South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

In Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, a 77-year-old worker got hurt when the truck with a 100-foot lift that he was operating turned over. The truck was being used for a routine roof maintenance work.

This is the fifth crane-related accident in South Florida in the last six months. Earlier this month in Miami, a father and son were almost seriously hurt when part of a 318-foot crane collapsed. Also in Miami, five construction workers got hurt and two others died when a portion of the crane dropped 30 floors and smashed into a house. Several days later, two men got hurt in Aventura when a small crane fell onto the roof of a building. Fortunately, no one was hurt in Ft. Lauderdale when, a few days later, part of a crane buckled as workers tried to transport a dumpster.

Construction accidents can lead to serious injuries for workers, many of whom are left with catastrophic injuries, such as severed limbs, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

Our Florida construction accident lawyers are familiar with the special laws that govern construction sites and we can determine whether anyone—such as a contractor or the manufacturer of a defective machine, tool, or vehicle—acted negligently to cause your injury accident.

Crane accidents are a major cause of injuries and fatalities at construction sites.

Common causes of crane accidents:

• Rigging failure
• Improper crane assembly/dismantling
• Improper crane maintenance
• Improper training to work on a crane
• Defective cranes or crane parts

Contact our Florida construction accident lawyers to find out about your legal options. You may be entitled to recovery for medical expenses, pain and suffering, rehabilitation expenses, and other losses.

Crane Topples Over At Construction Site, CBS4.com, June 24, 2008

Truck with attached crane at Florida mall maintenance job flips, TMC.net, June 24, 2008

Related Web Resources:

OSHA

Accidents highlight crane safety issues, BusinessInsurance.com

Continue reading " Another Florida Worker is Injured In Crane Collapse Accident " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Construction Accidents

Bookmark:

In two Florida lawsuits filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, two more men are suing a former Broward County priest for child sex abuse. They claim that Rev. Neil Doherty gave them toys and money in exchange for sex when they were kids in the 1980’s. They also allege that the Archdiocese of Miami knew about the abuse but tried to cover up the incidents.

The two men, who are cousins, are also related to other victims that have sued the archdiocese for sex abuse. Many of the cases have settled without going to trial. These two lawsuits are the latest of 14 lawsuits naming Doherty.

Doherty, who retired in 2002, is accused of sexually abusing boys in the St. Mary’s Cathedral rectory, his car, and his private residence. The Miami Archdiocese is accused of interviewing his victims in 1987 and then trying to conceal their findings.

Clergy Sex Abuse
Clergy sex abuse is an insidious problem that has only been brought to awareness in recent years.

According to the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, between 1950 and 2002:

• 4,392 priests/deacons were accused of sexual abuse.
• More than 10,600 people reported that they were victims of clergy abuse.
• 81% of the victims were male.
• 50% of the victims were age 11-14 years old when the abuse happened.

Priests are often entrusted with the supervision of children, and when they abuse this trust by sexually molesting or assaulting a child, they can be held liable.

In a separate criminal case, the 65-year-old former St. Vincent’s Catholic Church pastor has been charged with multiple counts of molestation, lewd and lascivious acts, and sexual battery. Doherty has pled not guilty to the charges.

Our South Florida child sex abuse law firm knows that sexual abuse is a trauma that can lead to lifelong emotional injuries and other damages. We can work with you to recover compensation from the negligent party.

Former Broward priest faces two lawsuits on molestation charges, Sun-Sentinel.com, June 26, 2008

Clergy abuse statistics at a glance, Clergy Abuse Statistics, February 27, 2004

Related Web Resources:

Spotlight: Abuse in the Catholic Church, Boston.com

Former Priest Charged with Child Sexual Abuse, Bishop Accountability, January 27, 2006

Continue reading " Two More Florida Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits Filed Against Ex-Broward County Priest Awaiting Criminal Trial " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Sexual Abuse

Bookmark:

A Florida woman is suing a Winter Park dentist for dropping a medical screwdriver and a torque wrench down her father’s throat. In Anne Greer’s dental malpractice lawsuit, she alleges that Dr. Wesley Meyer’s negligence contributed to Charles Gaal’s death.

Gaal had gone to Meyers in October 2006 for implants to secure his dentures when the dentist accidentally dropped the screwdriver down the 90-year-old patient’s throat. Gaal had to undergo a colonoscopy so the screwdriver could be extricated from his large intestine.

Gaal returned to Meyers in May 2007 for the implant procedure. This time, Meyer’s dropped a torque wrench down the elderly man’s throat. Meyers underwent surgery to remove the tool, which had aspirated into his left lung. Gaal spent 50 days in the hospital as a result of the accident and died from complications in June 2007.

Greer says that her father died because Meyer caused his death. She says she has problems sleeping because of the tragedy.

After conducting an investigation, the Florida Department of Health filed a complaint accusing Meyers of negligence, failing to provide Gaal the required standard of care, negligent recordkeeping, and failure to report the accident.

Meyers, who reached a settlement with the Board of Dentistry, was told not to perform any more implants until he receives further training. He continues to practice dentistry.

Common Kinds of Dental Malpractice Accidents include:

• Giving a patient defective oral device.
• Surgical errors.
• Failure to consider patient’s medical history before performing a procedure.
• Failure to diagnose periodontal disease.
• Failure to diagnose oral cancer.
• Tooth extraction-related errors.
• Anesthesia complications.

Please contact our Florida dental malpractice law firm if you or someone you love was hurt because a dentist or another medical provider was negligent.

State fines dentist $17,000 in patient's death, Orlando Sentinel, June 20, 2008

Dentist Accused Of Losing Tools Down Patient's Throat Before Death, WKMG, June 20, 2008

Dental Malpractice Cases: Should You Consult an Attorney?, Associated Content

Related Web Resource:

Complaints About Dental Care, DentalWatch.org

Continue reading " Florida Dentist Sued For Malpractice " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Medical Malpractice

Bookmark:

A woman in Florida is suing the lawn care company that employed her deceased husband for his wrongful death. Tomasa Castro says that Tom Mahoney Ultimate Lawn Service acted negligently when the owner, Tom Mahoney, told her husband, Jose Carillo, to mow the lawn next to a deep lake in a residential area. Carillo did not know how to swim, and the lawsuit alleges that Mahoney was aware of this fact.

According to the wrongful death lawsuit, Mahoney neglected to train Carillo on how to safely use a riding lawn mower next to a body of water. Mahoney also allegedly failed to give Carillo the proper safety equipment, such as a life jacket, in the event of an accident.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office says that Mahoney discovered Carillo’s hat in the water and dove into the lake, where he discovered Carillo’s body about 10 feet from shore. Carillo was pronounced dead at the accident scene.

While workers’ compensation usually prevents an employee or his or her family from suing an employer for injuries (or death) that occurred while on the job, Mahoney did not provide Carillo, who had worked for the lawn company for several years, with workers’ compensation.

Also named in the Florida wrongful death lawsuit is Scott Jensen, the owner of the property where the drowning accident occurred. The lawsuit accuses Jensen of failing to post a warning that the water depth was deceptive, the bottom of the lake was unstable, and there were currents in the water.

Carillo left behind four young children. Castro is suing for funeral costs, pain and suffering, mental trauma, lost wages, loss of future earnings, and loss of support, companionship, guidance, and protection for the children.

Drowning Accidents
Property owners that have a pool, a lake, a hot tub, or another body of water on their premises are supposed to make sure that the proper safety measures are in place to prevent accidental drowning deaths.

Common causes of drowning accidents that can be grounds for a premises liability or wrongful death lawsuit include, inadequate supervision, defective pool or faulty hot tub parts (such as a defective drain), failure to secure the body of water from children when they are unsupervised, and failure to post appropriate warning signs.

Please contact our South Florida law firm to discuss your wrongful death case.

Widow Sues Florida Lawn-Care Company Over Drowning, Lawn & Landscape, June 16, 2008

Landscape employee drowns in East Naples lake, Naples.com, June 2, 2006

Related Web Resources:

Florida Wrongful Death Statute

Division of Workers' Compensation

Continue reading " Florida Widow Sues Lawn Service Company for Wrongful Death " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Premises Liability , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In South Florida, a Broward County jury has ordered the North Broward Hospital District to pay the Lauderhill family of 8-year-old Darian Brown $35 million for medical malpractice. Darian sustained irreversible brain damage because of medical errors that took place during his birth at Broward General Medical Center.

On January 10, 2000, when Denise was still pregnant with Darian, her doctor noticed during a routine checkup that Denise’s heart rate was beating unusually fast. She was admitted to the hospital and began pre-term labor three days later. Medical staff managed to stabilize Denise and the baby, but the next day, at around 2:40AM, their condition grew worse.

The Brown’s lawsuit alleges that nurses were negligent because they waited two hours before calling Denise’s doctor. The doctors, who did not deliver Darian until 7am that morning, are accused of failing to delivery the baby in a timely manner.

As a result of his birth injuries, Darian is profoundly mentally impaired, is unable to make decisions, cannot walk or feed himself, and will require lifelong specialized care. The $35 million jury award will allow his parents, Denise and David Brown, to hire 24-hour care for Darian and buy a van with a wheelchair lift. To support Darian and their other three young children, David has had to work the night shift, so Denise could work during the daytime.

Birthing Malpractice
Medical errors that occur prior to, during, or after delivery can cause serious and permanent injuries to a baby. Birth injuries can be caused by a number of medical malpractice errors, such as failure to diagnose/treat the mother’s high blood pressure, failure to deliver the baby in a timely manner, failure to perform an emergency C-section, errors involving forceps delivery or vacuum extraction, and errors that prevent a baby from getting enough oxygen.

Please contact our South Florida medical malpractice law firm to discuss your case.

Lauderhill family with brain-damaged son wins $35 million malpractice verdict, Sun-Sentinel.com, June 19, 2008

Medical Malpractice & Childbirth, Wrongdiagnosis.com

Related Web Resources:

Birth Injuries

Broward Health

Continue reading " Broward County Jury Awards South Florida Family $35 Million for Medical Malpractice that Caused Son’s Birth Injury " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Medical Malpractice , Traumatic Brain Injury

Bookmark:

In Florida, Estero resident Patricia Nicola is suing the National Audubon Society for injuries she suffered during a slip and fall accident at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples.

Nicola says she slipped after stepping on mud or brown feces that was on a damp boardwalk while taking pictures of nature on December 8, 2007. She hurt her right shoulder after skidding several feet and falling.

Nicola alleges that the National Audubon Society should have cleaned the boardwalk to make sure that it was safe for walking. She also claims that the boardwalk should have been maintained with a skid-resistant surface and warning signs should have warned people of the slippery conditions.

Nicola is seeking compensation for pain and suffering, disfigurement, significant and permanent loss of a key bodily function, medical costs, related bills, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, lost wages, and aggravation of a previously preexisting condition.

Her Florida slip and fall lawsuit alleges that the National Audubon Society either knew or should have known about the unsafe condition and owed visitors a duty of care to reasonably maintain, inspect, repair, and operate the sanctuary and warn of any potential hazards.

Slip and Fall Accidents
A common kind of premises liability accident, slip and fall injuries are often painful and costly for the injured person. A slip and fall condition results when a person slips or trips on liquid or debris on the ground, or because of another unsafe condition, and falls. Common kinds of slip and fall injuries include broken bones, dislocated hips, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

Poorly lit hallways, broken steps, uneven flooring, and wet or greasy floors, and steep staircases without handrails, are some scenarios where slip and fall accidents have been known to happen.

In South Florida, one of our slip and fall accident attorneys can meet with you during a free consultation to discuss your legal options.

Slip-and-fall suit says woman felled by bird poop on Corkscrew boardwalk, Naplesdailynews.com, June 14, 2008

Premises Liability, Justia

Related Web Resources:

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary,

National Audubon Society

Continue reading " Florida Woman Sues National Audubon Society After Slip and Fall Accident in Naples Sanctuary " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Premises Liability

Bookmark:

In Florida, Pompano Beach resident Marie Anderson is suing the city of Ft. Lauderdale for wrongful death. She claims that police officers would not help her husband, who had been shot, and he bled to death.

In October 2006, Chad Randall was at a barbecue in Ft. Lauderdale when a stray bullet struck him. He was placed in an SUV and was on his way to the hospital when someone saw police and tried to flag them down.

Anderson says that police refused to help Randall, and instead, patted down the occupants of the SUV and ran a check for warrants. Four of the men who had tried to save Randall say it took 1-2 hours before help finally came. A spokesperson for the police department, however, says that any allegations that police would not contact EMS immediately are not true.

Randall leaves behind his wife, and their 6 and 7 year old children. Randall and Anderson were childhood sweethearts.

Wrongful Death Survivors
In Florida, surviving family members of a person killed because of another’s negligence may be able to file for wrongful death compensation. Husbands, wives, sons, daughter, and others that were dependent on the deceased for services or support are considered “survivors.”

Damages recovered for wrongful death may include:

• Lost wages (income and benefits the decedent would have earned)
• Loss of support and services
• Loss of companionship
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of parental companionship
• The decedent’s medical and funeral costs

Surviving family members have two years from the time of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Our Florida wrongful death firm has helped many Florida families obtain their recovery. We have law offices in Miami, Port. St. Lucie, and West Palm Beach.

Woman claims police let husband bleed to death in SUV, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 13, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Wrongful Death, Justia

Continue reading " Pompano Beach Woman Sues City of Fort Lauderdale for Husband’s Wrongful Death " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In St. Lucie County, the female passenger who was ejected from a motorcycle during a motor vehicle crash on Friday has died from her injuries. Elizabeth Williams, a 40-year-old Vero Beach resident, and driver Nicholson Pierre were riding a motorcycle on US 1 when a jeep, driven by Charles Curtis, pulled in front of them.

The motorcycle hit the Jeep’s front bumper, and Williams and Curtis were both thrown from the motorcycle. Pierre was also treated for injuries. He has been charged with failing to yield.

According to the Insurance Information Institute’s Web Site:

• There were 4,810 motorcycle fatalities in 2006.
• Approximately 104,000 motorcyclists were involved in motor vehicle collisions during the same year.
• Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than the passengers of other motor vehicles.

Motorcycle injuries are usually catastrophic injuries and can include traumatic brain injuries, severed limbs, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, helmet injuries, paralysis, coma, severed limbs, and wrongful death.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Driver inexperience
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Failure to yield
• Driver inattention

In South Florida, our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you file a claim for personal injury compensation from a negligent motorist or the manufacturer of a defective motorcycle. We will work with accident reconstructionists and medical experts to get you the maximum recovery. If we are unable to negotiate a settlement, we will file a Florida motorcycle crash lawsuit and go to court.

Vero Beach woman dies from accident injuries, TCPalm.com, June 11, 2008

Motorcycle Crashes, III.org

Related Web Resource:

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Continue reading " Vero Beach Motorcycle Passenger Dies in Florida Motor Vehicle Crash " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motorcycle Accidents , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In South Florida, Dr. Gunwant Dhaliwal, the physician named as a defendant in several sex abuse lawsuits, has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery.

The 46-year-old internist, who has medical practices in New Port Richey, Holiday, and Spring Hill, has denied all the abuse allegations and says the women are just trying to get money from him.

Dhaliwal has been sued four times in Hernando and Pasco County, and there have been nine complaints about him made to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office over the past eight years. Several of the complaints were filed after the statute of limitations expired.

One woman, Danielle Turner, told police that Dhaliwal touched her inappropriately on February 12, 2007 after she was hired to work at his New Port Richey office. Another woman, patient Marissa Satinoff, says Dhaliwal inappropriately touched her during a medical exam. In Hernando County, patient Tammy King filed a Florida sex abuse lawsuit after she says that the doctor fondled her on February 6, 2007.

Sex Abuse
While acts of sex abuse are punishable by law, a sex abuse victim also has the right to file a sexual abuse lawsuit against the perpetrator for injuries, pain and suffering, and other damages.

In many cases, there may not be sufficient physical evidence to prove that someone was molested or touched inappropriately by a doctor, a teacher, a counselor, a priest, a relative, or a stranger. Some sex abuse victims can repress their memories for years.

Our Florida sex abuse lawyers know how to investigate and prove that you are entitled to compensation, and we are sensitive to your challenges even as you courageously pursue recovery from the responsible party.

Dr. Charged in Fondling Case, Tampabay.com, June 3, 2008

Pasco doctor accused of fondling patients, ABCActionnews.com, June 3, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Job Seeker Says Doctor Fondled Her, TBO.com, June 11, 2008

Gunwant Dhaliwal, Walk In Clinics

Continue reading " Florida Doctor Named in Sex Abuse Civil Cases Faces Criminal Charges for Alleged Fondling Incidents " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Sexual Abuse

Bookmark:

A judge in California has ruled that convicted murderer Scott Peterson will stand trial for the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Dennis Rocha and Sharon Rocha, the parents of his dead wife, Laci Peterson Dennis and Sharon had hoped that Peterson's conviction was enough to conclude the civil lawsuit, but the Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Roger Beauchesne ruled otherwise.

Laci Peterson was pregnant when she disappeared from her home on December 24, 2002. In 2005, Scott was convicted to death for the murders of Laci and their unborn son Connor, whose bodies were found in the waters of the East Bay in April 2003.

Laci’s parents are asking for unspecified damages. It is unlikely that Scott would be able to pay a judgment, but Dennis and Sharon want to make sure that their son-in-law never makes a penny if he decides to sell his story. Two made-for-TV programs and several books have already been published about the Peterson murders.

Florida Wrongful Death
In Florida, the immediate family members and heirs of a person killed in an accident or crime that was caused by another person’s negligence, carelessness or reckless actions, can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party.

Our South Florida wrongful death law firm can investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death and determine whether you have grounds for recovery. Florida wrongful death law allows family members to claim compensation for loss of companionship, love, moral support, financial support, services, and other damages.

In Florida, you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is not a lot of time to conduct a thorough investigation of your case, interview key witnesses, gather evidence, and build a case against the negligent party or parties, so it is important that you speak with an experienced Florida wrongful death attorney right away.

Scott Peterson likely faces second trial in wrongful death case, Miami Herald, June 6, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Florida Wrongful Death Statute

Laci Peterson TImeline, CourtTV.com

Continue reading " Scott Peterson Faces Wrongful Death Trial For Murders of Wife and Unborn Son " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In Broward County, Florida, Marie Arsenault-Langlois, a 38-year-old pregnant woman from Pembroke Pines, lost her 17-week-old unborn baby when the car she was riding in was struck by another motor vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle, Miami Gardens resident Renee Greene, failed to stop at a stop sign.

Arsenault-Langlois was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital where she was treated for serious injuries. Her baby was declared dead. The Broward Medical Examiner’s office pronounced cause of death to be intra-uterine demise resulting from blunt force trauma from an auto accident.

Although Florida’s mandatory Personal Injury Protection (PIP) provides all drivers with $10,000 coverage for medical costs for auto accident injuries, this amount often does not cover all medical expenses and recovery costs for serious personal injuries. It certainly cannot compensate for the death of a loved one.

With offices in Miami, Port St. Lucie, and West Palm Beach, our Florida car accident lawyers will work with medical experts to assess the immediate and long-term effects of your injuries. If your loved one was killed in a car crash, we know how to prove negligence. Our motor vehicle crash lawyers have an excellent track of getting the necessary results—whether through negotiation or a jury verdict.

Causes of driver negligence that can lead to serious car accident injuries:

• Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign
• Speeding
• DUI/DWI
• Driver fatigue
• Failure to pay attention to the road, motorists, and pedestrians
• Driver negligence
• A defective or poorly maintained motor vehicle

Contact one of our Florida personal injury law offices to schedule your free consultation.

Pembroke Pines woman loses unborn child in crash, Sun-Sentinel, June 5, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Florida Motor Vehicle Insurance, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

What To Do After a Car Accident

Continue reading " Unborn Baby Dies When Pregnant Broward County Woman is Injured in Florida Auto Crash " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In Florida on Saturday, two Florida teenagers died when their bicycles were struck by motor vehicles in two separate accidents.

17-year-old Justin White, a Masaryktown resident, died at 9pm when a 1998 Ford pickup crashed into his bike near State Road 50. An hour later, 17-year-old Scott Avery, was killed in a hit and run accident in Brooksville. The driver, Spring Hill resident Leo Salvato, was later apprehended.

According to the Helmets.org Web site:

• 85 million people ride bicycles in the United States.
• 773 bicyclists died in 2006..

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a bicycle accident that was caused by a careless driver or another negligent party, you should contact our South Florida bicycle crash law firm immediately.

Bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries for pedalcyclists. Injuries may include, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, road burns, internal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

It is important that drivers pay attention when on the road. While it may be easy to keep an eye on cars, trucks, and buses, motorists must remember that they share the roads with motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists—the ones that are most susceptible to serious injuries when they become involved in a motor vehicle crash.

Common causes of bicycle accidents caused by other motorists or negligent parties include:

• Driver inattention
• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Driver inexperience
• Motor vehicle failure or defect

You may be entitled to personal injury compensation for your injuries, medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.

Teen boy's death on bicycle puzzles mother, Tampabay.com, June 3, 2008

Hundreds Mourn Death of NCTHS Student, 2TBO.com, June 1, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Bicyclinginfo.org

Bicycle Safety Facts & Statistics, Federal Highway Administration

Continue reading " Two Florida Teen Bicyclists Killed in Separate Motor Vehicle Accidents " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Bicycle Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents

Bookmark: