Most people don’t know that E. coli is actually a very common type of bacteria that exists in the human intestines and helps an individual digest and absorb food.  In general, this name is associated with intense digestive tract discomfort, which is caused by special strands of E. coli (for example, O157:H7).  Every year, these rare yet dangerous forms of E. coli infect nearly 75,000 individuals.  In most cases, the bacteria only cause severe discomfort that subsides after a few days.  However, these microorganisms can be extremely dangerous when they attack young children or people with immunodeficiencies.

A Food-borne Disease

E. coli is generally known as a food-borne disease, meaning that it enters an individual’s system through his or her ingestion of contaminated food.  Cattle meat is the most common carrier of disease-causing strands of E. coli, although it may be present in a number of other edibles including:

Salami
Alfalfa sprouts
Unpasteurized milk or juices
Contaminated water
Lettuce
Spinach
Tomatoes
Sausage

If restaurants and food manufacturers do not take the proper preparation steps – cooking and cleaning – before distributing their products to customers for ingestion, then they may be held liable for any cases of E. coli that arise.

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If you or someone you love has suffered from E. coli as a result of food production or service negligence, then you may have the right to claim compensation from the party responsible for this unnecessary pain.  Contact the Jacksonville personal injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Donald Guthrie today at 904-493-6455 to learn more about your legal rights.

Tetanus, though not generally thought of as a common disease, poses a real threat to those who do happen to contract it.  It is also known as lockjaw because, when left untreated, it will cause a victim’s muscles to seize up and render him or her unable to move the jaw.  People are encouraged to receive tetanus boosters every ten years or so to protect them against this dangerous illness.  Despite these precautions, however, some people still suffer injuries that result in their development of tetanus.

Risk Factors

Tetanus bacteria spores tend to exist in outdoor environments that harbor soil, dust, and animal waste.  They may remain dormant for long periods of time without dying before they encounter a human body in which they may thrive.  Most people associate tetanus with rusty nail puncture wounds because the rust provides a great habitat for the spores and the puncture wound distributes them deep in the human body.  

Other types of injuries that may result in the development of tetanus in the victim include the following:

Frostbite
Cuts or lacerations
Crush injuries
Abscesses
Childbirth
Surgery

It is the responsibility of property owners or possessors to maintain their premises in a safe manner when they are expecting guests.  If you have been injured on another person’s property and have developed tetanus as a result of this wound, then you may have the right to take legal action against the responsible party.

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If you would like to learn more about tetanus or premises liability, contact the Jacksonville personal injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Donald Guthrie today at 904-493-6455 to speak with a qualified attorney about your concerns.

Though many people may not be aware of it, pool drains actually pose a considerable threat for pool users – especially for young children.  While these features are necessary to keep the area sanitary and clean, poor installation, maintenance, or use of them may result in a tragic and deadly accident.  Because this danger posed such a persistent threat to pool users, a federal law was passed in 2007 mandating that all public pools and spas install drain covers.  Failure to comply with this regulation may hold the pool owner liable for any drain-related injuries that occur.

Pool Drain Injuries

Pool drains pose a number of life-shattering threats to those who have an unfortunate encounter with them.  These include the following dangers:

Entrapment: Having a body part get sucked up against the drain and being unable to free oneself; this may result in drowning
Hair Entrapment: Having one’s hair sucked up against the drain and being unable to free oneself; this may result in drowning
Evisceration/Disembowelment: Having one’s intestines pulled out of the body by a pool drain suction force; this bodily damage is irreparable and may result in death

Children in particular are at risk of suffering a pool drain injury because once sucked into these structures, they lack the strength to pull themselves away.  It only takes minutes for a trapped child to drown.

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If someone you love has died as a result of a pool drain accident, then you may have the right to take legal action against the party responsible for maintaining the area.  Contact the Jacksonville personal injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Don Guthrie today at 904-493-6455 to learn more about your legal options.

Boiler explosions, though rare, have the potential to cause a serious amount of damage to both individuals and property.  Because these machines are so large, operate at such high temperatures, and harness a tremendous amount of energy, any mechanical malfunction that results in boiler failure and its inability to successfully contain its contents can be catastrophic.  The dangers presented by a failed boiler are severe and costly.  It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to provide its customers with a safe and properly functioning product, and it is the customer’s responsibility to properly maintain and operate the boiler.

Causes of Boiler Explosions

Boilers are found in a large number of buildings requiring hot water.  While electric water heaters are becoming more common, many older residences still use gas boilers to heat water for washing and bathing.  Large boilers are commonly used for industrial purposes.  If the manufacturer makes a construction error or the user fails to properly maintain the boiler, the following, risky conditions may arise:

Operation without an adequate water supply
Buildup of excessive pressure within the boiler
Leaking fuel

The above phenomena have the potential to result in very dangerous explosions.  Even small boilers, when under extreme pressure, can exert enough power to bring down an entire building.

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If you would like to learn more about the dangers of boiler explosions, or if you or someone you know has been injured by a boiler explosion, call the Jacksonville personal injury lawyers of The Law Offices of Donald Guthrie today at 904-493-6455.

Slipping and falling is one of the most common types of injuries that occur. A common misconception is that we are strictly responsible for our own personal safety; if we slip and fall, it is our fault because we need to be watching where we are going. However, if you are on someone else’s property, they have a legal responsibility to ensure that their premises are safe for other people. If they fail to live up to this responsibility, they may be liable for any injuries which occur.

If you or a loved one have been injured while on someone else’s property, contact the Jacksonville slip and fall lawyer, Don Guthrie, P.A. at 904-493-6455, and we can determine liability and help you recover any damages you may be owed.

Fault in a Slip and Fall Accident

For a property owner to be liable for a slip and fall accident that occurs on their property, typically one of three factors must be present:
•    The property owner must be directly responsible for the hazardous condition which caused the slip and fall.
•    The property owner must have known or realized the hazardous condition was present, but did not take action to eliminate the risk.
•    The property owner should have known of the hazardous condition.

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If you or a loved one have suffered a slip and fall accident, contact the Jacksonville slip and fall attorney, Don Guthrie, P.A. at 904-493-6455 and we can evaluate your case.