According to a web posting at http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806190360 The Bush administration announced the federal government will put in place a nursing home rating system by the end of the year that will be accessable to consumers from a yet to be announced government website. According to Kerry Weems, acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The fact a home has a lower rating will likely put them on the path to improvement," because "I don't think we're going to see many people who are very anxious to put a loved one in a one-star home."

The rating system is a good first start. However, it is either very nieve or very deceptive on the part of Mr. Weems to suggest that the rating system will have a very large impact on the average member of the public's decision regarding which nursing home facility to place a loved one. The truth is that the overwelming majority of families trying to place a loved one will never know the rating system or a website ranking nursing homes exists. In fact, Florida has had such a website to rate its nursing homes for many years. It can be found at http://ahcaxnet.fdhc.state.fl.us/nhcguide/. The Florida nursing homes that rank poorly continue to have high occupancy rates despite the low ranking. For example, a nursing home called Rehabilitation And HealthCare Center Of Tampa received an overall rating of one star out of 5 for its latest survey performed on february 7, 2008. However, it had an 80.05% occupancy rate.

While low rankings in performance are not publicized enough to effect consumer opinions, the information should still be gathered and posted. The real power of the ranking system is that it creates a framework to punish poor performers. Punishment can occur as the result of a nursing home neglect lawyer bringing a personal injury lawsuit when the rankings are admitted into evidence to give the jury an idea of the conditions of the facility. Unfortunately, tort reform in the state of Florida has drastically reduced the number of such lawsuits and therefore their deterent effect created by them. The rankings can also be used by the government to sanction the nursing home and or revoke its license. The real question is whether the federal or state government will use the information for that purpose.

Scott Distasio
Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer

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HELPING INJURED PEOPLE
OFFICES: TAMPA
888-595-0022

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According to http://www.drivealert75.com the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is launching a new safety campaign aimed at reducing deaths and crashes on Interstate 75 (I-75) in Florida. The campaign is called "Guard Your Life-Drive Alert On I-75 and is designed to reduce head on motor vehicle crashes. FDOT is teaming up with public and private entities to deliver the message. The plan is to deliver the message of driver safety awareness and driver education through the use of websites, public service announcements, billboards, posters and promotional items.

One of the main entities involved is The Florida Trucking Association. In addition to promoting the "Guard Your Life-Drive Alert On I-75" campaign during the National Truck Driving Championship competion called the "Rodeo", The Florida Trucking Association will also set up a special 18-member road team to speak about safety. The road team plans to go into local high schools in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Hernando counties to help promote driver safety on I-75. The all volunteer professional truck drivers will teach driver education students about the importance of driver safety.

The state of Florida's efforts to try to improve driver safety on I-75 in Florida through a safety campain is a good first step. As Angie Atalla pointed out in her webposting on the subject at http://www.tampabays10.com there were 4,702 motor vehicle accidents from Hillsborough/Manatee counties to Hernando/Sumter counties on I-75 from January 2004 through May 2007. The accidents included all types of automobile accidents including car crashes, truck crashes, and motorcycle crashes. 3160 crashes involved injuries and 66 involved deaths.

Scott Distasio
Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer

DISTASIO LAW FIRM
HELPING INJURED PEOPLE
OFFICES:TAMPA
888-595-0022

Tampa personal injury lawyer

An earlier posting entitled "Semi Trucks Monitored in Tampa Bay" mentioned that on June 4, 2008 a man drove his automobile into a Semi Tractor Truck on US 19 at the Countryside Ford Dealership in Clearwater Florida. It turns out the man was 77 year old George W. Sturm. He died six days later from his injuries.

Mr. Sturm was driving Northbound on US 19 at 4:30 am as he approached the Ford Dealership. The driver of the Semi Truck was apparently backing into the dealership from US 19 when Mr. Sturm slammed into the side of the truck. According to www.tampabays10.com, the truck was blocking all northbound lanes.

In some states, the fact that Mr. Sturm may have been comparatively negligent in not noticing the truck in front of him might bar his Estate from making a recovery in a personal injury lawsuit. However, Florida follows the doctrine of comparative negligence. That means if Mr. Strum's Estate hired a Clearwater truck accident lawyer to pursue a personal injury claim, a jury would assess whether or not he was negligent in failing to recognize the truck was in front of him and whether or not the truck driver was negligent in taking up all northbound lanes of traffic in the dark. The jury would then assign a percentage of liability to each party if any. It is unclear at this time if Mr. Strum's Estate will pursue such a claim on his behalf.

Scott Distasio
Clearwater Car accident attorney

DISTASIO LAW FIRM
HELPING INJURED PEOPLE
OFFICES: TAMPA
888-595-0022

Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer

Most semi truck drivers are safe drivers just trying to make a living. However, the shear size of their rigs makes their vehicles extremely dangerous when they get into an accident. For example, the Northbound lanes of US 19 at sunset road in Clearwater Florida were closed for several hours today after a car crashed into a semi tractor trailor. The impact was so severe, the car was wedged under the semi. The driver of the car was taken by Bayflight helicoptor to BayFront Medical Center and is currently listed in serious condition. There is no word on whether the driver of the semi truck caused the accident.

In an effort to try to prevent accidents like the one above, authorities have anounced they are placing an emphasis in Tampa Bay on keeping the big rigs safe. According to an article posted June 3, 2008 on http://www.myfoxtampabay.com, inspections sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance have begun in the bay area. Inspectors will be conducting roadchecks to look for all types of vehicle problems including bad breaks, bald tires, and stearing troubles. In addition, inspectors will be making sure drivers are wearing their seatbelts, have all the appropriate paper work up to date, and have not been driving longer than the manditory maximum number of hours per day.

In addition to random stops, inspecpection sites have been set up at the Interstate 4 weigh station, the Port of Tampa area, and along U.S. 98 west of Brooksville.

Scott Distasio
Clearwater Auto accident Attorney

DISTASIO LAW FIRM
HELPING INJURED PEOPLE
OFFICES: TAMPA
888-595-0022

Tampa personal injury lawyer