Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorneys
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Uncategorized

Independence Day – Don’t Have an Incendiary Incident

This year, as usual, millions of people will honor the birthplace of our great nation by intoxicating themselves and blowing things up with illegal fireworks. We have handled cases where people have lost limbs due to careless use of fireworks, and it is devastating when the injuries involve an innocent child who happens to be in the way of an errant projectile.

People think they can handle explosives, but the truth is that any use of fireworks is dangerous unless you are a trained professional. And even professionals are sometimes injured and killed.

Injuries from fireworks have increased over the past 5 years.

2010      8,600 injuries

2016      11,900 injuries

Four people in the U.S. were killed by fireworks in 2016.

Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Think about what could happen to innocent children or others who are nearby. The pain and suffering that will go on for years is not worth the spectacle of amateur at-home fireworks.

Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorneys

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus represents victims of serious injuries resulting from negligence, carelessness or reckless behavior of others. If you are injured and would like legal advice, we would be happy to sit down with you and talk. Please call us at 954-356-0006.

 

Published on YouTube: Jun 28, 2017

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, the Broward Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and the Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations teamed up to show the dangers of fireworks at The Broward Fire Academy in Davie, FL Wednesday. The bottom line: If you want to see fireworks, leave it to the pros and consider watching one of the public, permitted displays at many cities and entertainment venues in South Florida.

 

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney

Don’t Jeopardize Your Personal Injury Case

We have discussed what to do and what not to do after an automobile accident. It’s important to fulfill your obligations at an accident scene toFort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney make sure everyone who needs it receives medical care. It’s the law that you provide information about your identity and evidence of insurance.

But what about if you are injured due to someone else’s carelessness, negligence, or professional malpractice? You may have a case for damages, and there things you must be aware of in order to protect your rights. Here are some tips that you should read and remember, they could make the difference between your rights being protected and your rights being disregarded.

1 – Lying. One you say something that is not the truth, it will be unlikely that a judge or jury will believe you are telling the truth about anything. The best thing to do if you are the victim in a potential court case is to remain silent and ask for legal guidance. Never lie.

2 – Talk with others about your case. Just don’t do it. People may be inquisitive about what happened, how, and other details. Often people twist things around and you should ask your attorney before speaking with insurance investigators, other attorneys, or witnesses.

3 – Social Media. People today have the urge to post on social media everything they do. Pictures of breakfast, their cat playing, everything. You may want to share details about your injuries, and photographs. It’s not a good idea. Once again, that can wait until after your case is resolved.

4 – Signing documents. It’s fairly common for attorneys to rush to sign settlement agreements with victims. Never sign anything without asking your attorney for advice first.

5 – Waiting too long to consult an attorney. Every state has time restraints on when you must file a case, when you have to present evidence, question witnesses and other rules pertaining to time. If you are injured, seek out a qualified attorney right away.

6 – Ignoring medical advice or hiding a previous condition. Once again, doctors and attorneys are professionals. If you are asked to do something by a doctor you are seeing about your injuries, do it. Failure to do so may jeopardize your case. And never conceal the truth about previous incidents or injuries. The truth will eventually emerge.

Personal Injury Lawyer Fort LauderdaleConclusion: Insurance companies don’t want to pay you for your injuries and they will use whatever means necessary to avoid it. You hire an attorney to guide you through the legal process of obtaining justice and fair compensation. Trust your attorney. Call when you’re not about something, no matter how trivial it may seem to you.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been working with victims of accidents, negligence, and professional malpractice for over 20 years. We have seen every conceivable angle used by defendants and insurance companies to twist the truth and get out of paying what is right. You may reach us by calling 954-356-0006 and we will be happy to discuss your options.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Uncategorized

The Requirements of Medical Malpractice

Fort Lauderdale Medical Malpractice LawyerPeople go to the doctor for various reasons and sometimes they are admitted to a hospital for any number of reasons. When things don’t go as expected, there is often a lot of finger pointing as to who is at fault. It may be nobody, just nature’s way of working things out or it may be because of someone’s carelessness, negligence, or malpractice. So what constitutes a medical malpractice case?

First, there must be the existence of a doctor-patient relationship. You must be able to prove that the doctor involved actually treated you or was involved in your case. A casual conversation in Starbucks does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship.

There must also be a deviation from the accepted standard of care. If the normally accepted method for treating a broken finger is to wrap it in a banana peel, and your doctor did that properly but your finger did not heal, then your doctor probably did not deviate from the accepted standard of care. Unless there were other circumstances, you may not have a case.

You then have to be able to prove that a deviation from the standard of care directly resulted in your injuries. Not getting better is different than getting worse. All these issues must be carefully examined and analyzed before proceeding with a case.

Damages. You must be able to prove that you sustained damages in order to have a case. Damages can include lost wages, physical pain, mental anguish, medical costs, and so forth. You cannot sue a doctor for malpractice, even if he or she was negligent, if there were no damages associated with the negligent act.

Because “standard of care” is so important, here is a definition: The “medical standard of care” is typically defined as the level and type of care that a reasonably competent and skilled health care professional, with a similar background and in the same medical community, would have provided under the circumstances that led to the alleged malpractice.

Now, it is not your responsibility to understand all this and that is why medical malpractice attorneys are here to help. The law was designed to help people, but in order for the system to work properly there have been many meticulous procedures put in place to avoid chaos and a lack of order.

Malpractice attorneys exist so a victim can approach the courts and work within the system to obtain reasonable compensation for pain, suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and other damages caused by the negligence of others.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been working with victims of medical malpractice for over 20 years. We understand the types of cases where standards of care are not followed, and we know the statutes that deal with these instances. Our priority is to safeguard the rights of our clients and help them receive the maximum compensation for their damages.

Please call us at 954-356-0006 if you would like to arrange a confidential consultation, and thank you.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Truck Accidents, Uncategorized

Trucks Have Black Boxes, Too – Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Attorney

When a plane crashes, everyone wants to know what kind of data will be obtained from the “black box.” Even though they are usually bright orange, the “black” boxes have millions of pieces of data that help investigators figure out what caused the accident.

Trucks and cars don’t always get along on our roads and highways, and when they collide with each other the resulting damage can be devastating. Having access to the black box data can help put the pieces together.

Most semi-trucks and commercial vehicles manufactured in the United States have Electronic Control Modules (ECM), which are integrated into the engine’s components. These control the engine’s performance, ensure fuel economy, regulate emissions, and protect the engine from abuse. They are used to troubleshoot mechanical issues and even monitor how the vehicle operates. They are also a critical piece of evidence following a collision. These ECMs could record data that is useful in determining what happened during the accident, as well as moments leading up to it.

Depending on the make and model of the semi-truck, the ECM could record a multitude of data. The events recorded are referred to by different names, such as Hard Brakes, Quick Stops, Sudden Decelerations, etc. But, the type of data recorded by the ECM may include:

• Average speed of the truckFort Lauderdale Truck Accident Attorney
• Highest speed the truck reached
• Brake times
• Throttle percentage
• RPMs
• Time driven
• If cruise control was on or off
• Amount of time the semi-truck drove more than 65 miles per hour

Truck accidents involve issues that make them more complex than most car accidents. Large truck are usually owned by corporations and may have multiple owners. Insurance is different than car insurance, and there are different rules and regulations that cover trucks.

Truck accidents have been a major portion of our practice here at Lazarus and Lazarus, and we have analyzed the data from black boxes many, many times. Our clients are our main goal, getting them the maximum compensation allowed by law, so if you have any questions please call us at 954-356-0006 and we’ll set up a consultation. Thank you.

 

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENTS

The Death on the High Seas Act – Lazarus and Lazarus Law Firm

Fort Lauderdale Maritime Law AttorneyIt sounds like something out of a swashbuckler novel involving pirates. The “Death on the High Seas” Act is a United States admiralty law enacted by the United States Congress. It was originally intended to permit “recovery of damages against a shipowner by a spouse, child or dependent family member of a seaman killed in international waters” in wrongful death cases “caused by negligence or unseaworthiness.” It also applies to cases arising out of airline disasters over the high seas that occur beyond the 12-nautical miles of U.S. territorial waters.

The problem is that it sometimes has a reverse effect, limiting damages paid to survivors because they often cannot obtain judgments for non-pecuniary damages (pain and suffering) when a cruise passenger dies in international waters.

A recent case involves a married couple from Nebraska who went on a river cruise originating in Peru. A fire in their room broke out and they were killed by smoke inhalation. Even though the boat was new there was evidence of faulty wiring that may have caused the fire. One of the couple’s daughters, obviously upset, said “There’s no place else in the world that you can kill somebody and really have no consequence, other than international waters.”

International maritime law has been a primary focus area for our law firm since it’s beginning over 20 years ago. With our offices in Fort Lauderdale, we see many people every year who have been injured or have incurred damages as a result of going on cruise ships operating out of Port Everglades, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

Sometimes incidents happen on the ship at sea, sometimes while berthed at the port, and sometimes people are injured while on excursions away from the boat in foreign countries. Each incident is different, and each one will likely involve dealing with different jurisdictions and different laws, perhaps even the “Death on the High Seas” Act. We have seen it all.

If you or someone you know has suffered some type of injury or loss while on a cruise or while engaged in a cruise ship excursion, we would be happy to share our expertise and offer legal advice. Calling us at 954-356-0006 is the first step, and thank you.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Uncategorized

2017 South Florida Boating Accidents – Fort Lauderdale Boat Accident Attorneys

Memorial Day is the traditional start of summer, and people start crowding south Florida waterways with their boats. Safe Boating Week was actually May 20 – May 26th, but if you search the news for boating accidents, there are many:

• Multiple Boating Accidents On Busy South Florida Waters
CBS Miami-May 14, 2017

• Multiple Seriously Injured in Fort Lauderdale Boating Crashfort lauderdale boating accident attorneys
NBC 6 South Florida-May 21, 2017

• 1 Survivor, 2 Dead In Boating Accident Off Hollywood
CBS Miami-May 23, 2017

• Boaters Hurt In Series Of Weekend Accidents On South Florida Waters
CBS Miami-May 21, 2017

• Coast Guard Searching for Woman After Boating Accident
U.S. News & World Report-May 16, 2017

• Boating mishap kills Vero Beach resident
TCPalm-19 hours ago

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| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | South Florida Accident Attorney |

Safe Cars: Check Your Car for Recalls – South Florida Accident Attorneys

We preach safety first on this website because we would rather meet you at the beach or a south Florida sporting event than as new client whosouth florida accident attorneys has been in a car accident. We believe that almost all accidents are avoidable, and driving a safe car is a very big step in that direction.

You may not know that as many as 1 in 4 cars on the road right now has a safety recall that has not been fixed yet. What can you do?

When you go to the dealer, they will run your vehicle identification number (VIN) in the computer and the service adviser should let you know if there are any outstanding recalls. But if your car is older and you don’t get to the dealership, you might want to run your VIN through the safercar.gov site, powered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. You can find your car’s VIN on your title, registration, or insurance card.

Two recalls that were very noteworthy because of the incredibly severe safety hazards they covered were:

  1. In 1969, owners of V-8-powered General Motors cars began experiencing a small problem. The rubber parts in their vehicles’ engine mounts would give out, causing the engine to come free, twist upward and pull open the throttle, resulting in rapid acceleration. It would often disable brake assistance, making it harder to stop the car.
  2. The famous Ford Pinto exploding gas tank recall. The 1978 recall of Ford’s popular compact Pinto model came after a public outcry and months of legal wrangling between Ford and the government. At issue was the lack of reinforcement between the Pinto’s fuel tank and the bolts in its rear differential. Critics alleged that this design flaw made the gas tank susceptible to becoming pierced by the bolts and catching fire in a rear-end collision.

Another area of concern is child car seats. These crucial pieces of equipment are often recalled and you can look for any safety bulletins at a special online webpage powered by Parents.com.

Please check both the resources above for any car or car seat recalls, and make a proactive decision to have your car inspected regularly for safety. Brakes, lights, air bags, the whole car. Please wear your seat belt always, and never text while driving.

South Florida Accident Attorneys

Lazarus and Lazarus represents people who have been hurt in accidents all over the state of Florida. We work diligently until our clients receive the maximum compensation allowed by law for their pain and suffering, injuries, medical bills, lost time from work, and other damages. Call us at 954-356-0006 so we can have a discussion about your situation.

 

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys |

How to Avoid a Head-On Collision – Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys

fort lauderdale accident attorneysProbably the most frightening of all automobile accidents is the head-on collision. You have very little time to react and the damage is usually devastating. These types of accidents are becoming more commonplace as distracted drivers (texting) look at their phones instead of the road, and they drift over into the opposite lane. Can you avoid a head-on collision? The experts say yes.

1 – First of all, don’t look at your phone! Turn it off, put it in the back seat, leave it at home, whatever. Don’t you be the one to leave your lane.

2 – Focus on the road at all times.

3 – If another driver starts coming into your lane, and you have some distance, you can use the turn signal lever to flash your high beams at him. Honk your horn too.

4 – Slow down.

5 – If you must swerve, go to the right. If the other driver does look up and see you, the natural reaction is to jerk the wheel to their right. You don’t want to be there. Try to go onto the shoulder. There is a video below with some tips.

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| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Florida Accident Attorney

Duty to Give Information and Render Aid – Florida Accident Attorneys

florida accident attorneysWe’ve discussed what to do if you’re involved in an accident in Florida. The first thing is, of course, call 911 and render aid to others if you are able. Call your insurance company, cooperate with the authorities, call an accident attorney, and do not share information on social media. Click here to read our article from November 2016.

Recently there was a very disturbing story in the news about an auto accident in Pompano Beach that involved a car crashing into a tree. Allegedly the driver had a 6-year-old child in the back seat without a car seat, and after the accident she ran away, leaving the injured boy alone in the car. Channel 10’s story is here: Local10.com

No doubt the driver will face a variety of charges including failure to render aid. Chapter 316.062 of the Florida Statutes states, in part:

Duty to give information and render aid.—
(1) The driver of any vehicle involved in a crash resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle or other property which is driven or attended by any person shall give his or her name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving, and shall upon request and if available exhibit his or her license or permit to drive, to any person injured in such crash or to the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle or other property damaged in the crash and shall give such information and, upon request, exhibit such license or permit to any police officer at the scene of the crash or who is investigating the crash and shall render to any person injured in the crash reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of such person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary, or if such carrying is requested by the injured person.

Now, if you are in an accident and someone is injured, you’r in the middle of nowhere with no access to a phone, and someone is hurt, perhaps bleeding, can you help and not worry about being sued? Probably:

768.13 Good Samaritan Act; immunity from civil liability.—
(1) This act shall be known and cited as the “Good Samaritan Act.”
(2)(a) Any person, including those licensed to practice medicine, who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency care or treatment either in direct response to emergency situations related to and arising out of a public health emergency declared pursuant to s. 381.00315, a state of emergency which has been declared pursuant to s. 252.36 or at the scene of an emergency outside of a hospital, doctor’s office, or other place having proper medical equipment, without objection of the injured victim or victims thereof, shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of such care or treatment or as a result of any act or failure to act in providing or arranging further medical treatment where the person acts as an ordinary reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.

We are Florida accident attorneys, and we represent victims of serious crashes. We believe it is our responsibility to offer as much information and advice as we can to help reduce accidents and injuries. Please drive responsibly, never drink and drive and do not use your phone when driving. Help others in need whenever possible. If we all do this we will make Florida a better place to live, work, and drive for everyone.

If you would like to reach us please call 954-356-0006, and thank you.