Jacksonville Personal Injury Blog

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

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

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

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

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Posted In: Bike Accident , Personal Injury

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

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

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

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

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

Continue reading "Fort Myers Man Ejected From Truck" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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

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

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

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

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

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Bike Accident , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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Posted In: Birth Injury , Health & Information , Medical Malpractice , Personal Injury

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

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

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

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

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

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Posted In: Personal Injury , Product Liability

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

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

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

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

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

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Posted In: Law & Information , Personal Injury , Workers' Compensation , Wrongful Death

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

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

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

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

Continue reading "Truck Crash Kills Merritt Island Woman" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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A Clewiston, Florida man faces 12 counts of DUI and causing bodily injury as well as possession of marijuana after the car he was driving hit a Palm Tran bus carrying 13 people. The Naples News reports that the 41-year old man was arrested on January 20, 2010 when his car ran a stop sign, slamming into the bus. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office says the deputy at the scene reported smelling alcohol coming from the man’s car and that the man’s demeanor indicated he was under the influence. According to the deputy, a search of the man’s car uncovered a small bag of marijuana. The bus driver and passengers as well as a passenger in his car were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries.

Our prayers for a speedy recovery go out to all injured in this accident.

Alcohol-Related Accidents in Florida
The Florida Highway Patrol reports that state and local law enforcement agencies in Florida issued almost 65,000 DUI violations in 2008. While alcohol-related fatalities in 2008 were down from 2007 by 6%, 39.5% of all traffic fatalities involved alcohol, the highest it’s been in years. While no one was killed in this accident, one man is accused of driving under the influence and causing the injury of 14 people.

Continue reading "Clewiston Man DUI Hits Bus" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Bus Accident , Drunk Driving Accident , Personal Injury

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The city of Gainesville, Florida, is the largest in Alachua County with an estimated population of 114,375 and also is home to one of the biggest national universities, the University of Florida. Gainesville scenery is highly regarded, according to the 2007 edition of Cities Ranked and Rated, which named it the #1 place to live, and National Geographic Adventure noted it as one of the “best places to live and play.” As a top city and an education landmark, the Gainesville community may be publicly regarded as a safe environment. However, from time to time, incidents of hospital malpractice in Gainesville take place in which birth injury may be a result.

A birth injury is one of the most grief sustaining incidents that no family should every have to experience, especially when a family is under the impression that they can trust professional medical staff to provide adequate hospital care. When a hospital official, physician, or nurse practitioner fails to handle a critical birthing situation, the newly born baby may sustain serious health problems, mental defects, physical disfigurement, or even death under the most traumatic circumstances. In addition to the baby potentially suffering from medical negligence, the mother may also endure serious harm as well. In such conditions of suffering from the improper care of a negligent professional, a family may want to seek the help of a skilled Gainesville birth injury lawyer to find out their legal rights and possible options for compensation.

Not only is birth injury an unfortunate occurrence, but hospital malpractice is a serious form of negligence that causes people seeking treatment unnecessary physical pain and avoidable emotional grief. Common forms of hospital malpractice include improperly prescribed drugs, misdiagnosis, error during surgery, and even ignoring a patient in a desperate condition. Though a doctor or staff member may have caused irreversible errors, these parties may be held liable for any pain, expenses or unfulfilled responsibilities as medical professionals.

Farah and Farah personal injury attorneys have been working with families and the victims of medical malpractice and birth injury for several years and have the experience necessary to help protect the rights of mistreated patients. If you or a family member has experienced financial, emotional, or physical grief or loss due to medical malpractice or birth injury, contact the Gainesville offices of Farah and Farah for a free and confidential consultation:

(352) 375-3393
2233 NW 41st. St.
Suite 700-1
Gainesville, FL 32605

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Posted In: Birth Injury , Medical Malpractice , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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A Tallahassee, Florida man died on January 9, 2010, when he crashed into the rear of a semi-tractor-trailer rig on I-10. The 48-year-old man was traveling on I-10 just west of SR 77 near Chipley in Washington County.

The Florida Highway Patrol says he was heading east just before noon when he hit the rear of the tractor-trailer. The driver of the truck said he was on cruise control at 68 mph when he felt a large explosion. When he looked into his rear view mirrors all he saw was dust and debris. The 48-year-old man’s vehicle was actually stuck under the trailer rig. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from Washington County.

Our condolences go out to the family of this motorist.

When a fully loaded tractor-trailer weighing in at over 80,000 pounds collides with an automobile weighing about 3,000 pounds, even if it is a rear-ender, 98 percent of the fatalities occur to people in the passenger vehicles. It sounds as though there was nothing the driver of the big-rig could have done to be safer on the road.

Distracted Driving
Almost weekly we are reporting about people who collide into the back of the vehicles. Dialing a cell phone and texting can contribute to distracted driving. But also, reaching into the back seat, changing the radio, having an argument in the car, and being sleep deprived, may all contribute to a less than safe driver.

According to a study by Virginia Tech last year, dialing a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 2.8 times as high as non-distracted driving; while talking or listening to a cell phone made the risk of crash or a near-crash event 1.3 times as high as non-distracted driving; and reaching for an object such as an electronic device made the risk of crash or near-crash event 1.4 times as high as non-distracted driving.

In Florida, there were 243,342 traffic crashes in 2008, which averages 665 per day. The type of crash, rear-ending the vehicle in front, tops the list of types of crashes, according to the Florida Highway Patrol in its 2008 statistics. In that year, there were more than 29,000 car accidents in Florida of this nature that resulted in more than 74,000 injuries and 318 deaths.

Nationally, NHTSA finds that at least 25% of police-reported crashes involve some form of driver inattention. That means more than 4,300 crashes each day across the country. And many suspect that estimate is low.

Source article: http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/81075122.html

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Truck Accident , Wrongful Death

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A former patient at University Community Hospital (UCH) in Tampa underwent back surgery but instead of relief he suffered complications.

The patient, male, filed a Florida medical malpractice lawsuit against his surgeon. In order to proceed, records would be needed from the hospital. Florida law gives patients a right to access any adverse incident records of doctors and hospitals. The person requesting the records is supposed to pay a reasonable cost for their retrieval.

The Million Dollar Search
However, the hospital says it will cost the defendant $1 million to retrieve the records. Hospital officials say that searching through years of records for adverse incidents related to the accused surgeon would require manual record searches and names will have to be redacted to protect privacy.

So the patient has sued UCH in an attempt to have the records costs lowered and to determine the actual cost to produce the documents.

His lawyer says the cost is unconscionable and designed to stall and prevent patients from obtaining information on their doctors.

Patients Have Rights to Medical Records
The Agency for Health Care Administration says each hospital is supposed to keep track of how many incidents every doctor has because reporting is mandatory. The health care provider owns a patient’s medical record, but the patient has a right to see it and get a copy.

Continue reading "Medical Malpractice Record Cost Should Be Reasonable" »

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Posted In: Law & Information , Medical Malpractice , Personal Injury

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Two big-rigs were involved in a fiery collision the early hours of Tuesday, January 12, 2010, shutting down the Florida Turnpike under the Boggy Creek overpass in Kissimmee, Florida. The crash caused a huge fire when it erupted around 12:30 a.m. filling up the space under the bridge as the flames shot up into the air.

The first vehicle was a Target store delivery big-rig. The driver and passenger in that truck were injured, and are hospitalized with serious injuries. Their survival was amazing considering the cab of the truck was engulfed in fire. Troopers say the fire might have actually started when the refrigeration unit that keeps food cool inside the trailer, was damaged. The food inside the Target truck was a complete loss, along with the cab of the truck.

A Good Samaritan jumped out of his vehicle and helped save the occupants of the first truck. We wish the drivers a swift recovery and are thankful that their injuries were not more serious.

So what happened here? The Florida Highway Patrol says that it appears an 18-wheeler in front of the Target truck blew a tire and was hit in the rear by the Target big-rig. Then a third big-rig hit debris from the initial crash and also sustained damage to its fuel system. Traffic was closed both northbound and southbound and was reopened just after 6 a.m. while crews cleaned up a 200-gallon diesel fuel spill caused by the crash.

The Orlando Sentinel reported the next day that damages to the Boggy Creek Road overpass are estimated to be about $300,000.

The Dangers of Semi Tractor-Trailers
In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that 11,674 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.

Nearly one-quarter of all large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2008 had at least one prior speeding conviction, as did 18 percent of passenger car drivers.

263 people lost their lives in 2008 in Florida collisions with a large truck, a number that has been in decline since 2004.

Continue reading "Fiery Semi-Truck Crash Near Orlando" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accident

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Eight people were injured Saturday afternoon, January 16, 2010, when three cars collided. The Florida Highway Patrol says a white pickup truck was traveling southbound on I-295 in Jacksonville, when it lost control. An 18-wheeler hit the truck and went into the median, spinning out of control and hitting a Cadillac that was traveling north. A van carrying eight people traveling northbound had to overcorrect to avoid hitting the collision and overturned in the median. It is reported by First Coast News that all of the injuries are non-life threatening. The injured have been taken to various hospitals.

We are very hopeful that those in the van were not seriously injured and thankful that there were no fatalities or serious injuries reported.

Big-Rigs
Large trucks, also known as tractor-trailers and semis, or eighteen-wheelers, make up only about 3% of the vehicles on the road. However, they account for far more traffic fatalities.

National statistics point to poor driver training, driver fatigue, speeding, overloaded and oversized trucks, brake failure, and poor driving conditions, the inexperience of the driver and a failure to yield the right-of-way, as a cause of trucking accidents.

But in fairness, those who drive 18-wheelers or big-rigs often complain that it is people driving in vehicles that cause accidents with big-rigs.

According to a 2002 study by the American Association of Automobiles, 80 percent of fatal truck-involved crashes are caused by passenger vehicles. A 2006 Virginia Tech analysis of two studies conducted for the Department of Transportation found that 78 percent of crashes were caused by passenger car drivers.

Continue reading "Eight Injured in I-295 Crash" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Truck Accident

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Now that the Consumer Electronics Show has come to a close in Las Vegas, NV, promises have been made that additional technology is soon coming to your dashboard, and to the dismay of safety advocates. Talk about distracted – Intel and Google are turning their attention to bringing the power of the PC to your car. Consider 10-inch screens that show high-definition videos, Web pages and 3-D maps. Expect the infotainment systems to hit the showrooms this year. Navigation systems are more likely to be standard equipment. You’ll be able to pull up a restaurant review and click on a music album with the touch of a finger.

But is this safe? Of course not and you can expect laws to follow technology. There is no question that distracted drivers cause car accidents in Florida, but the pursuit of profit over safety is driving this train. Or car.

You have to love what a Ford systems engineer tells the New York Times. “We are trying to make that driving experience one that is very engaging.” Hello! Driving itself is very engaging, especially if it is done safely.

The auto companies are making some concession to safety. Ford’s built-in Web browser works only when the car is parked. Audi says it will restrict access to potentially distracting functions. The Jaguar will allow the front-seat passenger only view the movie. But unless safety advocates become activated now, expect your car to become the most immersive consumer electronic device most of us own.

Source report: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/technology/07distracted.html?hp

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

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Amelia Island is located along the southernmost Florida shore belonging to a chain of beaches called the Sea Islands. It spans 13 miles long, 4 miles wide, and is located 15 minutes from Interstate 95. Its scenery has attracted the interest of film makers, event planners and the annual Jazz and Shrimp festivals draw residents and visitors to participate and enjoy the Amelia Island coast. Readers of Conde Nast Traveler ranked the island #4 in North America. As an engaging city, many residents of Amelia Island find it hard to believe that patients deserving of adequate hospital care do not always receive the proper medical attention that they need.

Hospital malpractice will affect an estimated 200,000 patients nationwide each year. Medical mistakes like birth injury can impose unfortunate physical, financial, and emotional strain on patients who deserve to be treated by reliable hospital staff. Birth injury caused by a medical professional who has failed to timely diagnose a problem during the birthing process can severely injure or permanently damage the well-being of the mother and baby. Fortunately, skilled Amelia Island birth injury attorneys are available to support patients and their loved ones when they are negatively affected from hospital negligence.

If you or a family member has experienced suffering, emotional trauma, pain, or loss due to birth injury or hospital malpractice, the skilled personal injury lawyers at Farah and Farah can help protect your rights. We have been at the aid of injury victims and their loved ones for many years and have the experience to obtain a positive outcome in your birth injury or hospital malpractice case. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Amelia Island office for a free and confidential consultation:

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


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Posted In: Medical Malpractice , Personal Injury

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The Shands Hospital nurse, who was hit by a suspect eluding police, is talking to the media about who may be at fault for her debilitating injuries.It turns out that the suspect who hit her in a crosswalk was being chased by two police officers, who, instead of rendering aid to the nurse, passed by her and continued on their chase. And the Jacksonville Sheriff’s officers did not have on light and sirens that would have alerted her to get out of the crosswalk.

The pedestrian accident in Jacksonville happened last June. Seven months later, the woman has been through ten surgeries. She still uses a walker and is likely she will not be able to return to her former job because of her inability to move, reports First Coast News.

The man who hit her has ready been sentenced to seven years in prison. He apologized to the nurse but claims he didn’t see her in the crosswalk because he was busy watching the police in his rearview mirror. The reason he was being chased – he ran a stop sign in the neighborhood- raising all sorts of questions about the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office chase policy.

We wish a continued recovery for the woman who was injured, perhaps permanently, through no fault of her own.

JSO Chase Policy
The nurse has announced that she is planning to file a lawsuit against JSO for their reckless conduct. Her lawyer has filed notice of claim with the city of Jacksonville. One of the two patrol cars should have stayed with the victim instead of continuing to case a suspect for running a stop sign. It’s called rendering aid and is the number one duty of the office besides protecting the public. JSO failed on both counts.

Fortunately for her case, there is surveillance video that leaves little to the imagination. It shows the nurse being thrown into the road. Then five seconds later, one JSO vehicle cruises past followed by the second car. They did not even slow down to help her, but one of the officers did send a radio transmission into dispatch calling units to Shands.

“There is someone that has just been fun over by a blue Hyundai sedan I’m trying to get caught up [to it] now,” said the officer.

The nurse wants something other than money – a clarification of the JSO police chase policy. Sheriff John Rutherford is calling for an internal investigation of the incident. Ultimately, the investigation will help clarify what exactly is the JSO pursuit policy, and then whether the officers followed it.

Continue reading "Woman Hit by Driver in Jacksonville Police Chase Will File Suit" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury

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This may come as a surprise to many but it appears that rural roads have more traffic fatalities than the nation’s highway system.

This information comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With about 23 % of the population living in rural areas, 56% of the nation’s 37,261 traffic deaths occurred on rural roads, according to NHTSA. That is almost six in 10.

The difference may be explained by the fact that while there are more crashes in urban areas, fewer of them result in fatalities.

Why do more crashes in the country lead to fatalities? One reason may be that drivers are traveling faster on rural roads. They are not as well-engineered as urban highways. And an emergency responder may take longer to get to you, decreasing the chances of survival. For example in Montana, the average response time is about 80 minutes.

37% of car accident fatalities in Florida occurred on rural roads or 1,113 fatalities, compared with 2,978 statewide in 2008.

Continue reading "More Fatal Auto Accidents on Florida's Rural Roads" »

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

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Spanning an estimated 22 square miles, with an approximate population of 21,673, Jacksonville Beach is considered the largest town in the northern Florida cluster of San Pablo Island’s suburban communities. Jacksonville Beach, or “Jax Beach”, if you’re a local, is a busy city with a full schedule of events for its residents and many tourists. Familiar activities include food festivals, live music at night, and a Winter Beach Run that registers over one thousand participating athletes. With its developing population and as a noted travel spot, many Jacksonville Beach residents and visitors do not want to admit that incidents of hospital malpractice and birth injury take place from time to time.

Birth injury can affect families in devastating ways. Not only can the emotional challenges of a birth injury be traumatic but such forms of medical malpractice may also cause financial strain. When a medical professional fails to uphold their responsibility to provide professional care, a family may qualify to seek compensation from negligent parties. An experienced Jacksonville Beach birth injury attorney can assist a family in making a full recovery from incidents of hospital recklessness.

The severe consequences of medical mistakes unfortunately cause suffering to an estimated 200,000 patients each year throughout the United States. The emotional trauma and physical damage from hospital malpractice may negatively affect a patient for many years following treatment. If you or a family member has experienced grief, loss, or birth injury due to hospital negligence, the experienced personal injury lawyers at Farah and Farah can help protect your legal rights. We have been at the aid of injury victims and their loved ones for many years and have the skills to obtain a positive outcome in your birth injury or hospital malpractice case. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Jacksonville Beach office for a free and confidential consultation:

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


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Posted In: Birth Injury , Medical Malpractice , Personal Injury

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A report from the American Automobile Association is giving us a clear picture of just how many of us are texting while behind the wheel. Nearly one out of five U.S. drivers admit they have read or sent a text message while driving, even though nearly everyone in the survey considered that unacceptable behavior. And among those surveyed by the Ford Motor Co., more than 93% of 1,000 licensed drivers say they support a nationwide ban.

It’s these findings that make a ban on texting while driving a key legislative priority for AAA in state capitals.

But so far, only about a dozen states have imposed prohibitions and Florida is not among them, at least not yet. Every year, legislators try to promote some sort of legislation that would restrict wireless communication while behind the wheel, and 2010 promises to be no different. I would predict that this year will make the difference.

Behind the push are recent federal statistics that 58,790 people were killed and 515,000 injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to distracted driving. That may not be an accurate picture as the Florida Highway Patrol is just beginning to include that as a cause of car crashes in Jacksonville and throughout the state on their accident reports.

Source report: http://www.aaafoundation.org/home/

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The tragic death of a 6-year-old Jacksonville girl, hit by a car while she was in a pedestrian crosswalk, has sparked calls for justice. The attorney for the family of this young child wants to know why the driver of the truck that killed the girl wasn’t charged in the accident. And he wants changes in the law to correct what he calls dangerous, but common, misperceptions about crosswalks.

Reconstructing the Accident
According to the Florida Times Union, on December 21, 2009, the young girl, her mother and her 5-year-old brother were crossing San Jose at Kori Road and were only halfway to the median when the light at the intersection changed. All three were hit by a truck whose driver was not cited in the accident. The 6-year-old girl was killed; her brother was not injured, but her mother’s leg and some ribs were broken. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has declined comment on this story.

This is a sad story about the senseless death of a small child. Our prayers and sympathy go out to the family as they try to recover from this tragedy.

The Law Protects Pedestrians
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 16.8% of all traffic fatalities in 2008 were pedestrians. 500 pedestrians were killed in pedestrian accidents on Florida highways in 2008. More than half (308) were killed while crossing a street. While not all those fatalities involved pedestrians in crosswalks, the law is clear that all motorists must yield to pedestrians regardless. According to the Florida Driver’s Handbook, it is “the motorist’s responsibility to do everything possible to avoid colliding with pedestrians” (Section 3.6).

The family’s attorney says pedestrians in crosswalks are in danger because of confusion not only about right-of-way but also of how crosswalk buttons function. He says most people think pushing the button at a crosswalk causes the traffic lights to cycle. This is wrong. He says pushing the button instead serves to extend the cycle, giving pedestrians more time to cross the street. In the case of this young girl, the button was not pushed, so the green light was much shorter and the family got caught in the middle of the street.

Continue reading "Attorney Calls for Charges and Changes in Crosswalk Laws" »

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

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A 55-year-old Kissimmee man died Sunday afternoon when he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving. The St. Petersburg Times reports the accident happened just west of Brooksville near B.W. Stevenson Road. According to the Florida High Patrol, the man was traveling east on Cortez Boulevard. He lost control of his 2000 Harley-Davidson motorcycle on a curve, hitting a concrete median and a reflective pole before the bike left the highway. The man was thrown from the motorcycle. Hernando County Fire Rescue pronounced him dead at the scene. The FHP said the man was not wearing a helmet. It’s unknown whether alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Our condolences for the loss of this man go out to his family and friends.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to Florida Highway Patrol statistics from 2008, there were 9,618 motorcycle crashes that year. 17.8% of all traffic fatalities affected motorcycle drivers and their passengers. While the number of these fatalities was down from 2007 by 3.3%, 532 motorcyclists and passengers were killed in 2008. 45% of those victims were not wearing helmets.

Helmets Save Lives
In July, 2000, the State of Florida passed a law exempting adult motorcyclists (21 and older) from wearing helmets as long as they had medical insurance in the amount of $10,000. According to a study published in 2004 in the American Journal of Public Health, motorcycle occupant fatalities increased by more than 20% the year after the law was changed. Study author, Andreas Muller, PhD, concludes that “exempting adult motorcycle riders from wearing motorcycle helmets is counterproductive for motorcyclists’ health and unnecessarily increases insurance and medical care expenses.”

Continue reading "Motorcyclist Killed in Brooksville" »

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Posted In: Brain Injury , Law & Information , Motorcycle Accident , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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Jacksonville, Florida has an estimated population well-over 805,605 people and is the largest city in the state and the 12th largest in the U.S. of any other city with a population of at least 100,000. Situated in the First Coast region of northeast Florida, Jacksonville is about 340 miles north of Miami. As a popular tourist destination for its wonderful weather and scenic beaches, Jacksonville attracts several new residents every year. As the population increases, the need for adequate medical care, especially for women giving birth, is in high demand. Unfortunately, medical professionals are not immune to negligence or failing to act in a timely manner, thus causing birth injury and other forms of hospital malpractice to take place.

Birth injuries are some of the most devastating incidents that no family should ever have to overcome. When a nurse, doctor, or hospital staff member does not properly handle a timely situation during the birthing process, a newborn baby may endure severe health problems, disfigurement, scarring, and even death under the most tragic of circumstances. The mother may also be at risk of suffering injury or harm if a medical professional is negligent in some way. During such tough times, some families may want to consult with an experienced Jacksonville birth injury attorney so they can learn more about what potential legal options may be available to them.

When a hospital technician, pharmacist, staff member, nurse, or doctor causes a patient to suffer injury through improper or negligent care or treatment, hospital malpractice may have taken place. Some of the most frequently occurring forms of hospital malpractice include abuse, surgical error, misdiagnosis, incorrect administration of drugs or treatment, and failure to treat a patient. Those responsible for such negligence may be held liable for a patient’s pain and suffering as well as the financial expenses associated with their injuries.

The skilled Florida personal injury attorneys at Farah and Farah can help you and your family if a birth injury or another kind of hospital malpractice has imposed negative consequences. At Farah and Farah, we have dedicated several years to protecting the rights of injury victims and their families. In the many clients that we’ve helped, we have obtained successful outcomes in their birth injury or hospital malpractice case. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Jacksonville office for a free and confidential consultation:

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


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Drug maker, Merck, has given the FDA new data to win approval to market its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, to women between the ages of 27 and 45. The drug is already approved to protect girls and younger women, ages 9 through 26, from four strains of the human papillomavirus, which can lead to cervical cancer and warts. The vaccine also won approval to prevent genital warts in young males.

The drug has not been the blockbuster that Merck wanted so it has been trying for some time to win further FDA approval. In June 2008, the FDA rejected Merck’s application to expand use of the drug. And early last year, the FDA again withheld approval, asking Merck for more data on a 48-month study.

After a much heralded approval in 2006, Merck pushed and almost received approval for mandatory vaccinations for young girls. But there was a backlash when it was found that lobbyists were targeting female legislators to introduce new laws in their states. Gardasil sales slowed and now Merck faces competition from its rival, Cervarix, made by GSK.

Continue reading "Merck Trying to Expand Gardasil Use" »

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Two women were killed Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in Hobe Sound Florida near Stuart, Florida in a two-car collision. The accident occurred around 1 p.m. involving a northbound silver Saturn, driven by a 52-year-old woman and a southbound red Mercury van driven by 73-year-old woman.

The Florida Highway Patrol reports the Saturn overcorrected after veering off of the side of the divided highway of U.S. 1. The car then careened over the center median and into the southbound traffic lanes where the Saturn was struck by the oncoming van. Both vehicles reportedly came to a stop in the middle of the southbound lanes. One of the drivers was pronounced dead at the scene and the other motorist died a short time later.

Our condolences are extended to the families of these two women. In just a moment their lives were extinguished. We are very sorry for your loss.

Construction Hazards on our Roads
We have no more on this accident such as the road condition and whether the individuals involved were wearing seat belts. We do know there is a great deal of road work underway on U.S. highways which contribute to highway deaths. The fact that one driver overcorrected indicates she experienced a drop off the side of the road.

In a recent article in the New York Times, entitled “Efforts Lag to Improve Safety at Work Zones,” reporters note that pavement edge drop-offs are a real hazard that result from so-called road improvements.

Accidents involving road drop-offs kill about 160 people every year and injure 11,000. The edge of a road is supposed to gradually decline into the dirt, but numerous studies have shown that steep drop offs occur when a roadway has not been finished properly or is in the process of being improved. That presents a danger to motorists who tend to overcorrect when they suddenly drop off the edge of a roadway.

In Texas in 2002, seven people were killed when the driver overcorrected into the path of a minivan. It turns out contractors had failed to smooth out the edge of a newly paved lane.

Continue reading "Over Correcting Leads to Two Dead on U.S. 1" »

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St. Augustine, Florida is sometimes referred to as the “nation’s oldest city” since it is home to the oldest port in the continental United States. With an estimated population well over 12,157, St. Augustine is widely known for its lovely beaches, classic architecture, and museums that reflect the life and culture of early Spanish explorers who settled in the area. St. Augustine is also a popular tourist spot in Northern Florida. Considering all that St. Augustine has to offer and its continuous growth in population, it is an unfortunate reality that birth injury takes place from time to time due to medical negligence or hospital malpractice.

A birth injury can have overwhelming consequences for a family to endure. If a medical professional fails to act efficiently and in a timely manner during the birthing process, a newborn baby may suffer serious health problems, scarring, disfigurement, and even death. The mother may also be at risk of suffering harm or injury if a doctor or nurse acts negligently. After a birth injury, a family has a lot on their mind and only wants what is best for their baby. During such challenging times, some families may find it beneficial to seek legal counsel from a skilled St. Augustine birth injury attorney who can help fully explain their legal rights and options if that is what a family decides is best for them.

Hospital malpractice may occur when a doctor, nurse, staff member, pharmacist, or technician causes a patient to suffer injury through negligent or improper treatment or care. Misdiagnosis, surgical error, abuse, and failure to treat a patient, and incorrect administration of drugs or treatment are a few examples of frequent incidents of hospital malpractice. If hospital malpractice or negligence causes an innocent patient to suffer injury, illness, or death, those responsible for such action and poor treatment may be held legally and financially accountable.

If you and your family have experienced a birth injury or another form of hospital malpractice in St. Augustine, please contact the experienced Florida personal injury lawyers at Farah and Farah. We have worked vigilantly for many years protecting the rights of injury victims and their families. Farah and Farah has achieved successful outcomes for our clients in birth injury and hospital malpractice litigation. We can help you. Get in touch with Farah and Farah today at our St. Augustine office for a free and confidential consultation:

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

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A 30-year-old man from Fort Walton Beach is in serious condition after an argument Sunday night, January 10, led to a car accident in Florida. The 31-year-old driver from Fort Walton Beach, was heading west on SR 188 when she got into an argument with the front passenger. He reportedly grabbed the steering wheel while the car was in motion. The 2004 Nissan ran into the north shoulder and hit a tree. The passenger in the rear of the vehicle was not wearing his seat belt and flew into the front of the vehicle. The car suffered an estimated $7,000 in damages. Charges are pending.

We certainly hope the best for the recovery of the injured individuals. When one is not belted in, they can become a human cannonball thrown inside the vehicle, through a window, or into a windshield. Head injuries are the most common, devastating, and long-lasting effects from an auto accident.

Seat Belt Law
In 2008, Florida had 1,795 traffic deaths of drivers and passengers in Seat belt equipped vehicles. 60% or 1,085 of these people were not wearing their seat belts, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

And consider that air bags will generally not be able to do their job if you are not belted in.
While many argue that individuals should be able to determine whether or not they want to buckle up, the Florida Department of Transportation estimates 3 out of 5 motor vehicle fatalities are directly due to the failure to wear seat belts. That is why Florida joined 28 other states plus the District of Columbia in passing a primary seat belt law last June. An officer can now pull you over and fine you if your only offense is not wearing a seat belt.

Continue reading "Argument Led to Auto Accident" »

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

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A patient goes to a doctor for a medical procedure. Unfortunately, sometimes the outcome of that procedure is less than ideal. In an even smaller number of cases, the doctor may be guilty of medical malpractice, and failing to deliver the standard of care of a professional medical doctor. Patients may find themselves permanently injured and many decide to file a claim against the doctor.

In Georgia, the CEO of a Georgia medical services company, in an opinion piece in the newspaper, suggest those already injured should have to jump through one more hoop. It is a hoop that benefits the medical profession and insurance companies, not the injured. Instead of allowing victims of medical malpractice in Georgia their Constitutional right to a trial by jury, this author suggest that victims should have to appear before a “screening panel” comprised of members of the medical and insurance industries. Reminder- those are the same industries trying to avoid compensating injured patients.

Time for a dose of reality - only a fraction of those individuals injured by medical mishap ever see a trial. First, many people do not want to be involved in litigation. Secondly, the injury must be tremendous in order to find a lawyer willing to take your case. There is another special hoop in Georgia, the patient must find a medical professional willing to publicly criticize their colleague. That person must be credentialed and willing to sign a document swearing to the malpractice. Then there is another hoop – a judge must screen the case as well.

Continue reading "Injured by Medical Malpractice in Georgia? Jump through Hoops" »

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A 27-year-old woman was critically injured after driving her Toyota sedan into the rear of a semi truck on Interstate 75 early Monday morning January 11. The Florida auto injury accident happened about 1 a.m. near Big Bend Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The injured woman is in Tampa General Hospital in critical condition, while the truck driver of Palm Bay Florida was not injured. We send her our prayers for a swift recovery.

After the woman hit the truck from behind, she spun into the grass median. The FHP will have to determine if she ever applied the brakes. If not, it is likely she was distracted or too tired to be behind the wheel.

Distracted Drivers
An investigator should begin by checking the cell phone records of this driver to see whether she was on the phone before hitting the back of the tractor-trailer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates at least one quarter of crashes involves some form of driver inattention. Distraction is just one form of inattention and is a factor in more than half of these crashes. And distracted driving can include tuning the radio, reaching into the back seat, picking up something from the floor, drinking and smoking, texting, and putting on makeup, among other things.

Following Too Closely
Following a vehicle too closely is called tailgating and it is a form of aggressive driving that gives you few options if you need to stop suddenly.

Want to figure out how closely to follow the vehicle in front? Try the three-second rule. Select a fixed object such as a sign or tree. When the vehicle ahead passed the object slowly count ‘one-one-thousand” “two one-thousand” “three one-thousand” - making sure there is at least three seconds between you and the vehicle in front.

Continue reading "Tampa Woman Tailgating Semi in Critical Condition" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Truck Accident

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Situated in Columbia County, Lake City is often called the “Gateway to Florida.” Taking Columbia County’s staggering population of about 68,000 into consideration along with the estimated 12,000 inhabitants of Lake City, the “Gateway to Florida” is a popular and busy region. Although residents and visitors of Lake City do not want to admit that birth injuries or incidents of hospital malpractice take place in Florida and throughout the U.S., these tragic occurrences are an unfortunate reality that may impose devastating consequences for a family to endure.

Even though birth complication and injury is relatively uncommon, such incidents happen more often than many patients would like to admit. If a medical professional, doctor, or nurse fails to act in a timely and efficient manner in diagnosing and treating a mother or a baby during the birthing process, the mother and/or the baby can be harmed or seriously injured. Some of the most commonly seen birth injuries relate to scarring, disfigurement, and other serious health problems. When a medical professional’s negligence contributes to a birth injury taking place, an experienced Lake City birth injury attorney may assist a family in seeking compensation to help pay for expenses associated with the injury.

Hospital malpractice can take many forms and can tragically affect patients of all ages and with several different kinds of medical conditions. Nevertheless, a patient deserves to receive quality medical attention and proper care from doctors and nurses who are required by law to be accurately trained. If hospital negligence or malpractice makes a vulnerable patient develop a new illness or condition, suffer injury, or even death, those responsible may be held financially and legally accountable.

If you or a loved one has been afflicted by a birth injury or any other kind of hospital malpractice in Lake City, there are potential legal options available. Please get in touch with the skilled personal injury lawyers at Farah and Farah to learn more about how we can help protect your rights. We have been assisting injury victims and their families for many years and have the knowledge to obtain successful outcomes in hospital malpractice and birth injury cases. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Lake City office for a free and confidential consultation:

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

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The 2010 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws report is out.

Published by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a coalition of insurance, consumer, health, safety and law enforcement organizations that promote safer roads and highways, it shows that promoting 15 model laws could save lives on our highways and roads. States are graded on their performance in adopting and maintaining model traffic safety laws. The report concludes that not one state has enacted all of the recommended laws. They include:

• Adult Occupant Protection – Seat belt enforcement and all-ride motorcycle helmet laws.


• Child Passenger Safety – Child booster seat law requiring children ages 4 through 7 be placed in a booster seat.


• Teen Driving Graduated Driver Licensing – This phases in full driving privileges in a three-state process and allows for primary enforcement of the law.


• Impaired Driving - Drunk drivers would face an ignition interlock device if they have violated the law in the past. There would be mandatory blood alcohol testing in fatal crashes and an open container ban.


• Distracted Driving – A ban on text messaging for all drivers unless there is an emergency.

There are almost 40,000 fatalities and 2.3 million injuries at a cost of $230 billion every year.

Every day 102 people were killed on the streets and highways while more than 6,000 are injured.

Continue reading "2010 Highway Safety Report" »

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

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Situated in Northeast Clay County, the city of Orange Park is a suburb of Jacksonville, Florida. Orange Park has an estimated population of over 180,000 and has a high population density. In attracting visitors and new residents to its thriving community which is rich in history, Orange Park is a bustling region of Florida.

When taking Orange Park’s large population into consideration, birth injury has been known to occur due to the negligence of medical professionals or as the result of a different form of hospital malpractice. During such challenging times, families may find it helpful to seek legal guidance from experienced Orange Park birth injury attorneys who can help explain their legal rights and options.

Although birth complications and injuries are typically rare, they unfortunately occur more often than most Orange Park residents would like to believe. If a medical professional does not act in a timely manner or if a doctor fails to detect a problem or condition that they are supposed to be able to identify, a newborn baby may suffer severe health problems, scarring, disfigurement, or even death.

Birth injury is not the only form of hospital malpractice, but it can cause some of the most devastating consequences for a family to endure. However, no matter what an individual’s age or medical condition, he or she expects to be given quality medical care from a doctor, nurse, or other professional who is required by law to be adequately trained. If hospital malpractice or negligence causes an innocent patient to suffer harm, injury, or death, those responsible for such action and poor treatment may be held legally and financially accountable.

If you and your family have experienced a birth injury or another form of hospital malpractice in Orange Park, please contact the skilled personal injury lawyers at Farah and Farah. We have been protecting the rights of injury victims and their families for many years and know what it takes to reach a successful outcome in birth injury and hospital malpractice litigation. Get in touch with Farah and Farah today at our Orange Park office for a free and confidential consultation:

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


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You go to the airport already a little tense about flying. Then comes the humiliation of a full-body scan - which essentially shows airport security personnel from the Transportation Security Administration or TSA most of the details of your body under your clothing. They are looking for any explosives or plastics so most people are willing to undergo the humiliation for the greater good.

TSA has insisted that there is no way to store or send these images and that the personnel will be secured out of sight of everyday passengers, so your dignity is maintained.

Now there is news from the Washington-based Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a public interest group focused on privacy that TSA can store and send your images. The group has obtained documents that TSA specified in 2008 that full-body scanners at airports must have the capability to store and send images. That opens up the possibility for abuse by TSA employees, EPIC’s director says. EPIC says the ability to store and send exists when the machines are in the test mode.

The TSA should suspend further deployment of the machines until the privacy questions are resolves, says EPIC Executive Director Marc Rotenberg, reports CNN. EPIC is pursuing a lawsuit to obtain additional documents about the machines.

40 machines are currently being used at 19 airports domestically and an additional 300 machines should be used in airports by 2011.

Continue reading "Body Scanners Can Store and Send Images" »

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After news surfaced that Chinese manufacturers allowed dangerous levels of lead to be present in children’s toys and jewelry, a different substance – cadmium – was used instead. However, a recent associated press investigation has revealed that the heavy metal cadmium which has replaced lead in children’s jewelry is no substitute at all. Cadmium poses many dangers to children as well. Lab tests conducted by the associated press discovered that the most contaminated piece contained 91% cadmium. Bought on a national level, other pieces of jewelry amounted to a weight of 84% to 89% cadmium.

It is no secret that cadmium is a carcinogen and can easily come off of objects, thus contaminating the hands and other body parts of users. As additional concern arose regarding the exposure of this dangerous chemical substance to children, the Associated Press bought 103 items from store locations throughout Texas, New York, California, and Ohio, all during the months of November and December. What they found in the purchased items was that 12% of the jewelry items had at least 10% of cadmium present.

One of the worst offenders sold a contaminated bracelet charm- Wal-Mart, Claire’s, and the dollar stores:

• Three flip flop bracelet charms sold at Wal-Mart – 84 to 86 percent cadmium. The company that imported the items - Sulyn Industries of Florida says the charms were subject to lead testing not cadmium.


• Four charms from two “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” bracelets sold at Dollar N More store in Rochester, NY – 82 to 91 percent cadmium.


• Two charms on a “Best Friends” bracelet bought at Claire’s – 89 to 91 percent cadmium.


• Pendants from four “The Princess and The Frog” necklaces purchased at Wal-Mart – ranged between 25 to 35 percent cadmium.

“There’s nothing positive that you can say about this metal. It’s a poison,” said Bruce A. Fowler with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who is a cadmium specialist and toxicologist.

Many parents and consumers may be wondering why the substance cadmium has become a problem. The answer relates to the fact that federal protection has not involved banning cadmium being in jewelry. However, lead is prevented from being present in and on children’s toys.

Continue reading "Toxic Metal in Kid's Jewelry from China" »

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Two men riding in a truck in Northeast Florida accidentally flipped over Thursday night and one man lost his life.

A 38-year-old Elkton, Florida man was a passenger in the Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by his friend of St. Augustine. The man who was ejected was not wearing his seat belt when the vehicle traveled into the grass median and overcorrected before it flipped around 9 p.m. There is no word on why the vehicle drifted off the road except that that’s where the road curved. The driver, also not wearing his seat belt, was seriously injured and taken to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol report, alcohol was involved in the auto accident which occurred on State Road 207 in St. Johns County, south of Meadowbrook Road.

Our condolences go out to the family of the men involved.

Personal injury attorneys in Florida will tell you that wearing a seat belt is essential to saving lives. Whenever we hear a vehicle occupant was ejected, the first question we ask is, was he wearing a seat belt? More often than not, an ejected passenger will suffer a head injury which could ultimately be fatal.

A new survey shows that seatbelt use in Florida is at an all-time high - 85 percent - exceeding the national average of 84 percent. That may be due to the primary seat belt law that went into effect in June. It allows law enforcement to pull drivers over solely for not wearing a seat belt.

Back in 1998, only 57 percent of drivers buckled up.

Continue reading "North Florida Man Killed After SUV Flips" »

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

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It was an unbelievable fall at a Jacksonville Beach strip mall.

A 7-year-old boy plunged through a skylight on the roof, falling 14-feet to the ground. A witness said she heard the child cry and the boy’s mother and sister were also on the roof.

The child was transported by air ambulance to Shands Jacksonville and is reported to be in serious condition. The skylight was a dome made out of soft plastic and not glass and it is reported to be flexible, which likely prevented the boy from severe lacerations.

The property owner says no one is supposed to be on the roof. Our prayers go out to the little boy for a swift recovery.

Under Florida law, the first step is to understand the specific legal category the injured person occupies. Unless the mother owns the building or had some reason to be there, she could be cited for illegally trespassing. Did the landlord want them up there? Was there some good reason they might be on the roof, such as easy access and an attraction?

Under normal Florida premises liability law, the owner of a building has the responsibility to make sure that it is in good working condition for everyday use, which in this case might be shopping.

When he boy fell, he complained of back and arm pain. Some people complain (rather cynically) that the mother will likely find a personal injury attorney to represent her for financial gain. What’s interesting here is that unless this woman had a reason to be on the roof – there may be a limited application of premises liability law here.

In order for this mother to file a premises liability case, her attorney must prove that the property owner knew or should have known of the dangerous condition, that a person could likely encounter the condition, whether invited or not, and then failed to correct this condition.

The duty to a trespasser is a lot less, but trespassers too are owed a duty to prevent injury, especially if they are children. Generally that applies to attractive nuisances such as swimming pools, deserted car, trampolines, or refrigerators.

Continue reading "7-Year-Old Falls Through Mall Skylight" »

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Posted In: Law & Information , Personal Injury , Premises Liability

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A single-car wreck in Jacksonville has left one person dead and three injured, including a baby. None of the automobile occupants was wearing a seat belt. The accident happened on Edgewood Avenue and Valley Forge Road Monday morning.

Police report that the three people were heading west when their vehicle suddenly hit a sign and a telephone pole about 6 a.m. and then went airborne, during which time all three occupants were ejected. A 20-year-old woman was taken to Shands Jacksonville where she was pronounced dead.

We know there was fog on the road at the time of the accident and the roads were wet. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is asking for any witnesses to help with information on the case by calling 904-630-0500, or call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS and you can remain anonymous.
In an accident, the insurance company for the other side will argue that there should be little or no liability because the individuals were not wearing a seat belt. The driver’s attorney can argue that wearing a seat belt in this case would not have increased the chance for survival or avoiding injury.

In 2008, The Florida Highway Patrol reports that there were 1,795 traffic deaths of drivers and passengers in the state, 60% or 1,085 of these people were not wearing their seat belts.

And 68 % of the children up to age 17 killed in auto accidents in Florida last year were not using safety equipment such as seat belts or child restraint systems.

Continue reading "Young Woman Killed in Single-Car Wreck" »

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

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The city of Brunswick is located about 30 miles north of Florida and encompasses part of southeastern Georgia. Sometimes referred to as the “shrimp capital of the world,” Brunswick is home to Georgia’s main shrimp and crab industries. Brunswick’s approximate metropolitan population of 101,792 and city proper population of 16,235 make it the twelfth-largest metropolitan area in the state of Georgia.

With the large population of Brunswick in mind, it is an unfortunate reality that birth injury takes place from time to time as the result of hospital malpractice or the negligence of medical professionals. However, with the legal assistance of a Brunswick birth injury attorney, families may be able to hold negligent parties legally responsible for their wrongdoing. Although birth injuries or complications are rare, they take place more than most people would like to admit. If a doctor fails to act in a timely manner or if medical professionals overlook a problem or condition that they are supposed to be able to identify, a newborn baby may endure serious health problems, scarring, disfigurement, or even death.

Hospital malpractice can come in a variety of forms and negatively impact a wide range of individuals. No matter what a person’s age or medical condition, he or she has the right to receive adequate medical care from a doctor, nurse, or other professional who has been properly trained. If hospital malpractice causes an innocent patient to suffer, those responsible for such negligent action and treatment may be held accountable.

If you and your family have experienced a birth injury or another form of hospital malpractice in Brunswick, please contact the skilled personal injury lawyers at Farah and Farah. We have been protecting the rights of injury victims and their families for many years and know what it takes to reach a successful outcome in birth injury and hospital malpractice litigation. Get in touch with Farah and Farah today at our Brunswick, Georgia office for a free and confidential consultation:

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

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Posted In: Health & Information , Medical Malpractice , Personal Injury

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A trucker is dead after an early morning accident on I-95 in northern Flagler County, two miles south of the St. Johns County line in North Florida.

The accident happened after the driver of a tractor-trailer rig was trying to pull back onto I-95 from the emergency lane where he was stopped to check for a problem. Heading south, he was struck from behind by another semi pulling onto the highway. The Florida Highway Patrol says the second truck was pulling onto the highway and the first vehicle just pulled in front of him.

Damage to the first rig was estimated at $100,000. The driver who died was wearing a seat belt. No tickets have been issued in the accident.

Continue reading "I-95 Trucking Death in Flagler County " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Truck Accident

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Two Floridians both had colonoscopies and both have kidney disease. Both have also filed Florida pharmaceutical lawsuits against the drug makers of the drugs used to cleanse the bowels. Both Floridians took drugs that contain sodium phosphate. Doctors often refer to it as the “killer of kidneys” and their lawyer argues the drugs caused their kidney damage.

The drugs are known as over-the-counter drugs Fleet Phospho-soda and OsmoPrep pills.
One of the individuals is 63 and relies on dialysis after suffering kidney failure, reports Health News Florida. The other individual is 80, is a retired airline pilot, and is not on dialysis, but he cannot enjoy a normal active lifestyle.

OsmoPrep now carries a black box warning about the possible link between the preparation and kidney damage. Fleet Phospho-soda has been taken off the market.

While a single dose of the product for bowel cleansing is considered safe, Fleet allegedly recommended a double dose without FDA approval. Publix, where Schlichting bought his product was also named in the lawsuit.

Continue reading "Floridians File Lawsuit Against Drug Makers" »

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Posted In: Defective Drug , Personal Injury , Pharmaceutical Litigation , Product Liability

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As a part of Putnam County, the city of Palatka is home to approximately 10,804 residents and is 7.5 square miles in size. Palatka has a population density of about 1,543 individuals per square mile and has witnessed a 7.5% increase in population since 2000. Despite a little over 20% of Palatka inhabitants living and working within the city limits, work-related accidents are an unfortunate reality.

When illness or injury is caused by a work accident or unsafe working environment, an employee’s physical, mental, and financial well-being may suffer greatly. These types of occurrences are never easy and may pose many challenges for an injured worker and his or her family to endure. However, with an experienced Palatka workers’ compensation lawyer on your side, you may be able to hold negligent parties legally accountable for your pain and suffering as well as expenses associated with your injury and medical needs.

It is a personal injury attorney’s job to inform an injured worker of their legal options and provide them the quality legal advice and representation that they need. At Farah and Farah, our skilled Personal Injury Law Firm has helped several injured individuals in Florida receive compensation to cover past and future lost wages, hospital bills, medical treatment, and much more. Get in touch with Farah and Farah today at our Palatka office for a free and confidential consultation of your workers’ compensation or personal injury case:

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

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A six-year-old Jacksonville girl didn’t stand a chance when she was hit by an SUV in a Jacksonville crosswalk Saturday morning. Her mother was pushing a stroller with her five-year-old disabled brother crossing San Jose Boulevard near Kori Road. The three were in the furthest southbound lane when the light turned green and a SUV pulled ahead and hit the little girl, killing her at the scene. Her 38-year-old mother was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries including a few broken ribs and a crushed ankle. The brother was not injured.

First Coast News reports that teddy bears and candles have been placed in the area of the traffic pole marking the accident scene.

The family attorney says the family didn’t have enough time to get across the busy San Jose Boulevard Saturday when she was hit. When Channel 4 tried the crosswalk, they found that if you hit the cross button, it gave you 45 seconds before the light turns green. If you don’t hit the button, it gave you 30 seconds - far too short for the busy road. While it is unclear when the family entered the crosswalk, that really doesn’t matter. State law says the pedestrian has the right of way the entire time they are in the crosswalk, as long as they enter the crosswalk with the walk light. An attorney for the family says it is clear that the family didn’t have enough time to cross the six-lane street.

That puts the burden of proof on the family attorney to prove that the city was not following the mandate for crosswalks and pedestrian safety.

Continue reading "Jacksonville Child Killed in Crosswalk" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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Amelia Island is positioned right off the coast of Florida and has an estimated population of 68,347. Also referred to as the “Isle of Eight Flags,” Amelia Island is home to Amelia City and Fernandina Beach. Despite encompassing a relatively small 18.2 square miles in size, Amelia Island is overflowing with diverse culture and vibrant activity. The city hosts the Amelia Island Jazz Festival, the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and the Amelia Island Film Festival.

In having various job positions and businesses providing workers and residents of Amelia Island the means to provide for their families, it is an unfortunate reality that unsafe working environments or improper training may cause injury or illness while on-the-job. Employers, contractors, or managers who fail to uphold their responsibility of creating and maintaining secure working surroundings may place employees in harm’s way. If a worker suffers an injury, whether minor or severe, his or her physical, emotional, and financial well-being may be compromised.

When an employee is injured due to an employer’s negligence, a hurt worker may need more than what workers’ compensation benefits supply. In order to ensure that your effort in seeking compensation for your injuries or damages is successful, you may want to contact a skilled Amelia Island workers’ compensation lawyer. At Farah and Farah, our attorneys have devoted many years to assisting injured employees obtain the compensation that the need to cover medical bills, past and future lost wages, and other expenses associated with their injury. Contact the Florida Personal Injury Law Firm of Farah and Farah today for a free consultation of your workers’ compensation or personal injury claim at our Amelia Island office:

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

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Jacksonville has had its first serious drug side effect of paralysis to report, apparently a result of receiving the swine flu vaccine.

Shortly after receiving the H1N1or swine flu shot, a Jacksonville firefighter has become paralyzed with the condition called Guillain- Barre syndrome or GBS. He is in Baptist Hospital and appears to be recovering.

GBS affects the nervous system causing paralysis and it has rarely been seen in the 2009 version of the swine flu vaccine; however, in 1976, during the last round of swine flu, the vaccine created at that time was known to cause GBS as a side effect.

With millions of vaccines given across the U.S., the head of the Duval County Health Department says there are about 10 cases of GBS across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 3,000 to 6,000 cases of GBS are contracted in the U.S. every year with the flu vaccine, adding another one for every one million. Most people are expected to eventually recover.

Continue reading "H1N1 Strikes Jacksonville Man" »

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Posted In: Defective Drug , Personal Injury , Pharmaceutical Litigation , Product Liability

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A mother says in an interview that she's been waiting for this day to come ever since her one-year-old daughter was strangled by a home window blind cord in June 2002. That’s when she tucked twins into baby blankets in their cribs. One of the twins accidentally strangled herself by looping an inner cord within the window blinds around her neck.

Since the twin’s death, the mother has formed Parents for Window Blind Safety, lobbying the federal government for a recall of the dangerous blinds.

This week, the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced one of the biggest product recalls in U.S. history, working with industry to recall all Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds with cords because of the risk of strangulation.

That includes more than 50 million blinds and shades from multiple manufacturers. The CPSC Web site has pictures of the various blinds that are involved in the recall. Basically whether a roll-up shade or a Roman shade, both have visible cords that can be pulled out from inside the folds on the blinds. For some toddlers, that is too much temptation to resist.

The CPSC has received reports of five deaths among children and 16 near-strangulations from fabric-looped Roman shades since 2006. Three deaths associated with roll-up blinds have been reported since 2001.

Continue reading "Roman Shades Recall" »

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Jacksonville Beach has an estimated population of 21,849 and is the largest town in the Jacksonville Beaches community in Florida. Also referred to as “Jax Beach,” Jacksonville Beach’s population has increased by 4% and is a major part of Duval County. As a bustling coastal town, Jacksonville Beach brings in several tourists and draws more and more residents every year. With tourism being a huge part of the economy in Jacksonville Beach, tons of other jobs contribute as well.

Many employees working in Jacksonville Beach do not like to admit that injury or illness does arise out of or in the course of different types of employment. When federal and state rules of procedures and safety regulations are ignored by employers, contractors, or managers, a working environment can become dangerous, thus putting workers at risk of injury or even death.

When an employee develops an illness or suffers an injury due to an unsafe working space, a wide range of factors not only influence their physical and mental health, but also their financial security. If an employer is negligent and permits safety risks to go unnoticed or if employees are not property trained and personal injury or wrongful death occurs as a result, workers’ compensation benefits may not be enough to fully compensate injured victims and their families.

At Farah and Farah, our skilled Jacksonville Beach workers’ compensation lawyers have helped many injured workers hold negligent employers legally responsible for their injuries and suffering. When challenging employers for a work-related injury or illness, you need an attorney who is highly skilled and knowledgeable in Florida workers’ compensation law and personal injury litigation. Contact Farah and Farah today to learn more about how we may be able to help you receive compensation to pay for past and future lost earnings, pain and suffering, and medical bills. Get in touch with us at our Jacksonville Beach office today:

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

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Two pedestrians were hit by cars in two separate accidents Monday night. Both are now recovering at Shands Hospital.

The first pedestrian, a 70-year-old man, was hit just before 8 p.m. Monday as he was trying to cross Beach Blvd. near the intersection of St. Johns Bluff. The Florida Highway Patrol says the man stepped out in front a car driven by a 25-year-old. The pedestrian is reported to be in serious condition. Then about an hour later, another pedestrian was hit by a vehicle at the intersection of Timiquana and Brent Street and is reported to be in serious condition.

We offer our condolences to the family and friends of these seriously injured victims. Please keep them in your prayers.

While there is no word yet on whether any charges will be filed, it is not clear whether the drivers stopped on their own. According to Florida Statute Section 316.027 , the driver of any vehicle involved in a crash on public or private property that results in injury must immediately stop the vehicle at the scene and render aid. When a death is involved and the person leaves the scene, they are guilty of a felony in the first degree, punishable by 30 years in state prison.

Jacksonville is the fourth most deadly city for pedestrians, according to a national study released in November. The top three dangerous areas for pedestrians were Orlando-Kissimmee; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater; and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach. The advocacy group, Transportation for America, measures the “pedestrian danger index,” taking into account the number of fatalities per 100,000 population.

Continue reading "Two Jacksonville Pedestrians in Serious Condition in Separate Car Collisions" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Personal Injury

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This news comes from the highly credible nonprofit organization, The Environmental Working Group (EWG).

EWG finds there are over 300 pollutants in U.S. tap water. After analyzing almost 20 million records, EWG finds that more than half of those chemicals are not even subject to health or safety regulations. That means they can legally be there in any amount, regardless of their safety. Sometimes it takes a nonprofit to do the work that our federal government should be doing. For example, no new regulations for drinking water standards have been established for the last eight years.

For those chemicals that are regulated, 49 have been found at levels above the guidelines, meaning that tap water is polluted for more than 3 million Americans.

EWG is encouraging the government to do a national assessment of drinking water quality and set new safety standards.

So how did Jacksonville fare? How about 91 out of 100? JEA serves 800,000 in Jacksonville and the quality of the water is overseen by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Over the legal limit are 12 chemicals, Total trihalomethanes or TTHMs, among them and 23 contaminants were detected, many of them agricultural pollutants.

See the report here: http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/whatsinyourwater/FL/JEA/2161328/

Continue reading "Jacksonville Water Among the Worst, Says Environmental Group" »

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A 20-month old little Florida boy was attacked and killed by a Rottweiler after dropping his cookie on the floor, according to law enforcement authorities in New Port Richey, Florida. The baby was visiting his aunt’s home during a party Saturday night. The boy went to grab the cookie when the dog went for him.

Panicking, family members tried to pry the dog off the child, but it was too late. He died in the hospital. Animal control took the dog, which under law they have to keep for 10 days during which time the owner may request a hearing.

When a dog is in the hands of animal control and they are considering putting him up for adoption, one of the tests is to see if he is food aggressive. They try and remove the food while the dog is eating. If the dog goes for the person, he is considered unable to be put up for adoption.

Surely the owners of this dog would have known they had a problem with a large animal that had food aggression. Nonetheless, our hearts go out to this family for their tragic loss.

Generally, the owner of an aggressive dog that bites a person is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten. However, if there is any negligence or contribution by the person bitten, it reduces the liability of the owner. For example, if you are trespassing and are bitten by the dog that is there to protect the property, the liability of the owner is reduced. If a child provokes the dog, it could be considered the cause of the accident, reducing his recovery of damages.

However, if the child is under the age of six, it is presumed he is incapable of committing such negligence. Parents still have the responsibility of controlling and adequately supervising their child. If they fail to do so, it too could reduce the compensation payable by the dog owner if there is a bite.

Continue reading "Rottweiler Kills Toddler" »

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Jacksonville, Florida is one of the more desirable points of interest in the Sunshine State. As the 12th most populated city in the United States, Jacksonville has a population of approximately over 800,000. Covering a span of 874.3 square miles, Jacksonville is home to a diverse collection of vacationers, tourist-attractions, cultural spots, residents, and businesses. When considering the busy population of Jacksonville and its sizable amount of commuters, several businesses and employees contribute to the city’s financial stability. Multiple employees working in Jacksonville would like to think that illness or injury never arises out of or in the course of different kinds of employment; however, the reality is that work accidents and injuries do happen.

Sadly, even though safety regulations and rules of procedure are initiated by federal and state entities, some employers, managers, or contractors fail to create and maintain a hazard-free work setting. This type of negligence may contribute to workers suffering severe illness, injury, and even death. If an employee endures an injury or develops an illness due to an unsafe working environment, their physical and emotional health, as well as their financial security, may be jeopardized. Workers’ compensation benefits may not be substantial enough to fully compensate injured victims and their families. However, a personal injury attorney may be able to help an injured worker file for other viable claims while holding negligent employers legally responsible.

When taking on an employer or a large group responsible for a work-related injury or illness, the legal knowledge and skill of a Jacksonville workers’ compensation attorney may be required. At Farah and Farah, we have assisted many injured individuals obtain compensation to help pay for past and future lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and much more. Contact Farah and Farah today for a free and confidential consultation at our Jacksonville office:

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

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Talc is the world’s softest rock but the minute fibers contained in talc are very similar to asbestos. For years, environmental scientists have been saying that talcum powder can cause cancer. Now that issue will be going to court.

A 52-year-old woman from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is suing Johnson & Johnson and two mining companies for failing to warn consumers about the possibility of contracting ovarian cancer from talcum power.

She was diagnosed in 2006 after using the powder in her genital area every day after showering from 1975 to 2007.

The Argus Leader reports that the federal complaint says the talc caused her cancer and the mines and health care company failed to warn the public, making them guilty of negligence.

A Harvard University study from 2008, suggests women who use talc once a week might be increasing their risk of cancer by 36 percent. Daily users’ risk of ovarian cancer jumped by 41 percent.

You are urged by The American Cancer Society to replace talc with a cornstarch-based powder.

Consumer Help
Consumers can look on the Web site of the National Cancer Institute which has additional information about the risk of using talc near the vaginal area. Ovarian cancer strikes more than 21,000 women a year and leads to about 14,000 deaths annually. Often it is without symptoms.

Continue reading "Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer" »

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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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Often referred to as the “Gateway to Florida”, Lake City is located in Columbia County and is a common stop for travelers headed towards Southern Florida. As a popular tourist destination itself, Lake City is home to approximately 12,000 residents and Columbia County has about 68,000 inhabitants. Considering the booming population of Lake City and its large quantity of commuters, multiple job positions exist and many businesses contribute to the city’s economy. Many employees in Lake City would like to think that illness or injury does not occur out of or in the course of various types of employment. However, work-related accidents do take place even though rules of procedure and safety regulations are implemented by state and federal entities.

Employers, managers, or contractors who fail to maintain a danger-free working environment are doing a huge disservice to employees. This kind of negligence on the part of an individual or group in command can lead to workers suffering serious injury, illness, and even death. When an employee endures an injury or develops an illness due to an unsafe working space, a wide range of factors not only influence their physical and emotional well-being, but also their financial stability. If an employer is negligent and allows safety risks to go overlooked, or if employees are not accurately trained and personal injury or wrongful death occurs as a result, workers’ compensation benefits may not be enough to fully assist injured victims and their families.

Injured workers taking on employers for a work injury or illness may want to consider contacting a skilled Lake City workers’ compensation attorney who has many years of experience handling Florida workers’ compensation claims and personal injury litigation. The lawyers at Farah and Farah may be able to help you obtain full compensation for your injuries to help pay for pain and suffering, past and future lost wages, and medical bills. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation at our Lake City office:

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

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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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After failing to enact legislation for many years, Florida will finally require pain practitioners to register with the state by early January.

Part of the new law requires the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a monitoring database. It gives pharmacies 15 days to report in after dispensing a prescription narcotic.

The goal is to prevent “doctor shopping” by monitoring the prescribing and dispensing of controlled drugs, making it difficult for addicts to collect large quantities of pills, and allowing doctors, pharmacists, and even law enforcement to identify those who are “doctor shopping” for prescription pills.

Some legislators were concerned about privacy issues that we were forming a “Big Brother” to monitor citizens in the state. One legislator even suggested a fingerprint be used to track prescriptions rather than a name.

Florida will become the 39th state to establish a state-run prescription drug database. Doctor shopping is reported to be a cottage industry in Florida even drawing people from nearby states to look for easy access to prescription pills. Broward County is known as the nation’s capital of illegal prescription drug trafficking with 100 storefront pain clinics and Florida leads in oxycodone sales, mainly due to the clinics, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel wrote last March that among 100 pain clinics, 18 who had doctors who had been disciplined by the state for professional violations or convicted of crimes. The law will require that that the prescribing physicians actually be present on the premises of the pain clinic.

Continue reading "Florida Cracks Down On Doctor Shopping" »

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As a major suburb of Jacksonville, the city of Orange Park is located within Florida’s Northeast Clay County. Just south of Jacksonville, Orange Park has a diverse community that offers much history and culture. Along with a population over approximately 180,000, Orange Park boasts a high population density as well. Orange Park has a wide range of job positions and businesses that provide workers and residents with the ability to provide for their families. However, many individuals do not realize that the risk of injury and illness arising out of and in the course of different kinds of employment does in fact exist.

When employers, managers, or contractors fail to create and monitor safe working environments, they are not only doing a serious disservice to devoted employees, but they are also violating both state and federal safety regulations and rules of procedure. If a worker endures minor or tragic injury while on the job, his or her physical, mental, and financial welfare may be greatly jeopardized. When an employer is negligent in allowing safety hazards to go unnoticed or does not properly train employees and personal injury or wrongful death takes place as a result, an injured worker or surviving family members of a deceased worker may require more than what workers’ compensation benefits provide.

To ensure that you are fully compensated for your work-related personal injury, you may want to consider contacting an experienced Orange Park workers’ compensation attorney. At Farah and Farah, our lawyers are dedicated to helping injured workers hold negligent employers accountable for work accidents and subsequent injuries. Contact Farah and Farah today for a free consultation of your workers’ compensation or personal injury claim at our Orange Park office:

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

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Cheerleaders didn’t feel much like cheering Saturday but members of the River City Rockets team did so anyway for their late team mate.

The 14-year-old and her mother were both killed in a family accident this week. The young girl was trying to park the family GMC Yukon in an Orlando parking lot when the large SUV suddenly lurched forward and fell into a retention pond landing on its roof. Her mother was killed instantly, the girl after the accident. Three other family members got out alive.

“The driver didn’t stop or the vehicle’s brakes didn’t work,” said Trooper Jorge Dedlahoz at the time.

The 14-year-old had been on life support as well at an Orlando hospital but she never recovered. The ninth-grader at Darnell-Cookman Middle /Senior High is being remembered by friends as sweet and smart. The cheerleaders wore bright colored socks in her honor.

The 14-year old girl’s mother never made it out of the vehicle. Divers found her some time later. But the girl’s sister, who is 3-years-old, remains on life support. The mother’s fiancé and his teenage child managed to get out of the vehicle suffering minor injuries.

Continue reading "Teen Driver Dies after Family Drives Into Pond" »

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News is beginning to emerge in the popular media that the plant, St. John’s wort may, while being a cure for mild depression, not be good for our eyesight.

Research out of Fordham University finds that in the lab, hypericin, which is the active ingredient in St. John’s wort, may also make the eye susceptible to sunburn, even in visible light, which can cause a cloudy lens, leading to cataracts, and a damaged retina, which can mean irreversible macular degeneration which can lead to blindness.

In other words, the herb is phototoxic to the ocular lens.

If that is true we would expect to see the effects in a large population…and that is exactly what we are seeing.

Using data from the 2002 National Health Interview survey, epidemiologists from the University of Alabama cross-compared St. John's wort use and cataracts and came away with a statistically significant result - participants with cataracts were 59 percent more likely to report SJW use for at least a year.

This is intriguing at the very least and should serve as a red flag for anyone turning to “Nature’s Prozac.”

Unlike medications, the FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) allows dietary supplements to be regulated like food and requires the manufacturers to be responsible for ensuring the product is safe before it’s marketed.

The FDA’s role is to monitor any adverse events that may crop up AFTER the supplement is on the market.

Continue reading "St. John's Wort and the Cataract Connection" »

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A Jacksonville woman died when her SUV plunged into a pond in Orlando Saturday afternoon.
She has now been identified as a 35-year-old. Her fiancée was in the car as were two girls. The girls were both hospitalized in critical condition, the fiancée and a 13-year-old suffered minor injuries.

It’s still a mystery how this accident happened. The 2004 GMC Yukon was in the parking lot at the Floridays Resort off South International Drive. For some reason it jumped a curb, went through a fence and overturned after plunging nine feet into the pond.

Orange County deputies rescued the two girls while the others got out of the vehicle themselves. The woman, however, was found hours after the crash. Police have not yet determined who was behind the wheel of the Yukon when it went into the retention pond.

A terrible accident this time of year - the family is in our prayers and we will think of the girls still hospitalized. Police say alcohol was not a factor in this crash and no charges have been filed. There is no word whether anyone was wearing their seat belts.

With all of the water around Florida, the worst nightmare of many is to lose control of your vehicle and plunge into the water. It rarely happens, but if you are wearing your seat belt you, increase your chances of survival. Without a seat belt, you increase your chances of being knocked unconscious, hitting your head on a dashboard for example.

Continue reading "Family Crashes SUV into Orlando Pond" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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The popular weight loss liquid drink, Slim-Fast ready-to-drink cans are being recalled because of a possible bacterial contamination. Unilever issued the voluntary recall in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration Friday.

The New Jersey based company found a bacterial contamination - Bacillus cereus, a micro-organism, which may cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. The products were sold in stores nationwide the company says in a statement.

Unilever says the possibility of getting sick is remote. The recall covers the 11 ounce ready-to drink products and does not affect powdered shakes, meal or snack bars. The list of products includes Slimfast Ready to Drink 3-2-1- French Vanilla, Rich Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Unilever says it is issuing the recall in an “abundance of caution.”

Look for individual or packaged cans in cardboard cartons containing four, six, or 12-cans.
The recall was initiated after the company conducted quality testing on Slim-Fast RTD products in cans. The company says it is in the process of identifying and correcting the production issue and is alerting distribution centers, and retail outlets. Production will be resumed when the issue is corrected, the company says.

Call the company for a full refund at 800-896-9479, opened M-F until 6 p.m. EST.

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Posted In: Food Recall , Personal Injury , Product Liability

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A Sarasota man has died after a motorcycle wreck in Jacksonville this week.

The 40-year-old was hospitalized after the wreck on New Berlin Road in Jacksonville on Tuesday.

The man reportedly lost control of his Kawasaki, while traveling north around 2:15 p.m. He was wearing a helmet say police and there were no other vehicles involved in the crash. The man hit a guard rail and was thrown from the bike. He was pronounced dead at the hospital Thursday night.

In another motorcycle accident in Jacksonville a motorcycle and car collided Thursday night. A 59-year old man was on his Harley when it collided with a Honda Civic at New Kings Road and I-295. Police report the vehicle turned in front of the motorcycle as it was attempting to enter I-295. The rider was thrown from the motorcycle. He was not wearing his helmet. He is listed in critical condition at Shands. The driver and passenger in the Civic were wearing their seat belts and were not injured.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Crash" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Motorcycle Accident , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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A young woman was lucky to have survived a Ford Explorer SUV rollover that killed four of her classmates last June.

The teenager was one of nine inside the Explorer on the last day of school all heading to the beach when the car blew a rear tire and rolled. None of the occupants was wearing a seat belt and all were thrown from the car, except the driver, the only one wearing a seat belt.

That happened six months ago.

Tuesday, another SUV injured this woman, this time crashing through the wall of her bedroom narrowly missing the teen as she slept in her bed. The girl says she felt the ceiling fall in on her. Her father found her under four feet of debris after the SUV plowed into the house.

Luckily, a mattress shielded the girl who suffered a broken pelvis, broken ribs, cuts and bruises. It’s fair to say that she is lucky twice, or unlucky twice, depending on how you look at it.

Continue reading "Teen Critically Injured By SUV, Injured Again" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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St. Augustine, Florida contains the longest-standing port in the continental United States and is frequently referred to as “the nation’s oldest city.” With about 12,157 residents making up St. Augustine’s population, the area also receives tons of visitors passing through Northern Florida. With convenient access to several beaches and museums, St. Augustine is a highly navigated area and is located only 5 miles east of Interstate 95, and 40 miles south of Jacksonville.

Taking into account the bustling population of St. Augustine and its large amount of commuters, several job positions and businesses contribute to the city’s economy. Many employees working in St. Augustine would like to believe that injury or illness does not ever arise out of or in the course of various kinds of employment. However, although rules of procedure and safety regulations are issued by state and federal entities, some employers, managers, or contractors fail to maintain a danger-free working environment. This kind of negligence on the part of an individual or group in-charge often leads to workers suffering serious illness, injury, and even death.

When an employee endures an injury or develops an illness due to an unsafe working space, a wide range of factors not only influence their physical and mental health, but also their financial constancy. If an employer is negligent and allows safety risks to go unnoticed or if employees are not property trained and personal injury or wrongful death occurs as a result, workers’ compensation benefits may not be enough to fully compensate injured victims and their families.

When taking on employers or any other individual or large group responsible for a work-related injury or illness, the legal knowledge and skill of a St. Augustine workers’ compensation lawyer may be obtained. Do not allow the chance to receive just compensation pass you by. Instead, seek adequate legal counsel from the experienced personal injury attorneys at Farah and Farah. We may be able to help you receive compensation to help pay for past and future lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and much more. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation at our St. Augustine office:

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


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A San Diego woman lost her ability to walk after her Ford Explorer rolled over and its roof collapsed on her spine, crushing it. She was awarded $369 million by jurors who sat and listened to the evidence against Ford. That amount was later whittled down to $83 million by an appellate judge.

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the punitive judgment to stand Monday rejecting an appeal from lawyers for Ford Motor Co. They had argued that punitive damages were unfair and unconstitutional since the design of the Ford Explorer met all safety standards set by the government and industry.

It seems that almost weekly we are reporting on Ford Explorer rollovers.

It was an Explorer filled with high school students who rolled on a Jacksonville road killing four of the teens in the Florida SUV rollover accident on the last day of school in June.

Notoriously unstable, until stability control was added, and with a high center of gravity, the Ford Explorer also had an insufficient roof strength that allowed it to collapse. In hearing the case, the jury heard that Ford could have strengthened the roof and avoided catastrophic head injuring for about $20 per vehicle.

Ford was joined by its friends at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the appeal. The Chamber usually sides with big business no matter what the issue and no matter how morally questionable the product made by the industry (asbestos, cigarettes etc).

Continue reading "$83 Million Judgment Against Ford for Rollover" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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She was just 18-years old. A young woman from St. Augustine and another teenager were killed Sunday night when the truck they were riding in collided with an ambulance.

It all happened on U.S. 1 near The Avenues Mall. At about 8:20 p.m., the 18-year old woman was riding in the middle of the front seat in a friend’s Chevy Silverado. The former Bartram Trail High School student was not wearing her seat belt, probably because there is not a belt for three people in the front.

Suddenly their truck collided with an ambulance. Law enforcement on the scene was not sure who had the right of way.

The young woman was pronounced dead at Shands Jacksonville. The driver of the truck, a 19-year-old, was also pronounced dead at the hospital Monday night. The other front seat passenger, a 17-year-old from Jacksonville was in critical condition at Shands. The two passengers in the rear were in serious condition. The four others in the pickup truck were not wearing their seat belts either, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Our prayers go out to the families of the two young people killed. The 18-year-old had left high school in 2006 and was in school to become a nurse. Her Facebook and MySpace shows that this beautiful young woman was full of life and loved by many. Many people say they felt blessed to have known her.

Continue reading "18-year-old Dies in St. Augustine Collision" »

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