South Florida Injury Attorney Blog

With the economy slowly picking back up we see construction sites hiring workers and this can only mean injuries on jobsites are evident. Recently a 30yr old man Mr. Ramos received injuries after falling from the roof of a home at a jobsite in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His company sent him out to a neighborhood to do roof repairs to a couple homes. Mr. Ramos was doing minor repairs to a roof which from the recent rains was leaking, and, not realizing the extent of the damage fell through the roof. Paramedics were called to the scene as he was said to be unconscious briefly, and the owner of the home was uncertain as to the extent of his injuries. Mr. Ramos regained consciousness but was taken to Broward General where he was kept under observation.

As a Fort Lauderdale attorney I have worked on numerous cases like this and Mr. Ramos will no doubt be entitled to workers compensation benefits from his employer. Once he has filed claim for Worker’s compensation his employer will have investigations done to ensure there was no negligence on the worker’s behalf and ensure that there was no failure to adhere to the safety standards as mandated by both OSHA and the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration for the city of Fort Lauderdale. The worker in turn should keep all records: the incident report and all medical bills etc which he will have to present to his attorney once he has filed claim for injury.

Should you or a loved one find yourself in a situation like Mr. Ramos, please contact an experienced Personal Injury Attorney who will look into a third party claim, which is usually filed against an entity or a person other than the victim’s employer, whose negligence may have caused the workplace accident, your personal injury attorney should have a strong and successful track record in handling these third party claims, as he will be able to help this worker in securing the compensation they deserve. Contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.

What a caption for this blog. "The Snowbirds are here" means that the roads are full more than normal with elderly out of state drivers and I mean out of state. On the road daily you see an array of license tags from Canada to upstate US, as they have headed south for the winter, to soak up some of the Florida sunshine. With that comes the driving, some of the complaints I have heard: driving slow in the "fast lane"; unexpected stops and turns without properly notifying by indication; reversing from parking spots without ensuring that it is safe to do so, and the list can go on.

Personal injury caused by a motor vehicle accident or collision is one of the most unfortunate situations you may find yourself in. Whether you were in a rear-end collision or any type of collision you would have received damages and injuries caused by these collisions some may be serious and/ or permanent. From neck and back injuries to broken bones, and in the most unfortunate situations injuries which may cause brain damage or paralysis, damages from any motor vehicle collision can and may alter your life. Daily we get calls from victims of these types of injuries as they are unsure what their legal rights are and if they do have. First and foremost call 911 to report the accident, then seek immediate medical attention for any injury you may have received as this step is a crucial part of your personal injury case against another driver who is responsible for your injuries, and last but most important keep all records of your injuries, accident reports and pictures of the scene of the accidents.

Be sure to call a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney to handle your case. We have offices located in Fort Lauderdale and we have successfully represented injured individuals throughout the cities of Broward County such as Sunrise, Plantation, Davie, Cooper City, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Weston, Tamarac and Margate. Contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.

I recently attended a soccer tournament at a Regional park in Fort Lauderdale over the weekend with some friends, this was the first time that I was so close to the game. I normally sit in the stands and watch the game, but at these local tournaments you are able to stand right at the side of the field you could even reach out and touch the players. It was really exciting to be so close until a spectator was hit by a loose ball.

The spectator was standing behind the goal when she was hit by the stray ball. It was a ball from a free kick so I can only imagine the power it was coming at, and obviously she was not paying attention and was hit right smack in the chest. She immediately doubled over and the paramedics that was on site attended to her. She was taken to the hospital for observation due to area that she was struck, although the injury seemed to be minor. She was released, and was advised to seek legal advice for damages, medical bills that she incurred from this injury.

In the State of Florida to be able to file any claim if you are injured at any of these recreational parks in the various cities, paramedics have to be called out and the injured has to be taken by ambulance to the local hospital. There is always risk to be taken into consideration when attending these sporting activities and one should always seek legal counsel from an experienced personal accident injury attorney to ensure that you know your rights.

It is always good advice for victims of personal injury always to seek counsel from an experienced personal injury attorney or premises liability attorney as it is important that you understand and know what your legal rights and options are. We have offices located in Fort Lauderdale, and throughout Miami-Dade and West Palm Beach, and we have successfully represented injured individuals throughout the cities of Broward County such as Sunrise, Plantation, Davie, Cooper City, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Weston, Tamarac and Margate. Contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 9186 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.

This story caught my interest whilst I was doing research for my writing Twelve students and two teachers at the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program building in Anaheim were taken to the hospital with injuries after the roof of the adult classrooms collapsed on December 15, 2008 because a main drain failed. News reports in The Orange County Register, the injured victims suffered neck, back, muscular, skeletal and wrist injuries.

Officials are saying that the roof caved in after a main drain failed above one of the classrooms. This caused water to collect and the roof to cave in taking an air-conditioning unit down with it. The injured victims were said to have been between 17 and 50 years old. It was stated in the article that the school took out a building permit for a new roof in August of 2007 and a final inspection was completed the following month.

Reading this article I realized that this can happen at any time in Florida, and as a Fort Lauderdale attorney I would advise the injured to seek legal counsel from an experienced personal injury attorney immediately after seeking medical attention. Keep records and a timeline from the time the accident occurs to present: pictures of all injuries and medical bills for injuries and rehab that was incurred.

Should you or a loved one find yourself being the victim of personal injury, you should immediately contact an experienced personal injury attorney, as the authorities responsible for maintenance of the building can be held liable for the injuries caused from the roof cave-in. Contact us for your free consultation at 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186.

This blog is just for information purposes. With the winter starting any motor cycle rider will tell you it’s the perfect weather for riding. I found this article whilst doing research on Motor cycle safety and found it very interesting and informative.

The Motor Safety Foundation ‘MSF’ will start an in depth study into motor cycle safety. The study will follow 100 motorcyclists in different age groups who ride three types of bikes and riding in various environments. The study will also factor weather and traffic conditions and rider gear requirements. States that will be involved in the study are California, Virginia and Florida, riders will be chosen from them.

The information will be collected through the use of small video recorders and other devices mounted on each of the rider’s bike. The video recorders will include the following views: forward, sides/rider’s hands, rider’s face, and rearward. The study will cover rider’s behaviour and their reaction time; it will also cover rider skills and decision making prior to a crash. It will also collect the sequence of events and factors in the leading up to a crash and the differences between evasive manoeuvres which will work and which will not.

As an experienced motor cycle attorney in Fort Lauderdale we have found these studies to be beneficial to riders to practice defensive riding. Whilst riding your bike should you and your passenger become a victim of injury due to the negligence of a driver or road user, you should seek legal counsel from a motor cycle attorney to ensure that you are compensated for your damages, loss of wages and medical bills incurred. Contact us at 954 431 8100 or 305 614 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 in these situations, as your attorney will give you the guidance you need and will assist you to understand your rights.

Workplace accident third-party injury claims can include such circumstances such as :
- use of a defective product or equipment;
- injury due to a toxic substance at the workplace;
- 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.

Fort Lauderdale and South Beach can be considered party central every weekend in South Florida, and on any given Monday we receive calls from victims of personal injury, whether it’s a slip and fall injury or the victim of a fight at a club or a pedestrian accident seeking legal counsel.

At the usual spring break festivities there were some incidents that occurred over the week, some serious to warrant police and a trip to the emergency room and others minor where paramedics have dealt with the injury and released. Recently our Fort Lauderdale office received a call from a man in his early 20’s, seeking legal counsel. He states that he was out partying with some friends that were visiting for the break, where he received the injury. Apparently he was partying at a night club on Fort Lauderdale beach, when he got into an altercation with another patron at the club, there was a fight and he was stabbed. Police and paramedics were called to the scene; he suffered a flesh wound and a punctured liver and had to be hospitalized.

Investigations were conducted by the authorities and our office also did some investigative work on behalf of the victim. Reports from the police showed that the nightclub did not have the required amount of security on the said night which makes then liable. Our client would be able to file claim against the night club for “negligent security”.

Should you or a loved one find yourself a victim of this type of injury or should you know someone that was in the same situation they should immediately seek legal counsel to ensure that they receive the compensation that they deserve for their damages and medical bills incurred. 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.

Protecting the rights of victims of injury due to the recklessness of drivers on the roads of South Florida, car and motor cycle accident victims should remember the following people are upset and when upset make costly mistakes. Representing drivers and bikers who wish to file claim due to an accident injury in Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, Cooper City, Davie and Plantation we advise you take heed of the points below.

Here is what you should do:
1. ALWAYS keep calm, and do not let the emotions get the better of you remain calm at all times;
2. Report the crash immediately to the police department; and if there is injury call an ambulance for the injured party;
3. Take contact information including driver’s license, telephone contact and the insurance company of the owner of the other vehicle/s involved in the accident;
4. If it’s a company vehicle take down the name, address, operator’s license number, driver license and the phone number of the driver of the company vehicle.
5. Give only your name, address, license number, license plate number, name of registered owner of the car and your insurance company.
6. Don’t not accept responsibility or blame anyone for the accident.
7. Call your Insurance Company and report accident to your broker or agent immediately.
8. Make a note of the date and time of the accident, write down the location. Draw a diagram, if possible.
9. Cell phones come equipped with cameras, take pictures of the of your bike and the other vehicles involved, do not only focus on the area damaged take pictures of the entire vehicle
10. Be sure to take pictures of the area surrounding the accident scene immediately after the accident. Pictures of the terrain, the road or any other amenities that could have been a factor or played a part in the accident;
11. Witnesses – make sure to write down all the contact information of the people who were witness to the accident but not involved in it.

Should you or a family member be the victim of a car or motor cycle accident injury, you should contact an experienced Fort Lauderdale Attorney should you have questions after the accident and to ensure you know your rights and 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.

Recently whilst doing research on motor cycle safety for my blog I stumbled upon an article “Mandatory motorcycle safety training in two more states” on the website Clutch and Chrome. It states that motorcycle training has become mandatory for future riders in Connecticut and California before riders can take tests and licenses issued. Following Rhode Island and Florida that require riders to complete a safety course to get their license, this mandate was introduced in 2008.
In Connecticut the law took effect as of January 1st 2011 and was driven by the mother of a 19 year old boy that was killed in a accident when he collided with a minivan, although he was wearing a helmet he had not taken a safety education class. In the article she stated that she believes her son might be alive today if he had take a course for novice riders, which the prior to the mandate of January 1 2011 only applied to motor cycle applicants under the age of 18. The new requirement does not apply to Connecticut riders who already have a motorcycle endorsement or those who are moving from another state with a motorcycle endorsement.

DMV Commissioner states that this new requirement will ensure that all riders have proper training and safety education before acquiring a license to operate a motor cycle; he also went on to say that this law is all about making riders and their passenger’s safety.

The other state that has this similar legislation is California. The state mandate requires residents of California younger than 21 to complete a motor cycle safety course before they will be issued an instruction permit that will allow them to practice riding a motor cycle. The permit must be held for six months before the rider will receive his/her license.

This law also came about from a motorcycle tragedy; according the article three years ago 18 year old Jarred Cole was getting driving lessons from his dad Evan Cole who is an experienced rider in front of their home. He had passed the DMV written exam allowing him to get his learner’s permit. His dad was giving him his first lesson and he stepped into the garage to get some practice cones when he heard the motorcycle engine revving followed by an ominous thud as stated by Clutch and Chrome. Jarred died from a severed artery, doctors stated he could not be save him even if he lived across from the hospital. This tragedy got Jarred’s younger brother and his friend to launch a drive in their High School “Change State Law”.

As an experienced motor cycle attorney practicing in the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Margate, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Davie and Cooper City we always advise that once you have received personal injury stemming from a motor cycle accident you should seek legal counsel to ensure you are compensated for your damages and injuries received. 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.

In Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Plantation, Weston and many other cities across Broward County kids and teens can be seen maneuvering their skateboards in all the plazas in these cities. We have found that in many cases, a skateboarding accident normally results from someone else's negligence.

Skateboarders are often invisible to distracted, inattentive drivers of cars, SUVs, vans, and trucks. Even if these kids follow the rules and practice their own safety tips whilst skateboarding, they can still be hit by negligent drivers. Hospital emergency rooms state that approximately 26,000 persons are injured yearly. Most of these skateboard injuries can stem from sprains, fractures, contusions and abrasions; these are some of the most common types of injuries.

Some of the factors that can be taken into consideration and that can add to the reasons for some of these accidents besides driver negligence, are the rider may not be wearing the proper protective equipment, poor board maintenance and irregular riding surfaces.

Our office has also seen that these injuries happen mainly to the following:
• Almost every 6 out of 10 kids under the age of 15 are more susceptible to injuries due to lack of experience on their board;
• Skaters with a year or more of experience have the next highest number of injuries as they are the ‘risk ‘ takers - willing to try more tricks on their boards;
• Experienced skaters mainly suffer injuries when they fall after they strike rocks and other irregularities in the riding surface or when they attempt difficult stunts.
• Riding surfaces that are uneven such as surfaces that have holes bumps rocks and other debris account for over half of the skating injuries leading to falls. Before riding, skaters should screen the area where they will be riding by checking for holes, bumps, rocks and any debris.
• Skating in the street can result in collisions with cars causing serious injury and even death.

South Florida known as the “Sunshine State” is home of these skateboarders, hence the reason why there has been a rise in injuries mainly from driver negligence. Should you or a loved one be the victim of personal injury due to driver negligence whilst riding their skateboard you should seek legal counsel for your minor to ensure that you are compensated for damages and medical bills should you decide to file claim. 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.

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.

With South Florida rainy season still in effect sometimes just "running into" a store can be hazardous. With the weather finally holding up this past week, previously the afternoon showers, made running into a pharmacy in Miramar a dangerous task for Simone B.
Approximately three weeks ago with the ususal afternoon showers, Simone had to stop off at a pharmacy after work to run an errand. She parked and was entering the store when she slipped on the wet floor just as she entered the door. There was no notification or the yellow cones that you normally see stating "BE CAREFUL WET FLOOR". Simone hit the floor really hard and paramedics was called out, by the Store Manager as did not want to move her as they were unsure of the seriousness of her injury. Simone was taken to the hospital where she was seen by a Dr and referred for a follow up visit to a Specialist. Simone's injury was not serious for hospitalization as she only bruised her coxic bone "tail bone", but was given time off as this type of injury can be extremely painful. Simone did the follow up to the Dr just to ensure that there was no additional injury.

Simone's slip and fall caused her loss of wages, and medical costs incurred from the follow up visits to the Dr. She sought legal counsel from a Personal Injury Attorney practicing in Miramar, FL to ensure she received proper compensation from her injuries sustained from the fall.

In Florida we come across numerous slip and fall cases or personal injury claims are filed against businesses due to their own error. 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.