eNewsletter for Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.

Slip-and-Fall Liability in Florida

Dangerous surface conditions contribute to cause more than one million Americans to slip and fall each year. Although some people think of slip and fall accidents as the grounds for "frivolous" lawsuits in the United States, these preventable situations present very serious dangers. The federal government estimates that approximately 20,000 of the one million Americans involved in slip and fall accidents die each year. In fact, falls account for about 15% of fatal workplace accidents and 15% of workers' compensation costs. The most vulnerable Americans are the ones typically injured in slip and fall accidents. According to a study from the American Association of Retired Persons, two-thirds of accidents involving adults over 65 are slip and fall accidents. Slip and fall accidents for the elderly can have...

Construction Workers Harmed by Car Drivers

An Orange County, Florida man found himself on the Florida Highway Patrol’s list of most wanted fugitives after his reckless driving injured several construction workers. The man was approaching a toll plaza when he entered a construction area, heading towards a closed lane that had been marked with three-foot orange cones and a lit arrow to direct traffic. He swerved to the right to avoid the arrow sign, but then was facing a barrier wall, so he served back to the left and lost control of his vehicle. The man’s car slid into three construction workers. Because of the increased risk for accidents and deaths in work zones, Florida police officers have used new, creative methods to seize offenders. In the past several years, they have been dressing up as construction workers in order to catch people speeding or driving recklessly through construction areas. The police refer to this program as “Operation Hard Hat”. Officers appearing to be...

Toxins Released by the BP Oil Spill and Their Effects on Your Health

As the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that began on April 20 continues to drag on with no end in sight, the number of people experiencing health problems continues to grow. Compounding the catastrophe is the fact that the oil is not alone in posing dangers to oil spill workers. The dispersants and other chemicals BP used to mitigate the harmful effects of the oil also pose dangers to the workers. BP has been using chemical dispersants to break apart the oil in order to prevent it from reaching land. Intellectual property law protects the dispersants’ chemical make-up, but sources indicate that it contains a chemical used in the Exxon spill. Scientists have linked the chemical to respiratory and nervous system problems, and liver, kidney, and blood disorders. If oil or chemical dispersants from the BP spill...

Florida Truck Accidents

Florida Truck Accidents When a big rig truck is responsible for an accident on a Florida highway, total devastation happens more often than we wish it did. Because these trucks are large, carry heavy loads and mechanically brake on a moment’s notice, they are often menaces on the highways. Truck drivers who don’t pay attention, who are distracted, or who are too drowsy to drive can cause accidents more easily than car drivers who are under the same conditions. This is due to the fact that truck drivers are commanding more powerful vehicles. These trucks are more complex to drive and cannot usually stop on a dime when encountering hazardous conditions. Tired truck and big rig drivers traveling too fast are commonly to blame in these types of accidents. Assigning Blame When someone is involved in a vehicle accident with a truck, it is important that a thorough investigation take place. Assigning blame in a truck-related accident can be...