Making safety a priority is essential when enjoying Florida’s warm weather. Otherwise, a fun summer activity could quickly turn into an accident that can cause serious injuries ranging from broken bones to paralysis. Summer marks the onset of the state’s rainy season. The risk of car crashes increases with frequent and heavy downpours. Sudden showers…
Jaguar Land Rover Is the Latest Carmaker to Join Takata Airbag Recall
Jaguar Land Rover issued a recall for 54,000 cars in the United States to fix faulty Takata airbags that have killed over 10 people and injured more than 100 nationwide. The luxury carmaker is the latest to join a series of recalls that have been ongoing for months. Millions of Takata airbags have already been…
$3M Verdict Upheld in Birth Injury Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
An appeals court upheld a $3 million verdict against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, for serious birth injuries that were caused by the mother’s ingestion of Topamax while she was pregnant. As reported in PRNewswire, the daughter of Kelly and Brian Anderson was born in 2008 with bilateral cleft…
$53M Award in Birth Injury Case of Child With Cerebral Palsy
A jury rendered an award of $53 million to a 12-year-old boy who was born with a serious brain injury following 12 hours of fetal distress in the course of the delivery. The trial in the medical malpractice cased lasted one month, and was initiated in December 2013 by the boy’s guardian, who filed a…
Fatal Collision Due to Tire Separation
Tire separation was the cause of a deadly crash that occurred between a tractor-trailer and the south median guardrail on Interstate 95 in West Melbourne, Fla. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident took place in the vicinity of Palm Bay Road where a tractor-trailer was carrying a road construction excavator. The excavator fell…
First Fatality for Self-Driving Car
The first American fatality in which a self-driving car was involved, poses the question of how to accept the car’s life-saving technology. The issue becomes even more difficult given the fact that the motorist had a history of speeding. His name was Joshua D. Brown, age 40, from Canton, Ohio, and he owned a technology…
Using Crutches Safely to Avoid Slip and Fall Accidents
A person may have to use crutches due to chronic conditions like amputated limbs or cerebral palsy that result in decreased range of motion, coordination and strength. Crutches may also be necessary if an individual suffers broken bones or other injuries that limit their ability to move. However, the very device that is designed to…
A Promising Drug for Preventing Brain Damage in Babies
New research indicates the drug erythropoietin may be effective in protecting babies from brain damage. Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a dangerous complication that can occur during delivery. Newborns suffer brain damage due to oxygen deprivation in the nervous system, which can cause debilitating birth injuries such as cerebral palsy and even death if left…
How Escalators Can Cause Slip and Fall Accidents
Escalators are widely used in day-to-day life to enable individuals to quickly move between different floors in a building. They are located in malls, hospitals, airports, hotels, apartment complexes and more. Most people do not even think of potential hazards when they step onto an escalator. However, escalators can lead to slip and fall accidents…
Past Malpractice Lawsuits May Help Reduce Birth Injuries
Doctors and hospitals are using past medical malpractice cases to avoid repeating mistakes that could put patients at risk and give rise to future claims. Shoulder dystocia was found to occur the most frequently among the birth injury lawsuits examined. According to The Wall Street Journal, malpractice insurers and medical specialty groups are analyzing thousands…
The Viral Video That is Putting Teens at Risk of Slip and Fall Injuries
While many slip and fall accidents occur due to hazardous conditions, a recent social media craze has teenagers deliberately putting themselves at risk of injury. Dubbed the Banana Peel Challenge, the viral trend involves participants testing just how slippery a banana skin really is. It all began when Twitter user Jason Oakes tweeted a video…
How Improper Electronic Fetal Monitoring Can Lead to Birth Injuries
Medical staff are responsible for carefully monitoring the unborn baby throughout labor and delivery. They must ensure the infant is getting enough oxygen and is not displaying signs of fetal distress. Common warning signs of fetal distress include changes in the baby’s heart rate or movement. Doctors often use electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) to ensure…
Family Wins Nearly 5 Million Dollars in Birth Injury Lawsuit
A family was awarded more than $4.8 million in a medical malpractice case arising from a birth injury that occurred over a decade ago. Guerline Cherenfant Jean, Loheirson Jean and their 14-year-old daughter filed the lawsuit in 2004 against a Fort Lauderdale midwife and doctor. Circuit Judge Michele Towbin Singer presided over the five-day trial…
Man Sues Disney World After Christmas Parade Fall
A man filed a slip and fall lawsuit against Disney World for an accident that occurred when he visited the theme park in Orlando, Florida, in December 2015. Michael Amabile was allegedly injured at Magic Kingdom while waiting to view the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade. He claimed he tripped over a sidewalk that was…
Takata airbag Recall now Largest auto Safety Recall in History
Takata airbags have been linked to car accidents that have caused 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries, in Florida and elsewhere. Now U.S. officials have announced that an additional 35 million to 40 million airbag inflators will be recalled, adding to the 28.8 million inflators recalled since 2008, making it by far the largest…
Investor pays Hefty Price for Failing to Answer Slip and Fall Lawsuit
The Florida Supreme Court on March 17 sided with the plaintiff in reinstating a default judgement and jury award of around $1.1 million against a real estate investor who did not respond to a slip and fall lawsuit in a timely manner. Anamaria Santiago sued Mauna Loa Investments, LLC, in February 2010. She leased a…
Miami Hospital Has Highest C-Section Rate in United States
Florida hospitals have among the highest cesarean section rates for low-risk pregnancies for first-time mothers in the nation. Consumer Reports analyzed C-section data reported by more than 1200 hospitals across the country. They found C-section rates varied significantly among institutions and within the same communities. Low-risk pregnancies are defined as those in which the baby…
Will Self-Driving Cars Cause Accidents or Prevent Them?
Autonomous vehicles are under development by a number of auto manufacturers and other companies, notably Google. The promise of self-driving cars is that they will not only be convenient for travelers, but will greatly reduce car accidents. Some reports indicate that wide adoption of driverless vehicles could reduce car accidents by 90 percent, saving 300,000…
Recent Crashes a Reminder of Florida’s High Rate of Motorcycle Accidents
A series of recent motorcycle accidents is a reminder of Florida’s high rate of injuries and deaths from such crashes. In Miami, a fatal motorcycle crash closed multiple lanes of I-95. A Punta Gorda man was killed in a motorcycle accident on I-75. In Boynton Beach, four motorcyclists died in crashes in a two-week period…
How Assisted Delivery Can Put Babies at Risk for Birth Injuries
Pregnant women may sometimes require assisted delivery through the use of medical instruments to help the baby’s passage through the birth canal. In such cases, the doctor uses either a vacuum device or forceps to aid childbirth. An assisted delivery may be necessary if the mother is undergoing a lengthy, difficult labor and is too…