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"The Five Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case is a must read for anyone that has been injured in a accident in Florida!"

My case was handled courteously and professionally. All of my questions were answered promptly and I never felt anything I was concerned about was un-important. Judi always had answers and took the time to explain. She was always on top of my case when I called the office.

I really appreciated the fact that Mr. Dodson hired a professional expert to measure and make an evaluation about the place where I fell. The whole process was handled very well. Both Judi and Mr. Dodson were very nice and my experience working with them was professional.

I would recommend Jim Dodson to anyone I knew who was in need of a personal injury attorney.

"I recommend the Law Office of James Dodson. They were always able and available when I had questions. They even got me more than I expected right when I needed it most. I am exceedingly grateful to have had this wonderful group of people helping and getting what we deserve."

Safety Information to Promote Accident and Injury Prevention for Consumers

Florida Accident and Injury Attorney Jim Dodson's online resource library provides links to informative, accident and injury related resources.

The Dodson Law Firm website is designed for you, the consumer. We are dedicated to educating the public on subjects related to accident prevention and safety precautions to avoid injury.

Each helpful link includes practical consumer information for all ages: children, teens, adults, and seniors in the state of Florida.

Florida Car Accidents & Truck Collisions

Five Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case: If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident in Florida, this is the one book you must read right away. Florida accident and injury lawyer Jim Dodson's consumer guide will open your eyes to startling facts most people do not know - situations that can cause you stress and harm. His book lays out your options in plain, easy-to-understand language, and is packed with valuable information you need to know about how insurance companies settle claims. It is available at no cost to those who have been injured in a Florida accident.
Ride Like a Friend: Driving with a loud clueless passenger isn’t just annoying – it can be deadly. Distractions cause crashes, and nothing kills more teens than crashes. Help find ways to ride like a friend, and let others know what’s important. Weird that just showing a little respect can save lives, but it can. Help us find solutions, and spread the word.
Spare Bumper Rear End Collision Protector:
Protects your family and your vehicle the other 99% of the time when you're not towing from the two most frequent vehicle accidents: getting Hit While Parked and The Rear End Collision!
Distracted Drivers Summit | United States Department of Transportation: U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a September summit to address the dangers of text-messaging and other distractions behind the wheel.
State Farm Teen Drivers | Safe Teen Driving in Florida: State Farm gives us Helpful Information for Teen Drivers and safety for parents
Texting While Driving | A Dangerous Driver Distraction: Florida Accident and injury lawyer Jim Dodson provides a link to an article published in The Week magazine, concerning the dangers of texting while driving. While one in five drivers have acknowledged texting on cell phones, Blackberrys and other wireless devices, only 16 states have passed anti-texting laws. Studies have shown reaching for a hand held electronic device increases the risk of an accident by about six times.Learn more about this dangerous driver distraction.
Tracking Teen Drivers With Technology: Florida Car Accident lawyer Jim Dodson provides a link to information concerning new technology for parents concerned about their inexperienced teen driver. The technology, published by Edmunds, allows parents to electronically ride shotgun with their teens by tracking whereabouts in real-time, monitoring their behind-the-wheel behavior with a video camera, recording whether they're driving too fast or in a forbidden area and even limiting how loud they can crank the stereo.
Tampa Bay Roads Dangerous From Big Trucks? 18 Wheel Dangers: Brief Article describing the dangers of 18 wheel trucks around the Tampa Bay Area that can cause potential danger and accidents for commuters.
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Department in Partnership With AAA Offer New Services to Florida Drivers: AAA in partnership with the FHSMV Dept. has opened a new drivers license service desk at AAA's Ft. Myers branch office, allowing Florida residents to easily renew a drivers license, obtain a duplicate drivers license, change a name or address on a drivers license, get an identification card and register to vote. In the next 6 months license service desks will be open in 3 additional branch offices in downtown St. Petersburg, Sarasota Bee Ridge and Jacksonville.
Top Ten Tips to Prevent Road Rage: Florida car accident lawyer Jim Dodson provides a list of top ten tips published by Edmunds to educate consumers about how to avoid a growing concern on our highways -- road rage. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports the number of deaths related to road rage is difficult to track, but estimate aggressive driving accounts for about one-third of all crashes and about two-thirds of the resulting fatalities.The articles suggests ways drivers can cope by taking an honest look at their driving behavior and attempting to reduce their stress level behind the wheel.
15- Passenger Vans | Facts | Problems | Safety Precautions: The National Transportation Safety Board outlines some grim facts, rollover risk problems and safety precautions if you own or ride in a 15-passenger van; as many church groups, sports teams, day care children, and elderly people do in Florida.
2009 Top Safety Picks for Autos | Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: To determine crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — the Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.
National Automobile Dealers Association: Another helpful site with information about your current cars value and other information about new car reviews. Find information about your car now!
Kelly Blue Book | Find the Value of Your Car!: Helpful link to Kelly Blue Book which you can enter your car's information and find the true value of your vehicle!
Florida Deaths by Motor Vehicle Accidents: A chart, by county, listing the number of deaths (with age groups) caused by motor vehicle accidents in the state of Florida, for the year 2007.
Safety Techniques for Avoiding Car Accidents Caused by Driving on Rain Slicked Roads: Rain is blamed for thousands of accidents yearly. Many of these accidents are preventable, but are caused by intrepid drivers who don't realize that fair- and foul-weather driving are fundamentally different. Taking a few precautions and using wet-weather driving techniques will keep you from becoming a statistic.
Statistics for Truck Accidents: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has given high priority to research regarding collisions between large trucks (gross vehicle weight > 4,540 kilograms (10,000 pounds) and other vehicles on the roadway. This research aims to improve knowledge about the high-risk behaviors of truck and passenger vehicle (car) drivers.
Text Free Driving Organization: An organization of concerned citizens want to make highways, roadways and neighborhood streets as safe as possible. The use of cellular phones while driving has reached epidemic levels. Their increased usage has caused countless car accidents,while driving while texting is even more dangerous. The group hopes to raise awareness of motorists to this growing danger and act as an information center for interested citizen’s groups.
American Medical Association Supports Ban on Text Messaging While Driving: Tapping out text messages on a cell phone while driving is dangerous and the American Medical Association has agreed to lend its name in support of state legislation to ban it. Research has shown that talking on cell phones also distracts drivers and can cause more accidents -- even with hands-free devices -- the AMA supports laws against talking on cell phones too.
Top 10 Safety Features To Consider When Buying a Car: Florida car accident attorney Jim Dodson recognizes safety is an important area to consider as you shop for your new car. No one likes to think about getting involved in an accident, but if the worst does happen, you'll stand a better chance of walking away from it if your vehicle is properly equipped. Here are the top 10 tips designed to help you make sure that the vehicle you buy has the safety features you need, published by Edmunds.
Teen Driver Passenger Restriction Laws by State: A map showing, by state, teen driver passenger restriction laws (Nov. 2008) provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. This is a program to increase the public's awareness of and support for, actions to adopt safety steps that can help prevent accidents and save lives.
Pinellas Car Traffic | Pinellas Car Accident Lawyer: Great website for up to date traffic and travel information for around the Tampa Bay.
State of Florida Traffic Safety Courses and Information: This Florida State website provides important information concerning motor vehicle safety courses such as a motor vehicle accident prevention course for mature drivers which will allow you to receive a mandatory reduction on your insurance rate for three years (Florida Statutes 627.0652, information for first time drivers in Florida, and what you need to know if you are a driver whose driving privileges have been suspended due to excessive points or as a habitual traffic offender (non-DUI related).
State of Florida Driving Record Information: This site answers questions about Florida driving records, also known as a motor vehicle record (MVR),a document that can be printed and provides details about a person's driving history, including various violations, suspensions, restrictions, or other information. Find answers to questions about how to receive a copy of a driving record and what you need to know about Florida traffic tickets and traffic school.
MADD | Statistics on Alcohol Impaired Drivers and Car Accidents: Information from MADD about the incidence of alcohol impaired drivers on the road and car accidents. About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. Fifty to 75 percent of drunk drivers whose licenses are suspended continue to drive.
AARP Driver Safety Course Online: Stay safe behind the wheel by taking the AARP Driver Safety Online Course.
MyRide.com Helpful Source for Car Crash Reviews and Tests: Helpful link to various car crash tests and information about new and used cars.
What To Do After a Car Accident | GM Goodwrench: GM Goodwrench provides a great checklist for what to do after you have been involved in an accident!
Insurance Institute of Highway Safety Rates 13 Safest Cars: Insurance Institute of Highway Safety rates the top 13 cars for 2007. These cars have a top rating in side, rear and front impact tests.
2011 US Department of Transportation Fuel Economy Standards: U.S. Department of Transportation Posts New Fuel Economy Standards for Model Year 2011 Cars and Light Trucks
2007 NHTSA Injury Report Traffic Safety Facts: In its most comprehensive report yet, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has completed an assessment of injuries and fatalities involving motor vehicles not in traffic.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims: A link dedicated to those who have been a victim of Road Traffic and the special day to remember them.
Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet: CDC Report on Facts about Teen Driving
Automotive.com Car Safety Information and Research: Link to information and research on any car for safety, crash test results, and more!
Fox 13 News Report : A bill to ban accident Fees | Clearwater | St. Petersburg | Car Accident Lawyer: Interesting video that describes the hidden fees associated with accidents in our area that consumers should know about. Fox 13 News Report on Bill to Ban Accident Fees | Video | Consumer Report
Florida AAA and Budweiser Sponsor a Program To Provide Party Goers a Way to Get People Home Safely: Tow To Go removes the number one excuse for drunk driving-the motorist does not want to leave their car. This AAA and Budweiser sponsored program offers a FREE ride home for you and your car in a dispatched truck if you don't have a sober driver. Tow and Go is available throughout Florida to both AAA members and non-members.
Safer Car Website: This is a great resource for automobile safety including tips, recalls, and much much more!
How To Survive A Car Accident: Great resource for tips on how to survive in a car accident.
Insurance Institute For Highway Safety Crash Test Results: The Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.
CNN's Anderson Cooper-Auto Insurance Part 2: CNN's Anderson Cooper reports on claims being denied by Allstate and State Farm Insurance Companies on minor impact accidents. Is the company's interest in profits or policy holders?
CNN's Anderson Cooper-Auto Insurance Part 1: CNN's Anderson Cooper reports on Allstate and State Farm Insurance Companies denial of claims on minor impact car accidents and injuries.
How to Crashproof Your Teen Driver: Car crashes are the leading cause of teen deaths. Learn valuable information provided by Edmunds in their new teen driving series. Subjects include: driver's ed, strategies for parents and the best & worst vehicles for your teen driver.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration & The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluate vehicle crash testing: When it comes to automobile crash testing, NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are two organizations that keep score. Read more to learn about how vehicle crash testing works and what you need to know to protect you and your loved ones.It may be the difference between a minor car collision injury and a serious or catastrophic injury.
A Traffic Crash Report Form: Description: Download a traffic crash report form from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Florida Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accident Database: Use this Tampa Tribune Motorcycle Database for accident victims involved in motorcycle crashes in Tampa Bay.
Harley Davidson Owners Group: The Harley Owners Group, or H.O.G., is the world’s largest factory-sponsored motorcycle organization, with more than a million members and 900 local chapters located around the globe
American Motorcyclist Association: The American Motorcyclist Association is a 210,000-member organization with an unparalleled 73-year history of pursuing, protecting and promoting the interests of the world’s largest and most dedicated group of motorcycle enthusiasts.
Clearwater Motorcycle Accident Lawyer | Motorcycle Safety Foundation: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation promotes safety when in the operation of a motorcycle. Helpful driving tips and links for motorcycle riders.
National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety: A brief, chronological history of motorcycling
Motorcycle Operator Manual: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has made this manual available to help novice motorcyclists reduce their risk of having a motorcycle crash. The manual conveys essential safe riding information and has been designed for use in licensing programs.
Public Service Announcement about Motorcycle Helmets: A Public Service Announcement stressing the importance of motorcycle helmets and the importance of selecting a helmet with a D.O.T. compliant label which meets U.S. manufacturing standards required by law. The video also includes information for motorcyclists on how to get a proper fit with their bike helmet.
A Promotional Planning Guide for Motorcycle Safety: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a planner to be used by individuals complete with marketing materials, media tools and marketing ideas, all geared toward motorcycle riders, in an effort to promote motorcycle safety awareness. The materials are tailored to fit your local needs while partnering with other states, communities, and organizations across the country, utilizing the "Share the Road" theme.

Florida Pedestrian | Crosswalk Collisions & Bicycle Accidents

Swamp | A Florida Mountain Biking Club: Swamp Mountain Bike Club is an Organization of off-road cycling enthusiasts who share in the fun and excitement of Florida Mountain Biking. Working with Local, State, and National agencies the organization's goal is to Maintain and Preserve lands open to Mountain Biking and Promote Mountain Biking to Riders of all skill levels. Swamp riders believe the brain is one's most important organ. Mountain bikers wear bike helmets at all Swamp rides.
Bike Right | Bike Fit by the American Physical Therapy Association: A physical therapists perspective on a good bike fit which minimizes discomfort, improves efficiency and reduces pain and injury.
Florida's Bicycle Friendly Communities: Rankings of several Florida communities for being bicycle friendly, by the League of American Bicyclists. St. Petersburg, Florida is recognized as a bicycle friendly community.
How Walk-Able Is Your Community?: Everyone benefits from walking. Walking needs to be safe and easy. Take a walk with your child and use this checklist to decide if your neighborhood is a friendly place to walk. Read over the checklist before you go, and as you walk, note the locations of things you would like to change. At the end of your walk, give each question a rating. Add up the numbers to see how you rated your walk overall.
Florida Cities Ranked Most Dangerous in Pedestrian Accidents: In the last 15 years, more than 76,000 Americans have been killed while crossing or walking along a street in their community. More than 43,000 Americans – including 3,906 children under 16 – have been killed this decade alone.
According to a report by Transportation for America, the Florida metropolitan areas listed among the most dangerous in the U.S. for pedestrian walking in 2007-2008 were: Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Jacksonville.
Florida State Bicycle Laws: Description: The Florida Department of Transportation offers a detailed list of Florida bike laws for bicyclists and motorists including: driving on the right side of the road, equipment requirements, sidewalk riding,turning at intersections, signaling a turn or stop,operation on limited access highways, wearing headsets,obedience to traffic control signals, changing lanes, overtaking or passing a vehicle,driver resonsibility to exercise care,and following too closely.
Florida Cyclists Win Landmark Ruling vs. Florida DOT: The State Department of Transportation is, according to a ruling of the First District Court of Appeals, unambiguously obligated "to establish bicycle and pedestrian ways in conjunction with the construction, reconstruction, or other change of any state transportation facilities." The ruling states bicycle and pedestrian ways shall be established "unless the Department exercises its discretion not to establish [them]" according to one of three conditions described in the statutes, and that the "Department's discretion is limited."
League of American Bicyclists: The mission of the League of American Bicyclists is to promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. They do this by representing the interests of the nation's 57 million cyclists. The League has a current membership of 300,000 affiliated cyclists, including 25,000 individuals and 700 affiliated organizations. The League works to bring better bicycling to all communities.
Florida's 67 Counties of Biking Trails | Paved and Off Road: A link to the many biking trails in Florida, both paved and off road, within it's 67 counties. The majority of these trails are on public land, at either the federal, state, county or local level. This is free trail data dedicated to providing the biking public and the public in general with information on these resources.
Florida Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Resource Center: The Florida Pedestrian/Bicycling Safety Resource Center promotes safe pedestrian and bicycling activities for citizens and visitors, young and old, by providing educational materials and information to advocate groups in the state.
U.S. Bicycle Friendly State Rankings: The League of American Bicyclists released the second annual ranking of Bicycle Friendly States,(2009) which evaluates a state’s commitment to bicycling and covers six key areas: legislation, policies and programs, infrastructure, education and encouragement, evaluation and planning, and enforcement. Several states dramatically improved their ranking by updating their traffic codes, increasing the level of funding for bicycle programs aimed at cyclists and motorists, getting organized and hosting their first statewide bicycling conferences and events.
Florida Bicycle Month | March: Florida Bicycle Month established by proclamation and signed by Governor Charlie Crist designating the month of March as Florida Bicycle Month and provided for you by Florida Bicycle Injury Lawyer, Jim Dodson.
Bike Florida: Bike Florida was established as a fundraising event/organization to help supplement the Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education Program. Proceeds support bicycle safety education and a regional training team that hosts bicycle safety education workshops for school teachers, youth leaders and law enforcement officers.
Walkscore.com: Want to know how walkable your neighborhood—or prospective neighborhood—is? WalkScore.com, a website that calculates a community’s “walkability” rating, can help.
Pedestrian Safety Action Plan: Walkinginfo.org is a organzation developed to ensure pedestrian safety while walking.
Federal Highway Administration Pedestrian Safety: Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration helps with great information for pedestrians.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics: Report by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center: The loss of 4,654 lives in pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes in 2007, almost thirteen people every day of the year, learn more about pedestrian accidents in this article.
TampaBay Cycle: The TampaBay Cycle campaign offers fun and educational activities throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
Florida Bicycle Trails: A comprehensive 21 page guide to Florida bicycle trails.
Florida Bicycling Street Smarts, a Safety Manual: Description: The Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Bicycle Association explain safe bicycling practices on public roads and streets, to increase bicycle safety and confidence.

Florida Wrongful Death & Fatal Accidents

Survivor's Guide to Florida Wrongful Death Claims: Florida Wrongful Death Lawyer Jim Dodson has written "Survivor's Guide to Florida Wrongful Death Claims" for those who are confronting the profoundly overwhelming consequences of the unexpected death of a loved one. In his no cost consumer guide you will find answers to your questions and understand how to recover from your loss.
Investigating Fatal Car Accidents: An article describing the role of Ken Gonyea, an accident investigations detective for the Long Beach Police Department who is first on the scene of fatal traffic accidents. It is his job to determine what caused the fatal crash by collecting evidence such as the measurement of skid marks to determine the speed of the vehicles involved.
American Center for Van and Tire Safety: The American Center for Van and Tire Safety is operated as a public service by Patrick James in memory of his 10 year-old daughter, Alexis, who was killed July 17, 2007, eventhough she was wearing a lap seat belt, in a 15 passenger van rollover accident which resulted from the failure of the left rear tire. His mission is to reduce the number of fatalities in accidents involving 15-passenger vans and/or “aged” tire failures by bringing awareness of their dangers to as many of the general public as possible, to develop and promote guidelines for safer operation of 15-passenger vans and reduce the risk of “aged” tire failures and to work with legislators and NHTSA to improve and enhance the design, performance, testing & reporting requirements and safe operation of 15-passenger vans and tires.
Somebody I Loved Has Died | Grief Support for Young Children: A booklet of activities with guidelines for helping young children to understand and to deal with feelings after the death of someone they love.
What to Include When Writing an Obituary: The International Cemetery and Funeral Association provides guidelines and helpful information for writing an obituary.
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Cemeteries and Burials by the ICFA: Frequently asked questions concerning issues related to burials, cremation and cemeteries, by the International Cemetery and Funeral Association.
New Hope for Kids | A Grief Support Program for Children and Families Who Have Experienced Death: New Hope for Kids is a support program for grieving children and their families. The program provides a safe and supportive environment where children grieving the death of a loved one can share their experience with others facing the same feelings of loss.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: This governmental agency, part of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), provides comprehensive information on workplace safety and health.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC offers numerous links to information on how environmental factors like hazardous waste, carbon monoxide and asbestos can affect your health.
Consumer Product Safety Commission: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
Better Health Care for Florida Residents: View performance and outcome data and information on selected medical conditions and procedures in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
Hospital Compare | A Quality Tool Provided by Medicare: In this tool you will find information on how well hospitals care for patients with certain medical conditions or surgical procedures, and results from a survey of patients about the quality of care they received during a recent hospital stay. This information will help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide. Talk to your doctor about this information to help you, your family and your friends make your best hospital care decisions.
OSHA Fatal Accident Facts: Website of OSHA and information about fatal accidents.

Florida Child Injury

Child Injury and the Dangers of Pet Doors: The mission of this family's website is to increase the public's awareness of pet access/pet door dangers and raise support through public advocacy in hopes of saving children's lives and sparing other families from the tragic loss of a child.
Recycled Tires for Playground Surfaces | A Health Risk?: Some parents are concerned over the use of recycled rubber for playground surfaces. The surface used on running tracks and synthetic turf is not just eco-friendly but kid-friendly too, as children often fall and break bones when playing. The Environmental Protection Agency has said it isn't certain that chronic exposure to the chemicals found in tire crumb is safe. Though shredded-tire playground surfaces have been endorsed by the EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission for years, there's little data related to the toxicological risks, according to documents released to the advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
Word Health Organization & UNICEF Report Promotes Injury Prevention: WHO and UNICEF report is a plan to keep kid's safe by promoting injury prevention interventions. They list and discuss the current knowledge about the five important causes of unintentional injuries: road traffic injuries, drowning, burns, falls and poisoning.
Prevent Your Child From Choking | Lists of Unsafe Foods and Dangerous Objects For Young Children: U.S. Food and Drug Administration article provides valuable information to parents on dangerous foods, and household items which are choking hazards as well as actions to take to relieve choking in infants and children.
Infant Swimming Resource to "Drown Proof" Your Children: A program to give your child an extra measure of protection with aquatic survival instruction from Infant Swimming Resource (ISR). ISR, a nationally recognized program, offers private highly specialized certified instruction for children from 6 months of age.
Risk Factors that lead to Teen Car Accidents: Parents and teens must both understand crash risk factors for new drivers. Here are the facts by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
10 Things People Don't Know About Teen Driving: Did you know that being awake for 18 hours equals a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08--which is legally drunk? Read on for more eye-opening facts.
3 Ways Parents Can Help Their Teens become a Better Driver: Parents often don't know how to teach their teens to drive. Here are three practical tips.
Teaching Teens to be Safe, Smart Passengers: More than half of teens who die in crashes are passengers. Parents can help avoid a family tragedy by helping their teens become safe passengers.
Driving Practice Log | Help Your Teen Become a Better Driver: Teens require more than 50 hours of supervised driving before going out on the road alone. Use this handy tool to keep track weekly of how many hours you and your teen have driven together.
National Teen Driver Safety Week | Sign Up Now! | Oct 18th to 24th: National Teen Driver Safety Week 2009 Sign Up! Help your community and your teen driver with this great program!
Keeping Kids Safe During Crashes: Informative link to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with information and videos regarding child safety seats and how to keep your kids safe while in a car.
ADHD Behind the Wheel | Teaching Attention Deficit Teens to Drive Safely: ADHD teens and adults are more likely to drive carelessly, have licenses suspended, and use unsafe driving practices, such as improper lane changing, speeding, following too closely and not obeying signs and signals. This article discusses suggestions for how to teach an ADHD child to drive, setting driving rules and more about being safe behind the wheel.
Car Safety Seat Guidelines for 2009: Everything you need to know about car safety seats published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Florida Suncoast Safe Kids | Fighting Unintentional Injury of Children: The Florida Suncoast Safe Kids Coalition is part of Safe Kids Worldwide. The goal of the Florida Suncoast Safe Kids Coalition, sponsored by All Children's Hospital, is to fight the unintentional injury of children. The Coalition addresses the greatest injury risk areas for children 0 - 14 years: motor vehicle injury, bicycle and pedestrian injury, drowning, and other injuries in the home, school and community
Florida Child Injury Data for Unintentional Injury Deaths: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides chart graphs of Florida child unintentional injury death rates by age group (0-19 years) and cause for the years 2000-2005.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burns: Pediatric Oncall Child Health Care medical provider answers questions related to burns: characteristics of second and third degree burns, skin grafts, treatment, contractures, scarring, donor sites, and a description of what happens in a burn.
Teen Work Safety: Every year about 70 teens in the United States die as a result of injuries at work. An additional 70,000 teens are hurt on the job and have to go to a hospital or emergency department. Teens are often injured on the job because of unsafe equipment, because they were working too fast or under stress or because they didn't have proper safety training or supervision.
Florida KidCare Insurance: Florida KidCare is a new health insurance program for Florida children age 0-18. There are several types of insurance within KidCare to meet the needs of your child. This link discusses costs, who is eligible, how to apply, what the insurance covers,who provides the healthcare and important numbers to know.
Top Five Causes of Unintentional Injuries to Children:Road Crashes, Drowning, Burns, Falls, Poisoning: National Public Radio and the World Health Organization present information on the top five causes of unintentional injuries suffered by children. Injuries include traffic accidents, burns, falls, poisoning, and drowning. Road crashes, however, account for the highest number of injuries.They claim the lives of 260,000 children a year and injure about 10 million. They are the leading cause of death among youths ages 10 to 19, and a leading cause of child disability.
Kids Biking: Maintenance, Safe Clothing, Rules of the Road & Helmet Basics: Bike riding is a great way to get exercise and fresh air and share time as a family. But before you and the kids rush out and start pedaling, there's an important factor that you need to consider — safety.
Burns and Scald Safety Information from Safe Kids Worldwide: Each year, approximately 528 children ages 14 and under die due to unintentional fire- and burn-related injury.
Car Seat, Booster Seat & Seat Belt Restraints for Children: Safe Children Worldwide: Child safety seats and safety belts, when installed and used properly, can prevent injuries and save lives. Each year, an estimated 975 child occupants under 14 years of age die as a result of a motor vehicle incident. Young children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained
In and Around Vehicle Safety for Children: Non-traffic related vehicle incidents are incidents that occur in places other than a public highway, street, or road. These incidents occur in driveways, parking lots, or off-road locations and may involve bicyclists, pedestrians, non-moving vehicles, or vehicles backing up.
Bike Helmets for Children | Why You Must Insist: Safe Kids USA article on requiring your children to wear a helmet every time, everywhere they go. It is the best thing you can do to protect them.
Burn Institute Report: Facts and Safety Information on Fireworks: The July 4th holiday is a wonderful celebration and gateway to the summer months. Unfortunately, it can also provide ample opportunity for danger, particularly among children. It is smart to play it safe in the summer months and leave the fireworks to the professionals.
Dog Bite Prevention: CDC Report on Dog Bite Injuries and Prevention
Kids and Cars | A way to Keep your Kids Safe: Information about how to keep your kids safe when in a motor vehicle.
Michigan Child Injury Lawyer Blog: Michigan child injury lawyer blog site dedicated to the legal rights of injured and abused children.

Florida Slip | Trip | Fall Accidents and Unsafe Premises

Dangerous Trips to Avoid in Your Fall Case: Florida injury lawyer Jim Dodson has represented clients injured in all types of fall accidents for over twenty years. In his free consumer guide, "Dangerous Trips to Avoid in Your Fall Case" he provides essential information you need to understand if you've suffered an injury in a slip, trip or fall accident, including: eight things to avoid which will hurt your claim, four things every fall claim must have, things you may not know about lawyer advertising, how to find a qualified injury lawyer, and common myths you have heard about fall cases.
Walking Surfaces | Leading Cause of Slip-Trip and Fall Accidents | Slip-Trip and Fall Accident Lawyer: The National Floor Safety Institute published a chart showing walking surfaces to be the leading cause of slip-trip and fall accidents.
Safety Measures to Reduce Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents in Schools: Factors which contribute to a high risk of slip, trip and fall accidents in schools are listed: liquid spills,slick surfaces from custodial mops, weather related floor conditions from mud, snow, rain. Recommendations are made including: installation of slip resistant flooring, staff identification of safety hazards and proper floor maintenance.
Plan to Improve Building Site Safety in New York: A New York Times editorial defining some of the problems and possible remedies of the required site safety programs (plans), suggesting site safety programs can be made more effective, leading to a reduction in fatalities and accidents.
University of Florida Study | Preventing Injuries from Slips, Trips and Falls | Clearwater Slip and Fall Lawyer: A University of Florida study analyzes the causes as well as the costs of slip, trip and fall accidents and offers recommendations for preventitive measures to reduce the number of injuries and deaths due to slips, trips and falls.
Building Managers | 5 Steps to Reduce the Chances of Slip and Fall Accidents | Slip & Fall Accident Attorney | Florida: A Five Step Slip and Fall Prevention program for building managers by the PDCA: Painting and Decorating Contractors of America
Falls Among Seniors | Leading Cause of Injury Deaths | An Overview: Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of deaths. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma, according to information published by the CDC.
Prevention of Slip, Trip and Fall Injuries | Clearwater | St. Petersburg Slip, Trip and Fall Injury Attorney: Second only to motor vehicle accidents; slips, trips and falls are the most frequent accidents leading to personal injury. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the major cause of accidental deaths and injuries in America are slip-and-fall accidents. Most injuries are ligament sprains or muscle strains, but a significant percentage of falls result in fractures to the hip or wrist.
Safe Steps Reduce Falls | Fall Injury Lawyer | Florida: The Home Safety Council provides steps to identify potential slipping, tripping and falling hazards in the home. Millions of Americans are only a step away from becoming victims of the leading cause of unintentional home injuries –falls. Adults over age 60 rank highest for injuries and deaths resulting from falls, however, every age group is affected. According to the Home Safety Council, 5.1 million injuries resulted from slips and falls on average each year, with falls accounting for
more than one-third of all unintentional home injury deaths.
New Stair Nosings Provide Safe Footing and Reduce Slips & Falls | Clearwater | Florida Slip and Fall Lawyer: According the National Safety Council, "over one million people experienced a significant slip or fall in 2008, accounting for the number two cause of accidental death and disability behind automobile accidents." Often times, the front edge of a stair can be the most unsafe. These stair nosings provide maximum non slip protection over the front of the step ensuring solid footing.
Physical Therapist Perspective: Taking Care of Your Shoulder Injury: American Physical Therapy Assoication article discusses shoulder anatomy, problems with shoulder injuries and physocal therapy treatment of the shoulder.
Actress Died from Brain Hemorrhage Suffered in a Fall: New York Times reports actress Natasha Richardson died from a brain hemorrhage caused by blunt impact suffered in a fall. The official cause of death was listed as an epidural hematoma,according to the Medical Examiner's report.
CDC Fall Prevention Activities: CDC helps promote Fall Prevention Activities and Helpful Links
Falls in Nursing Homes: CDC informational study about falls in Nursing Homes
Hip Fractures Among Older Adults: More than 90% of hip fractures among adults ages 65 and older are caused by falls. These injuries can cause severe health problems and lead to reduced quality of life and premature death.
Slip and Fall Information about Children: Childrens Hospital shows the crucial information about children fall statistics.
CDC Determines Cost for Falls for Elderly: The Center for Disease Control calculates the costs due to falls in the elderly

Auto Insurance Carriers in Florida

USAA Auto Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carriers: USAA Auto Insurance Company: USAA offers top-rated auto coverage at low rates. Members save an average of $525 a year.6 Combine that with award-winning service — in fact, USAA was ranked one of BusinessWeek's top two "Customer Service Champs" the last three years in a row.
Unitrin Direct Auto Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carriers: Unitrin Direct Auto Insurance - Free online car insurance quote! Save up to $300 on your auto insurance quote and buy your policy online in minutes.
Travelers Auto Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carriers: Travelers Auto Insurance Company: Make the smart choice for better coverage by receiving a free auto insurance quote online at Travelers.com.
State Farm Auto Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: State Farm car insurance is designed to help financially cover potential automobile-related damages, loss or injuries. Get an auto insurance quote online!
Progressive Auto Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Progressive Car Insurance: Save on car insurance with rates from Progressive. Get a car insurance quote today and start benefitting with our coverage, including total loss replacement.
Nationwide Car Insurance Company | Florida Auto Insurance Carrier: Nationwide Car Insurance Company: Get an online car insurance quote from Nationwide, a trusted auto insurance company. We provide complete car insurance quotes and competitive auto insurance rates to protect your car, yourself and others when you're on the road. Start saving and buy car insurance from Nationwide today.
MetLife Auto Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: MetLife Car Insurance Company: Auto insurance from MetLife offers protection from financial losses that can occur from cars, trucks, and SUVS.
Mercury Auto Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Mercury Personal Auto Insurance - Get an online car insurance quote or speak to a Mercury agent. Best coverage, great rates.
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Liberty Mutual Car Insurance Company: Learn about Liberty Mutual's auto insurance offerings, auto safety tips, and quotes online at LibertyMutual.com.
Infinity Auto Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Infinity Insurance provides premier car insurance with a focus on non-standard insured's. We deliver first-rate customer service through our agencies and online policy purchases.
The Hartford Car Insurance Company | Florida Auto Insurance Carrier: The Hartford Car Insurance: Compare our low rates on auto insurance with discounts available. We offer more than great savings on car insurance, we provide insurance coverage for all your needs.
GMAC Auto Insurance | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: GMAC Insurance offers you affordable auto insurance rates. Free online quotes on the automobile insurance coverage you want.
GEICO Auto Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: GEICO Auto Insurance Company: If you want cheap car insurance with great service then GEICO is the company for you. Get a free auto insurance quote with all the discounts you deserve. What do you have to lose?
Gainsco Insurance Company | Florida Auto Insurance Carrier: GAINSCO, Inc. (NYSE Amex: GAN), through its insurance brand, GAINSCO Auto Insurance, specializes in minimum-limits auto coverage and markets policies through a network of thousands of independent agents across Sunbelt states. Established in 1978, GAINSCO’s corporate headquarters are located in Dallas with key regional field offices in Miami and Phoenix.
First Floridian Auto & Home Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: First Floridian Auto Insurance Company: Travelers of Florida sells property and liability insurance: personal insurance and commercial insurance.
Esurance Car Insurance | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Esurance: Free online auto insurance quotes. Get insurance rate comparisons, and buy your auto insurance policy instantly. Buy car insurance online from Esurance quickly and easily.
Erie Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Erie Insurance Company: Since 1925, people have been choosing ERIE to insure their cars and other vehicles because of our fair and competitive prices, but ERIE’s much more. We also provide: Highest levels of customer service for auto Policyholders Over 30 extra car insurance policy features Flexibility to customize your car insurance policy Stability that ranks at the top of the auto insurance industry.
Direct General Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Direct General Insurance Company: Get a free auto insurance quote online now. Direct helps you save money on car, truck and motorcycle insurance. Start your quote today.
Auto Owners Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Auto-Owners has been providing insurance since 1916. We are represented by over 35,000 independent agents in more than 6,000 agencies in 26 states. Learn more about why you should choose Auto-Owners, the Independent Agency Advantage.
Auto Club South Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Auto Club South Insurance Company: Serving Florida, Georgia and Middle/Western Tennessee. Trust in AAA Insurance to cover your Auto, Home or both!
Amica Mutual Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Online auto insurance quotes and home insurance quotes from Amica Insurance, 800-24-AMICA. We also offer Marine, Personal Umbrella Liability Insurance, and Life Insurance products. Amica is the oldest mutual insurer of automobiles in the country and provides exceptional, award-winning service to our loyal policyholders.
Allstate Insurance Company | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: Allstate Car Insurance: Save on Car Insurance with Your Choice Auto Insurance: Accident Forgiveness, Deductible Rewards, Safe Driving Bonus & New Car Replacement.
AIG Insurance | Florida Car Insurance Carrier: AIG traces its roots back 90 years when an American entrepreneur named C.V. Starr founded AIGs earliest predecessor company in Shanghai. What began as a small insurance business grew to become one of the worlds largest companies. By the end of 2007 AIG had assets of approximately $1 trillion, $110 billion in annual revenues, 74 million customers and 116,000 employees in 130 countries and jurisdictions. Yet, less than a year later, AIG found itself on the brink of failure and in need of emergency government assistance

Local Police and Fire Departments

Tampa Police Department: The Mission of the Tampa Police Department is to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life through a cooperative partnership with citizens
Treasure Island Fire Department: Website of the Treasure Island Fire Department
South Pasadena Fire Department: South Pasadena Fire Department Website
St. Pete Beach Fire Department: St. Pete Beach Fire Department Website
Seminole Fire Rescue: Seminole Fire Rescue Website
Safety Harbor Fire Department: Safety Harbor Fire Department Official Website
Palm Harbor Fire Department: Palm Harbor Fire Department Website
City of Oldsmar Fire Rescue Department: City of Oldsmar Fire Rescue Department Website
Madeira Beach Fire Department: Madeira Beach Fire Department Information
Largo Fire Rescue: Largo Fire Rescue Website
Gulfport Fire Rescue: Website for the Gulfport Fire Rescue
East Lake Fire & Rescue: Website for the East Lake Fire & Rescue
City of Dunedin Fire Administration: Website with information about the City of Dunedin Fire Administration
Clearwater Fire and Rescue: Website for information about Clearwater Fire and Rescue
Bellaire Bluffs Fire Department: Website for information about Bellaire Bluffs Fire Department
Pinellas Park Fire Department: Website for the Pinellas Park Fire Department
Pasco Sheriff's Office: Website for the Pasco Sheriff's Office
Clearwater Police Department: Website for the Clearwater Police Department
Largo Police Department: Website for the Largo Police Department
St. Pete Beach Police Department: Website of St. Pete Beach Police Department
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office: Website of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office: The website for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Local News and TV Stations

Channel 10 News: 10connects.com provides local news, weather, traffic and entertainment for Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
Fox 13 News: Gateway to Tampa Bay area news, weather, sports, traffic, and more.
ABC Action News: Tampa Bay News, Weather, Radar, Sports and Entertainment.
Saint Petersburg Times | Tampabay.com: Tampa Bay's news, shopping and information source brought to you by the St. Petersburg Times and tbt*
Tampa Tribune: Tampa Bay news from The Tampa Tribune: covering Tampa Bay breaking world, national and local news, weather, classifieds, jobs, hurricane, prep sports sports.
Bay News 9: 24 hour news station giving up to the minute news, weather, sports, and traffic information.

General

Legal Wiki - Lawyer and Attorney Wiki: Lawfo Legal Wiki is a great lawyer and attorney wiki and dictionary for consumers and attorneys.
Great Lawyer Marketing Blog: Great Online Lawyer Marketing Website and Blog - Learn how to marketing your law firm for lawyers and attorneys
Easy Legal Marketing | Great Lawyer Marketing Blog: Easy Legal Marketing Blog by Jesse Guthrie offers great Law Firm Marketing information and how to for your law firm and marketing for lawyers and attorneys.
Bicycle Outfitters | Seminole Bike Shop: Together with our Law Firm, Bicycle Outfitters - a Seminole Bike Shop - gave away 5 Free Bikes for Kids this Christmas. Great Bike Shop for Pinellas Trail Riders
Florida Personal Injury Video Blog: Great Florida Personal Injury Videos on Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Wrongful Death, Child Injury, Slip and Fall, Pedestrian Accidents, and other accidents in Florida.
JLG Marketing Solutions | Custom Wordpress Blogs and Search Engine Marketing: Need Search Engine Optimization for your site or a custom Wordpress Blog Designed? JLG Marketing Solutions offers great custom designs and great Search Engine Marketing services.
American Lawyer Academy: The American Lawyer Academy (”ALA”) is an organization dedicated to promoting excellence in the legal profession throughout North America. Our membership consists of lawyers, solicitors, and barristers who have been selected as members of the organization based upon their legal skill, integrity, and reputation for professional competence in their own communities.
St. Petersburg Florida Disability Lawyer | Law Office of Cavey & Barrett: Tampa Bay | St. Petersburg Disability Claim Lawyer Nancy Cavey's Law Firm Website
Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay: Crime Stoppers provides an anonymous, toll-free tipline and Web Tips to encourage citizens in the community to volunteer vital information helpful to law enforcement agencies to fight against crime in Tampa Bay.
Crimestoppers of Pinellas County: Crime Stoppers is a community-based program involving citizens, the media and law enforcement in the fight against crime in Pinellas County.
Florida Boating Information from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jim Dodson provides a link to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website for consumers to review information related to safe boating, including: dive flag laws, boat accident statistics, hypothermia, safety equipment, online courses and course availability, life jacket information, in addition to other topics.
Tampa Bay Hospitals Rated in National Survey: This, September 2009, Consumer Reports Health website link provided by Florida Medical Malpractice lawyer Jim Dodson, lists the ratings of thirty-two hospitals in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Manatee Counties. The survey is based on feedback from 731 nurses and more than 13,000 patients and looks at the quality of doctor and nurse communications, room cleanliness and discharge instructions. (related link published in the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper, Aug. 6, 2009, http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/article1025136.ece)
STOMP, STAY and STEER: New Rules for Driving New Vehicles | Tips on Driving Safe: Kelly Blue Book has published an article about how to drive a new vehicle. This article provides tips and techniques for all drivers.
Top Ten Most Useful Health-Related Consumer Websites: This list of useful consumer websites, by the Medical Library Asociation, outlines the collective wisdom of medical librarians who surf the web every day to discover quality information in support of clinical and scientific decision making by doctors, scientists, and other health practitioners responsible for the nation's health. The library organization's primary purpose is the promotion of quality information for improved health.
Florida Department of Health | Medical Quality Assurance Services: Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, Medical Quality Assurance licenses and regulates seven types of facilities and 200-plus license types in more than 40 healthcare professions.
Florida Driver's Handbook: This website provides the Florida Driver's Handbook to be viewed online.
Florida Department of State | Florida Quick Facts: The unofficial public resource of the American Safety Council for Florida residents and visitors which includes data on Florida history, government, taxes, population by city and county, weather and other interesting Florida facts.
Great Tampa Bay Lawyer Blog Resource: Great free resource for up to date lawyer blog resources to help you with your personal injury claims, current news updates, and much more!
USLawyermaps.com lawyers directory: A US Lawyers Directory

If you need help from a Law Firm in Another State:

Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyer Raleigh Fayetteville Wilmington North Carolina

Physical abuse is rampant in American nursing homes. About 2500 cases of physical abuse by nursing home staff are being reported each year. Battery is the most obvious type of physical abuse, but this crime can also include putting the patient in excessive restraints or physically confining residents for no valid reason. It is surprising to some that physical abuse in nursing homes is easily hidden. Very often, nursing home staffs will explain away injuries by claiming a victim has fallen – not an uncommon occurrence among elderly people. Even if they are explained, frequent bruises, cuts, sprains or factures could be a sign of abuse. And it is important to know that sometimes a nursing home resident will concur with the staffs’ explanation of an injury simply because they have been intimidated into doing so. There are many reasons cited for this epidemic of physical abuse in nursing homes. The National Center on Elder Abuse says that the hiring of poorly trained and underpaid workers, together with rampant understaffing, is partly to blame for nursing home abuse. Only 41 states require that nursing home workers undergo criminal background checks, and the poor pay often leads nursing homes to hire staff with unsavory histories. Understaffing can also take a toll on workers, causing them to lose patience with difficult residents. But whatever the cause, any form of nursing abuse is inexcusable and should not be tolerated. Physical abuse in a nursing home robs already vulnerable people of their sense of security and turns their last years into a nightmare. If someone you love has been subjected to physical abuse in a nursing home they may be entitled to compensation. Please fill out the form at the right for a free case review by an attorney.

The Law Offices of Thomas Waitt Pleasant, PLLC
1213 Culbreth Dr.
Suite 106
Wilmington, NC 28405
910-509-7106
www.pleasantlaw.com