Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Florida Truck Accidents Involving Homes

Published on: June 21, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Most Florida car accidents and truck accidents involve other vehicles, pedestrians, and inanimate objects such as telephone poles. However, in some cases, trucks and cars in Florida plow into homes. In many cases, these are Florida drunk driving accidents or accidents involving loss of control of the vehicle or a pedal error (such as when the driver mistakes the accelerator for the brake. Such an accident occurred in Cocoa, Florida in January and another took place in Palm Bay in May. Brevard County has in fact seen a few such accidents in 2011.

The results of these accidents can be devastating, especially when the vehicle involved is a truck. Due to the size and force of a truck, the truck can plow right into the house and tear down walls. Both the driver and the occupants of the home are likely to sustain serious injuries. There are many types of damages which typically occur in this type of Florida accident, including severe property damage and serious injuries. There are many reasons why such accidents result in such severe damages:

1) Many accidents involve high rates of speed. While there are no statistics concerning such crashes specifically, authorities have stated that such accidents occur fairly often and often do involve high speeds, since often the drivers are intoxicated or have hit the accelerator by mistake. The high speed causes the impact of the crash to be greater.

2) Walls are often torn down. In this type of accident, the sheer size and force of the vehicle is often enough to push down walls and barriers, crushing anyone behind the walls.

3) In many cases, there is structural damage to the home. This sort of collision can compromise the foundation or walls which are structurally important to the home. In some cases, the home cannot be salvaged or requires very extensive (and expensive) repairs.

4) The vehicle sustains serious damages. In many cases, the vehicle doing the damage is also seriously injured and the driver usually is killed or sustains serious injury.

5) The occupants of the home are typically not prepared. In a Florida car accident, victims may have only seconds to respond but may have at least a few seconds to try defensive driving. In a situation where a vehicle crashes into a home, there is typically no warning and occupants often have no time at all to get to safety.

6) There is a risk of fire. This type of collision can easily lead to a fire since the crash of the truck through walls can harm electrical wiring and gar lines and can also create sparks.

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Losing Someone in a Florida Truck Accident

Published on: June 5, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Truck accidents claim thousands of lives in Florida each year. If you have lost a loved one in a Florida truck accident, the devastation can be very traumatic. The loneliness, hurt, and upset can take many years to heal. When a loss has been caused by a driver’s negligence or recklessness, the loss can sometimes be even harder to accept.

If you have lost a loved one in a traffic accident, your immediate concern will likely be with arranging for memorial or funeral services. You will also need time to grieve and there will likely be estate issues to deal with as well. However, if the accident was caused by negligence or recklessness, you will also want to consult with an experienced Florida wrongful death attorney.

Waiting after an accident to file a claim reduces the chances of success, because important evidence will be lost and because there are statutes of limitations in these cases. Although it can be difficult to think of legal action at a time of grieving, it is important to at least consider all your options. A consultation with the Flaxman Law Group can help you understand your choices and can help you move forward.

Florida law allows you to recover for end-of-life costs, medical costs, and other related costs in cases of a fatal car or truck accident that was caused by negligence or recklessness. Pursuing the claim you may be entitled to under the law can help protect your family and can leave you with some financial security as you work to heal. The Flaxman Law Group is compassionate and has worked with many grieving families in Coral Gables, Miami, and throughout South Florida. We take care of all the details, so that you can focus on healing.

It can be a difficult decision to contact an attorney after a devastating loss, but it can be an important part of the healing process. A Florida personal injury attorney can investigate the accident to provide you with some answers and some peace of mind. A good attorney can also pursue your case and in some cases can even help save other families from such a loss. If the accident which caused your loved one was a Florida drunk driving accident or was caused by dangerous driving, legal action can ensure that those involved are held responsible. In some cases, legal action can bring about changes that can help prevent further tragedies.

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The Emotional and Financial Realities of Florida Truck Accidents

Published on: June 3, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida truck accidents have an immediate and physical result. Drivers see the incredible physical devastation these accidents cause every day on the roadways, and emergency rooms and hospitals in Florida are filled with patients experiencing the immediate physical effects of burn injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and other injuries caused by truck accidents. However, there are also emotional and financial outcomes of truck accidents, which, although less immediately obvious, are no less devastating to victims.

Victims of Florida car accidents and truck accidents often find that once they are discharged from the hospital, the financial realities of their situation become very evident. Most victims of truck accidents in Florida are not able to return to work immediately; some have permanent injuries which ensure that they are never able to return to work. Therefore, these patients find that their source of income disappears at about the same time as substantial medical bills start arriving from the hospital and from doctors.

Treatment for Florida brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other common injuries caused by truck accidents, can easily total tens of thousands of dollars a year. Many patients find that their insurance providers are reluctant to pay the substantial bills outright. At the same time, the usual bills, such as the mortgage and the credit card bills, continue to arrive, adding to the financial stress and the upset of the patient who is still trying to recover from the physical trauma of the accident.

The terror caused by the accident and the injuries, coupled with the financial strain of the accident, often causes emotional repercussions. Many individuals who have been in a Florida truck accident report disrupted sleep, mood swings, an altered appetite, depression, anger, and other signs of stress and trauma. However, in some cases insurance companies are reluctant to pay for therapy or counseling.

Luckily, there are provisions in Florida law which can help victims of truck accidents. If you have been in a truck accident in Florida, contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. A good attorney can investigate the case for you, negotiate with insurance providers and even pursue the case through the court system to ensure that you get the support you need to focus on healing.

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Brain Injuries and Truck Accidents

Published on: June 1, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Many Florida brain injury patients sustain their injury in truck accidents and traffic accidents on Florida roads. Unfortunately, Florida truck accidents are more likely than other types of traffic accidents to lead to fatal and permanent brain injuries. The force of a large truck can effectively crush a passenger vehicle and the occupants inside, leading to devastating losses. Common brain injuries in Florida truck accidents include:

1) Whiplash. Whiplash can occur when the head and neck area is injured due to sudden, rapid movement. In a truck accident, this can often occur when a car collides with a truck and comes to an abrupt stop. Whiplash is hard to detect in MRIs and other scans, making it difficult to diagnose. Unfortunately, this condition can also leave a patient unable to work and unable to resume everyday activities for months.

2) Traumatic brain injury. Brain injury can also occur when the brain pushes or slams up against the inside of the skull, usually in response to a head injury where the victim’s head collides with a hard surface (such as a dashboard). When this happens, the brain may swell, bruise, or even bleed, potentially leading to brain damage. This type of injury may be permanent or may take years to heal. Some patients are unable to resume their jobs or everyday tasks. In some cases, such injuries are fatal.

3) Puncture injuries. In a truck accident, objects in a car can easily become airborne and can easily become lodged in the skull due to the impact of the crash. When an object punctures the skull, it typically causes widespread trauma which is often fatal. In cases where a patient survives this type of injury, the brain damage caused may be permanent.

If you have sustained a brain injury in a Florida truck accident, it is important to contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. Brain injuries are hard to diagnose and difficult to treat. Florida brain injury patients often spend years and in some cases a lifetime trying to recover from their injuries. Good recovery requires considerable resources, as the treatment options for these types of injuries are expensive. A good attorney can help you pursue a settlement or compensation, so that you are able to afford the treatment options you deserve.

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Truck Accidents Cause Florida Brain Injuries

Published on: April 22, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida truck accidents can cause many types of injuries, including brain injuries. Florida brain injuries caused by traffic accidents are especially tragic because they can literally change an entire life in just an instant. A serious brain injury can leave a patient with difficulty remembering, speaking, moving, and performing everyday tasks. Florida brain injuries are also a leading cause of death in traffic accidents.

Brain injuries in traffic accidents can be caused by a number of situations. When a car impacts with a truck, the passengers in the passenger car are generally thrown about. If the head comes into contact with any hard surface, the soft mass of the brain is thrown against the inside of the skull, causing damage as well as bruising. In some cases, the impact of the head is so hard that the surface of the skull actually cracks, causing injury to the brain. In other accidents, the skull is punctured by a sharp object during the accident, causing immense trauma to the brain inside.

Injuries to the brain can cause the brain to bleed, bruise, or swell, all of which can be life-threatening. When a Florida brain injury patient is rushed to the hospital after a truck accident, the first aim of emergency personnel is often to stabilize the patient as much as possible and to find out the extent of the brain injury. Scans are often used to determine where and how the brain has been injured. In cases where swelling is occurring, steps need to be taken to bring down the swelling in order to relieve pressure on the brain.

Long-term, a Florida brain injury patient may need rehabilitation in order to regain use of mobility, speech, and other necessary functions. In many cases, patients with severe brain injuries have suffered permanent injuries and may not return to work. They may always need help for everyday tasks such as getting dressed or getting prepared for their day. In such cases, counseling or some form of therapy is often required in order to help patients deal with the frustration of their new level of ability. In such cases, recovering from a brain injury is a lifelong process.

In less severe cases, Florida brain injury patients may eventually return to their everyday lives. They may, however, still need therapy and long-term care in order to deal with any aftereffects of their injury. In all cases, once a Florida brain injury patient has sustained an injury, any further concussions or injuries to the brain area may be more severe. Therefore, careful monitoring of any other head injury becomes very important.

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Florida Pedestrian Accidents Involving Trucks Are Tragic

Published on: April 15, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Every type of traffic accident is tragic, but perhaps few are as mismatched and as tragic as Florida pedestrian accidents involving trucks. When a truck hits a pedestrian, the pedestrian literally has no defenses available. There is often nothing between the truck and the pedestrian, meaning that fatality rates in these types of accidents are extremely high. In a passenger car, at least, the safety systems of the car as well as the metal and glass of the vehicle provide a layer of protection to the occupants inside.

What is even more tragic is that these pedestrian accidents often involve young children who simply cannot be seen by the truck driver. In many cases, young children are drawn to trucks and may play behind trucks or around trucks, where they are not visible. When the truck driver climbs into the cab, he or she may simply not see the child and either backup over them or drive over them. Children often do not notice — the way an adult would — the truck is about to move and may simply not be able to get away in time. It is one reason why it is imperative that parents teach their children to never play around trucks — even trucks that are standing still.

Even for adult pedestrians, however, the outcome for Florida truck accidents is very tragic. Since trucks are on such high wheels, adults who are standing up at the time of impact are often hit along the upper body, where the chest and head can be crushed. Florida head injuries are especially common in this type of accidents, and are often fatal.

One frightening thing about such accidents is that they are hard to stop once they begin. The pedestrian pounding on a truck or yelling cannot be heard by a truck driver. Often, there is no time to simply leap out of the way. It is very difficult for the pedestrian to get the attention of a truck driver to prevent an imminent accident, simply because trucks have so many blind spots.

The good news is that such accidents are in fact preventable. Good warning systems on trucks can let pedestrians nearby know when a truck is backing up. This helps prevent rollovers. Newer truck may make use of computer technology and small cameras which allows them to see what is happening behind the truck. This can also help reduce some of the blind spots in the truck.

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Defense Attorneys and Florida Truck Accidents

Published on: April 11, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you’ve been injured in a Florida truck accident and decide to pursue a claim, you need to be aware that defense attorneys hired by the insurance company or truck company will work to disprove your claim. During the pretrial discovery process, the defense attorneys will be able to access medical records — not only from the accident but also from far before the accident took place.

It is important to be aware of this because it means that defense attorneys will have access to very personal information about you and will be able to use this information in court. As well, it is important to be aware of this in order to discuss your pre- accident medical records with your own Florida personal injury attorney. This way, your attorney is prepared to represent you.

If you have sustained a brain injury, for example, but you have sustained other concussions before due to sports — even if those concussions occurred decades ago — defense attorneys may try to claim that your current injuries are caused in part by those previous injuries and therefore their clients should not be held completely liable. It’s very natural for plaintiffs to get very upset by this type of argument, but it is part of the legal process. Knowing about it ahead of time can help make you feel more comfortable with the court process.

If you have been injured in a Florida truck accident, it is important to find a good personal injury attorney you can trust. A good attorney can help prepare you for the court case, the defense attorneys’ tactics, and the process itself so that you are more comfortable. However, before you start a claim you also want to be aware that any personal information that is available in any of your records will be made available. If you have previous reckless driving or drunk driving convictions, for example, you can be certain that the defense will try to use this to argue that you may be partly liable for the accident. Being prepared for such comments can help make them less upsetting.

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If You Have Been in a Florida Truck Accident, You Need to Get Medical Help At Once – Here’s Why

Published on: April 6, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you have been in a Florida truck accident and do not appear to be seriously injured, you may think yourself lucky to walk away from an accident. It’s true — given the size difference between passenger vehicles and trucks, surviving any Florida car accident involving a truck is often a cause for celebration. However, many people who are fortunate enough to walk way from Florida truck accidents do not bother getting medical help. This can be an expensive and dangerous mistake.

The truth is, if you have been in a Florida truck accident you need to seek emergency medical help immediately. Even if you think that you are not injured, you may have sustained in internal injuries and other injuries which may not show up immediately. For example, injuries such as whiplash and some brain injuries may not present immediate symptoms. Nevertheless, brain injuries can the fatal if not treated, even if you seem fine at first. Seeking immediate medical help ensures that there is no problem that can endanger your life and your health.

Another excellent reason to visit a medical professional or emergency room after a Florida truck accident is to start the documentation process. If you do need to file a claim with your insurer or if you do find that you have been injured and didn’t realize it, getting immediate help ensures that there is an emergency room file about your condition. This can help you file a claim later on if you decide to do so.

Unfortunately, many Florida truck accident victims find that they are left with the entire bill or much of the bill of their medical costs after an accident. Insurance companies do not usually rush to pay out the full claim in any accident. If they did so, they would lose money. As well, it can be difficult to prove an injury has occurred from a specific accident. Getting help immediately can save your life, and it can also help prove that any injure you have sustained was in fact caused by the accident.

Going to the emergency room may be frightening, it may cost money, and it could take some time. However, it can also help save your life and could help provide you with the documentation you need to pursue any claim. It is always better to be safe than sorry. When visiting the emergency room, it is also a good idea to get a copy of your medical file before you leave. Again, if you need this information to prove a claim, it will be handy to have this information at your fingertips.

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Florida Truck Accidents Can Cause Burn Injuries

Published on: April 4, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

There are many Florida car accidents involving trucks, and in many of these accidents, serious injuries or even fatalities result. Truck accidents can cause a variety of injuries, including burn injuries. Florida burn injury patients brought in from car accidents and road accidents often face a long recovery time, considerable pain and suffering, as well as high medical costs.

Burn injuries can occur in a truck accident if a truck is carrying a flammable material which catches on fire. As well, chemical burns can occur if a truck is loaded with a dangerous chemical substance which spills and affects passengers and bystanders. In some cases, the force of a truck hitting a car causes enough of an impact to start a fire. Fueled by spilled gas, this fire can easily burn out of control and burn passengers as well as bystanders.

Florida burn injury patients are usually rushed to hospital right from the accident scene. Usually, emergency room personnel first work to stabilize the patient’s condition. While most people think of burns as being mainly a skin condition, serious burns caused by traffic accidents can in fact be fatal. Fires caused by a truck accident can burn hot enough to seriously injure a person, melting not only the skin, but also the fatty tissue, muscles, and even bones underneath. If major organs are affected by the burns, a person’s life can be endangered.

Once the patient is stabilized, the next step is often treating the burns. Treatment will depend upon the severity of the burns. Often, a major concern is to prevent infection and to save as much of the skin and underlying tissue as possible. Pain management is also often an important part of the process, as burn injuries can be extremely painful, affecting nerve endings which send pain signals to the brain.

Florida burn injury patients often face a long recovery. They may need therapy to deal with the trauma of the accident and the changes in their appearance. They also generally need skin grafts as well as other skin treatments in order to cover the burn marks. In cases where a burn is very severe, patients may need rehabilitation and physiotherapy in order to regain use of their limbs and their muscles. Reconstructive surgery is often necessary in order to help a person lead a full and normal life after their injury. Unfortunately, many insurance companies dismiss skin grafts and reconstructive surgery as cosmetic and often refuse to pay for these very expensive treatments. A good Florida personal injury attorney is often a must for Florida burn injury patients. A good lawyer can helped negotiate with your insurance company to ensure that you get the financial support you need after serious injuries such as a burn injury.

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Truck Accidents Cause Florida Spinal Cord Injuries

Published on: March 25, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida truck accidents can cause spinal cord injuries. Often, this is caused when a car collides with a truck and the passengers of the passenger vehicle are thrown violently in the interior of the car. This can cause extreme trauma to the spinal cord. If an injury results, it can lead to paralysis, reduced motor skills, and related problems
Florida spinal cord injury patients who have sustained their injury in a traffic accident face a host of problems:

1) Physical issues. Recovery from a spinal cord injury is physically daunting. This type of injury can mean extreme pain as well as permanent injuries which affect a person’s ability to live and work the way they did before their accident.

2) Emotional problems. Serious spinal cord injuries can cause frustration, anger, stress, grief, and a host of other problems. If the injuries are permanent, especially, it can be difficult to avoid depression. Patients with serious spinal cord injuries have higher rates of substance abuse and relationship problems than the general population, according to some studies.

3) Financial challenges. A permanent spinal cord injury can require millions of dollars to treat or manage, since patients often need rehabilitation, an income, renovations to make their homes accessible, and a lifetime of full-time care in many cases. In many cases, however, insurance only covers a small fraction of costs, leaving the patient with no income and high bills.

A good Florida personal injury attorney is often needed to get the best possible recovery for a patient. A good attorney can negotiate for a good settlement from all liable parties. This can help cover the best possible care as well as counseling and therapy, allowing a patient to live the fullest possible life after their accident.

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