Florida Injury Attorney Blog

According to AAA, about 1.5 million Floridians are expected to get into cars and travel over the Memorial Day weekend. Another 1.8 million will likely get on a bus, airplane, or train to go somewhere. Still others are expected to get on their chosen mode of transportation and head to Florida.

With so many people traveling, the chances of a South Florida traffic crash happening can go up. Speeding, unfamiliarity with the roads, drunk driving, distracted driving, and congested traffic that can trigger impatience and shorten tempers, are just some of the reasons why car accidents may occur over the holiday weekend. Our Miami motor vehicle crash lawyers hope that you arrive safely to and from your different destinations. However, accidents can happen and driver error or carelessness is a common cause.

You may not be able to control the behavior of other drivers, but there are safety precautions that you can take to protect yourself and decrease the chances you will be involved in a traffic crash, including:

• Don’t speed
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination
• Inspect your car’s tire pressure, fluids, and wipers before going anywhere
• Get an oil change if it’s time for your car to have one.
• Be a defensive driver
• Know where you are going
• Be aware that some vehicles, such as large trucks, have blind spots
• Be patient on the road. Know that everyone just wants to get to wherever they are going safely
• Don’t drive while distracted
• Pay attention
• Don’t tailgate
• Use a safety belt
• Don’t drive while drunk or let anyone else whose drunk drive your car
• Obey traffic rules
• Watch out for pedestrians

If you or someone you love was injured because of someone else’s carelessness or recklessness, contact our Palm Beach car accident lawyers today.

Hitting Florida roads this weekend? Here's what to know about gas prices, travel, savings, Sun-Sentinel, May 26, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

NHTSA

More Blog Posts:
Florida Products Liability: Bill Could Make It Harder for Victims to Win Damages from Auto Manufacturers, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, May 4, 2011

Deadly South Florida Crash Near the Palm Beach County Line Claims the Life of Three Children, Injures Two Others, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, April 6, 2011

Jury Awards $2.25M Palm Beach County Wrongful Death Verdict in Fatal 2008 Boynton Beach Car Accident, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, March 16, 2011

Kenneth Wilson, the father of a Boca Raton 11-year-old who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in May 2009, is suing his ex-wife for their daughter’s Palm Beach County wrongful death. Amber Sue and her friend, 12-year-old Caitlin Brondolo, died after Loreta Wilson allegedly left her Ford Explorer running in the garage. In 2009, Loreta pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter over the tragic accident. Brondolo’s parents also reportedly plan to sue her.

Per Loreta's arrest affidavit, she parked the SUV in the garage and left the keys in the ignition. When Amber told her that the engine was still running, Wilson said it was just the vehicle’s fan. Hours later, Wilson contacted 911.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
CO poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning fatalities. It can also leave a victim with brain damage. Because carbon monoxide has no smell, color, or taste, it can be hard to detect. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that CO poisoning results in 15,000 ER visits and almost 500 deaths annually. Some signs that a person may be suffering from poisoning:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Fainting
• Mental confusion

Premise owners can be held liable or Palm Beach personal injury if a carbon monoxide leak occurs on a property and causes serious injury or death. This is why there should be working CO detectors on a property. Other liable parties in a Florida carbon monoxide poisoning case might include the owner of a faulty appliance, the manufacturer of a detector that malfunctioned, or a service professional whose negligence allowed or caused the leak.

Dad sues ex-wife over daughter's death, WPTV5, May 17, 2011

Deputies: Girls Likely Died From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, WPBF, May 31, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Caitlin Brondolo Foundation

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, emedicinehealth

More Blog Posts:
Drowning is the Leading Cause of Florida Child Deaths for Kids Under 5, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, July 28, 2010

Family Files Broward County Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over 80-Year-Old’s Fatal Fall from Drawbridge, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, December 8, 2009

Florida Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Town Center Mall in Boca Raton for Murders of Mother and Daughter Names More Defendants, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, January 2, 2009

The family of Lidvian Zelaya says they plan to file a Lauderhill wrongful death lawsuit against the plastic surgeon that performed a liposuction procedure on her. According to autopsy results, the 35-year-old woman died when fat that was being reintroduced into her body to enhance her buttocks was mistakenly injected into her blood stream, causing a blockage known as an embolism in her heart.

The family’s Lauderhill medical malpractice lawyer says that the errors, which were allegedly made by the surgeon, were preventable. Likely defendants in the Lauderhill medical malpractice case include surgeon Roger Gordon and Strax Rejuvenation and Aesthetics Institute.

Florida Cosmetic Surgery Malpractice
Like with most invasive medical procedure, there are serious risks involved with plastic surgery. This is why it is important that doctors, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals do not make any mistakes that could cause serious injuries, infection, health complications, or wrongful death. Unfortunately, plastic surgery errors can result in:

• Nerve damage
• Infection
• Scarring
• Hardened implants
• Disfigurement
• Nipple loss
• Organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Dry eyes
• Breathing problems
• Nasal asymmetry
• Excessive skin loss
• Skin resurfacing problems
• Chemical burns
• Permanent skin discoloration
• Brain damage
• Aspiration
• Anesthesia complications
• Necrosis
• Seroma
• Drooping eyes
• Blood clots
• Embolisms
• Wrong breast implant size
• Hematoma
• Loss of the ability to exhibit facial expressions
• Death

If you believe that a medical mistake caused your loved one’s passing, you may have grounds for filing a Miami cosmetic surgery malpractice lawsuit.

Fla. liposuction death caused by embolism, UPI, May 2, 2011

Blood flow blockage killed woman in liposuction at Strax in Lauderhill, autopsy says, Sun-Sentinel, April 28, 2011

Related Web Resources:
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Strax Rejuvenation and Aesthetics Institute

More Blog Posts:
Florida Judge Who Intends to File West Palm Beach Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Against Surgeons and Radiologist Says Sponge was Left Inside His Body, Florida Injury Attorney, September 29, 2010

Parents of teen who died following breast surgery file Palm Beach County wrongful death lawsuit alleging Florida medical malpractice, Florida Injury Attorney, September 23, 2009

Seven Patients of West Palm Beach Doctor Charged With Illegally Prescribing Pain Medicine Reportedly Died of Drug Overdoses, Florida Injury Attorney, October 7, 2008

A bill has now been approved by both the House and the Senate that will likely alter the landscape of who is held liable in Florida auto products liability lawsuits. SB142 requires juries to “consider the fault of all persons” who played a role in causing the traffic crash when trying to determine damages in this type of case. Governor Rick Scott is expected to sign the bill into law.

The new law would neutralize and overturn a Florida Supreme Court ruling from 2001 when the justices said that evidence of what primarily caused the crash, such as a drunken driving or driver error, cannot be brought into defective product cases. In D’Amario v. Ford Motor Co, the justices reversed the decision of the jury in siding with automaker. Ford had claimed that a teenage passenger sustained severe burns and lost three limbs because the driver of the car had been drunk and speeding and crashed the car. The victim's mother Karen D ‘Amario, however, contended that the blast wouldn’t have occurred if the relay switch on the fuel pump hadn’t been defective. When issuing their ruling, the justices determined that evidence of driver negligence confused the jury and should not be brought into cases in the future alleging “enhanced” injuries.

Florida Auto Products Liability
Now, more than ever, it is important that you are represented by an experienced Miami personal injury firm that knows how to make sure you obtain the maximum recovery possible from all liable parties. Car manufacturers are supposed to ensuring that their vehicles and accompanying parts have no defects that could cause serious injuries or deaths during a traffic crash. Examples of common auto defects include those involving:

• Sport utility vehicle rollovers
• Tire blowouts
• Roof crush
• Seatback collapse
• 15-passenger vans
• Faulty seat belts
• Air bags

That said, there may be other parties who should also be held liable for your Palm Beach car defect injuries.

Fla. lawmakers limit lawsuits against auto makers, Miami Herald, May 4, 2011

Fla. House passes bill changing fault rules in liability cases, Naples News, May 4, 2011

Florida Senate Moves to Curb Liability Suits Against Car Makers, Insurance Journal, March 17, 2011

Related Web Resources:
SB142, The Florida Senate

Florida Governor Rick Scott

Florida Supreme Court

More Blog Posts:
Deadly South Florida Crash Near the Palm Beach County Line Claims the Life of Three Children, Injures Two Others, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, April 6, 2011

Mother Awarded $330 Million Florida Car Accident Verdict Over Daughter’s Wrongful Death, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, November 10, 2009

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