Recycled Tires: Good for the Environment, But Are They Good for You?
Research is currently being conducted into whether the use of recycled tires can reduce the incidence of car accidents. The situation is urgent. Statistics show that the traffic fatality rate in Tampa is 12.6 per 100,000, higher than the national average. These numbers have encouraged suppliers to explore the benefits of recreating tires. The goal is that recycled tires can be mass produced without producers having to sacrifice the overall quality of each individual tire.
Processing Recycled Tires
It is anticipated that, in the near future, nearly 30 million scrap tires will be collected annually from multiple landfills and reused for valuable commodities. In most cases, reclaimed rubber is ground up and reprocessed, making it less prone to cracking. This technique is known for improving the product’s overall performance. What does this mean for you, the driver?
Driving with recycled rubber has advantages and disadvantages. One of the biggest advantages is cost efficiency. The advantage of recycling tires is the reduction of conservation and replacement costs. Because reprocessed tires tend to cost less, you would have more flexibility in pursuing purchases of other features, such as tire protectant to prevent cracking, that would extend the life of your tires. It is also recommended to have your mechanic rotate your tires every 6,000 miles and keep your tires properly aligned.
While this notion of driving with recycled tires has proven to be economical, it does have these disadvantages:
• Safety – Should you reuse tires for your vehicle, you may be more likely than other drivers who don’t use recycled tires to get in a car wreck caused by a tire blip. This is because reclaimed tires have less elasticity compared to new tires.
• Uneven wear – If the previous owner was not conscientious of proper maintenance procedures, you may find that some recycled tires may not be worth the investment. The downside to this is that for some recycled tires, the damage is less evident.
In the event that you become injured or get in an accident while driving on recycled tires, the Florida personal injury lawyers at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore would be happy to discuss your options.
Stay safe on the water with jet skis
Both residents and vacationers enjoy the excitement of jet skiing in and around Tampa Bay. Unfortunately, for some enthusiasts , jet ski accidents can lead to severe injuries or even fatalities.
The dangers of jet skis
Intoxicated or reckless watercraft operators are often the causes of jet ski accidents. Even jet ski rental companies might be guilty of negligence. Some common causes of jet ski accidents include:
- Collisions
- Falling off the vehicle at high speeds
- Faulty equipment
- Inadequate instruction
According to the Tampa personal injury lawyers at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore, compensation might be obtained for personal injuries or fatalities based on either negligence or product liability.
Negligence
Watercraft operators who are driving recklessly at high speeds or who are inattentive, riding too closely, or intoxicated can be held liable for injuries or fatalities that result from their behavior. Jet ski rental operators might also be held liable for renting to inexperienced or intoxicated drivers. Our knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorneys will invoke and protect the rights of bystanders or responsible jet ski operators who have been injured as a result of the negligence or recklessness of others.
Product liability
The manufacturer of a dangerously defective jet ski can be responsible for financial compensation for injuries or death under the law of product liability. A jet ski might be dangerously defective if there is a design defect, a manufacturing defect, or a failure to warn of a known dangerous risk that the product presents.
There’s plenty of room on the water for everybody. Always be aware of your speed and other watercraft around you when operating a jet ski. If you’ve been injured in a jet ski accident as a result of the negligence of somebody else, or a defective jet ski has injured you, contact the Tampa personal injury attorneys at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore by phone or email right away for a free case consultation. We’ll want to start our investigation into the accident as soon as we’re retained. You don’t need to pay anything to retain us, as no legal fees are due unless we obtain a settlement or verdict for you.
How to claim for compensation when Uber accidents happen in Tampa
Uber cars, the popular low-cost taxi services, make approximately one million rides daily. Since Uber cars offer services in a syndicated arrangement between the car owners and the Uber company management, many people do not know who is the at-fault party when Uber cars cause accidents.
First, what is the legal entity of Uber?
Uber is a taxi hailing app that enables people in need of transport to identify a driver of a privately owned car who moves the client to the preferred location. Uber is a product of the 21st Century digital technology revolution. Uber, as a car-for-hire company, is a “ride sharing” or “peer-to-peer” business arrangement whose legal status is vague. Ride sharing is a new business concept that some automobile insurance policies may fail to cover.
What next if you suffer injuries in an Uber car?
Typically, the victims of automobile accidents can hire a Tampa personal injury attorney to pursue a claim including medical bills and lost wages. Uber rideshare car drivers carry their individual driver’s insurance coverage. Uber also provides a maximum of $1 million coverage to uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Difficulties can arise when trying to force Uber to accept liability for an accident involving the driver of the privately owned car. With a Tampa personal injury lawyer as your legal representative, you can find it easier to make the at-fault driver pay for your bodily harm or car damage.
The Uber driver liable for the accident
A rideshare driver is not an Uber employee but an independent contractor. In Florida, a recent law requires drivers doing business on rideshare apps to purchase a $50,000 insurance policy to cover bodily injuries or death. Further, the driver must obtain a policy worth $25,000 to cover property damage and $100,000 for accidents.
Florida Ridesharing Law
Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore is here to help you recover any damages that an Uber driver has caused you, whether you were a passenger or a pedestrian. Since ridesharing arrangements often present complications, your Tampa attorney is your best source for advice as to whether to file for damages from the driver, the insurance company, the rideshare company, or another driver. Do not hesitate to call us today.
Leaving a child in a hot car unattended is extremely dangerous. Especially in Tampa, the heat on the outside can easily creep to 100 degrees. Inside a car, it’s possible to see temperatures increase significantly.
What are the dangers?
A car can heat up 20 degrees or more in just 10 minutes. A child’s body will heat up three to five times faster than that of an adult. Children also cannot cool down as quickly. They could end up with heat stroke or suffocation. In addition to the heat factor, there is also the possibility of seat belt entanglement as well as self-injury.
Too many children — including here in the Tampa Bay area — have died in unattended cars. Nothing is more tragic. It goes without saying: You should always lock the doors only after everyone is out of the car. NEVER allow a child to be inside of a car unattended, even if it is “just for a minute.”
What happens if your child was in a hot car?
If your child was in a hot car and they are either hot or cold to the touch, you should take them directly to the emergency room. If they are unresponsive, call 911.
Additionally, if someone else was responsible for leaving your child unattended in a hot car, consider contacting a Tampa personal injury lawyer to discuss your options. Leaving a child in a car is a form of child neglect.
How to Seek Legal Help
A child is defenseless, which means that it is up to you to take care of them. Leaving a child in a car is neglectful and has the potential to kill a child. If you entrusted your child to the care of someone who left your child in a hot car, unattended, you should contact a Tampa personal injury attorney and have your case reviewed. Call Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore today and learn more.
What to do as a Bystander if you see a Child Left in a Car?
Unfortunately, it’s becoming more and more common to hear of children being left accidentally in hot cars, which can result in serious injury, or even death. Some experts say that this relatively new phenomenon could be due to the rush of increasingly hectic schedules and foggy minds due to sleep deprivation. Sometimes it may be intentional, but in most cases, it’s not. The Tampa personal injury lawyers of Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore suggest these tips:
What to do if you see a Child in a Parked Car Alone in Florida
If you see any child in a car alone at any time, you should always intervene. The first step is to call the authorities immediately. Stay present and don’t leave the vehicle. The dispatcher will direct you on what to do next to ensure that the child gets out of the car safely. Always proceed with caution when dealing with extreme circumstances. Use your best judgment, and always follow the 911 dispatcher’s directions. The dispatcher will send an officer out to assist you.
Florida State Laws on Unattended Children in Vehicles
In Florida, authorities have the right to enter a vehicle with any means reasonably necessary to remove an unattended child that has been left in a car. According to state laws, children under the age of 6 cannot be left unattended in a car for longer than 15 minutes, or if the health of the child is in danger. Additionally, the car cannot be left running. In Florida, where temperatures skyrocket, it is unsafe to leave any child in a car without running air conditioning, especially in the warmer months. (http://www.kidsandcars.org/files/2014/08/florida-state-law.pdf).
If your Child was Injured as a Result of Negligence while in Someone Else’s Care
A parent’s worst nightmare is their child being neglected or injured while in someone else’s care. If your child was left in a car by a negligent caregiver, seek medical attention immediately, and then contact Tampa personal injury lawyers at your earliest opportunity. Injuries sustained after being exposed to extreme heat may be extensive and may have long-term effects, so it’s important to obtain legal representation immediately, even if your child isn’t experiencing life-threatening problems right away. Call Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore – your Tampa Personal Injury Lawyers – at (813) 225-4000.
