South Florida Injury Attorney Blog

Whilst doing research on sports injuries I stumbled across this article whereabouts a 12 year old girl Nicole was injured whilst playing basketball. The article stated that apparently during basketball practice, Nicole was shooting the ball when a defender tried aggressively to block her shot. The two players made contact, and Nicole hit the floor headfirst. “The way she was hit took her whole body out from under her, and she landed directly on her head,” said her mother, “We immediately knew this was serious as she was very confused and looking at people like she didn’t know who they were.”

Paramedics were called to the scene and she was taken to the hospital for observation. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed a minor concussion —an increasingly common injury in basketball, particularly among minors, yet one that has yet to gain widespread attention. In fact, Nicole's mom said, she knew enough to worry about concussions — she also stated that even though Nicole played soccer more than basketball she worries more about the latter sport as the chances for broken bones and other injuries can occur being that it is a hard floor as the physical contact of basketball similar to that of football except that its indoors.

Injuries on basketball courts are common across South Florida from Sunrise, Plantation, Miramar, Coral Springs and Aventura, some are serious to warrant hospitalization and observation at a hospital or some maybe minor not requiring medical attention, although we always advise to visit your medica practioner to ensure that the injury in not serious. Also it allows you to keep record of your injury if you do eventually decide to file a claim. Practicing law in Fort Lauderdale and representing victims of sports injuries I always recommend to parents and victims that it does not matter how serious the injury you should always seek advice from an experienced sports injury attorney.

Should you or a loved one be the victim of a sports injury, always seeks legal counsel to ensure you know your rights and you are compensated for your damages. Contact us online or call at 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to see legal counsel.

Continuing from my previous discussion/blog post Safety Tips for Cyclist, I have realized that this topic is extremely interesting and informative for all. Again I always state should you or your loved one find yourself a victim of a bicycle accident always seek counsel from an experienced attorney practicing in Fort Lauderdale to ensure your are properly compensated. Bicyclists of all ages are on the road daily and should follow these road rules to ensure their safety at all times.

Here are some more tips for proper road safety and the codes where you can find the Statute pertaining to bicycle riding:

SIDEWALK RIDING (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)• When riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks, a bicyclist has the same rights and duties as a pedestrian.
• A bicyclist riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and must give an audible signal before passing.

SIGNALING TURNS (see Sub-section 316.155(2) and 316.157(2), F.S.)• A signal of intention to turn must be given during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. If a bicyclist needs both hands for control, the signal need not be given continuously.
• A bicyclist may signal intent to turn right either by extending the left hand and arm upward or by extending the right hand and arm horizontally to the right side of the bicycle.

Whether you are in Broward or Miami Dade County, should you or a loved one be the victim of a bicycle injury, contact us online or call at 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to seek legal counsel.

Fort Lauderdale has become a top cruise ship port for many reasons. As the cruise season begins many of us will take our families and loved ones on a Caribbean cruise vacation from South Florida. Cruises are wonderful experiences but present many challenges and some degree of risk. Passengers arrive in Fort Lauderdale, South Florida, and embark on large cruise ships and sometimes get injured. The most common on-board injuries are slip falls, which result in broken hips, broken legs, soft tissue injuries and sometimes brain injuries. If you, or a loved one, has been injured on a cruise ship you should contact a South Florida personal injury attorney who has experience in all the areas of law and related medical problems caused by accidents, soft tissue and bone injuries. The first thing to do is to get prompt medical attention from the ship’s doctor. Keep records of the names and titles of all medical providers you see on the ship. Take photos of both your injuries and the place where the injury occurred. Ask for the names of anyone who saw what happened or can testify as to the conditions that existed before the injury. Slip-falls onboard can occur on stairways, boarding ramps, cabin doors and door-sills. After you return to Fort Lauderdale contact a South Florida personal injury attorney and ask for a free consultation. Often an experienced South Florida personal injury attorney can assist you in obtaining a medical opinion on your injuries: some are permanent and may cause future pain and suffering, and may be compensable by filing a personal injury lawsuit in Fort Lauderdale, or Miami. Sometimes a caretaker may be negligent in mis-diagnosing the extent of the injury, and sometimes a doctor’s misdiagnosis of a slip fall injury can lead to permanent disability or a life-long limitation in your mobility. Tripping and falling are the most common onboard ship personal injuries. Sometimes food poisoning or exposure to chemicals can cause you personal injury and sometimes it can be permanent or disabling. Often you can be injured by the negligence of others or the negligence in the design of the ship or negligence in the ship’s maintenance or upkeep. Only an experienced South Florida personal injury lawyer can provide you with a legal opinion as to how to be compensated for your injury. A personal injury lawsuit can be filed in a Florida federal or Florida State court in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County. A personal injury lawsuit must be filed timely or you may lose your rights to receive compensation for your personal injuries, whether from a slip fall or negligence by the ship operator or the crew. An experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can evaluate if your personal injuries are being litigated by others who have similar injuries, or if the ship operator has a history of negligent conduct or negligence in the operations of the ship. If you are injured and you feel your injuries were caused by the negligence of others you can sue and be compensated. Falling at a pool, on a line, being injured by falling on a wet deck, or from exposure to chemicals are all personal injury claims.

With the fall weather beginning in South Florida, it is now perfect for outdoor activities as its cooling down therefore I decided to cover safety tips for bicyclist to follow to ensure everyone’s safety on the roads. Once these safety tips are followed, you as a cyclist would have been practicing your safe riding habits. So should you or a loved one be a victim of a bicycle accident you should seek an experienced Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorney to ensure that you are properly compensated for your damages.

Here are some more tips for proper road safety which I will list below for you:

PROPER USE OF ROADWAY (see Section 316.2065, F.S.)
• A bicyclist who is not traveling at the same speed of other traffic must ride in a designated bike lane or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. A bicyclist may leave the right-most portion of the road in the following situations: when passing, making a left turn, to avoid road hazards, or when a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to share safely.)
• A bicyclist operating on a one-way street with two or more traffic lanes may ride as close to the left-hand edge of the roadway as practicable.
• Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, and shall ride within a single lane.

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN (see Section 316.151 (1)(b)(c), F.S.)
• A bicyclist intending to make a vehicle left turn is entitled to full use of the lane from which the turn is made. After scanning, signaling, and moving to the center of that lane, the bicyclist must check the signal, and then proceed when it is green and safe to do so.
• In addition to the normal vehicle left turn, a bicyclist may proceed through the right-most portion of the intersection and turn as close to the curb or edge as possible at the far side. After complying with any official traffic control device, the bicyclist may proceed in the new direction.

Whether you are in Broward or Miami Dade County, should you or a loved one be the victim of a bicycle injury, CONTACT US online or call at 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to seek legal counsel.

Seeing that I touched on Street/drag racing in a previous blog, I decided to blog a bit more about the seriousness of this illegal sport. Florida Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies have been clamping down on these illegal races, by conducting stings on U.S. 27 and Krome Avenue between Miami and Broward Counties. One night during summer troopers arrested approximately 47 juveniles, 21 adults, and 129 spectators lining the road. Law enforcement agencies involved noted that with the success of that sting others will follow.

Politicians in Miami and Broward have stated they want stiffer penalties for these racers and spectators, as the only way to stop the racing is to go after not only the racers but the crowd that watches and encourages this illegal activity. Because of this type of recklessness driving on the streets of Miami and Broward County, other users of the roadways are put in harm's way. We have seen in the news, reports of accidents caused by these drivers injuring innocent drivers sometimes even ending tragically for both the drivers and racers who are normally teenagers. For example a street-racing crash on the Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami-Dade County sent two children, ages 2 and 3, and four adults to the hospital. This accident occurred when a Porsche and a BMW were drag racing and one of the cars crashed into a SUV with a family of 5 on board. Paramedics were called to the scene and the driver of the BMW and all the occupants of the SUV were taken to the hospital, luckily there were no life threatening injuries. Police reports states that the racers were travelling in excess of 100 miles per hour.

As an experienced auto accident attorney practicing in Miami and Broward County I have represented victims of these types of auto accidents and I always advise you to seek legal counsel should you decide to file claim to ensure you receive proper compensation for your damages, medical bills and loss of wages.

Should you or a loved one be the victim of an automobile accident stemming from these illegal car races, CONTACT US online or call at 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to see legal counsel.

Daily on the road across South Florida we see debris whether it been pieces of rubber to sometimes even larger items that can cause serious injury to drivers on the road. We have had victims of these types of accidents contact our office seeking legal counsel. Victims of these types of injuries sometimes don't realize that they can file a claim as they are uncertain of exactly who is responsible.

A couple years ago a father and daughter was travelling south on the I-95 between Oakland Park Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard when a piece of metal pipe flew thru the front windscreen of their car stabbing his daughter in the shoulder. She was rushed to Broward General where doctors removed the metal pipe. In a case like this the victim's family should immediately seek legal counsel to know their legal rights.

Being an attorney practicing personal injury law in Fort Lauderdale, I would recommend to the family to retain all medical bills that his daughter had incurred due to her injury to support her claim along with the accident report from the police. Their retained attorney will review the documents that they have provided and advise whether they are able to file a claim and exactly who they should be filing the claim against.

Should you or a loved one find yourself in a similar situation always seek legal counsel to ensure you are properly compensated. Contact us online or call us at 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.

Injuries at the workplace are a 'lil' more common than we realize, if you have been injured at work you will have to first apply for Worker's Compensation through your employer's insurance company. Representing victims of work place injury for the past years in Fort Lauderdale we have found some situations where the victim may be able to file a third-party injury claim for damages associated with your injuries. This is where seeking legal counsel from an experienced work place accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale is best, as he/she will give you the guidance you need and will assist you to understand your rights.

Workplace accident third-party injury claims can include one or more of the following :
- use of a defective product or equipment, or you may be
- injury due to a toxic substance at the workplace, maybe you were injured due to
- maybe thru intended wrongdoing of your employer
- injury through a third-party whilst at your workplace

Workers' compensation will provide payment and benefits to the injured victims but may not compensate for damages. It will also not cover punitive damages against employers who did not take proper workplace safety measures. Injuries in the workplace can range from slip and fall accidents, to injuries to the body such as back, arm, shoulder, elbow and knee.

As I always advise victims of workplace injury always seek counsel from an experienced workplace accident injury attorney or premises liability attorney as it is important that you understand and know what your legal rights and options are, and ensure that you receive the proper compensation that you deserve. Contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.

In a recent comparison performed by my firm in Fort Lauderdale we have seen that in some cases motorcycle accident victims we have represented have received larger settlements when compared to those who did not seek legal counsel from an accident attorney…..

Firstly once you have been involved in a motorcycle accident you should seek legal counsel from an experienced Fort Lauderdale accident attorney. Once you have retained an attorney he/ she will start to gather information to start building your case. They will request that you provide all your medical bills and records as depending on the severity of your injuries there maybe loss of wages involved. Once you have provided your accident attorney with these records they will review and interpret these records making them understandable for the court to comprehend the severity of the injuries you may have incurred. That is why proper recording of all your injuries is extremely important.

You should have pictures taken on the scene of the accident and the surroundings areas, pictures of all your injuries should also be taken, pictures of the damage to your bike and the other vehicle that was involved in the accident should also be taken as this will assist the attorney in building a strong case on your behalf.

Representing motorcycle accident victims over the years we have found that there are additional factors to be considered as part of your case like:

• Work environment: Your attorneys will not the difference in your performance at work?
• Home environment: How your injuries have affected your home life
• Witnesses: who will testify about your life changes at work and at home since you received injuries from the bike accident
• Extracurricular activities: activities and events that you are not able to participate in because of your injuries?

Hiring of an experienced accident attorney is important should you or a loved one be involved in an accident to ensure you receive the proper compensation you deserve. Whether your or a loved one has been the victim of car accident injury, always seek counsel from an experienced Automobile Injury Attorney to ensure that your rights as the victim are protected and that you receive the proper compensation. Contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.

Many accidents occur due to a driver being under the influence of drugs or alcohol but what about the driver being too drowsy to drive? Falling asleep at the wheel is as dangerous as a person drinking and driving. The result can be just as devastating. Getting little or interrupted sleep over an extended period of time can cause a person to become drowsy or fatigued, which can result in impaired driver's reaction time, judgment and their vision.

City Commissions in Margate, Plantation, Sunrise, Davie, Pompano Beach and the Broward County Commission have started a public awareness campaign is designed to educate the public of the dangers of driving while drowsy. Experts suggest we need 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep to maintain alertness during the day. Work schedules can be hectic. Shift workers are often affected as their schedules don't always coincide with getting the kids off to school. Working nights often affects your internal body clock; make a point of taking a nap if you know you will be on the road.

Always plan ahead and identify where you will stop along the way to rest and for meals. Taking the time to stretch or walk around during a long trip helps keep you energized and alert. On a long trip, you should take breaks about every 100 miles or every two hours of driving. A driving companion can not only share the driving but talk along the way, keeping you engaged and alert. Do the same on your return trip to avoid exhaustion or fatigue as you return to your regular routine.

Whether your or a loved one has been the victim of injury, always seek counsel from an experienced Personal Injury Attorney to ensure that your rights as the victim are protected and that you receive the proper compensation. Contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.

Good advice would be once you, a friend or a family member or members have been involved in any type of car accident and they have received injures, even if the injuries are not serious enough for you to be admitted to a hospital, it is always important to see legal counsel from an experienced auto injury attorney. It is imperative that you find the most qualified car accident injury attorney in your area. Whether you reside in Sunrise, Plantation, Coral Springs or Miramar always seek the most experienced attorney to work with you. Having an experienced attorney representing you or your loved one will ensure you receive the compensation for damages you have suffered, as you deserve to be compensated for the injuries that you have suffered stemming from a car incident.

As we all know or some of us may have even experienced, car accidents can be very upsetting and even painful. But depending on the injuries you may have sustained, once you have retained the services of an attorney experienced in auto injury he/she will ensure that you are properly compensated for your medical expenses that you may have incurred, loss of wages and rehab as medical bills can be costly and can pile up pretty quickly.

This blog I will keep short and as I stated at the beginning it is always good advice or practice once you have been injured in any type of car accident, after the initial stages it is very important to retain an experienced auto injury attorney as soon as you can as they will need time to prepare your case to ensure you receive the compensation that you rightly deserve. Whether your or a loved one has been the victim of car accident injury, always seek counsel from an experienced Automobile Injury Attorney to ensure that your rights as the victim are protected and that you receive the proper compensation. Contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.

In a previous blog I touched what you should do should you be injured on someone else's property, seek immediate medical attention; then contact a Personal Injury Attorney to know your rights. Now, I will list a few things that you should NOT do should you be injured on someone else’s property, they are:

• Do not provide any statements to the property owner;
• Do not sign any statements or incident reports;
• Do not say anything that would imply fault on your part.

Depending on where you may have been injured, Personal Injury Attorney’s have found that in many cases, if you suffered the injury on public property the property owner will file a premises liability accident report, and a claims adjuster will contact you to get more information about your injuries. Again, do not give a statement to anyone that contacts you. First, consult with a personal injury attorney that specializes in premises liability cases and will be able to advise you accordingly. Many adjusters are trained to try and persuade you to settle the claim immediately and sign a release, talk to a lawyer first.

Always seek counsel from an experienced Personal Injury Attorney to ensure that your rights as the victim are protected and that you receive the proper compensation. If you or a loved one has suffered injury contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.

With the weather as perfect as it is in South Florida, families and kids can be seen daily at the local parks and playgrounds enjoying the sunshine. In many of these cities across Broward and Miami-Dade county are owned by the cities and public agencies. Should you or a loved one be a victim of personal injury at one of these parks you should first contact the city that the park is located to find out that the deadline is for filing claim should you decide to. Many of these cities have short deadlines set for filing claims and they could run from 60 – 90 days within which you may have. After contacting the city and seeking medical attention you should immediately contact an experienced attorney in the city to seek legal counsel and file claim.

Examples of park and playground accidents resulting in personal injury are:
• Broken/poorly maintained park or playground Equipment (swings, “monkey bars” climbing apparatus, slides, gates)
• Falls from heights in parks/playgrounds
• Broken pavement in parks and playgrounds
• Exposed tree roots in parks or playgrounds

Apartment complexes, condominiums, cooperatives and schools also own or maintain parks and playgrounds. Whether the owner or operator of the park or playground where the accident you are inquiring about is a public or private entity, you should contact your personal injury attorney so they can perform a prompt investigation and advise you of your rights.

As an experienced attorney practicing in cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Davie, Cooper City, Weston, Plantation, Miramar and Pembroke Gardens, daily we see victims of these types of injury mainly to kids. Parents and victims should always remember to take pictures of the area where the accident occurred and the damages to the victim. Keep records of all the victims’ injuries including medical bills etc.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a park accident or playground accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to seek legal counsel to ensure you are properly compensated. Contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.