The Dire Consequences of Auto Accidents
January 19, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
Even back in the 1800s when automobiles were first seen in the U.S., there were car crashes. Today, of course, there are more of them and the consequences are far more drastic.
Cars these days have speeds far greater than any of their predecessors could ever have dreamed of achieving, which is good and bad. Good because travel time is reduced drastically; bad because the results of a crash at higher speeds are catastrophic, to say the least. “More and more we see whiplash injuries from car crashes,” said Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida.
Whiplash is the result of the impact (acceleration force) of the car and its passengers into another vehicle. In this type of injury, the head is essentially motionless until the neck gets stretched to its maximum extension. “The head whips forward along with the neck and upper back,” Francis pointed out. Even if the speeds involved in an accident are not that high, people may suffer serious neck, head and upper back injuries.
The medical explanation for this injury is that the muscles, discs and nerves, and bones and ligaments may be torn. What the doctor sees and feels after this type of trauma is muscles in severe spasm, inflammation, and ligaments that may have torn parts of the bone away. “Whiplash injuries are not a lot of fun and we strive to achieve a fair damage award for our clients in situations such as this,” indicated Francis.
The immediate damage isn’t always the problem; it’s usually the long-term difficulties associated with whiplash that affect how a court awards damages for pain and suffering. Pain and impaired nerve functions could follow a person for life as the result of a whiplash injury.
Consulting a highly qualified whiplash personal injury attorney such as Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, will ensure personal service and a caring and compassionate handling of all aspects of client cases. Don’t assume because an insurance company says they will limit damages to a certain amount that this will be the case. This is where a good attorney will go to bat for you and ensure a just award.
To learn more, visit http://www.francislawgroup.com.
Adviatech Corp., PR for FrancisLawGroup.com
9280 Bay Plaza Blvd Suite 706
Tampa, FL 33619
1.813.600.3017
The Reality of Spinal Cord Injuries
January 19, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
Spinal cord injuries are far more common than one would think, and they are usually the result of personal injuries sustained in car crashes, bike accidents, motorcycle crashes, and slip, trip and falls.
No one knows these statistics better than Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida. Francis has handled many cases of spinal cord injuries during his years of practicing law and has an expert handle on what is required to assist his clients.
Usually the types of spinal cord injuries are separated into two different categories – incomplete and complete – depending on the type of injury and just how severe it happens to be. A complete injury usually means there is no function below the neurological level at the point of the injury. Thankfully, recent statistics imply that less than 5% of the people classified as having a complete trauma do recover some movement.
“An incomplete trauma normally means there is some retained sensation or movement,” explained Francis. Again recent stats show that close to 95% of those suffering incomplete traumas also are able to recover some locomotion.
“Spinal cord injuries should not be confused with broken backs or necks,” outlined Francis. Just because an injury involves one or both of these circumstances does not mean the person is paralyzed. “Paralysis only happens when there is damage to the spinal cord itself,” said Francis. Spinal cord damage happens when the nerves are implicated in the injury.
While these distinctions might not mean much to the injured party, who only knows they are in pain and facing a long road to recovery, Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm knows the differences affect damage awards for pain and suffering and rehabilitation. This is why it is wise to hire such an attorney to go to bat for damages for personal injuries like this. Francis has the ability to immediately understand the medical perspective of spinal cord injury cases and has been known to return some significant damage awards.
Spinal cord injury trauma is a serious medical emergency, and only immediate treatment may reduce any long-term effects. “This does not usually rule out rehabilitation therapy and various medications to assist in making a recovery,” stated Francis. Factors such as this go into making a good personal injury case.
If faced with this type of an injury, contact Tony Francis at the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida. Francis knows how to step up and make sure his clients get a just award for their suffering.
To learn more, visit http://www.francislawgroup.com.
Adviatech Corp., PR for FrancisLawGroup.com
9280 Bay Plaza Blvd Suite 706
Tampa, FL 33619
1.813.600.3017
Florida Is Tough on DUI
January 19, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
In the state of Florida you can get tagged for driving while under the influence for two reasons. In one of these reasons, it doesn’t matter how much drugs or alcohol you have in your system.
The mere fact that you are driving unsafely and attract the attention of the police is reason enough to get stopped. If the police have reason to suspect you are driving impaired due to the way you are handling your vehicle, you may be arrested for a Florida DUI.
The other way you may be arrested is if your blood or breath alcohol levels are .08% or higher. The fact you were not driving as if impaired makes no difference. It is enough for an arrest even if your actions do not raise suspicions at first.
If you are pulled over because the police have some questions about how you were driving, you will be asked to submit to a breath or urine test. There is no implied consent law in Florida. You do have the right to refuse this test and this is actually the best thing to do. This is where you contact a highly experienced DUI lawyer who has extensive experience handling these types of charges.
The unnerving thing about a DUI in Florida is that there are usually two separate cases, all the more reason to speak to a competent attorney. The first court case, should it even get that far (your lawyer may have succeeded in getting the charges thrown out) is a traditional court case. The other is a Florida Department of Highways Safety and Motor Vehicles case.
When you are arrested, you are handed a 10-day permit to drive and after that, suspended for 30 days. Now if you were smart and hired a DUI attorney, you might not face this suspension. Don’t assume that just because it’s “just a short suspension” that it won’t have grave consequences for you down the road if it is not dealt with promptly. While you may think hiring a lawyer is something akin to overkill, an knowledgeable attorney knows the system and how to make it work in your favor.
Be aware that the 10-day period of time is supposed to allow you to file all the necessary forms, etc., for both court cases. Do not attempt to do this on your own; this is one of the worst mistakes you could make and may have a nasty domino effect. Just remember that everything you do within this system has a consequence that you may not like. Hiring a lawyer gives you a fighting chance to come out ahead.
Just so you know, the first DUI you are charged with in Florida with a blood alcohol level of less than .20% may net a fine of between $250-$500, up to 50 hours of community service, possibly 6 months or less in jail, mandatory DUI education, and the impounding of your vehicle for at least 10 days. You may also have an ignition interlock installed on your car. Is all this worth drinking and driving? Only you are able to answer that, as the fines escalate as the blood alcohol content soars.
Tony Francis is an Orlando personal injury lawyer. His practice specializes in being an Orlando accident lawyer helping innocent victims get compensation for their losses. To learn more, visit Francislawgroup.com.
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Slipping and Falling and What It May Mean Legally
January 19, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
Slip, trip and fall accidents are in the category of personal injury accidents and are defined as someone falling on another person’s property due to a dangerous situation.
While the operating definition is dangerous situation, there are various ways to interpret this according to the law. So if you do slip, trip or fall and injure yourself, make sure you discuss your potential case with a competent attorney. There are several exceptions in this area of the law – call them rules – that would mean a case is not viable for court. This is one of several things your attorney will let you know right away.
What are risky conditions? In general they could be related to snow, bad lighting, icy surfaces, wet surface conditions, cracks, gaps or breaks in floors, uneven pavement or poorly installed expansion joints. If any of these conditions apply in your circumstances, there is a good chance your personal slip and fall claim is eligible for compensation from the courts for things such as pain and suffering and your medical expenses.
Depending on the nature and extent of the injuries sustained as a result of a slip, trip and fall accident, other areas that may qualify for compensation are lost wages and rehabilitation. This means that you need to keep good records in order to put in a claim. Understand as well that liability in these cases is not always laid at the doorstep of the landowner. The law is written in such a way as to protect the owner, meaning the plaintiff needs to prove the landowner was negligent.
If you and your personal injury lawyer have decided to pursue a court case, you may do so against private or public property. One of the major factors in figuring out if there is liability is whether or not the property owners were negligent; if they knew or should have known about the hazardous situation (and had enough notice to fix it.) This is where you need to also know about those two rules mentioned earlier – the open and obvious rule, and the natural accumulation rule.
The open and obvious rule basically states if there is some really, patently obvious danger and you choose to walk right into it, you can’t sue for the consequences. The natural accumulation rule is pretty direct and states, for example, that you can’t decide to sue when it snows on a walking surface and you fall because it wasn’t cleared off.
Don’t let any of these rules stop you from talking to a personal injury lawyer. Each case is different and has different variables. You won’t know until you talk to a lawyer if you have a case or not; and the bonus is the first consultation with your lawyer is usually free.
Tony Francis is an Orlando personal injury lawyer. His practice specializes in being an Orlando accident lawyer helping innocent victims get compensation for their losses. To learn more, visit Francislawgroup.com.
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