles north of Daytona Beach just 5 miles east of Interstate 95, and 40 miles south of Jacksonville.

With the immense population of St. Augustine taking to the road and local highways, it is an unfortunate reality that accidents, injuries, and even death take place due to defective vehicles. Whether these catastrophic incidents are brought on by incompetent auto manufacturing standards or the negligence of a particular auto maker, the failure of auto components can impose many negative consequences on drivers and passengers.

15-passenger vans are one of the most controversial vehicles when it comes to auto product liability issues. The U.S. Department of Transportation has repeatedly warned consumers about potential dangers associated with the inefficiency of 15-passenger vans. These vehicles are improperly designed in that they have a particularly high center of gravity which creates a propensity to “fishtail” and overturn. Problems with tire inflation are also an issue of concern with 15-passenger vans because this can contribute to a rollover accident.

Anyone who has endured injury due to a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part has legal rights and may be able to obtain recompense from negligent parties based on auto product obligations under the law. The experienced St. Augustine auto product liability attorneys at Farah and Farah have devoted many years to helping defective vehicle injury victims receive the restitution that they deserve. Whether you believe your auto accident and subsequent injuries were caused by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury attorneys can help. Contact Farah and Farah today at our St. Augustine office for a free and confidential consultation of your case:

(904) 797-7977
1301 Plantation Island Drive
Suite 206A
St. Augustine, Florida 32080


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A 25-year-old Orange park woman lost her life on I-95 Saturday and it was a scene we’ve seen all too often.

The Florida Highway Patrol reports that the woman was heading south on Interstate 95 in Flagler County when she lost control of her 1999 Ford Explorer SUV and crashed Saturday afternoon around 3:15 p.m. The FHP report says that the woman changed lanes to pass slow traffic and that’s when she moved to the shoulder of the road and lost control of the vehicle rolling it several times. The woman was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the Explorer and taken to Halifax Hospital where she was pronounced dead. No one else was reported to be in the SUV and no other vehicles were involved in the auto accident in Florida.

Our hearts go out to the family of this young woman whose life was cut short too soon. This accident never should have happened and I wish we could turn back time for the woman who lost her life.

When I read about this accident I was reminded of the Ford Explorer SUV that was overloaded with young people on the last day of school in June 2009. When a tire blew as the kids from Ed White High School were on their way to the beach, the driver lost control of the Explorer and with none of his passengers wearing their seat belts; all were ejected. Four teens lost their lives that day. That horrific accident is being blamed, at least partially, on the tire which blew out.

An accident investigator is going to want to check the tires on the vehicle involved in the Flagler County accident. There may be a cause of legal action if indeed the tire is determined to be the reason the woman lost control of her vehicle.

The second problem is the earlier model of Ford Explorer.

Continue reading "I-95 Accident Kills Young Woman" »

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The city of Brunswick is situated in southeastern Georgia approximately 30 miles north of Florida. Brunswick is well-known for a variety of reasons, a few of which include being home to the fourth-largest automobile port in the eastern United States and being the center of Georgia’s shrimp and crab industries. Brunswick’s estimated population was 16,235 in 2007 and it had a metropolitan population of 101,792.

In encompassing the twelfth-largest metropolitan area in the state of Georgia, Brunswick residents rely heavily on personally owned automobiles as transport throughout the vast counties of Glynn, Brantley, and McIntosh. With its immense population taking to the road and local highways, it is an unfortunate actuality that accidents, injuries, and even death take place in Brunswick due to defective vehicles. Whether these tragic incidents are caused by incoherent auto manufacturing standards or the negligence of a specific auto maker, the failure of auto components can have detrimental consequences on drivers and passengers.

At the forefront of auto product liability problems, the U.S. Department of Transportation has continually warned consumers about the danger and inefficiency of 15-passenger vans. These vehicles are defectively designed in that they have a high center of gravity which provides a propensity to “fishtail” and overturn. 15-passenger vans also have shown issues with tire inflation which can lead to a rollover accident.

Individuals who have suffered injury due to a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part have rights and may be able to seek compensation from negligent parties based on auto product obligations under the law. The skilled Brunswick Georgia auto product liability lawyers at Farah and Farah have acquired many years of experience assisting defective vehicle injury victims in obtaining the restitution that they deserve. Whether you believe your auto accident and subsequent injuries were caused by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury attorneys can help. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Brunswick, Georgia office for a free consultation of your case:

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

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The Ford Motor Company is issuing a recall for 4.5 million vehicles because of a faulty switch that can overheat and catch fire.

The action comes after an 18-month federal investigation that has Ford recalling more than 14 million vehicles in eight recalls over a decade over the faulty switch and the potential for fires.

The problem switch is made by Texas Instruments and sold for about $21. The cruise control deactivation switch can leak hydraulic fluid, overheat and then burn risking fire, even when the car is parked in your garage. The Windstar vans have an elevated risk, said a Ford spokesman.
The Detroit News, reports that Ford stopped using the switches in early 2003, but not before they were linked to at least 1,500 complaints and 550 vehicle fires.

At least one person died when the vehicle caught fire in their garage.

A 76-year-old man died August 14, 2007 when a fire started in his 1994 Mercury Grand Marquis parked in an attached garage in San Antonio, the Detroit News reports. Police reported it as an electrical malfunction in the engine compartment of the car.

You are advised to park your vehicle outside until it can be serviced.

Ford drivers should look for anything that appears to signal a fire danger such as malfunctioning cruise control and brake lights, antilock braking systems and brake light warnings on the dash. Another warning sign is difficulty in getting the vehicle out of the park mode.

Continue reading "Ford Recall Involving Faulty Switch and Fire Danger" »

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Posted In: Auto Product Liability , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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Toyota generally enjoys a good reputation among auto owners. It has had one of the early gas-saving hybrid vehicles, the Highlander. And the car is generally considered reliable. But a lawyer who used to work for the company is putting an entirely different PR spin on Toyota. The 46-year-old man who worked for Toyota from 2003 to 2008 said that his job was to manage electronic records for Toyota litigation. But he quit, or was fired, depending on who you believe, after a breakdown over what the company had him do – destroy engineering and testing evidence in more than 300 Toyota SUV rollover and roof crush cases.

That is very serious, but the allegations are coming out in the man’s lawsuit against the company charging federal racketeering. He says that when he learned that electronic data, such as e-mails, were being withheld by the company, he tried to collect and preserve the information.

Among them was the rollover of a Toyota that left a 6-year-old a quadriplegic and dependent on a ventilator.

Continue reading "Toyota Cases May Be Reopened After Insider Blows the Whistle" »

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All eyes in the investigation into what caused a Ford Explorer to roll several times and kill four teens, are now focused on a possibly defective tire.

On the last day of school in June, one young man and eight friends got into his girlfriend’s family Ford, a 1997 Explorer SUV. On the way to the beach, a tire blew. Among all of the teens, this young man was the only one wearing his seat belt. The attorney, who represents four of the families involved, told the judge that the Cooper Tire was defective because it had been in the shop two weeks earlier.

He said Dale Earnhardt Jr. could have been driving the vehicle. Once a tire blows, keeping a Ford Explorer on the road, especially the notoriously unstable cars made before Ford added stability control would have been impossible.

The tire company has faced seven federal product liability and personal injury lawsuits since 1997 and in July, a Florida appeals court upheld a $1.5 million jury verdict against the company after a blowout on I-10 killed a man.

At an exhibition football game at Ed White High School, the four teens were remembered in a moment of silence. Our hearts go out to the parents of the children, who clearly had a tough time attending the game, but were grateful that their children are remembered.

The 15-year-old young man who was driving is facing four counts of driving without a license in the deaths of all four of his friends, who were killed when his SUV wrecked. This teen is also facing four counts of driving without a license causing serious bodily injury, and careless driving. That is a total of nine counts, eight of which are felonies. He is on home detention. For now, another high school, football practice, and church are the only activities he is allowed.
In an exclusive interview with the Florida Times Union after he was charged, the young man says he felt the left rear tire separate causing the car to pull strongly to the right then roll after it drifted into the grass off the right emergency lane.

Continue reading "Teen Faces 9 Charges in Fatal Wreck" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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The New Chrysler has reversed itself from its previous stand of refusing to accept any auto product liability lawsuits resulting from the 30 million vehicles still on the road. The automaker has agreed to cover product liability claims that result after the company emerged from bankruptcy protection on June 10.

In a company letter sent to Congress last Friday, Chrysler says that future car accident victims, who believe their injuries resulted from a defective, seat belt, roof, side air bag, or any other auto part, will be able to sue the new company. However, 300 or so claims that were pending before Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy will not be covered.

Victims like a man who lost both legs after an accident in a defective Chrysler and filed before the company declared bankruptcy, will not be able to have their day in court. Instead they will become a creditor and stand in line to receive assets from a bankrupt company.

There are about 300 individuals who had Chrysler lawsuits pending and about 1,500 more with pending claims against General Motors which also declared bankruptcy and wiped out their cases. You can read about their cases in a special report prepared by the Center for Justice & Democracy – Victim Cases Wiped Out. (http://centerjd.org/archives/press/2009/GM-Chrysler%20Victim%20Stories.pdf)

Chrysler is known to have collapsing seat backs that in a collision, collapse backwards into rear passengers. The defect exists in over 10 million vehicles model years 1990 to 2009.
Since 1994, Chrysler has produced over two million Grand Cherokee SUVs with roofs that tend to buckle or cave in, resulting in traumatic head injuries and paralysis.

Continue reading "Chrysler Accepts Liability for Future Accidents in Defective Cars" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Product Liability

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This is becoming a weekly report. Another older model Ford Explorer SUV has rolled over, this time killing a woman from North Florida. A 44-year-old woman from Hilliard was driving on County Road 108 near Amos White Road about 5:10 p.m. She suddenly swerved onto the right shoulder. It was raining at the time. The Florida Highway Patrol reports the SUV crossed a culvert and then overturned, hitting a tree in the process. The woman was taken to Shands Jacksonville where she was pronounced dead. The Florida Highway Patrol reports she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the SUV rollover accident in Jacksonville.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this woman for their loss. Our office offers our deepest sympathies to them as they go through this difficult time.

According to the Florida State Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Data, in the five years from 2003-7, Nassau County had 85 traffic crash deaths and the county has had significantly higher increases in traffic crashes, injuries and deaths than the Florida average. Also in that time period, more people were pulled over for driving with a suspended or revoked license or with a DUI in Nassau County than other counties in Florida.

At the same time there were fewer traffic citations given in Nassau County than in the rest of Florida.

We don’t have much information on how this accident happened. Was the driver distracted? Was she having a reaction to medication? Were the roads simply too slick to get control of the car? We also don’t know if there might be another driver at fault who caused her to go off the road or whether her car malfunctioned.

Continue reading "Hilliard Woman Killed in SUV Accident" »

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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 " »

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Posted In: ATV Accidents , Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Law & Information , Personal Injury

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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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Posted In: Auto Product Liability , Defective Medical Device , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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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" »

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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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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 " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Drunk Driving Accident , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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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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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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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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Posted In: Auto Product Liability , Defective Medical Device , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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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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Posted In: Auto Product Liability , Defective Medical Device , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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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, St. Augustine residents and visitors use a wide variety and large amount of products on day to day. When children, adults, and the elderly use products that result in personal injury or wrongful death, a skilled St. Augustine product liability attorney can help the injured person or the decedent’s family receive compensation for financial hardships.

A lot of people don’t want to believe or admit that defective products are out there, but defective medical devices, defective children’s furniture and toys, defective auto parts, and defective electronics and household products are all an unpleasant reality and can have serious consequences on a victim’s life. The knowledge and skills of a defective products attorney in St. Augustine is needed when taking on product designers and manufacturers who will do almost anything to cover up mistakes so that they aren’t held responsible for their negligent actions that put innocent people at risk for suffering life-changing injury or wrongful death.

As consumers who expect that products they purchase are safe, reliable and risk-free, it is devastating to have that trust violated. 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 product liability attorneys at Farah and Farah 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:

1301 Plantation Island Drive
Suite 206A
St. Augustine, Florida 32080
Phone: (904) 797-7977

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Brunswick is a city in southeastern Georgia located about 30 miles north of Florida. Home to the fourth-largest automobile port in the eastern United States, the city's economy encompasses manufacturing, agricultural processing, and bulk cargoes. 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 large, varied area and a population that is on the rise, residents and visitors alike use a huge amount and wide array of products on a daily basis. When children, adults, and the elderly use products that result in personal injury or wrongful death, a Brunswick, Georgia product liability attorney can help the injured person or the decedent’s family receive compensation for financial hardships.

A lot of people don’t want to believe or admit that defective products are out there, but defective medical devices, defective auto parts, defective children’s furniture and toys, and defective electronics and household products are all an unfortunate reality and can have serious life-altering consequences. The knowledge and skills of a product liability attorney in Brunswick, Georgia is needed when taking on product designers and manufacturers who will do anything like cover up mistakes so that they aren’t held responsible for their negligent actions that put innocent people at risk for suffering life-changing injury or wrongful death.

As consumers who expect that products they purchase are safe, reliable and risk-free, it is devastating to have that trust violated. 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 help. 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:

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

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Posted In: Auto Product Liability , Defective Drug , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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A woman was killed and two others were injured in a head-on crash early Friday morning in Columbia County in North Florida. According to a story, a 37-year old driver’s SUV was heading west on I-10. She struck a vehicle driving east with a 25-year-old woman of St. Petersburg behind the wheel. The problem is that the SUV was going east in a westbound lane. When she struck the other vehicle, the SUV left the road and went into the median and overturned. The SUV driver, of St. Augustine, died at the scene of this tragic auto accident in Florida.

The other driver and her passenger were injured when her car spun around. The Florida Highway Patrol will try to determine if alcohol was involved in this crash.

The wreck happened about 1:45 a.m. near the I-75 exchange.

Once again, we are reporting on an SUV that rolled after a collision. There is no word on what kind of SUV this was, but they all have a high center of gravity making them less stable than a car lower to the ground.

Often the problems of death due to rollovers are associated with a design defect that the vehicle manufacturer knew about.

Continue reading "Columbia County Auto Accident Kills One, Injures Two " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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Last week Florida joined 25 other states that have made wearing seatbelts a primary offense which allows law enforcement to pull a driver over. Previously, there had to be some other reason to pull a driver over, with the seat belt violation as a secondary offense. Now an officer can write you a ticket for $100.

Seatbelts save lives and there is no debate on that point. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes that 1,700 serious injuries and 140 lives will be saved in Florida due to the primary seat belt law. This new enforcement will not only save lives, but also millions in associated costs which taxpayers ultimately pick up.

Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that in 2007, nearly 2,000 people were killed in crashes and 61 percent of them were not wearing a seat belt.

A seat belt saved the life of a Jacksonville woman and the three children she was watching, according to an article. Two weeks ago, her Ford Explorer was traveling south on 9A when the traffic in front of her suddenly slowed, she swerved, then overcorrected and rolled the Explorer twice, landing it atop an overpass with the wheels dangling 40 feet above the road. She and the kids were belted in. One child received a scraped knee.

Compare that to another auto accident in Florida in a Ford Explorer, two weeks ago, when four high school students, cutting school, were thrown from their SUV since none of them were wearing seat belts. Four teens died.

Continue reading "Florida’s New Primary Seatbelt Law " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Product Liability

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If an individual files for bankruptcy protection because of mounting hospital bills, for instance, depending on the type of bankruptcy, you can have all of your debts wiped clean. The same thing apparently goes for major automakers, even while they are receiving taxpayer money to help them restructure.

With the help of the Treasury Department, Chrysler is wiping clean any liability for consumers who have pending product-liability lawsuits against their defective automobiles or parts.

Reportedly, the plan to do away with product liability claims was settled on during negotiations between the Treasury Department and Fiat. Chrysler chairman and CEO, Bob Nardelli, said that claimants would probably get nothing.

Fiat had initially been willing to assume Chrysler’s product liability claims before the Obama administration steered the company into bankruptcy.

What does that mean for the hundreds of consumers who have pending claims for being injured by exploding gas tanks, a roof that crushes in because the standards are not strong enough, a seat belt that doesn’t work, or a back hatch that flies open upon impact? It means that they are left out in the cold.

Continue reading "40 Million Reasons To Sell Your GM Car" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Product Liability

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We’ve heard this story too often lately. Driving down an interstate a tire blows and the Ford Explorer rolls. It happened last Wednesday to a couple driving on Interstate 75 in Alachua County. According to an account, around 2 p.m. their Explorer had a blowout causing it to roll several times and landing in several trees. The Florida Highway Patrol arrived on the scene and along with Alachua rescue workers had to rescue the couple from the vehicle. Both suffered serious injuries from the car accident in Florida, but thankfully both were wearing their seat belts. That move, which only takes a second, likely saved their lives.

We wish them the very best in their recovery. They are lucky to be alive.

While the reporter does not say how old the Ford Explorer was, until recent models, that SUV was known to be top heavy with a tendency roll. Stability control was standard in the Ford Explorer beginning in 2005 and an option before that. The roof strength was also lacking, making a head injury possible. People not strapped in were known to be ejected from the vehicle and then suffer traumatic head injury. I can’t tell you how many times we have seen the same unfortunate situation time and time again.

The other consideration for any vehicle is the life of the tires. You practically need a secret decoder ring to read the date of a tire. The last number of the DOT tells you when they were made – the week and year.

And just because you buy ‘new” tires and they look new, does not mean they really are new nor does it eliminate the possibility that you have defective tires. Used tires can look new also. Tires are supposed to have a shelf life of about six years as a guideline, but there are many other things to consider such as the climate where they drive.

Continue reading "SUV Accident Caused by Blowout, Explorer Rolls" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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A Baker County deputy and his girlfriend were riding their all-terrain vehicle (ATV) last Sunday night when they went off the road and hit a tree in the Osceola National Forest.

According to a report, they lost control of the ATV when one of the wheels went in a ditch. The Yamaha drifted into a tree, ejecting both the Deputy and his girlfriend, who both suffered head injuries and were airlifted to Shands- Jacksonville Medical Center. The woman was listed in critical condition for her personal injuries in Florida. Neither individual was wearing a helmet. Alcohol was not a factor in this crash.

The injured woman has since had to endure surgery to relieve pressure on the brain from a blood clot. She had her spleen removed but was able to move her toes and fingers, always a concern in a neck and head injury. She is also on a special ventilator reportedly brought in from Orlando.

Our condolences go out to both families with wishes that they pull through this ATV auto accident in Florida.

Continue reading "Deputy and Girlfriend Hurt In ATV Accident" »

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Posted In: ATV Accidents , Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury

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Was your used car in an auto accident before you bought it? Might the odometer have been rolled back? Was it used in the commission of the crime?

On January 30, the U.S Department of Justice put an auto database online to help consumers uncover automobile fraud, a report states. The system will allow the state department of motor vehicles, law enforcement, and consumers to check a car's title and history. Best of all, law enforcement can track the car from state to state by logging onto the nationwide system.

Continue reading "Auto Fraud Database Now Online" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Law & Information

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Safer U.S. Vehicles in 2009

If you happen to be car shopping, you’ll want to visit the Top Safety Picks list from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The list for 2009 has more domestic cars that ever before. 72 vehicles are on the list, double the number from last year.

“The sheer number of this year’s winners indicates that automakers have made huge strides to improve crash protection,” said Institute president Adrian Lund.

Ford and its Volvo subsidiary are now at the top of the annual list of safest vehicles. Together they won 16 awards. Ford, which had experienced years of unstable SUV Explorers that tended to roll, has now equipped them with electronic stability control (ESC) which makes the vehicles much more road worthy in sudden turns.

At Farah & Farah, we’ve seen too many accidents that result in a rollover and death from an unstable SUV. ESC is a much needed improvement.

Continue reading "Auto Product Liability Lawyers Applaud Domestic Car Makers" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Law & Information

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