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
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
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
Driving While Suspended in Florida Is Major Trouble
December 1, 2008 by christy · Leave a Comment
Driving while suspended in Florida is not a bright thing to do, not to mention the fact the driver could be charged with a felony. It is not worth getting a criminal record over.
Knowing the law when it comes to driving while suspended in the state of Florida will keep many a motorist out of hot water. It is not worth the fines or the record that may follow a driver throughout their life. Losing a vehicle to the impound lot, if stopped, isn’t a whole lot of fun either.
Driving while suspended is a moving violation and the first violation will net the offender a second-degree misdemeanor. A second offense results in a first-degree felony and if the driver gets nabbed a third time, it is written up as a third degree felony.
While it may not be obvious on the face of things, it is crucial to hire a qualified attorney such as Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, to assist in handling the inevitable court case that usually arises out of situations like this.
Pleading innocence won’t work if there is a prior record of similar offenses. A suspension for failure to pay a traffic fine or for a financial responsibility violation does not count. These may be the only two exceptions according to the law, but consulting with a law firm like the Francis Law Firm will lay out other options that may be available.
Habitual offenders who continue to drive while suspended are guilty of a third degree felony. This also applies to anyone who drives while suspended and causes the death of another.
If a person is driving a commercial vehicle while suspended, the first offense is a first degree felony and any other offense after that is a third degree felony.
Getting stopped by the police may result in having the vehicle being impounded immediately. The impound will be ordered if the person driving the vehicle is driving while suspended, has been suspended since a prior conviction for a suspended license, if the person is a habitual offender (the exception may be a one-time suspension for not maintaining security) and if the driver of the vehicle is the registered owner or co-owner.
Of course getting a vehicle out of impound isn’t the least expensive thing a driver has to do when it comes to owning up for driving while suspended. The fines increase incrementally according to the number of times a driver is convicted. At this point, consulting a lawyer like Tony Francis at the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, would be the best investment of time and money to deal with offenses of this nature.
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
Traumatic Brain Injury Research Just Got a Big Boost in Florida
December 1, 2008 by christy · Leave a Comment
Orlando Health will soon receive a $2.25 million grant from the National Institutes of Health specifically for traumatic brain injury. The future holds promise for those suffering from brain injuries thanks to this substantial grant.
Orlando traumatic brain injury attorney Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm realizes that this grant is a significant step forward in research for this area. The lead researcher is at the Orlando Regional Medical Center and hopes to start her painstaking work soon.
Statistics show that about 2 million Americans suffer some form of traumatic brain injury yearly, and approximately 90% of those individuals will suffer from mild or moderate brain injury. This is not easy to diagnose.
The hope is to create a blood test to help physicians assess biomarkers in the blood. Biomarkers enter the bloodstream during a brain injury and the research team believes they are able to develop a test that not only shows brain trauma but the seriousness of it as well. This would be a major breakthrough in treatment options for patients.
Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm knows how badly research in this issue is needed. His office sees cases like this on a regular basis and they are complex and difficult to take to trial. It is estimated that close to 90,000 people wind up living with permanent disabilities, and many need assistance to handle the tasks of daily living.
The long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury affects the damages that may be awarded to plaintiffs. No one knows better than Francis how this type of a breakthrough would help clients fighting to live normal lives. In particular, the broader range of treatment options would be invaluable.
Over 5 million people in the U.S. are living with brain injury disabilites and nearly 50,000 succumb each year to their injuries. Those statistics are frightening and research is most welcomed in this area. It is tough to live with the consequences of a brain injury that range from divorce to substance abuse and from depression to unemployment.
In all cases of traumatic brain injury, which is usually the result of someone else’s negligence, the victim needs to seek legal counsel immediately. Do not sign away rights for anything until speaking with a fully qualified traumatic brain injury lawyer. The long-term expenses for this type of personal injury may be catastrophic and a good lawyer will assist in fighting for 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