Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Personal injuries, whether caused by car accidents, boating accidents, or other types of accidents, are always a tragedy. Even relatively mild injuries can cause financial loss and suffering, while more serious injuries can result in loss of life. Studies have shown that many injuries are in fact very preventable. This upcoming year, we can do our part in order to prevent injuries. Here’s how:

1) Get informed. Learn about the laws, rules, and legislation that affect your safety each day. In many cases, injuries and accidents take place simply because we do not know how to prevent accidents and injuries. Keep reading this blog for useful safety tips and read about safety through reliable online sources.

2) Get involved. Write to your congressperson or political representative about laws and issues which concern you. Learn about laws and if you see something that concerns you, ask your political representative to make changes that will keep everyone safe.

3) Practice good safety in your own home. Make sure that your home is designed to help minimize accidents. Make sure that floors and rugs are not slippery. Remove obstacles from the floors and install working fire alarms. If you notice something unsafe in your home, change it so that no one is injured.

4) Do the little things that keep other safe. You can help prevent many personal injuries. If you have a dog, for example, you can keep your dog indoors or in an enclosed area of your yard so that your pet will not bite letter carriers and other professionals. If you have a pool, you can help prevent pool accidents and drowning by carefully securing your pool when it is not in use.

5) Speak up. If you see unsafe conditions somewhere, bring it to someone’s attention. If you are in a store and notice a spill, report it to the business owner or manager. You could be helping to prevent a slip and fall accident.

If you are having trouble setting your resolutions for 2010 we have recommendations for resolutions that could save your life this year and the life of loved ones. Consider adding these resolutions to your list, for a healthier and safer 2010:

1) Resolve to develop a fire escape plan. Many homes do not have an active and practiced fire escape plan, even though such a plan can help save lives in the event of fire. Many families do not even have properly working fire and smoke detectors. This is the year to change all that. By having a good escape plan that is practiced and known by everyone in your family, you can help prevent serious burn injuries and fatalities as a result of fire. Just developing a plan for fire and practicing it a few times can improve the chances that your family will survive a blaze.

2) Resolve to drive more safely. Car accidents still claim many thousands of lives each year. You can help prevent becoming a statistic by practicing some good driver safety throughout the year. Make sure that you always wear your seat belt, and avoid distractions in the car. Make 2010 the year you shut off all mobile phones and devices while you drive. Pulling over to talk on the phone rather than taking calls as you drive will help you focus on the road more carefully.

3) Resolve to protect your brain. It seems like a funny resolution, but there's nothing funny about serious head injuries. Each year, tens of thousands of people sustain serious head injuries because they are not wearing adequate head protection. Whether you are on a bicycle, skates, snowboard, or skis, keep in mind that you need to protect your head in the event that you fall. Get a helmet that you love for each activity that you take part in that offers a risk of falls. Check your helmets at the start of the New Year to insure that they still fit correctly and show no signs of wear or damage.

4) Resolve to practice good water safety. Even though it's winter now, Florida will soon start to see some of its famously beautiful weather. When this happens, most of us will head to the beaches, boats, waterways, and swimming pools in order to take part in the many water activities that the state offers. Brush up on your swimming skills, take a CPR course, and learn how to stay safe in the water. This can help you and others who are swimming with you stay safe.

5) Resolve to take a racing class. It's a fun resolution, but a racing class can also help you become a better driver by teaching you how to handle curves, accidents, and other possible disasters on the racetrack. It's a fun way to actually improve your driving skills and keep you safe on the roads.

This is a time of year when many of us look forward to a better and brighter future. New Year's Eve is a time when traditionally many of us set goals and resolutions for the New Year. For 2010, you may wish to enjoy better health, better finances, and a better life all around. While we certainly hope that you reach all of these goals, and much more, do keep in mind that some New Year's resolutions can lead to personal injuries. Avoid injuries as you set out on your new life by following these tips:

1) Seek a physician's help if you're considering making changes for your health. Losing weight, getting fit, and stopping smoking are among the most common resolutions set every year. Unfortunately, the methods that some people use to achieve these ends are not always healthy. If you're starting a new exercise and diet regimen, for example, make sure you speak your doctor about healthy and safe ways to do this. It can help prevent painful strains and other stress injuries.

2) If you will be visiting a gym or purchasing equipment, carefully learn as much as you can before you spend your money. You want to ensure that you do not end up in a premises liability suit or personal injury lawsuit because you have purchased or used a product that is not very safe.

3) If you decide to start jogging or walking outside, this can be a great way to stay in shape. However, make sure that you wear reflective clothes and walk with a buddy to help prevent slip and fall injuries, pedestrian accidents, and other common injuries. Consider walking on designated trails in areas with plenty of pedestrians, rather than in areas that are heavy with traffic. If you decide to ride your bicycle in order to get more fresh air and exercise, also consider sticking to bicycle lanes and areas especially designated for bicycles. Follow all traffic rules to ensure that you are not in a bicycle accident.

4) If you've decided to travel more this year, brush up on your safety rules when traveling to prevent bus accidents, aviation accidents, and other serious personal injuries. Learning the safety features of your method of travel can help you survive an accident.

5) If you plan on taking a new class or driving out to see friends more often, make sure that you learn the route before you leave, so you can put all your focus on driving. Avoid distractions while driving to new destinations, especially. Keep in mind that the more time you spend of the road the more alert you need to be for potential danger to make sure you get to all your New Year's destination safe and healthy.

Property owners have an obligation to keep people visiting their property safe. Retail business owners, property managers, landlords, and property owners all have an obligation to ensure that their premises are safe. In fact, many business owners and property owners advertise their security systems and the safety of their premises to customers, patrons, and visitors. A condo building, for example, may promise the latest in security devices and measures. Many businesses charge extra for safety features.

Unfortunately, not all business owners live up to their promises in terms of adequate safety and security. Whether businesses promise safety and security overtly or not, they all have an obligation to ensure that their properties are safe. When owners and property managers are negligent in providing basic safety and adequate safety measures, they can be held liable if someone is injured on the property.

Inadequate security cases arise quite often when someone is assaulted, sexually assaulted, mugged, or otherwise harmed on a property due to inadequate security. In these cases, serious personal injury as well as emotional trauma can result. Even if the perpetrator is never caught, property owners can be held liable if it is shown that they are negligent in providing a reasonable amount or an appropriate amount of safety measures.

If you have been injured, assaulted, or otherwise harmed on a property, you may wonder whether you have an inadequate security case. There are generally three factors that determine whether you have a case. If these three factors are present, you may be eligible under Florida law to seek redress for your injuries:

1) The property owner failed to meet a legal duty that he was obliged to provide. That is, you may have a case if the property owner was negligent in providing adequate security measures. If there was inadequate lighting, inadequate warnings about potentially dangerous situations, or if there were other safety concerns that might have contributed partly or directly to your injury, you may have a case.

2) The property owner’s negligence resulted in your injuries. You may have an inadequate security case if the actions of the property owner resulted in your injury. For example, if a property owner did not install adequate lighting in an underground garage and you were robbed in the underground parking garage because you could not see your attacker ahead of time in order to escape, you may have a case.

3) You have sustained injuries or damages as a result of the incident. If you have been attacked, you may have been robbed of money, you could have sustained a head injury, broken bones, or other serious injury. You may have had to lose income because you could not attend work for a few days due to your injuries or due to stress. If you have needed to pay for therapy in order to resume your normal life, or if you have had to replace property that was stolen or damaged in the incident, you may also have a case for inadequate security.

If you are not sure whether you qualify for an inadequate security case, contact a qualified Florida personal attorney today. A good Florida attorney can tell you whether you have a case and can help you safeguard your rights in the event that you do.

During this time of year, many of us visit friends and family for at least a day, if not a few days. While many of us consider premises liability issues -- such as anything that might cause slip and fall accidents or injuries on our properties -- when we are hosts, we sometimes forget that when we go away we also have a responsibility to ensure that our homes are safe and secure. Here are some ways to avoid premises liability issues when you are away:

1) Make sure that areas leading up to and away from your home are kept clean and clear in your absence. Delivery personnel, your mail carrier, and other business related persons might still need access to your property when you are away. If one of these people is injured while you are away, you could still be held liable if you do not take proper steps to ensure that your property is safe while you're away. If you need to, consider hiring someone to check in on the property.

2) Secure your pool. If you have a pool, check and double-check to ensure that it is correctly secured. Keep in mind that if a curious child wanders onto your property and this results in a pool accident or near drowning incident, you could be held liable if you did not take proper precautions to secure the area. Ensure that your pool is surrounded by a fence and a locked gate.

3) Secure your property. Keeping your property safe from intruders not only provides you with peace of mind while you're away, but it can help prevent serious legal ramifications in case a child or teenager wanders onto your property and becomes injured while you are away. If you have a security system, make sure that it is activated before you leave. Consider adding timer lights to your property so that it does not look empty.

5) Consider hiring someone to stay at your home if you will be way for an extended period of time. Consider hiring a service or having a loved one stay at your home for a few days. This will help prevent possible break in, and will ensure that your property is correctly looked after.

Dog bites are an issue during the holidays. More of us are visiting the homes of loved ones, and some of these homes invariably include pets. As well, more people are visiting our homes, and delivery personnel are arriving in our homes more frequently to deliver holiday parcels. Changes during this season -- such as new decorations and new faces -- can upset pets. At the same time, some guests, especially younger ones, may inadvertently tease or annoy a pet. All of these factors can contribute to bites. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to help prevent dog bites:

1) If you are pet owner, make sure that your pet is healthy and comfortable. Even though this is a hectic time of year, take time out to spend some time with your dog. Talking to your pet, going on a walk, or scratching your dog behind their years will reassure your pet that everything is OK. Spending time with your pet also ensures that you will notice any signs of potential illness. If your dog shows any signs of illness, make sure that you take your pet to the vet immediately. Dogs are far more likely to bite if they are in pain or unhealthy.

2) If you are pet owner, consider placing your dog in a different part of the house if you have guests or are expecting visitors or delivery personnel. At this time of year, it is a good idea to put your dog into a separate room if you will be expecting many new guests. This will allow your dog to get comfortable to the sounds and smells of people before they are introduced. Also, keeping your dog from delivery personnel can help prevent unfortunate accidents.

3) Supervise your pet around guests and visitors. If you have younger visitors, especially, keep in mind that dog bites can cause severe head injuries, facial disfigurement, and other serious injuries for youngsters. Unfortunately, small children sometimes do not know the proper way to behave around animals. It is your responsibility to ensure that your pet is correctly supervised at all times. If you cannot supervise your pet, consider keeping your pet away from the guests until the guests leave.

4) If you will be visiting people who have a pet, practice good pet safety. Never approach a strange dog without asking permission, even if it is a dog that belongs to a loved one. If you do approach the animal, make sure that you approach slowly and allow the dog to sniff you. Never approach dog that is sleeping, eating, or seems agitated. Teach your children the correct way to behave around dogs as well.

At this time of year, slip and fall injuries are unfortunately more common. We are all a little bit more rushed, and running around trying to accomplish all our last minute holiday errands. Wet weather and darker days can also contribute to slip and fall injuries. Ornaments and decorations can also pose trip hazards if they are placed on the ground.

While many of us harm nothing but our pride when we fall, slip and fall injuries can have serious consequences. For the elderly, they can mean broken bones or broken hips. For everyone they can result in head injuries and other serious personal injuries. If a guest or visitor in your home trips and falls on your property, you could also face premises liability issues. Everyone wants to have a safe holiday, and that means no falls. According to experts, there are several things that you can do to help prevent slip and fall accidents for yourself and your loved ones this holiday season:

1) Keep things tidy. Although this time of year is hectic, it's important to continue tidying up. If there is a rainfall or if a puddle forms on your property, be sure to clean up the spill. Be sure that any wrapping paper or wrapping products are cleaned up after you have assembled your holiday gifts. If you are storing gifts underneath a holiday tree, ensure that the gifts are well tucked under the tree and do not pose a tripping hazard.

2) Consider the special needs of guests. If you'll be having elderly loved ones visiting you this holiday season, take the time to ensure that your home is safe for them. Remove any area rugs or items that can easily be tripped over. Consider installing bars in the bathroom to help prevent slip and fall accidents in the shower.

3) Ensure that your home as well lighted. Since the days at this time of year can be much shorter, you will need to turn on your outdoor lights and your indoor lights much sooner. Consider adding a few extra lamps around your home to provide extra lighting, and make sure that your outdoor lights are functioning well. Turn them on before guests arrive.

4) Take care of your health. At this time of year, flu medications, the flu, stress, and alcohol consumption can all contribute to falls. If you feel unwell, stay in bed and take things easy until you feel well enough to get around safely. If you're taking medications, read labels carefully and speak with your pharmacist to ensure that you will not have problems with dizziness. Get plenty of sleep and take care of yourself physically to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

During the holidays, we all want children to have a wonderful season. Most of us purchase toys for younger friends, family members, and some of us even donate toys to our favorite charities. While toys are a big part of this time of year, toys can also mean personal injury. Each year, children are rushed to the hospital choking, or with head injuries, burns, and other injuries sustained from toys. Here are some ways to ensure that children stay safe this season:

1) When buying toys, read labels carefully. Only buy toys that are appropriate for the child recipient’s age, skill level, and interest. Also, carefully read warning labels as well as instructions. Assemble toys correctly and ensure that they are always used correctly.

2) Carefully check toys reviews. Just because a toy is on the market, unfortunately, this does not guarantee safety. Always carefully check toys for small parts if you are giving these toys to small children. Any item smaller than a child's fist can present a choking hazard. Be especially vigilant about toys given to children who are three years of age or younger. Any small magnets, sharp parts, or detachable pieces can pose a hazard. Read online reviews to find out what other parents are saying about toys and to read professional opinions about toys safety.

3) Avoid buying second-hand toys. These may be damaged or recalled. Consider buying smaller toys if budget is a problem. If you do decide to buy a second-hand toy, go online and check its safety record carefully.

4) Supervise playing children. During the holidays, children often spend time in other homes, as families visit each other. However, at these homes younger children can come into contact with toys intended for older children. Younger children can seriously harm themselves by playing with and older child's toys. An older child’s toys may have small or removable parts that a younger child can easily choke on. Always carefully supervise playtime.

5) Register all the toys that you purchase for the holidays or that your child receives as gifts. Filling out the attached registration form ensures that you will be contacted in the event that the toys are ever recalled. This provides an extra layer of safety in case a product is later on found to be unsafe.

6) Consider the accessories that come with a toy. Battery-operated toys can be a hazard for younger children, as batteries can pose thermal burn injury hazards. At the very least, make sure that any battery-operated toys are designed in such a way as to make removing a battery very difficult. If you are purchasing a snowboard, scooter, skates, skateboard, riding toys, bike, or other such items, purchase the appropriate safety gear as well as a good helmet. Bicycle helmets can help prevent head injuries by up to 85%, according to some experts.

Although holiday decorations are festive and beautiful, they also do create a risk of personal injury to yourself, your guests, your pets, and especially your children. Holiday decorations pose a number of risks. To small children, they can be attractive and intriguing. Each year, a few children are admitted to emergency rooms because they have eaten decorations or have cut themselves on lights or ornaments. As well, each year people are admitted to emergency rooms with spinal cord injuries or other serious injuries as a result of putting up decorations. If you want to spread some holiday cheer in your home, you can deck the halls. Juts make sure you do so safely, by considering these tips:

1) Choose your holiday decorations carefully. Where possible, avoid candles, especially if you have children or pets. Since the holiday season is so hectic, many people do not have the time to really supervise candles correctly. Leaving candles burning can easily lead to serious burn injuries. As well, if you are looking for decorations, check to make sure that bulbs and ornaments are unbreakable and are made of plastic. If you have small children or pets, choose larger decorations which cannot easily be swallowed. Ensure that decorations do not have any small pieces that can easily be detached and swallowed. If you are hanging lights, check the cords to ensure that there is no damage that could result in an electrical fire. Where possible, switch to LED lights, which burn cooler and pose a smaller risk of burn injuries.

2) Put up your lights carefully. Usually, in order to hang lights outdoors, people need to climb onto ladders and onto their roofs in order to attach the tiny bulbs. Unfortunately, during this time of year, things can be a little slippery with fallen leaves and damp weather conditions. If you're hanging holiday lights, use a sturdy ladder, make sure that you have someone helping you and holding the ladder at the bottom, and take your time. It is often safer to have professionals hang your outdoor lights for you. Indoors, as well, use extra caution and wear sturdy shoes when climbing up ladders to hang ornaments up high.

3) Hang your decorations using hooks or fasteners. Larger ornaments, such as wreaths, can cause injuries if they happen to topple over or fall. Also, some decorations, such as Christmas trees, can be hauled down by small children or pets, causing injuries. Secure your decorations carefully. Use larger hooks or nails to ensure that wreaths and other ornaments cannot fall down. For a tree, use a sturdy and broad tree stand that will make your tree more stable. Consider a smaller tree that is bottom heavy and therefore less likely to tip over.

4) Be careful of accidental poisonings. During the holiday time, we often use additional products, some of which can be deadly if ingested by children or pets. Poinsettia plants, for example are quite toxic, and fake Christmas snow spray can also be harmful if swallowed. Always check the ingredients of products you are using in your home, and consider using more natural products. If you know your child or pet likes to chew on items, place your tree in a closed room where you can supervise it more carefully.

5) Avoid slip and fall or trip and fall accidents. Holiday decorations often mean more items underfoot, which sometimes means more falls. When putting out holiday decorations, make sure that cords do not stretch over large areas of space. Set your ornaments close to an outlet, so that the cord does not pose a tripping hazard. Clean up any spills promptly, especially when watering the tree. When putting up decorations consider their potential for trip and fall accidents. For example, avoid placing any sorts of decorations on stairs. Make sure that decorations are up high and visible, well off the floor.