May 13, 2008

Don't Let Your Children Drink Out of Glasses or Cups at Hotel Rooms

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For the protection of your Florida children and family, I would advise you to avoid drinking out of glasses and cups at Hotel Rooms. A hidden camera investigation at some Atlanta hotel rooms revealed some unsafe and disturbing practices. You can watch the video of these practices by clicking here. The video only confirms my suspicions about various hotel practices. Bring your own cups the next time you go to a hotel.

While a hotel may give you the impression that the glasses are clean, housekeepers as depicted in the linked web site frequently take short cuts. This goes the same for the bedspreads and comforters possibly even the towels.

May 12, 2008

Jacksonville Florida - 3rd in Nation in Fatal Teen Crashes According to Allstate Insurance Study

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Jacksonville Florida ranks 3rd in the Nation for deadly teen crashes according to a study of the 50 largest metropolitan areas according to an Allstate Insurance Study. Only Tampa / St. Petersburg / Clearwater Florida and Orlando / Kissimmee Florida ranked higher. Car crashes / car accidents are the leading cause of death. Florida is a great place to live and a great place to visit. It is also a dangerous place as well. If you or someone you know is involved in a Florida car accident / auto accident, it is helpful to have the advice of a Jacksonville Florida personal injury attorney.

May 9, 2008

Florida Wrongful Death - Children Can Recover Damages for Loss of a Parent under Florida's Wrongful Death Act

A Florida child can recover for the loss of parental support and companionship when a parent dies as a result of the negligence of another person, business, or the government.

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Negligence can present itself in a Jacksonville Florida automobile accident, trucking accident, slip and fall, medical malpractice, and other types of cases. Section 768.21 (3), Florida Statutes states:

(3) Minor children of the decedent, and all children of the decedent if there is no surviving spouse, may also recover for lost parental companionship, instruction, and guidance and for mental pain and suffering from the date of injury. For the purposes of this subsection, if both spouses die within 30 days of one another as a result of the same wrongful act or series of acts arising out of the same incident, each spouse is considered to have been predeceased by the other.


If you or someone you know has lost a family member as a result of negligence, it is helpful to have the advice of a Jacksonville Florida personal injury attorney to advice you of the cases, statutes, and practicalities involved in a Florida wrongful death case.

May 8, 2008

Fiery Nassau County Florida Crash Kills Thomas Hooke of Yulee

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Two people were killed and four others were taken to Shands Jacksonville after Fernandina Beach Florida catastrophic car crash on South Eight Street and Sadler Road in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Donald Harrison was driving a Chevrolet Pick Up truck that crossed over a median and into the other lane of traffic. This resulted in a head on collision with Thomas Hooke of Yulee. Both Harrison and Hooke died as a result of the accident. Investigators will study the scene photographs and evidence as well as medical and autopsy records to determine the cause of the accident. It is quite tragic for both the Harrison and Hooke families who have lost a loved one. You can read more about this crash and view photographs of the scene at the Florida Times Union Website at2 Nassau Motorists Die in 4 Car Accident in Fernandina Beach, Florida.

May 8, 2008

Florida Children Are Safer in the Back Seat - Safety Tips

Florida children are clearly safer as passenger in the back seat of vehicles. I represent Florida adults and children who are injured in automobile accidents, trucking accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents. I also use my knowledge and experience both to help the injured and to help others avoid similar fates The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration notes the following:

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Air bags are hazardous to infants and children 12 and under;

Infants should ride in a car seat facing to the rear until they are one year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds;

All children are safer in the rear seat of any vehicle; and

It is important to anchor the child's safety seat but this may be difficult in some vehicles.

Access to educational materials with an easy reading level and multiple languages is essential to give parents in our diverse population the information they need.

You read more safety tips and a safety manual at the NHTSA website.

May 7, 2008

Florida Slip and Fall - Can I Get the Incident Report?

I often get calls from Jacksonville Florida people who have been injured at a business like Wal Mart, Target, Publix, and Winn Dixie.

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One of the first questions from the prospective Jacksonville client regarding a personal injury matter concerns the incident report. "I fell at the store and the manager refused to give me the incident report." Typically, a business will not release the incident report regarding the slip and fall or other injury. In Florida, a business or any other person for that matter can prepare documents and investigate incidents in anticipation of litigation or a lawsuit. This is called the work product privilege. There are some strategies that have been used to get these reports through a subpoena but typically a Judge will not require the business to produce the incident report. Although an incident report may be helpful, it is not required to prove a case or claim of negligence. All businesses in Florida have a duty to maintain its premises open to the public in a reasonable safe manner. Children are especially vulnerable to injury when a business is not properly maintained.

May 6, 2008

The Power of Text Messaging - Get Divorced in Seconds

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In some Islamic communities, a man can divorce his wife by simply declaring the words, "I divorce you" three times. Some men have even divorced their wives by the simple text message. A cowardly divorce executed in a cowardly fashion. You can read more about this topic at Legal Briefs by David Wolf - Divorce by Text Message "I divorce you". Please read my Legal Briefs article and then take a little time to read some of my other articles posted on this blog.

Technology is a great tool but as you can see it can also be used in a cold hearted manner. If you need legal advice, you can text, e mail, call, or see me in person. Like our firm motto, I will be On Your Side - At Your Side.

May 5, 2008

Florida Pediatric / Child Head Trauma Can Lead to Death

Trauma is the number one cause of death in children older than 1 year in the United States.

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Head trauma represents more than 80 % of these death related injuries. In Florida, children are injured every day in automobile accidents, slip and falls, playground injuries, school injuries, sports injuries, and bicycle accidents. The anatomical differences in the development and size of a child's brain make it more susceptible to brain injury than an adult. You can read more about the pediatric / child brain injuries at the E Medicine / Web M.D. Web Site - Head Trauma.

It is important to have a pediatric specialist evaluate and treat the child when possible. Many emergency rooms have such specialists but some do not. If you cannot see a pediatric specialist at the ER, you may want to schedule a follow up at the local children's hospital for a more in depth evaluation.

May 2, 2008

Brave Teen's Text Message Leads to Arrest of Robbers - The Power of the Text Message

Mobile phones can be very useful in protecting children. In Columbus Ohio, a 13 year old stayed home from school because she was sick.

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She heard intruders break into her home. The teen hid in her bed and text messaged her mother about the intruders who were ransacking the house. The mother called 911 and raced home. When the mother got home, she rammed her vehicle in the robber's vehicle parked in the driveway. Police arrived and arrested the criminals.

The use of text message was particularly helpful since the teen had to remain quiet while the intruders were in the house. You can read more about this story at Teen Hides Under Covers and Foils Burglary with Text Message.

May 1, 2008

How Do You Look Up a Florida Vehicle Tag?

Years ago, you needed to hire a private investigator to look up someone's Florida vehicle tag / auto tag. It was also helpful to have a police officer who would look up a tag for you. Now, you can look up Florida vehicle tags / auto tags on your own through the State of Florida Vehicle Tag / Registration Web Site.


April 30, 2008

Florida Statute Prevents Obesity Lawsuits for Children and Adults in Florida

Some creative and inventive attorneys and law professors have filed lawsuits against McDonald's and other businesses for allegedly causing a client to become obese and have health related problems.

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These lawsuits have been filed in Chicago and other cities in the United States. The Florida legislative passed a statute that purports to prevent these kind of lawsuits in the State of Florida. Section 768.37, Florida Statutes states as follows:

768.37 Limitation on civil liability arising from long-term consumption of food and nonalcoholic beverages.--No manufacturer, distributor, or seller of foods or nonalcoholic beverages intended for human consumption shall be subject to civil liability for personal injury or wrongful death to the extent such liability is premised upon a person's weight gain or obesity, or a health condition related to weight gain or obesity, resulting from the person's long-term consumption of such foods or nonalcoholic beverages. For purposes of this section, the term "long-term" means the cumulative effect of multiple instances over a period of time and not the effect of a single or isolated instance. Such limitation on civil liability shall not bar a claim for damages if otherwise available under any other provision of law against a manufacturer, distributor, or seller of foods or nonalcoholic beverages if such manufacturer, distributor, or seller has failed to provide nutritional content information as required by any applicable state or federal statute or regulation, or has provided materially false or misleading information to the public.

April 29, 2008

Florida School Safety - Don't Bring Steak Knives to School

Florida schools do not permit children to bring weapons into to the school. Some children bring in home prepared meals and from time to time bring knives in to cut their food - - bad idea.

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An innocent thing like bringing in a kitchen utensil can get the student suspended, expelled, and yes arrested. In Ocala, Florida, a 10 year old girl faces felony charges after she brought in a kitchen knife to cut up her lunch. Teachers confiscated the knife and called the police. The student was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center. The student's unclce made this statement, "We do understand there needs to be measures taken to make sure people don't come to school with weapons in light of what has happened at schools over the past years, he said. "But she's a really good kid. She was crying her eyes out."

It appears that schools will not distinguish between a tool and a weapon. If the student used the knife, another student could have grabbed the knife and harmed someone. Do not send your child to school with a knife.