Category: <span>Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney</span>

How do you put a price on relieving pain? If you have a headache, a bottle of Advil or Tylenol is available at Walgreen’s for about 5 dollars and you’ll probably be back to normal in a few hours.

What if your pain is long-lasting or permanent? What if it was caused by someone else’s carelessness or negligence? And what if your treatment for that pain is very expensive and will be necessary for many years? How will you deal with your pain and suffering?

You’ll need help.

You should be aware that if you are injured in Florida there are three Statutes that limit the time people have to take legal action. They are:

• 4 years for personal injury (Sec. 95.11(3)(a) & (o));
• 2-4 years for medical malpractice (Sec. 95.11(4)(b));
• 3 years for most claims against state & local governments (Sec. 768.28(6))

There are also some limits on how much you can recover in Florida for pain and suffering:

• No cap on pain & suffering damages, generally; $500,000 cap on non-economic damages in most medical malpractice cases; $200,000 cap on most claims against state & local governments (Sec. 768.28(5))

• No-fault rule (for car accidents) and pure comparative negligence rule may limit recovery of damages (Sec. 768.81(2))

You should also be aware that there are people who think there should be more limitations on how much you can recover for pain and suffering, and that insurance companies are known for being uncooperative when it comes to paying people for injuries. It takes experience, knowledge, and the execution of a solid plan to go after and recover the monetary compensation you need to heal. Sometimes it can be accomplished with reasonable negotiations and sometimes it is necessary to go to court.

Fortunately we live in a country where access to the courts is guaranteed by the Constitution, and with guidance from an experienced attorney you have the ability to pursue justice.

Every day we work with people who have been injured in auto, truck, and motorcycle accidents to get help for their pain and suffering. We also help people who have been hurt when the action or inaction of someone else has caused an accident. Falls are common causes of injury, and objects falling on people are also responsible for thousands of serious injuries each year.

The attorneys at Lazarus & Lazarus are ready to listen to you. We are a small firm dedicated to personal service and diligent work to get you the compensation for pain and suffering you deserve. Call us at 954-356-0006 for a confidential consultation.

Our society for many years has classified what people do to earn a living into jobs, trades, professions, and the learned professions. We found this definition for a profession: a profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested objective counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain.

Traditionally a “learned” profession is one of the three professions, theology, law, and medicine, usually associated with extensive learning or erudition; broadly or any profession in the preparation for or practice of which academic learning is held to play an important part.

Today, the professions requiring extensive advanced education most often have some type of organization that regulates and issues licenses to members. Doctors have the American Medical Association, attorneys have local, state, and national bar associations. Engineers, financial advisers, teachers, and many others all have a high level of responsibility and accountability.

In law, the bar is the legal profession as an institution. The term is a metonym for the line (or “bar”) that separates the parts of a courtroom reserved for spectators and those reserved for participants in a trial such as lawyers.

Any person who has a job and performs its duties with excellence over a long period of time can be thought of as being a professional. We have known professional tailors, painters, chefs, and bartenders.

The learned professions are different than most other other jobs in that they are held to a higher standard, that is they can be liable, negligent, or even guilty of malpractice if the circumstances warrant and there is evidence. They deal with matters where errors could have tragic consequences, financially or physically to structures, property, or human beings.

One thing that is common in most professions is that they are becoming more and more specialized every day. In the past if you were sick you went to a doctor and if you had a legal issue you visited an attorney. Today there are over ten different types of specialties in ophthalmology alone, and lawyers have branched out to be of service to people in dozens of very specific areas of law.

When something happens up and you need an attorney, you will have many choices. The largest law firm in the United States by number of attorneys is Baker & McKenezie in Chicago with over 4,200 and there are probably many legal situations where B&K would be the perfectly appropriate firm to call for help. There are many general practice firms, large and small, that handle personal injury cases, and they also handle criminal cases, bankruptcies, and family law. These firms are also qualified and capable of handling cases professionally and they perform very well for their clients.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has filled a special space in the south Florida community for over 20 years. We are a small firm consisting of Gary and Arleen Lazarus with an excellent support team and we work with people who have been injured in any number of ways because of some incident or accident that was not their fault. In particular we have sought to help people injured in accidents, including those involving automobile, truck, and motorcycle crashes. We work with people injured in industrial accidents, and accidents on private or public property. We have also gained a tremendous amount of experience working with people hurt by pharmacy or pharmaceutical company errors. Certain types of medical malpractice also fall into our area of expertise.

Our smaller size allows us to focus on each client and their case with a level of personal service it is sometimes hard to find in a larger firm, and we are committed to keeping that service level in place. If you have been hurt due to someone else’s carelessness, we ask for the opportunity to meet with you and review our track record, our qualifications, and the testimonials from previous clients. Please call us at 954-356-0006 to arrange a confidential consultation, and thank you.

In almost any accident-related injury situation, there is usually someone or something that is at fault. It may be a car accident where one driver failed to obey a traffic device or it may be a slip-and-fall accident where a business was negligent by not maintaining a safe environment for customers. Whatever the cause, we are fortunate in this country to have the ability to pursue and then recover damages.

But, just because a court awards a judgement to someone doesn’t mean they will be able to recover. Let’s go to the beginning of the whole process.

1 – A person checks into a hotel and steps into the tub to take a shower. The tub is slippery from a spill of one of the bottles of shampoo, and the guest slips and falls, hitting their head on the hard tile and is seriously injured. The hotel is uncooperative about admitting their contributory negligence, and the victim files a lawsuit.

Before anything happens, there will be a pre-trial phase where motions will be made and a judge will decide if they have merit. These motions will usually involve evidence which may be witness testimony, photographs, or actual pieces of evidence. This information is reviewed so cases with little chance of winning do not clog up the courts.

Note: There have been thousands of incidents like the one described above, and many have failed to go forward due to lack of evidence. If you are ever injured because of someone else’s negligence, it is very important to document what happened the best you can. Take pictures, save evidence, and ask for the names and phone numbers of witnesses. It all helps to build your case.

Once the pre-trial phase is complete and a case moves forward, a trial by judge or jury will be scheduled and if a judgement in favor of the plaintiff (victim) is granted, what happens then?

A very important concept to understand is that a judgement has value to a victim if it is collectible. If the defendant has the assets to pay, there is usually not too many problems, but if they don’t it might present a delay. Some defendants may attempt to hide assets and finding them can be difficult.

Interviewing attorneys about their credentials, ability to win cases, and collect judgments is very important when making a decision to hire an attorney who will be able to represent you and fight for your rights.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has earned a sterling reputation for gathering evidence into a clear and convincing cases, and then following through with doing whatever it takes to get clients the help they need. Please call us if you have any questions about how to help if you’ve been hurt in any kind of accident. Our number is 954-356-0006.

You’ve been injured in an automobile accident in south Florida, or you’ve been hurt in some other incident where someone else may be at fault. What do you do? You’ll have questions about medical bills, insurance, and how to get help for your lost time from work. You’ll want to know your rights. Everyone tells you to call an attorney, and they are correct. But who?

Here are some staggering numbers: In 1980, Florida had 27,000 lawyers. Since 2000, five new law schools have opened in Florida and the number of lawyers in the state has increased from 60,900 to 96,511!

Fast Fact: If you spent 8 hours a day calling 96,511 lawyers and spent 10 minutes on each call, it would take 5 1/2 years to call them all.

So let’s narrow things down. You’ll want to have some criteria for choosing an attorney.

You’ll want someone who is in the area, who is experienced handling personal injury cases, and who has positive reviews from other clients. Even then, you will have a great number of attorneys to consider. We would like to tell you a little about our firm, and why we would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and discuss your options. Some of the important things to consider when choosing a personal injury attorney:

Experience – Our firm was founded in 1992, and our practice has been focused on helping south Floridians who are injured since the start. We’re a small firm, and we only take cases when we know that we can really help. This is a family law firm, and you will meet with Gary or Arleen Lazarus, you will not be assigned an attorney fresh from law school who doesn’t have much experience.

Communication – We are with you every step. When you reach out for information about your case you will be treated with courtesy and respect and you’ll be told the exact status of your case. We don’t sugar-coat things, we tell you the truth. We don’t want to waste your time and drag things out.

Reputation – We have established a sterling reputation for protecting the rights of our clients, and delivering on the commitments we make to them. We work hard to deliver the maximum amount of compensation for damage, injuries, pain, and suffering. Our reviews across all sources are superior. including AVVO, the most trusted source for attorney recommendations and information.

Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney

Please call us at 954-356-0006 if you have any questions, and thank you.

Cruising around south Florida in the car on a beautiful sunny day, it’s one of the reasons we live here. And taking the family dog might seem like fun for the driver and the dog, but dogs present some issues regarding safety for everyone.

First of all, we often discuss the issue of distracted driving as it pertains to texting or talking on a cell phone. But a dog in the car can be an equally dangerous distraction. The American Automobile Association conducted a survey and found that many people enjoyed riding with their dog on their lap, petted their dog while driving, and many even said they liked to take pictures of their pooch while driving. Talk about distracted. One moment of distracted driving can cause a horrific accident and so ee urge people not to do any of these things for obvious reasons.

Let’s talk about the safety of your pet. Driving with an unrestrained dog in the front seat is very dangerous for several reasons, but one in particular is that most cars today have airbags, front and side. If an airbag goes off, it may actually throw your dog through a window and out of the car onto the street. This has happened, and it’s totally tragic. Petco.com has several dog restraints here: Click Here.

Let’s also not forget about the terrible potential danger of leaving a dog unattended in your car. It seems unthinkable that a responsible person could leave their beloved pet in a hot car, but it happens all the time.

Fortunately, Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 131 into law, allowing Floridians to break into locked automobiles to rescue animals or vulnerable people who are “in imminent danger of suffering harm.”

The bill comes as a direct response to the growing number of incidents where pets and children have died because they have been left in overheated cars. However, the new law will only protect breaking into a vehicle under strict guidelines. If you’re faced with the situation, here’s what you need to know: First, you must check that the vehicle is locked. After doing so, call 911 or law enforcement before entering the vehicle or immediately after rescuing the child or pet. Finally, use no more force than is necessary to break in — and remain with the person or animal until first responders arrive.

Here’s our advice: Leave the dog home, unless you’re taking it to the vet or moving.

South Florida Accident Attorney

In 20+ years of representing victims of serious car crashes, we have seen it all including pets injured and pets causing accidents. Dogs and cats are wonderful companions and they are like family to many people, but they simply don’t belong in our cars.

We are experienced personal injury attorneys representing people all over Florida who have been injured to to the carelessness or negligence of someone else. Please call us if you have any questions,, and thank you for reading our blog. 954-356-0006.

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 to 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.

Conclusion: 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.