2010 - Vehicle safety tests to become more rigorous - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

NATIONWIDE - In a column in the Wall Street Journal (8/25), Joseph White writes that beginning with 2010 models, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will require that vehicles meet higher standards for roof strength in order to receive its top safety pick rating.

In addition, starting with 2011 models, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will make its crash tests more rigorous.

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Wal-Mart Stores Recalls DVD Players for Fire Hazard

NATIONWIDE - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville, Arkansas, just recalled about 1.5 million Durabrand DVD Players, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.
The DVD players can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. To date, Wal-Mart has received 12 reports of DVD players overheating, five of which have resulted in fires that caused property damage. No injuries have yet been reported.

This Durabrand DVD recall involves a single DVD player with a remote control. The device is silver-colored and has a U-shaped opening at the top to insert the DVD. The DVD’s sold for about $29 exclusively at Wal-Mart stores nationwide from January 2006 through July 2009.

The recalled Durabrand DVD Players were manufactured in China.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK ON THE LINK - www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09316.html

INSURANCE DISPUTES ♦ COVERAGE DENIED ♦ CLAIM VALUE ♦ DEDUCTIBLE ♦ CLAIM DENIAL

Disputes with your insurance company should not happen.

Policyholders sometimes are confused or misled after presenting an insurance claim. Under the terms and conditions of your policy (contract) it clearly spells out duties of the policyholder and the insurance company. However, many insurance contracts can be confusing. Many consumers look at their policy and find terms like: insuring agreement, coverage, liability, deductible, exclusions, and exceptions to the exclusions; and become overwhelmed.

Sometimes policyholders interpret their policy in a different way from their claims representative. We have heard many of our client’s say, “I thought that I had full-coverage” and when they present a claim to their insurance company find out they did not have “full coverage.” They then ask, “who is going to pay for my . . . .” Many Floridians do not understand the automobile No-fault law.

If you have questions regarding your rights, you should immediately seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney. Should you have a dispute with your insurance company, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law for an immediate telephone consultation.

The initial consultation is FREE and 100% confidential. Don’t guess at what benefits you are entitled to! Call 24 hours a day. Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. and the injury law team are available NOW. CALL (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

Prompt and Aggressive - www.trippfirm.com

Over 2000 lawsuits filed in Chinese drywall cases • U. S. Sen. Bill Nelson has discussed drywall issues with Chinese officials

STATEWIDE - The Jacksonville Business Journal (8/19) reported, "U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said in a media release Tuesday he pressed Chinese officials in recent trips there to cooperate more fully in investigations of defective high-sulfur drywall that was made in China and is ruining homes in the United States." While in Shanghai last week, "Nelson, D-Florida, met with Wang Zhiyong, deputy director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the Chinese government's consumer product safety agency." Nelson said his trip and a CPSC delegation visit to China this week "send a message that the United States is serious about China taking responsibility for some of the problems caused by its drywall. Nelson said in the release he intends to insist that drywall be on the agenda for planned meetings this fall between President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao."

GlobalPost (8/17, Skrzycki) reported, Over 2000 lawsuits filed in Chinese drywall cases "Since 2006, new home owners in 23 states have been suffering from what they say are odorous batches of corrosive drywall that were imported from at least one gypsum mine in China and used by U.S home builders."

Attorneys "representing homeowners estimate more than 2,000 lawsuits already have been filed in state and federal courts, targeting Chinese, U.S. and German companies, as well as builders, installers, suppliers, distributors and import brokers." One of the most prominent Chinese manufacturers named "is Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. Others are Knauf Plasterboard Wuhu Co. Ltd and Knauf Plasterboard Dongguan Co. Ltd., as well as a German affiliate, Knauf Gips KG. There are numerous other Chinese companies being added to legal complaints as time goes on, such as Beijing New Building Material PLC."

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RED LIGHT PARK & SEMINOLE BOULEVARDS DANGEROUS INTERSECTION Running the red light can cause serious injuries even DEATH

PINELLAS COUNTY - If the light is red, you better stop. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s office is gearing up its enforcement at the intersection of Park Blvd. and Seminole Blvd. Unmarked and marked cruisers are patrolling this dangerous intersection on a regular basis. Deputies will place special emphasis on motorists who fail to stop at a red traffic signal and place innocent pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in danger.

If you think that running a red light is no big deal, THINK AGAIN! “Each year, thousands of innocent people are injured or killed by an impatient driver who does not want to wait a few moments for a red light,” said the Director of the Florida Highway Patrol, Col. John Czernis. “When the light is green, you should be able to drive through the intersection without worrying about someone else crashing into your car because they are trying to beat the light. A yellow light signals drivers to stop if they can do so safely because the light will soon be red.”

Traffic crashes are the single most significant cause of preventable death and injury in the United States. Last year, red light running in Florida led to 76 fatalities and to crashes that resulted in more than 7,100 instances of injury or property damage. The leading excuse for running a red light is "being in a hurry."

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, CALL the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law for an immediate telephone consultation. The initial consultation is FREE and 100% confidential. 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. and the injury law team are available 24 hours a day.

DO NOT speak with the insurance company representative without first talking to an experienced personal injury attorney.

Prompt and Aggressive Representation – www.trippfirm.com

IN AN EMERGECY SITUATION COULD LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL CONTACT SOMEONE FOR YOU?

They could if you had entered your information onto the emergency contact information system. The system allows Floridians to voluntarily provide emergency contact information online, giving law enforcement immediate access to this information and making it easier for them to speak with someone quicker in cases of emergency.

If you have a Florida driver’s license of identification card, you can go online at:

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY and MOTOR VEHICLES
https://www8.hsmv.state.fl.us/eci/

Provided as a public service

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MANATEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – Teen Driver Challenge Class – STUDENTS 15 – 19 year old eligible

MANATEE COUNTY - The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is going to be holding the Teen Driver Challenge Class on Thursday, Sept 24th, 2009 and Saturday, Sept 26th, 2009. The class is formatted for teens 15-19 years of age that possess a valid Florida Operator's Driver's License or Learner's Permit. The students will be required to use their own vehicle during the training.

Class size is limited to twelve. There is no cost to participate in the class. If you would like your teen to participate in this class or for more information, please contact Captain William Dixon or Amy Carr @ 747-3011 ext. 2041 or 2040.

They are now accepting applications for participation in their next class.

For more information - CLICK ON THE LINK -

www.manateesheriff.com/wps/portal/PublicInterest/TeenDriverChallenge

For additional information - CLICK ON THE LINK -
Florida Sheriff's Association Teen Driver Program site.

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Woman bitten in face by pit bull dog refuses treatment

PANAMA CITY BEACH - A woman who had been bitten in the face by a pit bull dog walked out of a clinic, refusing treatment, when a nurse advised her to report the attack.
On Tuesday morning, Aug. 11, Bay County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Brotherston went to the Panama City Beach address the woman gave when she signed in at the clinic. When she answered the door, he “immediately noticed that (her) nose had a scab on visible as it appeared to be a puncture wound of her left nostril,” Brotherston wrote in an incident report.
The 46-year-old woman said a neighbor’s dog bit her while she was cleaning the dog's injured foot. She said it was her fault the dog bit her. She also said she knew the dog’s shots were up to date because she had taken the dog to the vet and paid for the shots herself.

According to the report, the woman also explained that she didn’t want to report the bite because the same neighbor “had a dog destroyed by Animal Control” when it bit a child several years ago.

Brotherston advised her to go back to the clinic and get medical treatment for her wound, the report said. He contacted Bay County Animal Control about the incident, but was told no report or action would be taken if the victim did not wish to pursue charges.

SOURCE – www.newsherald.com

Twelve year old Cape Coral girl thrown from SUV and dies in crash • Near Ellenton PRIME OUTLET MALL • EXIT 224

MANATEE COUNTY — A Cape Coral girl died Wednesday after being thrown from a sport utility vehicle on an Interstate 75 overpass and plummeting over a guard rail onto U.S. 301 below, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.

The young girl died after being airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg in critical condition. She was riding in the third row of a 2003 Ford Expedition headed north on I-75 at about 8 a.m., when a tire on the vehicle separated. The SUV spun around and slammed into a concrete guardrail at the U.S. 301 overpass. She was lying in the seat and not wearing a seat belt, careened through the back window. The young girl and the window sailed over the edge of the guardrail and fell dozens of feet landing in the northbound lanes of U.S. 301 below. She was the only person in the vehicle that was not wearing a seatbelt.

Troopers said the crash was still under investigation, and no charges have been filed. In Florida, the driver of a vehicle can be held responsible for minors not wearing seat belts, Trooper Miller said. The crash occurred at the same place a tanker overturned over the guardrail in 2008 and exploded after smashing onto U.S. 301.

Source – Bradenton Herald

FALLING MERCHANSIDE – WAREHOUSE STORES – Sam’s Club – COSTCO – Lowes – HOME DEPOT – Ikea – Superstores – Target – Wal-Mart – K-Mart

Falling merchandise is often a problem in warehouse stores. As a result, shoppers are often injured when stacked merchandise topples over striking shopper causing serious personal injuries. A jury discovered that one store said, “it was cheaper to handle injury claims then to carefully store the merchandise.” Tens of thousands of injuries have occurred nationwide to unsuspecting customers and employees when even small items of merchandise have fallen off high store shelves.

Large warehouse superstores and retail stores in general, have a legal duty to provide a safe store for their customers. There are known safety precautions available to avoid falling merchandise accidents. Careless large warehouse superstores may not implement these measures, or a store may not have a safety policy in place. If falling merchandise caused your injury, you may deserve compensation.

Have you been seriously injured because of falling merchandise at a large warehouse superstore? To learn more about filing a personal injury claim against that store CALL the TRIPP LAW FIRM for an immediate FREE initial consultation that is 100% confidential.

You may reach us at toll-free (888) 392-LAWS (5297). Florida injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. and his injury law team are available NOW!

Don’t guess about your rights. Get your questions answered without delay. We are available 24 hours a day.

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Judge intent on "fast-tracking" Chinese drywall suits.

"About 600 tainted Chinese drywall lawsuits have been consolidated in multidistrict litigation under U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon for pretrial issues." Attorneys say that Fallon "is intent on fast-tracking a handful of cases for trial," asking both sides "to select 10 cases to jump start the process of turning over documents and other information," and "Fallon will select five cases to test the waters."

According to Fallon, "the initial trials most likely will involve claims limited to property damage as opposed to personal injury." The Review asserts that "the plaintiff bar has been in a feeding frenzy on Chinese drywall litigation," and with the first of the bellwether lawsuits possibly "tried by the end of the year," the timetable "encourages homeowners to think settlement." The Consumer Products Safety Commission has received 810 Chinese drywall complaints from 23 states since last December, with most coming from Florida (621).

Source - The Daily Business Review

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH GOLF CART ACCIDENT - Pinellas County Florida

PINELLAS COUNTY - The Indian Rocks Beach City Commission voted to make golf carts street legal on most of its roadways. If you've never been there, Indian Rocks is a quaint little beach town dotted with cottages along a white sandy beach. Many residents get around on foot or by bike, visiting the local art shops and restaurants.

To be street legal a golf cart must be equipped with seat belts, headlights, turn signals, stop lamps and parking brakes, a windshield, rear view mirror and can only be driven by a licensed driver. It's not all good news though. The vote permits golf carts on streets owned and operated by the municipality, but not on Gulf Blvd, which is owned by the state (South of Walsingham) and the county (North of Walsingham). In order to get to the beach, drivers must cross Gulf Blvd. The city will need to address whether or not carts are able to safely cross Gulf Blvd and identify crossing locations with signage. Indian Rocks Beach is the first of the gulf beaches to adopt golf carts, but there are a few other nearby communities that permit them.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart accident on Indian Rocks Beach call the Tripp Law Firm for a FREE telephone consultation. We are former residents of Indian Shores.

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 FEES OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY. www.trippfirm.com

FLORIDA PARASAIL ACCIDENTS MAY BE REDUCED • John’s Pass • Madeira Beach • Treasure Island • St. Pete Beach • Clearwater Beach

Many tourists and Florida residents love to parasail behind boats in the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes many questions arise regarding the safety of parasailing. Parasailing can be safe and fun in good weather conditions, utilizing the right equipment operated by an experienced crew. Some ask, “how many accidents have there been?” The PSC estimates that from 1990 thru 2003 (in the USA) there were over 324 accidents, 68 of which resulted in serious bodily injury and 11 deaths in the USA and its territories. (These statistics are based USCG reports state / local law enforcement, local reporting agencies, individual accident reports, eye witnesses’ accounts from parasail operators and other sources deemed reliable).

Some also ask, "what are the know risks and inherent dangers of parasailing?" The most common accidents occurred during tow line separation from the boat, equipment failure, high speed water and deck landings, canopy rotation, line popping and whiplash.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating or parasailing accident, CALL the TRIPP LAW FIRM for a FREE consultation with Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr.

We are available 24 hours a day. CALL NOW at (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

Our offices are conveniently located a short distance from the Gulf Beaches.

Home and hospital visits are also available by request.

Prompt and Aggressive Representation - www.trippfirm.com

STATE FARM Florida can eliminate or reduce discounts per Office of Insurance Regulation

STATEWIDE - State Farm Florida can eliminate or reduce some discounts it offers policyholders, state regulators announced Thursday, increasing premiums for homeowners as much as 28.4 percent.

The decision by the Office of Insurance Regulation will bring in $278 million in additional premiums for the company after all policies come up for renewals starting Dec. 1, agency officials say. However, State Farm can't reduce the credits it offers home­owners for installing wind-mitigation features such as storm shutters, impact-resistant windows and doors, or reinforced garage doors to protect a home against violent weather. The company is also allowed to reduce discounts it now provides for upgraded plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.

Last year, the company had complained that the mitigation credits — which were doubled in 2007 — were too steep and had drastically eroded its revenue in the past two years.
State Farm had requested an average 47.1 percent rate hike last year to make up some of the revenue it lost via the credits. The rate filing was rejected.

SOURCE – Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/business/breaking-news/story/1174473.html?storylink=pd

Fatal crash closes downtown Tampa interstate off-ramp ♦ I-275 Ashley Street

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY - The I-275 Ashley Street exit in downtown Tampa was closed after the fatal 3:15 a.m. crash. A man was killed early Friday when his SUV failed to navigate the curve on the Interstate 275 southbound exit on Ashley Street.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the man was killed at 3:15 a.m. when he was thrown from his vehicle. Officials said the car was going too fast to make the curve and flipped over.

Officials closed the exit while investigating the crash. It is expected to be reopened before 7 a.m.

Source – BayNews9

German Shepherd Dog Bites three-year-old boy in the face

APOPKA -- A 3-year-old boy is recovering from surgery after he was bitten by a dog belonging to his uncle Thursday night. Investigators said the dog, a German Shepherd, was chained to the front of a home, but for some reason went after the boy.

The boy was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where he underwent surgery for severe dog bites. The dog was taken to Orange County Animal Services. According to Animal Services, a dog is three times as likely to bite while it is confined on a chain.

Experts said dogs on a chain tend to act more territorial and aggressive.

Source – Central Florida 13

Yamaha Rhino implicated in 59 deaths, hundreds of injuries

NATIONWIDE - CBS News (8/4) on its website reported that the Yamaha Rhino off-road vehicle "is at the center of a legal firestorm. At least 59 riders have been killed in Rhino accidents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

More than 440 wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits are pending, and Yamaha has settled others." Plaintiffs "say the Rhino is dangerously unstable due to its unusually narrow stance, high ground clearance and lack of a rear differential to help in turning.

They also claim the Rhino's seat belts tend to unspool during rollovers, resulting in belted occupants being partially ejected." CPSC chief Inez Tenenbaum "said the safety commission is continuing to investigate" despite a Yamaha "free repair program" which appears to be "a recall in everything but name."

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NAPLES ♦ MARCO ISLAND ♦ EVERGLADES ♦ Paradise Coast ♦ Personal Injury Attorney ♦ G. Alan Tripp, Jr. ♦ TRIPP LAW FIRM ♦ Serving all of FLORIDA

AUTO ACCIDENTS ♦ TRUCK ACCIDENTS ♦ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS ♦ BICYCLE ACCIDENTS ♦ SCOOTER ACCIDENTS ♦ PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS ♦ INJURED?

Have questions? Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. and his injury law team are available 24 hours a day for FREE telephone consultation.

CALL the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law at (888) 392-5297. Home and Hospital visits at your request. Licensed staff investigators conduct our investigations. We limit our practice to just personal injury.

NO FEES or NO COSTS if NO RECOVERY.

Prompt and Aggressive – www.trippfirm.com