Fort Lauderdale Injury Lawyer Blog

Slips and falls in bathtubs and showers are to blame for injuring more than 43,000 children in the United States each year research finds.

Burns from hot water, drowning, and near drowning are the types of children's injuries most often associated with bathing accidents. But a new study published Pediatrics is the first to detail the number of slips and falls in bathtubs.

Continue reading "43,000 Children Injured in Bathtub Slips and Falls Each Year" »

Bruce Rossmeyer, best known as the owner of Daytona Beach Harley-Davidson and additional Harley-Davidson dealerships around the country was killed in a motorcycle accident while riding to Harley-Davidson's annual dealer meeting.

According to news sources, Rossmeyer was riding with a group of five other motorcyclists in the western part of Wyoming on Highway 28. At about 11 a.m., the group attempted to pass a pickup truck pulling a camping trailer. When Rossmeyer attempted to pass, the truck made its left turn and he hit the driver's side door. The sixth motorcycle swerved to the right and avoided collision.

This post is just one reminder of the need for motorcycle safetry and how important it is to wear a helmet when riding. Mr. Rossmeyer was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Accident Kills Harley-Davidson Dealer, Bruce Rossmeyer" »

A woman apparently drowned late Sunday in a lake in South Miami-Dade County, authorities said. Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue officials reported responding to a call at 5:20 p.m. in connection with a woman drowning near the 10700 block of SW 44th Street. She was found dead at the scene. The woman's identity has not been disclosed.

This story is a sad reminder of what can happen during the summer months in Florida. Please take care and precaution when swimming in pools and lakes especially when young ones are involved.

Continue reading "Woman Drowns in Miami, Florida Lake" »

Thirteen states have banned the deadly practice of text messaging while driving, and now Florida representatives are trying to do the same. The bill has gone in front of the Florida legislature before, and the other times the bill has died. But now Sarasota representative Doug Holder says the third time is a charm, and a new study makes it perfectly clear that texting while driving is a real hazard.

A new study shows that texting while driving is 23 times more dangerous than just driving by itself. If the texting bill is passed here in Florida, drivers could face a $30 fine for texting while driving.

Some smart advice is to pull your car over to the side of the road if you need to send a text message.

Continue reading "Florida Car Accidents Caused by Text Messaging" »

According to news reports, a 51-year-old male died when a truck he was driving veered off the road and struck a tree head-on. The victim was a lieutenant for the Martin County Fire Rescue Station 22 - the same department that responded to the fatality.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the man apparently over corrected when he veered off the road. The FHP also reports the roadway was wet at the time and that may have contributed to the accident, which remains under investigation.

We ask everyone to be careful and wear their seatbelts when driving.

Continue reading "Florida Man Killed in Car Wreck" »

Surfside police officer Giranny Fernandez was walking out to the mailbox of his home with his baby daughter in his arms when a pit bull dashed out an open front door across the street and charged at him. The officer felt threatened and shot one bullet at the dog. The bullet missed, ricocheted off the pavement and struck a neighbor in the back of the neck.

Miami-Dade animal control was waiting to interview the owner of the dog who was out of town. If investigators determine that the dog is a pit bull, the owner will be ordered to remove the dog from the county. It is against the law to own a pit bull in Miami-Dade. Owners who are cited often choose to surrender the dog to animal control, where it is usually euthanized.

The Citron Law Firm handles dog bite and animal attack cases throughout the State of Florida. If you need legal advice, contact our office at 877-550-4LAW for a free consultation.

Some six days before the NFL Draft, Demetrius Byrd was driving home near Miami, Florida. He had just dropped off a friend and needed to get ready for church. He was cruising along by himself until his right front tire blew out and his car hit a pole nearly splitting the car in two. Byrd was knocked unconscious and rushed to the hospital. His vertebrae was nicked. His brain was concussed. And he didn't wake up for about a week.

Despite the accident, the Chargers drafted the wide receiver a week later in the seventh round of the NFL draft. But he is not expected to play this season. As the team opens camp Monday, Byrd, 23, still will be trying to gain back the equilibrium that was knocked out of him that day has been going through therapy in Florida.

The Citron Law Firm handles all motor vehicle accident claims in the State of Florida. Please contact our office for a free consultation at 877-550-4LAW.

Under Florida law, it is illegal for anyone under 18 to ride in the bed of a truck unless they wear a seat belt.

By law, Miranda J. Zant should not have been riding in the bed of a pickup truck early Monday. Sadly, she passed away at the age of 16 when the driver of the truck in which she was riding lost control, causing the truck to flip. Zant was one of four people thrown from the vehicle. She died at the scene.Two other people were in the bed of the pickup and one was in the passenger seat. Another passenger who was thrown from the vehicle remained in critical condition Monday.

Of course, this sad tragedy could have been prevented. If you or a loved one need legal counsel after suffering a car or truck accident, please contact The Citron Law Firm toll free at 877-550-4LAW.

On Easter Sunday, life forever changed for a Florida man when his his two sons were seriously injured in a boating accident that took the lives of five people.

This is a reminder to be cautious when using boats and water craft especially during the holidays. Alcohol and operating a vehicle on the water don't mix. If you and your loved ones are on the water during the holiday season, please don't drink and boat.

The Citron Law Firm handles all boating and water vehicle accidents in Florida. If you or a loved one needs legal advice, please contact our office at 877-550-4LAW for a free consultation.

Dog advocates and experts globally have argued that dogs are individuals and aggression cannot be pinned on specific breeds as a whole. Many share the thought that banning an entire breed is nothing but a costly band-aid fix to quiet the hype caused by the media. Until owners are held responsible for their negligence, incidents will continue to occur even if specific species are eradicated.

In 1988, in Dade County, Florida, a breed ban was enacted. In 2002, it was estimated that over 50,000 of the banned breeds were residing there.

In 2001, Baltimore, Maryland estimated the cost just to enforce breed specific legislation, (had it passed), would total more than $750,000. Unbeknownst to many tax payers, BSL is very costly.

In hopes to provide more than a band-aid fix, programs to promote responsible ownership are sprouting throughout the country in an effort to help with breed discrimination caused by negligent owners.

The Citron Law Firm handles all dog bite and animal attack cases in Florida. For a no-cost consultation, please contact our office at 877-550-4LAW.

Florida Highway Patrol officials have identified a motorcyclist who was killed in a crash Saturday evening as 63-year-old Douglas Bainbridge of Valrico.

Bainbridge was riding west on State Road 60 about 6:45 p.m. when a Toyota driven by Shonda R. Bailey-Christian, 39, of Brandon, turned in front of him toward N Miller Road, according to FHP spokesman Sgt. Larry Krause.

After the collision, both drivers were transported to Brandon Regional Hospital where Bainbridge died. Bailey-Christian sustained minor injuries. The accident is under investigation.

The Citron Law Firm handles all accident cases in the State of Florida. For a free consultation, please contact our office at 877-550-4LAW.

A Davie man who fled the scene of a fatal car crash last year was sentenced today to 11 years and six months in prison, followed by 10 years of probation, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Investigators said the man struck a car while both were traveling west on Interstate 595. The man left the scene just east of the University Drive exit, but troopers tracked him down and obtained blood samples.

The Citron Law Firm handles accident cases throughout the State of Florida, For a free consultation, please contact our office at 877-550-4LAW.

Tests showed his blood alcohol level was .22, about three times the legal limit, authorities said.

A new report issued from the Florida Highway Patrol compiled crash data from around the state for 2008.

Unbelievably- Jacksonville was the top city for the number of crashes in Florida, even topping Miami by about 50 percent. There were 14,000 crashes in Jacksonville in 2008.

There is some good news to report. There were 2,983 traffic fatalities on Florida's roads in 2008, down from 3,221 the year before. This is the first time there have been fewer than 3,000 fatalities on Florida's roads since 2000. Alcohol-related crashes declined six percent during the same time period. Still, drunk driving contributes to about 40 percent of traffic accidents.

Please contact The Citron Law Firm for a no-cost consultation. Our firm handles accident cases throughout the State of Florida. Please call our office at 877-550-4LAW.

More than 1,500 children die in the United States each year due to drowning. Experts estimate that there are four times that many hospitalizations for near-drowning and about 14 times that amount in emergency department visits for submersion incidents.

Can you watch your children every single second of every day? Of course not. But vigilance in watching them is the foundation upon which all other preventive measures are built. Always be sure someone is watching -- physically watching and not distracted by other task-- at all times.

Most drownings and near-drownings for children under age 5 occur in a backyard pool. It is the second leading cause of death for children in most states. In a few states, including Florida, California and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of death for children.

Please contact The Citron Law Firm if you or a loved one were the victim of a drowning or near drowning accident. We are happy to schedule a free consultation by calling 877-550-4LAW.

Authorities are investigating a three car accident in the Tampa area that injured two passengers.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the parties suffered minor injuries in the accident.

The accident report says one party lost control of his truck and struck the other car which was stopped at an intersection. The truck overturned on its side, hitting a third car. That passenger was not injured.

Continue reading "Floridians Suffer Minor Injuries In 3 Car Collision" »

Police in say a man in central Florida was crushed to death by his own welding truck when he tried to get the vehicle ready for towing.

The victim was found in a parking lot, police said.

Police say the truck weighed more than 17,950 pounds and it was carrying at least 5,000 pounds of welding materials.

The man got under the vehicle to disconnect the rear drive shaft to prepare the heavy truck for towing. Police say that's what caused the accident.

Continue reading "Florida Man Crushed to Death by His Welding Truck" »

The near-drowning of a child in a backyard hot tub will likely be ruled an accident, police said today. A five-year-old boy was rescued after being trapped underwater, his arm stuck in a hot tub drain in his family's backyard.

Investigators are focusing on a drain cover that was not correctly in place.

Thankfully, the boy was released from the hospital with only minor bruises.

The incident gave safety experts an opportunity to highlight the dangers of pool drains without the grief and tragedy that too often accompany such warnings.The suction from pool and hot tub drains can trap hair, limbs and jewelry if drain covers are not properly placed.

The Citron Law Firm handles drowning and near drowning cases in Florida. If you or a loved one needs legal counsel, please contact our office toll free at 877-550-4LAW.

With kids out of school and looking for something to do, summertime typically sees a jump in drowning incidents, especially with all the pools, canals, lakes and other waterways crisscrossing our region.

This summer, we have even more reason to worry, thanks to the recession. The foreclosure crisis has pounded South Florida, leaving many neighborhoods dotted with abandoned homes. Not only are these vacant properties an eyesore, and a potential risk from debris in a hurricane, but many come with murky, unsupervised pools that prove irresistible for some curious little ones not under the watchful eye of adults.

The dangers proved all too tragic for a Fort Lauderdale woman whose 5-year-old daughter was playing in her backyard when she wandered to the vacant home next-door and drowned in the pool.

FRIENDS - - - - - MAKE SURE YOU KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR KIDS!!!

The Citron Law Firm handles drowning and near drowning cases throughout Florida. For a no-cost consultation, please contact our office at 877-550-4LAW.

A Miami-Dade police officer is recovering after his cruiser collided with a Chevy Suburban Tuesday night.

The accident happened near the intersection of NW 7th Avenue and 81st Street. The officer's car and the SUV ended up hitting a light pole. All those involved were taken to the hospital and released with minor injuries.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The Citron Law Firm handles automobile, motorcycle and truck accidents throughout the State of Florida. Please call us today for a free consultation at 877-550-4LAW.

Police today released the name of a motorcyclist who crashed into a tree and died.

Thomas K. McGehee, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon after he lost control of his motorcycle, hit a median and rammed into a tree, police sad.

Witnesses told investigators that the man was driving erratically in the 6500 block of Peters Road about 3 p.m., officials said. He was speeding up and slowing down suddenly while traveling eastbound on Peters Road.

He was wearing a helmet. No charges are pending because this was a single vehicle accident.

The Citron Law Firm handles all accident cases throughout Florida. If you need legal advice, please contact our office for a free consultation at 877-850-4LAW.

A Florida man was walking his dog by the pond behind his home in West Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday morning when he saw a 7-foot alligator approaching.

He screamed for his wheaten terrier to run away but it was too late: the gator clamped down on the dog's midsection and started thrashing. The man rushed over and grabbed the alligator's mouth with his hands while poking it in its eye with his thumb so that it would release its grip.

The gator released its grip and the dog was saved, but the alligator snapped at the owner, taking part of his right index and ring fingers.

Please contact The Citron Law Firm at 877-550-4LAW for a free consultation if you or your loved ones were the victim of a dog bite or animal attack.

An 8-year-old New Port Richey boy is recovering after a neighbor's dog attacked him.

The boy received nearly 300 stitches in the attack. His mother thought he was going to die from his injuries because there was so much blood.

The family said that the boy went to the neighbor's home to play with his friend when the homeowner opened the door and the pit bull rushed out and bit the boy in the neck and face.

The dog has been turned over to Pasco County Animal Services. Under Florida statute, dog owners must assume responsibility for any damages during a non-provoked incident.

The Citron Law Firm handles dog bite and animal attack cases throughout the State of Florida. Please call us today at 877-550-4LAW for a free consultation.

The wife of former professional basketball player, Shaquille O'Neal, was injured when she was involved in a car accident in Orlando.

Shaunie O'Neal, 34, was a passenger in a 2007 Precision Limo Services Lincoln Town Car which was struck from behind by a 2003 Toyota Camry. All the passengers were taken to Dr. P. Phillips Hospital with minor injuries.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, David Wasserman, 18, of Ocoee, received a ticket for wreckless driving.

Please contact The Citron Law Firm toll free at 877-550-4LAW for a free consulation. We are proud to represent the South Florida community in automobile accident cases.

Every year, more and more South Florida residents sustain dog bite injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. In addition, two Floridians die due to injuries from dog bites each year. Injury rates in Florida are highest among children between the ages of 1 and 9 years old. The highest percentage of dog bites occur from male dogs that are not neutered. Interestingly, the seasons dictate when the most dog bites take place. The peak occurs in the summer months (July is the worst).

We thank all the responsible pet owners for taking the appropriate steps to control and vaccinate their pets.

The Citron Law Firm specializes in prosecuting animal attack and dog bite cases throughout the State of Florida. Please contact our toll free number 877-550-4LAW for a no cost consultation today.

An eight year old pit bull mix has been saved from being euthannized after her owner filed a lawsuit to prevent it. This pit bull attacked a cat and, under a year-old Broward County, Florida ordinance, should have been put dow. Before the law took effect in May 2008, dogs could be put down only after two fatal attacks. Dogs in Broward County, Florida that kill or seriously injure a person also can be euthanized.

The Citron Law Firm specializes in prosecuting animal attack and dog bite cases throughout the State of Florida. Please contact our toll free number 877-550-4LAW for a no cost consultation today.