Vehicle crash ends in Tampa Bay waters - PINELLAS BAYWAY - HOWARD FRANKLAND - 4th ST. EXIT near INTERSTATE I-275

PINELLAS COUNTY - TAMPA BAY AREA (Bay News 9) -- For the third time in two days, another vehicle has wound up in a Bay area waterway. This time, it happened on the east side of the Pinellas Bayway in between Interstate 275 and the Pinellas County beaches. According to witnesses, a Toyota pickup truck was speeding when it went out of control, hit a guard rail and flipped over into the water just after 10 p.m.

Fisherman along the bridge jumped into the water to rescue the driver of the truck. Authorities said the man was taken to an area hospital. His name and condition have not been released.

The night before, a recreational vehicle (RV) lost control and went off the Howard Frankland Bridge into Tampa Bay. A short time after that accident, an SUV crashed on the same bridge near the 4th Street exit, landing in water as well.

An investigation into the Bayway crash is still ongoing.

www.trippfirm.com

Driver loses control, RV ends up in Tampa Bay near Howard Frankland Bridge between Tampa - St. Petersburg - INTERSTATE - I-275

HILLBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- An overnight accident on the Howard Frankland bridge sent an RV crashing into Tampa Bay. The crash happened just before midnight as the vehicle was headed north on the bridge.

The driver, from Tennessee, lost control of the motor home. The Florida Highway Patrol said the vehicle went crashing through a fence on the east shoulder of the highway and kept going into the water. There were no injuries reported but the driver was charged with careless driving.

www.trippfirm.com

OSHA fines Wal-Mart over trampling death of employee Ι Wal-Mart failed to train employees and implement effective crowd management control.

According to the Associated Press, "The death of a temporary employee who was crushed in a stampede of post-Thanksgiving shoppers at a Wal-Mart store could have been prevented, federal officials said Tuesday as they proposed fining the world's largest retailer $7,000 - as much money as it makes in about 18 seconds."

The agency cited Wal-Mart "for inadequate crowd management following the Nov. 28, 2008, death of Jdimytai Damour at a Long Island store." A spokesperson for Wal-Mart said, "Wal-Mart has 'never had a tragedy like this occur in our stores and we never want it to happen again.'"

The Dow Jones reports, "OSHA's inspection found the store's failure to implement reasonable and effective crowd management meant employees could be crushed by the crowd. The failure included not providing employees with training and tools to safely manage the large crowd of shoppers."

www.trippfirm.com

DOG BITE Ι PIT BULL BOXER Ι NO LEASH Ι ATTACKED BY DOG Ι MANATEE COUNTY Ι TRIPP LAW FIRM - Personal Injury Law

MANATEE COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A man was found bleeding from several wounds Sunday after being attacked by two dogs. According the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, a man was walking down the street when a pit bull boxer mix and a pit bull attacked him. The man suffered lacerations on his left forearm and left ankle, the sheriff's office said. He also had scratches on his legs, arms and chest. The man was taken to a local hospital. The sheriff's office said the dogs' owner, said she heard screaming, ran outside and saw her dogs across the street. She then pulled her pit bull boxer mix off the man and brought both dogs back to her yard and secured the fence. The dogs were removed by animal control. This is the second animal bite complaint the dogs have been involved in.

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HOW SAFE? - IIHS Safety Crash Videos - CRASH TEST - Which vehicle rates the best? - Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. - TRIPP LAW FIRM

Insurance Institute’s for Highway Safety Crash Test

While many factors contribute to serious crashes, the vehicle you are in can make a life or death difference.

Select your vehicle to see how it does in the Insurance Institute’s for Highway Safety Crash Test by clicking on the following LINK: www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/safety-recalls/carcrashtest/crashtestvideo.htm?EXTKEY=SP72C00&CMP=KNC-CROYPICARS&HBX_OU=51&HBX_PK=pi

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., encourages drivers and passengers alike to always wear their seat belt. www.trippfirm.com
TRIPP LAW FIRM, P.A. – A Personal Injury Law Firm that is Dedicated to Helping Injured People throughout the State of Florida.
CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION - 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Prompt and Aggressive Representation, with a personal touch.
NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

TEEN DRIVERS Ι Vehicle Monitoring Ι Prevent Accidents Ι

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds that in-vehicle monitoring devices help reduce risky teen driving. The devices record the times when teens drive to fast, brake too sharply, and don't buckle up. The monitors made beeping sounds when teens drove too fast, braked too sharply or neglected to buckle up. At the same time, the devices posted the information on a secure Web site for parents to review. WATCH A BRIEF VIDEO by clicking on the LINK: www.iihs.org/video.aspx/info/teen_monitoring

Ninety-eight percent of the parents said they'd recommend the monitoring device to other parents, while teens believed the device made them better drivers.

To read a reseach paper prepared by IIHS entitled - In-Vehicle Monitoring and the Driving Behavior of Teenagers - CLICK ON THE LINK - www.iihs.org/research/topics/pdf/r1119.pdf

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., reminds TEEN DRIVERS to Think Safety First! and encourges parents - while it may be less costly to purchase an old “clunker” for your young driver, your teen’s safety should be your first concern. Parents should consider purchasing a new or used vehicle with good safety features – side impact as well as dashboard and steering wheel air bags, automatic door locks, and anti-lock braking system, traction control devices, and other technological improvements.

Remember, driver education only teaches fundamental skills and knowledge. Parents, guardians and supervising drivers must do their part. PARENTS - Get Involved. Stay Involved. The best person to teach your teen how to become a safe, responsible driver is you. Your wisdom, your guidance, and your continued involvement will not only make a big difference, it could save lives.

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., encourages drivers and passengers alike to always wear their seat belt. www.trippfirm.com

TRIPP LAW FIRM, P.A. – A Personal Injury Law Firm that is Dedicated to Helping Injured People throughout the State of Florida.
CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION - 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Prompt and Aggressive Representation, with a personal touch.
NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN CAR CRASHES Ι Florida Ι Greater Tampa Bay Ι Orlando Ι Beaches Ι Largo Ι Seminole Ι Clearwater Ι St. Petersburg

More than 1,000 children 12 and younger in passenger vehicles die in crashes every year, and more than 100,000 are injured. Parents can reduce the risk to their kids by properly securing them in the back seat of their vehicle.

The videos below are designed to help parents choose the right type of restraint for their child's age and size and to provide general information on installation and use.

Overview (watch first): For parents of all children

www.iihs.org/video.aspx/child_restraints/overview

Rear-facing: For parents of infants — newborns
www.iihs.org/video.aspx/child_restraints/rear_facing

Forward-facing: For parents of toddlers

www.iihs.org/video.aspx/child_restraints/forward_facing
Booster seats: For parents of children in booster seats
www.iihs.org/video.aspx/child_restraints/booster_seats

Adultbelts: For parents of older children

www.iihs.org/video.aspx/child_restraints/adult_belts
These videos are also available for purchase on DVD.

www.iihs.org/videos/default.html

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., encourages drivers and passengers alike to always wear their seat belt. www.trippfirm.com

TRIPP LAW FIRM, P.A. – A Personal Injury Law Firm that is Dedicated to Helping Injured People throughout the State of Florida.

CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION - 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Prompt and Aggressive Representation, with a personal touch.

NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

BICYCLE ACCIDENT Ι Dunedin Ι Largo Ι Countryside Ι Seminole Ι Pinellas Park Ι St. Petersburg Ι Land O' Lakes Ι Madeira Beach Ι Bay Pines Ι KennethCity

If you've been injured as a bicyclist, we encourage you to call our firm. Our staff will take down some basic information about the accident and injuries for the attorney to review. Of course, there is NO CHARGE or obligation for you to talk to us.

You are more than welcome to stop by our office for an in-person consultation. We can even arrange for the attorney to come to your home or hospital room free of charge. We are AVAILABLE to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, absolutely FREE.

To tell our firm about an injury you sustained as a result of someone’s negligence, please call us at 888-392-LAWS (5297) to speak to Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr.

NO FEES or COSTS if NO RECOVERY. www.trippfirm.com

ON CALL EMPLOYEES - OVERTIME NOT BEING PAID - LABOR LAW - Litigation - Class actions

Litigation seen as growing over on-call employees who claim restriction of freedom. - The National Law Journal reports, "On-call employees are turning into a growing liability risk for employers, as some are claiming that companies are restricting their freedom too much, and not paying them for it."

Now, "employment lawyers say that such claims are popping up in larger wage-and-hour class actions, with on-call employees suing for unpaid overtime, alleging that their freedom has gotten so limited that they may as well be hourly employees." Julie A. Dunne, a labor attorney said, "It's definitely triggering litigation." She added, "the key for employers is to make sure they're not overly restricting on-call employees' freedom."

Florida pool drain systems Ι drowning hazard must be updated Ι FEDERAL LAW Ι SWIMMING POOLS

Federal law requires public pools to update drain systems. "A federal law requires public pools and spas, including at apartment complexes, condos, hotels and schools, to install anti-entrapment drain systems and special grates to prevent fingers, jewelry, hair and bodies from being trapped."

While, "The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act became effective in December...seasonal pools don't have to comply until they reopen." The CPSC says nearly 80 percent of drownings occur in residential settings. "Parents should beware that more young children suffer from submersion injuries or deaths in residential pools than they do in public ones."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a study that "focused on submersion injuries and deaths from pool and spa incidents in children under age 5." The results were that "nearly 80 percent of the drownings in 2004 to 2006 occurred in residential settings, such as at the child's own home or a family member's or neighbor's house." Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., encourages all pool owners to be sure that their swimming pool drain systems meet the new federal standards. Keep yourself, your family and others safe!

TRIPP LAW FIRM, P.A. – A Personal Injury Law Firm that is Dedicated to Helping Injured People throughout the State of Florida.

CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION - 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Prompt and Aggressive Representation, with a personal touch. NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY. www.trippfirm.com

The injury law team and Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., are AVAILABLE 24 / 7 . . . so CONTACT US NOW !

The injury law team and Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., are AVAILABLE 24 / 7 . . . so contact us now! TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law. Handling personal injury cases throughout the State of Florida. Home and hospital visits made upon request.

CALL NOW (888) 392-LAWS (5297) for an immediate FREE telephone consultation. NO FEES or COST if NO RECOVERY. PROMPT and AGGRESSIVE with a PERSONAL TOUCH!

You don't have to wait to contact our law firm. We have qualified professionals standing by at all times, ready to take your call and answer your personal injury questions.

You may contact our firm in a variety of ways.

• Mailing address: 10099 Seminole Blvd. Seminole, FL 33772


• Telephone: (727) 398-2900


• Toll-free (888) 392-LAWS (5297)


• Facsimile: (727) 398-5151


• www.trippfirm.com

Tampa Ι TEEN HITS POLICE CAR while TEXTING Ι REAR ENDED Ι STOPPED POLICE CAR Ι AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT Ι Passenger INJURED Ι

According to BAYNEWS 9 - A teenager was cited Wednesday after police said she crashed into a patrol car while she was texting and cutting school.

According to reports, just before 11 a.m. Wednesday, Officer Tanya Manning was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs and Palms Springs boulevards in Tampa when she was hit from behind by a car driven by 18-year-old Katelyn Blaylock.

Police said Blaylock was texting at the time of the accident. They also said she had two other teenage girls in the car with her, and that all three teenagers were skipping classes at Freedom High School at the time. Blaylock and one other passenger were slightly injured when the airbags of her car deployed. Manning was not hurt.

Blaylock was cited for careless driving. All three teenagers were taken to their high school and delivered to the assistant principal. All of their parents have been notified.

STUDY SHOWS - Texting While Driving Can Be Deadly

CLICK link to read article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090504094434.htm

"When a driver's eyes are away from the roadway for two seconds or more in a six-second window, their risk of being involved in a crash is two times higher than an alert driver."

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., encourages drivers to refrain from texting and driving (even at stop lights). Keep yourself, your family and others safe by keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

www.trippfirm.com

TRIPP LAW FIRM, P.A. – A Personal Injury Law Firm that is Dedicated to Helping Injured People throughout the State of Florida.

CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION - 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Prompt and Aggressive Representation, with a personal touch.

NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

HERNANDO SHERIFF Ι Click IT or Ticket Ι SPRING HILL Ι WEEKI WACHEE Ι BROOKSVILLE Ι

In a recent article published by BAYNEWS-9, from May 18 to May 31, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office will join with law enforcement officers nationwide to take part in the annual Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization.

"The goal of the Click It or Ticket mobilization is not to write more tickets, but to get everyone buckled up - especially teen drivers and their passengers - and to save lives," the sheriff's office said in a press release. Teens are among those drivers and passengers least likely to buckle up, and motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens.

The sheriff's office said wearing seat belts:

• Reduces the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45% and by 60% in pickup trucks, SUV's and minivans.
• Increases the odds of survival in a rollover crash in a light truck by nearly 80%
• Saves lives 15,147 in 2007 alone, and during the five-year period from 2003 through 2007, seat belts saved a total of 76,936 lives.

Safety check points will be conducted by law enforcement officers at the following locations: Elgin Boulevard, Pinehurst Drive, Sealawn Drive, Coronado Drive, Landover Boulevard, Linden Drive, Cobblestone Drive, Shoal Line Boulevard, California Street, Star Road, Springlake Highway, Ridge Manor Boulevard, Centralia Road, and Powell Road.

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., encourages drivers and passengers alike to always wear their seat belt.

www.trippfirm.com

TRIPP LAW FIRM, P.A. – A Personal Injury Law Firm that is Dedicated to Helping Injured People throughout the State of Florida.

CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION - 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Prompt and Aggressive Representation, with a personal touch.

NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

CLICK IT or TICKET Ι Florida Law Ι Seat belts SAVE LIVES Ι Prevent INJURIES Ι FHP Ι Sheriff Ι Local Police Agency Ι PINELLAS Ι PASCO Ι POLK Ι MANATEE

Law enforcement agencies throughout Florida have stepped up their enforcement of seatbelt violations under the Click It or Ticket campaign.

The increased enforcement effort started Monday and runs through May 31.

Under Florida law, it is illegal for anyone:

• To operate a motor vehicle unless restrained by a safety belt


• To operate a motor vehicle unless each passenger and the operator of the vehicle under the age of 18 years is restrained by a safety belt or by a child restraint device

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., and the injury law team at the TRIPP LAW FIRM encourages drivers and passengers alike to BUCKLE UP for SAFETY, BUCKLE UP!"

www.trippfirm.com

TRIPP LAW FIRM, P.A. – A Personal Injury Law Firm that is Dedicated to Helping Injured People throughout the State of Florida.

CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION - 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Prompt and Aggressive Representation, with a personal touch.

NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

Car slams into CSX freight train in Frostproof Ι Polk County railroad crossing accident

Two people have been hospitalized after a train hit a car at a railroad crossing in Polk County. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened just before 2 a.m. on Highway 98 at West Frostproof Road in Frostproof.

A CSX freight car smashed into a vehicle that was on the tracks. Upon impact the car was flipped over at impact and dragged fifty feet. The car hit the last two train cars, causing the derailment. The two people in the car were transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

The Florida Highway Patrol has closed Highway 98 just west of Highway 27 and Highway 98 just east of West Frostproof Road.

MEDTRONIC warns of defects with 37,000 PACEMAKERS Ι 1.7 MILLION have been implanted Ι PACEMAKER MALFUNCTION Ι Kappa Ι Sigma

"Medtronic is warning doctors that 37,000 of its pacemakers may have wiring defects that can cause them to malfunction."

The company said the defect affects a subset of its Kappa and Sigma pacemakers, causing them not to respond or [to] run out of battery power.

About 1.7 million of the pacemakers have been implanted since 1997, the company estimates.

Medtronic, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, is the world’s leading medical technology company, alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for people with chronic disease. Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced financial results for its fiscal year and fourth quarter ended April 24, 2009. Medtronic recorded fiscal year 2009 revenue of $14.599 billion, an 8 percent increase over the $13.515 billion in fiscal year 2008.

www.trippfirm.com

Low Speed CAR CRASH Ι LOW SPEED vehicle collision Ι Minor vehicle Damage • Personal injuries Ι Rearend collision Ι NECK INJURY Ι Tampa Ι Clearwater

According to “insurance experts,” LOW SPEED IMPACTS are generally considered to be any collision that takes place at speeds under ten (10) mph. Some insurance companies have set up special claims units to handle LOW SPEED IMPACT accidents and have even termed them at “MIST claims.” The acronym M.I.S.T. stands for Minor Impact Soft Tissue. Even though there is technically no statistical data that sets this cutoff point (10 mph), the insurance industry refers to this number as such. Many times the controversy arises is in the case of the rear-end low impact collision. Generally in low speed collisions there is not a lot of damage done to the car; however people involved in these accidents often claim to have suffered injuries, neck injuries especially. CLICK LINK BELOW TO READ - Auto insurers play hardball in minor-crash claims

www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/09/insurance.hardball/index.html

Many years of research suggests that in fact, injury can and does occur in low impact collisions. The most common of these injuries is "whiplash." One of the contributing factors to these injuries is that, in most cases, the occupants are unaware of the impending collision. They therefore cannot brace themselves and force their back and neck against the seat or headrest.

Many automobile bumpers are built to with stand a 2.5 to 5 mph crash without visable damage. These industry standards are not for the safety of the occupant, but are to protect and limit the damage to the bumpers, keeping the cost of repair to a minimum. Many times, vehicle to vehicle impacts or bumper to bumper impacts never show considerable visable damage because the bumpers line up. The urethane bumper cover that his hit usually returns to its shape and to a near perfect condition. Thus, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. Sometimes when a body shop removes the urethane bumper cover they will notice the reinforcement and sometimes the rear body panel bent and or distorted. Thus, there actually WAS DAMAGE behind the rubber bumper cover. The point is that when the bumper cover does not show damage the impact is sometimes only shown only after the rear bumper cover has been removed.

Many state, county and local police agencies have demonstrated and stressed the importance of wearing their seat belts and shoulder harnesses. This demonstration consists of strapping an occupant to a car seat on an impact sled and sliding it down a rail to initiate a 5 mph crash into a barrier. Participants that have actually gotten on the impact sled and experienced the feeling of crashing into the barrier. They then know firsthand how someone could be injured in such a low speed type of collision. Other bystanders that simply witnessed the demonstration can also verify that the person that has crashed at only 5 mph is thrown forward with a SEVERE JERKING motion.

Many times insurance adjusters try to deny the possibility of injuries in these low speed impacts. Medical research substantiates just the opposite. Although many times the car shows little damage, the velocity and accompanying force have to be transferred somewhere, and that can be the occupants of the vehicle. Even though a vehicle may have been built to withstand these type of impacts, our bodies are not.

In many instances, symptoms of these injuries will not occur immediately. Instead they may take up to 72 hours to manifest themselves. Some of the common symptoms for the above injuries include: Neck Pain, Headaches, Vision problems, Dizziness, Back Pain, Muscle aches and pains, sometimes even Minor non-displaced cervical fractures.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a LOW SPEED rear-end motor vehicle accident, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM for an immediate FREE consultation. Our on-call staff and investigators are available 24 hours a day. CALL (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

NO FEES OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

Multiple crashes reported Ι Central Florida Ι NEAR DISNEY • EPCOT PARKS Ι I-4 Ι US 27 Ι SR 417 Ι Space Coast Hwy Ι 192 Ι SR 535 Ι Lake Buena Vista

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers are reporting multiple crashes and delays along roadways in Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Volusia and Brevard counties this morning -- possibly connected to the severe weather conditions. The combination of wet roads and heavy traffic is the genesis of traffic accidents that sometimes can result in serious injury and substantial property damage.

Although none of the recent accidents has been serious, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol are busy tending the roadways. Motorists may experience slow moving traffic along I-4 and the intersections of US 27, State Road 417, Space Coast Hwy 192, State Road 535, and Lake Buena Vista near the Disney • Epcot Parks.

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. urges motorists to use extra care while driving on wet roads. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM for an immediate FREE consultation. Our on-call staff and investigators are available 24 hours a day. CALL (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

NO FEES OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

www.trippfirm.com TRIPP LAW FIRM • Personal Injury Law

Judge approves $39 MILLION SETTLEMENT between Wachovia and brokers - FAILURE TO PAY OVERTIME AND WAGES

The National Law Journal (5/13, Bronstad) reported, "A federal judge in Los Angeles has approved a $39 million preliminary settlement to resolve the multidistrict litigation between Wachovia Corp. and more than 10,000 stock brokers who alleged that they were denied overtime pay and other wages."

DRIVE THRU ACCIDENT Ι PEDESTRIAN STRUCK BY CAR Ι PARKING LOT DESIGN CAN PREVENT INJURY TO PEDESTRIANS Ι FAST FOOD • COFFEE DRIVE THRU - POOR DESIGN

Many restaurants, coffee shops and other businesses that use drive-thru pick-up or take-outs often place pedestrians unnecessarily exposed to wayward automobiles. For example, an entire group of diners waiting on benches in front of the spaces reserved for take-out parking will be crushed when the inevitable happens. In recent years, we have all heard of a driver hitting the gas instead of the brake. As a result, the automobile goes crashing into parked cars, pedestrians and sometimes directly into the storefront causing significant property damage and serious personal injuries.

Many fast food restaurants and coffee shops have their entry and exit doors on the same side as the drive-thru or pick-up window. Drivers are sometimes distracted as they are checking their order and fail to see pedestrians crossing just a few feet away from them. This driver inattention sometimes causes the vehicle to run into pedestrians knocking them to the ground causing serious personal injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian, CALL the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law for an immediate FREE case evaluation. Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., and his staff investigators are available 24 hours a day.

CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION (888) 392-LAWS (5297)

Contact Us Today! NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY

www.trippfirm.com

IKEA Ι JURY VERDICT $3.2 million dollars Ι FALLING MERCHANDISE Ι Warehouse store Ι IKEA,USA Ι

A 33 year old woman was recently awarded $3.2 million in damages for injuries she suffered in 2006 when a 350-lb. stack of eight foot countertops fell on her in one of IKEA’s stores. The plaintiff suffered four fractures of her pelvis and alleged permanent injuries.

It sounds as though liability against IKEA was pretty clear. The customer had been looking for a table, but did not find one that she liked. Near the EXIT of the store, she stopped at the “As Is” section of leftover or bargain items but did not touch any of them. A stack of four particle-board counter tops and inside door collapsed on the plaintiff. An expert testified it was unsafe to have eight-foot-long countertops stacked vertically with only one (1) bungee cord to secure them in place. Plaintiff’s counsel said, “IKEA created the dangerous method of displaying merchandise in a way that was a hazard to its customers.”

Given the clear liability, it is hard to see why IKEA did not settle the case and let it go to a jury. The article in the Washington Post said, “the special damages were about $150,000.” IKEA’s highest offer in the case was $220,000. The plaintiff’s last demand was $1.2 million. An earlier mediation attempt was unsuccessful. Perhaps IKEA felt that, even with a finding of liability, it stood a good chance of doing better than paying the demand. That demand of $1.2 million may be looking better now to IKEA.

IKEA distributes its products through its retail outlets. As of March 2009, the chain has 296 stores in 36 countries, most of them in Europe, the United States, Canada, Asia and Australia. IKEA, USA has stores in Tampa, Florida at 1103 N. 22nd Street, in Orlando, Florida at 4092 Eastgate Drive, and in Sunrise, Florida at 151 NW 136th Avenue. Much of IKEA's furniture is designed to be assembled by the consumer rather than being sold pre-assembled. IKEA claims this permits them to reduce costs and use of packaging it is picked up or shipped unassembled rather than assembled.

The layouts of the warehouse-style retail stores create another risk for shoppers -- that of falling merchandise. Open warehouse layouts, high shelving and active equipment, including forklifts and rolling ladders, combine to create the very real potential for serious injuries when products topple from high shelves. In some falling merchandise cases, customers have suffered severe injuries to their head, feet, back, neck or shoulders.

If you or a loved one has been injured by falling merchandise in a warehouse store or super discount store, you may be entitled to compensation under premises liability law. If you have lost a loved one due to injuries sustained, your case would also fall under wrongful death. Call the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law for an immediate case evaluation. NO FEES OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

Our on-call staff and investigators are available 24 hours a day. CALL - Toll-free (888) 392-LAWS (5297) to speak with our on-call staff or Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr.

www.trippfirm.com

FLORIDA Ι PARKING LOT ACCIDENT Ι PARKING GARAGE ACCIDENT Ι MALL PARKING LOT Ι OUTLET MALL Ι PEDESTRIAN Ι HIT & RUN Ι RAN STOP SIGN

Parking lots can become a place for tragic accidents not just a minor “fender benders.” Each year thousands of car accidents are reported in parking lots across Florida. Driving in a parking lot or parking garage demands your undivided attention. There are other vehicles parking, backing, loading and unloading. In addition there are young and old pedestrians, including children and infants being pushed in strollers.

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. urges motorists to use caution in parking lots, where accidents can happen as people pay less attention and are more lax about obeying stop signs and other traffic control devices.

Many accidents have been reported when elderly drivers mistakenly hit the gas rather than the brake and run into pedestrians causing serious and sometimes fatal injuries. Elderly drivers face many challenges. Car accident statistics show that after 70 years of age, the rate of car accidents increases. Elderly people may experience decline in their health including slower reaction time, poor vision, and cognitive skills. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publication reports that in 1997 while seniors were 9% of the population they accounted for 14% of traffic fatalities and 17% of pedestrian fatalities. Drivers whose behavior, physical or cognitive capabilities, or other traits present substantial risk to either themselves or others. A national task force found that elderly and medically impaired drivers were a major problem area.

Pedestrians in parking lots should be aware of their surroundings and not walk behind cars that are backing.

Numerous web resources offer parking lot safety tips, including:

- Obey traffic lanes and avoid cutting diagonally across lots.
- Obey traffic signs, including stop signs, crosswalks and yield signs.
- Use turn signals and obey other traffic laws as you would on a public street.
- Be vigilant in looking for pedestrians, bicycles and other traffic before moving.
- Watch for parents pushing baby carriages and strollers or people in wheelchairs.
- Use extra caution in looking for people or traffic behind you when backing out of a space.
- Don't race for a parking spot you think is about to be vacated.
- Obey the traffic flow patterns marked on the surface of the lot.

This information is provided by the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed in pedestrian accidents, car accidents and motorcycle accidents.

Contact the TRIPP LAW FIRM today for a FREE and confidential case evaluation. We handle personal injury cases throughout the State of Florida.

Our TOLL-FREE number is (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

www.trippfirm.com

BICYCLIST Ι PEDESTRIAN Ι PARKING LOT Ι HIT & RUN Ι LARGO Ι SEMINOLE Ι MADEIRA BEACH Ι TYRONE Ι BAY PINES Ι PINELLAS PARK Ι NO HEALTH INSURANCE

The FHP said almost 5,000 crashes involving bicycles took place in Florida in the last year, with 121 people killed. Some of these bicycle crashes occurred in Seminole, Bay Pines, Largo, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Countryside, Dunedin , Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey, Trinity, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Citrus Park, Oldsmar, Tampa, Brandon, Valrico, Ruskin, Gibsonton, Ellenton, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota as well as Hudson, Spring Hill, Weeki Wachee, Inverness, Homosassa, Dunnellon, Citrus Springs, Lecanto, Hernando.

Deputies that work for the Pinellas County Sheriff, Hillsborough County Sheriff, Pasco County Sheriff as well as other Officers that work with other agencies like Tampa Police Department, Largo Police Department, and Clearwater Police Department would all agree, “Bicycle safety is key for both the bike rider and the automobile driver when traveling on Florida highways and roads.” Too often drivers fail to keep a proper lookout for bicyclists either sharing the roadway or traveling in designated bike lanes. The NHTSA suggests that drivers give three (3) feet of clearance when passing bicyclists, yield to cyclists at intersections, and to be mindful of bicyclists' presence when turning, opening doors, and pulling out of parking spaces.

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. encourages bicyclists to wear proper safety equipment, obey the rules of the road, and increase their visibility by wearing bright colors and equipping their bikes with reflectors and lights.

If you or a loved one has been injured while riding a bicycle in the State of Florida CALL 1-888-392-LAWS (5297) for your FREE initial consultation. We are happy to discuss your case with you and to help you understand your rights. Our on call staff and licensed investigators are available 24 hours a day seven (7) days a week.

We can also arrange home or hospital visits for your convenience. There are NO FEES or COSTS if we do not recover money for you.

CALL NOW for a FREE initial consultation (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

www.trippfirm.com

MEMORIAL DAY Ι ACCIDENTS Ι FLORIDA Ι PINELLAS Ι HILLSBOROUGH Ι PASCO Ι POLK Ι MANATEE Ι SARASOTA Ι HERNANDO Ι CITRUS Ι CHARLOTTE Ι THROUGHOUT FLORIDA

TAMPA - Police and state highway officials are cautioning motorists to slow down and buckle up this Memorial Day weekend, the season's deadliest time for driving. The Florida Highway Patrol says 27 people died in accidents it investigated during the 96-hour Memorial Day weekend, including 19 who failed to wear seat belts. The number was slightly down from previous the previous year at 29 deaths. FHP Capt. Mark Welch said the patrol reported 83 alcohol-related collisions during the 2008 holiday weekend, but did not have a figure on how many of those may have been involved in the fatal accidents.

A Florida Highway Patrol spokesman said, “Contributing to the toll are drivers who don't buckle up, drive too fast and drink alcohol. About a third of Florida's highway fatalities two years ago involved alcohol, which is slightly higher than the national average.”

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., urges drivers and passengers alike to always BUCKLE UP, SLOW DOWN, & DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE! - DON’T BECOME A STATISTIC!

The TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law – (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Handling personal injury cases throughout the State of Florida, including Seminole, Bay Pines, Largo, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Countryside, Dunedin , Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey, Trinity, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Citrus Park, Oldsmar, Tampa, Brandon, Valrico, Ruskin, Gibsonton, Ellenton, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota as well as Hudson, Spring Hill, Weeki Wachee, Inverness, Homosassa, Dunnellon, Citrus Springs, Lecanto, Hernando.

CALL NOW for a FREE initial consultation - 24 hours a day - 7 days a week. Our on call staff and Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. as well as our licensed investigators gather important evidence before it disappears.

Toll-free (888) 392-LAWS (5297)

NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

www.trippfirm.com

Wal-Mart To Pay nearly TWO MILLION DOLLARS to Avoid Charges In Trampling

According to a recent story aired on National Public Radio (NPR), Wal-Mart recently agreed to pay nearly $2 million and improve safety at its 92 New York stores as part of a deal with prosecutors that avoid criminal charges in the trampling death of a temporary worker.

The agreement included no admission of guilt by Wal-Mart. Any victims who accept payment from the Wal-Mart compensation fund will be required to waive their right to a separate civil suit against Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart Vice President Hank Mullany said, "The crowd management plan we are announcing today was developed by a team of experts whose experience includes NFL Super Bowls, Olympic games, concerts and national political conventions."

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said, "We are hoping that this safety plan becomes the nationally recognized model for crowd management among all retailers and becomes an industry-wide best practice."

SLIP • FALL – TRIP • FALL – HIP FRACTURE – Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton – FLORIDA INJURY ATTORNEY – G. ALAN TRIPP, JR.

According to the NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL - Every year, unintentional injuries kill more than 101,000 individuals, with a cost to society of $608 billion. Of all the risks, falls are the leading cause of unintentional death among people 65 and older, approaching 11,000 deaths a year. Falls are the third leading cause of death for all ages, totaling 18,822 last year. There were 1.8 million emergency room visits and more than 420,000 hospital admissions of adults 65 years old and older as a result of falls according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

An estimated one in three adults 65 years old and older experience a fall each year. Hip fractures, primarily the result of falls, account for some 300,000 hospitalizations each year and the direct care costs of osteoporotic fractures are some $18 billion each year. About 20 percent of people who suffer a hip fracture will need nursing home care within a year, and 20 percent will die within a year of suffering the fracture. Nearly half of those who survive a hip fracture never regain full mobility, nor their former quality of life.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM for an immediate case evaluation. Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. and his injury law team are available 24 hours a day. CALL NOW for a FREE case evaluation (888) 392-LAWS.

NO FEES OR COSTS – IF NO RECOVERY.

www.trippfirm.com

PARK │SEMINOLE │ DANGEROUS INTERSECTION │CAR CRASHES │ RED LIGHT RUNNING │ Florida Auto Accident Attorney │ TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law – FL

Florida Auto Accident Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. │ TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law│ FLORIDA LAW FIRM │ Handling cases throughout Florida

More than 166,000 cars travel through the Park and Seminole intersection daily, and there have been more than 150 crashes there. This is one of the most congested intersections in Pinellas County and often drivers run the red light. In addition, local law enforcement regularly issue drivers citations for both speeding and red light violations. The combination of these two traffic violations is a recipe for disaster. According to police, red light runners are second only to drunk drivers as to who causes the most danger on area roads.

The TRIPP LAW FIRM - Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., handles ALL TYPES of serious personal injury cases throughout the State of Florida and the communities of Seminole, Indian Shores, Redington Shores, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, Belleair, Redington Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Sand Key, Clearwater Beach, Largo, Pinellas Park, St. Pete, Clearwater and Safety Harbor.

OUR ON CALL STAFF IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY. CALL (888) 392-LAWS (5297) for an immediate FREE TELEPHONE CONSULTATION. In home and hospital visits by appointment. NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

www.trippfirm.com

ROLL OVER CRASHES - cause fatalities & serious injuries in the United States including FLORIDA

Every year in the United States, more than 10,000 people are killed in rollover accidents, and some 24,000 more are seriously injured. SUVs and pickups are the most rollover-prone vehicles. Some say that tougher standards and more rigorous testing are urgently needed.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's report published in 2008 - Roof Strength and Injury Risk in Roll over crashes is available by clicking on the following link:

www.iihs.org/research/topics/pdf/r1098.pdf

NHTSA upgrades roof strength regulation. "The long-awaited federal upgrade of the 35-year-old regulation governing vehicle roof strength will save 135 lives, prevent more than 1,000 injuries and add up to $1.4 billion annually to the cost of new cars, the Transportation Department said."

The new regulation boosts the requirement to three (3) times to the weight for vehicles up to 6,000 pounds. Vehicles weighing from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds must meet 1.5 times standard. It said that the new regulation will add $54 per vehicle.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "These new standards go a long way toward reducing deaths, but safety belts are the first, most important step everyone should take to protecting themselves and their families."

If you or a loved one has been injured in a roll over vehicle crash, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM for an immediate injury case evaluation. Our injury law team is available 24 hours a day to discuss your concerns. Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., and his staff investigators are available by calling toll-free (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

NO FEES OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

www.trippfirm.com

ALLIGATOR ALLEY - I-75 CRASH - Accidents due to smoke / low visibility cause serious injuries

Recently, the Florida Highway Patrol officially cited low visibility and smoke from the Big Cypress wildfire as the cause behind four separate accidents at I-75’s mile marker 79.

The accidents, which involved 12 vehicles and a boat, totaled $42,000 in damages and occurred over a 30-minute span when visibility was at its worst on Alligator Alley. According to Florida Highway reports, no charges were filed for three of the accidents. However, reports said there were charges pending on the fourth accident in which a pedestrian was seriously injured.

The Florida Highway Patrol has since closed this stretch every morning to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. of the TRIPP LAW FIRM reminds you to drive safe as you travel accross ALLIGATOR ALLEY, especially in low visibility areas caused by smoke.

New Roof Crush Regulation a Good Start – a “WIN” FOR FLORIDA CONSUMERS and consumers across AMERICA in ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS

The U.S. Department of Transportation is requiring vehicle roofs to withstand three times the weight for vehicles weighing up to 6,000 pounds is a good start, but does not go far enough to protect consumers, according to the American Association for Justice (AAJ). The roof crush standard addresses the safety of vehicles’ roofs to withstand pressure when involved in rollover accidents.

Rollover accidents are the most deadly, killing one person every hour in the United States, according to industry experts. The roof standard had been in place since 1973, before SUVs were a common mode of consumer transportation. Currently, there are no roof crush standards for motor coaches and commercial trucks.

The new standard excludes commercial vehicles which weight starts at 10,001 pounds for interstate, and typically 26,001 for intrastate commercial vehicles. It is estimated by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration more than 12,000 lives could be saved by having commercial vehicle roof crush standards.

Another issue of concern to consumers is out of date insurance requirements. The minimum insurance requirements for trucks and buses were set nearly three decades ago and have never been raised. Today, those minimum levels of insurance are inadequate to compensate those who have been seriously injured in a collision involving multiple vehicles or multiple injured individuals. Adjusting the minimum insurance requirements for inflation would ensure increased coverage for the significant health care costs injured individuals can incur.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a rollover accident involving a car, SUV, or van call the TRIPP LAW FIRM at (888) 392-LAWS (5297) for a FREE TELEPHONE CASE EVALUATION. Our on-call staff and Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., are available 24 hours a day. NO FEES OR COST IF NO RECOVERY.

www.trippfirm.com

HEAD INJURY DUE TO ACCIDENT TRAUMA from an Auto Accident, Truck Accident, Construction Site Accident, Slip & Fall in Florida with headaches, neck pain

Every year, more than 30,000 people in the United States suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm resulting in a life-threatening subarachnoid hemorrhage—bleeding around the brain. Many accident victims will go promptly to their local emergency room or family physician and report that they are experiencing the worst headache of their lives. Unfortunately, many will be discharged without receiving the correct diagnosis or the emergency medical treatment they desperately need.

Failure to diagnose is the most common negligence in the treatment of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and this failure may be as high as fifty three (53) percent in patients visiting the emergency room for the first time. Many times physicians fail to obtain an adequate history, perform a thorough neurological exam, or understand the significance of the history and physical exam findings. Sometimes with troubling regularity, these attending physicians fail to obtain or accurately interpret diagnostic tests.

Delay in diagnosis and treatment of head injuries has dire consequences. In some cases, even minimal delay can mean the difference between life and death. Some accident victims complain of a severe headache with sudden onset, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, or neck pain. Sometimes the initial examination will reveal neck stiffness, an altered state of consciousness (for example, drowsiness, restlessness, or agitation), neurological impairments such as weakness or paralysis, visual problems, abnormal eye movements, or paralysis of eye movements.

If you are experiencing headaches due to accident trauma, it is recommended that you immediately seek the proper medical care. The injury law team and Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., are available 24 hours a day for an immediate telephone case evaluation. Call the TRIPP LAW FIRM at (888) 392-LAWS (5297) and speak to our on-call staff and Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., for a no obligation case evaluation. NO FEES OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

www.trippfirm.com