Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Florida Drunk Driving Tragedy
0.244 percent: that was a driver’s blood alcohol level late one January 2021 evening as he careened into a 45-year-old pedestrian at over 110 miles per hour. The driver commented that first responders should “chill,” because he was only intoxicated. A few yards away, the victim lay dead. Four children would never see their… Read More »
Injuries Related To Hazardous Materials
There are more hazardous materials in the workplace than many people realize—and the government has strict standards as to how those materials are to be stored and used, as well as what emergency preparedness steps must be taken. Nonetheless, workers sometimes experience exposure to these materials, sometimes as a result of an employer’s negligence. … Read More »
Boating Accidents In Florida
Being out on the water is generally a much-anticipated recreational activity for many Floridians. Whether it’s a canoe or motorboat, a kayak or rowboat, Floridians can’t seem to get enough of the sunshine and fun. But when water sports lead to injuries or death, the heartbreak cannot be overstated. If you or a loved… Read More »
Florida Motorcycle Accidents
It was a bad collision on County Road 125. As a pickup navigated a left turn onto Sutton Trail, it smashed into an unhelmeted motorcyclist, killing him on the scene. Who’d have guessed the April 2021 day would have ended that way? Sadly, this was one of many serious collisions that involve motorcycles here… Read More »
How Reliable Is Eyewitness Testimony?
Nothing is more frightening than the prospect of facing criminal charges—except perhaps the idea of having one or more individuals lined up as eyewitnesses to testify against you. Juries clearly put a lot of weight on such testimony, and if you’ve been ID’d, you may feel like your case is over before it’s even… Read More »
Criminal Penalties For Dognapping
Dognapping made the national news when reports of Lady Gaga’s dogs being stolen at gunpoint flooded the airways in February 2021. Koji and Gustav, the pair of bulldogs taken, ultimately were returned without benefit of the $500,000 reward money, and the dogwalker who was shot at the scene was expected to fully recover. The… Read More »
OSHA Finds Workplace Hazards
State and Federal laws are designed to ensure the safety of workers, regardless of the type of work required. When employers fail to adhere to specified guidelines, companies may face huge penalties. No penalty, however, compares to the harm that comes to unprotected employees. If you have suffered a workplace accident due to negligence… Read More »
Another Florida Hit-And-Run Fatality
Friends and family called him a “beautiful soul.” But Glen Flaherty’s opportunities to share his kindness and generosity came to an abrupt end in April 2021, as a hit-and-run driver slammed into him while he was crossing a Fort Lauderdale street, and barreled away without stopping to check on his condition. The family is… Read More »
Intersection Crashes Can Be Deadly
The transience of life was clearly illuminated in March 2021, as five more lives were lost in a tragic intersection collision. Surely, no one could have anticipated that three youngsters and two adults would not make it home one Spring evening, yet that is precisely the outcome suffered after a sedan making a left-hand… Read More »
The Power & Shortcomings of Forensics in Court
They call it the CSI Effect: the weight modern jurors place on forensic evidence provided by experts who convince them of the accuracy of their science. Today’s many tv crime drama shows have led many of us to believe that a laboratory can determine the guilt or innocence of any given individual. If you’ve… Read More »
