Jacksonville Injury Attorney Blog

A Gainesville worker was killed yesterday after striking an underground electric line. The man was apparently using an augur to excavate for construction purposes. The accident happened on private property.

We see electric shock accidents far too often. The result of electrical accidents are often devastating including death and disfiguring burns. Recently, we handled the worker's compensation claim of a man shocked while working on electrical transmission lines. He suffered serious injuries including the partial amputation of his hand and foot. As a result, he was rendered permanently and totally disabled.

Buried lines present a significant danger if their location is not properly marked. A worker suffering an injury because of improperly marked lines may have both a worker's compensation claim and a personal injury claim against the company that failed to properly mark the location of the line.

Continue reading " Gainesville Man's Electrocution is a Far Too Common Occurrence " »

Four boaters on Florida's West coast are relieved to have avoided serious injuries after their 23-foot boat overturned. The boat flipped after striking a sandy beach jutting out into the Intracoastal Waterway.

Firefighters arrived on the scene to find the boat about 20 feet up on the beach. The passengers dug themselves out from under the boat, and were able to free a child who was trapped underneath. The boy was taken to the hospital as a precaution, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

A similar occurence happened just south of Jacksonville recently on Black Creek, when a man operating a small boat lost control and struck trees coming out from the bank. One person died in that accident.

Boaters should be aware of the dangers of running aground, or striking objects, especially at night. Hitting a sandbar at even a slow speed can cause a serious boating accident, since boats have no seatbelts and passengers can easily be ejected. Jacksonville boaters should pay particular attention to the unpredictable terrain in the St. Johns River and the Intracoastal Waterway, where there are many sandbars and hidden shallow areas.

Making sure your boat has working lights and slowing down in uncertain areas can help boaters avoid accidents. Taking a boating saftety course, like the one available through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is another way to avoid a mishap.

Written by Elizabeth Allen

Continue reading " Boaters Avoid Serious Injury after Running Aground " »

Recently on Jacksonville’s Southside, three children were seriously injured, at least one critically, in a car accident. The accident happened when the driver of the three children ran a red light and hit a car making a left turn. Unfortunately, the children were not wearing seatbelts.

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for children age 3 – 14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Not surprisingly, seat belts, if used properly, reduce the number of serious traffic injuries by 50 percent and deaths by 60-70 percent, according to a recent study by James Madison University. However, three out of four families with child safety seats use them incorrectly. Guidelines about proper use of car seats, boosters and seatbelts can be found at www.safekids.org. In addition, to have a car seat inspected and installed in Jacksonville, call Safe Kids of Northeast Florida Fitting Station at (904) 202-4302.

Continue reading " Three Children Injured in Jacksonville Car Accident " »