Large Truck Collisions Cause Devastation
February 22, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
There’s an old saying that one’s life may change in the blink of an eye. Do not look now, but that happens to be true, more particularly so when dealing with large truck collisions. They alter one’s life in ways no one wants to think about.
It only takes one mere blink, a quick moment of inattention, and the event is over; the dust takes longer to settle. A collision with a large truck is something no one will ever forget, as the consequences for survivors are monumental. Thousands of big rig accidents take place every year, and every year more lives are impacted by debilitating injuries or death.
Hitting a big rig, or being hit by one, is the virtual equivalent of running into a brick wall. The destruction is quite graphic and usually one of the drivers in this mismatched meeting of two vehicles will be severely injured or die from their injuries. Definitely the smaller vehicle (usually a car, light truck or SUV) will take the brunt of the damages and be totaled. Ask Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, about the consequence of big rig accidents, as he has extensive expertise in this area.
The rising number of large rig accidents did prompt the federal government to create the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, whose role is to provide uniform rule and regulations for truckers to follow. While having the rules in place is one thing, having people follow them is something entirely different. “One thing the Administration does that helps to reduce the number of big rig accidents is make regular testing mandatory to show that the truck drivers are in compliance with the regulations,” explained Francis.
“The regulations now in place cover a wide variety of areas, but the one that is most relevant to the accident situation nationwide is the section that deals with driver disqualifications and penalties,” added Francis. For instance, some of the behaviors that may disqualify a truck driver from driving a big rig are consistently speeding 15 mph or more over the posted limit; reckless driving; improper or erratic lane changes; and tailgating.
There are more noted violations and one even includes illegally driving a big rig without the proper license to do so. It’s a scary thought that there are rig drivers on the roads that do not have the right type of license to be manhandling a huge vehicle weighing over 10,000 pounds.
If a big rig accident has caused the loss of a loved one or caused severe personal injuries, contact a highly qualified, large truck crash, personal injury lawyer such as Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida. Francis knows precisely what needs to be done to get his clients a just settlement in cases like this.
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
Safety On and Off the School Bus Is an Issue
February 22, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
Thankfully, school bus accident statistics are not nearly as horrendous as car crash figures; however, that is not to say the figures do not reveal there are a substantial number of children hurt or killed each year in school bus mishaps. Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, is intimately familiar with handling cases such as this.
While one might think of a school bus accident as being a crash with devastating results, a bus accident may also be the result of something else entirely. For instance, getting off the bus is a prime time for children being at risk. School buses make regular stops daily and there are all kinds of potential hazards associated with disembarking. “One of the biggest accidents happens to be if the driver of the bus miscalculates how close the child is to the side of the bus and/or the curb, and while leaving for the next stop, hits the child,” stated Francis.
The second problem is when children get off the bus and then scatter along the side of the bus, with some of them winding up in the driver’s blind spot. No amount of checking prior to leaving that particular stop is going to ensure the driver sees the child in the blind spot.
We’ve all seen this happen as well. The school bus comes to a halt, puts on its signals, opens the door and lets the kids out. The only thing that is stationary here is the bus, while the traffic behind it is still moving toward the bus. This is one of the most dangerous situations for youngsters of any age, as they do not always look before they leap from behind or in front of the bus. Add to this the fact that many drivers do not see the children, as the bus is like a huge behemoth obscuring their vision.
The other area included in bus accident statistics is accidents that happen while the children are riding the bus. “Most school buses, despite the raging controversy over the lack of safety measures to prevent loss of life, are not equipped with seat belts,” explained Francis. Instead the industry relies on something called compartmentalization.
The theory behind compartmentalization is that it is supposed to surround the child with those heavy, padded and reinforced seats. This only works if the kids are seated properly – and how many kids stay sitting in their seats properly? The answer is not many, and in addition, this type of “safety” feature is really not that effective for a sideways impact.
Only a highly qualified school bus accident attorney such as Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, will be able to guide parents through the difficult process of ensuring just compensation for a school bus accident injury.
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
Slip and Fall Accidents Cause Personal Injuries
February 22, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
Slip and fall, or slip, trip and fall accidents are not always the easiest cases to try for the simple reason that the landowners only have a certain limited liability to those who come onto their property. Each case varies according to the set of circumstances, and this is one of the first things a competent Orlando personal injury lawyer will tell you.
A slip and fall accident “falls” within the realm of personal injury, which as your Orlando injury attorney will tell you, means an injury directly to your “person” such as when you fall on someone’s property, thanks to a dangerous situation. You may have tripped over an uneven sidewalk, jammed your foot and ankle in a hole in the ground, or even fallen over blocks sitting out in the middle of nowhere. No matter what caused you to fall, you’re likely going to hurt later.
If you suffered injuries that are bad enough that they sent you to a doctor for treatment, your Orlando accident lawyer will advise you that there may be a case for claiming compensation for the medical expenses you incur. In addition, you may also be able to claim pain and suffering and/or other economic loss. This is something that must be discussed with your personal injury lawyer.
While there are various ways to settle a slip and fall case, one of the first ways that may produce results (and save a costly trial) is to attempt a settlement with the property owner. This must be negotiated by your Orlando injury lawyer, and not something you try on your own; or literally, you will have no leg on which to stand. This is your lawyer’s job, and it’s best to let him or her do the job. Just remember to keep track of all your receipts for your expenses, after your slip and fall incident.
If the first route of settlement doesn’t bear fruit, then usually it is time to take the case to court and when that happens, the claim is filed against either public or private property and is phrased as a personal injury due to negligence. This is where the expertise of your Orlando accident lawyer will come to the fore. They have the ability to assess and evaluate damages and get a maximum settlement from the courts.
While you may think hiring an attorney for a slip and fall accident is rather ridiculous, think of it this way — if you fell and were injured due to someone else’s negligence, then you are entitled to compensation. It’s that simple.
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.
Orlando injury lawyer, orlando personal injury lawyer, orlando accident lawyer, orlando injury attorney
Spinal Cord Injuries Costly
February 22, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
Spinal cord injuries have been documented in history as far back as 1700 BC when a treatment for such an injury was penned out by a doctor of the times. Spinal cord injuries are still with us today, but suffice it to say the method of treatment today is likely far more advanced.
At one time when someone suffered a spinal cord injury it was considered permanent, as there was no real medical solution to address this. Thanks to advancements in modern medicine and the wondrous discoveries of the 21st century, this has changed, and there is a glimmer of hope. This isn’t to say that there is a cure, but there has been a remarkable change in the amount of time people stay in the hospital for this type of injury. An Orlando injury lawyer knows this first hand.
While there is no real way to totally reverse this type of injury, the kinds of treatments have improved dramatically and when combined with a laser-like focus on helping the person return to a full life, great strides have been taken. This only happens if the person gets immediate treatment right after the injury and if they make the decision to continue the spinal cord injury care, in consultation with their Orlando personal injury lawyer.
The first thing that makes a significant difference to a spinal cord injury patient is the prompt treatment of the initial cause of the paralysis. There are a variety of ways to achieve that, including medication and immobilization. The medication used is generally Medrol, known as methylprednisolone, which decreases the inflammation near the site of the injury. This must be given within 8 hours of the injury. This medical intervention has been known to promote recovery to a certain point.
Immobilization usually means a body harness, traction, or even metal braces to stabilize the spine for transport or for an MRI. While there are no guarantees it will cure this type of injury, immobilization combined with medications and supportive therapy has a significant chance of making a difference in the outcome of spinal cord injuries. Injuries like this need to be investigated by your Orlando accident lawyer to ensure you receive just compensation as a result of your accident.
If you are faced with a situation like this, make sure you call and consult with an Orlando personal injury lawyer. Only your lawyer will be able to inform you of the long-term ramifications and discuss settlement issues that will directly affect your life.
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.
Orlando injury lawyer, orlando personal injury lawyer, orlando accident lawyer, orlando injury attorney