Florida Injury Attorney Blog

Police are investigating whether alcohol served at a Sigma Chi fraternity party may have played a role in the death of Ann Hefferin. The 18-year-old was just into her third day as a college freshman at the University of Central Florida when she was found unconscious in her room on Thursday.

Hefferin, who had just joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority had attended the party at the fraternity before her death. According to a UCF dispatcher who responded to the 911 emergency call, Hefferin’s roommate said the girl had been drinking.

Hefferin was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead after 4:30am. Tests conducted by medical examiners were inconclusive. Meantime, police have not confirmed whether drugs or alcohol were factors.

UCF has ordered both Delta Delta Delta and Sigma Chi to stop all social activities while the investigation into Hefferin’s death is underway. Although alcohol is commonly found at fraternity and other college parties, it is a violation of university policy to serve alcohol at such events.

Although it is too early to tell how or why Hefferin died, depending on the specifics of the case, her parents may find that they have reason to file a Florida wrongful death case against the fraternity chapter, the school, or others if negligence on any or all of their parts contributed to Hefferin’s passing. Malice and the intent to cause harm don’t have to be factors for someone to be sued for someone’s death. For example, in Florida, serving alcohol to a minor can be cause for a civil lawsuit if personal injury or death or damage occurs because of intoxication. Parties responsible for supervising minors during a party or event can also be held liable if negligent supervision allowed for the injury or death to occur.

Recently, the mother of a 19-year-old Cornell University student sued the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon for $25 million. George Desdunes died on February 25 from alcohol poisoning after fraternity members allegedly kidnapped, blindfolded, and bound him and then forced him to drink so much alcohol that he lost consciousness and died. The pranks were reportedly part of AE’s hazing activities. Desdunes’s BAC was reportedly .409—over five times the legal drinking limit.

Roommate says UCF student had been drinking before she died, Sun-Sentinel, August 26, 2011

Cornell University Frat House Sued for $25 Million Over House Hazing Death, ABC News, June 28, 2011

UPDATE: Freshman dies, found unresponsive in dorm, Central Florida Future, August 25, 2011

Our Miami wrongful death law firm represents families in Broward County, Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade County, and St. Lucie County.

Related Web Resources:
Delta Delta Delta, University of Central Florida

Sigma Chi at UCF Facebook Page

More Blog Posts:
Palm Beach County Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Father Sues Ex-Wife After Their Daughter Dies from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, May 18, 2011

Palm Beach Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Day Care Center and Driver After 2-Year-Old is Left in Van, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, August 18, 2010

A South Florida wrong-way car crash on Interstate 75 this morning has claimed the lives of three people. Among the victims are a pregnant mom and her unborn baby. A third victim, a man, was pronounced dead at the crash site. Two other adults were also hospital.

The deadly collision shut down the area of road between Miami Gardens Drive in Miami-Dade County and Miramar Park in Broward County, Florida. More specifics regarding the traffic crash are not available at this time.

Wrong-Way Driving Accidents
Unfortunately, wrong-way driving crashes are a serious cause of Miami personal injury and wrongful death. Drunk driving, vehicle malfunction, speeding, distracted driving, drugged driving, driver error, and driver inexperience are just some of the reasons why a motorist might end up going the wrong way up a road or highway. Other common errors that can lead to a Palm Beach wrong-way driving accident include the driver entering a freeway through the exit ramp or exiting through the entrance ramp, getting confused about which side of the road to be driving on, or going the wrong way down a one-way street. Another cause of wrong-way driving crashes is poor signage that can lead a motorist to become confused.

With wrong-way driving crashes, many times the other motorist or pedestrian will not be expecting a vehicle going the wrong direction. This means that a victim likely will be caught by surprise and may not have time to take the preventive measures necessary to avoid getting hit. Many wrong-way driving accidents can result in head-on crashes, which can be leave someone fortunate enough to survive with facial injuries, traumatic brain injuries, organ damage, and other catastrophic injuries.

To prove that a party is negligent, you will want to work with a Ft. Lauderdale car accident law firm that has the resources to gather and preserve evidence, interview witnesses, request the necessary documents from the responsible party, accurately assess your injuries and other damages and what all of this will cost you, and knows how to obtain the maximum recovery possible for your case whether in or out of court.

Our Hollywood, Florida motor vehicle crash lawyers know the toll that an accident can take on you and your loved ones. We cannot heal our client’s injuries or bring back the loved one that you've lost, but we can help hold the negligent parties responsible. There may even be more than one party who should be held liable for your injuries.

Man, Pregnant Woman Killed in Crash on I-75, NBC Miami, August 19, 2011

I-75 crash kills 3, including unborn baby, WSVN, August 19, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents Caused by Negligence, Nolo

Florida Highway Patrol

More Blog Posts:
Ex-NBA Player Alonzo Mourning Sued Over Miami-Dade Car Collision, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, July 21, 2011

Miami ATV Accident: Two Injured After Being Struck by Police Officer on South Beach, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, July 8, 2011

Florida Highway Patrol Name Wrong-Way Driver in Deadly Delray Car Collision, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, March 19, 2008

A year after 4-year-old Aiden Patrick was fatally struck by a truck on New Smyrna Beach, his family is suing Volusia County and the driver of the vehicle for his Florida wrongful death. The plaintiffs contend that the county should have taken the appropriate steps to make the beach safe for beachgoers.

The Florida pickup truck accident took place in July 2010 when Aiden, who was running toward the water, was hit by a truck driven by Donovan Sias. Even though he was not charged in the accident—troopers determined that he couldn’t see the boy and he wasn’t speeding—the family is also suing Sias for Aiden’s Florida wrongful death.

Since 1995, there have been 49 Florida beach-driving accidents on Volusia County resulting in injury or death. Aiden’s family wants an amount of financial compensation that exceeds the limits set by sovereign immunity law, which they say should not apply because considering the history of accidents that have occurred on its beaches the county knew New Smyrna Beach could be a dangerous place.

It was just less than two weeks ago that a woman was run over by a patrol truck on Daytona Beach. 35-year-old Erin Michelle Joynt was on her stomach sunbathing when the truck drove over her mid-section. Her kids saw the accident. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The truck’s 21-year-old truck driver, who is also a part-time lifeguard, reportedly did not see her. However, although he was given a driving-safety manual, he never underwent the 16-hour beach driving course that addresses the hazards involved in beach driving.

Elsewhere in Florida, last month a woman sustained a traumatic brain injury and her friend was injured in a Miami-Dade ATV accident on a beach. Kitzie Nicanor and Luis Almonte were walking on the beach before dawn when an ATV driven by Police Officer Erick Kuilan hit them. Nicanor also injured her heart and had to have her spleen removed.

Meantime, Kuilan, who had alcohol in his system that exceeded the BAC limit of .08%, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence and two counts of reckless driving resulting in bodily injury. A couple of weeks later, a Miami personal injury lawsuit was filed against Kuilan and the Clevelander Hotel, which was where the cop had been drinking. She also may file a Miami-Dade County personal injury lawsuit against the city of Miami Beach.

When vehicles are allowed on the beach, it is important that proper safety measures are in place to protect beachgoers from getting run over—especially when there are sunbathers lying on the sand, who can be hard for a driver sitting in a motor vehicle to see. Motorists on the beach must also take extra precautions to avoid hitting anyone—especially small children—that may be playing or sitting outside the driver’s line of vision.

Volusia lifeguard who ran over sunbather didn't take beach driving course, Orlando Sentinel, August 1, 2011

Family sues over beach death, News-Journal, August 10, 2011

Woman Files Lawsuit in Cop ATV Crash, NBC Miami, July 28, 2011

More Blog Posts:
Miami ATV Accident: Two Injured After Being Struck by Police Officer on South Beach, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, July 8, 2011

6 Kids, 1 Man Thrown in Palm Bay, Florida Pickup Truck Crash, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, June 14, 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

Continue reading " Florida Wrongful Death Lawsuit Blames Volusia County for Truck Accident on Beach that Killed 4-Year-Old " »

A Palm Beach Shores couple has filed a Florida products liability lawsuit over burn injuries that they sustained because the Pourable NAPAfire and FIREGEL Gel Fuel they used in their firepots erupted into flames. On June 3 Jacqueline Delgado became engulfed in flames and she had to be admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s ICU. Her husband Renee also sustained burn injuries.

Two weeks after the Palm Beach County burn accident, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that Napa Home & Garden was recalling about 460,000 jugs and bottles of the gel fuel, which is used for firepots and other decorative lighting items. The recall comes following reports of 37 incidents, including 23 burn accidents caused by the gel fuel lighting unexpectedly while being poured into still burning firepots and spraying onto people and their clothing.

Unfortunately, because Napa Home & Garden, which is facing dozens of burn injury lawsuits, has since filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, obtaining Palm Beach Shores personal injury recovery from the distributor is proving challenging. The Delgados, however, have decided to sue Fuel Barons and Losorea Packaging Co., which packaged the product, TJX Companies, which runs the Marshall’s Home Goods store where Jacqueline purchased the firepots, and Manhattan’s Pharmacy where she bought the fuel.

Florida Products Liability
There are three kinds of defects that manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors can be held liable for:

• Design defects
• Manufacturing defects
• Marketing defects

With products liability, the defendant doesn’t have to have acted carelessly to be held liable. If the product is defective—even if the supplier or manufacturer exercised extreme care—he/she can be still be held responsible for Florida personal injury or wrongful death. A person can file a products liability claim on the grounds of negligent, strict liability, or breach of warranty.

Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can be extremely painful and disfiguring and very costly to treat. In addition to emergency room care, the victim may have to undergo multiple surgeries, spend time in a burn unit, undergo skin grafts, and cope with other painful procedures. Going to work, earning income, and living a normal life may prove impossible. This can take a toll on the burn victim and those that rely on him/her for financial support, companionship, and emotional support.

Burn injuries from defective products don’t even have to be fire-related. For example, certain dangerous household chemical products can cause burn injuries. Water heaters that make the water too hot can cause scald burns. Malfunctioning electrical products can cause electrical burns. There is no reason why you should have to take on the entire financial burden resulting from getting seriously hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault.

Palm Beach County couple files lawsuit after burning incident, Sun-Sentinel/Palm Beach Post, August 3, 2011

Napa Home and Garden files Chapter 11, Garden Center Magazine, July 11, 2011

Napa Home & Garden Recalls NAPAfire and FIREGEL Pourable Gel Fuel Due to Fire and Burn Hazards, CPSC, June 22, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Palm Beach Injury Lawsuit Sues Shell Oil and Circle K for Man’s Burn Injuries from Gas Station Fire, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, July 20, 2010

Florida Mother Who Pulled Children from Burning School Bus Files Truck Accident Lawsuit, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, November 10, 2008

Family Files Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Wrongful Death Lawsuits After 4-Year-Old Boy and 62-Year-Old Grandmother are Killed in Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Fire, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, July 7, 2009