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 | 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 | 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 | Florida Accident Attorneys, Uncategorized

What to do When You’re Stopped by the Police – Florida Accident Attorneys

We aren’t criminal defense attorneys, so we’re not going tell you what to do if you are pulled over and you’ve been drinking or you haveFlorida Accident Attorneys marijuana in your car. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that will give you free advice and qualified defense attorneys you may hire for professional advice about what to do in those circumstances. We will take this opportunity to say that if you’ve been drinking, please do not drive.

You do have rights, and we will touch on those, but it’s important to understand that being pulled over by the police is a strenuous time for you, and for the police officer. There’s a saying “There’s no such thing as a routine traffic stop,” and here is why: In 2015, off the 41 officers feloniously killed, eight were investigating suspicious persons or circumstances; seven were involved in tactical situations; six were conducting traffic pursuits/stops; five were killed in arrest situations; four were ambushed; three were killed while answering domestic disturbance calls; three were killed in unprovoked attacks; two were handling, transporting, or maintaining custody of prisoners; two were handling persons with mental illnesses; and one was conducting an investigative activity (such as surveillance, a search, or an interview).

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| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Uncategorized

Prima Facie in Professional Negligence Cases

professional negligenceIf you are involved in the highly contentious discourse that is politics these days, no doubt you have heard people use the phrase “that’s unconstitutional” and then move forward with their argument. The problem is that often the person hasn’t actually read the constitution, nor do they understand it. They have not established support for their point. Similarly, legal arguments sometimes should be supported by facts.

Latin for “at first sight,” Prima facie may be used as an adjective meaning “sufficient to establish a fact or raise a presumption unless disproved or rebutted;” e.g., prima facie evidence. A prima facie case is the establishment of a legally required rebuttable presumption.

If you wanted a court to accept up front that all concrete is hard, it wouldn’t be difficult to do that. But someone may counter that cement in a bag or wet cement is not hard, so you would have to clarify your position. “All gasoline flames are hot” would likely pass any challenge and be considered acceptable as “prima facie,” unless there is something I missed in my study of thermodynamics.

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| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Uncategorized

Does “Hands-Free” Really Help Keep Drivers Safe? South Florida Accident Attorneys

Each day in the United States, over 8 people are killed and 1,161 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Distractedsouth florida accident attorneys driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.

What’s the solution? Most people go with “handsfree” alternatives, but it’s not clear if they actually work.

Famous TV debunkers Adam and Jamie from “Mythbusters” conducted several tests to see if drivers could focus and perform a driving test better using hands-free versus hand-held cell phone use. First they drove real cars on a real obstacle course and the results were basically the same for both techniques. No real advantage for hands-free.

Then they moved the tests into a more scientific arena, a computerized driving simulator. The results: the same, no advantage for hands-free. Apparently any cell phone use is a distraction and counter-productive to safe driving.

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Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorney
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys, Uncategorized

What are the Duties of an Auto Accident Attorney?

Accidents happen to everyone, it’s just a matter of when. Everyone hopes it’s not serious and that no one is injured, but the statistics say it will happen eventually. That being said, do you know what to do when you’re in an accident? We have covered what to do immediately after the accident, such as cooperate with the authorities, but don’t admit fault, and don’t post on social media. Take photographs if possible.

Fort Lauderdale Auto Accident Attorney

Fort Lauderdale Accident AttorneyThen seek the advice of a good auto accident attorney, and look for references and reviews to select a good one. Then, after you have decided on a lawyer, what then? What should you expect from your attorney? Obviously you want to be communicated with regularly. What else?

How about a list of the duties and responsibilities a good auto accident attorney should know his responsibilities based on the circumstances of the case, but a basic outline is:

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| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | Truck Accidents, Uncategorized | , ,

Florida Bus and Truck Accidents Involving Migrant Workers – A Sad History

Florida Bus and Truck Accidents: Overloaded, Unsafe Trucks and Buses are Often to Blame for Migrant Worker Injuries and Fatalities

If you have lived in Florida for several years, you have probably heard about serious accidents involving migrant workers so often that you become almost used to them. They always seem to happen out in the middle of nowhere, and while you feel saddened by these tragedies, the news coverage is brief because the dead and injured people are not established members of the community. The victims are usually forgotten, and the accidents continue to happen.

Florida Bus and Truck AccidentsThe truth is that these accidents are often the result of careless and negligent companies and their employees who cut costs by placing human beings in harm’s way when they transport them in unsafe trucks and buses.

Nationwide, more than a dozen accidents have left at least 38 migrant workers dead and nearly 200 injured just since January 2015. The casualties included a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old, traveling with migrant worker parents.

According to the Associated Press, on July 2, 2016 police say a 1979 school bus carrying dozens of Haitian farm workers and family members blew through a flashing red light near the town of St. Marks, Florida, and was struck by a tractor-trailer. The truck driver and three on the bus were killed.

Unsecured seats were among 25 violations cited in post-accident inspections of farm labor contractor Billy R. Evans’ fleet. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration called the Belle Glade, Florida, contractor “an imminent risk of serious injury or death,” and ordered him off the roads.

Often, the farm companies or the contractors they hire to transport workers do not have adequate liability insurance, operate unsafe vehicles, or hire under-trained drivers, and the workers are afraid to say anything because they don’t want to rock the boat.

Florida Bus and Truck Accidents

Surely the State of Florida can do more to regulate transportation for migrant workers, inspect vehicles, and make sure that there is adequate insurance to compensate the victims and their families when accidents do happen.

Florida Accident Attorneys

Florida Accident AttorneysWhen a single accident involves many people in large commercial vehicles the process of sorting everything out is an extremely complex process and requires experienced attorneys and investigators. The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus specializes in helping victims of Florida bus and truck accidents. Our focus is on getting people the medical and financial help they need to recover.

We are pleased to meet with anyone who has questions about a serious accident, and you can reach us by calling 954-356-0006 or click here to fill out a contact form and we will respond to you promptly and confidentially.

| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized | ,

Holidays Aren’t Happy for the Victims of Drunk Drivers – Broward County Accident Attorneys

While everyone should always be aware of the danger of driving while impaired, the holidays are statistically the time when drunk driving accidents are most likely to occur. Lazarus and Lazarus, Broward county accident attorneys urge everyone to be especially alert and careful during this and all holiday seasons.

broward county accident attorneysSummer holidays like the 4th of July bring out the worst in people, and winter holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Eve are also high on the list for serious injury accidents with impaired driving the cause.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the times of year when most DUI arrests and accidents happen are:

Memorial Day weekend sees more than 400 traffic fatalities most years. Over Labor Day weekend, the NSC notes that more than 400 traffic fatalities and more than 42,000 serious injuries occurred. In between the two dates is a stretch known as the “100 deadliest days for teens,” when more teens have too much free time and are more likely to engage in unsafe behaviors.

The 4th of July is known as the most dangerous holiday for people on the roads. More than 100 people died in traffic accidents over the 4th of July holiday this year.

Thanksgiving weekend, which includes “Blackout Wednesday” is the most traveled time of year, and therefore the number of accidents goes up proportionately. DUI arrests and accidents are also traditionally high, and extra caution should be observed.

Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and in-between has actually observed a slight reduction in DUI arrests, injuries, and fatal accidents possibly due to the fact that enforcement has been so concentrated on these holidays for many years. Alternatives to driving drunk like free cab rides may also be responsible for the decreases.

Broward County accident attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus have been representing victims of drunk driving accidents for over 20 years.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, here are some sobering stats regarding drunk driving accidents:

• In 2014, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (31%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

• Of the 1,070 traffic deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2014, 209 (19%) involved an alcohol-impaired driver.

• Of the 209 child passengers ages 14 and younger who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2014, over half (116) were riding in the vehicle with the alcohol-impaired driver.

• In 2014, over 1.1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. That’s one percent of the 121 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among U.S. adults each year.

• Drugs other than alcohol (legal and illegal) are involved in about 16% of motor vehicle crashes.

• Marijuana use is increasing and 13% of nighttime, weekend drivers have marijuana in their system.

• Marijuana users were about 25% more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers with no evidence of marijuana use, however other factors – such as age and gender – may account for the broward county accident attorneysincreased crash risk among marijuana users.

Broward County Accident Attorneys – The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus

Florida had over 61,000 DUI arrests in 2015, second only to Texas and California in the U.S.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus is committed to providing superior representation to victims of drunk driving accidents. We specialize in helping victims deal with their injuries, their expenses, and their recovery. Your rights under the law and getting you compensation for your losses are our primary concern.

You may reach out to us any time by calling 954-356-0006 and asking for a confidential consultation.