South Florida Accident Attorneys

Hidden Auto Crash Injuries

Some Injuries are Immediately Evident, Some are Hidden – Get Professional Advice Immediately

If you live in Florida and you drive in Florida you probably already know that insurance rates are very high here. One of the reasons insurance is so expensive is because there are a lot of crashes in Florida and therefor a lot of claims for injuries and damages that are paid out.

One statistic that is very alarming is the number of fatal crashes and also the number of deaths per 100,000 population. Very disturbing.

STATE                    POPULATION               FATAL CRASHES                   DEATHS                DEATHS PER 100,000 POPULATION

California            39,499,738                           3,558                                                3,847                                      9.7

Texas                     29,217,653                            3,520                                                3,874                                    13.3

Florida                  21,569,932                           3,098                                                3,331                                     15.4

There are an average of 1100 crashes every day in Florida and many involve serious injuries to drivers, passenger, and pedestrians. Some of these injuries are serious and some are minor but many are not immediately diagnosed.

The most common injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes include:

  • Bone Fractures
  • Lacerations
  • Internal Bleeding
  • Bruising
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Whiplash
  • Concussions
  • Burns
  • Knee and Ankle Injuries

Each of these injuries or conditions need to be carefully diagnosed and treated by a qualified physician immediately after a crash.

Whiplash is unique in that it is often hidden in that the victim may not feel any problems right away, in fact the associated pain may not manifest until sometime after the crash.

According to the Cleveland Clinic: “Whiplash is an injury that happens when sudden force or movement strains your neck and spine, damaging bone, muscle, ligaments and nerves. It’s most common in motor vehicle crashes, but can also happen for other reasons. It’s usually treatable and short-lived. However, some people experience chronic effects such as pain for months or even years.”

It’s very important that anyone involved in a motor vehicle crash get serious injuries treated immediately. It’s also important to make a call for legal assistance, even if you don’t feel you may be injured.

Since 1992 we have helped thousands of motor vehicle crash victims get compensation to pay for medical bills, time lost from work, pain & suffering, and damage to property. We would be happy to answer questions if you call us (7 Days a Week) at 954-356-0006

Personal Privacy During Divorce

Protecting Personal Information During a Divorce – South Florida Family Law Attorneys

Passwords, PINs, and Pet Names are Important Security Issues to Think About

People pay for things differently than they did years ago. Cash is hardly used and today debit cards, credit cards & Apple Pay are now the norm, as are other online methods of payment like Venmo and PayPal. Each of these have passwords, Personal Identification numbers (PINs) and security questions involved with access to the accounts.

Some of the common security questions are: 1) What was the name of your first pet? 2) What is your mother’s maiden mane? 3) What was the name of your favorite high school teacher?

You keep this information secret, but who would know the answers to these questions, or would know all your passwords? Probably your spouse.

When a marital relationship goes from harmonious to unhappy or worse, hostile, it’s time to consider making changes to financial accounts. If possible it’s a very good idea to make an agreement about changing passwords and securing money in accounts. It is important to understand that joint bank accounts should not be drained of funds by one spouse. The court will decide how all assets will be divided and distributed.

When choosing a new password it should be something complex and not related to family names or important dates.

Privacy and Social Media

As soon as you believe a divorce is coming in the near future, it is wise to stay off all social media platforms. Many people us Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to badmouth their spouse but that can come back to haunt you. Posting information about your divorce in a public forum can not only make you look bad in court but could also have ramifications regarding your settlement agreement.

Mail

If one spouse moves out of the marital residence, that person is still entitled to receive their personal mail. Tampering with someone’s US Mail is a crime and is unacceptable to the court handling your divorce.

Financial Records

Tax returns and bank statements usually involve both parties in a divorce and they should not be kept from one spouse or destroyed.

Conclusion

Hire an attorney who can advise you on the best way to protect your interests while following the legal guidelines.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been helping people in south Florida get through legal issues since 1992 and we are here to answer your questions about divorce including fair distribution of assets. We can be reached 7 days a week at 954-356-0006.