In Florida as in other parts of the country, drivers are worried about increasing gas prices. However, some researchers are claiming that the gas price jump, painful though it is, could be making the streets safer. A research study at the University of Alabama concluded that every 10% increase in gas prices translates into a 2% decrease in traffic fatalities.

While about 40,000 people die in car accidents across the country each year, researchers expect that current high gas prices will mean as many as 1,000 fewer deaths per month, which may 12 000 lives saved this year. Researchers attribute the reduction in car accidents to the fact that fewer people are driving less often. They also claim that many try to save on gas by driving slower, which also reduces accidents.

Other experts are not so optimistic, however. They point out that while car accident fatalities are down slightly, as motorists turn to other means of transport, other types of fatalities and personal injuries are on the rise. The Motorcycle Industry Council notes that sales of motorcycles increase 24% in the first few months of 2008. Yamaha scooter sales increased by 65% from this time in 2007. Vespa set a sales record doubled its previous record this May.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that fatalities on motorcycles and scooters have increased 127% over the past decade. Serious injuries from scooter and motorcycle accidents – including spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, brain injuries, and broken limbs – are up too.

The National Highway Traffic Safety is reporting that a motorcyclist is 34 times more likely to die in collision with a vehicle than someone in car. Motorcycles are simply smaller and lighter than most cars and trucks and simply do not have much of a chance in a car collision. With more people driving SUVs and large cars, the motorcyclist’s chances are even slimmer.

If you do decide to get a motorcycle in order to save on gas, be sure to wear a helmet to protect yourself from fatal brain injuries. Statistics prove how important helmets are. Florida repealed its helmet law in 2002 and the first 30 months after that decision, authorities reported 40% more hospitalizations and 24% more fatalities when compared with the 30 months before the law was repealed.

Brooksville teenagers Justin White and Scott Avery were killed earlier this summer in separate bicycle accidents. The similarities between the two accidents have authorities asking the public to take another look at their bicycle lights. Both accidents occurred after dark and neither bicycle was equipped with lights.

The Florida Highway Patrol has noted that with Florida summer evenings being pleasant, many more bicyclists are on the road after dark. While motorists are obligated by law to watch out for bicycles and treat bicyclists like any vehicle, bicycle owners can help and reduce bicycle accidents by mounting a headlight at the front of their bicycle and a red light at the back.

Riding without lights means a greater risk of car-bicycle collisions. However, lack of adequate lights can also increase the chances of falls and collisions with objects in the dark. Bicycle accidents in the dark can occur when a bicyclist runs into something in the dark or runs over something and loses control of the bicycle. In each case, the accident can cause brain injuries, broken limbs, and other serious injuries.

Florida law necessitates that bicyclists out between sunset and sunrise must have a lamp on the front of their bicycle that is visible from 500 feet. The laws also requires a red light on the back of the bicycle that is visible from 600 feet. Reflectors are also helpful, but the small and not very expensive lights are far more visible to vehicles and therefore are more likely to reduce accidents.

The National Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 60% of collisions involving motorists and bicycles involve bicyclists riding at night without proper lights. Lights simply provide a car with enough notice to stop safely. Without lights, experts note, motorists don’t have time to react correctly because they often do not see the bicycle in time, especially in dark conditions.

The Florida Highway Patrol suggests that parents teach their children and teens to equip their bicycles with lights and to use the lights. This is especially important for teens, who tend to ride alone at night. Authorities suggest getting teens to look at the bicycle as a precursor to a car. Just as your teen would not drive a car in the dark without lights, encourage your teen to avoid riding a bike in the dark without lights.

According to media reports this summer, Florida leads the states in the number of children who are drowned in swimming pools. Now that summer has arrived, many families turn to swimming pools to beat the heat. However, many state experts claim that the habit leads to many fatalities as well as a wide range of injuries that include spinal cord injuries, broken limbs, brain injuries, and other problems. Unfortunately, children are most likely to be injured in swimming pools.

Earlier this summer, a six-year-old girl drowned at a pool party in Jacksonville. There were about six children in the pool and adults nearby, but no one saw the girl go under the surface. She was taken to Wolfson Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Unfortunately, this story is one of many tragedies that involves pools in Florida.

Experts agree that swimming lessons and training at an early age can help prevent pool accidents. Pool safety equipment can also be a good idea. However, many experts and parents think that equipment and lessons alone cannot help. They point out that in many cases safety-vacuum release systems may be answer. However, this has caused a great deal of controversy in Florida.

In 2007, the Florida Building Commission decided that new pools do not need to have a safety-vacuum release system. A safety-vacuum release device automatically detects a blocked drain and shuts off the drain. This removes the suction that may drag a child down under the surface. For now, these devices are optional and many blame the pool industry trade association pressure which successfully lobbied to make the devices optional.

Many parent and safety groups urge parents to have these devices installed in their pools. The pool builders association contends that the devices give homeowners a false sense of security that their pools are safer. They also argue that the devices do not work in cases where a child’s limbs, fingers, or hair get caught in the drain.

There are other ways besides the devices to keep children safer in pools. Careful supervision and frequent “everyone out of the pool” breaks are often a good idea, especially when a pool has many children in it. A well-maintained pool is also essential, as are many drains to reduce the suction. Anti-entrapment drain covers also help prevent accidents.

In Florida, high heat in the summer can mean safety issues. In the summer, most emergency rooms see a rise in water and heat-related injuries, and an increase in outdoor accidents. In many cases, these common Florida problems can easily be avoided. On hot days, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the common problems.

Most people can stay cool quite easily, but the elderly are at risk. The elderly may need additional help in staying cool and hydrated on hot days, but nursing home and elder abuse inevitably means that some elderly Florida residents are neglected or left in warm conditions, which can be quite dangerous.

There are several tips that help keep elderly loved ones stay safe:

1) Reduce the possibility of heat cramps by ensuring that an elderly loved one stays hydrated and consumes enough sodium. Extra water intake on a hot day and a good diet are often sufficient. Keeping loved one in a cool place and allowing them to rest on hot days is important.

2) Eliminate the risks of heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion can be serious. It can include sweating; fatigue; moist, pale skin, nausea; disorientation, a rapid pulse and fainting. Heat exhaustion can lead to slip and fall accidents. Again, keeping a loved one cool and comfortable is important to prevent heat exhaustion. Make sure that your loved one is not left out in the sun and make sure that he or she gets enough liquids and food.

3) Watch out for heatstroke. Heatstroke can be fatal. Symptoms are the same as that of heat exhaustion, but it addition to those symptoms a patient will often have a fever, hot and dry skin, breathing difficulties, rapid heartbeat, and constricted pupils. This illness can lead to seizures and loss of consciousness. If you suspect heatstroke in an elderly loved one, call 911 immediately.

4) Check on care facilities often. If your loved one is in a care facility, visit often to ensure that your loved one is not left outside. Look for signs of nursing home abuse and negligence and act quickly to prevent illness. Your loved one should be able to access a cool, shaded room at all times and should have cool sleeping conditions at all times. Make sure that your loved one is not left outdoors in the hot weather. Look for red flag signs such as sunburns. Ensure that your loved one is dressed in light clothing during the summer months and can wear a hat outdoors. Make sure that he or she drinks plenty of water and maintains a good appetite to replace electrolytes.

In Florida, summer can sometimes mean severe weather. While hurricanes, high winds, and thunderstorms can all cause personal injuries which can include head injuries, burn injuries, broken limbs, and even fatalities, the cleanup after storms can be just as dangerous in Florida. After a severe storm, many homeowners are faced with trees that have been blown down. In many cases, homeowners who try to remove these trees themselves injure themselves or create more property damage.

Chainsaw accidents are an especial concern for authorities after a severe Florida storm hits. Homeowners can reduce the risk of injury and property damage after a storm by:

1) Calling insurance companies first and taking pictures before removing trees. Sometimes, property owners go through all the trouble of removing debris and trees only to realize that they have removed valuable evidence in the process. If your home may be damaged and you may need to make an insurance claim, call your insurance provider before making any decisions regarding tree removal.

2) Contacting a professional. It is always much easier to contact a professional tree removal expert rather than attempt to get the job done yourself. Look for a professional who is fully insured and bonded. Many tree removal services are busy after a storm but many do have emergency services. It is often better to have a tree removed rather than attempt it yourself. Check with your insurance provider to see whether the cost is covered under your policy. Even if it is not, consider paying the cost out of your own pocket. It is always much safer.

3) Being careful with trees that fall over property lines. Removing a tree that has fallen onto a neighbor's property is tricky business. If you accidentally cause property damage or get injured while removing the tree, the resulting legal actions could sour your neighborly camaraderie. When trees fall across property lines, it’s always better to get professional help.

4) Registering chainsaws. If you do have a chainsaw, register the product and check recent recalls. Some chainsaw accidents are caused by product liability issues, so make sure that your chainsaw has been approved for safe use. Keep the chainsaw in good condition and avoiding using it if there is anything wrong mechanically with the product.

5) Proceeding with caution. If you absolutely must remove a tree that has fallen, take every precaution. Read the manual and instructions carefully and take your time when using the chainsaw. Take frequent breaks, since chainsaws are heavy and difficult to operate. Always work with someone who can help you with removing cut pieces of wood. This person can also call for help if you are injured.

It’s no secret that construction accidents are a major concern for the building industry. Across the country, as building projects heat up during the summer months, construction accidents are causing fractures, fatalities, burn injuries, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other disasters. Many of these injuries leave workers unable to return to work and create workers' compensation issues as well. Despite careful regulations and safety awareness, construction accidents still are a major concern.

This summer, many accidents have meant more focus on one specific piece of construction equipment: the crane. According to media reports, a larger-than-usual number of crane-related construction accidents have been occurring in New York, Miami and Las Vegas. In New York City, two crane accidents since March have resulted in nine fatalities. This is more than the total number of deaths that have been linked to cranes over the past ten years.

Crane regulations have by state and city and some areas have no regulations at all. Those areas with no regulations rely on federal crane guidelines that are nearly four decades old. Experts say that these regulations do not reflect the technological changes that have occurred in the industry. Some states do not have accurate figures about the number of cranes operating in the state and do not require training for workers who use the cranes.

In early 2008, Florida lawmakers considered and ultimately rejected a bill which would have imposed state-wide standards for Florida’s crane operators. That legislation was introduced after a crane accident killed two people in Miami. Despite support from the North Florida Associated Builders and Contractors, the legislation failed to pass. Now, the Association is noting that further crane accidents suggest the importance of Florida-wide crane regulations to reduce the number of construction accidents.

Industry experts claim that many crane accidents occur when tower frames are set up or dismantled. They claim that if operators are trained in the processes, the number of construction accidents involving cranes could drop. With downtown Miami undergoing more than $6 billion worth of ongoing construction projects in the commercial building industry alone, there is obviously some concern about crane safety.

While many contractors supported the bill, some contractors and crane owners claimed that the legislation could put them out of business. Some policymakers agreed. Another controversy surrounding the bill was whether counties would be given the right to adopt tougher standards than the Florida-wide established guidelines. Many in the construction industry claimed that counties should have this ability, since conditions in each of Florida’s counties vary, and each county may have different risks. However, others claim that individual county rules would make work much harder for contractors and would cost crane owners some jobs.

In Florida, golf carts are a common sight at this time of year. Not only are golf courses doing brisk business, renting carts as well as other equipment, but many Florida residents are scooting around on golf carts rather than driving a car or using a scooter. With the price of gas inching upwards, fun and speedy golf carts – which don’t run on gas – seem like a cute alternative in the summer months. According to studies reported by The Associated Press recently, however, golf carts can pose a risk.

New studies have found that golf carts have caused almost 50 000 injuries over a four-year period. The University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted on study of golf carts and concluded that approximately 1,000 Americans are injured on golf carts each month. People over 80 and men between the ages of 10 and 19 are most at risk. A research study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that the annual injury rates for golf carts increased 130% over 16 years. Part of the increase in injuries, researchers concluded, is because more people are using golf carts and using them in more ways. That study concluded that about 38% of injuries occurred when riders or drivers fell or jumped out of carts.

The most common personal injuries caused by golf carts include brain injuries and broken limbs. Golf carts have become more powerful and faster over the past decade, and some researchers believe that this has led to their popularity. Unfortunately, the added power means that golf carts do carry risks.

Golf carts can reach speeds of 25 mph, and while they are intended for leisurely zips around the greens, more and more people are using the golf carts in ways that they were not originally designed for. Despite this, researchers find that about half of all injuries involving golf carts do occur on golf courses or in other sports venues. Half of golf cart injuries occur on streets or on private property.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham study and the study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital both found that golf carts are often seen as a toy, a safe alternative for teens and children who do not yet drive. This perception allows many people to use golf carts on public roads and streets, which the researchers concluded can be quite dangerous.

The study suggests that parents should not permit golf cart use on streets or on private property. Giving teenagers and children golf carts to ride around is not safe. Most golf cart manufacturers clearly state the intended purpose of golf carts in their manuals and instructions. These instructions should be followed carefully to prevent injuries.

Now that many visitors are arriving in Florida for vacations and Florida residents are taking their own breaks from work, renting a personal watercraft has become the thing to do. At this time of year, rentals of boats are big business, but many rental companies are worried about accidents. Many rental companies don’t even rent boats to those below the age of 22, citing safety hazards. Many rental companies refuse to rent to young boaters because the majority of accidents that occur with rental boats occur within that age bracket.

Some rental companies are willing to take the risk, but would-be boaters need to be aware that 16 and 17-year-olds usually need a parent’s signature in order to rent a boat. In Florida, if you are under 22 years of age and want to rent a boat, you first need to complete a boater safety course. This involves watching an instructional video and passing a multiple-choice test. Once you have passed the test, you can have a permit that is valid for up to one year. With this permit, you can rent a boat and take it on the water.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee notes that these rules are in place since most accidents occur because boat renters do not understand how to safely operate personal watercraft. Many rented boats are very fast and boaters lose steering when they take off the throttle. Those renters who are not familiar with jet driven boats often lose control, and according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee, many boat accidents involving rented boats are off-throttle accidents.

Boating accidents can be quite serious. They can cause broken limbs, fractures, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even fatalities. In some cases, property damage can result from a boating accident. In accidents where a boat catches on fire, passengers and boat operators risk burn injuries, too.

Although most industry experts agree that first-time boat renters are most likely to be in a boating accident, there is some disagreement about which renters are at most risk. While some renters allege that younger boaters are most apt to be in accidents, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee alleges that accidents occur across all age groups and most fatalities in fact occur with older boater renters, who do not need to take the safety course before renting.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee, boating accidents have in fact been on the decline. 161 boating accidents were reported in 2007, compared to 303 in 2002. Most of the time, boaters were either changing directions or cruising at the time of the accident. Most accidents included a collision between two vehicles and inattention was credited as the most frequent cause of accidents.

Florida is known for its amusement parks and theme parks, and in the summer these parks see a lot of business. Unfortunately, each year personal injury and even fatalities do occur at theme parks. Unfortunately, because of the customers that theme parks attract, many of these incidents are injuries to minors and children. From broken bones to food poisoning, burn injuries, head injuries and spinal cord injuries, there are many potential risks at theme parks.

Theme park officials note that the rate of injury and death are small when the total number of visitors to theme parks is considered, but this is small consolation to those who lose a loved one or see a member of the family injured at a theme park. The Ripsaw Falls water-flume ride at Universal Studios caused three passengers back pain and neck pain within a four-month period. A man was pinned between vehicles on the DisneyWorld ride Peter Pan Flight. A 7-year-old child’s thumb was bitten by a dolphin at SeaWorld. Although these incidents did not often make the national news, these and other theme park injuries cost families stress, pain, and large medical bills.

It’s not just theme park guests who are at risk. Employees of theme parks are also vulnerable to injuries, especially during the busy summer months. In 2006, a SeaWorld trainer was attacked by a killer whale in California. The man was hospitalized for his injuries. Orlando DisneyWorld employee Javier Cruz was killed in 2004 when a float ran over him during a Magic Kingdom parade.

Florida does regulate ride safety at carnivals and fairs. However, larger theme parks – including DisneyWorld, SeaWorld and Universal Studios – are not subjected to state inspections. A ‘memorandum of understanding’ with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services allows these parks to regulate themselves and requires the parks to hire their own maintenance crews, conduct their own ride inspections, conduct yearly safety presentations, and report any accidents and deaths to officials.

There are several things that parents and families can do to stay safer at theme parks this year. Parents can ensure that children are supervised at all times. Any instructions posted on the rides – including warnings about maximum and minimum heights and body weights – should be obeyed. Any verbal instructions given by employees and park staff should also be followed to the letter.

The Florida Highway Patrol has recently been promoting two campaigns to help reduce the number of car accidents in the state. The "Buckle Up Florida" campaign has been around for a while and has been designed to encourage Florida drivers and passengers to use their seat belts constantly in order to help prevent injuries in the event of a car crash. Thanks to the media efforts made, many Florida residents have heard of this campaign.

The "Move Over Florida" campaign which is currently being promoted by The Florida Highway Patrol is also the law. The law was passed in 2002 and requires any driver in Florida who is approaching emergency vehicles on the side of the road to change lanes. The law creates a vacant lane for the emergency vehicles and emergency personnel to work. If a driver on only on a two lane road, the driver must slow down to at least 20 miles an hour less than the posted speed limit.

The law is designed to help protect not only drivers but also the emergency personnel who might be at work on the side of the road. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that many accidents happen because drivers take too many risks and drive too close to the road where emergency vehicles are at work. This sort of driving can result in serious personal injury to emergency personnel and to the driver. It can also prevent anyone who is injured and getting medical help from getting to a hospital sooner.

Those who ignore the Move Over Florida law will be issued a ticket and will have to pay a fine. You can learn more about law by contacting the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Both Florida Highway Patrol campaigns are aimed to keep drivers safer. Car accidents unfortunately still claim many lives in the state and cause serious injuries such as paralysis, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, disfigurement, loss of limbs, and brain injuries. Buckling your seat belt can help you avoid injuries if you are in a car accident while following the Move Over law can help you avoid car crashes.

One debate that has been raging in Florida for some months now involves the use of cell phones in cars. Some are calling for a ban on cell phone use by drivers, noting that many Florida car accidents happen when a driver is distracted while talking on the phone. Others maintain that it is possible to drive safely while speaking on a phone and suggest that drivers should be able to talk and drive. Some Florida citizens are calling for a compromise – let drivers talk on the phone only when using a hands-free service or ear piece.

Where do you weigh in?

Six states have already passed laws that make it illegal to drive while talking on a cell phone. Connecticut, New Jersey and New York have all banned cell phone use by drivers. Starting July 1, 2008 California drivers will not be able to use any wireless hand-held gadgets unless they are using hands-free devices. Drivers under the age of 18 will not be able to use any wireless hand-held gadgets, not even if they have hands-free devices.

Earlier in 2008, Florida law-makers introduced a number of bills aimed at reducing cell phone calls in moving cars, but none of the bills passed. One bill would have banned all Florida drivers from sending a call, texting, dialing, listening or speaking on a wireless device without a hands-free device. A second bill would have banned teen drivers from driving and talking on hand-held devices.

The statistics do seem to suggest that some legislation is needed. The CDC reports that car accidents are the leading cause of fatalities for teenagers. They are also the leading cause of death for drivers in their 20s and 30s. In addition to fatalities, car accidents also cause many serious injuries to drivers and passengers. These injuries can include life-altering injures such as paralysis, burn injuries, disfigurement, loss of limbs, spinal cord injury, head injury, and many others.

According to a 2002 Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study, about 2,600 fatalities each year are caused by drivers who are distracted by cell phones at the time of an accident. The California Highway Patrol did research in 2001 and found that during a nine month period 4,699 car crashes were linked to drivers distracted by cell phones. Of these accidents, 31 were fatal and another 2,786 resulted in injury. Another study conducted by the University of Utah found that drivers using cell phones had the same response times as drunk drivers. The drivers using cell phones, the research revealed, were 9% slower to brake and 19% slower to return to normal driving speeds.

The Florida Legislature decided five years ago to make it illegal for local jurisdictions to ban cell phones. In 2006, 26 car accident fatalities and 1,364 car accident injuries in Florida involved driver distractions, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. 2003 statistics showed that most distracted drivers – 20% -- who caused an accident were talking on cell phones.

Nothing says “Florida” quite like the state’s miles of beautiful beaches and shorelines. While many tourists and residents alike flock to white sandy beaches in Florida to kick back and relax, a recent list from Forbes.com suggests that personal injury and some dangers may be lurking near Florida’s waters. According to experts, the top risks on Florida sands include:

1) Shark attacks. The International Shark Attack File reported that there were 112 incidents of humans and sharks meeting in the waters in 2007. Only one of the incidents resulted in a human fatality. New Smyrna, Florida, had the most shark attacks. The single Florida inlet reported 17 shark bites.

2) Lightning. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that Florida is one of the most perilous spots when it comes to fatalities and injuries caused by lightning. 71 deaths in Florida were linked to lightning between 1997 and 2006, which makes Florida the leader in lighting-related deaths. Florida beaches, including New Smyrna and Clearwater, are especially dangerous spots when it comes to lightning. In fact, these two beaches are often closed for days on end when the risks related to lighting are especially notable.

3) Boating accidents. The U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Division reports that Florida had 633 boating accidents and 68 fatalities in 2006 alone. This is the highest number of deaths and injuries caused by boating of any state. In addition to boating accident fatalities, Florida also reports serious injuries caused by boating accidents. These include broken limbs, brain injuries, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious harm.

4) Drowning. Rip current drowning is an especial concern in Florida. The United States Life Saving Association reports that in 2007 10 people died in Brevard County, Florida from the rip current alone. Many more drowning accidents in the area were caused by other factors.

Personal injury cases often involve a lot of potential money and fairly serious injury. Personal injury cases can involve spinal cord injuries that leave the victim paralyzed for life, or brain injuries that leave the victim incapable of taking care of themselves. In many cases, these sorts of lawsuits involve considerable loss of income for the victim. A personal injury attorney is what ultimately determines a victim's chances of getting legal assistance to cover medical treatments as well as lost income.

Insurance company attorneys want to pay victims the least possible amount, because paying out the least amount in damages is what keeps insurance company shareholders happy. Therefore, a good Florida personal injury attorney is essential when you're negotiating with an insurance provider. A good attorney is someone who does research carefully, represents you well in court, and is able to use concise, well-developed arguments to ensure that you get the best compensation possible. Finding such an attorney may seem like a tall order, but you can find one by:

1) Looking for a Florida personal injury lawyer that has many years of practice as well as a track record of successful negotiations in the same type of case you are involved in. Look for an attorney who has successfully been able to find compensation for victims in similar cases such as yours. A successful track record alone may convince the defendant in your case that your suit needs to be taken seriously, and a good track record generally proves that an attorney is able to successfully defend their cases in court.

2) Seeking out a personal injury attorney that will take your case on a contingency basis. Many Florida personal injury attorneys do this. It means that the attorney only takes out a legal fee at the end of the case and only if and when you win a settlement. If you don't get paid, you're not responsible for legal fees. Many attorneys will charge around 30% of the total settlement as a legal fee. Make sure that you understand what the legal fees will be once your settlement is reached, and make sure that you understand fully how the contingency fee plan will work with your attorney.

3) Speak to other people who have been clients of the same attorney, or seek testimonials from past clients. Once you've found a few attorneys who seem capable of taking on your case, either ask for recommendations, or ask friends and family to see who else has worked with the same attorney.

4) Speak to the attorney and make your decision based on ability as well as your overall impression of an attorney. An attorney who is highly respected in the field but who does not take the time to answer your questions or who does not seem interested in your case is unlikely to make you very happy. Even if your attorney is working on a contingency basis, you will eventually have to pay money for your legal fees, so you'll want to find an attorney you like. Find an attorney who listens to carefully, answers your questions, and returns your calls and messages when asked. Find someone who instills confidence in you.

Nursing home abuse and negligence is a serious problem, and one way you can help prevent it is to select a nursing home for your elderly relative very carefully. Florida has a number of nursing home and care facilities, and you can select the right one by:

1) Looking locally. Look for a nursing home care facility that is close to friends and family. This ensures that the resident of the nursing home will receive visitors often. In turn, frequent visitors are the best way to help prevent nursing home abuse and negligence. Frequent visitors can ask questions about any evident bruising, depression, or other red flag signs. Plus, if a resident has frequent visitors, it is harder for abusive caregivers to hide evidence of slip and fall accidents, undernourishment, and other personal injuries.

2) Asking a lot of questions. Call nursing homes that are within driving distance and ask about staffing, licensing, resident activities, certification, bed availability, special care amenities, and cost.

3) Meeting with staff at nursing homes. Once you've found a few nursing homes that seem promising, make sure to arrange to meet with staff in the nursing homes themselves in order to take a tour of the facilities. Keep in mind that staff will do their best to present their facility in the best possible light, but you should still be able to see any red flag signs -- such as odors, depressed residents, and lack of professionalism on the part of staff.

4) Ask for recommendations. Speak to friends and family who have placed an elderly loved one in a care facility. Ask them about their experiences with various care homes and care facilities, and speak to people who have placed elderly loved ones in specific homes.

5) Following up. Even once you've placed an elderly loved one in a nursing home or care facility, that does not end your involvement. Continue to make regular, unannounced visits to make sure that everything is going smoothly. Encourage your elderly loved one to speak about their experiences, and keep checking back to make sure that everything seems to be going smoothly. If there are any red flag signs at all, remove the elderly loved one from the facility immediately and contact an attorney or the authorities to get help.

Florida’s coastlines and many rivers and lakes make it an ideal place for boating. There are many boating enthusiasts across the state, and while the majority of them obey the laws and boat safely, there are still many preventable boating accidents that occur each year. These accidents can cause property damage damaged, fatalities, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, drowning, broken limbs, and many other types of injuries. In many cases, boating accidents involve alcohol or other forms of negligence and therefore lead to complicated legal cases as well. You can help provoke boating accidents by:

1) Learning all you can before you get on the water. Taking a boating safety course is an excellent way to learn more about the rules of the waterways and safe boating techniques. Learning about your craft and learning how to operate it safely are key ways to ensure that you and everyone around you stay safe in the water.

2) Boating in good weather, especially if you're just a beginner. If you are new to boating, it makes sense to stay on the water only when the weather is favourable and high visibility is possible. This will help prevent any possible accidents due to poor visibility, rough waters, and other environmental factors.

3) Wear personal flotation devices or life jackets at all times. This is simply the easiest way to ensure that you do not fall victim to drowning. Carry extra life jackets and personal flotation devices on board your craft, and ensure that every passenger who climbs aboard wears one from the time he or she gets on the boat to the time he or she disembarks.

4) Stay sober. The motion of a boat, the strong wins, and the tiredness that many boaters feel is only heightened by alcohol and other controlled substances. This means that even very small amounts of alcohol can impair you while you're behind the wheel of your craft. Avoid having any form of alcohol or controlled substance before you head on the water, and check your prescription medication carefully to ensure that it does not make you feel drowsy or sleepy.

5) Boat safely. Some boaters take risks, such as speeding near swimmers, boating very close to other vessels, jumping waves, or weaving through boat traffic at high speeds. All of these can result in legal penalties, and if you cause an accident while taking such risks you will be liable for any damages or injuries you cause.

6) Stay alert to the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. Swimming or being near areas where boat engine exhaust accumulates can result in carbon monoxide poisoning. Leaving your motor idling, or cooking or heating with fuels can also create a build-up of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide has no odor, taste, or color. It is a good idea to install carbon monoxide detectors on board and use fuel-burning appliances on board only on deck or somewhere where good ventilation is available.