Articles Posted in Personal Injury

If you are celebrating Thanksgiving in Pembroke Pines this year, there are several steps that you can take to help prevent a personal injury from occurring in your home during this holiday season:

1) Consider the guests that you are inviting into your home. If you are inviting children as part of your celebrations, for example, you will want to make sure that your house is childproof. Make sure that toxic chemicals as well as sharp object and small items that pose a choking hazard are well out of reach of small children. If you are having elderly guests in your home, consider adding no slip treads in bathrooms and other slippery floor surfaces and consider installing a grab bar in the bathroom.

2) Reduce the risk of a Pembroke Pines burn injury or fire. Use electric lights rather than candles, which pose a burn hazard. If you are going to be cooking over an extended period of time, make sure that the kitchen is always supervised. Have a fire extinguisher on hand in the kitchen area. Check your smoke detectors and fire alarms well before the holidays to ensure that they are working correctly.

3) Have a plan for supervising children who are invited into your home. Ideally, have at least two adults supervising the children at all times. Injuries to minors and children are more likely when they are unsupervised. If you have a pool area, make sure that it is well secured to prevent Pembroke Pines pool accidents and drownings.

4) Keep pets well away from children and guests. Lots of busyness in your home can stress out and upset animals, which can lead to Pembroke Pines dog bites and animal attacks. Be especially careful to keep pets away from young children, who may unintentionally tease the animals.

5) Practice food safety. If you will be eating a turkey or other meat, make sure that you follow the instructions on the product for thawing and cooking. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the meat is cooked all the way through and does not pose a food poisoning risk. Wash vegetables thoroughly to reduce the risk of food poisoning as well. Serve hot food hot and wrap up and store leftovers promptly. Keep in mind that even food that does not smell or appear spoiled can cause food poisoning symptoms, so follow food safety precautions carefully.

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Halloween is a time for ghost stories, candies, and scary costumes. However, it is also a time when many preventable injuries can occur, especially to minors and young children. To prevent a Hollywood personal injury, consider these tips:

1) Review your Halloween decorations. Halloween decorations can pose a variety of risks. Low lighting to create a creepy atmosphere, for example, can cause trip and fall accidents. Candles can pose a fire hazard. Using dry ice to create mist can result in Hollywood burn injuries. Take a look at your Halloween decorations and consider the risks. Consider safer alternative to low lights, dry ice, and candles.

2) Have a plan to get home from Halloween safely if you decide to drink. Prevent a Hollywood drunk driving accident by drinking responsibly. If you choose to drink, use public transit or a cab to get some safely.

3) Consider calling it at early night. Staying in to celebrate with family and friends or a movie is a great option and means you will not be driving on a night when there are many child pedestrians on the streets and the risk of a Hollywood pedestrian accident is greater.

4) Take a second look at children’s costumes. If you have children heading out for Halloween, review their costumes. Costumes should not have long hems that can cause a tripping hazard or any drawstrings that can pose a choking hazard. Check to make sure that the costumes will be visible to motorists and that children can see correctly out of their costumes. Rather than opting for masks and hoods, consider face paint to ensure that your children can see correctly when they head out.

5) Check the fire alarms in your home and review fire escape plans. Halloween fires are a common problem, since candles are often used at this time of year as part of decorations. Consider alternatives to candles throughout your home and in your jack-o-lantern. Make sure that your home’s fire alarms are working correctly as well.

6) Avoid a Hollywood premises liability claim. Since trick-or-treaters will be visiting your home, ensure that your property is well-lit. Ensure that there are no tripping hazards on the walkway to your door or mark any hazards clearly. Be especially careful about Halloween decorations. Some decorations – such as fake tombstones – are close to the ground and can pose a tripping hazard.

7) Supervise children more closely on Halloween. If children are heading out for trick-or-treat, make sure that there is at least one or two adults present. At home, supervise children closely, especially around any candles or decorations. Small decorations and toys common at this time of year can pose unique hazards, especially to young children.

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If you have been in a Hialeah car accident or have suffered any injury, you may decide to speak with a Hialeah personal injury attorney. After all, speaking with a personal injury attorney can help apprise you of your rights, can help you get answers, can help you protect your interests, and can help ensure that you get the fairest compensation possible. In most cases, speaking with a personal injury attorney if you have been seriously injured is one of the smartest things you can do. Most Hialeah personal injury attorneys understand how frightening it can be to consult with an attorney – especially if you have heard about the high costs of legal advice – which is why many personal injury attorneys offer free accident consultations.

Your initial consultation with a Hialeah personal injury attorney is your chance to discuss your case with a legal professional. It can get you some answers about your case, so that you can make the best decision about what to do next. To get yourself ready for your consultation, there are several things you can expect:

1) You can usually get a consultation by calling a Hialeah personal injury attorney, but you will want to make an appointment with an attorney who handles your type of injury case specifically. For example, if you have been injured in a Hialeah bicycle accident, make an appointment with an attorney who has handled Hialeah bicycle accident injury cases before. You can usually ask over the phone about an attorney`s experience with cases similar to yours.

2) A Hialeah personal injury attorney is useful if you have been seriously injured. In general, you should arrange for a consultation with a personal injury lawyer if you have an injury that will require medical care and possibly some time off work. This is because an attorney can seek compensation for damages, medical costs, lost income, and other expenses related to your injury. If you have been in an accident but have sustained no injuries or damages, there is a limit to the legal claim you can make. If you are not sure whether your injuries are serious enough to merit an attorney, call a personal injury attorney who specializes in your type of injury. In some cases, they can tell you over the phone whether you have a case.

3) You should look for a Hialeah personal injury lawyer who offers free, no obligation consultations. It is important that the consultation costs no money, since you may already be facing medical costs and other expenses if you have sustained a Hialeah head injury or any serious injury. It is also important that the consultation comes with no obligation, so that you can choose not to pursue a legal case or work with a specific attorney if you decide that is not something you want.

4) You need to prepare for your consultation to get the most of it. Bring all documents and facts related to your case. For example, if you have been in a Hialeah car accident, bring any information you have from your insurance company, details about your car, any police reports or medical records related to the accident, and any other documentation that may be relevant. The more information you have, the more accurately the attorney can evaluate your case. In addition to bringing documentation, you may also wish to write down any questions you may have for the attorney, so that you do not forget.

5) Consider what a consultation can and cannot do. A consultation with any attorney is meant to give you a sense of your legal rights and options. An attorney can also help you understand how much your case is worth and the relative strength of your case. Once your consultation is complete, your attorney may have recommendations about what you can do in your case. You will then have the option of working with the attorney or deciding not to pursue the case. The consultation will not be able to guarantee the outcome of your case and will not resolve the issue in most cases.

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Some people who survive a Fort Lauderdale personal injury – whether in a car accident, slip and fall, or Fort Lauderdale truck accident – are victims while others are survivors. Which would you rather be? It is not just semantics. Injury survivors often go on to be a source of inspiration and even advocates for others. Victims may suffer for years due to their injuries. Often, it comes down to the difference in response to an accident. There are several things that survivors do to help get a new lease on life after an injury:

1) They get educated. Fort Lauderdale personal injury survivors learn as much as they can about their condition, about treatment options, and about their rights and options. This way, they can pursue the treatments and the courses of action that best serve them in the future. After a devastating injury, such as a Fort Lauderdale head injury or burn injury, learning as much as possible is important as it ensures that you have the facts you need to make informed decisions in your case.

2) They get help. Fort Lauderdale personal injury survivors know that they are responsible for their recovery but that they need a good support system to help them. Survivors are often adept at gathering a good support system – including friends, family, therapists, medical professionals, formal supports groups, and a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney. A good support system provides the emotional, financial, physical, and legal support an injured person needs to recover as fully as possible after an injury.

3) They get financial resources. In many cases, getting quality medical care and help comes down to finances. Many treatments are very expensive and injured parties may face lost income or permanent income potential reduction as a result of their injuries. Some Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury patients, for example, may face medical bills of more than $100 000 in the first year of treatment alone – and that figure does not include lost income and home care. Fort Lauderdale brain injury patients may face a lifetime of income loss or reduction as well as expensive surgery and rehabilitation. In many cases, injured parties work with Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys to secure settlements or compensation so that they can pay for the expenses of their injuries. This allows Fort Lauderdale personal injury survivors to focus on healing, not on money.

4) They find a reason or mission. Many Fort Lauderdale personal injury survivors becomes advocates, working with other injury survivors or agitating for fairer treatment for injured parties. In many cases, survivors make a very positive change in the world around them and help many others through their work.

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Emergency rooms in Miami and across the country are getting ready for the upcoming holiday weekend. According to experts, Miami burn injuries caused by fireworks and Miami drunk driving accidents are among the most common holiday injuries seen during this time of the summer.

Although fireworks are a major part of any Fourth of July weekend, they also cause many injuries each year. Across the country, about 1600 people lose their vision due to mishaps with fireworks annually. These types of accidents are more common during the Fourth of July season, since fireworks are more common at this time of year. According to experts, one common mistake that people make is assuming that fireworks sold in stores or online are harmless, since they are offered for public sale. However, even sparklers – often seen as the least dangerous of fireworks – can reach the same temperature as a blowtorch (about 2000 degrees). In addition, fireworks can easily explode unexpectedly or prematurely, causing facial and eye injuries.

In most cases, those who are seriously injured by fireworks are under the age of 15 years old. Many children are fascinated by fireworks, and parents need to be vigilant at this time of year to ensure that children do not get unsupervised access to sparklers and other types of fireworks. It is important to discuss the dangers of fireworks with children and if the family will be having their own fireworks display it is important to keep fireworks carefully and safely stored where children and teens cannot easily reach them. To prevent Miami injuries to children and teens, it is also important to safely dispose of unused fireworks after the holiday. Due to the dangers of fireworks, many experts advise against having personal fireworks displays and instead suggest that families attend public fireworks events, which are organized by professionals for maximum safety.

In addition to fireworks injuries, Miami car accidents involving alcohol are very common at this time of year. Many Fourth of July events do include alcohol and after these events some drivers make poor choices about getting home. It is a good idea to investigate the options near your area – there may be alcohol-free festivities you can attend or free public transportation options so that you can get home safely. Even if you do not plan on drinking, it is important to have cash for a cab and other options for getting home safe. Planning ahead ensures that even if you do end up drinking you can get home safely without being in a DUI Miami car accident.

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Theme parks in Florida have reported 16 ride injuries in the 1st quarter of 2012. Some of these injuries include medical events while others involve preventable injuries. Legoland Florida saw two injuries during these months, while Walt Disney World saw 10 and Universal Orlando saw four. Wet ‘n Wild and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment parks did not report any injuries during the same period.

The injuries at Walt Disney World included four customers who experienced chest pains or a heart attack while in the park or on rides. Another two customers had seizures on the rides. One woman broke her leg and hip while getting on the Prince Charming Regal Carousel at Disney World. Another woman broke her leg while boarding Space Mountain. A 40-year-old woman broke a bone on the Jungle Cruise.

At Universal Orlando, three of the four injuries during the quarter occurred on the park’s most popular ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The three injuries involved motion sickness on the ride. In the fourth injury at the park, a woman sustained a cut on her head on the Carou-Seuss-el in Islands of Adventure.

Legoland had two injuries during the quarter. One involved a young boy whose foot was caught when he was leaving Lost Kingdom. According to the park, the boy tried to leave before instructions were given, and his food was caught between the platform and the vehicle. In the other incident, a woman tripped and fell when leaving the Fire Academy.

While Florida theme parks and amusement parks make many efforts to provide a safe experience for patrons, accidents and Miami personal injuries still do happen at the theme parks. Each year, people sustain serious Miami head injuries and other types of injuries on rides and while walking around the parks. There many things that you can do to help prevent being injured:

1) Wear practical shoes. Miami slip and fall injuries are a common type of accident in theme parks. In many cases, you will be wandering around theme parks for hours and may get fatigued. In addition, other people may drop food and other garbage on the ground in theme parks. While theme park staff try to keep the area clear, it can still be a danger. Wearing practical shoes helps reduce your risk of Miami slip and fall injuries.

2) Consider any medical conditions you have and contact the theme park before you go. If you are prone to seizures, for example, you may wish to avoid any rides that use strobe lights. If you have a heart condition or another type of serious condition you may wish to speak with your doctor about what you can and cannot safely. If you require medication for your condition, make sure that you bring your medication with you to the park.

3) Carefully read any signs related to the rides that you are considering. The signs are there for your protection, so be sure to follow the instructions given.

4) Follow any instructions given by park employees. If park staff provide instructions for safely disembarking from a ride, for example, follow these instructions. Park staff are there to help you. For this reason, if you notice anything that is potentially dangerous, make sure to alert park employees immediately so that they can take care of it before anyone is injured.

5) Know when to use extra caution. Use extra caution when getting on or off rides. Many injuries occur at this point. Also use extra caution in large crowds, where it is easy to get pushed and injured.

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Summer homes and vacation homes can be a great place to escape, but they can also be a place for new hazards. Vacation homes and summer homes have many issues which can lead to injuries, but there are several ways to prevent many of these injuries:

1) Check wiring and other common fire hazards. Summer homes can easily fall prey to animals and insects during the off season, and pests can do substantial damage to wiring. If there are any signs of an infestation in your summer home, consider having a qualified electrical check the wiring. If you store any appliances in your summer home, check the cords when you open your summer home again and replace any appliances with worn cords at once.

2) Secure pools, hot tubs, and other danger areas. Any areas with water can be a danger to children, especially. If you have a pool or hot tub, make sure that it is full enclosed in a tall fence with a self-locking gate. If your summer home is near a lake or pool and you will have small children at your home, consider building a fence with a self-locking gate around the summer home, to prevent children from wandering into the water. These precautions are important in preventing Fort Lauderdale pool injuries and drowning accidents.

3) Consider a maintenance service. Having someone drop by your summer home periodically during the winter can help ensure that your home is not burglarized or unsafe in any way. Another option is to drive to your summer home from time to time yourself or to rent your second home during the off season. This can help prevent Fort Lauderdale premises liability claims if someone is injured on your property while you are not there.

4) Keep a first aid kit at your summer home and make sure that you know where to get help if you need it. You may be less familiar with medical clinics and options near your vacation home, so make a list of local emergency and contact numbers to keep by the phone. Get familiar with the area to ensure that you can get help if you need it.

5) Keep the grass and trees around your summer home trimmed back. Keeping the area clean is important to prevent Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accidents. Keeping your area tidied can also help prevent Fort Lauderdale car accidents caused by overhead branches and poorly maintained driveways.

6) Use caution with fire pits, fires, and barbecues. Summer is often a time for s`mores and marshmallows, but fires and grills can be a fire hazard that can easily lead to Fort Lauderdale burn injuries. Make sure that you set up your fire or grill well away from your vacation home and car. Have plenty of water on hand to extinguish your fire and never leave a grill or fire unattended. Once you are done with a grill, make sure that you store it safely, especially when you are headed home for the autumn.

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While summertime in Miami Beach means beautiful weather and luxurious days of freedom, but with the season comes some hazards, including:

1) Miami Beach boating accidents. As the nice weather arrives, many people enjoy the season by heading out on their boats. Unfortunately, as a result, summer can be a prime time for boating accidents. In fact, Florida leads the nation when it comes to boating accidents. Speed, alcohol, and inexperience are among the top reasons for boating accidents, according to experts, and accidents caused by these factors are entirely preventable. Getting adequate training, boating sober, and obeying boating laws can help ensure a safe and enjoyable summer.

2) Miami Beach slip and fall injuries. Summer rains as well as more time spent outside can actually increase the risk of slip and fall accidents. As we head outdoors to enjoy the summer, we tend to bring out additional items, including gardening tools and barbecue implements, which can easily get lost outdoors and pose a tripping hazard. Cleaning up regularly outdoors, keeping grass trimmed, and fixing uneven steps and pavement can help prevent falls.

3) Miami Beach pool injuries. Pools are a major attraction in the summer, especially for children home from school. However, pools are also responsible for many drowning accidents and various injuries each summer. To keep your pool area safe, install a safe-locking gate and surround your pool with a tall isolation fence to ensure that no one can enter the pool area unsupervised. An alarm that lets you know when anyone enters the pool area is also a good precaution, especially if you have young children. In addition, studies have shown that early, formal swimming lessons can help keep children safer around the water.

4) Miami Beach car accidents. Summertime in Florida usually means an influx of tourists and more people are on the road as they visit Florida’s many attractions. In addition to heavier traffic, summer also brings with it road construction, which can also create a hazard for drivers. Following traffic rules scrupulously and driving distraction-free can greatly reduce your risk of a car crash.

5) Miami Beach fire-related injuries. Summer is a prime time for burn injuries, in part because forest fires are more common and because barbecue season can mean more residential fires as well. This is a good time to check your smoke detectors to ensure that they are in good working order. If you are just setting up your barbecue area, this is a good time to ensure that your barbecue (or fire pit) is well away from your home and from any flammable surface. Buying a fire extinguisher for your kitchen and your barbecue area is also a smart investment.

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A recent study at the Children’s National Medical Center found that medical care does not suffer when families are allowed to remain by a child patient and the family’s presence may actually help the child. According to Dr. Karen O’Connell, the lead author of the study, there is a common misconception that families in the ER or in the trauma ward may get in the way of care but the study in fact suggests that families can provide comfort and ease some of the pain.

The study examined 145 cases at one of the country’s busiest children’s hospitals, where children are often treated for trauma following car accidents and other serious trauma. Researchers set up cameras in the hospital to watch the outcomes of the cases. In about half of the cases, families were allowed to stay with the children. In these cases, medical care did not suffer and in some cases children were more comfortable.

The findings support the perspective of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other groups who have suggested that keeping families close to children in the hospital can be beneficial. However, less than ten percent of hospital have written policies in place to allow families to stay with children during treatment and at many hospitals families are routinely placed in waiting areas rather than permitted to stay with an injured child.

If a child in your family has suffered a Miami personal injury, there are many things you can do to help provide the best possible care:

1) Ask about the hospital’s policy about visiting and remaining with your child. If you prefer, ask to remain with your child. In many cases, staff will permit you if they are comfortable with the idea.

2) Take careful notes of what doctors tell you about the diagnosis and treatment. Consider writing down any important information so that you remember. Having a serious injured child is stressful enough and knowing what is going on may be able to help you prevent a Miami misdiagnosis from affecting your child’s treatment.

3) Make sure that everyone involved with your child’s care knows about any medications, serious allergies, or pre-existing conditions that affect your child. Offer reminders and ask questions if something seems amiss. You may be able to prevent a Miami medical error by being vigilant as an advocate for your child.

4) Stay calm and follow instructions so that the staff can do their job. One reason why many ERs are hesitant about family involvement is because they fear hysteria. Staying calm and helping staff help your child ensures that you are welcome in the hospital and ensures that your child gets the care they deserve. Whether you are there after a Miami car accident or another type of injury, staying calm is important. Creating problems ensures that security will likely get involved.

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Miami is one of the biggest ports of call for many cruise ship companies. While Miami personal injuries and deaths on board cruise ships are not as common as Miami car accidents and other types of injuries, the recent tragedy in Italy aboard the Costa Concordia has created some concerns among cruise ship passengers. According to experts there are a few things that cruise ship passengers can do to stay safer on board:

1) Do not bring valuables on board. You cannot be sure that your room is secure at all times and valuable items may be left behind if you need to leave the ship suddenly. In some cases, valuables can make you a target of on-board crime, so travel with only those things you need and keep more expensive valuables at home.

2) Wear sturdy shoes on board, especially when embarking and disembarking the ship. This can help prevent Miami slip and fall accidents. Look for shoes with lower heels and good treads. This can be important when on board and when touring ports of call.

3) Have insurance. Check to see what travel insurance will protect you on your vacation and check with your homeowners insurance and health insurance to see whether you have any coverage with those carriers when you are on board a cruise ship.

4) Read the fine print on any agreement you sign related to your cruise ship vacation. Be especially careful to read about disclaimers and limitations on liability, jurisdiction, and time limit for settling claims. This will help you determine whether there are some damages you cannot recover for and can help you understand whether you will have the benefit of US law if you do decide to pursue your claim in court. Many cruise ship passengers do not read the fine print and find themselves unable to get compensation for injuries sustained during their cruise.

If you do sustain an injury on board a cruise ship, report the injury to the appropriate personnel on board. Get a copy of any injury claim you submit and get the names and contact information of any witnesses. However, be cautious about signing anything on board the ship. Read all documents carefully, to make sure that you do not sign away your rights.

Document your injuries as far as possible with photos and through other means. As soon as you get home, contact a qualified Miami personal injury attorney to help you with your case. In many cases, there will be a statute of limitations as to how long you have to file a claim. Therefore, you will want to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure that you can file a claim within this window of time.

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