• The US Coast Guard responded to 4,730 accidents in 2009. 736 of these involved a fatalities and 3,358 caused injuries.
• Boat accidents caused $36 million in property damage in 2009.
• 75% of all the fatal accidents in 2009 involved a drowning victim. 84% of the victims were not wearing a life jacket.
• 70% of drowning victims were on boat 21 feet or less.
• Only 14% of fatal accidents occurred with a boat driver who had received some sort of boating safety instruction.
• Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in fatal boat accidents.
• Operator inattention, inexperience, excessive speed, failure to look out and alcohol are the top five factors in fatal accidents.

So keep these facts in mind this year as you enjoy the Florida waters and sun. Do not drink and boat, follow the law, wear a life jacket and pay attention.

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando wrongful death attorneys.

The preservation of evidence from the scene of the accident can be crucial to your case. Your best bet is to contact an attorney as soon as possible to assist you in the investigation. If your injuries permit after the accident, try to take photos. Do not speak to investigators or the truck driver until you speak with an attorney. The trucking company will likely have their own lawyers and investigators on the scene quickly.

The trucking companies are required by law to keep maintenance records and driver hour logs. This information is vital to your case, and you should have your attorney review it.

Do not accept any sort of settlement or compensation for the accident without first speaking with an attorney, even if it seems fair at the time. The trucking company and the insurance company are interested in protecting their bottom lines, you need a lawyer who has your best interests in mind.

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando personal injury attorneys.

• Limit distractions. Many accidents involve some sort of driver distractions, and the number continues to rise each year. Do not use your cell phone (even if it is hands-free), do not adjust your makeup, eat, mess with your GPS, etc. All of these distractions greatly increase your chance of being in a wreck.
• Do not speed. Drive at or under the speed limit. Limits are set on certain roads for a reason, and keeping within the speed limit keeps you and other motorists safe. Sometimes it can be difficult to not go slightly above the posted speed limit, but by staying at it you greatly reduce your risk.
• Do not drink and drive. This may seem like an obvious one, but it cannot be stated enough. Never under any circumstances operate a vehicle while intoxicated or get in the car with someone who has been drinking.
• Wear your seat belt. Even after following all of these safety tips there is still a chance you may be involved in a crash. You cannot account for the actions of other motorists. Better safe than sorry.

Do you have any questions about a car accident you were involved in?

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando personal injury attorneys.

“By identifying what’s happening to patients, that’ll prove a learning process,” said Deputy Inspector for the DHHS Ruth Ann Dorrill. Physicians need to be held accountable in order to protect the public.

Currently, there is no set number for punitive damages in Florida medical malpractice cases.

Potential tort reform may put a cap on the punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice cases in Florida. There needs to be a financial incentive for physicians and hospitals to provide the best care possible. If there is no financial incentive to keep hospitals and their physicians on their toes, health care will become more and more reckless.

Have you or a loved one ever experienced or witnessed a medical error that went unreported?

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando personal injury attorneys.

• Keep still. If you are injured—even if it seems minor at the time—remain still until paramedics arrive to assist you.
• Call 911. This should be the first thing you do if you are involved, or simply witness the accident.
• Remain silent. Say as little as possible, even saying something simple like “sorry” or “I’m fine” can have repercussions that you may not even consider at the time. It is best not to even speak to the truck driver or other drivers, speak only to the arriving police officers.
• Pay attention to details. Try to remember everything about the crash. Write things down so you don’t forget them, including anything you noticed before or after the accident.
• Take pictures. Take pictures of the accident scene, your vehicle, the truck and debris or injured parties.

Have you or a loved one been injured or killed in a truck accident? Would you be able to remember these tips if you found yourself in an accident? It is important to remain calm to protect yourself and your rights as well.

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando personal injury attorneys.

PWC’s are smaller, quicker and easier to navigate. Timothy C. Nies, contributor at Avvo.com, cites a University of Florida study that shows how PWC accidents can cause more serious injuries than other boats.

“Most PWC injuries are caused when an operator or passenger is thrown off the vessel at high speeds,” says Nies.

Remember to always read the owner’s manual before operating a PWC and enroll in a PWC safety course. Avoid crowded areas, especially before you are experienced. Always wear a lifejacket and keep the engine cut-off lanyard around your wrist.

Keep these tips in mind before you take off on a PWC. Have you or a loved one been injured in a boating accident?

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando personal injury attorneys.

Thomas James Smith, 28, died at Health Central hospitals from his injuries. Smith was riding in a Toyota Camry. The driver, Lakeisha Oglesby, 23, suffered injuries. Witnesses saw the Camaro run the red light, according to police reports. Both vehicles spun around in the intersection before striking a concrete wall. Two other passengers in the Camry, Patrick Chambers, 25, and Gabrielle Swann, 18, suffered minor injuries. The driver of the Camaro fled the scene on foot. Police are searching for a man with black dreadlocks.

Have you or a loved one been injured or killed in car accident when someone else was at fault?

Wooten, Kimrbough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando wrongful death attorneys.

The victim was eventually pulled out of the car, but rescuers had trouble getting to him. They rushed him to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Officials shut down the highway for several hours. The victim’s condition is unknown.

Every year 41,000-45,000 people die in the U.S. in car accidents. 9% of the deaths involve commercial trucks. 4% are related to truck driver fatigue.

Have you or a loved one been injured or killed in a truck accident?

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando wrongful death attorneys.

“We’re dismayed by reports that say doctors, nurses, technicians and others providing medical care are spending too much time focused on smart phones, computer screens and other devices when they should be paying attention to their patients,” said Patrick A. Salvi, partner at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. “We’re not against the use of electronic devices for delivery of medical records or even personal communication, but it is absolutely crucial that a focus on the patient is not dropped from the accepted standards of medical care.”

The New York Times cited a survey of medical technicians that showed 55% of respondents acknowledged physicians talking on cell phones during heart surgery. This should be alarming for everyone who reads it.

“Why does anyone carry a cell phone into an operating room?” Salvi asked. “The patient on the table deserves the undivided attention of everyone in that room.”

Have you or a loved one been the unfortunate victim of medical malpractice?

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando wrongful death attorneys.

His website pictured patients with flawless skin and bodies, and he even had a swanky office at Castleton Corners. Many patients feel they were mislead and are now outraged. After more than 40 medical malpractice lawsuits, Dr. Cattani may never again practice.

“I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in three years;” said Marilyn Franklin, who underwent plastic surgery from Dr. Cattani in 2009 for a neck lift. “Every night I wake up with shooting pain…I went in to have my turkey neck done and came back the bride of Frankenstein.”

When Franklin went to another physician to seek treatment following the botched operation, the nurse recognized Dr. Cattani’s handiwork instantly.

“She guessed it on the spot it was him. She said ‘I can’t tell you how many patients we are aware of who were scarred and maimed.’ How did that doctor still have a license?”

The list of horrendous allegations against Dr. Cattani is seemingly endless. In 2010, according to records, he refused to transport a liposuction patient to the hospital even as he went into kidney failure. He refused to let EMS treat the patient as well. He has refused to respond to complaints from many other patients following their operation.

Hopefully this monster will never receive another license to practice medicine anywhere. Have you or a loved one been injured by a careless physician?

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando personal injury attorneys.