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.
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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.
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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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Car Accident Lawyers in Florida Are Very Knowledgeable
December 21, 2008 by christy · Leave a Comment
Injuries incurred in a car accident are considered to be personal injuries. A personal injury lawyer should be contacted to assess the proper type of lawsuit, when seeking compensation.
Here is the way it works in the US when someone is hurt in a vehicle crash - the injured driver is able to file a personal injury lawsuit against several people, depending on the nature of the accident. For instance, if the accident was caused by a mechanical fault of the vehicle, the person may choose to sue the vehicle’s manufacturer.
If the crash is the result of another person’s negligence, then a lawsuit may be filed against that person or persons. If both parties are negligent in causing the accident, the courts will also apportion liability accordingly for any damage awards.
To ensure the proper case is launched, it should be taken to a highly qualified personal injury attorney such as Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida. Francis is known for his ability to get justice for his clients.
Francis is able to grasp the intricacies of the litigation process quickly and competently, and handle all the myriad of details required to launch a case like this. “We obtain eyewitness statements, check filed police reports, and discuss with the client things they should not do – for instance, not to take the first insurance settlement offered,” outlined Francis.
In most instances, both drivers in a car accident have insurance and the guilty parties insurance should cover the claims made. If they do not, it is strongly advised to consult with a personal injury accident attorney like Tony Francis. Francis is able to negotiate those tough cases to make sure his clients get what they deserve for their pain and suffering.
Francis is noted for planning his cases with his clients’ injuries in mind and will explore various alternatives and discuss them thoroughly with his clients prior to launching a lawsuit. He will not take a case that he doesn’t think will be successful.
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
Spinal Cord Injuries Are Personal Injuries
December 21, 2008 by christy · Leave a Comment
Another form of personal injury is a spinal cord injury that is often the result of vehicle crashes, but may be the result of a diving accident or a slip and fall. When the injured party is seriously hurt due to the carelessness of another or due to a faulty product, a lawsuit may be initiated to recover damages from the person or responsible product manufacturer.
The bottom line in cases such as this, is the responsible person is bound by law to pay the injured person compensation, so long as they are found legally responsible for the accident by a court of law.
Spinal cord injury cases often have an element in them that may allow a personal injury attorney to seek punitive damages. Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, has taken many cases like this to court and been successful in winning compensation for his clients.
Punitive damages have the direct intent of penalizing offenders and making an example of them for others to learn that their negligence or carelessness is not acceptable. In other words, they are being made an example of what not to do for others. “We’ve dealt with a lot of spinal cord injuries during our time in Orlando, and we understand the pain and suffering our clients are facing for the long-term,” said Francis.
Personal injuries are not just spinal cord injuries, but may also encompass cruise injuries, nursing home abuse, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, construction site accidents, and food contamination. Anything that directly harms a person physically, mentally and emotionally is considered to be a personal injury – meaning an injury directly to the person as whole.
In instances where a person is faced with long-term suffering as the result of injuries sustained in an accident, consult with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney such as Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida. When time is of the essence, Francis gets the job done with precision.
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
It Isn’t Just a Slip and Fall
December 21, 2008 by christy · Leave a Comment
Slipping and falling isn’t just that – a slip and fall – it is also classified as a personal injury, particularly if you have sustained some type of cut, bruise, fracture, concussion or sprain, or strain injury.
The range of personal injuries that can happen to you when you slip and fall is fairly broad and will vary from a serious concussion (that may cause traumatic brain injury) to a seriously bruised backside (and pride). However, no matter what type of personal injury you sustain, it isn’t a laughing matter.
Personal injuries, in fact, are injuries in which you may be able to sue another person for their negligence in causing the accident that injured you. Keep in mind it’s not just the injuries that you may sue for, but also the suffering and mental stress. Look at it this way - serious bruises, fractured ribs, head injuries, spinal cord injuries or bone fractures may take years to heal. This isn’t something that will heal overnight.
Slip and fall injuries may also mean a person (if seriously hurt) may be unable to report to work, may lose wages, have medical bills piling up, and isn’t able to support their family. This amounts to a significant loss in the usual way of life for the injured person and they are entitled to some compensation for these losses if the slip and fall was the result of another’s negligence.
Add it up - mental stress, severe injuries, depression, no money, no ability to interact with the family or other loved ones, and the possibility of a long-term recovery. This is not encouraging news for the victim who slipped and fell. It’s no wonder that many victims seek to file a slip and fall personal injury lawsuit.
A personal injury lawsuit has the ability to recover damages for an injured party so long as this is done with the help of a fully qualified and highly experienced personal injury attorney. They know how to claim for medical expenses, physical injuries, and a compromised lifestyle. They know how to lay a case out for the courts to award damages based on the circumstances of your particular case.
The process is not really all that simple, as the legal guidelines are complex and if one rule is missed, the whole deck of cards could come tumbling down. This is why a good attorney will go over your case with you time and time again, to ensure they have all the necessary details to meet the legal requirements to launch a personal injury lawsuit.
When in doubt that your slip and fall case with personal injuries has merit, consult with a competent attorney who will assess your case for free. Once they have an idea of what is involved, they are able to tell you if you have a solid case or not.
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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School Bus Safety – The Endless Debate
December 21, 2008 by christy · Leave a Comment
Everyday when you put your kids on the school bus, you worry about their safety; and that worry never stops, even as they are older. You worry about peer group pressure, if they’ll like their teachers, and if the bus on which they are riding will be involved in an accident.
Statistics show what many see as an alarming trend — school bus accidents seem to be on the rise. For instance, one set of statistics (taken from Pediatrics magazine) actually cites figures that show in the last three years or so, more than 50,000 children have been injured in non-fatal crashes. That would certainly scare any parent.
It’s even more frightening if you consider there are over 23 million children (both youngsters and older teens) whose only mode of transport to school is the big yellow bus. Sure some parents drive their kids to school, but the majority of families these days rely on school bus transportation.
This is interesting, and also the core of a major safety debate all across the United States. Florida, New Jersey and New York are the only states that have seat belts for the children on school buses. The controversy, of course, is whether or not the addition of seat belts make riding a school bus (and therefore the children) safer. Some say it could cause more harm than good.
What IS clear in this debate is that the Department of Transportation needs to re-examine school bus safety standards. Re-fitting a school bus with seat belts costs approximately $4,000, a small amount if it means saving lives. However, the argument is that if you have 30 buses to outfit, then the school district’s budget will take a hit.
When you stop to think about that argument, you come to the conclusion that money seems to be more important than the lives of our future generation. This is not acceptable. What person in their right mind would think twice about making a vehicle safer for their little ones?
Sure, most kids don’t like seat belts or want to wear them, but in this day and age it is more common that children hear “Put your seat belt on,” beginning when they’re toddlers. This is teaching through example –- the do as I say and do as I do parenting rule. Of course, this isn’t just up to the parents to strongly encourage kids to wear seat belts. Schools have a role in taking on this type of responsibility as well.
The major question is not whether the buses have seat belts, but rather how buses themselves need to be re-designed so they are not top heavy, thus they don’t roll as easily in a crash. That’s food for thought.
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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