Farah and Farah Personal Injury Attorneys — Blog

Fatal Auto Accidents Drop 34 Percent In Jacksonville Area

By Eddie Farah on July 23, 2008

We’re all feeling the squeeze at the pump, but there is a little good news to report about that gloomy picture. Rising prices have apparently reduced traffic deaths around the country.

Here in Jacksonville, the Florida Highway Patrol reported that so far in the four of five metro counties there were 103 traffic fatalities, compared to 155 for the same time last year. That is a 34 percent drop.

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Posted in Auto Accident, Personal Injury, Pedestrian Accident |

Big-Rig And Bus Drivers Who Cause Accidents

By Eddie Farah on July 23, 2008

A government safety study is revealing just who is behind the wheel of that big-rig and bus next to you on the highway. 

The 30-page General Accounting Office (GAO) study, to be released Thursday, shows that more than a half-million commercial tractor-trailer and bus drivers with commercial licenses are also eligible for full disability benefits. 

These are not people sitting at home waiting for benefits. They are still driving 40-ton vehicles, next to you on the highway!

When these drivers have seizures, heart attacks or pass out, hundreds of deaths and injuries have occured.

The Transportation Department reports there were  5,300 people who died in crashes with commercial trucks or busses in 2006, the last year for which statistics are available.  Another 126,000 people were injured.

The GAO reports that sometimes drivers ”doctor shop” to find a doctor who will either overlook their pre-existing health problem. Or the driver will simply fail to mention it in a medical checkup.

Some of the violations mentioned in the report include: a Florida bus driver who used three daily inhalers to fight his lung disease. He told investigators that he “occasionally blacks out and forgets things.”  And that he “gets winded” when he walks to his mailbox.  He had no medical certificate, but does have a commercial driver’s license until 2010.

Big-rig and bus drivers need to make a living too, and we all are living well because of products and food transported across the country. But this situation is out of control.  

Back in 2001, the  federal agency in charge of truckers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, was charged with completing  eight safety recommendations. So far none has been accomplished - items such as stopping doctor shopping, and setting a minimum health standard before a driver can obtain a commercial license.

It seems reasonable. 

We hope you are never involved in an accident with a bus or tractor-trailer. But if you are you’ll need to contact an experienced attorney who knows about the black box onboard a truck and the information it contains that can help your case. An accident attorney knows the number of hours a trucker can legally drive and when he is in violation.  And an experienced  attorney knows how to find witnesses and contact them for information while it is still available.  Visit the Trucking Question & Answer section of our Web site, or call us.

You never want to be involved in a trucking accident. If you are, you never want to go it alone.   Farah and Farah is here to help.

Posted in Trucking Accident, Pedestrian Accident |

Teen Girl Survives Drunk Party, Heroes Come Forward

By Eddie Farah on July 19, 2008

A few stories ago we reported on the young teenage girl who drank herself unconscious and could not be awakened. 

This week she was released from the hospital. If it had not been for the conscious decision by other teens, she might have never woken up.  

There were 60 kids at a party in St. Augustine according to St. Johns County deputies.  Kevin Lovelace, 18 tells Channel 4 that he knew something was wrong when he saw the 14-year-old girl.

Read the rest »

Posted in Personal Injury, Negligence, Wrongful Death |

Botox Lawsuit From Uses Other Than Wrinkles

By Eddie Farah on July 19, 2008

Expect Allergan, the maker of Botox Cosmetic, to fight the lawsuit filed by users who claim they were injured or by survivors of Botox victims. 

The suit claims that Allergan failed to warn of the dangers of the drug, used to relax wrinkles both for aging skin and for some medical uses it’s not recommended for as well.

While Botox has been used successfully by millions around the world, there have been exceptions.

In Orange County Superior Court, the suit links Botox to three deaths; last March a 69-year old Texas nurse who received injections for pain in her neck and shoulder and died; a 7-year-old with cerebral palsy who died in 2004; and a third death that occurred just last week in Arizona of a 71-year old who was unable to swallow, speak, breathe or eat before she died.

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Posted in Wrongful Death, Pharmaceutical Litigation |

Fatal Head-On I-95 Wreck Kills 2, Injures 3

By Eddie Farah on July 18, 2008

Driving south in the northbound lane of I-95 at 3 a.m., a St. Augustine woman was killed when she collided head-on with an SUV carrying a South Carolina family.

Rachel Higgins, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene.  

She leaves behind a 13-year old daughter. Family members tell First Coast News  she was the light of Higgins’ life.

Higgins worked as an optician in St. Augustine. Her daughter and parents were out of town at the time of the crash.

It happened early Thursday morning on I-95 between International Golf Parkway and StateRoad 16. 

The other fatality was a woman in the SUV, passenger Debra Baughman, 45. The SUV driver, Scott Baughman, 44 and 19-year-old Lindsey Baughman were injured but in fair condition at Shands-Jacksonville Hospital.  13-year-old Aaron Baughman was in critical condition at Shands. 

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Posted in Auto Accident |

Disney, Electric Authority Say No Guns At Work

By Eddie Farah on July 17, 2008

Despite a new Florida law that allows employees to bring guns to work, JEA says not here.

The Manager for Security for the utility company, sent a memo last month to employees about the “Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008.” 

That is a long-winded way of making reference to a law recently passed by the Florida legislature and sign by Governor Charlie Crist.

It allows employees, who have a valid concealed weapons permit, to bring their gun to work and keep it in their car. 

JEA says there are exemptions and they fall into one. JEA employees and contractors doing business with JEA will not be allowed to bring guns to work. 

Exemptions include any bank, church, government office or court, or any place that manufacturers or stores explosives.

JEA is not being explicit as to what exemption they fall under.  Many answering this story say they will bring guns anyway and not tell.

At Walt Disney World in Orlando, employees will not be allowed to keep guns in their cars at company parking lots.

The entertainment giant will make the Orlando parking lots gun-free zones, despite the new state law which took effect Tuesday.

Disney is not making any friends with backers of the law. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” according to state Sen. Durell Peaden, one of the authors of the bill and a Republican from the Florida Panhandle tells the Orlando Sentinel.

But Disney has a long standing policy against guns on the 30,000 acre property which employs 60,000.

Last spring, opposition from Disney and the Florida Chamber of Commerce was trumped by the powerful National Rifle Association. 

The Orlando Sentinel obtained a memo from the Vice President of Public Affairs for Disney World saying that Disney “continues to maintain a zero tolerance policy” for guns.  Bringing one to work could be grounds for termination.

Many readers to this Disney web site also agree with the decision, including comments from gun owners.

The law allows an exemption for a defense contractor, or explosives manufacturer. And a last minute revision to the bill included an exemption for any property leased or owned by an employer who has a permit for explosives. 

Disney has a permit to use fireworks in its theme parks.  

Disney says under that definition all of the theme parks, resorts, cast member parking lots, administrative offices, sports complex, hotels, Celebration and Disney Reservation centers in Orlando and Tampa are exempt. 

Not exempt are Disney Cruise Line’s crew parking lots and some other Disney properties in Florida.

And Universal is joining Disney in claiming an exemption.

Not so at Sea World. The company believes in the rights of employees or visitors to transport legal firearms in their car, according to a spokeswoman. #

Posted in Personal Injury, Premises Liability |

House Party Goes Wild- Three Teens Arrested

By Eddie Farah on July 12, 2008

Three St. Johns County Florida teenagers were arrested Saturday for giving a 14-year-old girl so much alcohol that she passed out at an open house party. 

This is a parent’s worst nightmare - an open house party where everyone is invited. The open house was south of St. Augustine, and about 60, mostly juveniles were in attendance.

It’s amazing how fast word spreads on the internet and with texting. 

The young girl’s parents say they thought she was at home in bed.

Read the rest »

Posted in Auto Accident, Negligence, Pedestrian Accident |

Bicyclist Run Over By Truck and Killed on Westside of Jacksonville

By Eddie Farah on July 11, 2008

It is just a fact.

As the price of gasoline continues to rise, more people are going to try and get around on a bicycle. That means people behind the wheel of a car better keep their eyes opened for those on the road on two wheels.  

Unfortunately that didn’t happen on Thursday afternoon.

A bicyclist died when a tow-truck backed over him. The cyclist was cutting through a Shell station on the Westside of Jacksonville. That’s when the tow-truck, obviously blinded, backed out of a diesel fueling area.  He struck the cyclist even though bystanders were yelling at the driver to stop.   When he did, he pulled forward and then ran over the cyclist for a second time.

A cyclist just trying to do the right thing. His name has not been immediately released.  Charges could be pending against the driver of the tow truck.

According to national statistics, the most serious injuries, resulting when a bicycle and car collide, are traumatic brain injury to the cyclist.

A helmet helps reduce head injury risk by 85 percent, but unfortunately in 2006, the vast majority of bicyclists killed  were not wearing helmets.   

Even a skilled rider is facing danger on the roads as motorists fail to see the cyclist or refuse to share the road responsibly.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - 770 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2006. 

A bicyclist may have right to recover fair compensation if a motorist was negligent or failed to exercise a reasonable amount of caution on the road. 

Talk to our experienced accident attorneys and we will be able to advise you of your rights and help you to maneuver sometimes difficult insurance companies. #

Posted in Bicycle Accident |

“Daddy Quit Crying,” Girl Says To Dad Following Dog Bite

By Eddie Farah on July 10, 2008

This could happen to anyone at any time.  

Last Saturday over the July 4th holiday, 9-year-old Miranda Miller spent the day at a family friend’s house in Melrose, Florida. 

Miranda and the children played during the weekend along with the family’s dog. The dog never showed any sign of aggression until they went inside for the evening.  The kids were coloring on the floor.

Miranda says “One of the pencils rolled away. It was the color I wanted. Then I stood up to go get it, and the dog bit me.”

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Posted in Personal Injury, Dog Attack |

When It’s Time To Pay- Worst Insurers Report

By Eddie Farah on July 10, 2008

The American Association for Justice, is an organization of personal injury attorneys that is long experienced in fighting insurance companies.  This report just issued shows what some of the fights are about, and the consumer is getting the short end of the stick.

The number one worst insurer for consumers is Allstate, says AAJ.

AAJ issued its report after sorting through thousands of legal documents, financial filings, as well as complaints filed with state insurance departments, the Securities and Exchange Commission and FBI records to determine how many claims were paid and how often the company employed hardball tactics against policyholders.

“While Allstate publicly touts its ‘good hands’ approach, it has instead privately instructed its agents to employ a ‘boxing gloves’ strategy against its policyholders,” said American Association for Justice CEO Jon Haber says in a statement.  “Allstate ducks, bobs and weaves to avoid paying claims to increase its profits.”

Allstate is known to force consumers to accept lowball claims or to deny claims altogether. One Allstate employee reported that supervisors told agents to lie and blame fires on arson, and in turn, they were rewarded.  

Some other wrongdoing AAJ found was extravagant salaries for upper ranked executives while consumers faced rising premiums. 

Some of the others at the top of the list include :

*  Unum - which sells disability insurance.

*  AIG  - The world’s biggest insurer.

*   State Farm - Lawyers are familiar with State Farm’s deny and delay tactics, especially during Hurricane Katrina.

*  Conseco  - Conseco sells long-term care policies, typically to the elderly.

Also in the Top Ten are -  WellPoint, Farmers, United Health, Torchmark, and Liberty Mutual.

Read the rest »

Posted in Personal Injury, Big Insurance |