Salvatore Anello was charged by Puerto Rican authorities in the July death of his granddaughter, 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand. Chloe fell from an open window that Salvatore thought was closed on the 11th story of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in Puerto Rico on July 7. The accident occurred while the ship was docked in San Juan.  Puerto Rico’s Justice Department arrested Salvatore on the charge of negligent homicide.

There was no joy for recent passengers aboard the Norwegian Joy. Authorities say 19 people on this Norwegian Cruise Line ship reported flu-like illnesses in Nov. as they reached a Southern California port. The Los Angeles Fire Department says authorities were called to evaluate patients after they fell ill on the ship. It was the same ship that paramedics responded to a week earlier after four passengers became ill. 

Two Americans were killed and five others were injured during a bus crash in Belize, as they traveled in the country as part of a Carnival Cruise Line shore excursion. The seven Carnival guests who were involved in the bus accident were traveling on a seven-day voyage on the Carnival Vista ship. The ship departed Galveston, Texas, on Nov. 23.

Cruise ship accidents are more commonplace than you might think. If you or a loved one has been the victim of injury or harm while onboard a cruise ship or during a shore excursion, you may be entitled to compensation for damages. Call Florida-based Corless Barfield Trial Group today at 813-258-4998. Our experienced injury attorneys represent those whose lives were impacted by the negligence of cruise lines. 

All cruise lines must ensure that their passengers and employees are safe from the risk of serious injuries. If you suffered injuries while aboard a ship, and you believe that a cruise line failed in their duty to protect you from harm, you may be entitled to a recovery for your damages. 

If you experienced a slip and fall, sexual assault, shore excursion injury, food poisoning or contaminated food, unsafe conditions (such as defective handrails), tender boat accidents, cruise ship medical malpractice, or onboard fires, call Corless Barfield Trial Group at 813-258-4998.

Whether your personal injury claim is subject to Florida state, federal, or international law, our knowledgeable and experienced accident attorneys are ready to handle even the most complex cases. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

In order to buy fireworks in the Sunshine State you have to sign a form declaring you’ll use them to illuminate railroads or scare away birds. Don’t laugh – that’s actually the law. (Under Florida law, devices such as sparklers are legal for Floridians to buy.)

Individuals can buy and use aerial and explosive devices if they sign a waiver saying they will use the fireworks for certain agricultural purposes, specifically for “frightening birds from agricultural work and fish hatcheries.”  As you can imagine, rarely do Floridians who sign the form use fireworks for such purposes. 

In an effort to allow Floridians to add a little sparkle during the Fourth of July holiday and other celebrations, a pair of new proposals would allow individuals to pledge to use the fireworks “solely and exclusively” during one of three designated holidays.  

The push to make the sale of fireworks legal on Independence Day, Memorial Day, and New Year’s Eve is being spearheaded by Sen. Travis Hutson, a St. Augustine Republican, and Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral.  The duo have filed legislation (SB 140, HB 65) for consideration during the 2020 legislative session, which begins Jan. 14.

State lawmakers over the years have tried and failed to amend the statute regulating the use and sale of fireworks in Florida, from repealing the ban altogether to proposing changes to the legal waiver. 

Fireworks are explosives that have the potential to cause serious bodily harm. Fireworks are also responsible for starting fires that destroy homes and property. When you bring explosives into the mix, things can go sideways very fast for people and their property.  

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2017, an estimated 12,900 injuries were treated in U.S. hospitals that were a direct result of firework accidents. Some of the more common injuries associated with firework accidents include:

• Burns
• Eye Injuries
• Broken bones
• Loss of fingers or toes
• Loss of hearing
• Soft tissue injuries
• Disfigurement
• Scarring
• Emotional trauma

It is important to know if your insurance policy covers damage from fireworks and fires. When fireworks are defectively designed or manufactured, the injuries people and their property sustain can be devastating. Fireworks can be used in a negligent or careless way, or used by unauthorized or inexperienced individuals.

If you are injured by a firework, whether from a product malfunctioning or as a spectator, the manufacturer, distributor, or fireworks user may be liable for your injuries.  Moreover, if your property is damaged due to fireworks and fires, you should contact a lawyer. 

Corless Barfield Trial Group has extensive experience litigating fireworks claims, products liability cases, and property damage insurance disputes. Call 813-258-4998 today for a free consultation. 

When you, a homeowner, invite a guest into your home, it’s likely for a special occasion: a birthday party, football game, or what have you. As you may not be a business owner, you would think that you would find yourself the victim of a personal injury claim. One can always imagine suing a business – like Dominguez v. Publix, Edwards v. Hy-Vee, and Grimes v. Family Dollar – but being sued by a guest tends to catch one by surprise.

Therefore, from the legal standpoint, it’s important to be prepared for the worst case scenario – your guests finding themselves injured on your property, and holding you accountable. In this case, you would turn to a homeowners insurance personal injury claim.

So, what do you need to know about a homeowners insurance personal injury claim? Will you be held financially responsible for the situation, and be forced to pay out-of-pocket? Will your insurance cover the claim?

Check your policy

Always, always, always, before accepting any legal advice whatsoever, always check your insurance policy. If you are involved in a legal situation with your insurance company, your policy is the manual that your attorney (and hopefully, your insurance company) will be using. All policies are different, depending on the company, your state, your history, and your given situation.

Therefore, if you’re questioning whether or not your homeowners insurance will cover a claim made against you by a guest in your home, check your policy. It will say right there on the document. If your insurance will cover the claim, the monetary amount stated will be the amount of money your insurance company will provide the victim; any required payment beyond that will come out of your pocket.

What’s covered

This compensation will cover all sorts of costs, like their medical bills, pain and suffering, any lost wages resulting from them being unable to work, etc. As you can imagine, these bills can easily add up. On the bright side, your insurance policy is likely to cover these easily, except for severe injuries. It’s not unusual for a policy to provide up to $200,000 for these circumstances. And, if that doesn’t cover it, some policies may have an “umbrella” provision, meant to provide extra protection for cases like this.

This umbrella policy, if you opt in for one, might cover things like bodily injury liability and property damage liability, both of which can be utilized if you are found to be at-fault for bodily injury or property damage.

Negligence

Most would not think of negligence claims occurring when one is visiting another’s home. And you’d be right – while it’s not wildly popular, it is still a legal possibility. As with all negligence claims, the understanding is that the person or entity (you) who owns the property (your home) where one experienced bodily injury is expected to keep the property reasonably safe. If it’s proven that the injured received this injury because the property was not kept reasonably safe, the property owner may be considered liable. If the injured was acting in an unreasonable way when it occurred, the injured may be liable. 

Know your next step

If you’ve invited a guest into your home and they’ve been injured, know your options. We at Corless Barfield are well-versed in dealing with insurance companies, and can help you understand your insurance policy. Contact us for a free consultation.

You may also be interested in:

Falling at a Business
Spectator Injuries at Sporting Events: What to Know
What is Lost Earning Capacity?
How to Earn Slip and Fall Settlements