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

How Safe is Your Pool?

Published on: June 25, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Now that the summer is here, it’s a great time to own a pool. If your home in Homestead or South Florida has a pool, though, you have an obligation to make sure that your pool area is safe. It is especially important to keep your pool area safe from children who may be attracted by the pool and may wander onto your property. Even if a child trespasses on your property and is injured in your pool, you may be held liable because as a property owner you are considered to have a special obligation of care to children.

To keep your pool area safe, there are several things you will want to do:

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Prevent Boating Injuries and Accidents This Summer

Published on: June 9, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida has a huge number of boaters, water enthusiasts, and waterways. While most boating enthusiasts stay safe on the water, the state is dedicated to helping prevent boating accidents. Even so, boating accidents cause far too many injuries and claim far too many lives each year across Florida. There many things that you can do to keep safe when heading out on the water this year:

1) Get training.

Take a boating safety course to find out how to avoid accidents and how to protect yourself if you are ever in a boating collision or go overboard. According to authorities, lack of skill is one of the leading contributors to boating collisions in Hollywood and across the state.

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Beach Safety Tips

Published on: February 24, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Miami and surrounding areas have some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Each year, residents and visitors alike flock to these beaches in order to enjoy themselves. While most beachgoers leave with a suntan and some great pictures, each year some people are injured near the water due to preventable accidents. If you are headed for the sun and surf, make sure that you:

1) Check conditions before you go.

Look up surf conditions and avoid swimming when red or yellow flags indicate that swimming is prohibited or dangerous. Check the tide schedule and temperature so that you are prepared for the conditions.

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Safety Tips to Help Tourists Avoid Injury in Miami and Florida

Published on: February 19, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Each year, tourists arrive in Miami and the rest of South Florid to enjoy our state beaches, climate, and sun. While South Florida is a safe place to travel and while the state takes significant precautions to keep tourists and residents alike safe, it is important for visitors to take precautions and to take responsibility for their own safety. If you are new to Florida, make sure that you follow these safety tips:

1) Be prepared for the sun and heat.

The sun can be especially intense in the early afternoon and late morning, when sunburn, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion can become real problems – even if you are not arriving in the dead of summer. Apply sunscreen and seek shade. Stay hydrated and eat small meals to fight the heat. If you start to feel too warm or faint or tired, go inside.

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New Bill Could Help Crack Down on Inebriated Boating in Fort Lauderdale and Other Florida Cities

Published on: February 17, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida has many waterways and while this presents wonderful opportunities for boating and recreation, the many boaters in Florida also make the state the leader when it comes to serious and fatal boat accidents.

One of the risks associated with boating is the risk of inebriated boating. Unfortunately, some people head out on the water after drinking or drink while boating. Just as in a car, this can lead to slower response times, fatigue, sleepiness, and poor judgment which can result in a collision. Each year, people fall overboard, drown, or crash into other boaters or into the shore because they’ve been drinking and boating. Boating under the influence is illegal in Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Florida, but it is still a serious problem.

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Everyone Can Help in Preventing Drowning and Water-Related Injury in Florida

Published on: November 12, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida has many waterways and in some communities there are pools in almost every back yard. It’s no secret: Floridians love their water recreation, whether its swimming, boating, or water sports. While the weather permits year-round fun in the water, though, all the opportunities can also mean plenty of water and boating accidents in Homestead and other cities.

The Florida Safety Council and other organizations are committed to improving water safety in the state and preventing water-related fatalities and injuries. Everyone has a role in this project. For example, you can help by:

1) Learning to swim and helping family and friends learn to swim.

Strong swimming skills are one of the best ways to prevent drowning. Swimming lessons can also help teach water safety. If you have children or family, make sure that everyone you know knows the importance of swimming.

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Do You Have a Serious Injury, Such as a Spinal Cord Injury, in Miami Beach or a Surrounding Community? Check out the New Beach

Published on: September 30, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

For people who have serious mobility issues, spinal cord injuries, or head injuries in Miami Beach or South Florida, going to the beach can be less than carefree. For them, the beach is less about sunscreen and catching some sun and more about trying to navigate a space that is not always friendly for those who have mobility issues.

Most beaches are difficult to navigate because the sand makes it hard to get around in a wheelchair or with braces. Most beaches also have boardwalks with stairs, which can be a challenge for visitors and residents with serious injuries. Car accidents in Miami Beach and other communities can also happen on beaches if beachgoers cannot move out of the way in time to avoid a car or patrol vehicle driving along packed sand.

Even getting into the water can be a big obstacle without assistance. While many beaches provide some adaptive features – such as wheelchair mats – many beach facilities are not accessible to someone with mobility challenges. For example, wheelchair mats generally do not go to the sand or the water. Many water sports equipment is not accessible, and many picnic areas are too high for wheelchair users.

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Boating Accidents in Miami and Florida Getting Worse as Bigger Boats and Crowded Bays Become a Reality

Published on: September 10, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Over the Fourth of July weekend this year, a 32-foot boat and a 36-foot boat collided on Key Biscayne, killing four people and seriously injuring three boaters. While the investigation is still ongoing, there is evidence to suggest that alcohol may have been on board one of the boats. The boating accident, one of the worst to occur in Florida, has once again put the focus on boating safety in Miami and Florida.

The state is already known for its high number of boaters and boating accidents. In 2013 alone, there were 62 boating fatalities in Florida, as well as 420 injuries and 736 boating accidents. Florida authorities say that changing conditions – especially more crowded bays and faster boats – may be contributing to more boating accidents than ever before and say that a serious strategy is needed to curb injuries and deaths.

Drinking and Boating: A Deadly Mix

One of the major contributors to boating accidents in Miami and other Florida communities is alcohol, and several lawmakers are looking for ways to crack down on boating under the influence. Carlos A. Gimenez, the Miami-Dade County mayor, has been looking to create a task force to tackle the issue, for instance. Other lawmakers have been hoping to use some of the same strategies used to curb drunk driving in Miami to curb boating under the influence.

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Swimming and Boating Safety Tips for the Long Weekend in Florida

Published on: August 29, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Labor Day weekend is a popular time to head out to Florida’s many waterways. Whether you are heading out to the rivers of Southern Florida or the beaches of Miami, boating accidents and other water-related accidents remain a concern. According to the Coast Guard and other authorities, holiday weekends tend to have higher rates of water-related injury, and Labor Day is a weekend that usually involves many of these types of injuries. The Coast Guard and other authorities have a number of tips to keep you safer around the water:

1) Never head near the water after drinking.

When you’re out on the water, you already have to deal with the sun, the glare off the water, and the Florida heat. When you add alcohol or drugs to the mix, you have the potential for a truly dangerous situation, especially since alcohol and drugs can exacerbate the effects of the sun. Alcohol and drugs can also affect your mobility and your ability to think clearly, which can result in drowning and other water-related tragedies. Boating under the influence is also illegal and can result in criminal charges.

2) Wear a life jacket.

Each person on board a boat should have a Coast Guard approved life vest. In the event of a boating accident, these vests can help keep you above the water, even if you hit your head or lose consciousness. Life jackets also make you more visible if you do go overboard, increasing the chances that emergency responders can find you.

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