Author Archives: Jay Butchko
How to Prove That a Faulty Product Was the Cause of Your Injury
We all remember the 1992 lawsuit against McDonald’s, in which 79-year-old Stella Liebeck sued the fast food giant after she spilled hot coffee on herself and suffered third degree burns. She was awarded nearly $3 million in punitive damages for the injuries she suffered and the medical expenses she accrued. While many people scoffed… Read More »
When Lack of Road Construction Signs Leads to Injury and Automobile Destruction
Imagine driving along the interstate – a route you take every day – confident in your driving, your knowledge of the road, and the ability of the drivers surrounding you, when all of a sudden…your lane ends. Instead of the open third lane you are used to, you are met with a wall of… Read More »
Understanding Flood and Hurricane Insurance, and Knowing Why You Need It
When your homeowner’s insurance plan states that it covers “water damage,” you assume that means water damage by any number of sources, such as a broken washing machine, a burst pipe, a leaking roof, or a sudden flood. However, when you go to file a claim for water damages caused by this spring’s flash… Read More »
How To Prove that Truck Driver Fatigue was the Cause of Your Accident
This past June, a semi-truck / tractor-trailer carrying a shipment of tomatoes crashed and caught fire on I-66 in Gainesville, Florida. The truck hit the guardrail, but then kept going for approximately one-tenth of a mile before stopping and catching fire. The cause of the crash appeared to have been driver fatigue. Thankfully, nobody… Read More »
Your Rights Under the Florida Whistleblower Act
According to ARA Fraud & Forensic Services, 31 percent of privately owned businesses are susceptible to employee fraud, and an average of five percent of the country’s privately held business’ revenue is lost annually as a result. The median loss caused by fraud is $145,000, while 22 percent of businesses lost more than $1… Read More »
Feres Doctrine Makes it Next to Impossible to Sue the Military for Medical Malpractice
According to Military Times, 2,111 administrative claims for medical malpractice were filed against the Army, Navy, and Air Force medical hospitals and medical centers from 2010-2015. Of those 2,111 claims, 254 resulted in medical malpractice lawsuits. In 2015 alone, 174 “sentinel events” – or unexpected occurrences resulting in death or serious physical or psychological… Read More »
Were You Fired or Demoted After Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Getting seriously injured on the job is oftentimes a devastating experience for an employee, as it not only means that they must miss out on work while they recover, but it also means that they must rehash every detail of their injury with HR, file a bunch of paperwork, and yes, file a workers’… Read More »
Are Commercial Airlines Responsible for Aviation Accidents and Passenger Injuries?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, as much as 25 percent of Americans have some nervousness regarding air travel, and 6.5 percent suffer from aviophobia. Despite the fear and anxiety that air travel evokes in a majority of the population however, air travel is one of the safest modes of transportation. In… Read More »
Determining Liability for Injuries Sustained on Your Summer Cruise
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, 62 percent of individuals who go on a U.S. cruise depart from one of Florida’s ports, with Port Miami and Port Canaveral catering to a majority of vacationers, and Fort Lauderdale coming in a close third. In 2015 alone, 6.24 million passengers came and went through one… Read More »
When Fireworks Go Awry: Are You Liable for Injuries Sustained from Consumer Fireworks?
The 4th of July may have come and gone, but the fun of fireworks has not yet faded, and as a consequence, neither have the risks. Fireworks are one of America’s most dangerous past times, as they result in nearly 10,000 personal injuries each year, and approximately 4 deaths. While those numbers may seem… Read More »