South Florida Personal Injury Attorney Blog

A 62-acre Florida brush fire is being blamed in the I-75 truck and car pileup that took 10 lives and injured dozens more this weekend, but new information has the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) under fire for its decision to re-open the highway to more traffic after the first crash.

FHP responded early Sunday morning to a 3-car crash along the smoky stretch of I-75 near Gainesville and closed the road to all traffic. The responding patrolmen decided the highway was safe enough for travel and re-opened the highway just minutes before the second crash that ultimately led to the multi-car pileup. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has ordered an investigation into that decision. At least a dozen cars, six tractor-trailers and a motor home collided pushing drivers under the crumpling trucks.

According to the Associated Press a similarly deadly crash killed four and injured 38 people back in 2008 on I-4, just 125 miles south of Sunday's crash.

For questions regarding truck and auto accidents, contact the legal team at the Law Offices of Robert Rubenstein at 1-800-FL-LEGAL (355-3425). The firm handles cases all over Florida with offices in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Rubensteinlaw.com

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Florida is among nine states listed in a Johnson & Johnson recall of thousands of tubes of its Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) sampled a batch of the product and found excessive levels of a naturally-occurring, but antibiotic-resistant, bacteria identified as coagulase-negative Staphylococci. The bacteria can lead to health problems with the central nervous system or lead to urinary tract infections.

Around 2,200 bottles of the lotion - with lot number 0161LK - have now been recalled from shops across Southern states, including Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

The Law Offices of Robert Rubenstein has more than 25 years experience with product liability and defective products cases. For a free consultation, call 1-800-FL-LEGAL (355-3425). We have offices in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

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Florida Highway patrol is investigating a head-on crash that killed both drivers. It happened at mile marker marker 102 along US-1 in Key Largo Sunday evening. 79-year-old Ralph Sheffler was driving his van south while Maria Esteves, of Miami, was driving a north when, for unknown reasons, Sheffler crossed the center line of US-1 and crashed head-on into Esteves' car. She died at the scene. Sheffler was flown to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, where he later died.

The Florida Keys are beautiful this time of year, but many stretches of the scenic drive south are single lanes. For this reason, it's crucial to stay alert and undistracted by the scenery while driving in the Keys. Out legal team at the Law Offices of Robert Rubenstein handles every kind of car, truck and motorcycle accident. For a free consultation contact out attorneys at 1-800-FL-LEGAL (355-3425). We have offices in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

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A Miami-Dade man is recovering and lucky to be alive after his car plunged into Biscayne Bay this weekend. According to witnesses, the car drove into the water near Northeast 106th Street and Biscayne Bay. Five men jumped into the water and were able to pull the unconscious 81-year-old man through the driver's side window.
The driver is expected to recover and he's very fortunate.

Every year more than 10,000 drivers are involved in water immersion auto accidents. Of those, several hundred become trapped in their cars under water and die. There are life-saving tips all Florida drivers should know thanks to our many bodies of water here in the Sunshine State.

Once your car has entered water it usually takes between two and ten minutes for it to sink, depending on the speed of the car at the time of impact. If you remain calm and follow these steps, you have a good chance of getting to safety:

1. Stay calm. Take a deep breath then take charge of the situation.

2. Open the window(s). Tell all passengers to do the same or open theirs from your console. If your car is in a swift moving current open the window(s) on the side opposite the water flow direction. This will minimize water rushing in and it will be easier to exit. In strong currents exiting through a sun roof may be your best option.

3. Unfasten your seatbelt. If possible keep one hand on the open window ledge as a point of reference. As the car begins to sink it may roll over and this will help keep you oriented.

4. Exit through the window(s). If there are children or others less able in the car, if possible help them out and then exit immediately.

5. Swim to safety. If you are under water and not sure which direction to swim, allow a few air bubbles to escape your mouth and follow them toward the surface.

The Law Offices of Robert Rubenstein has more than 25 years experience handling all kinds of car and truck accidents. For expert help or answers to your accident questions, contact our legal team at rubensteinlaw.com or 1-800-FL-Legal (800) 355-3425.