eNewsletter for Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.
Florida Head Injury Crash
A Florida family with a special needs child settled a lawsuit out of court for $1.1 million for injuries he sustained in a car crash. The 13-year-old child was a passenger in a pick up when the vehicle hit a large truck on the highway. The larger commercial truck was making an illegal U-turn at the time of the accident. The boy was not wearing his seatbelt at the time and was ejected. As a result, he suffered a traumatic brain injury. The boy’s family hired a Orlando car accident attorney who was able to negotiate the pre-trial settlement even though the truck the boy was in was speeding and the boy wasn’t wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The boy likely sustained life-long injuries as a result of the accident, and the money received in the settlement will help pay for future medical bills and rehabilitation costs. Florida Car Accident Negligence Damages as a result of vehicle accidents in Florida can be largely paid by the at-fault...
MoreAre Jurors Influenced by Social & Time Pressure Instead of Persuasion based on Merits of the Case?
A recent Article in the American Psychological Association publication, Monitor on Psychology, asked a fundamental question trial attorneys have probably been asking for centuries: Do juror pressures lead to unfair verdicts? The article, written by a PhD from the University of Nebraska and a PhD/JD from the University of Nevada, explains that psychological research is showing that time and social pressures are unfairly influencing verdicts. Often, jurors who find themselves in the minority during deliberations are more likely to give in to normative influence (social pressures) instead of informative influence (actually being persuaded by the merits). This is a huge problem for criminal defendants and is the subject of many criminal appeals – which seems to be the focus of this article. But, it can also be a problem for an injured person who...
MoreFlorida Personal Injury Auto Accident Causes Brain Damage
In 2004, a young boy in preschool was riding in the family car that was being driven by his father in Polk County, Florida, when a drunk driver hit the car. The father suffered some injuries, but the little boy’s skull crashed apart. The boy survived, but the areas of his brain that control judgment and impulse decisions were damaged. The boy requires full-time care at a neurological rehabilitation center because of the accident. The driver of the pickup truck pled guilty to a DUI in the case. A large civil lawsuit ensued and the boy was awarded $50 million in payments from the insurance company that held the drunk driver’s insurance policy. Most of that money is allocated for medical care for the boy. The rest is payment for lost wages and pain and suffering. Florida Personal Injury Cases Florida personal injury cases are lawsuits in which people are hurt due to the actions of someone else. Florida personal injury cases can include car...
MoreMandatory Drivers Ed Class Proposed by Florida Lawmakers
Florida State lawmakers proposed legislation that will require teenagers to pass a mandatory driver’s ed class before they will be eligible to get their driver’s license. Statistics continually demonstrate the dangerous conditions that face teenagers behind the wheel. Drivers who range in ages 16-18 have the highest vehicle accident rate, as well as the highest fatality rate in vehicle accidents than any other demographic. The purpose of the bill The sponsor of the bill, Kevin Ambler, states that he proposed the legislation in order to protect the lives of teenagers by taking action to educate them in order to prevent serious auto accidents. The bill is aimed at those who are between the ages of 15 and 20 who are at a higher risk for being involved in a serious accident. The bill is designed to prevent possible accidents through educating teenagers before they begin driving. The theory behind the bill is that the more educated a driver is,...
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