Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

A California mother recently received a $4.6 million settlement for the injury caused to her son when he was circumcised at one week old. Melanie Hall settled with Miltex Inc, a Mogen circumcision clamp manufacturer, and parent company Integra Life Sciences Holding Corp for defective manufacturing that resulted in 85% of the tip of her son's penis being amputated, according to the lawsuit.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 56 percent of U.S.-born males are circumcised in hospitals. The Mogen clamp, Gomco clamp, and Plastibell are the devices used in the majority of circumcisions performed in the U.S.

In August 2000, the FDA alerted the public with a public health notification regarding the Mogen and Gomco clamps following 105 injury reports between July 1996 and January 2000. Penile injuries included cuts, hemorrhaging, amputation and urethral damage.

The FDA has received 139 additional reports since their 2000 public health notice for issues related to circumcision clamps, 51 of which were injury reports. 21 of those reports involved Mogen clamps. Although Miltex ceased distribution of Mogen clamps in 1994, some of its devices continue to be used.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Product Liability Lawyer Discusses Injuries Related to Circumcision Clamps" »

Palm Beach County - A 6-year-old boy was injured last month after being struck by a car as he was being dropped off at school. After being struck, the boy became stuck under the car. The boy was rescued by three police officers from Boca Raton, who lifted the car. The driver, Liliana Gonzalez, will not be charged, according to police. Dominic DeRoberts's injuries include a severed ear and slightly punctured lung. He is expected to return to his elementary school in the near future.

According to statistics, approximately 7,000 children were injured during a one-year period while being dropped off at school. To learn about safety rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation, please visit this site.

The Law Office of Cytryn & Velazquez helps injured people involved in car accidents throughout South Florida, including the cities of Coral Springs, Margate, Pompano Beach, Parkland, Coconut Creek, Pembroke Pines, Lauderhill, Davie, Plantation, Weston, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.

We are experienced trial lawyers with a 'quality vs. quantity' philosophy, meaning we are very selective about the cases that we handle. This allows us to devote the time and effort necessary to pursue each case to its fullest.

Continue reading "Car Accident Lawyer: Boca Raton Accident Injures Boy, Police Lift Car to Rescue Child " »

Palm Beach County - The parents of a child born with no arms and only one leg received a $4.5 million dollar jury verdict earlier this month. The parents of Bryan Santana, nearly 3 years old, sued their obstetrician and clinic for negligence in failing to detect their son's birth defects before he was born. The jury sided with the parents and awarded them the verdict to help pay for their son's medical expenses. According to the Sun Sentinel, St. Mary's Medical Center also missed detecting the child's birth defects on three ultrasounds and settled confidentially with the child's parents.

According to the March of Dimes, approximately 120,000 babies are born with birth defects every year in the U.S. Currently about half all U.S. states, including Florida, recognize the wrongful birth statute. Under this statute, parents can file a lawsuit on behalf of children born with abnormalities and claim they would have terminated the pregnancy if their health care provider would have alerted them about their child's disabilities.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Medical Malpractice Attorney Discusses Recent Verdict for West Palm Beach Parents of Child Born with Only One Limb " »

As Coral Springs personal injury lawyers, we regularly cover important consumer topics on our blogs regarding product recalls and safety tips. Some of the blogs we have written in the past have alerted parents about product recalls including cribs, baby monitors, strollers, baby sling carriers, and toys. Because it's important to stay alert on product recalls and safety topics, we want to remind parents and caregivers that September is national baby safety month.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 12 children under 15 years old suffered toy-related deaths in 2009. Also, in 2003, approximately 35,000 children were injured from defective products.

Please visit the CPSC website for tips on how to keep your baby safe throughout your home.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Reminds Parents that September is National Baby Safety Month " »

As Coral Springs personal injury lawyers, we encourage parents to have their children's car seats checked on a regular basis. This week (September 18-24) is National Child Passenger Safety Week, which is made possible every year through the collaboration of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, child safety groups and police departments nationwide. This week serves as a reminder for parents and caregivers to make sure they are using the proper safety restraints for their children.

Locally in South Florida, parents can have their children's car seats inspected at various sites throughout Broward County, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties. For more information on locations and how to make an appointment to have your car seats inspected, please visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. According to the site, you can have your car seat inspected by certified technicians for free (in most cases).

Car accidents are the main cause of death for kids ages 3 to 14. On average, four children age 14 and younger were killed and 490 were injured in car accidents in the United States every day in 2009. According to statistics from the NHTSA, an estimated 8,959 children's lives have been saved between 1975 and 2008 as a result of using proper child safety seats.

Safe Kids is an organization that promotes child safety with tips for parents on keeping their kids safe at home and one the roads. Visit their website for safety tips and for more information.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Urges Parents to Inspect their Children's Car Seats During Child Passenger Safety Week " »

Last month, toy manufacturer Fisher Price recalled more than 10 million toys in the U.S. due to injury and choking hazards. The recall includes tricycles, toys, and high chairs. Several children were injured, and seven needed stitches from the use of these products. For more information on this story, please see the report by ABC News. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns people who own any of these recalled items to stop using them and contact the manufacturer for repair kits and replacements.

According to CPSC statistics, there were 12 reported deaths linked to toys in 2009 among kids under 15 years old. More than half of those deaths (58%) were from riding toys including tricycles. That same year, there were approximately 250,100 injuries from toys which required treatment in emergency rooms.

As Coral Springs defective products attorneys working on product liability cases, we help people who have been injured and families of people who have been killed due to defective products such as dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, dangerous children's products, and defective vehicle design and manufacture. Our attorneys use their experience to hold negligent manufacturers accountable and obtain justice for the victims and families of victims whose lives have been changed due to defective products.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Injury Lawyer Warns Consumers Against Using Recalled Fisher Price Toys" »

Five people were injured in an amusement park accident on August 19, 2011 in New Jersey. The accident happened when the mast of a pirate ship ride snapped, resulting in minor injuries to four patrons and the hospitalization of a teenager. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the accident. Earlier this summer, an 11-year-old girl was killed in a Ferris wheel accident at the same amusement park

As Coral Springs injury lawyers, we are familiar with statistics from the National Safety Council. They report that approximately 1,783 people were injured at fixed-site amusement parks in the year 2005 alone. According to the Council, an estimated four people are killed every year at fixed-site amusement parks.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Comments on New Jersey Theme Park Accident that Injured Five " »

A Broward County car accident on Friday, July 22, 2011, killed a 22-year-old mother and injured her baby. The crash also involved a 32-year-old Davie resident, whose BMW collided with the Scion in which the young mother and infant were passengers. According to the Sun Sentinel's report, the BMW broadsided the Scion. The child was taken to a Hollywood hospital. Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

Approximately 25 percent of vehicle passenger deaths are linked to side impact car accidents in the U.S., according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Broadside (side impact) car accidents can lead to serious, and sometimes fatal, injuries, as the sides of cars offer less protection than the front or back.

In the event that a driver's negligent actions caused the death of a passenger or another driver in a car accident, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the family of the victim. A Coral Springs wrongful death lawyer can conduct a detailed investigation of your case and help determine liability (fault) in the accident.

Continue reading "Cooper City Car Crash Kills Mother, Injures Baby" »

Two recent South Florida daycare negligence cases, one in Palm Beach and another in Miami-Dade County, have sparked debate on how to keep children safe in daycares and prevent wrongful death cases from happening. One preventive measure, advocated by Florida Senator Maria Sachs of Delray Beach, would be to install safety alarms in daycare vans to prevent death from extreme heat. These alarms would alert daycare van drivers to inspect the vehicles when they drop off children. Drivers would have to go to the back of the vehicle to turn off the alarm.

A Palm Beach personal injury lawsuit was filed last August against Katie's Kids Learning Center in Delray Beach for the wrongful death of a 2-year-old who died after being left in a hot van. The facility has since shut down.

For more information on the Miami-Dade daycare wrongful death lawsuit mentioned at the beginning of this blog, please visit our blog entry on that topic.

According to San Francisco State University Department of Geosciences statistics, 513 children in the U.S. have died of hyperthermia (heat stroke) from being left in vehicles since 1998. The study shows that from 1998 through 2010, 51 percent of children who died from heat in vehicles were "forgotten" by their caregiver.

Continue reading "Delray Beach Senator Urges Installation of Safety Alarms in Daycare Vans " »

Leaving children unattended in South Florida's sweltering heat can be a killer. As reported by the Miami Herald, a 22-month-old boy from Homestead died earlier this week in a van outside a daycare. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the boy's death. The family of the boy has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the daycare. The family's attorney believes the boy's death is heat-related.

This story follows the death of a 2-year-old girl who died from the heat outside a Delray Beach daycare in a van last August.

An estimated 3.5 million children are the victims of abuse or neglect each year in the U.S., according to preventchildabuse.org. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 1,770 children died in the U.S. in 2009 as a result of child abuse or neglect. 35.8% of these deaths were linked to neglect.

Continue reading "Wrongful Death of Child Left in Van Leads to Immediate Miami-Dade Lawsuit" »

Amusements parks are visited by millions of people nationwide each year. Unfortunately, thrills can quickly turn to tragedy in an amusement park accident. Earlier this year, a young boy was killed and 20 others were injured when a train ride derailed at a South Carolina amusement park.

According to reports, the train inspector was fired for falsifying maintenance documents. The inspector gave the train passing grades despite mechanical problems, including issues with the train's brakes and wheels.

According to National Safety Council statistics, an estimated 1,181 injuries occurred at fixed-site amusement park rides in the U.S. in 2009.

Amusement parks have a responsibility to maintain their equipment and facilities to the highest safety standards in order to ensure the safety of their guests. When injuries or wrongful death occur due to the negligence of amusement park staff and owners, the emotional and financial effects can be devastating to the person injured and their family.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Amusement Park Injury Lawyer Comments on Theme Park Accidents" »

A Fort Lauderdale car accident has sent a mother and her son to the hospital. On June 14, 2011, a 22-year-old female pedestrian and her son were hit by a pickup truck at an intersection. The woman was pushing a baby stroller carrying her son when the accident occurred. The driver, afterward, remained at the scene of the accident.

Thankfully, this pedestrian accident did not result in the death of the victims involved. According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles statistics, of the 8,248 pedestrian accidents that occurred in 2009, 7,676 pedestrians were injured and 482 pedestrians were killed. A report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, which analyzed the first half of 2010's total accident figures, shows Florida has the second largest number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States, with 243 for the first six months. California was first, with 260 pedestrian deaths.

Continue reading "A Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Injures a Pedestrian and her Baby" »

Two children were injured, one of them ejected from a vehicle, in a Miramar car accident on May 26, 2011. Both children, an 8-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, were riding in a Nissan Pathfinder, which rolled after crashing with a Honda Accord. The boy was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and is in serious condition. Authorities are investigating the accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revised its car seat guidelines earlier this year. These guidelines are designed to promote safety by helping to keep children in the appropriate safety restraints based on age. According to the NHTSA's recommendations, children between the ages of 4 to 7 years should be placed in the backseat of the vehicle in a forward-facing car seat with a harness, until the child outgrows the car seat (check your car manufacturer's specifications on height and weight limits). A child should then be graduated to a booster seat and still travel in the backseat.

Continue reading "Miramar Child Ejected from Vehicle in Crash, Seriously Injured" »

A Broward County woman is dead following a car crash in Pembroke Pines on May 23, 2011. According to witnesses, Jay Lapidus, who has not been charged, ran a red light and collided with Neyda Hernandez as she tried to make a left turn. Hernandez's granddaughter was in the backseat in a car seat and, thankfully, survived the accident without any serious injuries. Police are currently investigating this Pembroke Pines car accident.

Injury and accident statistics help put into perspective just how valuable correctly installed car seats and booster seats are in avoiding injuries and fatalities from car accidents. Car crashes are the number one cause of death for children between the ages of 3 to 14. In fact, an average of four children age 14 and under died and 490 sustained injuries in vehicle crashes in the U.S. every day in 2009. Thankfully, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 8,959 children have been saved because of properly utilized child safety seats from 1975 to 2008.

In March 2011, the NHTSA announced its updated car seat guidelines, which help parents and caretakers understand which safety restraint device (car seat, booster seat, or seatbelt) a child should be placed in based on age. The NHTSA suggests that parents use the correct type of car seat for their children until the children reach manufacturers' specifications on height or weight limits.

Continue reading "Pembroke Pines Woman Dead After Car Accident at Intersection, Car Seat Saves Baby" »

Drop-side cribs have been a safety issue for several years. Following the largest recall of drop-side cribs in the United States - 2.1 million cribs manufactured by Stork Craft - there was another recall this summer that included over 2 million drop-side cribs from seven different manufacturers. Over the last five years, more than nine million cribs have been recalled. Many of these recalls are the result of design defects which have led to serious, and sometimes fatal, results. Drop-side cribs have caused 32 deaths and hundreds of injuries to children since 2000.

Last month the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously to ban drop-side cribs and also recommended new crib safety standards. When the new standards are implemented, the manufacture and sale of drop-side cribs will be forbidden, and hotels and daycares will be prohibited from using them. With child safety being the main concern, new standards also call for better construction and improved mattress support. These standards will be published by the end of the year, and after a final vote, are expected to be implemented next year.

Continue reading "Drop-Side Crib Ban Looming, Government Recommends New Crib Safety Standards" »