Florida Injury Attorney Blog

Earlier this month, a woman filed a Broward County, Florida personal injury lawsuit accusing Michael Irvine, the former NFL star of the Dallas Cowboys, of sexually assaulting her at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. She is seeking unspecified damages for the rape that allegedly occurred on July 2007.

Seminole tribal police were notified two weeks after the alleged incident, and the victim went on to sign a waiver of prosecution. The Broward State Attorney’s office is continuing to investigate the sexual assault allegations but no criminal charges have so far been filed.

The plaintiff claims that Irvin was drunk on the night that he took her to his hotel room and insisted that she give him and another man sexual favors. She is accusing the former NFL star of raping her. She claims the other man made her perform oral sex.

Irvin has responded to the woman’s allegations by filing a $100 million lawsuit naming her as a defendant for allegedly trying to ruin his reputation. He filed his complaint on the day that he was let go from his ESPN radio show.

In 1996, Irvin was one of two Dallas Cowboys players accused of raping another woman. However, following an investigation, the woman recanted her allegations after the story was discovered to be false.

Hollywood, Florida Personal Injury
If you were the victim of a violent crime or a sexual crime, you may have grounds for suing your attacker for Florida personal injury. Filing a Broward County injury case is separate from any criminal case that might be pursued by prosecutors. Even if your assailant isn’t charged in criminal court, you may still be able to recover damages for physical injuries, pain and suffering, mental trauma, emotional anguish, medical bills, and other associated costs.

Woman's lawsuit claims Michael Irvin assaulted her, NBC/Associated Press, February 5, 2010

Michael Irvin files $100M suit over rape allegations, Miami-Dade, February 6, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Florida Personal Injury Law: General, WebLocator

Types of Personal Injury Damages, Justia

Michael Irvin

Police are trying to determine whether alcohol played a factor in the deadly Wellington, Florida car crash that claimed the life of University of Central Florida graduate Scott Patrick. The 23-year-old died on Friday when his Hyundai was struck by a Bentley convertible driven by International Polo Club Palm Beach owner John B. Goodman.

Goodman is accused of running a stop sign and crashing into Patrick’s car at 120th Avenue South and Lake Worth Road. The Palm Beach motor vehicle collision caused Scott’s vehicle to fall into a canal where it landed upside down. He died at the South Florida auto accident site. Goodman, 46, was treated at a hospital and then released.

Wilson’s parents are wondering why Goodman, the son of an air-conditioning magnate, hasn’t yet been charged with even just one traffic violation over the deadly Wellington, Florida motor vehicle collision. They also want to know whether more could have been done to save their son’s life.

According to the Houston Press, on the night of the Palm Beach County, Florida car wreck, the multimillionaire had dined at a tavern where the YMCA Polo Bartender's Challenge was taking place. He also spent time at the Player’s Club until about 10 minute before the crash.

Authorities are waiting for toxicology results before reaching any conclusions.

Palm Beach Car Accident
Even if police decide not to press charges against the driver you believe caused your Palm Beach car accident, you may be able to pursue recovery in civil court. Drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, failure to obey traffic signs, and other careless driving activities can be grounds for suing a motorist for Palm Beach personal injury. While Florida PIP (Personal Injury Protection) provides some compensation for injuries sustained during a car wreck, sometimes the extent of injuries, damages, and losses go beyond what your insurance covers. Obtaining Florida injury compensation can help cover medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation expenses, funeral costs, and burial or cremation bills. It also allows you to be compensated for your pain and suffering and other damages.

Questions surrounding Wellington fatal car accident, WPTV, February 15, 2010

John Goodman, Bazillionaire Polo Patron, Awaits Possible Charges In Fatal Palm Beach Bentley Wreck, Houston Press, February 16, 2010

International Polo Club founder hurt, UCF grad killed in Wellington car crash, Sun-Sentinel, February 13, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents and Negligence: When You Are Liable for Another Person's Driving, Nolo

DMV Florida

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Department

Continue reading " Drunk Driving May Have Been a Factor in Fatal Palm Beach County Car Accident Involving International Polo Club Owner and University of Central Florida Graduate " »

The family of Rodney Urbanek is suing GlaxoSmithKline for Miami wrongful death. Urbanek’s daughter and widow claim that the denture adhesive Poligrip caused his paralysis and death by pneumonia. Their Florida wrongful death lawyer says that Urbanek's death may be the first denture cream-related fatality in the US.

Urbanek was a Poligrip user for 14 years. He was still healthy in 2007, but a year and two months later he had become a paraplegic, couldn’t raise his arms, and had to use a wheelchair. He died soon after from what the plaintiffs claim was zinc poisoning caused by his use of Poligrip.

While Urbanek’s death may be the first fatality linked to the use of denture creams, he is not the first person to become ill while using Polident or Fixodent, a denture adhesive that is made by Proctor and Gamble. Numerous denture cream lawsuits have been filed against both manufacturers by products liability plaintiffs that have accused them of failing to warn that there are high levels of zinc in denture adhesive creams.

Consumption of too much zinc can cause hypocupremia, which can lead to neurological problems and debilitating and permanent physical injuries. Some denture creams are said to expose wearers to up to 330 mg of zinc a day. This amount is lot higher than the 40 mg daily maximum that is considered safe.

It wasn’t until last October that GlaxoSmithKline began including a zinc warning with its Super Poligrip product, noting the possible serious side effects. Zinc was not even listed as an ingredient in the denture cream before then.

Neuropathy, which is a disorder that affects the nerves, is one of the more serious injuries that can arise from zinc poisoning. Some signs you may be suffering from neuropathy, include:

• Speech difficulties
• Swallowing problems
• Bowel problems
• Urinary difficulties
• Problems with balance
• Pain, tingling, weakness, or numbness in the extremities

You may have grounds for filing a Miami denture cream lawsuit.

Lawsuit: Deadly Dentures Killed Miami Man, NBC Miami, January 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Poligrip, GlaxoSmithKline

The Neuropathy Association

Symptoms of Zinc poisoning, Wrong Diagnosis

Although Florida currently doesn’t have any laws making it illegal for drivers in the state to text message or talk on any kind of cell phone will operating their motor vehicles, the federal government is now barring commercial bus drivers and truckers from texting while driving. This new law should hopefully prevent some deadly Florida truck collisions from happening—considering that research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reports that truckers who text have a 23 times greater chance of being involved in a truck crash than truck drivers who don't text. Some skeptics, however, are wondering whether these bans can be enforced.

Over the last several months, Obama Administration has been taking steps to make sure that people become aware of the dangers that come with talking on the phone or texting while driving. Federal employees are now banned from doing either activity while on the job and the US Department of Transportation recently launched Distraction.gov, a Web site focused on further increasing public awareness. Texting and talking on a cell phone prevent a motorist from placing their full attention on driving. Texting is especially dangerous because drivers have to take their hands and eyes off the road for a few seconds minimum, which is more than enough time for a fatal Florida motor vehicle crash to happen.

While some US states and the District Columbia have laws banning texting and/or talking on a handheld cell phone, the Highway Loss Data Institute is reporting that these restrictions do not appear to be reducing the number of car crashes in those states. Could it be that people who used to talk on handheld cell phones are still talking while driving but are now using hands-free devices? Lawmakers were hoping that keeping both hands on the steering wheel would prevent cell phone driving accidents from happening, but there is mounting evidence that engaging in any conversation that is located anywhere else but in the car still takes the driver’s mind off the present driving conditions.

Our Miami truck crash lawyers are all too familiar with the injuries and deaths that result each year—at least 1.6 million auto accidents, reports the National Safety Council—because of motorists who were texting or using cell phones.

New distracted driving restrictions on commercial truck and bus drivers, US Department of Transportation, January 26, 2010

Study: Distracted-driving laws don't stop crashes, Seattle Times, January 29, 2010

Obama to Federal Employees: Don't Text and Drive, Washington Post, October 2, 2009

New data from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute provides insight into cell phone use and driving distraction, VTNews, July 29, 2010

Cell Phone Driving Laws, Governors Highway Safety Association

Distraction.gov

Continue reading " Will Federal Ban Barring Bus Operators and Truckers from Texting Lower the Number of Florida Truck Crashes? " »