Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
FLORIDA: Chartering a boat and taking to an ocean journey for a festive gathering can make for a memorable Miami moment. However, hiring a boat is different than hiring an Uber or renting a car, and when people fail to tell the difference, a boat ride can end tragically or simply go bust. Such was the case in Biscayne Bay this past Sunday when a 45-foot yacht called “Sea You Twerk’ was pulled over by the U.S. Coast Guard and held for violation of boating safety regulations. Unfortunately for the boat operators and the 14 passengers on board, the trip was cut short after the Coast Guard verified no licensed captain on board and no certificate of vessel inspection. This latest incident is just one in a string of cases where unsuspecting people charter boats that may not meet with safety operating standards. The Coast Guard warns people to take caution when chartering a boat, or any water vessel for that matter, by making sure the operators meet all safety standards.
BOATING SAFETY AND REGULATIONS
The best way to steer clear of serious injury from a boating accident is to be familiar with the rules and regulations pertinent to boat owners and operators. There are specific rules governing the command or usage of boats and water vessels according to the location and even the time of year. There are also laws regulating the type and amount of safety equipment that must be on board, such as long range communications equipment and life vests. In addition, there are laws limiting the amount of alcohol a boat operator may consume without running the risk of being charged with boating under the influence. Florida law requires that individuals under the age of 21 must take an approved boating safety course and be awarded a boating safety ID card to operate a boat with 10 horsepower or more. They must also carry the ID card and a photo ID issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
THE BAHAMAS: Fire swept through the Princess Cays Resort this past Monday night and struck panic among hotel staff and local residents. With an average of five Princess and Carnival cruise ships docking every week at the south port of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, yellow and red flames lit-up the night sky alongside beach chairs and umbrellas. Luckily, local firefighters and local staff were able to get the fire under control in just over an over. Princess Cruises reported no injuries and thanks to no passenger ships docking that day, there were no guests at the resort. Unfortunately, the flames were enough to damage several buildings across the 40 acres of land owned by the Princess Cruises Company, which last year renovated the Princess Cays Resort and added a marina. The cruise ship Carnival Pride, along with its 2500+ passengers, was scheduled to arrive but had to set a new course for Half Moon Cay because of the damage the fire left behind at Princess Cays. It is still uncertain what led the blaze at the Bahamas resort.
PERAZZO LAW SERVES PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT VICTIMS AND COMPENSATION CLAIMS IN MIAMI
Miami-Dade, Florida: A child aboard an ATV crashed into a automobile Sunday afternoon and had to be taken to the hospital in a helicopter. The accident occurred during the annual “Bikes Up, Guns Down” rally at the intersection of NW 16th and NW 5th Court in Florida City. Aerial footage showed reckless riding by the demonstrators, many of whom performed stunts on I95 and could be seen weaving in-and-out of traffic throughout Miami-Dade County. Though ATV’s are fun to ride, especially round Miami Beach, some 400 ATV-related fatalities happen every year across the United States, with kids under 16 accounting for 1/3 of all all fatal accidents worldwide. From 2014-16, there were 60 reported ATV related deaths in Florida, which ranks 6th in the USA. Though purely recreational for about 80% of riders, Florida law dictates that ATVs are prohibited on public streets, avenues, or highways. Furthermore, kids under 16 must wear a helmet regardless of whether they are riders or passengers. Non compliance could lead to fines as well as serious head injury in the event of an accident. Perazzo Law advises ATV operators to refrain from operating an ATV on public roads in order to avoid legal issues in the event of an accident or run-ins with the law.
Despite the misconception that ATV’s don’t require a license to be operated in public, the DMV and Florida law dictate that a valid license is required to operate an ATV. Operating an ATV, as detailed in s. 
THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM SERVES PASSENGERS HURT IN CAR ACCIDENTS IN MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD
Just like in most cosmopolitan cities throughout the U.S.A, dealing with traffic is an inevitable part of the everyday hustle and bustle for residents and visitors. And when it comes to driving, Miami has its fair share of rules and regulations with which to make getting around a safe and enjoyable experience. A mecca for entertainment that appeals to visitors from all over the world, being a passenger in Miami can either be a moment to remember or one you wish to forget. Motor vehicles ranging from large and loud trucks to small and silent scooters can be spotted cruising Miami’s streets, avenues, and roads. To boot, modern rideshare and convenience delivery services such as Uber, Lyft, Amazon Prime Now, DoorDash, and InstaCart, can turn driving into a nightmare. Furthermore, when it comes to cluttering urban streets, the scooter craze has swarms of riders wreaking havoc on unexpecting motorists. This motorized reality has its dire consequences, as when combined with negligent cellphone use, the chances of an accident surge.
Orlando, Florida: Amusement Parks offer lots of excitement and entertainment for the young and old alike. However, not everyone can handle the thrill that comes from rides that pump an overdose of adrenaline into fragile hearts and minds. Though amusement parks post warning signs for certain rides, not all visitors can understand what they say. Such was the case for a 38-year old man that suffered a fatal heart-attack while aboard the “Skull Island: Reign of Kong” ride at Universal Studios in Orlando. Apparently, neither the man nor his family, all visiting from Guatemala, did not speak or read English, thus failing to catch the gist of the warning sign posting the dangers for those with heart conditions. The deceased man’s family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit on the grounds that Universal acted negligently by not posting warning signs in Spanish, as well as in other foreign languages. A spokesman for Universal refused to comment on the subject regardless of the fact that Universal is quite aware of the vast number of foreigners that visit the amusement park on a daily basis. In the meantime, the personal injury lawyer representing the man’s family stated that not having warning signs posted in other languages other than English is unreasonable, especially after Orlando ranked at the top as one of the USA’s most popular destinations last year. Though it’s hard to determine exactly how many theme park visitors lack basic knowledge of the English language, local figures reveal that some 6.1 million of the 72 million Orlando visitors come from abroad. With these whopping numbers, it’s hard to believe that Universal hasn’t contemplated posting signs in other languages; or at least Spanish for that matter. According to Premises Liability laws, business operators owe a duty to notify individuals of any possible dangers that visitors may incur. Thus, any failure to provide clearly posted warnings could result in a Premises Liability claim based on negligence on behalf of the business owner or operator. Rides such as the one that led to the death of the 38-year-old man from Guatemala, who had a previous heart condition, usually read “Warning! This ride is an expedition through the rough terrain of King Kong’s natural habitat. The movement of the truck is dynamic with sudden accelerations, dramatic tilting and jarring actions.” Thus, individuals with past or present heart conditions, irregular blood pressure, spinal cord problems, or pregnant women, should refrain from going on the ride. Sadly, neither the man nor any member of his family took notice of the sign, and if so, they failed to notice the captions accompanying the printed text warning. Apparently, the man had complained about feeling nauseous after getting off the ride and sat down for a while as his wife and son boarded another ride. By the time they got back, the victim had passed out and later died at a local hospital. The lawsuit presented by the family’s lawyer also holds the Universal responsible for the tardiness in providing medical attention by the park operators.
If you, a friend or relative has been hurt in an amusement park, or has suffered damages or losses as a result of negligence or a mechanical flaw while on or around a ride, Perazzo Law urges accident victims to contact their Miami Law Office 
Miami: Uber fraud involving fare adjustments to clean-up bodily fluid stains left behind by passengers is on the rise in Miami. This most recent scams involves Uber passengers being blamed for soiling the Uber driver’s vehicle with vomit. In other words, an Uber passenger will get dropped-off just fine, then notice an added fee tacked-on to their bill, holding the passenger responsible for soiling the Uber driver’s vehicle. The fee ranges from $80 – $150 depending on the Uber driver’s personal scam level. Sadly, there is not much the passenger can do but to contact the Uber helpline and receive a reply that does nothing to revert the clean-up fee, as it’s basically the Uber driver’s word against the passengers. In Uber’s defense, there exist rides in which passengers do indeed get sick during a ride for reasons which may go from motion sickness, to passengers boarding with an excess of food, alcohol, or narcotics in them. Whatever the case, Uber vomit fraud indeed exists in Miami. But what to do to prevent Uber vomit fraud? Firstly, report the case to Uber via the help button on the Uber website. Unfortunately, this may prove useless as the fraudulent Uber driver may have already submitted bogus photos of his/her soiled vehicle seat. Vomit is not alone when it comes to fraudulent clean-up claims by Uber drivers on unsuspecting Uber passengers. Liquids such as beer, wine, whiskey, blood, and even urine are on the clean-up list. As well as muddy footwear or soiled clothing leaving stains or odors. An Uber spokesperson has stated that they are looking into possible fraud cases to safeguard passenger satisfaction. However, it’s hard to prove whether or not a passenger does indeed dirty an Uber driver’s vehicle. The spokesperson added; 