The request was filed by attorneys for physician Eileen Hernandez and Women’s Care Florida LLC, approximately two weeks after the arbitration agreement was tossed out in a case involving a stillborn baby.

The validity of arbitration agreements in lawsuits over health care has been a controversial topic of late, with the issue being considered by Florida appeals courts. The cases typically involve a health care provider asking patients or family members to sign an agreement stating that disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration rather than a jury trial. Advocates argue that such agreements take away the rights of injured people to obtain fair compensation from providers that make serious medical mistakes.

On December 22, the Florida Supreme Court rejected an arbitration agreement between Lualhati Crespo and Women’s Care Florida. Crespo delivered a stillborn son in 2011. She and her husband filed a lawsuit in 2013 and later requested binding arbitration under a state-law process. Women’s Care Florida said the case should be governed by the arbitration agreement Crespo signed, which would lead to binding arbitration through a different process.

The justices rejected the arbitration agreement, declaring it void as against public policy, in a 5-2 decision, because terms in the agreement clearly favored the health care provider, including terms related to the selection of the arbitration panel. Women’s Care Florida, in its motion for rehearing, said the state high court had encroached on the right to contract.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

According to the advocacy group Smart Growth America, Florida had 5,142 pedestrian fatalities from 2005 to 2014 and a pedestrian death rate of 2.66 per 100,000 people. The group assigned Florida a high Pedestrian Danger Index of 177 by comparing data on pedestrian deaths with the number of commuters who get to work on foot.

Seven of the country’s most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians are located in Florida, the group said. These included Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Jacksonville, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Palm Bay-Melborne-Titusville, and Cape-Coral-Fort Myers.

The director of the National Complete Streets Coalition, Emiko Atherton, said that despite the poor ranking, many Florida communities had actually improved from previous studies.

The study ranked 104 of the largest metropolitan areas in the country according to the danger posed to people on foot. Researchers found that seniors and people of color were overrepresented among the pedestrian deaths. While people of color make up 34.9 percent of the national population, they accounted for 46.1 of pedestrian fatalities.

Safety experts said that there are several causes of fatal collisions involving pedestrians, including unsafe street design, poorly maintained infrastructure, speeding and driver negligence.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Michael Camberdella was shot and killed by a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy in Boynton Beach, Florida in 2012. According to the family’s attorney, Michael, age 18, suffered from bipolar disorder and had not been taking his medicine. His mother, Linda Camberdella, called 911 after she said Michael became aggressive toward her. She told the 911 operator her son needed professional help to make sure he did not hurt himself or others.

According to an investigative report, Deputy William Goldstein approached while holding his service revolver and ordered Michael to drop the rubber mallet and garden shears he was holding and lie on the ground, which he did. Investigators said that Michael then began pulling “unknown objects” – later identified as rocks – from his pockets and throwing them at the deputy. Goldstein started firing from about 23 feet away, and fired 11 shots, investigators said. The lawsuit stated that one of the shots struck Michael in the heart, killing him.

In August, an appeals court refused to grant Goldstein immunity from the wrongful death lawsuit, affirming the earlier conclusion of a district court that a reasonable jury could find that a clearly established constitutional right was violated when Goldstein shot and killed Michael.

The lawsuit claimed that Goldstein failed to use proper police techniques such as calling for backup or a crisis team.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Joshua Mathews suffered brain injuries after a 2012 altercation at Pete’s Bar in Neptune Beach, Florida. Mathews fell and hit his head on the cement after being punched in the face. He filed a lawsuit against the corporation that owns the bar, alleging that there was inadequate security and bouncers encouraged the fight.

After the fight, Mathews was in a coma for two months. He is in rehabilitation and has trouble speaking. According to his attorney, Mathews has vision loss and paralysis on his right side, and also suffers from aphasia, weakness and fatigue. Mathews has to be monitored around the clock, with his family using video cameras to check on his condition even while they are at work, his attorney said. The award will allow Mathews to participate in an aphasia program to help with his speaking and allow him greater freedom of movement.

At trial in Duval County circuit court, earlier police incident reports were introduced as evidence. Mathews’ attorney said that other bars had off-duty police officers standing out front and Pete’s Bar did not. He said that a bar’s duty to its patrons extends outside its premises, and the bar was negligent in failing to provide adequate security.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Marc Frazier was also ordered to give up assets of more than $500,000 from the pill mill. The “pain management clinic” known as Apex Health & Wellness was owned by Frazier from November 2011 to April 2013. Prosecutors said that customers received prescriptions for controlled substances when there was no valid medical purpose, often paying up to $300 in cash to the clinic for the prescriptions.

Frazier hired medical doctor Paul Ruble to work at the clinic. Ruble is awaiting sentencing on similar charges after pleading guilty.

According to authorities, during the 17 months that the clinic operated, an average of 30 patients per day received prescriptions for alprazolam and oxycodone. Prosecutors said that more than 400 deposits were made to the pain clinic’s bank account, totaling over $1.8 million.

In addition to facing criminal charges, medical providers who prescribe drugs improperly and cause patients harm may face civil liability in the form of a lawsuit for pharmaceutical negligence. Anyone who has been injured by a pill mill or an error made by a doctor or pharmacist should consult with an attorney.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld a ruling by a circuit judge granting summary judgment to Tampa General Hospital. The appeals court agreed with the judge on the central issue of whether two doctors involved in the surgery were connected to the hospital. Tampa General argued that the doctors were employed by the University of South Florida, and the hospital had delegated its duty of care and any potential liability to the university. The university’s College of Medicine uses Tampa General as its primary teaching hospital.

The lawsuit was filed by the estate of Annie Godwin against the university, Tampa General, and the two physicians, after Godwin died during surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in 2009. Godwin died due to heavy bleeding after she suffered a tear in a vein.

According to the three-judge appeals panel, there were no disputed facts undermining the conclusion of the trial court that the doctors were not employees or agents of Tampa General Hospital. The appeals court said that the physicians were employees of USF, and Godwin had signed a document acknowledging that fact.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

In a case filed by Emma Gayle Weaver, the representative of Thomas E. Weaver’s estate, in Escambia County, the 1st District Court of Appeal previously upheld the constitutionality of the law permitting ex parte communications.

Under the 2013 law, defense attorneys representing medical providers accused of malpractice are able to access personal medical information of the patients involved in the lawsuit outside of the presence of the patients’ attorneys. According to Weaver’s attorneys that is a violation of privacy rights. Supporters of the 2013 law said that allowing such ex parte communications is fair, because it allows defense attorneys to access information that is already available to plaintiffs’ attorneys.

Before the law was passed, defense attorneys could interview doctors, but only as part of formal proceedings, with the patient’s attorneys present to protect their privacy rights. Advocates for patients said that the law stripped away privacy rights. Several lawsuits were filed challenging the legislation as soon as it was enacted, and the state high court will now decide the issue.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Corey Jones, a 31-year-old African-American man who was employed as a property manager and played drums in his church, was killed by Palm Beach Gardens police officer Nouman Raja. Jones was waiting for roadside assistance in his stranded vehicle when he was shot.

Jones’ family claims in their lawsuit that the city was negligent in hiring Raja, failed to properly train and supervise him, and had an unofficial policy of allowing excessive force by officers. The lawsuit also alleges that Raja had a “clear pattern” of being disciplined for failure to follow orders.

Dave Aronberg, the Palm Beach County State Attorney, announced in June that a grand jury had determined that the shooting was not justified. Prosecutors charged Raja with first degree attempted murder and manslaughter by culpable negligence. Investigators said that Raja shot Jones before making a 911 call, but Raja is heard on the call yelling at someone to drop a gun. Attorneys for the Jones family said that the 911 tapes show that Raja’s account of the incident is inconsistent with the objective evidence.

The lawsuit was moved to federal court, where the city of Palm Beach Gardens sought to have the suit dismissed. Attorneys for the city claimed that Florida law excludes municipalities from liability for acts committed by its agents while acting outside the scope of their employment or with malicious purpose or bad faith.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Sources

• http://www.wpbf.com/news/palm-beach-gardens-moves-to-dismiss-federal-wrongful-death-lawsuit-in-corey-jones-case/40800082
• http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/crime-law/corey-jones-shooting-family-files-wrongful-death-s/nrsr8/

Joshua Brown, 40, was killed in Williston, Florida, when his car collided with a tractor-trailer that was turning left in front of him. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the Tesla was in self-driving mode, and preliminary information indicated that neither the driver nor the self-driving system applied the brakes. Tesla said in a news release that the autopilot system did not detect the white side of the truck against the bright sky.

The NHTSA has opened an investigation into the accident, but the agency cautioned that the initiation of the inquiry did not necessarily mean that there was a defect in the vehicle. Mark Rosekind, the head of the agency, said recently that self-driving cars need to be at least twice as safe as human drivers.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is often hailed as a visionary, but he was criticized for Tesla’s response to the accident. The company said that the death was the first in 130 million miles, and was a “statistical inevitability.” Musk pointed out that 1.3 million people die worldwide in traffic accidents each year.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Sources

• http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/07/how-the-media-screwed-up-the-fatal-tesla-accident
• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/07/tesla-elon-musk-autopilot-death-crisis-management

After Richard Wiederhold, a Brevard County fire chief, was hit by a pizza delivery driver, he was left paralyzed, and his wife had to take care of all his personal needs. He died of his injuries 15 months later, and his wife filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Domino’s Pizza. In April, a jury found the delivery driver 90 percent responsible for the crash and Wiederhold 10 percent responsible, meaning that the award for Yvonne Wiederhold may be about $9 million of the $10 million verdict.

Domino’s had previously agreed to pay for Wiederhold’s medical expenses. The jury awarded damages for pain and suffering and loss of companionship, finding that the parent company was responsible for the actions of its franchisees, including the negligent driver. Domino’s said it believes there are grounds for a new trial, and if a new trial is denied, then the company plans to appeal.

Richard Wiederhold was living when the case was filed as a personal injury claim, and upon his death the suit was changed to a wrongful death lawsuit.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

• Medical malpractice is the third most common cause of death in the United States, after heart disease and cancer, according to research published in the Journal of Patient Safety, which estimates that up to 440,000 Americans die each year from preventable mistakes in hospitals.
• The annual costs to society for medical errors is estimated to be up to $29 billion, and may be much higher.
• Only one out of every eight preventable medical mistakes in hospitals nationwide results in a claim of malpractice.
• In Florida, from 1996 through 1999, there were 19,885 incidents of medical errors reported by hospitals, and 3,177 claims of medical malpractice. This reflects a rate of only one out of every six errors resulting in a claim.
• The actual rate of medical malpractice may be higher than reports indicate, because medical errors are believed to be severely underreported.
• From 1995 to 2000, there was a 4 percent decline in new medical malpractice claims. In 1995, there were 90,212 claims filed; in 2000 there were 86,480 claims filed.
• If you were inured or lost a loved one as the result of medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about your rights.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Dr. Edward Neil Feldman, a 76-year-old orthopedist, and his wife Kim Feldman, were both convicted on five related counts in a case that involved $5.7 million worth of medication and three deaths from drug overdoses. They both face time in prison, but only the doctor was charged in the deaths of the patients.

Feldman argued that patients gave him false information to fool him into prescribing drugs, but federal prosecutors said that Feldman willfully ignored warning signs. The Feldmans were ordered taken into custody with sentencing scheduled for May 23.

The doctor had been linked to more patient deaths than the three that were the subject of the case. According to news reports, Feldman’s name was on pill bottles found at multiple overdose scenes. Out of the jury’s hearing, the federal prosecutor told the judge that the government had 16 deaths to choose from in making its case.

Prescribing dangerous or inappropriate medication can constitute pharmaceutical negligence, whether it is in the context of an unethical pill mill or a doctor or pharmacy error. In addition to the criminal charges faced by pill mill operators, civil lawsuits may be filed by patients or their loved ones who are injured by such negligence.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The Florida woman was charged with battery on the elderly after video from the hidden camera showed her and another nursing assistant abusing a 76-year-old Alzheimer’s patient. The incident occurred at a nursing home in Winter Haven, Florida.

The nursing assistants are shown in the video footage hitting, kicking and taunting the nursing home resident on three occasions in 2014. The other nursing assistant previously received an 18-month prison sentence and five years of probation.

The family of the nursing home resident noticed bruising on the man’s body, which led them to place a hidden camera in his room, inside a clock. The man has since passed away.

The nursing assistant’s sentence also includes forfeiting her nursing license, writing a letter of apology to the man’s family, and undergoing a 26-week batterer intervention program.

The case was influential in a movement by the legislatures of several states to allow hidden cameras in the rooms of nursing home residents.

If you suspect that your loved one may have been a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, contact Joyce & Reyes for a free consultation.

If you need to speak with a Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

According to preliminary numbers from the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 2,939 traffic fatalities in Florida in 2015, a 17.8 percent rise over the 2014 total of 2,494.

Not only did highway deaths increase over last year, but the state failed to meet its projected decrease for the third year in a row. In 2012, Florida began its safety initiative with a baseline of 2,431 traffic fatalities, an average of the totals from 2006 to 2010. In 2013, the state had 100 more traffic fatalities than the 5 percent reduction projected, and in 2014 the total was 300 deaths over the reduction goal.

In 2015, if the 5 percent per year projection had held true, there would have been 2,084 deaths on Florida’s roads, but there were 855 more than that, so the state missed its goal by more than 40 percent.

It was no year-end surprise that traffic fatalities in Florida have been accelerating in the wrong direction. Last summer, the National Safety Council conducted an analysis that showed that there was a 29 percent increase in highway deaths in Florida, and a 14 percent increase nationally, in the first half of 2015, compared to the same six-month period in 2014.

Safety experts lay the blame on poorly-designed roads, a lack of focus on traffic safety on the part of state officials, and driver negligence.

If you need to speak with a car accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

According to authorities, the pill mill filled fraudulent prescriptions for over one million doses of pain medication, including oxycodone and hydromorphone. The highly addictive prescription pain pills have an estimated street value in excess of $16 million, authorities said.

Authorities said that the defendants used unlicensed medical workers as well as doctors to issue fraudulent prescriptions for medications that were then sold throughout South Florida. Prescriptions issued by the center were found as far away as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

The defendants face charges including conspiracy to sell illegal drugs, conspiracy to sell oxycodone, and racketeering. They will be prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, part of the Attorney General’s Office. There is a 25-year mandatory minimum prison sentence associated with the drug trafficking conspiracy charges.

People who fraudulently or negligently prescribe medications that cause harm to users may also face civil lawsuits. People who are injured as a result of pharmaceutical negligence may be able to obtain compensation through a lawsuit. Contact Joyce & Reyes for more information.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Nicole Oulson, widow of Chad Oulson, seeks a jury trial and more than $15,000 in damages.

The lawsuit, filed in Circuit Court in Dade City, Florida, claims that Nicole Oulson, who was also shot, suffered mental anguish, permanent bodily injury, disability and disfigurement.

Charges of second-degree murder for Chad Oulson’s death and aggravated battery for the shooting of Nicole Oulson were filed against retired Tampa police captain Curtis Reeves.

Nicole Oulson’s lawsuit claims that Reeves was confrontational with the Oulsons before the shooting, and complained to theater staff that Chad Oulson was using his cell phone during the movie previews. According to the lawsuit, theater staff should have responded to prevent the potentially dangerous situation from escalating.

The lawsuit names as defendants Cobb Theatres, Oakley Grove Development and Thomas Peck, who worked at the theater.

Nicole Oulson’s lawsuit also claims that the theater was negligent in training Peck, and did not have procedures in place to enforce its policy against firearms. The lawsuit alleges that the developer had a duty not to allow a dangerous situation to exist on its property.

In his criminal case, Reeves has attempted to have the charges dismissed by invoking Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The study, published in the American Journal of Health-Systems Pharmacy, examined inpatient and outpatient medication mistakes during a one-year period from July 2011 to June 2012 at a large medical center in Texas. The researchers reviewed the work of 50 pharmacists who handled over 1.9 million medication orders during that period. The study found 92 mistakes that were made during the order verification process.

The study found that when pharmacists’ workload increased, they made more mistakes. The average error rate was 4.87 mistakes per 100,000 verified orders, but the researchers found that when pharmacists had to verify more than 400 orders per shift, they committed more errors.

Of the 50 pharmacists whose work was examined as part of the study, 31 made one or more mistakes during the time period studied. More experienced pharmacists and pharmacists holding higher degrees made fewer mistakes.

When doctors and pharmacists make prescription errors that cause patients harm, the injured patients may have the right to compensation through a pharmaceutical negligence or medical malpractice lawsuit. If you suffered this type of injury, contact Joyce & Reyes for a free consultation to learn more about your rights.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The 16-year-old was not wearing a helmet when he hit his head on a paint machine during football practice in Oct. 2013. The Wharton High School student was warming up in drills. After the incident, he was in a coma for nine days, and doctors told his family he might not survive. The student has now recovered to some extent, but will have long-term medical issues, his family said.

Under the terms of the $2 million settlement, $300,000 will be paid to the family immediately, and the school board will support a claim bill in the Florida Legislature for the rest of the funds. Under state law, a claim bill is necessary for any settlement amount over $300,000.

In addition to the financial settlement, the school district also committed to training staff members in how to prevent and treat injuries to the head. A new set of procedures will be put in place, establishing what must be done whenever a head injury is suspected. The protocol will be reviewed and updated annually, and could serve as a model for schools across Florida.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

In the case of Baptist Hospital of Florida, Inc. v. Jean Charles, Jr., the First District Court of Appeal held that the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act, a federal law, preempts Article X, section 25 of the Florida constitution, which is known by its designation on the ballot: Amendment 7.

Amendment 7 mandates that health care providers disclose “adverse medical incidents,” defined as any act, default or neglect on the part of a health care provider or facility that could have caused or did cause a patient to suffer injury or death. The information must be disclosed to any citizen of Florida who requests it. Amendment 7 sought to make medical mistakes more transparent, and it has also been used by plaintiffs in medical malpractice lawsuits to obtain relevant information about defendants.

Now, the First District Court of Appeal has held that Amendment 7 is preempted by the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act, which encourages health care providers to collect information about medical errors, which can then be provided to a patient safety organization for analysis and recommendations. However, under the Act, the information collected is privileged until the medical provider decides to report it.

The court’s opinion is not final until after the expiration of the time to file a motion for rehearing. It is not yet known whether an appeal will be made to the Florida Supreme Court.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

According to the lawsuit, Terminix Pest Control and its subcontractor Sunland Pest Control negligently fumigated the McCaughey home, failing to properly ventilate the home properly after the completion of fumigation, and telling the family it was safe to enter when it was not. The lawsuit claims that the entire family got sick, and the 10-year-old son suffered catastrophic brain damage.

The lawsuit alleges that when the family re-entered their home on Aug. 16, the boy inhaled pesticides that caused a traumatic brain injury, resulting in the loss of motor control and the ability to speak. The lawsuit claims that the boy is facing months in a rehabilitation center and his chances of recovery are uncertain.

Terminix said that it had cancelled its contract with Sunland and was reviewing the matter, and that its hearts are with the family.

An investigation by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services found that the boy’s injury and illness were caused by exposure to pesticide, and that Sunland was not able to produce working gas meters when questioned. The meters are used to determine when it is safe to re-enter a fumigated home.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

U.S. Senators Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said that the recent settlement between the U.S. Justice Department and General Motors (GM) showed that stronger legislation is needed. After it was revealed that GM covered up a deadly ignition switch defect, the company agreed to pay $900 million and offer settlements to nearly 300 people who were injured and the families of 124 people who were killed as a result of the faulty switches, which caused vehicles to lose power while in motion. No criminal charges were brought against any GM employees.

The proposed legislation would make it a crime for an officer of a corporation to knowingly conceal information about an action or product that could put workers or the public a risk of serious injury or death. Under the proposed law, violators would face fines and up to five years in prison.

Sen. Blumenthal said that current law does not go far enough in holding corporate officials accountable when they are complicit in cover-ups that cause preventable tragedies. The bill, called the Hide No Harm Act, would also apply to other products, such as defective cribs and body armor, that have caused injuries.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The City of Tampa has 55 red light cameras at 24 intersections, the largest such program in the region. When drivers run red lights at the intersections, cameras capture their image and they receive tickets in the mail. The city faces numerous lawsuits over the cameras. While the city collects substantial revenue from red light camera tickets, including $311,360 in June 2015 alone, it is unclear whether the program actually prevents accidents.

The lack of clarity is due in part to the failure to city staff to deliver crash data requested by city council members. A report by city staff on the red light camera program compared only the first and second quarters of 2015, which may be statistically irrelevant, and it did not include specific data on rear-end collisions requested by city council members.

Critics of the red light camera program have questioned its fairness and effectiveness. According to news reports, Tampa and other cities issued tickets based on unfairly short yellow lights before the state mandated longer intervals at intersections with cameras. State law requires cities to submit annual crash data to help track the effectiveness of the cameras, but Tampa failed to do so in 2014.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

George, who is serving a prison sentence for his involvement in a pain clinic conspiracy, testified that Dr. Gerald Klein was aware that the business model of the clinic was to keep patients on addictive drugs like oxycodone.

Klein, 81, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Joey Bartolucci, 24, one of his patients. Prosecutors said that Klein prescribed Bartolucci a high dosage of hydromorphone pills as well as Xanax in February 2009, and that Barolucci died of an overdose the next day.

George testified that Klein was aware that the East Coast Pain Clinic accepted cash only, that patients must pay $150 before seeing a doctor, and that no procedures were performed. George said that Klein was paid $4,300 per week for three days of work.

George is serving a 15 ½ year prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges related to the drug conspiracy.

In addition to facing criminal charges, pill mill owners and doctors may face civil lawsuits for pharmaceutical negligence filed by people who were injured by improper prescriptions. If you or a loved one suffered an injury as the result of pharmaceutical negligence, contact Joyce & Reyes for a free consultation.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

On July 8, 2014, Retired Navy Chief Engineman Shon Hollis was supposed to undergo a colonoscopy and endoscopy at Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida. Today, Hollis is in a vegetative state, residing in a nursing home and unable to talk, walk, eat or communicate, a condition that the lawsuit claims was caused by brain damage suffered as the result of oxygen deprivation during the procedures.

According to the lawsuit, Hollis had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in 2008, a condition that requires anesthesiologists to take precautions to reduce the risk of complications. The lawsuit alleges that even though Hollis was diagnosed with sleep apnea at Naval Hospital and received treatment there, the doctors performing his colonoscopy were unaware of his condition and failed to take precautions.

The lawsuit also alleges that the “rapid sequence intubation” and CPR that were used to revive Hollis took too long, depriving his brain of oxygen for 22 minutes.

According to Jennifer Zeldis, a Navy Judge Advocate General spokeswoman, in the past five years, Naval Hospital Jacksonville has had 13 instances of alleged medical malpractice that resulted in claims.

If you need to speak with a Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

On the last lap of the 2013 race, a collision sent Kyle Larson’s No. 32 car flying, and shrapnel was hurled into the stands, injuring fans. Allen Davis was seated in the upper deck of the stadium and suffered a traumatic brain injury after being hit in the head with debris.

Davis’ family released medical records showing that he suffered from a depressed skull fracture that required treatment in an intensive care unit. Doctors said that bone fragments from Davis’ skull lacerated the dura, which is the outside of the brain, causing his brain injury.

Davis’ injuries were the most severe consequences of the crash for fans, although 28 other spectators were also injured by debris.

According to Davis’ attorney, it was foreseeable that an injury like this could occur. The catch fence, designed to keep cars and car parts out of the stands, did not function properly when the crash occurred. One of the weakest parts of the catch fence is the crossover gate, which is a removable section that is taken out before and after the race to allow the fans to walk to the infield.

Representatives of Daytona International Speedway said that the track is making changes, such as changing the crossover gate and strengthening the catch fence.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

In 2003, the Florida legislature set limits of $500,000 in “non-economic damages,” such as damages for pain and suffering, in personal injury cases. In 2014, the Florida Supreme Court found that such limits are unconstitutional in wrongful death lawsuits over medical malpractice. Now, the 4th District Court of Appeal has ruled against certain limits in personal injury cases as well.

The medical malpractice lawsuit in question was first filed by Susan Kalitan, a dental assistant who suffered a perforated esophagus after being put under anesthesia for a carpal tunnel surgery. When she awoke after the surgery, she reported pain in her back and chest, but she was sent home. The next day, she was rushed to the hospital with an infection that resulted from a perforated esophagus. Kalitan then had to undergo neck and chest surgery and was in a medically induced coma for three weeks.

Kalitan was awarded about $4.7 million by a jury, with $4 million of that constituting non-economic damages. The judge applied the limits set by the 2003 law and reduced the non-economic damages award by $2 million.

The appeals court reinstated the jury’s award, finding that when caps discriminate between classes of medical malpractice victims, they violate equal protection rights guaranteed under the Florida Constitution.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Sylvia Burwell, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, said that the proposed changes set high standards for safety and quality in nursing homes. The proposals were announced as part of the White House Conference on Aging.

Some of the proposals address nursing home abuse. Nurses would be required to be trained in dementia care and preventing elder abuse. There will also be a requirement that nursing homes report staffing levels, which Medicare officials will review to determine whether they are adequate. This stops short of requiring a federal nurse-to-resident ratio, which many advocates had pushed for. Dr. Shari Ling, the deputy chief medical officer for Medicare, said the administration’s approach focused on competency rather than “a numbers game.”

The proposed changes include measures to ensure that families are more involved in the care of their loved ones, as well as rules to promote more individualized care. For instance, residents would be able to choose their own roommates, and requests for meals and snacks at non-traditional times would be accommodated. The proposed rules also address reducing hospital readmissions, minimizing the use of antipsychotic drugs and antibiotics, and strengthening infection control.

If you suspect that a loved one has been abused or neglected at a nursing home, contact Joyce & Reyes for a free consultation to learn more about your rights.

If you need to speak with a Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Jared Adkins and his son settled the lawsuit against the Florida Keys Dive Center in Tavernier, after the dive center initially argued that it should be protected by liability release forms that Adkins had signed.

Adkins and his son, then 11 years old, went on a scuba diving trip organized by the dive center in August 2011. The lawsuit alleged that Captain John Brady was at the helm of the Big Dipper, a 46-foot vessel, when it backed over Adkins and his son, striking them with its propellers. Because of the way the boat was designed, Brady could not see the area of the diving platform from the helm, the lawsuit alleged.

Both Jared Adkins and his son suffered severe head injuries. Adkins’ son underwent a cranioplasty to repair his skull, and Adkins suffered a skull fracture and brain damage. The father and son filed a negligence complaint in federal court in April 2014.

The settlement provides $11 million to Adkins’ son and $1 million to Adkins. Before the settlement is final, it must be reviewed by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court to protect Calvin’s interests.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

According to the complaint filed in federal court, Rachel Stockwell, then a student at the University of Tampa, had to leave school due to facial paralysis and cognitive defects. The complaint states that in video of the incident, a pool of blood can be seen surrounding Stockwell’s head.

The officer, Antwan S. Nelson, had his employment terminated, according to Laura McElroy, a police spokeswoman.

The incident took place on Valentine’s Day, 2014, outside Club 912 on Franklin Street in downtown Tampa. According to a police internal affairs report, Nelson used a “takedown” maneuver on Stockwell. Nelson told investigators that he had attempted to issue a trespass warning to Stockwell, but she refused to identify herself and resisted arrest. Nelson said he took the woman to the ground in order to gain better control. The investigation stopped short of calling the amount of force used excessive.

According to the internal affairs investigation, Stockwell, then 18, had been admitted to the club but was not legally permitted to drink. The report said she had previously been escorted from the premises, but had returned.

She was booked on charges of opposing an officer and criminal mischief, but the State Attorney’s Office did not prosecute.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Christian Spaw was arrested on charges of conspiracy, trafficking, racketeering and manslaughter in connection to drug purchases and sales allegedly made while operating All Family Medical, a Broward County pain clinic that was allegedly a pill mill. Some of the charges related to trafficking in Oxycodone stem from 2012.

Spaw turned himself in on April 30, with his attorney by his side, after the DEA issued an arrest warrant. The most recent charge is manslaughter. Spaw’s attorney said there was an insufficient factual basis to support such a charge.

The manslaughter charge stems from the death of a patron who allegedly purchased drugs from the pain clinic and later died from cardiac arrest. The Broward County medical examiner said that the death was the result of acute combined drug toxicity, and the man’s family said that he was taking Oxycodone and Xanax.

In addition to criminal charges, operators of pill mills can face civil lawsuits for pharmaceutical negligence filed by people injured by improperly prescribed or distributed drugs.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

According to a new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, the number of bicycle fatalities rose by 16 percent between 2010 and 2012. There were 621 bicycle deaths in 2010, 680 in 2011 and 722 in 2012.

The authors of the association’s report said that the increase in fatalities does not necessarily mean that bicycling is becoming more dangerous. It is more likely that the change is occurring because bicycling is simply becoming more popular. As more people use bicycles, the raw number of deaths has increased. It is difficult to measure whether bicycling is also becoming more dangerous in comparison, because there are no national statistics kept on the popularity of riding bicycles.

Still, bike safety advocates agree that even one death is too many, and that changes, like better bike lanes, are needed.

The problem is particularly severe in Florida. In Florida, 120 bicyclists were killed in 2012. Both in terms of raw numbers and as a percentage of the population, Florida has ranked as the deadliest state for bicycle riders in the country for many years. The state’s death rate for bicycle riders is three times higher than the national rate, and Tampa and Orlando are consistently ranked as the nation’s deadliest metropolitan areas for bicyclists.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The study used neuroimaging of the brain, which has been accepted as a method of estimating the age of healthy individuals. The researchers compared 99 patients with TBI and persistent neurological problems to 113 healthy people. Eighty-three percent of the TBI patients had moderate to severe brain injuries and 17 percent had mild injuries.

The study found that the neuroimaging model was able to predict the age of the healthy individuals with a high degree of accuracy. However, the model predicted TBI patients to be older than they actually were, and the degree of the discrepancy was correlated with the severity of their injuries.

The researchers concluded that TBI may trigger ongoing neurodegenerative processes that lead to progressive atrophy and hasten the brain’s aging process, though brain atrophy was only significant in TBI patients with moderate to severe brain injuries.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Each mask represented a person whose life was altered by a brain injury. Information – including the person’s job before the injury and the cause of the injury (often a car crash) – was displayed alongside the masks. The organization’s website still features more detailed stories of the survivors, including their recovery struggle and BIAF’s efforts to assist them.

One such story is that of Laurel Griefer, who was a successful young lobbyist and engaged to be married in 1988 when she walked out of a bridal shop holding her wedding dress, and into the path of a vehicle. Laurel, now 61, has lived with brain injury for nearly half her life. She relies on family and community support, and she enriches her life by volunteering.

Representative Fred Costello (Port Orange) and Senator Aaron Bean (Jacksonville) issued both Senate and House Resolutions designating March 2015 as Brain Injury Awareness Month for Florida.

To learn more about the stories of brain injury survivors, visit www.biaf.org.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The crash involved a high-speed chase on the Courtney Campbell Causeway Bridge in the Tampa Bay area. Williamson was riding at the front of a group of motorcyclists, and police reports recorded that a Clearwater police officer clocked him at 120 miles per hour. The officer, Nick Giordano, reached a speed of 145 mph chasing Williamson. The family claims that Giordano’s pursuit was reckless.

Williamson’s motorcycle crashed into the back of a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser that was stationed at a construction zone. An FHP report found Williamson at fault for the accident. Williamson’s father believes that the FHP cruiser deliberately pulled in front of his son.

Both the Florida Highway Patrol and the Clearwater Police Department are named as defendants in the wrongful death lawsuit.

The Clearwater Police Department would not comment on the lawsuit, but records show that Giordano was disciplined after the crash for attempting to stop two different drivers when the speed of the motorcyclists indicated a “reckless disregard” for the safety of the public.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Alexis Fairchild and Sidney Good were both 17 and vacationing in Florida in 2013 when their parasail broke loose from a motorboat, causing them to drift through the air, striking a condominium building and dropping onto cars in a parking lot. The girls suffered severe brain injuries and have needed extensive rehabilitation.

Their families filed a lawsuit against the rental company, the parasailing company, the condominium where the families were staying, and the manufacturer and wholesaler of the tow rope. Attorneys for the families said that the amount of the settlement was confidential and was equal for both girls. They stressed that although the girls will be secure for the rest of their lives, the settlement was by no means a windfall. The funds will be needed to pay for medical treatment and basic needs. Due to their brain injuries, Good has ongoing vision problems and Fairchild has difficulties with communication.

The girls and their families also lobbied for changes to Florida law. Parasailing companies in the state now operate under high wind restrictions and must carry insurance.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

A state senator and two state representatives have filed bills that would make texting while driving a primary offense, add penalties when a fatal crash occurs because of a driver using a cell phone, and ban cell phone use in school zones.

The “Ban on Texting While Driving” law was passed by the state legislature in 2012. Florida was the 41st state to pass such legislation. 

However, in Florida, texting while behind the wheel has been established as a secondary offense — meaning that police officers must have a separate reason to pull a driver over. They can only issue a ticket for texting while driving in addition to the citation for the other offense.

The current law also allows for several exceptions, such as using a cellphone for GPS navigation or to listen to music. Officers must be able to testify that the driver was not using the phone for one of these exceptions, which is difficult to do, since cell phone data is not available unless a serious accident occurs.

Officials said texting while driving, and other forms of distracted driving, are a major cause of car accidents, and they can be just as dangerous as driving drunk.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Tedi Brown, a resident of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, suffered severe injuries and a permanent disability after she fell from the Waltzing Swinger ride at the theme park in December 2013, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed against Dolly Parton Productions Inc. and Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. in U.S. District Court.

According to the lawsuit, Brown and her husband asked a park employee if the ride was safe in the wintry conditions, and they were told not to worry. When the ride came to a stop, Brown lifted her lap bar, not realizing that her seat was still ten feet in the air. She then lost her grip on the lap bar due to the slick conditions and fell to the pavement. The lawsuit alleges that Dollywood failed to close the ride when slick conditions made it unsafe and failed to warn patrons not to lift the lap bar until the ride had fully descended.

The lawsuit states that Brown suffered a brain injury as well as a broken jaw, torn ligaments and neck and spine injuries. The lawsuit seeks $475,000 in damages, plus costs.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

At the December 2014 sentencing, Krystopher Adrian Legg apologized for his actions. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of oxycodone and offered testimony in related trials. As part of a larger operation, Legg transported people from Ohio to Florida to purchase the prescription drug illegally.

U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger said that Legg will receive credit for the three years and 11 months he has served already. He received a reduction in his sentence in exchange for cooperating with prosecutors.

Legg was accused of responsibility for the death of Robert Lee Johnson, a 25-year-old man who died in April 2010 in a Jacksonville motel room after being prescribed 300 oxycodone pills. Johnson received the prescription at the Duval Wellness Center, which was shut down by authorities in July 2010.

Prosecutors said that Johnson was part of a group that Legg repeatedly drove from Columbus, Ohio to Jacksonville in a vehicle that resembled a church bus. Johnson’s cause of death was listed as oxycodone toxicity.

Legg was charged, along with 14 others, in an investigation of Jacksonville pill mills. He testified for the prosecution in a federal trial of three doctors, an investor and a clinic employee that ended in acquittal after the testimony of another cooperating witness was called into question.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Travis Joseph Miller, 25, died on July 28 when he was crushed between an exterior wall and an elevator shaft during the construction of a dormitory building at FSU.

On December 23, Miller’s parents, Richard Miller and Rebecca Rimes, gave notice to the chair of the FSU Board of Trustees and Florida’s Department of Financial Service that they intended to file a lawsuit over their son’s death. The parents claim that the university breached its duty to maintain the construction site in a safe manner and to properly supervise employees.

Miller was employed by a subcontractor for Culpepper Construction, which was building the multi-story dormitory building. Miller was sitting in an open window when the elevator descended, pulling him into a one-and-a-half inch space between the elevator and the building. Miller had been conversing with co-workers. They immediately called for the elevator operator to reascend, but Miller was already dead.

The family contends that a plywood barrier was normally kept in the open window to prevent such accidents, but that it had been removed.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Traumatic brain injury has long been a significant cause of disability and death in children age one year and older, but the new study, which analyzed head trauma in more then 40,000 child patients, found that the causes varied by age.

For younger children, the most common cause of brain injuries was found to be falls, while for teenagers, auto accidents, assaults and sports injuries were the most frequent causes.

The study analyzed emergency room visits in 25 hospitals from 2004-2006.

Falls were the cause of 77 percent of the injuries in children younger than age two, but only 38 percent of the injuries in children from age two to age 12.

For children age 13 to 17, assaults were the cause of 24 percent of head injuries. Sports incidents accounted for 19 percent of the injuries, and auto accidents accounted for 18 percent.

When a child or adult suffers a traumatic brain injury, the results can seriously impact the person’s health. If the injury was caused by another person’s carelessness, then the victim may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The following is an excerpted transcript of the proceedings:

THE COURT: Okay. Well, let me tell you this. As you know – I don’t know how much I make, 75, 80 dollars an hour. I’ve been a lawyer since 1970. I did award Mr. Joyce $600 an hour in the past. And his, I want to say, workmanship, his cross-examination is astonishing, the way he handles witnesses, witnesses for the defense, experts. I mean, he’s very good. Six hundred dollars an hour I know is high end. There’s only a few lawyers in town that I think are worth $600 an hour. I think $600 an hour is a reasonable rate for him. It kind of hurts me because I only make like 75, 80 bucks an hour and I’m – you know, I’ve got probably the same number of years that he has and I’ve got – but he’s probably, on his cross-examination, top, top in town. I mean, can’t be too many more better than him. So I have to give him that rate of $600 an hour. All right?

Mr. Joyce won this fee petition matter, meaning that defense counsel had to pay his attorney’s fees. When you hire Joyce & Reyes to represent you in a personal injury lawsuit, you pay no fee unless we win your case. The court’s statements above are an indication of the value you receive.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

William Packard was prescribed Xarelto in January 2012 to treat a nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. In June 2012, Packard suffered a subdural hemorrhage, or hematoma. Excess blood collected between the layers of tissue around the brain, causing pressure on the brain. Packard was admitted to the hospital, where doctors attempted to alleviate the pressure by drilling a burr hole through the scalp. However, the procedure was not enough to save Packard’s life.

In her lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Bayer AG, the manufacturers of Xarelto, Nancy Packard alleges that the defendants did not provide proper warnings about the risks of taking the drug — particularly about the fact that excessive bleeding could be irreversible. When other anticoagulants, such as warfarin, are used, vitamin K injections can be used to stimulate blood clotting in case of excessive bleeding. However, there is no such antidote for Xarelto.

Packard also alleges that the defendants’ marketing of the drug failed to acknowledge the danger of irreversible bleeding.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, seeking compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $75,000.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Michele Gonzalez and Jorge Gonzalez-Betancourt were convicted of racketeering and drug trafficking charges in March. The married couple were the owners of 1st Medical Group, a licensed pain clinic that prosecutors say the pair used as a front to sell opioid prescriptions to addicts and dealers, some of whom traveled from faraway states to reach the supplier.

The trial lasted four and a half months, with five days of jury deliberation. At sentencing, the Gonzalezes and their former office manager, Maureen Altman, were each sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Gonzalezes were each fined $750,000, and Altman was fined $500,000. Altman was the only defendant to address the court, saying that she took the job in order to support herself.

Judge Caroline Tesche said the defendants were responsible for an organized criminal enterprise that profited on the backs of addicts.

People who have suffered harm due to improper prescription and dispensation of drugs may be able to obtain compensation by pursuing a pharmaceutical negligence lawsuit. Contact Joyce & Reyes to learn more about your rights.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Wolfe was seen on airport security cameras at about 1:00 a.m. on March 15, 2013, when he entered an elevator on the third floor of the airport terminal. Officials said he took the elevator to the parking garage on the seventh floor. His body was found later that morning on top of the elevator car, which was stuck on the first floor. An airport police report said that Wolfe appeared to have forced the elevator doors open, but the lawsuit claims that his death was caused by an elevator malfunction.

The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Wolfe’s death an accident and determined that he was intoxicated at the time of his death. The lawsuit claims that Schindler Elevator Corp. breached its duty to properly maintain, inspect and repair the elevator, and that Wolfe’s death was caused by negligence on the part of Schindler and the aviation authority.

An airport spokesman said that the elevators were inspected and found to be safe.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

In October 2013, Sean McNamee, a Wharton High School student, was injured during a game of catch with his teammates before football practice. McNamee jumped for a pass and struck his head on a machine used to paint lines on the field. He was able to drive himself home after the incident, but later spent nine days at Florida Hospital in a medically induced coma to reduce brain swelling.

The lawsuit accuses the school district of failing to provide proper medical care after the injury and of failing to notify the boy’s parents. The family is seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, lost companionship and other damages.

The medical expenses incurred by the family total more than $200,000, which is the maximum payout authorized for agencies like school districts under Florida law.

The school district previously stated that McNamee was escorted off the field to speak to a trainer after the injury, but attorneys for the family said that video footage from the field shows that McNamee was left unattended for minutes at a time and was permitted to leave school unsupervised. According to the family’s attorneys, the school district was negligent in failing to follow a protocol for head injuries.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

A study by Governing magazine found that four of the five cities with the highest per capita pedestrian fatality rates are in Florida. This follows an earlier study by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition that ranked the top four deadliest cities in the country for pedestrians as Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami. 

The Tampa Bay area recorded 403 deaths in five years, the highest pedestrian fatality rate in the country.

The League of American Bicyclists compiled data on bicyclist fatalities and found Florida to be the deadliest state for bicyclists as well. Florida’s rate of 21.7 bicyclist fatalities per 10,000 bicycle commuters is nearly double the rate of Arizona, the next closest state.

According to researchers, the danger originates in part from an automobile-based, suburban-sprawl pattern of development, which is more common in the Sunbelt communities, which saw rapid post-war growth. Low-density neighborhoods connected by wide streets allow cars to move faster, but they are often not designed with pedestrians and bicyclists in mind.

Researchers said that action by transportation officials, such as installing bike lanes and illuminating crosswalks, can have a positive impact on reducing fatalities.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

In August 2012, Steven Goodman was sentenced for providing more than 1 million prescription pills to the owners of “pain management” clinics in Wellington, Florida. 

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra sentenced Goodman to 30 months of house arrest in his home near St. Petersburg because, he said, the prison system could not accommodate a person of his size. Goodman weighs 551 pounds.

The twin brothers who owned the clinics, Jeffrey and Christopher George, were sentenced to 15.5 and 14 years respectively for illegally disbursing pain pills at several South Florida locations.

Goodman requested that the last seven months of his sentence be nullified, because it is nearly impossible for him to leave his home in any case due to his size. Goodman claimed that he suffers from an incurable disease of the lymph system and a heart condition, and that his doctor has given him six to 12 months to live.

Judge Marra denied the request, saying that Goodman was sentenced to house arrest not as a favor to the defendant, but in order to spare the prison system the burden of his care.

If you need to speak with a personal injury attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The bill was introduced by Senator Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. It may have little chance of passing this year, but the proposed legislation is seen as a response to car safety violations that have led to deaths. GM has been a particular target after a defective ignition switch on recalled vehicles was linked to at least 13 deaths. 

Sen. McCaskill called GM executives before a Senate committee on two occasions earlier this year to question them about the recall. GM engineers allegedly attempted to cover up the defect by changing a part without changing the part number. Investigators working for personal injury attorneys uncovered the change.

The proposed legislation, the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Enhancement Act, would raise penalties for car safety violations from $5,000 to $25,000 per violation. It would eliminate the current cap on penalties at $35 million. In addition, under the bill, federal prosecutors could seek sentences of up to life in prison for those involved with safety violations that cause death.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Zachary Timothy Rose pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and was facing up to 30 years in prison, but he received a reduced sentence after he testified against doctors who worked with him and employees of the clinics he owned.

The three Jacksonville pain clinics brought in approximately $9.5 million from their opening in December 2009 to July 2010, when they were closed. Many buyers of Xanax and oxycodone traveled there from Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee, intending to sell the drugs in their home state for a profit.

Rose testified against five of his former associates, including three doctors who wrote thousands of prescriptions, an investor and a manager. Rose said the men knew they were working for an illegal pill mill, but all five men were acquitted after their defense attorneys portrayed Rose as the mastermind and a con artist.

Prosecutors said that the pill mills took advantage of individuals with serious drug addictions and caused injury to innocent people.

Individuals who are taken advantage of by unscrupulous doctors and pill mills in this way may be entitled to compensation through a lawsuit for pharmaceutical negligence. Contact Joyce & Reyes to learn more.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The payment has settled all state and federal claims against the jail and its employees. Michael DeGraw filed suit over the death of his wife, Jennifer DeGraw, who was found dead in her cell on March 24, 2009.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who was not sheriff at the time of the death, has said that Ms. DeGraw should never have been arrested. When Ms. DeGraw arrived at her husband’s workplace in the midst of an apparent psychotic episode, he called authorities, expecting his wife to be involuntarily hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act.

However, Ms. DeGraw allegedly kicked a deputy, and she was taken to jail, where she refused food and medicine. She died of a heart attack that resulted from an electrolyte imbalance after spending eight days there.

Gualtieri said that the testimony of a former jail psychiatrist, who admitted that he knew the woman was suffering but took no action, was particularly damaging.

In February, a federal jury decided that former Sheriff Jim Coats was “deliberately indifferent” to DeGraw’s medical condition and recommended an award of $975,000 in damages.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, studied emergency department visits from a nationwide sample of hospitals from 2006 to 2010. During that period, the number of total emergency room visits grew by 3.6 percent, but the number of people seeking help for traumatic brain injuries increased by 29.1 percent.

Researchers postulated that a number of factors could be involved in the increase. It is possible that there has been an actual increase in the number of traumatic brain injuries suffered by Americans; it is also possible that more people have learned that concussions and other brain injuries need to be taken seriously, prompting them to visit emergency rooms when such injuries occur.

The study accounted for several types of traumatic brain injury. The incidence of concussions grew by 22 percent. Unspecified head injuries saw a 38 percent increase, and the number of skull fractures grew by 8 percent.

There was a slight increase in the proportion of brain injuries designated as “minor” (from 85.4 percent in 2006 to 87.3 percent in 2010). The proportion of “routine discharges” of patients after an emergency room visit also increased slightly (from 75.2 percent to 81.3 percent over the same time period).

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the Broward County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to bring the “dangerous drug dealer” to justice.

Dr. Thomas Rodenberg was found guilty of trafficking in oxycodone, racketeering, conspiracy and delivery of oxycodone and other prescription drugs by a jury. He was arrested in August 2012, along with 10 others, after an investigation of a medical clinic in Pompano Beach.

Undercover officers said they visited the clinic posing as patients and were prescribed controlled substances without showing a legitimate medical need. The officers received 55 prescriptions for different controlled substances, including almost 3,000 doses of oxycodone.

Bondi said that Florida has seen a decline in deaths related to prescription drug abuse in part because of crackdowns like this one.

When pill mills prescribe a medication that causes injury or death, they can be held liable, and victims and their families can recover compensation through a lawsuit. At Joyce & Reyes, we have extensive experience with this type of litigation. If you or a loved one has suffered harm as the result of an unscrupulous doctor or pain clinic, contact Joyce & Reyes for a confidential, no-cost consultation.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The study included nearly 5,000 public school students from 11 to 20 years old in Ontario, Canada. The students were asked whether they had ever suffered TBI (defined as a head injury that resulted in at least five minutes of unconsciousness or at least one overnight stay at a hospital). Their mental and emotional health was then assessed with a questionnaire on symptoms of anxiety, depression and social dysfunction. They were asked whether they had ever considered or attempted suicide, contacted a crisis hotline or been prescribed medication for anxiety or depression.

Twenty percent of students reported TBI to the researchers. Compared to those who did not report TBI, those who did were more than three times as likely to have attempted suicide, nearly twice as likely to have thought about suicide and 2.45 times as likely to have been prescribed psychotropic medication.

Currently, modern medicine has very little ability to treat concussions directly and only moderate ability to treat the lasting debilitating symptoms. Our best weapon is prevention. Make sure your children wear helmets while riding bicycles. If they engage in high-impact sports, make sure they wear helmets when appropriate. Consider speaking with athletic officials about their policy concerning TBI prevention and response.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

But the two services’ problems are more than regulatory. Uber and Lyft also face questions of liability in case of accidents and provisions for sufficient insurance coverage.

Each company has stated that it has excess liability insurance of up to $1 million per accident. That insurance takes over if the driver’s personal insurance is exhausted. Uber has expanded its insurance coverage several times already in 2014. In March, the company began covering the period when a driver has the app active but is not carrying passengers. That gap in coverage came to light when a driver in San Francisco struck and killed a 6-year-old girl. He was logged into his Uber app but was not carrying passengers.

Lyft operates slightly differently than Uber in that it markets itself more as a “ridesharing” service than a “vehicle for hire” service. Drivers do not directly charge fares; instead, passengers give them “donations.” These designations could add yet another layer of confusion over liability after the inevitable accidents that occur in any transportation service.

Regulators in Ohio and California have issued consumer alerts warning of possible gaps in liability insurance for so-called “transportation networking companies” (TNCs). A recent alert from the Ohio Insurance Director named medical payments coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and comprehensive coverage as possible shortcomings in TNC insurance.

If you need to speak with a auto accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) conducted a study of insurance claims on vehicles due to fires unrelated to crashes. The vehicles were divided into two categories: a group of those for which a recall was issued due to fire-related defects, and the control group, for which no such recalls were issued.

As you would expect, the study showed a significantly higher rate of fire-related insurance claims on the defective vehicles. During the time period before the recall was issued, claims on defective vehicles were 23 percent higher than non-defective vehicles. But, importantly, that gap shrank to 12 percent in the time following the issuance of the recall.

The study demonstrates that issuing a recall makes a significant difference in the rate of defect-related damage – in this case, it was cut in half. But it also shows that aggregate risk remains elevated even after the recall. An exact conclusion on this second point was beyond the scope of the study, but researchers reasonably theorized that some vehicle owners were unaware of the recall or failed to comply with it.

Auto owners can check for recalls on their cars by going to safecar.gov.

The biggest vehicle recall of the moment has been issued by General Motors. GM has recalled some 6 million cars of various models for faulty ignition switches and power steering. GM itself has linked the faulty ignitions with 13 deaths and 31 crashes. Some claim the number is higher.

The ignition switch may cause the engine to suddenly shut off while driving, which also prevents the airbags from inflating if the car then crashes. A crash is quite likely; many drivers are startled and confused when their vehicles suddenly turn off for no reason.

GM has issued urgent guidance to owners of the recalled vehicles. Owners should, of course, take their cars to GM service stations as soon as possible. But if they must drive in the meantime, they should drive with nothing extra hanging from the vehicle’s key – no extra keys or key fobs. Apparently, the weight of larger keychains pulling down on the key makes the defective ignition more likely to malfunction.

Recalls are almost always free of charge. Do your part to make driving safer – look for and heed vehicle recalls.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

In the predawn hours of a recent Friday, Ronald J. Sandalic, a 57-year-old homeless man, was struck by a car on East Bloomingdale Avenue. Madison A. Dvorak, 19, was behind the wheel of the 2005 Ford Focus. Sandalic was thrown some distance and landed in the middle of the road.

Ricky Polk, 56, of Temple Terrace, reports seeing Dvorak jumping up and down and crying on the road’s shoulder before his car hit Sandalic as he lay in the roadway. Polk also pulled over and tried warning other drivers. But he couldn’t stop a third car, driven by John Gallagher, 57, from hitting the man. Gallagher also stopped and tried to help.

Then the story takes an even worse turn. The witnesses say the man was struck by two more pickup trucks. But those drivers did not stop. Instead, they simply sped away.

Sandalic was almost certainly dead before the hit-and-run drivers ran over him, and those drivers would likely not have faced any charges. But simple human compassion and responsibility says those drivers should have stopped, tried to help and given a statement to the police.

If you or a loved one are injured or killed in an auto accident, consult an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The industry calls these systems “front crash prevention systems,” and in a big step forward for the technology, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has begun rating their performance, much the same way as they rate how well cars protect occupants during various types of collisions.

The key part of the technology is a radar system incorporated into the front of the car that detects other vehicles or pedestrians in the car’s path. The system will then provide audible and visible warnings to the driver if there is a danger of collision. Many models with the warning technology also offer a component called Autobrake. Autobrake enables a car to apply the brakes without any driver input if a collision is imminent. Depending on a number of variables, any given collision may either be avoided completely or occur at a dramatically reduced speed.

Models earned an “advanced” or “superior” rating based on the performance of their Autobrake capabilities. Those vehicles equipped with warning systems but no Autobrake earned a “basic” rating. The best performing system came from Subaru. The other manufacturers to earn a superior rating were Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.

If you need to speak with a auto accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The potential of V2V communication to reduce accidents by warning drivers of safety hazards has already been demonstrated in tests both in controlled conditions and real-world roads.

V2V communication can help a driver know whether it is safe to pass on a two-lane road or make a left turn across the path of oncoming traffic. By enabling cars to communicate from distances of several hundred yards, it warns of potential threats that neither drivers nor onboard sensors can reliably detect.

In August 2012, the Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a year-long pilot program in Ann Arbor, Mich., deploying some 3,000 vehicles with V2V technology. The test demonstrated the ability of vehicles and communication systems from various manufacturers to operate together successfully. The NHTSA is working to finalize its report on the study, which will cover feasibility and a preliminary cost/benefit analysis. The agency will then start working on a regulatory proposal to require V2V technology in new vehicles at some point in the future.

The applications of V2V currently in development do not automatically operate any vehicle systems, unlike features currently available on some models that apply the brakes if a collision is imminent. However, V2V communication is one key to enabling a future of self-driving cars.

That nascent technology is being advanced under a separate ongoing study here in Florida. The Tampa Bay Times reported that a stretch of Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando has been outfitted with radio devices that feed the cars information about road and traffic conditions.

Companies including Google, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan all have working prototype vehicles that can operate without any driver input under some conditions.

Florida has become a hotbed of activity in the burgeoning self-driving car industry. It is one of only four states to explicitly permit the use of experimental self-driving cars on public roads. Advocates of the technology say it could dramatically cut accident rates – eventually by 90 percent or more, some claim.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

A jury in Broward County convicted Dr. Thomas Rodenberg, 54, of 14 criminal charges. These included trafficking of oxycodone (a narcotic painkiller), racketeering, illegal delivery of controlled substances and conspiracy.

In 2012, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency led an investigation into the pain clinic where Rodenberg was employed. It resulted in the arrest of 11 people. During the sting, which spanned three years, undercover police posed as patients and obtained medically unnecessary prescriptions for controlled substances.

According to police, undercover officers obtained 55 prescriptions for nearly 3,000 doses of oxycodone.

Many people legitimately suffer from debilitating pain and need narcotic painkillers to cope. Unfortunately, the lure of personal profit drives some unscrupulous doctors and clinics to prescribe the drug for their own financial gain, not according to the true needs of patients.

If you have been injured due to pharmaceutical negligence or pill mills, contact the attorneys at Joyce and Reyes.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The NFL has partnered with GE to provide $20 million in grants to researchers working to advance the diagnosis and treatment of mild TBI. They recently announced 16 winners in the first stage of the “Head Health Challenge.” Each winner will receive a $300,000 research grant, and up to six more will receive a further $500,000 in 2015.

Over 400 entries from 27 countries were received in the contest. Its stated goal is to improve safety for athletes, military troops and the general public.

Banyan Biomarkers, Inc. of Alachua, Florida is one winner. The company is developing a blood test to rapidly detect mild and moderate brain trauma. Banyan researchers will work with University of Florida athletes to study biomarkers, cognitive testing and neuroimaging on athletes with concussions.

Another winner is the University of California, Santa Barbara. The UCSB Brain Imaging Center is developing computer software to identify individual damaged brain connections using MRI scans.

Accurate diagnosis of TBI remains difficult, treatment even more so. TBI is very common among auto accident victims, and its debilitating effects can last for years.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

According to the NTSB, 90 percent of all transportation-related deaths occur in motor vehicle accidents. Many of these involve alcohol or drug impairment and are therefore considered completely avoidable. In the past decade, more than 119,000 people have been killed in auto accidents involving alcohol impairment. According to a AAA study, about one in seven drivers admits to having driven when suspecting him- or herself to be over or close to the legal BAC limit.

The problem extends beyond alcohol. Over-the-counter, prescription and illegal drugs can also cause impairment. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that more than 10 million people admitted to driving under the influence of illegal drugs within the previous year.

Efforts to prevent impaired driving can be divided into general deterrents and specific deterrents. General deterrents are aimed at the general public, and they include legal limits on blood alcohol content (BAC) and high-visibility enforcement campaigns. Specific deterrents are used to encourage those who have been caught driving while impaired to refrain from doing so again. These include jail terms, fines and license revocation.

The NTSB points out that conventional deterrents are often ineffective in cases where the individual has a substance abuse problem. Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) courts aim to change offender behavior by focusing on accountability and long-term treatment with close, comprehensive supervision.

The agency has also highlighted technological advances for curbing impaired driving. Passive alcohol sensors are small electronic devices built into police flashlights or clipboards that detect alcohol in the ambient air. They do not require a suspect’s cooperation, as they can work from outside a vehicle’s open window. Ignition interlock devices can be installed in offenders’ cars, requiring them to breathe into the device for a BAC reading before the car can be started.

The NTSB advocates a reduction of the BAC at which a driver is presumed impaired from the current 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. It also recommends incorporating the use of passive alcohol sensors into enforcement efforts, expanding the use of ignition interlocks and developing best practices for DWI courts.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The IIHS recently subjected 11 popular minicar models to its toughest crash test, and just one protected its crash test dummies well enough to earn a rating of “acceptable.” To be sure, the IIHS tests — especially the small overlap front crash test — are very strenuous.

In the federal government’s frontal crash test, the car strikes a rigid barrier, fully head-on, at 35 mph. The IIHS moderate overlap front crash test sends each car into a deformable barrier at 40 mph, with just 40 percent of the vehicle’s front end (on the driver’s side) absorbing the impact. This concentrates the force of the collision onto a smaller area of the car, increasing the likelihood of structural failure and “injury” to the crash test dummy.

The IIHS small overlap front crash test, introduced in 2012, is tougher still. It too is conducted at 40 mph, but just 25 percent of the vehicle’s front end (on the driver’s side) absorbs the impact, and the barrier the vehicle strikes is rigid. This is the type of impact a vehicle would experience if it struck a large tree or utility pole head-on on the driver’s side.

The IIHS gives each car an overall rating and ratings for each of several distinct categories. The possible ratings are “good,” “acceptable,” “marginal” and “poor.” Just one of the 11 cars tested — the Chevrolet Spark — earned an overall “acceptable” rating. The rest were rated either “marginal” or “poor”, including the popular Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Prius c and Ford Fiesta.

All vehicles were given structural ratings of “marginal” or “poor”, but the Spark scored better overall because the dummy’s movement was better restricted and showed lower injury levels.

The IIHS reminds consumers that the Spark compares favorably only with other vehicles in its own class. The ratings the institute bestows cannot be compared across different weight classes of automobile. Among the 17 “small cars” the IIHS has tested (which are just slightly larger and heavier than minicars), five earned “good” ratings and another five earned “acceptable” ratings.

If you decide a that smaller car is right for you, it is very important to check out crash test ratings and, of course, drive cautiously. If you are involved in a serious auto accident, you need all the help you can get.

If you need to speak with a auto accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Researchers enrolled 948 individuals from four states in the study, all of whom had been in auto accidents. More than 70 percent of them reported persistent pain in one or more regions of the body six weeks after their accident. More than 30 percent reported pain in more than three body regions.

Among the 83 percent not planning litigation, persistent pain was still common. Just 17 percent of the 948 people reported contacting an attorney for planned litigation at the six-week mark. More than 25 percent of this group suffered moderate to severe neck pain, and 13 percent had widespread pain in more than six body regions.

Some misguided individuals view those who sue after an auto accident as opportunists or fakes. But if you have suffered pain, medical expenses and missed work because of an accident, you know that the losses and suffering are real. Judgments against those who cause accidents represent justice being served.

Some accident victims believe that they should “tough it out” and wait for the pain to go away, but many injuries require specialized treatment, which can be expensive, and others may never fully heal. If you have been the victim of an auto accident, do not let pride cloud your judgment. Speak with an experienced personal injury attorney today.

If you need to speak with a auto accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Dr. Robert L. Ignasiak, 58, was known as “Dr. Bob” in Freeport, Florida. For a period of several years, he worked as the only physician in town. Ignasiak was first convicted in November 2009 of improperly prescribing hydrocodone and other painkillers to patients.

On November 3, 2012, while awaiting a second trial, Ignasiak disappeared. Investigators found the doctor’s car near Seagrove Beach. Inside was a suicide note and what appeared to be blood. But police suspected that the suicide was staged, and they found Ignasiak alive and well in Coral Springs in September 2013.

A month later, Ignasiak pleaded guilty to the original charges, and on January 14, 2014, he was sentenced on 29 counts of illegal distribution of controlled substances and 12 counts of health care fraud.

The doctor ran his pill mill out of Freeport Medical Clinic from 2001 to 2005, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office, developing a reputation for freely prescribing narcotic painkillers.

Prosecutors said that even after he became aware that patients were abusing the drugs he had prescribed, he continued to do so, contributing to the deaths of several individuals.

If you have been injured, or if a family member has died because of improperly prescribed drugs, consult with an experienced pill mill attorney who can explain your options.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Dr. Melanie Rosenblatt is director of pain management at Broward Health North in Deerfield Beach. In the hour-long documentary “Pain Matters,” she explains that understanding addiction is crucial to pain management. She says that doctors need to consider all options when treating pain patients, not just high doses of opiates, which can actually make pain worse in the long run.

Alternative and complementary treatments include nerve blockers, surgery, behavioral and psychological therapy, spinal cord stimulators, physical therapy, exercise, topical treatments, and non-opiate medications like muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories.

The documentary covers six patients who struggled with and overcame chronic pain, including a two-time Stanley Cup-winning hockey player and an injured Iraq war veteran.

Before the state’s pill mill crackdown, Florida was home to clinics dispensing astronomical amounts of of pain pills—to legitimate patients, addicts, and drug dealers from all over the country. Their numbers have dwindled, but Rosenblatt points out that some doctors still prescribe addictive narcotics such as oxycodone in amounts she calls “egregious.”

Chronic pain can be devastating to patients and their loved ones. Increased awareness of alternative treatments and the dangers of addiction hopefully will lead to less need for narcotic painkillers.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Tarpon Springs police said Joshua Saunders was northbound on U.S. 19 when he collided with the dump truck, which was also northbound. Saunders was declared dead at the scene. His father, Michael Saunders, identified him.

Yusdel Canete, 29, of Tampa, was driving the dump truck. Police have filed no charges in the case.

When a driver runs into the back of another vehicle, it is reasonable to presume that the rear driver is responsible for the accident. However, this is not always the case. For instance, the lead driver may have pulled out from an intersection or changed lanes into the path of the rear driver without a safe margin. The lead driver may have unnecessarily stopped short or may even have had malfunctioning brake lights. In the case of a dump truck, it is possible the truck was loaded beyond capacity and presented an increased danger to passenger vehicles in the event of a collision.

When an auto accident is presumably the fault of one party, it is easy to overlook the role that the other driver may have played in causing the collision. In that case, it is especially important that an experienced auto accident attorney be retained to assist in investigating the collision.

If you need to speak with a car accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Reporter Jan Hoffman tells the story of 96-year-old Eryetha Mayberry, an Oklahoma City nursing home resident with dementia. Mayberry’s daughter, Doris Racher, noticed that a few of her mother’s belongings had gone missing from her room at the nursing home. She thought it might be another resident with dementia who often wandered into Mayberry’s room.

Racher bought a tiny hidden camera disguised as an alarm clock and placed it on her mother’s nightstand. No further thefts occurred for some weeks, and Racher nearly forgot about the camera. But she eventually decided to go through the recordings anyway. What she saw shocked her.

A nursing home aide was seen stuffing latex gloves into Mayberry’s mouth while another teased her, tapping on her head and laughing at her. They hoisted her from her wheelchair and flung her on the bed, whereupon one gave her rough chest compressions, Hoffman reports. Mayberry died soon after.

In the wake of that incident, on November 1, 2012, Oklahoma became the third state – following Texas and New Mexico – to explicitly allow residents in long-term care facilities to place surveillance cameras in their rooms. In the past two years, lawmakers in at least five states have proposed similar laws.

Most such efforts have been stymied by concerns of privacy rights raised by employee unions and facility owners, but families of residents nevertheless are using the so-called “granny cams” in increasing numbers.

Even government agencies are using them. The New York state attorney general’s office has used the cameras for years in patient neglect and abuse cases. The office recently demonstrated its methods to investigators from other states at a national conference.

In June, 2012, Ohio state attorney general Mike DeWine announced that cameras had been placed in residents’ rooms – with permission from their families – at unspecified facilities throughout the state. DeWine has since moved to shutter a facility in Zanesville, where he says cameras caught an aide repeatedly leaving food beside a resident who was completely unable to feed himself.

But surveillance raises legal and ethical questions. For instance, residents often have roommates, who have the right not to be monitored. Maryland law says cameras must be fixed and pointed directly at the intended resident. Facilities that permit cameras often require families who use them to post a notice to that effect on the resident’s door.

A family’s decision to place a camera in their loved one’s room must be weighed carefully, but in all cases, families should watch carefully for signs of abuse.

If you need to speak with a Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The good news is that auto accident fatalities are still well below the recent highs recorded in 2005. That year, there were 43,510 deaths on American roads. This year’s figures represent the first statistically significant increase since 1995.

In addition to these fatality totals, auto accident fatalities can also be usefully measured as a rate per miles traveled. After all, if the total number of miles traveled rises or falls, one would expect the number of injuries and deaths to move in the same direction. It turns out that the fatality rate rose by nearly the same percentage as the overall number of deaths. The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) rose from 1.10 to 1.14 — an increase of 3.6 percent. The injury rate rose somewhat more steeply, from 75 to 80 per 100 million VMT — an increase of 6.7 percent.

The report noted that no one particular factor accounted for a large portion of the increase in deaths. In fact, crashes associated with some high-risk factors decreased in 2012. For instance, fatal crashes involving young drivers have continued to decline, as they have since 2005.

However, fatalities among motorcyclists, pedestrians and pedalcyclists increased at rates slightly higher than those of the overall 3.3 percent fatality increase. Motorcyclist deaths increased by 7.1 percent, pedestrian deaths by 6.4 percent and pedalcyclist deaths by 6.5 percent.

Fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving increased by 4.6 percent in 2012. Particularly notable is the fact that crashes in which one or more drivers were legally intoxicated account for nearly one third of total deaths on the road. When one considers that the vast majority of drivers never drive drunk, and even those who do engage in such reckless behavior tend not to do so very often, it is plain to see that drunk drivers die (and cause deaths) at an astronomically higher rate than sober drivers.

Although an increase in fatal accidents is discouraging, the NHTSA report must be viewed in a larger context. Deadly crashes have fallen at a significant rate for several years. The nation continues to make headway in road safety. When the statistics for 2013 and beyond begin to be tallied, we may very well learn that last year’s numbers were simply an anomaly in a long downtrend.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Abuse comes in many forms. Following is a non-exhaustive list of the types of abuse to which a nursing home resident may be subjected:

• Physical: force causing injury or pain.
• Emotional: infliction of emotional distress.
• Sexual: any non-consensual sexual activity imposed on a patient.
• Neglect: failure to adequately supervise a patient or to provide for his or her needs.
• Financial/Material: use of a patient’s money or possessions for personal gain.

Watch out for warning signs that may indicate abuse:

• Physical marks. Injuries and bruises are, of course, cause for alarm. Even if a plausible explanation is given, they may indicate a lack of supervision. Poor hygiene or an unkempt appearance could indicate neglect.
• Changes in behavior. Some gradual changes in behavior are expected as people age, but if a loved one suddenly becomes fearful, withdrawn or upset, that could indicate serious abuse.
• Changes in finances. Missing money or transfers of savings to another person are suspect, as is the use or taking of a patient’s personal property by a caregiver. Also, watch out for unexplained additions of unneeded services to your loved one’s care.

If you need to speak with a Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The van was carrying at least 10 parishioners from the Gospel of the Kingdom Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The churchgoers were near Chipley, eastbound on Interstate 10 on their way to Tallahassee, when a rear tire blew out. The driver lost control of the van, which then rolled several times, ejecting several passengers. Two young victims and Patricia Baker, 58, were killed at the scene.

Walton County school superintendent Carlene Anderson described the community as very small and tight-knit, and said the deaths would have “a huge impact on everyone.”

The National Safety Commission says that top-heavy vehicles like vans and SUVs are far more prone to rollover than sedans and other vehicles that rest low to the ground. The commission provides the following procedure for handling a tire blowout:

Do not apply the brakes. Because one tire is completely deflated or even missing, braking will be uneven, making it more difficult to steer.

Focus on steering. Do not turn the wheel sharply. Make small adjustments.

Allow the car to slow down on its own, which should happen fairly rapidly with a blown tire.

Gently apply the brakes once you are in full control of the vehicle’s path.

Steer off the road, as long as doing so does not present a hazard. Turn on the vehicle’s hazard lights. After the vehicle comes to a full stop, only attempt to change the tire if you are able to do so without getting too close to the roadway. Do not attempt to drive on the wheel rims.

If you need to speak with a auto accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

But the recent critical injury of a high school athlete is a tragic freak accident that no safety policy could have prevented.

Sean McNamee, 16, a football player at Wharton High School in Tampa, Fla., sustained a severe head injury while warming up before practice. Sean was simply playing catch with his teammates when he slammed his unprotected head into a machine used to paint lines onto the field.

Had Sean been in formal practice, he would have been wearing his helmet, but practice had not yet started. Sean jumped to catch a teammate’s throw, landed off-balance, and struck his head on the machine.

The impact fractured his skull. Doctors performed emergency surgery to reduce brain swelling and put Sean into a medically-induced coma. They told his family he might not survive.

After nearly a week in the coma, Sean regained consciousness. He was able to recognize his parents, to understand questions, and to respond with a nod or shake of his head. It will take some time to determine whether he sustained any permanent brain damage.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Rita Marie Sutliff, 69, was southbound on Morris Bridge Road near Pictorial Park Drive when she collided with a car driven by Kunjummen Arun Babu, 18. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Babu was northbound when he crossed into southbound traffic and collided with Sutliff’s car. Sutliff was pronounced dead at the scene. Babu sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

Investigators estimated both vehicles were traveling at about 50 mph. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and investigators said they saw no indication alcohol or drugs were factors. Although no charges had been filed, authorities continued to investigate the accident.

Much of Morris Bridge Road – probably including the location of the accident – is two lanes and has no lighting. The accident occurred before dawn, when both drivers were likely fatigued either from waking early or staying up late.

A head-on collision like this is difficult to survive. If it is possible to plan your route to avoid two-lane, high-speed roads, especially outside daylight hours, consider doing so. Remain diligently focused on the road – avoid the temptation to engage in distractions such as fiddling with the radio or your cell phone. And if you are injured or a loved one is killed in an auto accident that you believe may be the fault of another, speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

If you need to speak with a auto accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The agency added rearview video systems to its list of recommended advanced technology features – part of its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The program serves as a non-binding list of recommendations for automakers and customers to consider when making or purchasing new cars.

The change to NCAP will be implemented in two phases. Beginning immediately, the agency will list vehicle models having rearview video systems on its website at safercar.gov. Next, the agency will evaluate those systems to determine whether they meet certain criteria. Those criteria are: video coverage of a 10 by 20 foot zone directly behind the vehicle; display of the video image within two seconds of changing gears into reverse; and a display large enough to discern objects in the image and avoid crashing into those objects.

The NHTSA also turned its attention in a recent report to a decidedly low-tech vehicle system: tires. The agency pointed out safety issues with tire aging, saying that rubber breaks down over time regardless of whether the tire is in use – a process accelerated by heat. As tires age, they become more prone to failure. The age of spare tires and of tires sitting on store or warehouse shelves must therefore be considered as a safety factor just as crucial as tread depth.

That same report also covered the importance of tire pressure and systems that monitor it. Tires gradually lose air over time even when the vehicle is at rest, so drivers should check their tire pressure at least once per month. Underinflated tires lead to longer stopping distances, decreased handling, and increased heat buildup. They are more prone to tread separation and blowout.

Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are mandatory in the U.S. for all passenger cars, light trucks, and vans beginning with model year 2008. TPMS systems automatically alert drivers when a tire is underinflated by more than 25 percent. The NHTSA estimates that TPMS cuts in half the probability that a given vehicle will have one or more significantly underinflated tires. The fuel savings attributed to proper inflation due to TPMS in a single year is estimated at over half a billion dollars.

Help prevent auto accidents by checking your tires regularly for proper inflation and familiarizing yourself with your vehicle’s TPMS, if applicable.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

If you know the person you want to text (or call, for that matter) is on the road, it is best simply to wait. But in the end, it is solely the responsibility of the driver to avoid distraction. Or is it?

A recent case in New Jersey may have punched a hole in that theory. Just before an 18-year-old man there veered out of his lane and struck a husband and wife on a motorcycle, he had received a text message from a friend. The trial court dismissed a claim that the friend might be liable in the accident. The appeals court ruled that there was not enough evidence against the friend for the claim, but they left the door open for such arguments in the future, saying that third-party texters could be held liable if they know the recipient of the text message is driving a car.

It remains to be seen whether the legal standard will be upheld or applied in other states. While the actual legal risk one faces in sending texts to drivers is remote, the personal responsibility is clear: if the recipient is behind the wheel, the message can wait.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Patients with chronic pain now have available to them devices that send electrical signals to the brain in order to block the sensation of pain. They have the support of Medicare, the insurance industry, and the FDA. This is critical to ensure patient access.

One such device, a spinal cord stimulator, is implanted in fatty tissue in the lower back near the spine. The system sends electrical signals to the spinal cord that override the brain’s sensation of pain. The patient operates the unit, turning it on or off and controlling the signal frequency with a small remote control.

A report from the SunSentinel covered a patient who was in near-constant agony following surgery on her broken foot. She was scarcely able to walk or drive and depended on her husband for nearly everything. The spinal cord stimulator let her be without pain and regain her mobility almost immediately. The $23,000 procedure was covered entirely by her health insurance. These high-tech therapies are more costly up-front to insurers when compared with medication, but insurers are on board because of the potential for long-term cost savings.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

More than 4,500 former professional football players had entered into lawsuits against the NFL when a $765 million settlement was reached recently. Following a months-long period of court-ordered mediation, U.S. District Judge Anita Brody announced the settlement, which she must yet approve in order for it to go into effect. The plaintiffs claimed a wide variety of concussion-related symptoms, including memory loss, impaired speech and motor control, depression, and mood swings. At least two former NFL players committed suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the chest and left notes asking that their brains be donated for scientific research.

The NFL also implemented safety-oriented rule changes for the 2012 season, including prohibiting “head shots” and making them fineable, and requiring heavier protective padding. That season, 160 players were diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms, a steep decline from the previous season’s 270 such diagnoses.

Far more pressing is the issue of how to protect children who play contact sports. Over a quarter-million concussions are reported among high school athletes each year. In July, 2012, a Florida law went into effect that requires young athletes suspected of sustaining a head injury or concussion to be immediately removed from practice and competition. After completing a gradual, four-course return to play, consisting of light activity, then moderate aerobic activity, followed by drills specific to their sport, and finally full-contact practice, athletes are allowed to return to competition with a doctor’s written medical clearance.

Concussion is difficult to diagnose, but a commercial software program called ImPACT, already in use by the NFL, has recently been adopted by a number of Tampa Bay-area high schools. The program requires fully healthy athletes to complete a series of computerized cognitive tests before the season begins. Following a head injury, players must post a score as high as or higher than their baseline score before they can return to play. While the program shows promise, it is easily manipulated by players who deliberately score lower than they are able on initial tests in order to get back in the game as soon as possible in the event they are injured.

On the federal level, the Youth Sports Concussion Act was recently introduced by Senators Jay Rockefeller and Tom Udall. If passed, the bill would instruct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to review a forthcoming report from the National Academy of Sciences on sports-related concussions in young athletes. After the review, the CPSC would be authorized to issue recommendations or rule changes for manufacturers of sporting equipment.

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The crash occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on a recent Monday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A Pontiac minivan driven by Candice Hood, of Spring Hill, was northbound when it crossed the grass median into oncoming traffic for unknown reasons. It then collided with a Nissan sedan driven by Barbara Clark, of Hudson.

Clark was rushed to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, but died later that day. Hood, who was thrown from her vehicle, was also taken to Bayonet Point with serious injuries.

Two other drivers were unable to avoid colliding with the two initial vehicles. Enid Cedre, of Spring Hill, and her passenger, Wanda Reyes, of Coral Springs, were taken to Bayonet Point with minor injuries. The occupants of the fourth car were uninjured. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collision.

It may be scary to think about, but one never knows when a life-threatening collision might occur. Most are avoidable if you drive safely and defensively while keeping your attention on the road at all times. Others are not avoidable, and the only way to mitigate your risk of those is to obey the speed limit and wear your seat belt. If you have been injured or a loved one has died in an auto accident that may be the fault of another, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The civil rights division of the DOJ accused Florida officials of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by funding its community health programs so poorly that hundreds of children are forced to live in geriatric institutions, often far from home.

Reimbursement rates paid by the state to community service providers have remained flat since 1987, according to the lawsuit, while rates paid to nursing homes for housing children have risen by nearly 30 percent to $550 per day.

Three years ago, Florida lawmakers cut $6 million from a program that provided private nursing care for those outside institutions. Another program to assist parents in caring for disabled children close to home has a wait list of 22,000 individuals.

Children are far more likely to face abuse in nursing homes than at home or in community settings. A Miami nursing home faced over $300,000 in fines and eventually shut down its pediatric wing after two disabled children died there in less than a year. And Lakeshore Villas in Tampa recently closed after federal officials cut off Medicare payments amid allegations of neglect and isolation of disabled children living there. That was the second nursing home accepting children to close in 2013. Just four remain.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

For purposes of the report, a pedestrian is anyone on foot, sitting, or lying down, and a traffic crash is any collision involving one or more vehicles on a public roadway. Note that accidents occurring on private property, including parking lots and driveways, were not included.

Pedestrian fatalities numbered 4,432 in 2011. That represents an increase of 3 percent over 2010 and the second year in a row that an increase was recorded. But the number is 7 percent lower than that of 2002. An estimated 69,000 pedestrians were injured in auto accidents in 2011.

The total number of auto accident fatalities declined rather steeply over the period 2005-2011, while pedestrian fatalities declined at a more modest pace. Accordingly, pedestrian fatalities share of total deaths increased to a new high of 14 percent in 2011.

Alcohol was a factor – either for the driver or the pedestrian – in 48 percent of auto accidents in which a pedestrian was killed. In 35 percent of those cases, the pedestrian was legally drunk, with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. Clearly, roads are a dangerous place for anyone with significant levels of alcohol in their system, whether behind the wheel or on foot.

Automobiles have become much better at protecting occupants from bodily injury over the years, but the extent to which they protect pedestrians is progressing rather slowly. The greatest danger to pedestrians struck by cars occurs when their heads hit the vehicles’ hoods. Depending on the force of impact, the hood deforms until it comes into contact with the immobile engine or other components, and then the head suffers a devastating deceleration. A system designed by Volvo uses contact sensors in the bumper to detect a collision with a pedestrian and responds by inflating a large airbag beneath the hood, which extends to cover the lower portion of the windshield. The pedestrian’s head therefore contacts either the airbag itself or the hood, which, supported by the airbag, decelerates the pedestrian’s head in a controlled manner.

All drivers and pedestrians should take personal responsibility to keep themselves and others safe on roadways. When walking, cross with signals at crosswalks. When driving, be vigilant for pedestrians and expect the unexpected – pedestrians, especially children, do not always behave predictably.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

On July 15, 2013, a HART bus collided with a Volvo sedan on 56th Street near Hillsborough Avenue outside the Netpark office park. Seven passengers were sent to area hospitals, as were both drivers.

A spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol said that the bus driver was cited for making an improper left turn. He turned in front of oncoming traffic, and the Volvo driver tried to swerve to avoid the crash, but could not. The collision sent the bus directly into the edge of a large concrete Netpark sign, which became wedged into the front of the bus.

Although the bus driver was apparently at fault in the collision, he had a strong safety record. Records show he received awards for safety from HART three years in a row. His only citation was in 2010, when he was a new employee, and he bumped into a parked bus inside a bus depot.

This goes to show that even safe drivers make mistakes. Everyone on the road needs to take the personal responsibility to drive carefully and defensively.

Both drivers and one passenger suffered serious injuries, but all were expected to make a full recovery.

If you need to speak with a auto accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Some parts of Florida have seen an increase in the use of heroin, a substance startlingly similar to oxycodone, the painkiller abuser’s typical drug of choice. Meanwhile, New Jersey seems to be in the position Florida was in just a few years ago, with law enforcement officials there reporting on the deliberate widespread improper prescription of painkillers.

According to the Tampa Tribune, sharp increases in the use of heroin have been reported in some Florida cities.

“[Oxycontin] is nothing but synthesized heroin,” Sgt. Rick Mills of the Tampa Police Department told the Tribune. Mills added that the medical examiner had told him drug-related deaths had fallen.

The article illustrates that anyone can become addicted to painkillers – not just the poor or disenfranchised.

“It’s everybody,” said Mark Detrio, a detective with the Tampa PD. “You see upper-class people, or college kids who didn’t put two-and-two together.”

Just as drug addicts are finding substitutes for oxycodone, those who would engage in the shady business of pill mills are finding states with lax laws now that Florida has cracked down.

Officials in New Jersey recently completed a two-year investigation into the state’s painkiller trade. Their 74-page report says painkillers and heroin have become prevalent in the state’s suburbs, with even affluent communities seeing a marked increase in drug trade.

In 2011, New Jersey had 1,008 drug-related deaths, an increase of more than 20 percent over 2010. Of those, oxycodone was involved in 337, and heroin was mixed with other drugs was involved in 368.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

As you may already know, an individual may be prosecuted in both criminal and civil proceedings when they are alleged to be responsible for the death of another. The civil side is called a wrongful death lawsuit. Perhaps the best-known example in the U.S. is that of O. J. Simpson. In 1995, Simpson was found not guilty of the murder of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman. But in a subsequent wrongful death lawsuit brought by the parents of Nicole Simpson and Goldman, O. J. Simpson was ordered to pay a combined $46.1 million to the victims’ families.

Likewise, George Zimmerman is likely to face a wrongful death lawsuit. Zimmerman is not a target with great personal wealth like Simpson, and any large civil judgment against him may go mostly unpaid. But Trayvon Martin’s family may nevertheless decide to sue.

You may wonder how a civil lawsuit can succeed if prosecutors have already failed to prove a suspect’s guilt in a lengthy criminal trial. Civil suits are decided by entirely separate juries from their corresponding criminal trials, but more importantly, they are decided by different standards of proof. In criminal trials, juries must find a defendant guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt” in order to convict. One small, but reasonable, doubt can negate a mountain of evidence. But in civil lawsuits, all that is typically necessary is a “preponderance of evidence,” meaning that it is more likely than not that the defendant is guilty. This is far easier to argue.

In fact, Martin’s parents have already filed and settled a wrongful death suit against the homeowners’ association that owns the gated community in which he was killed. As is usually the case in such settlements, the terms are confidential, and the association did not admit guilt in Martin’s death. However, Martin’s parents are said to have previously rejected a settlement offer of $1 million.

Zimmerman could also face federal civil rights charges. The NAACP is petitioning the Department of Justice to file those charges, alleging Zimmerman violated Martin’s civil rights. The DOJ has said they will examine the evidence to determine whether such a violation occurred.

If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Most importantly, slow down. Your tires have less grip on wet roads, so it takes a longer distance to stop. Your visibility is reduced in rain, so you cannot see as far ahead as you would in clear weather. Always allow extra time to reach your destination when rain is in the area.

Increase your following distance. A following distance of three seconds is generally advised under good conditions, so increase that to at least four seconds.

If you reach a large puddle that could be very deep, take another route if at all possible. If you feel you must proceed, go very slowly and watch the depth out the side window. If the water reaches the bottom of the doors, stop and back up or you risk serious damage to your car.

If your windshield wiper blades are getting old, the beginning of the rainy season is an ideal time to replace them.

If your car begins to skid, steer into the skid – that is, steer in the direction you want to car to go. If your car has anti-lock brakes, brake firmly; if not, avoid braking until you recover from the skid.

An extra ounce of prevention will help keep yourself and those around you safe when Florida’s rain showers come.

If you need to speak with a auto accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

“Post-concussion syndrome” (PCS) is a set of symptoms that often follow a concussion and may last for days, weeks, and in severe cases, a year or more. Symptoms fall into one of three categories: physical, such as headache and dizziness; behavioral or emotional, such as irritability, anxiety, and depression; and cognitive, such as problems with attention and memory.

PCS can be difficult to diagnose because many of its symptoms are common to other ailments. PCS sufferers can receive treatment only for their symptoms, such as medication for pain and psychotherapy for psychological issues; there is no known treatment of the syndrome itself. Although PCS by definition occurs following a concussion, the direct cause is not known.

In a strong majority of cases, PCS eventually resolves itself completely. For about half of sufferers, symptoms subside within one month of the injury, and about two thirds are symptom-free within three months. If someone with PCS suffers a second blow to the head, they are at risk of developing second-impact syndrome, a dangerous swelling of the brain. Prolonged repetition of minor brain injuries, such as those suffered by professional boxers and football players, increases the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a debilitating chronic disorder in which many of the symptoms of PCS become permanent.

If you suffered a brain injury that may be the fault of another, you need experienced legal representation on your side. At Joyce and Reyes, we can get you the compensation you deserve.

If you need to speak with a personal injury attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The first report says that in 2011, there were 677 cyclist fatalities and 48,000 injuries due to collisions with motor vehicles. Those numbers amount to 2 percent of total deaths and injuries in traffic crashes during the period. The number of fatalities was 9 percent higher than in 2010, during which 623 cyclists died in collisions.

The average age of cyclists killed in traffic accidents in 2011 was 43 years. This average age has been steadily increasing over the past ten years. In 2002, the average age was 36. The age group with the highest fatality rate was 45-54, and the highest injury rate belonged to the 16-20 age group. The share of fatalities and injuries belonging to children age 16 and younger decreased significantly between 2002 and 2011. This may be due to increased helmet usage.

Male cyclists were injured and killed at far higher rates than females. Males accounted for 85 percent of fatalities and 78 percent of injuries in 2011.

The second NHTSA report concerns children age 14 and under in motor vehicle accidents. These accidents were the leading cause of death for children age 4 and every age 11 through 14. However, the total number of deaths of children 14 and under decreased 46 percent from 2002 to 2011.

The report highlights the importance of using seat belts and child safety seats. According to the report, research has shown that when front seat occupants wear seat belts, their risk of death in an accident is reduced by 45 percent and their risk of moderate or critical injury is reduced by 50 percent. Child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71 percent for infants under one year old and by 54 percent for toddlers 1 to 4 years old.

Children 14 and under accounted for five percent of pedestrian fatalities in 2011. Between 2002 and 2011, the number of pedestrian fatalities decreased by 41 percent. Children accounted for nine percent of cyclist fatalities, and the number of cyclist fatalities decreased 58 percent over the past decade.

As a cyclist or pedestrian, obey traffic signals and practice greater awareness of the traffic around you. Wear a helmet when cycling and make sure your children do as well. And of course, always wear a seat belt and teach your children the importance of doing so. As auto accident attorneys, we know that most accidents, injuries, and deaths on the road are preventable. If you are injured in an auto accident and believe another may be to blame, speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Organizers used statistics to highlight the importance of bicycle safety awareness. They said 173 cyclists were killed in Hillsborough County alone in the past 18 years. Injuries in the same time frame were much higher at 6,656. In 2012, 13 Hillsborough County cyclists were killed, making it the deadliest year here since 1996. That number attracted the attention of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who selected Tampa as the location for the first of two DOT Regional Bicycle Safety Summits. The summit was held on April 11.

The Ride of Silence was held on Wednesday, May 15, and started at 7 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Cyclists were asked to ride the 11 miles in silence and to wear either a black or red armband. Red honored injured cyclists, and black honored those who died. The names of nine cyclists killed in Hillsborough County since the last Ride of Silence were read aloud before the start.

The first Ride of Silence was held in Dallas, Texas in honor of cyclist Larry Schwartz. Since then, the idea has spread to hundreds of communities around the world.

Deaths and injuries among Tampa-area cyclists and pedestrians are all too common. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident of any kind, you need an experienced personal injury attorney to help get you the compensation you deserve.

If you need to speak with a car accident attorney, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The cause of the problem does not appear to be mismanagement or excessive cost-cutting on the part of those who run nursing homes. Rather, jobs at nursing homes tend to be seen as undesirable. The fact that these positions are going unfilled is made all the more significant by three employment trends one might otherwise expect to alleviate the problem. Those trends: high national unemployment; lengthy average unemployment, begetting desperate job-seekers; and a strong growth trend in America’s health care sector.

It is not hard to see why staff shortages can lead to nursing home neglect and even nursing home abuse. If a facility is short-staffed, its patients are bound to receive less care and attention. Their health may deteriorate more quickly, their recoveries may lengthen, and any problems they have may go unnoticed longer. And an overworked staffer is more likely to take out his or her frustrations on defenseless seniors who do not deserve it.

If you believe a loved one is not being cared for properly at a nursing home, speak with staff and supervisors. Be specific about the problem and how you expect it to be corrected. Take careful notes about what you tell staff and how they respond. If you cannot resolve the matter by communicating in good faith, you may need an attorney. An experienced nursing home abuse attorney knows the standards applicable and how to hold facilities accountable to them.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

Perhaps legislators are simply focusing on passing more practical and politically palatable laws instead of more stringent ones. Or perhaps they truly believe that hands-free devices eliminate or significantly reduce the distraction mobile gadgets present. Drivers who text while using hands-free devices would probably agree that doing so keeps them safer than they otherwise would be. But does it really?

According to a recently-published study by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), the answer is no. The study is the first to compare manual texting to voice-to-text using a handheld phone during actual driving. The performance of 43 drivers on a closed course was measured first without any cell phone use, then while using a voice-to-text application, and finally while entering a text message manually. Researchers measured how long it took drivers to send the messages. They also measured reaction times by recording how long drivers took to respond to a light that turned on during the exercises at random intervals.

The results showed that driver response times increased significantly during text entry regardless of the entry method. In each case, reaction times nearly doubled. Interestingly, researchers found that both methods of entering text messages caused the drivers to spend significantly less time with their eyes on the road.

Contrary to what you might expect, the study showed that voice-to-text entry required slightly more time than manual entry. But during that time, driver performance took the same hit regardless of the method. Crucially, despite each of the texting methods impacting ability the same way, drivers reported feeling safer when using the voice-to-text feature.

A distracted driver is a dangerous driver. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to keep not only your hands on the wheel but your mind on the road around you. Eliminate or reduce your distractions whenever possible. And drive defensively, because even if your car has an attentive driver at the wheel, you can be assured some other car does not.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

During the week-long event, participants brought their message of commitment to road safety to students and communities at Florida universities. Eighteen firefighters, police officers, and civilians participated in the strenuous 400-mile ride to bring awareness to the issue.

The tour’s closing events took place on a recent Thursday morning in Tallahassee. Safety fair attendees enjoyed exhibits such as the “fatal vision” station, where goggles simulated the effects of various levels of alcohol intoxication, and received free gifts such as bicycle helmets and fittings.

Following the safety fair, attendees listened to speakers address the crowd from the steps of the Old Capitol.

At noon, police officers rang their sirens to announce that the 18 cyclists had arrived in Tallahassee. Spectators could see them climb the steep Apalachee Parkway as they made their way toward the Old Capitol.

The tour was funded by the Dori Slosberg Foundation, various Florida agencies, and the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation.

“The commitment to road safety that has been shown through the riders and through every agency that has participated in this is because of the deadly statistics, especially in the demographic of college students,” said Tara Kirschner, executive director of the Dori Slosberg Foundation. “College students were the focus of this week to make sure that the tragedies on the road, fatalities and serious injuries will decrease through awareness and education.”

The Dori Slosberg foundation is named for the daughter of State Representative Irving Slosberg. She was killed in a car accident while riding without a seatbelt.

If you need to speak with a car accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The project, called the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN), may pave the way for important advances in understanding and treating traumatic brain injury (TBI). Treatment options for TBI are currently quite limited. Also, doctors’ understanding of what makes for effective rehabilitation is undergoing rapid change.

In a press conference on April 2, 2013, President Obama proposed that the government’s fiscal year 2014 budget contain an initial expenditure toward the project of $100 million. BRAIN is projected to cost as much as $3 billion and take ten years or longer.

The goal of the initiative is to map the activity of every neuron in the human brain. Researchers hope the information will help not only brain injury patients but also Alzheimer’s, autism, and epilepsy patients.

The White House press release said the $100 million to pay for the project will come from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

“The BRAIN Initiative will accelerate the development and application of new technologies that will enable researchers to produce dynamic pictures of the brain that show how individual brain cells and complex neural circuits interact at the speed of thought,” the White House statement said. “These technologies will open new doors to explore how the brain records, processes, uses, stores, and retrieves vast quantities of information, and shed light on the complex links between brain function and behavior.”

If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

The majority of accidents – and the majority of driving – occurs on low-speed roads close to drivers’ homes, where drivers and passengers use seatbelts at lower rates. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that if drivers and front-seat passengers always used seatbelts, traffic fatalities would fall by 45 percent.

“We wanted to find out what makes occasional seatbelt users buckle up more than half the time,” said Jon Hankey, a director of the study at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. “They know it is a good idea, so why don’t they do it all of the time?”

The study was the first of its kind. Over the course of one year, instruments in 100 cars gathered data on more than 150,000 trips by 108 primary drivers and 299 secondary drivers. Participants answered questionnaires designed to measure certain personality traits such as aggression and risk-taking.

“The first objective was to determine if there were variables, such as trip distance, speed, and time of day, that uniquely characterized consistent, occasional, and infrequent seatbelt users,” said Hankey.

“The second objective was to conduct a more detailed analysis of the group defined as occasional seatbelt users to identify factors associated with these drivers’ decisions to wear their belts on some trips but not others,” he added.

Data showed primary drivers wore their seatbelts 79.1 of the time and second drivers buckled up 81.2 percent of the time. Researchers found that during trips around town averaging 30 mph, occasional seatbelt users opted for the seatbelt 72.7 percent of the time, but trips averaging 50 mph saw seatbelt usage at 89.0 percent.

“Occasional users may have an unrealistic view of a certain trip’s risk, and an education program targeting this unrealistic view may have a significant impact on seatbelt compliance,” said NHTSA fellow Sharon P. Berlin.

The study also showed that individuals with more formal education were more likely to be consistent seatbelt users, and those with aggressive driving habits were more likely to be occasional seatbelt users.

The NHTSA is planning another, much larger, study, called the Strategic Highway Research Program. The study will involve driving data on 2,000 cars.

If you need to speak with a auto accident lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.