Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Personal Injury Blog

After deliberating for less than two hours, an Okaloosa County jury recently found a man guilty of boating under the influence (BUI) manslaughter. On September 4, 2009, Augusta Frederick Kennedy had a blood-alcohol level more than two times the legal limit when he ran his 18-foot boat into another vessel near Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Three of the four people in the boat he hit were killed in the crash.

This incident exemplifies the danger involved when boating under the influence of alcohol. Because of the risk of injury or death, it is a violation of Florida law to operate a vessel while impaired by alcohol or other drugs. Like on land, the Florida limit for blood-alcohol concentration while operating a boat is 0.08 percent.

Law enforcement agencies in South Florida recently wrapped up their 10th annual "Click it or Ticket" campaign. Police officers and highway patrol engaged in a "zero tolerance, round-the-clock sweep" for drivers and passengers traveling in vehicles without the required safety restraints. The campaign, designed to boost seat belt compliance with the start of the summer driving season, ran from May 24 to June 6, 2010.

Last year, Florida passed a primary safety belt law that allows officers to pull motorists over when they have failed to buckle up. Unbelted drivers and passengers are approximately 14 times more likely to be killed in a car accident than those who use safety belts.

Auto insurance means peace of mind in car crashes and truck accidents, providing funds for both medical bills and vehicle repair. And for car theft victims, insurance typically will pay the owner the value of the stolen car, enabling purchase of a replacement. But for some unscrupulous drivers, car insurance means opportunity. Some of those drivers stage crashes and then make claims against the other driver's automobile insurance, pocketing the money. Other drivers dump their vehicles in canals and claim their cars were stolen.

While auto insurance scams happen anywhere, they are happening with alarming frequency in Florida. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, 1 in 4 phony car crashes in the nation occur in Florida.

For honest drivers that need benefits of insurance after a car accident, auto insurance may provide compensation in the following situations:

Safety, Convenience and Environmental Awareness in One Package

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, an avid cyclist, has been on the forefront of promoting bicycling as a safe and healthy alternative means of transportation. On March 26, 2010, Secretary LaHood announced a "major policy revision" designed to give bicyclists and pedestrians the same rights and consideration as drivers.

Since becoming the transportation department secretary, LaHood has called on state and local governments to work toward providing safe and convenient pathways and routes for bicyclists and pedestrians to use. LaHood has emphasized that cyclists and pedestrians should be given equal priority in the design and construction phases of new roads. He has encouraged local agencies to protect sidewalks and bike lanes with the same diligence as they do roads and highways.

Legislators in Florida are currently wading through a stack of bills vying to limit or ban texting and handheld use among Florida drivers. It's an issue which has been on deck for a while now, as members of both the House and Senate struggle to find the best way to tackle the issue of cell phone use behind the wheel.

If legislators are able to pass a bill on the issue, Florida would join a growing number of states with similar laws. The question now, though, is which bill to pass. At present, there are about a baker's dozen, containing varying restrictions and penalties, floating through the House and Senate.

An economic downturn affects the way we spend, the way we save and the way we look at our financial prospects for the future. In the legal world, it's widely accepted that a recession causes juries and insurance companies to become more frugal in assessing damages in personal injury lawsuits - with one notable exception: catastrophic injuries sustained in car crashes and other accidents, such as traumatic brain injuries.

Attorneys say there are a number of reasons damages in traumatic brain injury cases remain high even when the economy is slumping: