Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Planning a Safe Holiday Party

Published on: December 9, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you are planning a holiday party this year, of course you want a memorable event and you will want your guests to have a great time. However, you will also want to make sure that your guests stay safe. Whether you are planning a personal or workplace holiday party, you can keep guests healthy and avoid a premises liability claim in Homestead or your community by following these tips:

1) Decorate safely.

Party decorations can be a lot of fun, but they can also pose a hazard. Where possible, avoid decorating with candles, since they can pose a fire hazard. Even if you are using strings of lights, however, you will need to check for any damage to cords and connectors. Old, worn lights should be replaced. Never hang lights near flammable materials, such as drapes or paper. Lights can still overheat or cause sparks if they malfunction.

If you are throwing a party at home, keep in mind that you will need to use extra precautions if some of your guests will be pets or young children. In these situations, you will want to avoid any decorations that hang or drag near the floor. You will also want to avoid any plants that could be harmful if consumed or any decorations that have small removable parts that may pose a choking hazard. When in doubt, place any potentially hazardous decoration high up and out of reach.

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Illegal Truck Driver’s Licenses in Miami and Florida

Published on: December 9, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Commercial truck drivers must secure a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in order to be hired by a truck carrier and in order to drive a big rig. Getting a CDL involves driver training, a driving test, a strict written exam, and a dedication to following the federal rules established for truck drivers.

You expect that the big rig and tractor trailer drivers next to you has the training they need to stay safe on the road and that someone has checked to make sure that the drivers are qualified to be sharing the road with you. The problem is that may not be the case. According to a 2006 U.S. Department of Transportation report, there are about 15,000 license holders across 27 states (including Florida) whose licenses are “suspect.” Since that report was published, about one third of the suspect license holders gave up their commercial driver’s licenses or had them taken away, but safety experts say that illegal and unearned CDLs are still a problem on Florida and U.S. roads.

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Safety-First Holiday Gift Guide

Published on: December 4, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Are you shopping for everyone on your holiday shopping list? You may want to come up with fun and innovative ways to show you care, but what shows that you care more than gifts that help loved ones stay safer and healthier all year long? Consider these gifts for your friends and family:

1) Carbon monoxide alarms and covers.

These safety devices can help loved ones stay safer in their homes and could even save their lives. While carbon monoxide detectors are not usually especially attractive, it is possible to buy special covers for them to disguise them. These covers make great stocking stuffers.

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Stay Safer Around Trucks at This Time of Year

Published on: December 4, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Additional motorists during this time of year can lead to dangerous situations, especially since many of the additional drivers on the roads during the holiday season are big rigs and tractor trailers making deliveries to customers and stores. These larger vehicles have more blind spots and some passenger car drivers may not be used to driving around larger trucks, making for a potentially hazardous combination.

To stay safe when sharing the road with commercial trucks, make sure that you:

1) Obey the speed limit.

Speeding can increase your chances of an accident by making it harder for you to stop in time to avoid a crash. If you are in a collision, speed can make your accident much worse and can lead to more serious injuries by increasing the impact of the crash.

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Why Truck Driver Fatigue in Miami and Other Communities May be a Money Problem

Published on: December 2, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

A lot has been written over the past few years about driver fatigue. Experts have noted that fatigue plays a role in many fatal truck accidents in Miami and other communities, even though the issue is preventable. Legislators have weighed in with many solutions for fighting driver fatigue. In fact, just this year the hours of service rules were changed to cut back the amount of time commercial truck drivers can stay on the road before they have to rest.

One issue that often gets overlooked with truck driver fatigue is money. Truck drivers do not typically enjoy driving while tired and in many cases industry experts say that the problem is an economical one. That is, truck drivers are encouraged to drive longer hours and are financially motivated to do so. Many truck carriers pay by mile driven and the fastest truck drivers that travel the longest can often expect to get better pay.

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Do You Have Young Guests Coming Over this Holiday Season? Here’s How to Make Your Home Safe

Published on: December 2, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

If your holiday plans this year include inviting guests to your home, you will want to take steps to make sure that your home is safe. This is especially the case if any of your guests will be bringing their children with them. Florida laws state that property owners have a special duty of care to children that may be on their property. If any of your guests will be minors, you will want to:

1) Secure any areas that pose a drowning danger.

If you have a swimming pool on your property, prevent drowning and pool injury in your Homestead or Florida home by keeping the area locked and secure. However, keep in mind that even a decorative pond or a few inches of water that are part of holiday décor can pose a drowning hazard for small children.

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Getting Larger Purchases Home During the Holidays

Published on: November 27, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

This time of year is one of the busiest retail periods of the year. Many of us are shopping for holiday gifts, decor, and other items. Stores try to lure us into their doors with special sales. If you are buying large items that need to be transported by truck, however, you can’t just be focusing on sale prices. You also need to make sure that you can get home safely with your purchase. There are a few options in order to do this:

1) Use store delivery services.

One of your best options is to use a delivery service provided by the store. Many stores offer free delivery or are willing to deliver larger items such as furniture to your home for a price. If you are going with this option, make sure that you find out about warranties and guarantees. If the item arrives damaged, will you be able to get compensation for the damage?

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Tornados are a Florida Danger in October and November – Here’s How to Keep Your Family Safe

Published on: November 27, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida sees an average of 55 tornadoes yearly, making it the third state in the nation when it comes to tornado activity. While most tornadoes in the state happen between January and April, many tornadoes also occur during October and November. Since tornadoes can occur at this time of year and since tornado season will be upon us soon after the holidays, this is a good time of year to get ready. You may be able to help your family avoid weather-related injury in Hollywood or your Florida home if you:

1) Create an emergency preparedness kit.

Your kit should include everything you need during and after a tornado. This should include water, food, medication, pet and child-care supplies, bedding, cash, a first aid kit, and anything else you need to weather out not only the tornado but also the time after the tornado when services may be suspended. The Florida Division of Emergency Management has a website with more information about getting an emergency kit ready.

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Overweight Cargo Means a Huge Danger on Hollywood and Florida Roads

Published on: November 25, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Trucks transport tens of thousands of pounds of cargo each trip. These trucks transport food, consumer products, clothing, and more. While this is a necessary part of the economy, however, when truck drivers and truck carriers overload their trucks they put other drivers and other users of the road at risk. Each year, overloaded trucks and cargo in Hollywood and across the country cause thousands of serious accidents.

There many reasons why overweight cargo is so dangerous. Overweight cargo places an additional burden on the tires, brakes, and other systems of a truck, meaning that mechanical failure is more likely. Overweight cargo can also shift easily, leading to an uneven distribution of weight. In some cases, cargo that is too heavy can cause a driver to lose control. In some cases, overloaded cargo can topple from a truck, causing secondary car accidents as debris crashes into other vehicles.

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Help a Loved One Avoid Slip and Fall Accidents

Published on: November 25, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you have elderly family members, slip and fall accidents can be a real risk, especially at this time of year. Spills, rainy weather, and the general rush of the season can all contribute to trips and slip and fall accidents. There many ways you can help elderly family members avoid slip and fall injury in Homestead and Florida during this time of year:

1) Make sure loved ones get medical attention.

Vision problems, certain medications, and some medical conditions can increase the chances of falls. Make sure that your elderly family members have been to the doctor recently, have up-to-date medication, and have a clean bill of health. If an elderly family member has a condition that puts them at risk of falls, speak with the doctor and with your family about ways to reduce the risk as far as possible.

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Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

1) Decorate safely.

1) Carbon monoxide alarms and covers.

1) Obey the speed limit.

1) Secure any areas that pose a drowning danger.

1) Use store delivery services.

1) Create an emergency preparedness kit.

1) Make sure loved ones get medical attention.