Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

There are lots of mistruths out there about personal injury cases, but perhaps the biggest misconception perhaps is that victims are somehow greedy or grasping for pursuing larger settlements rather than accepting the offers that insurance companies often make outright. Unfortunately, sometimes the media or even casual observers repeat these misconceptions and make injury victims feel guilty or bad about pursuing a larger settlement for their injuries. Of course, defendants and insurers are sometimes all too happy to repeat this notion. The truth is, pursuing a fairer settlement makes sense for many reasons:

1) The initial offer made by an insurance company often is made very quickly, before the full extent of the injuries and damage is known. There is simply no way to know the extent of the damage without a thorough investigation and professional evaluations. A good Florida attorney can ensure that these investigations are carried out so that all the facts are in place before a dollar sum is determined.

2) Florida laws governing personal injury cases exist not in order to make a profit for victims but to really help them. These laws help ensure that if someone was reckless or negligent and caused another person harm, the victim will not have to pay for the medical expenses and other costs associated with the injury. Why should the victim have to bear the brunt and suffer the financial consequences of someone else’s poor judgement?

3) Many injuries have long-reaching repercussions that can cost a victim many thousands of dollars more than they anticipated. A simple slip and fall accident, for example, can leave a victim unable to perform basic tasks and errands, which means that the victim must pay someone else to perform these basic services. It is scarcely fair that the costs for these services would come from the victim’s own pocket. Many injuries – including spinal cord injuries and brain injuries – require home care and other medical services not covered by health insurance. These services may be needed for many years or even a lifetime, and of course inflation must be factored in when considering the total cost of these injuries. Many initial offers from insurance companies consider only the immediate, known, and short-term costs. The victim who accepts this sort of compensation without an experienced Florida attorney by his or her side could find themselves in debt or even losing their home in a few years’ time, when the true cost of the injury becomes evident.

4) In many cases, there is a big discrepancy between the resources of the victim and the resources of the defendant. Many insurance companies have enormous resources that are designed to help victims of injuries. The victim asking for fair compensation for an injury is certainly not causing these companies any discomfiture and should never be made to feel guilty or wrong for pursuing a fair settlement.

5) In many cases, injuries have unexpected complications that must also be factored in when deciding on a fair settlement. If a bone does not heal properly, for example, it can take an injury victim many more months to return to work than anticipated. The loss of income can result in real financial distress.

Continue reading "How Common Misconceptions About Personal Injury Cases Hurt Florida Residents" »

Among teens, sport injuries are a serious problem. They can occur while playing team sports at a community center or while taking part in school activities. They can range from a simple bruise to a fractured limb to spinal cord injury and even fatal brain injury. Many sports-related personal injuries are quite preventable and are caused by factors such as improper training, lack of correct equipment, and rapid growth during the teen years (which can cause periodic awkwardness physically).

There are two types of sports injuries: acute traumatic injury and overuse injury. Overuse, or chronic injury, as it is sometimes known is caused by repetitive strain or training. Acute traumatic injuries are generally caused by a single blow from a force. Both types of injuries can lead to serious injury and ailments, but overuse injuries are the ones that tend to be misdiagnosed or under-treated the most, since athletes will often ignore minor, persistent pain.

Florida teens can prevent both types of sports injuries by:

1) Always wearing proper and correctly-fitted helmets for contact sports, biking, and in-line skating. Helmets are one of the best ways to prevent head injuries.

2) Men should wear athletic supporters, or a cup where appropriate, to protect the sex organs from injury. Women should wear supportive sports bras to help prevent injury to breast tissue.

3) Any swelling, numbness, pain, tenderness, stiffness, or loss of flexibility needs to be investigated by a good medical professional. Even if the symptom does not seem severe, the sooner it is diagnosed and treated, the easier treatment usually is. Any of these symptoms can suggest an overuse injury and simply ignoring the injury will not make it go away. Any unusual symptom or any accident or injury on the field should be reported to a doctor and to the coach – even if everything seems fine. Some ailments – including some forms of brain injury – may not manifest symptoms immediately, but can still prove dangerous.

4) Stop playing sports during an injury. Continuing to play while injured can complicate an injury and make it much worse. Seeing a doctor who specializes in sports medicine may be the best idea, as such a specialist can better estimate when it is appropriate to return to play. Returning to a sport too soon after an injury can lead to complications as well.

5) Know your limits. Play at the level of your experience and do not attempt to over-exert yourself. Always warm up adequately before practice and games. Never play beyond a pain limit. Once you start to feel pain, it is time to head to the bench or the locker room and maybe seek a physician’s opinion if the pain persists for a week. Overdoing it can cause serious injury to tissue, muscles, and ligaments.

The World Health Organization reports that injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths among travelers. Each year, some Americans who travel internationally suffer from serious and even fatal injury. Car accidents are the most common cause of injury- related fatalities among US travelers, followed by homicide and drowning. Other common causes of injury to traveling Americans include natural disasters, civil unrest, terrorism, hate crimes against US nationals, slip and fall accidents, burn injuries, unintentional poisoning, drug or medication overdose, and suicide. Unfortunately, for US nationals traveling outside the country, ER rooms and emergency services vary widely and in some cases adequate care is simply not available, leading to complications.

Winter is a popular time to travel overseas. Many travel agents in Florida and other states offer January and February deals and many schools offer spring breaks, freeing families to travel. However, traveling overseas, especially to low-income countries, should be undertaken only with some precautions in mind. If you are planning a trip, make sure that you take these precautions into consideration:

1) Take care to avoid car accidents, the leading cause of fatal injuries among US citizens traveling abroad. Poor road conditions and unfamiliar terrain and rules can all contribute to car crashes. To prevent accidents, consider renting larger vehicles when traveling, as these offer additional protection in an accident. Always wear seatbelts in cars and helmets when on motorcycles, motorbikes, and bicycles. Take extra caution with taxis – choose only marked taxis with safety belts and tell the driver that you will provide an additional tip for driving in a manner you consider “safe.” Exercise extra caution when walking around, especially when crossing streets. Avoid excessive alcohol and avoid getting on buses that are overcrowded. If a vehicle looks unsafe, select another mode of transport.

2) Only swim in designated areas such as hotel pools and lakes clearly marked as safe for swimming. Never swim alone or while under the influence of alcohol. Measure the depth of the water before attempting a dive.

3) When staying at a hotel, determine the nearest fire exists to your room and ask about fire extinguishers in your room. In low-income countries, especially, building codes tend to be lax, which can lead to serious injury in the event of a fire. Consider booking a room on the first few floors of a hotel, so that you can escape in the event of a fire.

4) When traveling by plane, fly with recognizable, larger airline companies. Avoid unscheduled flights, small aircraft, night flights, and flights during bad weather.

5) Consider buying extra insurance – such as health and even evacuation insurance if you will be in a remote location without access to good medical care. If you are traveling to an area that requires this sort of extra precaution, think twice before taking part in any adventure activities such as rock climbing or skydiving. If the equipment is not safe and you are injured, you could face a long wait for adequate medical attention.

At this time of year, many people opt to take advantage of off-season travel deals in order to take trips. While you may be traveling for pleasure, however, illness and injury can ruin your vacation and even endanger your life. There are many ways that you can avoid illness and injury while away from home:

1. Talk to your doctor and do your own travel research. Read about travel health risks at your destination and talk with your doctor about any vaccinations or medicine that you will need for your trip. Arrange to get all your shots, vaccinations and medicine in advance of your trip. Some treatments need to be taken ten days before you travel to be effective.

2. While traveling, wash your hands often with soap and water or a an alcohol-based hand gel that contains at least 60% alcohol. Washing your hands can help prevent salmonella and other ailments.

3. Watch out for food and water. Drink bottled water, carbonated drinks, or boiled water. Avoid open containers of drinks, tap water, fountains, and ice cubes -- these can cause food poisoning. Eat only food that is completely cooked and only fruits and vegetables you have peeled. Avoid eating anything or buying any food products from poultry farms, bird markets, and other areas where live birds are raised.

4. Bring insect repellent if you are traveling to an area with ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects that are known disease carriers.

5. Avoid some of the common causes of traveler injury. Car accidents are a leading cause of deaths among travelers, so always take care to drive only with experienced drivers you trust. Swimming-related accidents are also a common personal injury among travelers. Be cautious when boating, diving, or swimming. Make certain that you swim with a friend, avoid dangerous swimming areas, and check water depth and safety before diving in.

6. Avoid handling animals while on vacation. Dog bites and bites from other animals can pass on many diseases, including rabies.

Any of the more than a quarter million patients in the US with spinal cord injuries have a difficult time adjusting to their injury. Arguably, though, Florida patients may suffer from being in a naturally pleasant environment that they no longer experience the same way. Before a spinal cord injury, Florida residents can enjoy staying active in the mild climate of Florida. After such an injury, however, sports and many other activities become challenging or not possible.

For many people, no matter where they live, a spinal cord injury (SCI) is simply traumatic. Often caused by a car accident, violence, or some other injury that is traumatic of its self, a SCI can hamper a person’s movement and sensation. Plus, many SCI patients also develop complications and other health problems as a result of their injury. Most patients also need to develop a great deal of strength just to perform daily activities after a SCI.

As a result of the trauma that most patients face, most victims of a SCI experience a great deal of emotional upheaval and stress. Many grieve for their lost mobility and movement. Many also react with denial and extreme sadness. A number of patients fall into a deep depression and require therapy or counselling in order to deal with their grief. Others react with anger, especially in cases where someone’s negligence or recklessness caused the injury. These emotional upheavals can contribute to high blood pressure – already a concern for SCI patients -- and stress. The emotions that patients experience can also place a strain on the relationships that patients need for support after their injury.

Recovering from a brain injury takes both emotional and physical healing. It is important to give yourself time to recover and to give yourself realistic personal goals to achieve. If you have been injured for a year or more and have not yet recovered emotionally or started to cope with your injury, you may want to seek help. Many therapists use Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) as well as other therapies to help people with serious personal injury and permanent injury recover emotionally. REBT is based on the idea that it is not the events that we experience so much as our beliefs about these events that cause our emotional states. Therefore, if you are telling yourself that normal life is over for you because of your spinal cord injury, a therapist trained with REBT may help you find alternative ways of thinking about your injury and about the contributions you can still make.

It is especially important to keep an eye on possible unhealthy behaviour after a serious spinal cord injury. If it is taking you some time to recover, you may be tempted to isolate yourself, deny yourself healthy and fun activities, or even deny yourself proper medical care. Some patients with serious spinal cord injuries turn to substance abuse. In fact, the rate of alcoholism among SCI patients is twice as high as among the non-injured population. Some patients grow so depressed that they attempt to injure themselves or even commit suicide. If you suspect that you may be addicted to alcohol or drugs or if you think you are engaging in unhealthy behaviours, it is important to seek help immediately. Drugs, alcohol, and other forms of risk-taking can slow down your recovery progress and can even lead to new injuries.

If you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence or recklessness, it can be especially hard for you to adjust to life with a spinal cord injury – particularly if the person responsible for your injury is unharmed. You may wish to speak to a qualified Florida attorney about your situation. A good Florida lawyer can investigate the circumstances that led to your injury and can help you get closure as well as the help you are entitled to under the law. An attorney can ensure that you have the resources you need to recover as fully as possible. To speak to a qualified Florida attorney, call 1- 800-535-2962 (1 800 5 FLAXMAN). You can set up a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your situation.

A study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine finds that the number of traumatic head injuries among high school football athletes is much higher than the number of the same personal injuries in college football. The study also find that high school players who sustain brain injuries such as concussions often return to the game too soon, often playing with the residual effects of their first injury, a choice that researchers point out is extremely dangerous. Florida parents should be wary: with more days of sunny weather, there are simply more options for Florida high school athletes to keep playing, which can spell trouble.

The study found that football-related brain trauma has decreased over generations, mostly due to better gear. In the 1950s and 1960s, football players in both college and high school were at much greater risk for brain injury than they are today, the study found.

The problem, the study concluded, is that some high school football player return to the field even while experiencing neurological symptoms. Researchers found that there is one severe football head injury for every 150,000 high school football players, which is about seven catastrophic head injuries every year. Researchers uncovered that high school players have over triple the risk of catastrophic head trauma when compared to college players. While high school football players suffered 0.67 such injuries per 100,000 players, college athletes sustained only 0.21 injuries per 100,000 players.

The younger age of the high school players may contribute to brain injury, some researchers have hypothesized, since the skull bone may be thinner and the brain less fully developed among teenage athletes. Others researchers have suggested that less medical coverage may be present at high school games.

Of the high school football players that researchers studied, 59% had had a previous head injury. 71% of these injured players had sustained their earlier injury in the same season. Roughly 40% of the players with head injuries continued to play football, even while experiencing symptoms from the previous injury. About 81% of the injuries occurred when players were involved in helmet-to-body or helmet-to-helmet collisions. Of the group studied, the injuries lead to 8 fatalities, 36 full recoveries, and 46 permanent brain injuries.

Researchers concluded that high school students should be strongly urged to report any possible symptoms of personal injury to their coaches, parents, and physicians. Additionally, the researchers concluded that football players should be strongly discouraged from "leading with the head" and from returning to the game until all symptoms are resolved. Finally, the researchers concluded that medical staff for high school athletes should be highly qualified.

If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic brain injury as a result of sports or an accident, a qualified Florida attorney can help ensure that you get the best quality medical care possible. If you need to speak to an attorney, book a free, no-obligation consultation with a qualified Florida attorney simply by calling 1- 800-535-2962 (1 800 5 FLAXMAN).

In Florida and across the country, children are the most common victims of dog bites and attacks. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that many children and infants simply do not know how to act around dogs and may inadvertently make the dog feel threatened, causing the animal to attack. Experts agree that there are many things that parents can do to help avoid serious injuries that can occur with dog bites. This is especially important since children are more likely to suffer serious personal injury as a result of dog bites. For example, since dogs can be easily reach a child's face and head, severe scarring and even brain injuries can occur when a child is bitten by an animal.

If you want to own a dog for a pet, you will need to select the breed carefully, since children are statistically more likely to be bitten by their own dog. Speak with the veterinarian to learn about dog breeds and select one that will be least aggressive. The least aggressive possible dogs are neutered male dogs, so consider getting this type of pet, especially if you have small children.

Once you brought your dog into your home, take it to obedience school in order to train it how to behave around children. Make sure that your pet is regularly checked by a veterinarian and all immunizations are up-to-date. It is equally important, to teach your children how to behave around dogs. For example, you should always teach your children to never approach a dog -- and that includes the family pet -- when it is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.

Do not leave young children alone with the dog, even if the animal is the family pet. Supervised play should be encouraged, especially at the beginning when children and the pet have not yet become accustomed to one another. Similarly, it is important to always supervise children around the pet when your child's friends come over. Even if the animal is used to your own children, it may still react negatively when new children come into the home and are excited and loud around the dog.

If you have introduced a dog into your home, your children may feel more comfortable around dogs. Therefore, it is important to teach your children to never approach strange dogs. Explain that other dogs may not be as gentle natured or as used to them as the family pet is. Have children report any stray dogs or playing with any dogs to you.

Be sure to also teach children how to properly approach a dog. Show your children that it's important to let a dog first sniff them before they attempt to pet it. You should also instruct children not to tease dogs. This is important, because what many pet owners would see as “teasing” many children would simply see as playing with the dog. It's important that children know the difference. Similarly, it is important that children are taught not to play aggressively with the dog. Trying to wrestle with the family puppy, for example, will encourage that puppy to continue roughhousing even as it grows in size. This can lead to inadvertent biting as the dog grows up.

In Florida, dog bites occur every day. If you own a pet, your dog might bite either you or someone else. What you will want to do will depend on whether someone else is involved and on whether the bite can be explained. If your dog has bitten someone else:

1) Remove your dog from the scene of the attack at once. Restrain your pet and confine it.

2) Help the victim of the bite. Even if the bite occurred because the victim was teasing your dog, make sure that the victim seeks medical advice and knows the importance of washing any wounds with soap and water. If the personal injury seems severe, for example if it appears that the victim has suffered brain injury or some other serious injury as a result of the attack, call 911.

3) To either the victim or the paramedics, provide your name, address, information about your pet’s most recent vaccinations against rabies and other diseases, and other important information. Unfortunately, if your pet has not had rabies vaccination updated, local laws may require that your pet be euthanized or quarantined for rabies testing. In this situation, the victim of the bite will need to undergo treatment for rabies.

4) Always report the dog bite. Your local laws will stipulate who you should report the bite too.

5) Take your dog to the veterinarian to discuss the situation further. Your vet may have some tips about preventing similar behavioural problems in the future. If the dog attack seems to come from nowhere, your vet should test your pet for possible illnesses that may have provoked the attack. In some cases, pets who are in severe pain will be more prone to biting.

If your dog bites you, you should:

1) Call your veterinarian to determine whether your dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date and schedule appointments with the veterinarian can see whether there is an illness that may result in your pet’s unusual behaviour. If your pet's vaccinations are not up to date, you need to go to see your doctor in order to get rabies treatment.

2) Get first aid for the wound. Wash the wound with soap and water or visit your local emergency room if the injury seems severe.

3) Consider seeking obedience classes for your pet to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released the findings of a study that suggests that travelers who travel for four hours or more double their chances of developing deep vein thrombosis. According to the WHO, almost one in 6,000 long-haul travelers is at risk for thrombosis, which can have some unpleasant and potentially serious consequences.

The WHO points out that very short travelers whose feet do not touch the ground and very tall people who are cramped in small seats are at most risk. Frequent travelers, women taking birth control pills, the obese, and those who have disorders related to blood clotting are also at risk of developing dangerous blood clots due to immobility during travel.

The assistant director-general for non-communicable disease and mental health for WHO, Catherine Le Gales-Camus, points out that whether travelers are traveling by car, bus, train, or plane, venous thromboembolism can occur when someone is not moving much for fours or more during travel.

The problem occurs because travelers who are immobile do not experience regular muscle contractions that would occur with movement. As a result, blood starts to pool in the legs, creating good conditions for blood clots, or thrombus, in deep veins. Some sufferers of thrombosis experience swelling, soreness, or cramps in the areas affected, while other victims have no symptoms. Whether a victim has symptoms or not, however, a blood clot can be very dangerous if it travels to the lung. There, it can block blood flow and cause pulmonary embolism. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing and chest pain may develop; the injury may prove fatal if the victim does not get medical help.

Health experts estimate that about 2 billion people travel by airplane annually; many more take trips by land. In both cases, these travelers sit still for long periods of time. Currently, studies suggest that one person suffers from thrombosis for every 20 long-haul flights with 300 passengers. Although aviation accidents are far more likely to cause personal injury to travelers, thrombosis can develop into a potentially life-threatening injury, and it is very easy to prevent.

There are a few things that people can do to prevent thrombosis even on long-haul journeys. Travelers should move their calf muscles in their seats using up and down movements that move the ankle joints and feet, according to the WHO. Also, travelers might want to leave their seats and move around for a few minutes where possible. Travelers who are traveling by car may wish to pull over periodically to stretch their legs and walk around.

Passengers who are traveling by air or by overland transportation should avoid alcohol and sleeping pills, according to the medical experts at the WHO. Alcohol and sleeping pills do not encourage passengers to move around and may contribute to the ideal conditions for thrombosis. Passengers should also avoid wearing tight clothing, say the WHO experts. Tight clothes can constrict circulation and contribute to problems.

A new study reported in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that carbon monoxide poisonings at hotels and motels are not decreasing, although they are not a common malady for travelers. Researchers of the study found 68 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning at resorts, motels, and hotels across the country between 1989 and 2004.

The research indicated that 27 people died of these poisonings, and a further 772 people became ill as a result of the carbon monoxide. Researchers say that the odds of any one person becoming ill from carbon monoxide while traveling are quite low. However, Dr. Lindell Weaver of LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, who headed the study, points out that carbon monoxide poisonings are not decreasing in number and are fatal and serious when they do occur.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that is produced by heating systems, cars, gas ranges, and other appliances. In hotels, carbon monoxide can build up if a fuel burning appliance, furnace, water heater, or other item is not properly vented or is important condition. In some cases, defective products can lead to excessive carbon monoxide emissions.

Sufferers are of carbon monoxide poisoning may experience nausea, chest pain, confusion, and dizziness. If victims do not leave the area where excessive carbon monoxide is present, the gas will prove fatal. The problem with hotels, according to researchers of the study, is that many people sleep in their hotel rooms. If the gas is present in their room, the carbon monoxide may become fatal before the travelers have a chance to wake.

Federal law and the United States stipulates that resorts, hotels, and motels must have smoke detectors in every guest room. However, there are no national laws about the presence of carbon monoxide detectors. Some states require hotels, motels, and resorts to have carbon monoxide alarms somewhere on the premises of the property. However, none of the states require a carbon monoxide detector in each guest room.

Researchers however, point out to that carbon monoxide detectors only cost about $25 per unit. Therefore, the researchers argue that having carbon monoxide detectors which can prevent fatalities makes a great deal of sense. Despite this, the researchers from the study reported that of the 43 hotels, motels, and resorts they were able to contact which had experienced a carbon monoxide poisoning incident, only 12% had installed carbon monoxide detectors since experiencing a fatality or injury on site.

Continue reading "Florida Travels Beware: Carbon Monoxide Risk Present At Hotels" »

Many people are using the last days of Florida summer in order to get in some vacation or travel time before the children return to school in the fall. While Florida travelers have a wealth of possible locations to visit and experience, is important to that all travelers be aware of the potential for illness and personal injury while abroad. If you are hoping to travel to other countries, make sure that you take some precautions.

If you wish to travel outside the country, it is important to see your doctor a minimum of six weeks before you leave for your destination. This allows you to have a dental and medical check op before you go. You may need to take extra prescriptions, medication, or vaccinations before you go. You will also certainly want to take a medical information bracelet, eyewear, first-aid kits, and other necessities before you go.

If you are leaving the country, you may need vaccinations in order to stay safe. If you are not fully protected, your doctor may recommend vaccinations against Hepatitis A or hepatitis A immune globulin, Hepatitis B, the flu, Yellow Fever, Polio, Japanese encephalitis, Measles, Mumps, Rrubella, Meningococcal meningitis, Pneumococcal, Rabies, Tetanus, Diphtheria toxoids, Typhoid fever, and Chickenpox. Based on your condition and the location you're traveling to, your physician can make specific recommendations for the type of vaccination you will need to stay safe.

As you travel, you want to take cautions to prevent personal injury. Keep in mind that other countries have different rules and regulations about liability and injury, so you cannot always rely on assistance and insurance claims if you are hurt. Your best defense is not to suffer an injury. Eat carefully when you are traveling abroad. Avoid raw or uncooked seafood, cold foods, foods from street vendors, unpasteurized dairy products, ice, and water served in glasses. Use bottled water to brush your teeth, and eat well cooked foods and restaurants.

Avoid swimming in streams, lakes, and other public water sources unless you can be sure that they are safe from bacteria and other hazards. Also, keep in mind that automobile accidents or boating accidents in other countries may be more common. Wear a helmet if you are riding a motorcycle, avoid taking transportation that is overcrowded, and always use safety belts.

One type of common personal injury sustained by many Florida victims in car accidents and other accidents is whiplash. This is a soft tissue injury to the neck that is caused by sudden flexion and extension of the neck. While whiplash is not usually considered serious, it does cause injury to ligaments, discs, intervertebral joints, cervical muscles, and nerve roots.

It is important to always be checked for whiplash if you have been in an automobile accident. This is especially important since the symptoms and signs of whiplash may not appear for several days until after the accident. Is also important to get a physical examination after any sort of possible injury to the neck area, because whiplash can cause serious symptoms that can affect your ability to work or go about your daily tasks.

Whiplash can cause neck stiffness, myofascial injuries, headache, dizziness, and shoulder or back pain. Some sufferers of whiplash also experience concentration impairment, problems sleeping, depression, fatigue, memory loss, and other like symptoms. These symptoms are serious and can cause acute suffering if not treated. Also, those who have been victims of whiplash also need to be examined for mild traumatic brain injury, which is sometimes overlooked in head injuries.

Whiplash is often treated with pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and a cervical collar. The collar may need to be worn for a few weeks and it can impede movement. In addition to this, patients may be required to take physical therapy or other treatments. Many patients take three months to recover, although many patients continue to have headaches and neck pain for some time afterwards.

Some patients experience pain and suffering as well as hampered movement for quite some time after suffering from whiplash. If you have experienced whiplash as a result of an accident, you should seek help at once. Since your injury may hamper your lifestyle and cost you a great deal in medical bills you may wish to seek help from qualified Florida attorney in order to get the help you need in order to recover fully.

If you have suffered a personal injury, such as a head injury, burn injury, fractured bone, scarring, spinal cord injury, or other injury caused by someone’s negligence, you may need a good Florida lawyer to represent you. Even if you do not want to go to court, a Florida attorney can investigate the circumstances leading up to your injury and can negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies and other parties involved. An attorney can ensure that you are not given a lowball settlement that does not cover the costs of your injury. Remember, insurance companies make a larger profit when they profit under-compensate injury victims, so you are not likely to get a good settlement without an attorney.

When hiring an attorney for your personal injury case, keep in mind that many attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that they will charge you no money up front. In fact, their only fee is a percentage of your final settlement. This means that you will not be facing a huge debt with a personal injury attorney. You will pay if and when you win your case or settle out of court. Plus, since the attorney is getting a percentage of your settlement, he or she is highly motivated to ensure that you get the best settlement possible

When selecting a personal injury lawyer, look for an attorney who has a record of success with cases such as yours. For example, if you have been in a boating accident, look for a Florida attorney who has been able to get good settlements for injured parties in boating accidents. An attorney familiar with cases such as yours will have the knowledge needed to take care of your case well.

Secondly, you will want to find an attorney you trust. Set up a free, no-obligation appointment with a Florida attorney if you can and ask plenty of questions. Make sure that your attorney listens to you and seems to take your concerns seriously. Work with the lawyer who makes you feel comfortable. During your consultation, ask where your attorney is based. Look for a Florida lawyer in your area who is familiar with local juries, judges, and laws.

When you meet with a personal injury attorney, ask about his or her areas of specialization and about previous cases he or she handled that were similar to yours. Ask who will be working on your case, how long the case might take, and whether the attorney works on a on a contingent fee basis. Ask whether there are things you can do to improve your case and how often you will contacted with updates about the case. Ask whether the attorney has ever been disciplined by an ethics committee or has ever been suspended from the practice of law. Ask about the attorney’s education and continuing education experiences. All these answers will give you a general idea of the attorney you are about to hire.

Continue reading "How to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney" »

Some personal injuries are serious but still leave the victim with a good chance of recovery. For example, someone who fractures a bone in a slip and fall accident may suffer injury and lost income, but may eventually recover fully and lead a normal, full life. On the other hand, some personal injuries are what can be called “catastrophic.” These injuries lead to long-term or permanent effect such as permanent disability, significant suffering, or a shorter lifespan.

If your personal injury seems very serious, it is important to seek help from a qualified Florida attorney who has experience with similar, serious injuries. A good attorney will often help you understand some of the long-term possibilities of a serious injury. For example, serious injuries to minors and children can mean repeated surgeries or treatments to accommodate growth, in addition to treatments for the injury itself. An injury in childhood may even affect normal development. Being able to foresee these medical expenses and problems can help you and your attorney get fair compensation and fair help.

Brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are two types of personal injury that often are catastrophic to an entire family. Someone who suffers a brain injury may require a lifetime of care and may even experience changes of personality, which may be very difficult for a family to deal with. A victim of spinal cord injury may lose motor function partly or completely. Present medical science is limited when it comes to spinal cord injuries. While in the future some medical advances may create more options for patients, right now patients may face a lifetime of disability.

Burn injuries not only require expensive cosmetic surgery – which is rarely covered by medical insurance – but can also leave permanent scars that cause serious trauma and upset. While a victim will sometimes get some compensation for the cosmetic treatments, he or she may not get help for therapy, even when it is needed. Some burn injuries also cause muscle or nerve damage that require years of rehabilitative work.

Obviously, injuries can cause terrible and expensive repercussions. Unfortunately, insurance does not always help. In fact, some of the most dangerous drivers out there are underinsured or carry no insurance at all. This means that if you are in a car accident and suffer a serious injury, you may not be able to get much help from insurance providers. Even in cases where insurance is in place, insurance companies will not simply give away all the money needed for long-term care. A good Florida attorney with personal injury experience is imperative to help juries understand the long-term costs and needs that face someone who has faced a serious injury.

Continue reading "What to Do When a Florida Personal Injury Case is “Catastrophic”" »

Personal injuries can happen anywhere. You can sustain a serious injury in a car accident, on a property you are visiting, in a store, or in a private home. Personal injuries range from seemingly minor scrapes and bruises to serious head injuries, burn injuries, internal injuries, fractured bones, and spinal cord injuries. No matter what injury you suffer, there are certain steps you need to take to protect yourself:

1) Seek medical help. Even if your injury seems pretty minor, it is hard to tell whether or not there will be lasting repercussions from the wound. Only seeing a doctor will help you understand the severity. A healthcare professional can also document your injuries so that if the injury turns out to be more serious than you initially imagined, you have documented proof of what has taken place.

2) Report the incident to authorities. Do this as soon as you can. Authorities will be able to look into the accident and will be able to protect others from potentially harmful situations. You will be given a case number or file number that will help you keep tabs on the investigation.

3) Meet with a qualified Florida lawyer. A good Florida attorney can help protect your interests and can help you understand all your rights. A good rule of thumb is to not sign anything in a personal injury case until you have spoken to a good lawyer. An initial consultation can be free of charge and can empower you by giving you the information you need to know to deal with insurance adjusters and other professionals involved in the case.

4) Contact your insurance company, if needed. If you have been in a car accident or have sustained property damage as well as a personal injury, you will need to file a claim and meet with a claims adjuster.

5) Continue to work with your Florida attorney. Your lawyer will help you understand what needs to happen next. Maintain good communication and follow your attorney’s suggestions. Your lawyer may assesses your case and file a lawsuit. He or she may work to get you a settlement or may set a trial date for your case. Your attorney will work on pre-trial examinations and exchange of documents before the trial and he or she will also deal with any appeals made in the case.

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