Wrongful Death Lawyer Blog

Deadly Tractor Trailer Crash in I-4

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:03:03 -0500

According to wtsp.com, a woman is dead as a result of her car being crashed into by a tractor-trailer on I-4.

Rear-Ended By A Tractor Trailer

The victim, identified as 63-year-old Marva Jean Daniels of Orlando, was killed when her Ford Focus was hit from behind by a semi-truck. The truck driver was identified as 35-year-old Michael Casey Cross of Lakeland.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the eighteen-wheeler had just merged onto the westbound lanes of I-4 and was positioned behind Daniels' Ford Focus. As Cross attempted to move into the left lane, Daniels slowed down considerably and Cross was not able to stop in time before rear-ending her car. As both vehicles came to a stop on the paved shoulder of I-4, the Ford Focus burst into flames. Unfortunately, Ms. Daniels died at the scene.

Truck Driver Improperly Trained?

The police report does not specify how much experience Cross has as a commercial truck driver. According to State troopers, the driver of the eighteen-wheeler did not have time to stop his rig when he realized that Ms. Daniels' car had slowed down.

As stated before, the Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident. However, given our many years of experience handling cases involving accidents with tractor-trailers, we cannot help but wonder whether this truck driver was adequately trained. Time and again we have seen how trucking companies rush their drivers' training with disastrous consequences. If Mr. Cross was not properly trained, he may not have realized that given the size and weight of his rig, he had to exercise extra care while trying to get on the expressway.

Truck Adequately Maintained?

Moreover, we have seen trucking companies neglect to give adequate maintenance to their fleet, usually just to save a few dollars. Mr. Cross' failure to stop his truck in time could have been because the brakes on his truck were worn out. Lack of adequate maintenance coupled with inexperience is a deadly combination.

Truck Overloaded?

Similarly, all too often greed prompts trucking companies to overload their trucks in order to make their operation more profitable. An overloaded truck with worn out brakes in the hands of an inexperienced driver is an even deadlier combination. Please note that given the weight and size of these large commercial trucks, they require longer distances to stop completely from the moment the driver applies the brakes. Under any one of these scenarios the trucking company may face liability.

Driver of Wrecked Car Killed While Reporting Accident

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:50:53 -0500

A Florida woman was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer early today while reporting an accident she had just been involved in. According to jacksonville.com the 29 year-old Lauderhill resident was traveling northbound on I-95 when her car veered off the road near Brunswick, Georgia, subsequently striking a guardrail and bouncing back onto the traffic lanes.

Apparently, she called 911 soon thereafter to report the accident and while on the phone with a State patrol operator, she was struck by an eighteen-wheeler driven by Carlos Borges Sores, a 48 year-old Miami resident. The emergency services dispatcher claims to have heard the impact. According to State patrol operator Steve Drury, they heard the victim say something like: "Oh my God" and then they heard the truck hitting her.

Driver Fatigue?

An investigation into the facts of this case is underway and it is too early to place blame until more facts are known. Moreover, the victim was telling the emergency operator that her vehicle, a 2005 Dodge Stratus, had no lights on after the first accident. However, the accident with the truck happened at around 3 a.m. Given our many years of experience seeing truck companies set schedules that force their drivers to be on the road for longer hours that they legally should, we cannot help but wonder whether driver fatigue player a role here.

We Have Direct Experience With This Kind of Cases

Our firm has direct experience handling cases just like the one described above. We represented the estate of a Plantation woman that was struck and killed by a speeding SUV, while she stood on the emergency lane waiting for help with her disabled vehicle. In our case, the victim's car had broken down on I-595 in Davie. Since her family hired us soon after the accident, much of the evidence was still available. We conducted an exhaustive investigation that allowed us to recover the black box (event data recorder) of the at-fault driver's SUV. This device showed that the vehicle was traveling 20 miles over the posted speed limit at the time it struck the victim, allowing us to recover a substantial settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of her children.

Two Men Arrested for Hit and Run Death of Girl From Fort Lauderdale

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:10:06 -0500

The South Florida hit and run epidemic continues, this time claiming the life of an innocent 5 year-old girl riding her tricycle in front of her trailer home. Thankfully, those responsible for her death have been arrested by police.

According to sun-sentinel.com, 5 year-old Yanelle Lucero was riding her bike on Sunday afternoon when she was struck by a 1997 GMC Van driven by Erik Garcia, a Mexican citizen who has been charged with failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death, failure to use due care while operating a vehicle and driving without a drivers license.

Apparently, the accident occurred within the confines of the Pan American mobile home park where the victim lived. According to witnesses, the van was going fast, despite the posted limits and speed bumps typically present in trailer parks.

Police also arrested Pompano Beach resident Mario Argumedo in connection with the accident. Mr. Argumedo, who was initially a passenger in the GMC Van, lent it to Mr. Garcia, despite knowing that his friend did not have a valid drivers license.

Not Enough Sympathy to Stick Around

Police say that after seeing what happened, Mr. Argumedo carried the little girl back to her mother and insisted that she take the child to the hospital herself instead of calling rescue personnel, allegedly because it would take emergency services too long to get there. Also thinking that she could get help faster, the victim's mother, Katherine Diaz, put the child in her own car and took off. While on their way to the hospital, Ms. Diaz pulled to the side of the road and called Fort Lauderdale fire rescue. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived at Broward General Medical Center, Yanelle was dead.

Despite his apparent gesture of sympathy for the victim, Mr. Argumedo did not hesitate to drive away in the van, which is why he has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving a death, tampering with evidence and allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle in his possession.

Tractor Trailer Driver Fails to See Vehicle in His Path

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:25:20 -0500

Two people are dead after the driver of an eighteen-wheeler failed to see their vehicle in the middle of the road and crashed with it. The victims have been identified as Julian de Los Angeles, 22, of Maitland and Alison Goldberg, 24 of Davie.

The accident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. and the driver of the tractor-trailer, Israel Rivera, reportedly told investigators that he did not see the victims' Volkswagen. According to police, the Volkswagen had rear-ended another vehicle minutes earlier and had ended up in the middle of the southbound lanes as a result of that initial collision, where it was struck by the tractor-trailer. The driver of the vehicle initially struck by the Volkswagen was seriously injured and had to be transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center.

Even thou the initial investigation continues, I cannot help but wonder for how many hours had Mr. Rivera been driving prior to the accident that day and whether driver fatigue had anything to do with the crash. Why didn't the driver of the tractor-trailer see the car in the roadway? Maybe the accident happened because the truck driver was tired and not paying close attention to the road. After all, driver fatigue is the leading cause of crashes involving eighteen-wheelers.

Throughout our many years of practice we have handled many cases in which we have found that the desire to make money creates circumstances where drivers drive for longer hours than they should and are legally allowed, resulting in crashes that would have not happened otherwise.

Larger Commercial Truck May Have Contributed To Victims' Wrongful Death

The desire to make money combines with an increase in length and gross weight of eighteen-wheelers to make these trucks harder to drive and control. Please note that while the combined length of an eighteen-wheeler in the 1960's was about 40 feet, today it can be 57 to 59 feet long. The longer and heavier a truck, the more distance it takes for a driver fully applying the brakes to safely bring the big rig to a complete stop. These longer and heavier trucks make it harder to safely handle an emergency and avoid a crash.

Burn Injuries and Death From Car Accidents Very Common

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:09:18 -0500

When we think about injuries suffered during a motor vehicle accident or about the cause of death of someone involved in a car crash, burn injuries or death by fire do not usually come to mind. Yet, one out of eight fire victims in the United States got burned in a motor vehicle accident and 600 people are killed every year in car fires.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 287,000 vehicle fires occurred each year between 2003 and 2007, causing a yearly average of 480 deaths, 1,525 injuries and $1.3 billion in property damage each year. During that period, family cars (cars, trucks, SUV, minivans, etc.) were the source of 93 percent of the vehicle fires and 92 percent of the vehicle fire deaths.

While mechanical failures were the cause of about 75 percent of the vehicle fires, such failures were the cause of only 11 percent of the deaths. However, while crashes were the cause of only 3 percent of the vehicle fires, they were the cause of 58 percent of the deaths by vehicle fires.

Victims of motor vehicle fires are often trapped in their wrecked cars after a collision. Unfortunately, some burn to death while so trapped...Such was the case in the car pile up that took place recently on Interstate 75 outside Gainesville due to a combination of heavy fog and smoke. Both witnesses and rescuers tell tales of horror in which victims could only be located by rescuers following their screams and unidentified burnt bodies remained trapped inside their charred vehicles the following morning.

Fire Is Not The Only Killer

When it comes to fires in motor vehicles, the flames themselves are not the only cause of death. Cars, trucks, buses, etc. are made of synthetic materials that produce very harmful or deadly gases (like carbon monoxide) as they burn.

Moreover, a burning vehicle can (and sometimes does) explode, shooting deadly shrapnel (bolts, struts, engine parts, etc.) much like a military grenade would. These vehicle fires are so dangerous that firefighters take no chances with them, often letting them burn down before putting foam on the flames and wearing full fire fighting protective gear when fighting these fires.

South Florida: Hit & Run Capital of the World?

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:29:07 -0500

Unfortunately, it seems like every other day we have a hit and run accident that costs the life of a pedestrian crossing our roads. Not too long ago I wrote in this blog (post published 05/29/2011) about statistics that place some Florida cities among the most dangerous for pedestrians in the country.

According to those statistics, the Orlando - Kissimmee metro area is the deadliest metro area for pedestrians in the United States with 550 pedestrians killed in the last decade alone. Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater follows as number 2; with Jacksonville as number 3 and Miami - Ft. Lauderdale - Pompano Beach as number 4. Not surprisingly (at least not to me), Florida was the State with more cities on the list. Our benevolent climate, I believe, is one of the reasons for the preceding statistics: it prompts more people to walk or ride than the colder weather of our Northern states.

I do not have statistics of how many hit & run accidents occur per city in our country. However, I cannot help but wonder if my loved ones and I live in the hit & run capital of the World. Maybe...

One More Hit & Run In Miami

Just a couple of days ago, 22-year old Luis Castilla was charged with the deadly hit and run accident that killed 79-year old Delia Temoche while she was crossing 7th Street at the 8200 Block. According to cbslocal.com, Mr. Castilla not only did not stop to aid the victim or wait for police: he drove all the way to Hialeah and called police to report (together with his companions) that they had been the "victims" of a hit & rum accident involving another vehicle...

Police believe that "Castilla & Associates" were trying to establish an alibi for his participation in the events that took the life of Delia Temoche. Thankfully, police had no trouble connecting the extensive damage to the front of Mr. Castilla's vehicle to the accident that killed Ms. Temoche. Mr. Castilla had warrants out for his arrest for reckless driving, DUI with property damage, DUI and driving with an expired license.

Safer Roads for Cyclists and Pedestrians in Miami

On a very related note, the unfortunate death of cyclist Aaron Cohen on the Rickenbacker Causeway a few weeks ago (and the subsequent public outcry for safer roads for cyclists), has prompted Miami-Dade County officials to undertake a few "quick-fixes" to improve riders safety at the causeway, like lowering the speed limits, having more police vigilance and setting "buffer zones" to better separate bicycle and car lanes. Mr. Cohen died at the hands of another driver with a suspended license and a reported drug history.

Yet, the problem is not limited to the Rickenbacker Causeway or to cyclists. According to the Alliance for Biking and Walking, a national advocacy group, Florida is the worst state for bicyclists and pedestrian fatalities and Miami is close to becoming the worst city in the country for bicyclists and pedestrian deaths. Traffic reports by the Florida Department of Transportation tell a deadly tale caused by speeding cars, drivers in too much of a hurry taking unnecessary risks and a ferocious competition for the available road space.

Other Florida cities are creating a safer and healthier environment by lowering (and enforcing) speed limits; improving bicycle ways throughout the county; widening sidewalks and narrowing traffic lanes to slow traffic; creating special signals and other improvements to help pedestrians cross the street and what is perhaps most important; building a more efficient and convenient public transit system that reduces the number of cars on the road, relieving congestion and giving people transportation alternatives that free them from their cars. Let's hope that Miami Dade County follows suit soon and that by doing so we can stop (or at least slow down) the onslaught.

Cyclists and Pedestrians Continue to be Traffic Targets in South Florida

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:38:00 -0500

It is like a never-ending story in South Florida, especially in Miami, where almost every other day a cyclist or a pedestrian is injured or killed by a motor vehicle. The miamiherald.com reported that two cyclists were hit in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 16, while riding on the Rickenbacker Causeway between Key Biscayne and Miami.

A report today by cbslocal.com tells us more about this sad story. Two riders were struck: 37 year-old Aaron Cohen, who died Thursday night after being taken off life support (he had undergone emergency brain surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital after the accident) and 48 year old Enda Walsh, who suffered a broken leg.

Another Driver That Leaves The Scene of an Accident

Another thing that seems to be taking epidemic proportions in South Florida are the cases of drivers leaving the scene of an accident...That's exactly what Michele Traverso, the driver that killed Mr. Cohen, do after the accident. Despite the very damaged condition of his car's windshield (which made investigators wonder how he could drive the vehicle at all), Mr. Traverso simply drove his car to the parking lot of his Key Biscayne condo unit, where he covered it with a tarp in order to conceal the damage. However, debris from the crash scene allowed investigators determine the vehicle's make and zero in on it.

At the time of the accident, Mr. Traverso was driving without a license and attending a court-ordered drug program because he had been charged with possession of cocaine last May. He also had a 2009 arrest for possession of marihuana.

The alarming frequency of these hit and run cases makes me wonder about the kind of people that live amongst us....After all, they share the same roads me and my family use everyday (both as drivers and pedestrians) and to say the least, it is disconcerting to realize that among us live people with such low moral values...

Accidents happen everyday and can happen to any one of us. Don't these drivers realize that it could be their own loved ones left dead at the scene of an accident? They probably realize it, but just don't care. So long as they don't have to pay for the consequences of their actions...

Another Pedestrian Killed

Then we have the case of Brazilian race care driver J.P. Mauro, who has been charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and cocaine possession after fatally hitting 45-year-old Russell Knudson at around 1:30 a.m. last night on Collins Avenue, near 39th Street. Mr. Knudson was loading a bicycle into the back of a parked Toyota Camry when Mr. Mauro, who police claim was travelling at twice the 30 M.P.H. speed limit, veered into the parking lane and struck him. The impact threw Mr. Knudson onto the sidewalk, where he was pronounced dead. Mr. Mauro's eyes were bloodshot, he smelled of alcohol and according to police, he admitted to having been drinking earlier in the evening.

Man Suffers Fatal Spinal Cord Injury at Amusement Park

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:23:16 -0500

A Phoenix, Arizona man has suffered a fatal spinal cord injury at an indoor trampoline amusement park, according to justicenewsflash.com. The accident occurred Thursday last week at Skypark, a local recreational facility.

The victim's name was Ty Thomasson, age 30, who was with a group of friends when the accident happened. Apparently, Mr. Thomasson was injured when he dove into a foam pit at the indoor trampoline complex. It is not yet clear how exactly Mr. Thomasson dove into the pit, but the fact remains that he broke his neck. Emergency crews responding to the scene said he was not breathing and did not have a pulse when they arrived. Mr. Thomasson was rushed to the hospital and succumbed to his injury on Sunday, February 5.

While the investigation of this event is still ongoing, it is worthwhile to note that this may also be a case of product liability for which the manufacturer of the trampoline and/or foam may be liable. For example, if it is shown that those using the trampoline believed (as well as Mr. Thomasson) that the foam in the pit made it safe to dive into the pit and there were no signs indicating that such was not the case, both the park and the manufacturer of the trampoline may be held liable for Mr. Thomasson's wrongful death.

Park Responsible for Patron's Safety

Amusement parks are responsible for their rides and apparatus functioning correctly. For example, under Florida Law, amusement parks are responsible for the safety of their patrons and must comply with the same general laws applicable to all other businesses. They have a duty to maintain their facilities in a reasonably safe condition, they have a duty to correct dangerous conditions and they also have a duty to warn patrons of known dangerous conditions.

Local, state and federal governments have developed additional rules designed to help keep amusement parks safe for patrons. For example, some of these rules regulate the parks' maintenance schedules and provide for safety inspections. Some other rules enforce height and weight limits on rides. There are also specific language requirements for warning signs intended to advise patrons of hazards and strict training standards for ride operators.

More Hit and Run Accidents in South Florida

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:12:16 -0500

Hit and run accidents continue to happen with alarming frequency in South Florida. The latest of these incidents happened in Hialeah early Wednesday when an 2002 GMC Envoy SUV sideswiped a smaller Toyota Scion with three people onboard heading South on Okeechobee Road near the Florida Turnpike extension, according to the miamiherald.com.

Victim Drowned

The driver of the Toyota lost control of the vehicle and plunged into a nearby canal, where the car sunk into 22 feet of water. Apparently, all three occupants of the Toyota managed to make it to the surface, but one of them, later identified as Gilberto Duenas, became fatigued and drowned. Subsequently police found the SUV about a quarter of a mile away, abandoned because it was too damaged to be driven and with paint marks that matched the victim's Toyota. Police is currently looking for the registered owner of the SUV. The SUV is noted as being from Naples, Florida.

An Accident May Not Be A Crime, Running From One Is

People tend to panic when they find themselves involved in an accident. As terrifying an experience as it is, an accident is just an accident. In other words, those involved had no intention to provoke it. Also, an accident can happen to anyone.

However, once a party to an accident decides to run away from the scene, these actions can make it a crime. Under Florida Statute No. 316.027, "The driver of any vehicle involved in a crash occurring on public or private property that results in injury of any person must immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the crash, or as close thereto as possible, and must remain at the scene of the crash..." Failure to stop and/or remain at the scene is a felony in Florida.

And while an accident can happen to anyone, a felony doesn't: felonies happen to people whose moral turpitude and selfishness makes them believe they are impervious to justice...We have seen responsible (until then) parents, law abiding community members, decide one day to go for a couple of drinks after work and subsequently get into an accident on their way home. Suddenly realizing that they may have had one too many drinks and the gravity of their predicament, these until-then responsible people suddenly forget their legal duty to stop, as well as their duty as human beings to assist their victims.

Besides the moral implications, to hope to get away with it in this day and age is ludicrous. Crime scene investigators have the tools and technology necessary to provide detectives with very accurate information that enables them to catch up with the offender sooner rather than later, specially when someone has lost his or her life as a consequence of the hit and run.

Runners Often Turned In By Witnesses

Additionally, hit and run felons may likely be turned in by witnesses at the scene. Such was the recent case of a Tamarac driver who ran after causing an accident, only to be turned in by an 11 year old boy who wrote down his tag number, according to cbslocal.com.

South Florida Roads Not A Good Place For Anyone Not In A Car

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:59:08 -0500

South Florida roads continue to be a very hazardous place for anyone not actually inside a vehicle. And I don't mean pedestrians, who at times have seemed to be a favorite target... I mean any unfortunate driver that suffers a mechanical breakdown or an accident. Last weekend three people lost their lives when they were struck by another vehicle passing by where their damaged vehicle was stopped, according to the SunSentinel.com.

Good Samaritan Losses His Life Too

On Saturday, two 22 year old young ladies, Cheresa Nave and Megan Kea, suffered a minor single car accident when they hit a tree at about 4:30 a.m. Subsequently, 24 year old Andrew Edmond, a good samaritan, stopped to offer assistance. Shortly thereafter, the three were struck by a passing vehicle. Kea was killed at the scene, while Nave and Edmond died later at Broward General.

Suing A Close Friend or Relative May Be Unavoidable and Costly if Delayed

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:28:02 -0500

A Madison County driver has been charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide for the death of a passenger killed when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed last October, according to www.wtxl.com. On October 15 of last year, Henry Lee Robertson, Jr., was driving his car along US Highway 90 when he lost control of the vehicle, striking a telephone junction box and several trees before coming to a full stop. According to police, Henry had been drinking and his blood alcohol level was .224. Henry had two passengers with him in the car: Jamie O'Neal Hampton and Jerry Lacadrick Miller. They were all wearing their seat belts, but while Henry and Jamie survived, Jerry did not.

Having motor vehicle operators held criminally responsible if someone dies as a result of them negligently operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or having these drivers held liable in civil court for the damages that their negligent driving caused, is not news. Therefore, we should not be surprised if the estate of Mr. Miller files suit for wrongful death against Mr. Robertson and his insurance company....

Yet, our experience over a combined 60 years of practice, has taught us that some victims hesitate to file a claim against the responsible driver due to a feeling of guilt over suing a relative or a close friend.

IMPORTANCE OF RETAINING A LAWYER SOON AFTER AN INJURY OR A WRONGFUL DEATH

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:07:59 -0500

As a lawyer who has represented the injured and those who have lost loved ones due to the negligence or fault of others, I am very cognizant of the shock, grief, anger and pain felt by every injured party and their loved ones. I can't tell you how many times I have been contacted by an injured person or a family member asking me a question about a possible case months or even years after the event took place. I have learned through experience, that the best way to serve oneself or a loved one, is to get a lawyer involved in the case as early as possible so that the attorney can retain whatever experts have to be retained, preserve evidence, talk to witnesses and make sure that if there is a valid claim to be brought, it can be brought with the evidence necessary to obtain the best possible result.

Helping The Descendants Of An Explosion Victim

Let me give you an example. In 2010 our firm was retained by two young women from Maine whose dad was in the intensive care/burn unit at the Orlando Regional Medical Center as a result of being severely burned in an LP gas explosion. People close to the daughters had told them that the best way to help their dad even though they were grieving and in shock would be to hire a lawyer who could investigate the claim early on and preserve the evidence. Reluctantly, the daughters called us and spoke to my partner and myself over the phone and decided to retain us.

We immediately went into action and found a renowned expert who would meet us at the scene and go through the debris and rubble in an effort to find the cause or causes of the explosion. Our firm and this expert made arrangements to meet with the Fire Marshall, adjusters and experts from the condominium association, a unit owner, and the LP gas company within 48 hours of being hired.

Preserving Evidence Early

A comprehensive examination of everything was conducted with ALL PARTIES PRESENT. This was very important because you never want to have an issue regarding tampering with evidence or the chain of custody of evidence. In this particular case, it became even more important, because not only was the whole scene inspected by each party, but photographed as well, all at the same time. Within 2 days following this inspection, evidence at the scene was tampered with. Had we not been able to do the inspection early on, the end result of the case might have been different. Because we were able to conduct the inspection early on, we were able to settle this case with all parties for a very substantial sum within 14 months of the explosion.

Family Sues Clinic Over Death Of Plastic Surgery Victim

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 21:03:12 -0500

The family of a deceased victim of plastic surgery has sued the Weston clinic where she was operated on, BrowardPalmBeach.com reports.

Beware: A Nip & Tuck Surgery Can Go Wrong...

A liposuction performed to Kellee J. Lee-Howard, mother of six, at Alyne Medical Rejuvenation on February 23rd, 2010 caused her to die the following day of polydrug toxicity. Court records of the lawsuit filed by her husband, James Howard, allege that she died because the clinic failed to properly administer lidocaine.

Another patient, 38 year old mother of two Maria Shortall, died on June 11 from a liposuction performed at the same clinic. She stopped breathing halfway through the procedure and was rushed to a hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.

Wrong Site Surgery Too Common In The United States

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 13:52:32 -0500

According to the Washington Post, the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare has stated that 40 wrong-site surgeries happen every week in the United States.

Performing The Wrong Surgery

Mistakes include amputating the wrong leg, removing a kidney from the wrong patient or in lay terms, performing the wrong surgery. According to surgeon Dr. Dennis O'Leary, the problem may be prevented by following some very simple rules, including the preoperative verification of important details, like making sure that an X-ray isn't flipped or that the right patient is on the operating table....

The Commission studied the operating protocols at 8 hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. The Commission found that problems with the facilities preoperative procedures and their scheduling processes, as well as ineffective communication and distractions in the operating rooms increased the risk of wrong-site surgeries. All of these surgical facilities found that establishing redundant verification procedures in the preoperative rooms decreased the risk of wrong-site surgeries from 52% to 19% and, consequently, increased patient safety.

Famous Hip Hop Singer Suffers Jet Ski Accident

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:00:34 -0500

According to the Miami Herald, Hip Hop singer Sean Kingston suffered a jet ski accident late Sunday evening and was subsequently taken to the Ryder Tauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital with critical injuries.

Hit Miami Beach Bridge

A spokesperson for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Officer Jorge Pino, stated that 21 year old Mr. Kingston, had a female passenger with him when he collided with a bridge.