All Americans feel for Oklahomans right now, and our Florida property insurance lawyer feels compassion for those affected by the devastating tornado. But for those in our state struggling to pay already high insurance costs, it will be a relief to know aggressive insurance companies can’t use the tragedy of the Oklahoma tornado to jack up insurance rates in Florida.
Bob Hartwig, the president of the Insurance Information Institute, reminded reporters recently that by law insurance companies have to set rates based on the costs involved in doing business in that particular state. But he did note that after a major natural disaster, like a tornado or hurricane, the question is usually about the cost of reinsurance, which is what insurance companies buy to try to help with payments to policyholders after these natural disasters. But, Mr. Hartwig said that even at the highest estimates of the losses in Oklahoma, which are possibly above $2 billion, wouldn’t have an impact on the reinsurance market. He pointed out that $2 billion is only one tenth of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy last year. Continue reading “Oklahoma Tornado Not Going to Affect Florida Insurance Rates”
According to reports, the spear accidentally fired by the 15-year-old struck Lopez and went through his skull and brain. Doctors from the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Army Trauma Training staff that helped treat Lopez produced the remarkable x-ray that shows the spear protruding from the front to the back of his skull. Doctors who treated Lopez reported that the spear entered Lopez’s head about an inch over his right eye and exited in the back of his head. According to neurosurgeon Ross Bullock, Lopez was able to survive this terrible accident because the spear missed all the main blood vessels of the brain. Although Lopez has miraculously survived, he has undoubtedly suffered major brain injury, causing an indefinite stay in the hospital in order for doctors to further treat him and have a better idea of the extent of his injuries. 
Our 
A day of fun with her grandparents could have ended in tragedy for a 7-year-old girl in Sarasota County. According to an 
A condominium complex in suburban West Palm Beach was struck by fire for the second consecutive night. The building, a two-story four-unit condominium, is located south of Gun Club Road and west of Haverhill Road. According to an article in the Palm Beach Post, fire-rescue crews were called to the first fire around 11:58 p.m. on Monday night. The cause of the fire is still reported to be unknown. Firefighters were called to a second fire at the same location at approximately 1:52 a.m. in the early hours of Wednesday. Again, investigations have yet to reveal the cause of the second fire. Our 
Stories like this one are always particularly difficult to accept because carbon monoxide poisoning can so easily be prevented. Carbon monoxide is a gas that cannot be seen or smelled. Therefore, a room could be filling up with carbon monoxide without anyone realizing it until it is too late. If the leak is slow enough, there may be some warning ahead of time in the form of headache, dizziness, nausea, and even disorientation or confusion. Having a carbon monoxide detector in your home is the ideal way to prevent poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors are commercially available and relatively inexpensive, and they can be used to warn residents if carbon monoxide reaches an unsafe level in the home. It is, of course, important to test these detectors regularly and remember to replace the batteries. 
A very scary situation developed at a waste treatment plant operated by New England Fertilizer Company (“NEFCO”) last week when a large explosion sent shrapnel and debris flying through the air. According to the Palm Beach Post, at the time of the explosion there were a total of three employees working on the site. One worker, a man named Matt Eggley who has been employed by NEFCO as a chief operator for about a year and a half, was injured in the blast. He was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for his injuries; fortunately, doctors expect him to make a full recovery. 
As a resident of Florida, our 
Our