Miami Injury Lawyer Blawg

The U.S. Department of Transportation today unveiled "OMG," a new public service announcement (PSA) to warn teenagers against the dangers of distracted driving.

The PSA is available on the newly redesigned Distraction.gov website, along with new materials designed especially for young drivers. The PSA will air nationwide on Regal Cinema theater screens this week and on gas station pump-top screens owned by Outcast's PumpTop TV throughout the month of December.

Two versions of the PSA will air. A version geared towards a teenage audience will run exclusively on 6,589 movie screens in 526 cinemas across the country that are owned and operated by Regal Entertainment Group. A more somber version will air on the 12,000 screens that top pumps at high traffic gas stations across the United States operated by Outcast's PumpTop TV. Both versions of the PSA are available for viewing on DOT's redesigned website, www.Distraction.gov.

"Today's teenagers make no secret about the fact that they want to stay connected to their social networks and enjoy text messaging. That's why it's so important that we educate young drivers of the dangers of distracted driving and help them make smart decisions that will keep them safe during the holiday season and beyond," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

In 2009, Secretary LaHood launched a national anti-distracted driving campaign to combat the growing trend toward this dangerous behavior, including a dedicated website to provide the public with a comprehensive source of information on the issue. Since then, DOT has also hosted two national summits devoted to reducing distracted driving, crafted sample legislation which states can use to adopt distracted driving laws, and initiated pilot law enforcement programs in Hartford, Conn., and Syracuse, N.Y., modeled after the Department's successful efforts to increase seatbelt use and curb drunk driving.

Currently 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have banned text messaging by all drivers. Nine states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands have prohibited all hand-held cell phone use while driving.

To view the new ads click here.

To learn more about DOT's campaign against distracted driving, visit www.Distraction.gov.

Continue reading "New PSA Warns Teens About Dangers Of Distracted Driving" »

As if there are not enough Bicycle Accidents caused by distracted drivers, a cyclist was killed Monday Night by a police officer.

According to Davie police, an on-duty Pembroke Pines police detective struck and killed a bicyclist Monday night in Davie.

As reported by The Miami Herald, Police spokesman Capt. Dale Engle said the crash happened shortly after 9:15 p.m. when The Pines detective's unmarked police cruiser was westbound in the 6600 block of Stirling Road, and struck the cyclist.

The bicyclist died at the scene.

Davie police did not say where the detective was going or why he was outside Pembroke Pines at the time of the crash.

Continue reading "Bicyclist Killed In Davie By Pembroke Pines Police Officer" »

Most personal injury lawsuits against Wal-mart involve accidents that occur inside the store premises. However, in a recent lawsuit against Wal-mart, a 41 year old truck driver was injured when she slipped and fell on ice and grease while making a delivery to a Walmart store in northern Colorado.

The driver, Holly Averyt, underwent three spine surgeries as a result of the fall. Averyt was unable to return to work and she lost her truck.

Wal-Mart, which is known for their litigation tactics, told jurors there had been no grease spill at the store in Greeley. Averyt's lawyers presented city documents during the trial that showed some grease from the store's deli didn't get trapped in a device designed to keep it from getting into the sewer.

A jury awarded $15 million to Averyt in November 2010. Wal-Mart appealed and a lower court granted the company a new trial, saying the award was "excessive, not supported by the evidence and could only be the result of prejudice and bias and the jury's desire to punish Wal-Mart."

Wal-Mart had also said in its appeal that Averyt's attorneys failed to disclose the city documents.

The Supreme Court's ruling on Monday threw out the order for a new trial, saying Averyt's attorneys had no requirement to disclose a document that could be easily found in public records. The court also said any prejudice the jury may have harbored toward Wal-Mart was due to its initial refusal to produce evidence or admit the existence of the grease spill.

Justices reduced the award amount by about $5 million because of a state cap on non-economic damages.

Continue reading "Back Injury Results in $10 Million Verdict" »