Distracted driving is a huge issue across the United States. Texting while driving is the riskiest of the distracted driving behaviors, but other distractions include applying makeup, adjusting the radio, drinking coffee, and talking on your phone. When you allow distractions to take over your train of thought when you…
Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
Veteran at South Florida VA Nursing Home Dies from Coronavirus
A military veteran who contracted coronavirus in mid-March at a Florida VA nursing home in Pembroke Pines has died, state officials confirmed Saturday. The deceased veteran, who was not identified, was one of two men living at the nursing home for veterans in Pembroke Pines who were hospitalized last month…
Baker County Nursing Home Says Recently Admitted Patient Brought Coronavirus | Whittel & Melton
A nursing home in Baker County that saw a sudden spike of 10 coronavirus cases said the illness was bought into the facility from someone who was recently moved to the facility. The Macclenny Nursing and Rehab Center suddenly found that 10 patients in the facility had been infected with…
Washington Nursing Home Faces $611,000 Fine Due to Safety Lapses in Coronavirus Outbreak | Whittel & Melton
A Washington state nursing home that had at least 37 Covid-19 deaths faces a fine of more than $611,000, according to federal inspectors. The facility could also lose Medicare and Medicaid funding if it does not correct a plethora of deficiencies that led to the country’s first major outbreak of…
FDA Pulls Zantac off of Market Immediately | Whittel & Melton Zantac Class Action Claims
The US Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it is requesting manufacturers pull all prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine drugs, known by the brand name Zantac, from the market immediately. The FDA noted that an ongoing investigation has determined that levels of a contaminant in the heartburn medications increase over…
Two Crewmembers Medically Evacuated from Two Different Royal Caribbean Ships | Whittel & Melton
Two Royal Caribbean crew members — one from the Symphony of the Seas and one from the Oasis of the Seas — were “medically evacuated” from their respective ships Monday at Port Everglades, the cruise line confirmed. Even though Royal Caribbean would not confirm whether the members have been diagnosed…
Trump Administration Suspends Safety Laws for Truck Drivers | Whittel & Melton
The federal administration that oversees regulations for America’s six million professional drivers has temporarily suspended a trucking safety law that’s been in place since 1938. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said Friday evening that truck drivers who are moving goods “in support of emergency relief efforts related to the…
Pompano Woman Killed in Collision with Brightline Train | Whittel & Melton
A 21-year-old woman died Tuesday when her car was struck by a Brightline train in Pompano Beach, authorities said. The crash happened shortly after 11 a.m. at the railroad crossing at Northwest Sixth Street and Dixie Highway. On Wednesday, the Broward Sheriff’s Office identified her body. She had driven her…
Cruise Ships Stranded Due to Coronavirus | Whittel & Melton
As countries are sealing off their borders to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, cruise ships have been left stranded in the Caribbean, South America and Europe, with local governments denying permission to disembark as more cases of infected passengers have come to light. Some ships have been denied…
Florida Ready to Raise the Minimum Age for Smoking and Vaping to 21 | Whittel & Melton
Florida is poised to raise the minimum age for smoking and vaping to 21. The state Senate on Thursday joined the House in approving a measure that would also ban the sale of vaporized nicotine products used in so-called e-cigarettes. The legislation now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration.…