Florida Accident Attorney Blog

Florida is among several southeastern states with the nation's highest premature birth rates, according to the March of Dimes second annual premature births "report card." In fact when it comes to preventing premature births, Florida gets an "F". Hispanic women are among the categories of mothers experiencing increased rates of premature births in Florida.

The chairman of the March of Dimes Florida Chapter was quoted by a news source as saying, "... our prematurity problem is getting worse. We urgently need to take action prevent more deaths and disabilities." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data showing that U.S. premature birth rates rose by 20 percent between 1990 and 2006. (Source: National Center for Health Statistics, see link below.)

The problem cuts across ages and races. The CDC reports that while pre-term birth rates declined for black mothers in the 1990s, they rose again in the 2000s, and "...increases in late preterm births are seen for mothers of all ages, and for non-Hispanic white and Hispanic mothers."

Spanish-speaking Florida lawyers provide assistance to Latino and Hispanic women who have experienced birth injuries as a result of medical negligence or medical malpractice. Birthing injuries such as those resulting in a potentially debilitating condition called Erb's Palsy or Erbs paralysis can occur when doctors make errors during the baby's delivery or fail to communicate a mother's options for delivery.

Communication between doctor and mother is critical, especially for patients who have medical conditions (e.g., obesity and diabetes) that can complicate the birth process. Florida birth injury lawyers see the consequences of what can happen when mothers do not get the standard of medical care required to safely bring their babies into the world.

Why the U.S. Gets a D on Preterm Birth Rates
Time.com Nov. 17, 2009

Premature Birth Report Card; Florida Gets 'F'
FirstCoastNews.com Nov. 17, 2009

Born a bit too early: Recent trends in late preterm births.
NCHS data brief, no 24
Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. November 2009

West Palm Beach and Delray Beach, Florida were the sites of two separate fatal traffic accidents that claimed the lives of two elderly Florida pedestrians within a 24-hour period.

According to news reports, on Weds. Nov. 12, Mona Radowsky of West Palm Beach, Florida, whose age has been reported as 81 or 91, was struck by a Toyota as she walked north across the westbound lanes of Okeechobee Blvd. This car - pedestrian accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. in the evening.

On the evening of Tues. Nov. 11, Charles Meyer of Delray Beach -- an Alzheimer's patient who had been reported missing shortly before the accident -- was struck and killed by a northbound Chrysler that had a green light. News reports state that Mr. Meyer was walking across the intersection of South Military Trail and Via Del Ray.

A West Palm Beach car accident lawyer is familiar with Florida traffic laws and safety regulations designed to keep pedestrians safe. No further details were available on these two fatal Florida car and pedestrian accidents.

Florida Traffic and Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Florida 2004-2008, of the total 2,978 state traffic deaths in 2008, 490 were pedestrian fatalities. This statistic was down from 530 pedestrian traffic fatalities in 2007. NHTSA reports that in 2007, older people (over age 65) represented 19 percent of all pedestrian fatalities (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2007 Data: Older Population).

Fatal car accident near West Palm kills pedestrian, 91
SunSentinel.com Nov. 12, 2009

Two pedestrians killed in separate accidents
CBS12.com Nov. 12, 2009

Related Web Resource

NHTSA Traffic Safety: Pedestrian Programs

Broward General Medical Center has issued a patient notice update regarding the investigation of a Broward Medical nurse who reused IV bags and tubes on cardiac stress test patients.

A Nov. 9, 2009 update posted on the Fort Lauderdale, Florida based Broward Medical Center's website (see link below) reports that 1,851 patients were sent certified letters notifying them of possible exposure to diseases due to the nurse's alleged misuse of IV equipment. The hospital asked patients to call a hotline and come in for testing. Of that group 1,172 responded to the letter and 804 have received preliminary test results.

The hospital website states that it plans to send a second round of letters to patients who may have been affected and have not responded to the first mailing. Broward Medical is testing them for 3 bloodborne infections: hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Background on the Broward General Medical Center Investigation in Florida
Registered Nurse Qui Lan, 59, is charged with reusing intravenous bags and tubing on patients undergoing chemical cardiac stress tests at Broward Medical Center between January 2004 and September 2009. In October 2009, and the hospital notified 1,851 patients who may have been exposed to blood diseases due as a result of Nurse Lan's actions.

The details of possible Florida medical malpractice and/or criminal negligence in this case remain under investigation. Police were looking into whether criminal charges would be filed against the nurse, who resigned in Sept. after details of the case came to light. The hospital website states that the nurse "acted on her own." The Florida Dept. of Health and CDC were notified.

A Fort Lauderdale, Florida medical error lawyer familiar with the Broward Medical Center nurse investigation may advise families and patients who are concerned about exposure to diseases resulting from improper use and handling of IV tubes and bags.

Broward General Patient Notice Update: Nov. 9, 2009

Nurse accused of reusing equipment; patients warned
CNNHealth.com Oct. 8, 2009

Related Web Resources

Florida Department of Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Diseases & Conditions

A South Fort Myers High teen from San Carlos Park, Florida was hospitalized after being struck by an SUV while riding his bicycle along busy U.S. 41.

According to news reports, 15-year-old Todd Beland was airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital earlier this week after being struck and injured in a Lee County traffic accident. Police told the press that teens were cycling in and out of traffic on the heavily traveled highway, when Beland was struck by a car that could not stop in time.

The Fort Myers car bike accident occurs as a national safety study just released ranks the Lee County, Florida metropolitan area as no. 23 among the nation's most dangerous locales for preventable fatal pedestrian accidents.

Florida Most Dangerous State for Car and Pedestrian Accidents
Often the conditions that make some roadways more prone to bicycle accidents are similar to those that contribute to pedestrian accidents. NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Florida 2004-2008 reports that 490 pedestrians were killed in Florida traffic accidents in 2008. The Dangerous by Design study released by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Transportation for America campaign (see link below) lists the top three most dangerous metro areas in the U.S. for pedestrians as Orlando, Tampa, and Miami, Florida.

A Fort Myers, Florida pedestrian and bike accident lawyer may by consulted in cases where a cyclist or person on foot is injured or killed due to an aggressive or reckless driver, and/or because someone was driving under the influence (Florida drunk driving accidents).

San Carlos Park teen hit by car
WINK News, Nov. 9, 2009

Transportation for America: Dangerous by Design
Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths (and Making Great Neighborhoods)

Related Web Resource

Federal Highway Administration: Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

OSHA has fined the construction company involved in a Broward County, Florida crane accident that claimed the life of a 43-year-old father of three earlier in the year.

The fatal construction accident occurred June 16 in Pompano Beach, Florida, where Albert Phillips of Coconut Creek was working on a project to shore up a seawall at Lighthouse Point. A crane fell and pinned Mr. Phillips' legs. Mr. Phillips was taken to North Broward Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The crane operator took a leave of absence from the job.

The construction company involved in this deadly crane accident has been fined over $18,000 for safety regulation violations. OSHA -- the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration -- fined Ray Qualmann Marine Construction Inc. for failure to conduct proper safety inspections that may have revealed weak points in the equipment, and for allowing a worker not trained on this type of crane to operate the equipment. The construction company disputed some but not all of OSHA violations levelled against them.

A Fort Lauderdale construction accident lawyer familiar with liability laws and worker safety regulations may be consulted by families in construction accident cases such as this. Sometimes issues surrounding worker training and the responsibility of construction site subcontractors is called into question, when an accident takes the life of someone who left home to do their job, and did not return. Sometimes cases also involve Florida workers' compensation.

Crane operation and construction site safety is a priority area for NIOSH -- the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. While overall work related deaths in the U.S. have declined over the past year (including in the construction industry -- where deaths declined by 20 percent), 5,071 workers in 2008 lost their lives as a result of doing their jobs. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2008, reported Aug. 2009)

Pompano Beach company fined in fatal crane accident
South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com Nov. 4, 2009

Related Web Resources

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Worker Injuries and Death from Mobile Crane Tip-Over, Boom Collapse, and Uncontrolled Hoisted Loads (PDF)

NIOSH Construction Safety

South Florida Associated General Contractors: Safety