Recent Blog Posts
Lockdown Orders, Open Highways, and Vehicle Speeds
The spring 2020 coronavirus outbreak may have triggered what officials call open-road syndrome. Lower traffic volumes significantly raised vehicle speeds throughout the Tampa Bay area. In fact, the lower traffic volume has caused average vehicle speeds to increase 7 percent, according to red light camera data. “Traffic congestion is actually a traffic calming mechanism,”… Read More »
White Collar Criminal Prosecutions Multiply
Many people think allegations of “white collar” crimes of fraud and dishonesty only happen in corporate board rooms and tax offices. This often misleading distinction is not so important these days thanks to the wide-ranging number of crimes open to felony prosecution in both state and federal court. You don’t have to work for… Read More »
Fatal Alcohol-Related Crash in Largo
A woman is in custody after she allegedly drove the wrong way and collided with another vehicle, killing one person and seriously injuring two other people, including a 10-year-old child. 27-year-old Britney passed two marked patrol cars as she was travelling the wrong way on Highway 19. Before officers could pull her over, she… Read More »
Dog Bites in Hillsborough County: A Closer Look
Mostly due to increasing medical bills and the complexity of the injuries, the average animal attack court settlement has more than doubled since 2003. Legally, the dog owner’s homeowners’ insurance company is usually financially responsible for these damages. Frequently, the policy limit is at least $100,000, so substantial compensation might be available. If the… Read More »
What to Expect After a Felony Conviction at Trial?
Florida prosecutors work for their own individual politically appointed State Attorneys, each of whom oversees a specific geographic region of the State. Each State Attorney’s annual budget is governed by conviction rates and other statistics that are monitored by the Florida Legislature and Executive Branch. Therefore, felony convictions are a sought-after prize in the… Read More »
Dual Fatal Accident on Bayshore Drive
A bicyclist was killed after he was hit by a motorcycle, who subsequently died as well — the two vehicles violently collided in a crosswalk along a scenic stretch of this iconic Tampa Bay roadway. A local lawyer and father of four was riding his bike across Bayshore in a crosswalk, at the intersection… Read More »
Does Pitocin Prevent or Cause Birth Injuries?
In the early 1900s, scientists discovered that oxytocin, a substance in the mother’s body, controlled uterine contractions during labor and delivery. In 1955, Du Vigneaud successfully converted this hormone into a drug called pitocin. Vigneaud’s work on oxytocin/pitocin earned him a Nobel Prize. Today, over a half-century later, pitocin is still the most widely… Read More »
Deadly Motorcycle Crash in Pasco County
A motorcyclist is dead after he lost control of his bike, fell into a traffic lane, and was run over by an oncoming car. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 49-year-old man was northbound on U.S. 98 when, for unknown reasons, he lost control of his bike, slid off the road, and smacked… Read More »
Citing Coronavirus, Feds Allow More Drowsy Truckers on Area Highways
Truckers are essential to the supply chain. But when regulators relax safety rules in response to the pandemic, is your family safer? A limited safety exemption was already on the books. On March 18, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration extended the hours of service exemption to include truckers hauling fuel, groceries, medical supplies,… Read More »
Why Should We Care About Some Common Third-Party Liability Theories?
Florida’s roads and highways are home to some of the most serious vehicle collisions in the country. Frequently, victims sustain serious head injuries or spine injuries; the resulting medical bills often exceed $100,000. Unfortunately for these victims, Florida also has one of the lowest auto insurance coverage requirements in the country. So, many of… Read More »
Deadly Left-Turn Crash Near Fairgrounds
Although the issues seem clear-cut, legal responsibility is uncertain in a wreck which killed a 56-year-old Tampa man. According to police and witnesses, 60-year-old James Martin had the green light as he approached the intersection of Orient Road and State Road 547. As he tried to turn left from Orient onto 547, Steve Aguilar… Read More »
Medical Bills in Spine Injury Cases: A Closer Look
Spine injuries are among the most life-changing catastrophic personal injuries. The medical bills alone could exceed a few million dollars in serious cases. Frequently, health insurance companies refuse to pay all these costs, for business reasons. The total costs, in the end, are far too great for most people to pay on their own…. Read More »
CHEMICAL INJURIES, BURNS ON THE RISE FROM COVID-19 CLEANINGS
During this national emergency and worldwide pandemic offices and homes have been beset by a cleaning frenzy. Many of the chemical products used to clean and disinfect surfaces (door handles, floors, counter tops, etc.) can be dangerous if a person’s skin, mouth, or eyes are exposed directly to the chemical substance. Special care must… Read More »
Drunk Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Wimauma Woman
An allegedly intoxicated motorist rear-ended 37-year-old Shawna Smith’s car, killing her almost instantly. The wreck occurred on Interstate 75 near the Big Bend Road exit. According to police and witnesses, 32-year-old Alberto Vigo, of Bradenton, tried to pass Smith as the two were travelling north. Vigo misjudged the angle and clipped the rear of… Read More »
I Wasn’t Wearing a Motorcycle Helmet. Can I Still Obtain Compensation for My Crash Injuries?
Like most other states, Florida has a partial motorcycle helmet law. All riders under 21 must wear protective headgear. Riders over 21 must also wear helmets unless they have at least $10,000 in AD&D insurance that applies to motorcycle crash losses. Because of these requirements, many injured victims think they are ineligible for compensation… Read More »
Possibly Impaired Driver Kills Two Teenagers
18-year-old Erinasha Jones had a BAC level just below the legal limit and smelled of marijuana in the aftermath of a fatal collision on Interstate 275, according to investigators. At the time of the wreck, Jones was northbound on I-275, approaching the Avenue N exit. She swerved from the inside lane to the exit… Read More »
What You Should Know About Nursing Home Falls
Because of the growing elderly population, the nursing home population is growing rapidly as well. And, during their stays, 60 percent of these long-term care center residents slip and fall at least once. A large number of these victims have pre-existing conditions, such as a previous fall, which makes their injuries even worse. As… Read More »
Runaway Car Crash Kills One, Injures One
Observers believe that speed might have been a factor in a deadly vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 301. The wreck occurred near Ashbrook Drive in Pasco County. According to Florida Highway Patrol troopers, 28-year-old Donathan Buck was northbound when he lost control of his vehicle and crossed the center line. He then crashed into… Read More »
They Say I Failed the DUI Field Sobriety Tests. Am I Automatically Guilty?
Absolutely not. At best, FSTs are only circumstantial evidence of intoxication. And, circumstantial evidence is subject to interpretation, which is why police officers always say the defendant “failed” the tests. But jurors often interpret the results differently, and their opinion is the only one that counts. Finally, not all field sobriety tests are created… Read More »
Coronavirus Update: Matassini Law Firm
To Our Clients: We have been watching the COVID-19 pandemic carefully, and we want to keep you updated on the current operating procedures in our office. We appreciate that this is a stressful time for you and your family. It is for us and our employees as well. The global effort to slow… Read More »
