The Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel is reporting that a man who was sitting at a bus bench waiting for his bus to come was struck by a driver who swerved off the road.  Apparantly, he is now going to lose his arm.  The victim is likely facing a whole slew of problems, not least of which being medical bills.  Personal Injury Protection, also known as PIP, in Florida allows those who are injured by a motor vehicle to collect up to 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages up to $10,000.00 from their own insurance company.  PIP follows the person; so if you have PIP, your PIP will pay for your injuries Рeven if you were sitting at a bus bench and not in a vehicle.   You may need an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you navigate through the confusing web of insurance companies and claims arising out of an incident like this.  

Today in the news, there is an interesting article about a brand of Pogo sticks being recalled.  About 3,100 “Classic Sport Super Bounce Pogo Sticks” are being recalled because of a dangerous condition the pogo sticks present.  The stick itself is prone to breakage and can release the spring within injuring the user or anyone near as well as causing the user to fall.

http://www.cpsc.gov

The models were made in China from April to October of 2010 and were sold exclusively through “The Sports Authority.”  Consumers should immediately stop using this pogo stick and return it to any sports authority location to receive a full refund of the purchase price plus tax.  If you need to contact anyone regarding the recall, call 1-800-526-0244.  If you or anyone you know was hurt by this product, please call or come in for a free consultation.

Sun-Sentinel

A Broward county jury awarded $33 million to a man who was left in a quadriplegic state after being in a horrific car crash.  Manos Milien, 62, sued the driver of the car who hit him when that driver rear ended a car Milien was a passenger in.

The collision left Milien paralyzed and he now requires a caretaker to accomplish daily tasks.  Part of what influenced the jury to award such a high amount was testimony from economists and medical experts about the hardships he will face for the rest of his life. These hardships include 24 hour care in an assisted living facility

Interestingly enough though is the fact that the judge will reduce the amount to $31.4 million because the jury found Milien 5% at fault for not wearing a seatbelt at the time.  Please remember to always wear your seatbelt and if you or someone you love is ever involved in a car crash, please contact my law firm.

Today I saw a piece of alarming news. It seems that information from an emerging study reveals that most accidental deaths while riding an ATV have been from children under 18 years old.

For those that don’t know, ATV stands for All-terrain vehicle.  Some know them as “4x4s” or “quads” but they are essentially the same thing.  According to researchers, the problem lies in licensing.  In most states, a license is not required to operate these vehicles.  Since they are only allowed to be used off-road, they do not fall into the standards we place on road-going vehicles.  What this means is that a 14 year old will most likely be driving an ATV in his back yard or at some sort of park, before he ever gets behind the wheel of a passenger vehicle.

Most people assume that since you don’t need a driver’s license to ride an ATV, they are safe.   That is not true.  In fact, these ATVs are sometimes more dangerous than cars.  They are open air, 4 wheel motorcycles with no seatbelts.  The regulations are so loose on these machines that most are not required to wear helmets; AND to top it all off, one can ride these things before he or she has a proper driver’s license.

This needs to stop; we need to improve legislation on licensing for All-terrain vehicles.  Don’t get me wrong, ATVs can be a lot of fun, but they must be respected and treated as dangerous devices.

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed as result of riding an ATV, you need a personal injury lawyer who is on your side.  Call me or check out my website for more information of accidents of all kinds.

Here in South Florida we like to have a good time.  But where do we draw the line when having fun with our children?  Sure we all want to be the ‘cool’ parents; the ones that other kids wish they had.  But would that ever involve letting your kid have a drink or two while under your supervision?  What about letting your child have a party at your house where there will be drinking?  Better to have the kids drinking at your house than a stranger’s, right?  Better to have them drink at your house then drink and drive or drink in public, right?  No.  Wrong and Wrong.

From ThoseWhoHost.com

According to a recent Sun-Sentinel article, most parents don’t know the law when it comes to allowing a minor to possess alcohol on their property.  Almost everyone knows it’s illegal to SELL alcohol to a minor, but did you know it’s just as illegal to have what Florida calls an “Open House Party” where children are consuming alcohol?  It’s true!   It is a violation of the law to host a party where you know or through the exercise of reasonable care should know that kids are drinking.  In fact, the penalty for hosting such a party can be as steep as 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

In addition to criminal responsibility, the homeowner, in most jurisdictions including Florida, is responsible for all injuries that occur to any minor child consuming alcohol on his or her property, as well as injuries that occur to others due to the actions of a drunken minor. (such as the intoxicated minor causing injuries in a car accident).  In Florida, we have a legal theory called “Negligence Per Se” which results in automatic liability on the homeowner if they knew or should have known alcohol was being possessed or consumed on their property.

I am currently handling a case involving significant injuries to the teeth and mouth of a 15 year old who was served a 16 ounce cup of Vodka.  Soon after, she passed out unconscious smacking her face into a glass coffee table on her way down.    The homeowner claims to have been upstairs in his bedroom and never came out to notice what was going on in his home while dozens of teens were all over the property.   You can’t “shut your door” to the problem and claim you didn’t know.   That homeowner is now embroiled in a major lawsuit involving many thousands of dollars in damages.

So remember, as much as we strive to be the ‘cool’ parents, be responsible parents first.  It’s not worth the possible criminal ramifications or the civil liability for money damages that will undoubtedly follow.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting today that about 2 million baby strollers have been recalled because four infants died of strangulation.  The 2 millions strollers were sold before 2008 and were sold at many major retailers across the country.  The strangulation would occur when the infants were trapped in the leg opening under the tray of the seat.

The maker of the stroller, Graco Children’s Products, Inc. announced a voluntary recall of their Quattro Tour and MetroLite model strollers.  Although available on the manufacturers website, the models were primarily sold at retailers such as Babies R Us, Kmart, Sears, Target, and Walmart.  The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commision and Graco issued the alert after receiving many reports of injuries and then the 4 tragic deaths.

Consumers are urged to stop using these strollers and contact Graco immediately for a free repair kit.

For more information on the recall and to see more pictures of the recalled models, click here.

According to todays Sun-Sentinel, a man who sued a strip club in West Palm Beach after being hit with a stripper’s shoe has recovered a very large sum of money in a judgment yesterday, the 14^th of October.  Michael Ireland was a patron at the Cheetah gentlemen’s club when stripper Sakeena Shageer’s shoe hit Ireland in the eye while she was dancing on the table.  Shageer claims that she was dancing on the table when another patron tried to touch her she moved away quickly and accidentally kicked Ireland in the eye, severely injuring him.  Ireland who is a roofer has not been able to work due to the double vision he suffers and multiple fractures in his head.  Ireland was awarded a $650,000 judgment in the case.

The attorney on the case mentioned in his interview with the Sun-Sentinel that this case was not given much credence at its onset because of where the injuries occurred.  No matter where you were when you were hurt, if someone injured you or you became injured at the negligence of another, you may be entitled to relief.  Although every case is unique, if you have you been injured on another person’s property, you should call me or check out my website so I can start protecting your rights and work to get you what is fair and just.

We’ve all seen them; some of us, perhaps, have even tried one out.  I’m talking about those 2 wheel personal scooters called Segways.  A more recent trend has been travelers using these devices to move about when visiting famous tourist destinations in different cities.

However, a new report from the Annals of Emergency Medicine report that injuries from the device have not only increased in numbers, but seriousness too.  In 2006, there were 3 Segway related accidents, 8 in 2007 and 25 in 2008.  According to the report, ¼ of injuries stemming from Segway accidents involved trauma to the head.

What is alarming about these numbers is that they are preventable.  Only seven percent of those involved in a Segway crash were wearing helmets.  It is not yet mandatory in all states to wear a helmet while riding a Segway.

Wearing a helmet can save your live whether your riding a Segway or a high-powered motorcycle.

If you have been involved in a personal injury accident, you may need a lawyer.  I have been handling cases involving personal injuries for over 20 years.  Call me or check out my website for a free consultation.

AP Photo

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the popular children’s arcade Chuck E. Cheese is recalling some 1.3 million toys.  The toys are usually traded for tickets which the children earn by playing games in the arcade.  Word came down last week that U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission had announced a voluntary recall of over 1 million star glasses and 120,000 light-up rings.

The problem with the toys is that the small batteries become exposed when the toy is crushed.  The batteries can then be swallowed by the children which can cause extensive damage to the stomach, intestine, esophagus and nasal mucus membrane.  The voluntary recall was initiated after numerous cases developed where young children had swallowed the batteries.  Customers can return the toy for a new one or for a $4.99 refund.

Companies sometimes let bad products into the market. I represent injured people in all sorts of personal injury cases, including products liability.  If you or a loved one has been hurt by a defective product, call or click to come in and see me.

One person is dead and three more are in serious condition after a truck ran over the back end of a Mazda sedan today.  The person in the back seat of the Mazda was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  (Sun-Sentinel)

Police say the crash occurred at Southern Boulevard and the State Road 7 exit in West Palm Beach.  It looks like the truck rear-ended the Mazda and compacted the rear seat area.

Now, the truck driver will most likely be sued by the family of the Mazda passengers.  In a case involving a death, the recovery can sometimes go into the millions.  While every case is different, if you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile crash, you might need a personal injury lawyer to protect you from insurance companies.

In this time of need, let me step in and be your voice so that you can get the most recovery in your case.  Click, Call or Come in to my office and I will begin working hard for you!