South Florida Injury Attorney Blog

There is never anything good about a hit and run crash where the end result was a death, an early morning crash in Davie lead to the death of an unidentified woman. See story below.

Sun Sentinel – Davie, FL -- A woman was killed in an early morning hit and run crash in Davie Thursday, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Authorities are looking for a small, dark-colored SUV with heavy front-end damage that was involved in the crash and fled, Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Wysocky said.

Because of the crash and investigation, a westbound portion of I-595 was closed to motorists for about three hours Thursday morning.

As you can see up until the story was printed they were still doing investigations. To the family of this victim our sincere condolences go out to you and yours. Picking up the pieces after something as tragic as this is always hard for any family but it is necessary to ensure that your family receives the compensation that you rightly deserve.

In any wrongful death case the court may rule that the defendant be required to pay medical bills; funeral costs and the estimated future earnings of the deceased. In some cases I have seen the court also rule that they may also be liable for loss of services for things like household chores that would normally be performed by the deceased as well as loss of advice and companionship.

If you lost your loved one due to a wrongful death, you may be eligible to receive compensation under the law. Call us at 954-431-8100 or 305-624-9186 or contact us online for a FREE consultation. You can also visit us at any of our offices located in Broward and Miami-Dade.

Continue reading " Hit and Run crash in Davie " »

Coral Springs, FL (Sun Sentinel) - Roof collapses at AmTrust bank in Coral Springs earlier today.

There were no reports of injuries Monday afternoon when a large portion of an overhang collapsed at the drive-through area of a Coral Springs bank.

No other area of the bank appeared to be affected by the collapse.

The outcome of this report could have been worse, with injuries to a bank customer using the drive thru at the time of the collapse.

In situations like this should you ever find yourself in one, you may be able to file premises liability against the bank or property owner but to ensure you have enough evidence to back your claim should you decide to file one for damages to yourself and your vehicle you should always keep the following to present to your legal counsel who should be an experienced attorney in premises liability:

1. Retain all records of Medical bills should you have been injured from the accident;

2. Get the police report for the incident;

3. Take photographs of the accident area and the immediate area;

4. Photographs of the damages to your vehicle and your person should you have any.

Once you have all of the above you should present to your Attorney who will review and ensure you receive the proper compensation that you deserve for your damages etc. Should you or a loved one become a victim of this type of accident, you should seek counsel from an experienced attorney in personal injury.

Contact us online or via telephone 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 for your FREE consultation.

Continue reading " Roof Collapses in Coral Springs " »

So to follow up on my previous blog just some more information on dog bites. As an attorney practicing in South Florida for over 33years, we have handled cases involving attacks from all breeds of dog including the most vicious and harmful such as Pit Bulls, Rottweiler's, German Shepherds and Doberman Pinchers. We have also worked on cases where the bites were inflicted by the "more friendly" breeds of dogs like Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Terriers even some of the "tea cups".

All dog owners have a responsibility to keep their dogs properly tied or locked up and to keep their family, guests and general public safe from harm. As I mentioned in my previous blog Florida law applies a “strict liability” standard regarding dog bites. This means that an owner of a dog is responsible for the damages caused by their dog, regardless of any actual negligence unless the owner of the dog displayed a “bad dog” sign on their property or the dog was provoked into biting.

At the Law Office of Cohn & Smith our experienced Attorney's evaluates each case independently to determine whether the animal was properly tied or on a leash and/or within the confines of the owner’s yard and whether the animal was provoked into attacking.
If you have been a victim of a dog bite or animal attack you should contact an attorney experienced in these types of cases or injury, immediately, after seeking medical attention should it be required.

Our knowledgeable staff will be with you through the entire investigation of the incident including taking witness statements, making a thorough evaluation of the property where the attack took place and interacting with the local police department and animal control unit.

We have offices located all over South Florida – from Miramar to Coral Springs or Fort Lauderdale to Aventura, we encourage you to contact us our office at 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 for your FREE consultation, or visit us online.

So to continue from my previous blog I will now touch on Dog bites and just some information with reference to the Dog Bite Law in Florida. There are two types of laws one is Strict Liability and the other is Negligence, I will summarize the two below for you.

Strict Liability is considered the first type of law that covers bites in Florida; there are other states such as California, Ohio, and New Jersey that have strict liability laws for dog bite injuries. To summarize, this law states that the owner of the dog is liable for any injuries he/she causes.

This law is somewhat different from the “one bite” law which does not fault the owner of the dog unless the dog has already bitten or injured someone previously. So, basically if you are attacked or bitten by a dog, and the dog had previous injury, the owner of the dog will automatically be held responsible for your injuries, therefore you should have no problems being compensated for your medical bills.

There are exceptions to this rule: if you were trespassing on private property when you were attacked, then the dog owner may not be liable; or if you were provoking the dog in any way, you may not necessarily be compensated for your injuries.

You can also file suit on the grounds of Negligence and dog bite injuries sometimes fall under this area, or to be more specific it can be considered personal liability. To file this type of claim you and your attorney will have to prove that the owner of the dog violated some duty of care, which resulted in your injuries. Duty of care is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the dog is not on the loose. This could mean that if the dog is not properly penned and the dog gets out and attacks/ bites you, you may have valid grounds to file claim against the owner of the dog.

Should you or a loved one become a victim on this type of personal injury or a dog bite, after seeking medical attention you should seek counsel from an experienced attorney in this type of injury, to ensure you know your rights. We have offices located in Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Aventura, Coral Springs and other locations. Contact us online or via telephone 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 for your FREE consultation.

Living in South Florida along with the beautiful coastlines on our east and west coasts we have an abundance of lakes, canals and the Everglades, need I say anymore. In the previous blogs I have written they have been mainly about dog bites etc… never anything like this. I found this article in the Sun Sentinel and had to blog about it. Read below…

What if you are attacked by an Alligator??

Fort Lauderdale, FL Sun Sentinel- BEWARE - Alligator Safety Tips

Stay out of the Way!

Seek immediate medical attention if bitten by an alligator. Bites often result in serious infection.

I used this article as a "food for thought" to make you think about it. What do you really do should you find yourself in a situation like this, or receive this type of injury who would be responsible for my medical bills.

We all live, or within close proximity to a beach or neighborhoods that border lakes and canals. Alligators can be found at pet stores and considered as exotic pets, but as they grow and become too big to be kept as pets they are released into canals and the lakes becoming a danger and nuisance for the homeowners in the respective neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale and its environs.

Should you or a loved one become a victim on this type of injury, after seeking medical attention you should seek counsel from an experienced attorney in personal injury, to ensure you know your rights. Contact us at any of our offices located in Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines or Weston, online or via telephone 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 for your FREE consultation.

Lovely weather for the beach we had this weekend, but back to the grind. Monday news report in the Sun Sentinel – Sun Bather run over by Lifeguard. How safe is it on the beach?? We all know the water has its dangers but you would think that you would be safe on the beach except for the occasional sunburn. See the article on the North Carolina native, Ms. Mizelle who was visiting our sunny State for some sunshine.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sun Sentinel) – Sun Bather run over by Life Guard.

Rinda Mizelle was sunbathing on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, shorts shielding her face from the sun, when instantly she felt the weight of a lifeguard truck rolling across her body, she says.

"The left side of my body got it the worst," she said. "My right arm had to be stitched. We change my bandages twice a day."

Read more

As Ms. Mizelle’s Attorney stated in his interview the State of Florida has given sunbathers the right of way over all traffic on the beach, he also went on to state that within the last year there have been more injuries similar to Ms. Mizelle.

Should you or a loved one become a victim of injury, after seeking medical attention you should seek counsel from an experienced attorney in personal injury. As a Fort Lauderdale attorney we have represented victims that have been injured due to negligence by city officials or workers and been successful. As we have seen some cities have deadlines as to when you can file a claim, any experienced attorney would know to do their research with the city that the incident took place to ensure that you do not miss the date. In this case the victim lives out of state so in a matter like this I would advise my client to keep all records of injury; medical bills etc, and the report from the first responders on the scene should be kept. These records should be submitted to your Attorney to ensure that you have a strong case should you decide to file claim for your injuries.

Contact us online or via telephone 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186 for your FREE consultation.

Continue reading " Sun bather run over by Life Guard " »

On this day I'm going to keep this short and straight to the point. Friday the 13th already has its myths and legends that go along with it so I will keep a positive note on this one.

Driving through one of the cities out west that currently has a lot of road work being done, I noticed that bicycle lanes were added to the roadways and that is always positive to see. In Florida we have lots of cyclists on the roads these days and with the economy as bad as it is everyone is trying to save and cut costs somewhere. In downtown Fort Lauderdale I have seen the use of golf carts as a form of transportation in and around Las Olas and its immediate environs.

I advise anyone using these forms of transportation to get around make your safety and that of your passenger your first priority always. Too many times we have seen at our office victims of injury from bicycle and motor cycle accidents were in some cases proper safety gear was not worn. We cannot stress that proper safety gear be worn at all times, always ensure when your are bicycling or riding your motorcycle that you have on your helmet and reflective clothing so you can be identified by other users of the roadway.

I said this one will be short and extremely straight to the point ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING when either bicycling or riding your bike. As always should your or your loved one be involved in any form of accident always seek legal counsel to ensure your are compensated for your inury and damages.

At the offices of Cohn & Smith, PA, our staff is ready and able to assist you to ensure your know your rights, contacts us online or via telephone 954 431 8100 or 305 305 624 9186 for your FREE consultation.

Continuing where we left off previously, here is the remainder of the steps that you should follow should you or your loved one be involved in any type of accident.

1. Make notes about the accident, damages to all vehicles involved. Get all auto registration and/or insurance information from the other driver and get witness contact information.

2. Be polite, but don't tell the other drivers or the police that the accident was your fault, even if you think it was. Do not accuse the other drivers of being at fault at this time. Do not spontaneously discuss your personal condition, mental frame of mind, or anything unrelated to the accident. Limit your discussion of the accident to the police and your insurance agent. Even if the facts are embarrassing or detrimental to you, be truthful.

3. If you have a camera, and it is safe to do so, photograph the accident scene.

4. If possible, do not leave the accident scene before the police officers and other drivers do.

5. If you get a call from the other driver’s insurance company asking for your version of what happened at the accident scene, politely decline to make a statement until you have consulted with a lawyer.

6. Consider contacting an attorney experienced in handling automobile accident cases.

As always we advise to seek legal counsel to ensure you know your rights and you get proper compensation for your injuries and damages that you may have incurred. We have offices conveniently located in Broward, Miami-Dade and West Palm Beach and has successfully represented seriously 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 our office for a free consultation at 954 431-8100 or 305 624-9186 or visit us online.

Living in South Florida certainly has its advantages the lovely weather and the beaches are the two main things not to mention the abundance of tourist attractions from night clubs to 5 star restaurants to parks for riding or if you are an avid health fanatic walking or jogging or, just spending time with good company and with perfect weather. So living in “So Flo” as it’s affectionately called can be considered GREAT but, then along with the good there is some bad.

Within recent times and on the news there have numerous accidents some ending in loss of life. At the Law Offices of Cohn & Smith we are specialized in all types’ accident-related cases, and with over 33years of experience we have put together a list of steps that I have separated into two blogs. Following these 11 steps we have listed below will assist your legal counsel in preparing a strong case on your behalf should you decide to file claim.

Below are some things we suggest you keep in mind if you or a family member is involved in an accident:

1. Stay as calm as possible. Check for injuries. If you really think your injuries warrant being taken by ambulance to the hospital, insist on it. Make sure to tell all of the doctors you see after the accident how your injuries occurred and that they resulted from your recent accident.

2. If the accident involves a significant collision and there are likely to be serious injuries, don’t move your vehicle unless its position puts you in danger or you are instructed to move it by a police officer.

3. Call the police, even if the accident is minor.

4. Notify your insurance agent about the accident immediately.

5. Don't sign any document unless it is for the police or your insurance agent.

Our offices are conveniently located in Broward, Miami-Dade and West Palm Beach. 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 our office for a free consultation at 954 431-8100 or 305 624-9186 or visit us online.

In the news lately there have been lots of car accidents some have been the norm where one driver avoided another and got into an accident; there have been others involving school buses and basically just drivers not paying proper attention to the road, causing harm to other innocent drivers. I decided to review some commentary to ensure you have as much information as possible when choosing an attorney experienced in auto injury.

Having an attorney that is experienced car accident injury on your side will ensure that you get the settlement you deserve for your suffering and they will also ensure that the person responsible for your damages is held accountable for their irresponsible actions. A good vehicular accident attorney's understands that you deserve proper compensation and will make sure that your case is handled in a professionally so that you can be confident you will be heard and understood by the judge. They will be able to act quickly to ensure that you do not suffer while you wait for the case to reach its conclusion.

Medical costs can mount up quickly and a personal injury lawyer is well aware of this, and will make sure that your case is treated with the confidentially, with respect and in a timely manner. Once you secure the services of an experience auto injury attorney they will have a full plan for your case and review it with you so that you are confident about everything that will take place.

It is absolutely crucial that you move forward in filing your claim as soon as possible, as it is never wise to wait around. Your attorney needs to be on the case as soon as possible, as case preparation can be timely and you want to give him/her enough time to prepare and build a strong case on your behalf.

Attorney Alan Cohn has been representing car accident victims both in and out of the courtroom for years. His experience will help you recover for your injuries and get you back on your feet. Cohn & Smith PA have offices conveniently located in Broward, Miami-Dade and West Palm Beach and has successfully represented seriously 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 our office for a free consultation at 954 431-8100 or 305 624-9186 or visit us online.

Well the weekend has passed and we are almost through the week, it's "Wednesday HUMP Day". I found this article about a gentleman in his 80’s who received burns whilst repairing a battery on a docked boat, last month in Fort Lauderdale. The article states that the Fire Marshall will be investigating and that the owner of the property could not be reached for comment.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sun Sentinel) — A man in his 80s suffered severe burns Wednesday afternoon while repairing a docked boat, a fire official said.

The man was repairing an 18- to 20-foot vessel docked in the 500 block of Coconut Isle Drive, and an explosion involving a battery occurred about 2:45 p.m., according to Matt Little, spokesman for Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.

The cause of the explosion will be investigated by a Fire Marshal, Little said.

The man, who remained conscious after the explosion, was taken to Broward General Medical Center, Little said.

Little said he had no additional information about the incident. The man's latest condition was unavailable. Friends or relatives of the property owner couldn't be reached for comment despite a message left at a listed number.

There are lots of events in this article that any Experienced Attorney will see that the injured gentleman has grounds to file claim. First I would advise him to seek legal counsel from an experienced Personal Injury attorney who is also experienced in premises liability; workplace and boating accidents. He should then get all his medical reports and the accident from the First responders to present to his legal counsel along with his rehabilitation records. Once he has all this in place his attorney of choice would be able to advise him as to what his legal options are and how to proceed to ensure he gets the compensation that he rightfully deserves.

Should you or your loved one find yourself in a similar situation you should immediately contact my office as I am experienced attorney in personal injury and premises liability to ensure you know your legal rights and get the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or via telephone 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186. We have offices located throughout Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Weston; and Miami-Dade: Aventura.

Continue reading " Man in Fort Lauderdale receives serious burn injuries " »

As I am writing and posting blogs, whilst doing my research I stumble onto a lot of informative articles that I plan on using. I found this article totally informative as it encompassed valid reasons as to why you should hire an Attorney experienced in motor cycle accidents.

Please note I totally forgot save the source so please forgive me.

If you have had the misfortune of having been involved in a motorcycle accident then one thing you should do at the earliest opportunity is to contact a specialist attorney who can advise you on where you stand from a legal angle. It is important to get the right kind of advice in regards to this because they are the people who fully understand the ins and outs of how to successfully be awarded damages for injuries received.

You can therefore see that if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident it is advisable to get the right legal advice from someone who fully understands these types of cases. Just make sure that you really do take your time in deciding who is going to represent you as it is best to try and use someone with experience in order to get the best possible end result.

We offer FREE consultations and my staff is always ready to answer any question you may have. Therefore, should you or your loved one find yourself in a similar situation you should immediately contact my office as I am experienced attorney in motor cycle accident injury to ensure you know your legal rights and get the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or via telephone 954 431 8100 or 305 624 9186. We have offices located throughout Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Weston; and Miami-Dade: Aventura.