How Snowbirds Increase the Risk of Car Accidents and How to Avoid Them
When winter arrives, many people visit the rest of Florida for warm weather and fun attractions. With several theme parks in the state, visitors come for the great fishing or relaxing on the beach. These visitors are snowbirds, travelers from colder climates. Unfortunately, they often cause increased traffic and raise drivers’ risks of accidents. Snowbirds may not be familiar with local traffic laws, and they’re more likely to be tired from a long drive or distracted because they’re not sure where they should go. Explore the following helpful tips for avoiding accidents with snowbirds. Don’t Exceed the Speed Limit Breaking the posted speed limit increases your fuel consumption and raises the risks for you, your passengers, and other drivers. Since people have less reaction time when they drive fast, they often have trouble braking and avoiding obstacles and other cars on the road. Always drive cautiously to prevent accidents. Instead of speeding, make sure you start with plenty of time to reach your destination and leave at least a few extra minutes for traffic. Be especially cautious after dark because headlights can only help you to see several feet in front of your car. Be Calm and Courteous If you become nervous, angry, or frustrated while driving, you could make a mistake and cause an accident. If you get stuck in traffic, relax and listen to some music or talk to your passengers while you wait and focus on driving safely. Avoid tailgating so that you have plenty of room to brake and prevent accidents. Be courteous, treat other drivers with respect, and make sure you report any suspicious...
Celebrity Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury cases happen to everyone, including celebrities. Though the parties involved can be tight-lipped about the legal proceedings themselves, news sources still manage to dig up interesting information about these cases. From falling through trapdoors to getting hit with falling backdrops, celebrities and those close to them have suffered some serious injuries in the pursuit of fame. Adrian Bailey vs. Disney In 2008, a cast member of the Broadway performance of “The Little Mermaid” fell through a trapdoor. Adrian Bailey, the injured party, broke his back, pelvis, sternum, wrists, and foot. He said that there weren’t warnings about the trapdoor, which could have prevented him falling through. Lawyers filed several lawsuits, including one against Nicson, the manufacturer of the automated trapdoor, and one against Disney. Nicson was found not liable because “human error” and not a design defect was the reason the trapdoor was open. Brett Michaels vs. CBS In 2011, Brett Michaels, lead singer of the band Poison, sued CBS and the Tony Awards for an injury he sustained during a show in 2009. During the Tony Awards that year, he was exiting the stage at Radio City Music Hall, and a backdrop came down on his head. Michaels ended up with three stitches in his lip and a broken nose. He said that, though he asked for details on how to exit the stage, he didn’t have the right information, which is why the backdrop came down on him. In 2010, Michaels had a brain hemorrhage and felt the 2009 injury was part of the cause. Neither party in the lawsuit would give details about the...
4 Most Famous Personal Injury Cases
While most personal injury cases deal with typical slip and falls, car accidents, or defective devices, there are also some cases that are so unusual they’ve become famous. These are a few of the most legendary personal injury cases to make their way through the court system. Stella Liebeck Versus McDonald’s Perhaps the most famous personal injury case of all is Liebeck vs. McDonald’s, otherwise known as the hot coffee case. In 1992, Stella Liebeck ordered a cup of coffee from McDonald’s. As the 79-year-old was holding the coffee between her legs in the passenger seat of a parked car, the coffee spilled on her lap and caused third-degree burns. Before Liebeck’s case, McDonald’s had received over 700 reports of injury from its coffee. Liebeck offered to settle for $20,000 to cover lost income and medical expenses, but McDonald’s thought it would win the case and went to trial. However, the jury sided with Liebeck. She and McDonald’s eventually reached a confidential settlement. Bret Michaels Versus CBS In 2009, Bret Michaels, lead singer of the rock band Poison, suffered an injury to his face at the Tony Awards, which was broadcast by CBS. Michaels claimed that a set piece hit him in the face because CBS didn’t tell him how to exit the stage safely. Immediately after the incident, he had X-rays that showed a broken nose. A few months later, he also suffered a brain hemorrhage, which he believes was from the accident. Michaels and CBS eventually settled the lawsuit, and the terms were not made public. Cedrick Makara Versus Newmark Realty and 40 Worth Associates A jury awarded Cedrick...
Common Personal Injury Cases
Several types of accidents can result in personal injury cases. Most personal injury victims are not aware that someone else’s negligence may have caused their accident. Having this knowledge can lead you on the right path of collecting compensation for your injuries. Hiring a professional legal team can help you to determine if your accident is due to negligence and fight for your compensation. Several accidents can result in personal injury (also known as PI) cases, but these are the most common. Auto Accidents Auto accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injury cases. If another driver hit you in an automobile accident and sustained injuries, you might be eligible to seek financial compensation for your injuries. Drivers can be held responsible for negligence if they were speeding, driving while under the influence, traffic violations, and much more. Your PI lawyer will work with the additional parties involved with your case to determine the circumstances. Accidents in the Workplace Another common PI accident results from workplace injuries. If you are a victim of a workplace injury, you may be able to seek workers compensation for the injuries you sustained while on the job. Hiring your personal injury lawyer early on will help your case due to their knowledge about the legalities involved with Workers Compensation cases. Slip & Fall Slip and falls can be very dangerous and lead to several injuries. While they can happen anywhere and to anyone, there are many things to take into consideration when filing your case for compensation. If you slipped and fell due to unsafe conditions such as wet paint or pavement,...Avoiding Personal Injury during the Holidays
The holidays are a great time to review the year with family and friends. With all the hubbub, it may be easy to forget some common safety tips that will keep you and your loved ones out of harm’s way. In addition, some may be working during the holidays and it is just as important to stay alert to avoid any personal injury. While we are here to help in the event of a personal injury, we would not wish it on any one, especially during this fun time of year. Some of the most common injuries during the holidays include falls, which may include smaller injuries like sprains or larger injuries like a fracture or bone break. Falls may happen in the home or at work. For example, in the home, you may be putting up decoration but did not secure the ladder enough. While at work, a fall may occur as you’re helping a customer. Everyone is on the hunt for the perfect gift, so it’s important to be aware of the possible crazy customers that may not notice you on the ladder or carrying boxes. In both of these instances, it’s critical to note that you should have the proper ladder height for the job and should be wearing shoes with a good bottom to give you enough traction. If you are working outdoors, try to avoid working on days with a lot of wind or when it’s raining. If you are grabbing boxes of decoration out of the attic, or receiving a shipment from work, be sure to keep the pile of boxes at a...Have a question? Give us a call.
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