| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | South Florida Accident Attorneys

The Right Hook Bicycle Accident – South Florida Accident Attorneys

South Florida Bicycle Accident AttorneysMany people think of a right hook as a type of punch in boxing, one that was particularly effective when delivered by Muhammad Ali, possibly the greatest boxer of all time.

There is another right hook, and it’s a very dangerous and all-too-common accident usually between a motor vehicle and a bicycle. It’s an accident that most drivers don’t see coming because the bike often sneaks up behind them in their “blind spot” where it’s difficult to see moving objects.

Here’s how a “right hook” bicycle vs. car accident often occurs:

A right hook bicycle accident happens when a driver attempts to make a right hand turn at an intersection or at a driveway and does so in front of an oncoming bicyclist. Most often, the driver of the car passes the bicyclist on the left and believes he or she can turn her vehicle before the cyclist will arrive at the same point. However, drivers are often poor judges of how fast a cyclist is riding and therefore they underestimate a cyclist’s speed, leading to a situation where a rider can collide with the passenger side of a car as the car turns.

South Florida Accident AttorneysThe nature of the impact in a right hook accident means that a rider will often be thrown from his bike and may land on the car itself, on the pavement, or on another surface in the area. Injuries happen regularly in these collisions and the majority of the injuries will require medical treatment for a victim to recover. In many instances, an accident of this type can be so severe that it may be fatal.

If you are driving and you see a bicyclist on the right paralleling your course, never assume you have a clear path unless you confirm the bicycle is either way behind you or has stopped or has already negotiated the turn and is clear. You won’t see it coming, but you may cause a very serious accident.

There is often disagreements between drivers and bicyclists as to who has the right of way. Be smart, avoid problems, and just yield. It’s not worth a serious accident just to get your way. Remember, cars have a LOT more steel and a lot more weight than a bike.

The following information is a portion of a Statewide Analysis of Bicycle Crashes from the Florida Department of Transportation:

Drivers were at-fault in 45.7% of the crashes, while bicyclists were at-fault in 30.2% of the crashes.

Signalized intersections experienced a greater proportion of bicycle crashes compared to non-signalized locations.

The most common causes of bicycle vs. motor vehicle crashes:

Motorist turns right while bicyclist is crossing the street
Motorist turns left facing bicyclist
Bicyclist rides out at intersection
Motorist drives out at stop sign

South Florida Accident Attorneys

If you are in an accident that involves a bicycle, please reach out to us at 954-356-0006. We will examine the details and evidence, then advise you as to the best course of action. We always work hard to make sure the rights of our client are protected.

 

Nursing Home Negligence
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | NURSING HOME NEGLIGENCE

Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse in South Florida

Nursing homes and other care facilities are facing challenges today that squeeze their budgets and sometimes cause cutbacks in quality of care. Some of the issues are:

  • A nationwide shortage of licensed care givers.
  • More people are living longer, which means demand is higher.
  • Insurance re-imbursements are lower and harder to get.
  • Medicare and Medicaid have cut payments.

Still, there is never any excuse for neglect or abuse.

The tragedy that occurred in Hollywood in September seemed to be related to the hurricane, but the investigations will be lengthy and the truth will take some time to emerge. Authorities are now ruling 12 of the 14 deaths to be homicides.

Negligence occurs when a care taker is not fulfilling their duty to a resident or patient. It includes physical neglect (deprived bathing methods, lack of toileting and wrong body positioning), medical neglect (lack of medical care, poor access to medical aid and more) and proper assisting (Lack of assistance to the resident in eating, drinking, avoiding cries for help and more).

Every elderly person or patient who is a resident of a care facility deserves competent care. Here are some unacceptable and often illegal situations that develop in some facilities:

BEDSORES – Bedsores are preventable injuries that can lead to serious, and sometimes fatal, complications. Unfortunately, many nursing home employees are not properly trained to prevent, identify, and provide treatment for these dangerous conditions.

FALLS AND FRACTURES – Nursing homes owe a duty to ensure that their premises are safe, and to provide adequate supervision for their residents. Unfortunately, they often fail to meet these obligations. Falls and fractures are often grounds for seeking financial compensation.

MALNUTRITION – Malnourishment is a dangerous health condition that can also put nursing home residents at greater risk for other illnesses and injuries. With proper care and supervision, residents should not suffer from malnutrition.

WRONGFUL DEATH – If your loved one died in a nursing home and you suspect fault on the part of the home’s staff or administrators, it is important that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

WRONGFUL OR INAPPROPRIATE CARE – Any form of wrongful or inappropriate care that leads to illness or injury may be grounds for filing a lawsuit against a nursing home. Sometimes, this is your only option for getting the home’s attention and recovering the money you need to pay your bills and make up for your other losses.

MEDICATION ERRORS – Medication errors such as over dose, under dose, and confusing medications can lead to life-threatening situations.

South Florida Nursing Home Negligence Attorneys

There are many other dangerous situations that develop in nursing homes and other care facilities. If you believe a family member or other person is not being properly cared for, or abused, call 800-96-ABUSE and report what you know. Then call us at 954-356-0006 and we will arrange a confidential consultation. If there is evidence of negligence or abuse we may be able to help you receive compensation for injuries, and pain and suffering.

 

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

Understanding Florida Traffic Crash Reports – South Florida Accident Attorneys

If you are involved in an accident, you may find yourself trying to decipher the contents of an accident report a few days later, or as they are now called, a “Florida Traffic Crash Report.”

If you feel confused reading the report, don’t feel alone. They were designed for the purpose of inputting data so that statistics can be accumulated and hopefully help analysts understand what’s going on out there on our roads and highways.

You may receive a “long-form” or a “short-form” report, or you may be given an “exchange of driver information” form, but they all have one thing in common: they’re hard to figure out.

It would be impractical for us to explain the entire report and what each section means, so we’re going to ask you to give us a call if you get a Florida Traffic Crash Report after being involved in an accident, and we’ll help you out. We can’t even begin to count all the crash reports we have reviewed over the years, but it is a lot.

These reports are actually very serious documents and should be thoroughly reviewed and analyzed because they may contain information that is crucial to your accident, and if you are injured, to your potential case for compensation.

South Florida Accident Attorneys

We are Florida accident and personal injury attorneys, representing victims of automobile, truck, and motorcycle accidents for well over 20 years. We know what to look for on crash reports and how to follow up to get the information that isn’t on the report.

Please feel free to call us and set up a confidential consultation to review any and all documents related to your accident, injuries, and medical records. We may be able to save you a lot of time and put you on the right track to getting the maximum compensation for your damages and injuries. We can be reached at 954-356-0006, and thank you.

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

How Insurance Companies Calculate Settlement Offers

South Florida Accident AttorneyAuto insurance companies collect premiums to provide coverage to their customers for losses in an accident. They expect premiums to be paid promptly, yet sometimes when accident victims need help after an accident, the insurance companies take their time about paying. Or they offer very small settlement amounts.

Accident victims are left to scratch their heads and wonder “how did they come up with that number?”

The answer is there is no set formula. Every company uses different methods, but one thing that is consistent is that they will initially offer as low a number as possible. They are in business to make money.

Insurance companies do not have one precise method for calculating settlement offers that is applied to every case. Each accident is unique, but one thing is consistent: Insurance companies have a financial incentive to pay less and maximize their profits.  Insurance companies will often attempt to entice or pressure injured parties to accept an offer that does not fully cover the victim’s medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, and pain and suffering. Many companies use their own formula to determine their initial settlement offer and they don’t disclose how they arrive at a number. Once the company has arrived at an amount for personal injury, lost income caused by the injury is then added to the number, but it is often inadequate.

South Florida Accident Attorney

Victims of automobile, truck, and motorcycle accidents are cajoled into working with their insurance company without any outside advice, and this can be a very costly mistake. As experienced accident attorneys, we have learned that there is usually lots of room for negotiation with insurance companies, and we have been doing it for over 20 years.

Get the Insurance Settlement you Deserve

If you have been involved in an accident, you may be contacted almost immediately with an offer to settle. We urge people to take a moment and have the facts and their policy reviewed to make sure the offer is fair. Most of our cases work on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay until the case is closed. Give us a call at 954-356-0006 and we can have a discussion about making sure you come out with the maximum amount of money to which you are entitled.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Prescription Medications

Prescription Meds and Driving: Are Patients Being Properly Warned and Informed?

We write about drunk driving often because it is such a serious issue in south Florida and all across the country. Reuters reported that “one in five drivers in a random survey had taken prescription drugs that could impair their driving ability, and most were on the road despite having been warned about the risks, a U.S. study found.”

These are not necessarily “narcotics” but could be normal medicines that people take for any number of routine or serious illnesses that may have dramatic side-effects and cause impairment to a driver’s ability to maneuver a motor vehicle.

“Among those who used sedatives or narcotics, 85% said they received a warning from their healthcare provider or the medication label about possible impairment. However, just 63% of drivers using antidepressants and 58% of those using stimulants reported receiving warnings about their risk.”

The study found that many patients did receive a warning, but chose to drive anyway. Others said they never received any warning. It’s very important to read the labels and accompanying instructions every time you pick up a prescription. Better, take a moment to discuss the medicine with your pharmacist. Pretty much every time you are checking out at the pharmacy, someone will ask you “do you have any questions?” Don’t rush off….say yes! And make sure you are 100% clear on what you are putting into your body.

There is more in the news about robots taking on more duties in pharmacies, and this is concerning because already patients don’t usually have the time to spend actually conversing with their local pharmacist.

Anyone can make a mistake, including physicians and pharmacists. If you feel that you have been harmed by a prescription drug that was prescribed or dispensed improperly, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages, pain, and suffering. Call us at 954-356-0006 and we’ll discuss your situation confidentially.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Automobile Safety, Uncategorized

How to Properly Wear a Seat Belt When Pregnant

If you’re a woman and you have been pregnant, or if you have lived with someone who is pregnant, you know that pregnant people have a tough time being comfortable. It’s hard for them to sit, stand, sleep, walk, or go to the bathroom. It’s just a fact that when you have a giant protrusion in your belly it’s going to be a pain.

Driving is especially difficult for pregnant people because it’s important to be situate in the right spot so your legs reach the pedals, but you don’t want the steering wheel jammed into your belly. Then you have the issue of the seat belt!

You never want to go anywhere in a car without your seat belt, not even around the block.

There are certain modifications you can make while wearing a seat belt. Some of these modifications include:

  • Make sure you always wear both the shoulder strap and the lap belt. Also, ensure that they both fit you properly.
  • Ensure that the shoulder strap is placed between the breasts and to the side of the abdomen. Make sure never to place the shoulder strap under your arm.
  • Buckle your lap belt under the belly and over the hip.

In general, it’s probably not a good idea for pregnant people to go on very long car trips. Stay close to home or take an airplane.

Car accidents can seriously harm both mother and baby.

Car accidents can cause a variety of injuries, and when you are pregnant the crash can harm both you and your baby. Depending on how bad the crash and how serious your injuries are, a car accident can increase the risk of developing serious complications during pregnancy such as premature rupture of the membranes, preterm labor, placental abruption, miscarriage and even stillbirth. It is needless to mention that a car accident can cause more damage to a pregnant woman than it can to a normal person.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has represented victims of car accidents for over 20 years. We have seen unborn babies injured in crashes and it is tragic. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about an accident or about the best way to protect yourself and baby while driving. We can be reached at 954-356-0006.

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

Who is at Fault in a Chain Reaction Accident?

Who is at Fault in a Chain Reaction Accident? South Florida Car Accident Attorney

It’s long been (mostly) true that if you are struck by a car coming up behind you, it’s their fault. But what happens when there is a chain-reaction accident and you’re somewhere in the middle?

South Florida is known for its afternoon rain storms, and after a long, hot, sunny day when the rain hits the pavement it’s a slippery situation. Chain reaction accidents are common, and usually they’re just dented fenders and some scratches. Each driver will likely be able to have their own insurance company take care of the damage, and there is not a federal investigation.

But in the case of a serious multi-car accident where people are injured, looking into who is at fault may become necessary in order to properly compensate those with significant damage and injuries.

As a driver, you are not prepared or qualified to get the facts necessary, and it’s not something you want to get involved with. As qualified Florida accident and personal injury attorneys, this is what we do every day.

It’s not always the car who hit another car first that is at fault, and there are often extenuating circumstances. For example, there may be:

  • A driver who failed to use their brake lights or other signals.
  • A driver who was following too closely.
  • A driver who was speeding.
  • A driver who was texting or distracted behind the wheel, unable to react properly to the first crash.
  • The public agency that failed to install or maintain proper traffic signs.
  • The public agency that failed to clear the road of obstacles that caused drivers to abruptly stop.

All that said, there are also cases where no one can actually be blamed for the crash. An example is when the accident occurred because of bad weather or natural hazards on the road such as an ice patch. Another is when a driver inadvertently instigated the accident because they were losing consciousness at the wheel due to a medical condition. In cases like these, the liability may be reduced or eliminated altogether. Our job is to persist until we find the facts.

South Florida Car Accident Attorney

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been investigating very complex crashes for over 20 years. We understand the dynamics of crashes and we have expert accident investigators we work with who are capable of getting the facts.

Often a case may require an expert witness to testify as to how an accident occurred and who was at fault. We handle these details.

Call us at 954-356-0006 if you have any questions about an accident and we’ll be happy to advise you on the best course of action.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Florida Car Accident Attorneys

Want to Save Money on Car Insurance? Florida Car Accident Attorneys

Florida Car Accident AttorneysThe best way to save on car insurance in Florida might be to move!

The television commercials for one car insurance company say switch to them, and you’ll save money. That may or may not be true, but one recent study shows that auto insurance rates in Florida vary significantly based on where you live.

As you might guess, Miami-Dade County is the highest-priced county with an average annual cost of $2,457 which is 58% higher than the state average of $1546, which is ranked 6th highest nationally.

You can buy minimum insurance for less than these prices, but most people buy more coverage than that required by law.

The least expensive county in Florida for auto insurance is Alachua, where these five cities enjoy these low average rates:

Waldo — $1,169; 24 percent below average

Alachua — $1,171; 24 percent below average

Gainesville — $1,174; 24 percent below average

Earlton — $1,175; 24 percent below average

Newberry — $1,177; 24 percent below average

We recommend people purchase insurance that fits their needs and their budgets, but please understand that the minimum (PIP) insurance is very limited in what it will cover in case of an accident. For very serious accidents, you may be liable for very high damages if you are at fault.

Florida Car Accident Attorneys

If you’re involved in an accident and do not fully understand where you stand with regards to your insurance, please reach out and give us a call. We are always available to help. 954-356-0006