Florida Insurance Claims Lawyer Blog

Advances in technology have certainly made our lives easier and allows us to be more productive during the course of a day. But at what expense do we pay for these advances? Sometimes it is at the cost of a life. In 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver distraction was the cause of 5,800 deaths and 515,000 injures.

Only 30 states have banned the use of cell phones while driving. Some states require hands free devices to be used. Florida currently has no ban on the use of cell phones or texting while driving. Texting and driving has been equated to drinking and driving. It similarly impairs the driver's abilities to react in a split second. Drivers tend to avert their eyes from the road for approximately 5 seconds at a time when they text. This is more than enough time for a serious accident to occur.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, many states include a category for cell phone/electronic equipment distraction on police accident report forms. Certain federal funding may not be assigned to states that don't collect this data.

What can be done to help this critical situation? Lead by example. If you have teens, make sure you don't text and drive. Pull over to the side of the road if it can't wait. According to the National Safety Council, in 2009, an average of 10 teens a day died in automobile accidents. Have your teens watch the Public Service Announcements that show what it looks like to text, drive and crash. They may be cured from ever starting.

The recent egg recall is making us all wonder how safe our food sources really are. Salmonella outbreaks are becoming more and more common and sending more people to the hospital with food poisoning and other illnesses. Recently, many have fallen ill from eating bad eggs.

On August 13, 2010, Wright County Egg Company conducted a voluntary recall of 380 million eggs shipped by the company since May 19, 2010. The company has been cited by state regulators many times. The owner, Jack Decoster, said as his company grew, it became more difficult to comply with food safety regulations. Federal inspectors found filthy conditions at the company's chicken farms. Eggs are a staple of most diets and are found in many other food products sold in grocery stores and restaurants.

According to the Mayo Clinic, salmonella bacteria have several strains that can leave the victim very sick. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain and blood in the stool. The incubation period can range from several hours to two days. Our children, the elderly and those with immune conditions are all at higher risk for severe illness, and perhaps even death.

Without making the necessary changes to the deplorable conditions, Wright Country Egg continued selling millions of dollars of contaminated eggs. So who monitors our food safety? The Food and Drug Administration is our only control over our food sources. Their job is to regulate and supervise the quality of food, pharmaceuticals and other related products. The increased risk of lawsuits resulting from these food borne illnesses may create financial incentives for companies to produce safer foods.

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