Fort Lauderdale Injury Attorneys
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Fort Lauderdale Injury Attorneys | , ,

Choosing a Lawyer for Your Injury Case – Fort Lauderdale Injury Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus

Statistics allow us to know a lot about our world, and they can help us make decisions about our lives. For example, did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) life expectancy for smokers is at least 10 years shorter than for nonsmokers. Quitting smoking before the age of 40 reduces the risk of dying from smoking-related disease by about 90%. We hope we just convinced some people to quit!

You should also take care of your heart because the number one cause of death in Florida is heart disease. Eat right, exercise, and you’ll make those who love you happy by lowering your risk of heart issues.

After heart disease, cancer is the number two killer of Floridians, but most people have no idea what ranks number three. It’s unintentional injuries, and that includes traffic accidents (car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian) as well as industrial accidents, slips and falls, and a large number of other mishaps that injure and kill thousands of people in Florida every year. Obviously you can reduce your risks for accidents by taking reasonable safety precautions, but the truth is that anyone can be the victim of someone else’s negligence and be hurt, sometimes severely.

What do You Do When You’re Injured in Florida?

Fortunately our United States Constitution, specifically the 7th Amendment, permits citizens to seek restitution in a court of law. The first thing most people do when they are seeking justice is hire an attorney, and there are many to choose from. What do you do, where do you go, or who you going to call?

Here are some tips we suggest for everyone so they can make the best choice:

In most personal injury cases, time is of the essence, which means you’ll want to move fast. The reason for expediency is that most injury cases involve witnesses, and people’s memories are clearest immediately after an incident. It’s also important to preserve evidence in the form of photographs by other means as appropriate. Therefore, as quickly as possible make a list of three to five attorneys and set appointments with each. You’ll want to ask each attorney what kind of results to expect and you’ll want to ask about qualifications. How many injury cases have they handled? How long have they been dealing with accidents similar to yours?

It’s also important to ask what kind of results your potential attorney has achieved for other clients. What kind of statements are available online from previous clients? Will your attorney have the time to speak to you if you pick up the phone and call?

Fort Lauderdale Injury AttorneysClarify Attorney Fees. Most injury attorneys offer a free consultation, but it’s important to be crystal clear about what you may be charged for right from the start.

As with any decision, your gut feeling will play a role in your decision, but try to balance feelings and facts and then make a decision.

Fort Lauderdale Injury Attorneys – Lazarus and Lazarus

If we meet to discuss your case we want you to know that everything we discuss is completely confidential. In Florida, the attorney-client privilege is governed by Section 90.502 of the Florida Statutes. We will clearly explain what the options are for your specific situation, and we’ll tell you what to expect.

To reach our law office you should call (954) 356-0006 7 days a week. We place the highest priority on responding to calls for help so if we don’t answer, we will respond to your message immediately. If you choose another attorney we will wish you the best possible outcome.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Prescription Errors | , , , ,

When are Pharmacy Errors Considered Malpractice?

Alexander Pope, an 18th century English poet, said “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” That may be true, but it’s difficult to forgive someone when their error causes serious damage.

pharmacy errorsIn the healthcare industry, human error has become one of the leading causes of death, and people in hospitals now refer to serious mistakes as “nevers” which means they are never supposed to happen. There are lots of checks and balances, and yet people are still harmed and killed by “nevers.”

With prescription medications, these mistakes can happen in the hospital, in your doctor’s office, and in your local pharmacy. When does a “never” mistake become malpractice? Malpractice is defined as improper, illegal, or negligent professional activity or treatment, especially by a medical practitioner, lawyer, or public official. These are people who are held to a higher standard by the legal system due to their level of education, training, and the vital nature of their work. If you order a steak medium-rare but they cook it until it’s black, that’s not malpractice. Just a mistake.

Read more “When are Pharmacy Errors Considered Malpractice?”

Florida Personal Injury Attorney
| lazaruslaw-2 | 0 Comments | Florida Personal Injury Attorney, Uncategorized | , , ,

Let’s not “Visit” the Emergency Room

The dictionary defines the word “visit” as “an act of going or coming to see a person or place socially, as a tourist, or for some other purpose.” Most visits are pleasant experiences, right?

The U.S. Center for Disease Control, which works to keep us healthy also keeps track of injury statistics. They call going to the emergency room a “visit” but there’s not too much pleasant about being treated at the emergency room. Those are visits we can live without.

Florida Personal Injury AttorneySome of the types of injuries and statistics for emergency room visits are surprising, but understanding them might help us and our loved ones avoid visits to the ER. Sometimes injuries are our own fault and sometimes they are due to someone else’s – that’s when a personal injury attorney can help.

Let’s look at some numbers:

Nationwide, in 2011 there were 136.3 million ER visits. 40.2 million were related to injuries. The rate of people visiting the ER was 44 per 100 people, so if you’re an average person, you had slightly less than a 50% chance of going to the ER.

In Florida, the reasons for going to the ER are interesting.

The number one cause for going to the ER – non-fatal injury – is listed as “fall.” Now, a large number of these incidents are in the upper-age segment of the population for obvious reasons, but it is also number one for ages 10-14, probably skateboard and bicycle mishaps.

The number two reason for going to the ER in Florida across all age groups is “struck by.” Struck by? What is struck by? Some research shows that people are struck by many things including Struck By: car, truck, bus, train, boat, golf cart, golf club, forklift, crane, mobile platform, bicycle, tire, flying piece of X, garage door, door opening, rock, another person, mail carrier, farm equipment, falling objects, motorcycle, stock items, batted ball, lawn mower, scaffolding, pressurized hose, hammer head, etc…..

So, it’s probably a good idea to avoid everything on that list. You’d have to stay home under the bed.

Number three is motor vehicle accidents, which we write about often. Wear your seat belts, slow down, don’t text and drive, and never, ever drive if you have been drinking.

Number four is interesting but not surprising in Florida: over-exertion. The heat and humidity can wear you down and wear you out fast if you’re working or exercising above your tolerance. Always see a physician before starting a work-out regimen and stay hydrated. Take regular breaks of you’re working outside in the heat and when you feel that something hurts, stop.

Many visits to the ER can be prevented by exercising good judgement, but sometimes you can’t prevent an injury because they are often caused by someone else’s negligence. Some of the more common injuries resulting from negligence are falls due to unsafe conditions, being struck by unsecured objects, defective products, and assaults by other persons.

If you slip due to a puddle on the floor and you are injured, this is not necessarily a clear-cut “slip and fall” injury. There are legal issues such as duty of care, premises liability, security precautions, and a host of other circumstances to consider in any injury situation.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been advising and helping victims of injuries in south Florida for over 20 years. Gary and Arleen Lazarus are eminently qualified personal injury attorneys who will listen to the circumstances of your injury and discuss options which may help you receive any compensation that is appropriate under the law. You can reach the firm by calling 954-356-0006.