Florida Personal Injury Law Firm
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Florida Personal Injury Attorney | , , ,

You Don’t Have to be the President to be Impeached – Florida Personal Injury Attorneys Lazarus & Lazarus

Florida Personal Injury Law Firm

There is a lot of talk in the news about “impeachment” and yet many people don’t fully understand what the word means. In the case of an elected or other public official, impeach means to accuse them of official misconduct, but the word also means to challenge the credibility of a witness.

Our justice system operates with the basic principle that all participants must be truthful, and a person who provides testimony (a witness) is usually sworn in before speaking so they understand the importance of being completely honest. Any witness can be subjected to scrutiny, including their previous record to determine if their testimony is to be trusted. If an individual has a prior record of being untruthful, or has a criminal record, it’s possible a jury will be less likely to believe them.

Florida Statute 90.608 says, in part: Who may impeach. — Any party, including the party calling the witness, may attack the credibility of a witness by:
(1) Introducing statements of the witness which are inconsistent with the witness’s present testimony.

Florida Personal Injury Law Firm
Lazarus and Lazarus (954) 356-0006

In personal injury cases witnesses are often called to give testimony, including expert witnesses who are frequently called upon to offer opinions on a particular subject where they are highly experienced and educated. It is important that all witnesses be looked at closely to make sure they are offering valid, accurate, and truthful evidence.

If you are involved in an accident and you plan to represent yourself, the story you tell may be scrutinized not only on its substantive content, but on your own record. The opposing side in your case may look to “impeach” you as a witness for any number of reasons, and this is one of many reasons it is prudent to seek professional legal help when you are injured. A qualified and experienced attorney can guide you through the entire process and make every ethical effort to make sure the truth is brought to light.

If you are involved in a traffic accident it is important to be truthful right from the start, but it is also important to not offer information that is not asked for or necessary. After contacting emergency authorities it is a good idea to call an attorney who specializes in accidents. We hope you will consider our firm, working to bring justice to victims in south Florida since 1992.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus – (954) 356-0006

 

 

Package Delivery Service Negligence and Liability
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Package Delivery Service Liability | , ,

Are Amazon Deliveries Dangerous? South Florida Accident Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus

Package Delivery Service Negligence and Liability

“Are you aware that rushing toward a goal is a sublimated death wish? It’s no coincidence we call them deadlines.”
― Tom Robbins, Author

Package Delivery NegligenceEveryone is in a hurry. When we’re hungry we want our food fast and we want the products we purchase online to arrive on our door step just as fast. While Amazon and other big internet retailers are not quite as prompt as the pizza companies, they are trying to match them. Soon drones will drop packages on our front yards.

Online ordering is great, but are the delivery times unrealistic and do they risk our safety?

In 1973 Domino’s launched a “30 minutes or it’s free” ad campaign and it worked until lawsuits were initiated by people who were injured by delivery drivers rushing to get pies to people in an unrealistic time frame. The company continued the program for twenty years until 1993 when this happened, as reported by the Chicago Tribune: A St. Louis jury reached the same conclusion last week in the case of Jean Kinder, who was hit by a Domino’s delivery driver in 1989. The jurors ordered Domino’s to pay her $750,000 in actual damages and $78 million in punitive damages.

Today the rush is on for package delivery and Amazon leads the charge to get products delivered to customers fast. Reports are coming in about workers being injured in regional sorting facilities and drivers rushing through traffic to make deadlines.

An NBC News investigation revealed:

Some people who deliver Amazon packages have been involved in deadly wrecks. In September, ProPublica and The New York Times reported in a joint investigation that they had found more than 60 crashes since June 2015 involving Amazon delivery contractors that resulted in serious injuries, including 10 deaths. They said the tally was likely a fraction of the crashes because many people don’t sue.

The same NBC report quoted a former delivery contractor: “You don’t take your lunch break. You don’t use the bathroom. … There were guys peeing in bottles in the van,” Rowe said, adding that he did the same. “You speed. You run stop signs in a neighborhood. …You start conditioning yourself to just go as fast as possible.”

While companies may ignore proper safety procedures and precautions in the interest of higher profits, that does not limit their liability when one of their drivers causes a serious accident. Florida law is very clear about victims having the right to sue for their injuries and damages.

Companies who hire independent contractors to do their deliveries in an effort to shirk responsibility should be held accountable for damages.

If you are involved in any accident you should make sure your rights are protected. An experienced traffic accident law firm will see that the negligent individual or company is held responsible and will fight for your rights to receive justice. The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has earned a solid reputation for handling these types of cases and we can be reached by calling (954) 356-0006 seven days a week.

Fort Lauderdale Pharmacy Error Attorneys
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Prescription Errors

Should Your Doctor Dispense Medications? Pharmacy Error Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus

Pharmacy Errors

We all know the routine. You visit your doctor and before you leave you are handed a prescription for a medication to take to the pharmacy. Many doctors today can send the prescription by computer direct to your pharmacy and that makes life a little easier but you still need to stop at the pharmacy on the way home.

What if doctors were to fill your prescription right in their office?

One issue with going to the pharmacy routine is that some people never go. A study revealed that 20-30% of all prescriptions are never filled. The reasons for this could include forgetfulness, cost, or just apathy, and it’s a serious issue.

If a doctor gives a patient a prescription and it is never filled, the doctor will usually assume the patient is taking it. If something happens, a physician will not be able to thoroughly understand what’s happening with the patient and why certain symptoms are present or missing. It is very important to take medications as prescribed and always carry a list of all medications including dosages with you in case of emergency.

Getting the medication into the patient’s hands as quickly as possible is definitely an advantage of in-office dispensing. Another advantage is communication. Patients would probably be more Pharmacy Negligence Attorneysinclined to take a few minutes to speak with their doctor or nurse about how and when to take the medication, and ask questions about side effects.

People who favor doctor dispensing also claim that privacy, accuracy, and convenience are also benefits.

Pharmacies obviously would not favor increased doctor dispensing of prescription medication because they would lose business, and they claim that costs would rise dramatically. Pharmacies feel they do a good job filling prescriptions accurately and making sure they watch for any negative drug combinations that could cause issues for patients. However, several studies and investigations including one by the Chicago Tribune found that pharmacies actually make many errors.

Forbes magazine recently reported an incident where several people received injections of insulin instead of a flu shot. It happened at a facility, not at a pharmacy but the injections were administered by a pharmacist.

Whether a patient gets medications from their physician or their local pharmacy the important thing is that they receive the medicine they are supposed to take. Pharmacy errors have included putting the wrong medication in the bottle, or incorrect dosages and these mistakes can cause serious injury or death.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been helping victims of prescription injuries since 1992. These cases involves a special level of expertise and victims should seek a personal injury attorney with experience. Please call Gary and Arleen Lazarus at (954) 356-0006 and we will listen to you, then recommend the best course of action if you believe you may be a victim of pharmacy errors or if your physician may have made a mistake in your treatment.

 

 

Drunk Driving Accident Injuries
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Drunk Driving Accident Injuries |

New Technology Aims to Stop Drunk Drivers – Lazarus and Lazarus Law Firm

U.S. Senator Rick Scott introduced legislation last week that will make it mandatory for all new cars to have alcohol detection systems installed by 2024. The Reduce Impaired Driving for Everyone Act of 2019, called the RIDE Act, would also allocate $10 million to continue government-funded research into new breath and touch-based sensors designed to monitor a driver’s blood alcohol level in real-time.

Several states have required convicted drunk drivers to install breathalyzers but this new technology would require everyone who gets behind the wheel to confirm they are not drunk by passing either a breathalyzer test or a sensory scan, which would somehow detect alcohol through the skin.

While drunk driving fatalities have declined since the 1980s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports they still account for about a third of all traffic deaths. In 2017, more thanDrunk Driving Accident Injuries 10,800 people were killed in drunk driving incidents.

Besides the privacy issues that will surely be raised by opponents of the new technology, it is not clear if the systems will be able to tell the difference between someone who has had one glass of wine and someone who has been drinking heavily. It’s possible that the detection of any alcohol at all would prevent the car from operating.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been working for victims of vehicle collisions since 1992 and we believe people should never drive if they are impaired by drugs or alcohol. With the availability and low cost of Uber and other means of transportation there is simply no excuse for drunk driving. What happens with the proposed legislation will be interesting to follow, and citizens should make their voices heard by contacting their representatives in Washington. You can click here to get the contact information for your elected officials.

Lazarus and Lazarus is qualified to handle any questions from people who have been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle crash. Our primary goal is to protect your rights and fight for the compensation victims need to heal physically, emotionally, and financially. Call us at (954) 356-0006 for a free consultation.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | South Florida Accident Attorneys

Vehicle Crash Related Traumatic Stress – Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus

 

Click Here to Send an Email Directly to Mr. Gary Lazarus

Americans love their cars. We each drive an average of 13,450 miles per year, that’s over 1000 miles per month. Of course many drivers put many more miles on their car and many drive less, but even when mass transportation is readily available people still love the independence and freedom of owning and driving their own car, truck, or motorcycle.

Naturally, the more you drive the more likely you are to have an accident, and cautious drivers do have fewer accidents than careless ones, but statistics say each one of us will have 4 accidents in our lifetimes, or one every 17.9 years.

A minor fender bender may ruin your day, but a serious accident may cause permanent injuries or loss-of-life. High-speed collisions are extremely violent events, with devastating damage to victim’s bodies. Many people also suffer from immediate and delayed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a very debilitating condition that often makes it difficult for people to return to normal life.

What to do Immediately After a Serious Accident

  • Before you attempt to move and get out of your vehicle, assess yourself. If you feel that you cannot move, don’t push it because you may do further damage. As long as it is safe, remain in the car until paramedics or police can help you.
  • Check your passengers and make sure someone has called 911.
  • Do not offer information that is not asked for but do cooperate with authorities. Make no statements until you feel you feel you are capable of doing so.
  • Try to have someone record the scene with photographs and get the names of witnesses.
  • Call an attorney who specializes in vehicle crash cases.

How to Gain Confidence After a Serious Collision

Fort Lauderdale Accident LawyersDon’t rush to get behind the wheel again. It is totally normal to be apprehensive about driving after being in a serious crash, and you should rely on other ways to get around until you are completely sure you can handle it. We have worked with people who literally never regained the desire or the emotional stability and confidence to drive again. There is nothing wrong with these feelings.

Important: Talk to a professional counselor who treats victims of traumatic events.

Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys Since 1992

The advantage of working with a qualified accident attorney is that you will receive guidance to receive the proper physical, emotional, and financial help necessary to return you to the life you had before the accident. Your attorney should make sure that your immediate needs are taken care of as well as potential long-term care and financial requirements. The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been helping victims get the help they need since 1992, and they understand what it takes to recover. A confidential consultation can be arranged by calling (954) 356-0006 or click here to send an email directly to Mr. Gary Lazarus.

Insurance Company Settlement
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Insurance Company Settlements | , ,

Accident Injury Case: Settlement or Trial – Fort Lauderdale Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus

There are a lot of injuries occurring on South Florida roads every year due to crashes and one day you may involved in one yourself so you should be prepared with some facts.

How many crashes?

In 2017:
Florida Traffic Crashes

As you can see from the info-graphic, South Florida contributes more than our fair share to the dilemma of crashes and injuries to the statewide statistics.

What happens when people are injured in serious crashes? They are often transported to a hospital and the process of physical healing begins. But the trauma of a serious crash often necessitates professional assistance to recover mentally, emotionally, and financially.

If you have never been in a serious crash you probably won’t understand just how serious the overall damage can be.

Insurance companies are usually involved after a crash, and after paying premiums faithfully for many years people depend on them for financial help. Sometimes that help comes and sometimes it does not, but often it is insufficient to truly replace what was lost and to cover all the bills that must be paid for a full recovery.

That is where an experienced attorney can really help. An attorney who is committed to your total recovery will be able to make sure you receive the help needed not only for immediate expenses but for possible long-term therapy, doctor visits, follow-up surgery or other procedures, and prescription medication.

It’s always a good idea to ask for professional advice before signing a settlement agreement. Some insurance companies simply will not do what is right and pay the amount that is fair. When that happens we are fully prepared to move all the way to a trial, a right that is guaranteed to every citizen by our United States Constitution.

Insurance companies often count on the fact that many people will settle for a quick offer of money, but victims may not understand that their case is actually worth a substantially larger settlement due to the severity of the circumstances. As attorneys who have represented hundreds of crash victims over the past 27 years, we understand how to approach discussions and negotiations with insurance companies. And we know how to get results.

We invite you to read our reviews online and see what our clients have to say about our ability to help people in distress. We our proud of our reputation and would be happy to speak with you confidentially about your situation. Call us at (954) 356-0006 to schedule a free consultation.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Automobile Safety 2019

Safest Cars for 2019 – South Florida Accident Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus

Cars driven by our parents and grandparents were often enormous conglomerations of steel, chrome, and glass thatSouth Florida Auto Accident Attorneys seemed to be impervious to damage because of their huge size and immense weight. In reality, they were more dangerous that the automobiles we drive today because often the cars they collided with were also very large and there was not a lot of attention paid by manufacturers to safety during the design stage of building new cars. Many cars didn’t even have seat belts. Back them it was all about style, chrome, and color.

Today the automobile industry uses many advanced technologies to include safety features such as:

  • Shatter-resistant glass
  • Airbags – Front and Side
  • Forward Advanced Crash Warning
  • Anti-lock Brakes
  • Traction Control
  • Electronic Stability Control
  • Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Blind Spot Warning
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Active Head Restraints

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (Click here to see the list) has rated cars for safety and published their list of the best-rated vehicles including small passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks. There are many very affordable cars on the list and it’s a very good idea to consider safety ratings when shopping for a new vehicle.

Of course, the safest car in the world isn’t safe if the driver is not conscientious about obeying traffic laws. Please never text and drive or drink and drive!

If you have been involved in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident and you’re not sure what to do, we are here to help. Call us 7 days a week at (954) 356-0006.

 

 

 

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Distracted Driving in Florida |

Florida Cracks Down – New Texting and Driving Law Begins October 1st

States across the country have been enacting new laws to deter drivers from using their hand-held devices but Florida lagged behind until this year. Beginning Tuesday, October 1st, law enforcement will start enforcing the new law with warnings…for now.

Beginning January 1st, 2020 drivers who are caught with any hand-held device in their hands while driving will face a ticket, fine, and points on their license.

For those who think a texting and driving law isn’t really necessary, we would like to remind you of a few facts:

1- Distracted driving accounts for approximately 25% of all motor vehicle crash fatalities.
2- At the time of fatal crashes, teens have been the largest age group that reported being distracted while driving.Florida Distracted Driving
3- Driver distraction is reported to be responsible for more than 58% of teen crashes.
4- In 2015, 391,000 injuries were caused in distracted driving related accidents.
5- In that same year, distracted driving was cited as a major factor in 3,477 traffic deaths.
6- 9 people in the U.S. are killed each day as a result of crashes involving a distracted driver, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
7- Distracted driving has been called an American epidemic and is completely preventable.
8- Since there is no way to test for distracted driving after an accident occurs, it’s widely believed that the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities caused by distracted driving are vastly under reported.
9- It takes only 3 seconds after a driver’s attention has been diverted from the road for a crash to occur.
10- Car crashes are the number one killer of teens in the U.S.

We will tell you that from our professional experience, texting and driving causes horrible crashes, injuries, and death to people of all ages. We have represented many victims who have life-changing permanent disabilities and pain because of distracted drivers.

Hands-free use of cell-phones will be permitted but it’s important to note this from livescience.com:

Talking on your phone while driving — even if you use a hands-free connection — is still dangerous, a new study from England finds.

Conversations of any kind can be distracting if they require a driver to use mental imagery, according to the study.

We have always urged people to turn their phones off while driving and pay attention to the road.

If you have been injured in an accident, we’re here to help. Call us at (954) 356-0006

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

Truck Accidents in South Florida – Getting Help for Your Injuries

Improvements in vehicle safety technology are helping lower the numbers of fatal accidents on roads but people are still being seriously injured in Broward County at an alarming rate.

The 2018 traffic accident statistics for Broward County, Florida, include:

  • Total Crashes: 40,560
  • Injury Crashes: 16,482
  • Total Individuals Injured: 24,329

That works out to 45 people every day being injured in a crash in Broward County, and many of these victims have insurance that won’t take care of their hospital bills and no health insurance.

While every injury from an accident can be serious, injuries from crashes involving large trucks are generally more severe simply because of the nature of the size of 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles. When they make contact with a passenger vehicle they often do devastating damage to the car and the occupants.

There were over 44,000 commercial vehicle accidents in Florida, with about 10% of them occurring in Broward County.

What Makes Truck Accidents Unique for a Personal Injury Attorney?

With most private passenger vehicle crashes, there is one owner of the vehicle and often it is the driver. With large trucks and other commercial vehicles there may be one company that owns theSouth Florida Truck Accident Attorneys truck, another company that operates the truck, and then you have the driver, who may be from out-of-state. When a serious accident happens there may be more than one insurance company involved, and insurance companies are not known for their willingness to cooperate and help victims.

An attorney who has experience dealing with truck accidents understands how to get to the facts fast and investigate who is responsible and who should pay for the damages and injuries. In many cases we are able to negotiate with the parties at fault and the insurance companies to get justice but we are always prepared to go the distance and fight for our clients in court if necessary.

The Law Firm of Lazarus & Lazarus has developed a reputation for fighting hard and getting results for our clients. We would be happy to discuss your situation if you’ve been involved in a crash and you have questions about how to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. We can be reached at (954) 356-0006 for a free and confidential consultation.

Next: Tips to Avoid a Crash with a Large Truck

Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Attorney
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Motorcycle Accident Attorney |

Motorcycle Safety Tips from Peter Fonda and Evel Knievel – Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

People who have lived in the Fort Lauderdale area for many years may remember that Evel Knievel, possibly the most famous daredevil in history, once owned a home in the northeast part of the city and was often seen out and about at area restaurants. Evel performed over 75 dangerous jumps on his motorcycle over the course of his career and somehow survived them all.

Many people may also remember an iconic movie released in 1969 about two hippies who traveled across the country on their motorcycles starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper titled Easy Rider. Mr. Fonda passed away last month.

Mr. Knievel and Mr. Fonda were both well-known for their connections to motorcycles but many people don’t know they collaborated on a film about motorcycle safety in the 1970s that we found on YouTube recently. It’s very good!

Evel Knievel makes several very good points in the film that we have stressed for years because we seen the serious injuries sustained by motorcyclists who come to us for help. Mr. Knievel was a bold and truly unique individual and we strongly recommend no one attempt his stunts as he was seriously injured many times. We are strong advocates for riding safely and with the proper equipment.

Regarding recreational riding, Mr. Knievel says in the video:

  • He never rides without leather (clothing) boots, and gloves.
  • Always wear glasses or a face shield because debris can fly in your face and you could be blinded.
  • Head injuries are involved with 3 out of 4 motorcycle accident deaths, so always wear a helmet.
  • If you’re riding an unfamiliar motorcycle for the first time, take time to “know” the bike before you take it out on the road. Not all motorcycles have their controls set up the same way.

Mr. Fonda offer some excellent advice about how to approach an intersection and how to ride when you’re on a highway. He reminds us all that people driving automobiles don’t usually see motorcyclists and the most common accident is when they turn in front of an oncoming rider. The only thing both Mr. Knievel and Mr. Fonda don’t mention is distracted driving by people with cell phones, because they didn’t exist at the time the film was made!

The film even has a true-false quiz at the end to test if you were paying attention.

Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been representing victims of motorcycle accidents for 27 years and we understand how to approach and handle each case. We fight hard to get the maximum compensation allowed by law for injuries, damages, and lost time from work. Call us at (954) 356-0006 if you have any questions.

The information in this video is not intended to be a replacement for training from a professional, certified motorcycle safety instructor. We recommend all riders participate in ongoing training at a certified training center.