Florida
Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Spinal cord injuries are a common result of car accidents and they can be among the most painful and devastating personal injuries caused by car accidents. Spinal cord injuries often leave victims unable to walk and unable to resume normal activities. They often require years of treatment and rehabilitation as well as getting used to life anew. Many injuries prove to be permanent, although new research and treatment is offering more options and fuller healing than ever before.

The spinal cord is a complex system of nerves, bones, and cartilage. A part of the nervous system and the largest nerve in the body, the spinal cord affects virtually every part of the body, which is why an acute spinal cord injury can affect many parts of the body. A healthy spinal cord has nerve fibers which carry messages all over the body from the brain. This is what allows us to move, walk, and feel sensory input from our body.

While a spinal cord injury can occur from illness, many such injuries are the result of car accidents, truck accidents, and other accidents. Usually, in these accidents, the spinal cord is pinched by the backbone as bones are crushed or ground together in a collision or accident. As a result, the spinal cord sustains injury and becomes swollen or bruised. In some cases, an accident is severe enough to tear or damage the nerve fibers or spinal cord directly. In either case, after an injury, all the spinal cord nerves below the damaged area cannot communicate effectively with the body. This can affect sensory perception, movement, and can cause paralysis. Usually, the nerves above the injury continue to function normally.

Since the spinal cord is so complex, the actual effects of an acute spinal cord injury can vary widely. The potential for recovery can also vary widely. Some patients never walk again while others regain their former lives after much work, treatment, and rehabilitation. Usually after an injury, a doctor can help determine the extent of the injury by determining mobility and by taking X-rays. A doctor usually takes a “pin prick” test to determine how much sensory acuity a patient has lost.

If you have been in a car accident and have sustained a serious personal injury such as a spinal cord injury, you will need to build a support team around yourself to heal more fully. There are many support groups for spinal cord patients and their families. These can be powerful resources for learning more about your injury and learning to cope with your injury. Working with qualified professionals and health care providers can also help you get the care you need.

As well, it is often important to speak to a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. An attorney can investigate the accident that caused your illness. He or she can also protect your rights and ensure that you have access to all the resources you have access to under the law. An attorney can also ensure that you have the financial resources to seek the best possible medical help. In some cases, this can help you recover more fully.

If you have been accused of drunk driving or causing a car accident by driving drunk, you may be deeply frightened and upset. No one likes to be accused of something they did not do and DUI convictions can carry serious consequences, including fines, penalties, jail time, and loss of driving privileges. If you feel you have been accused unfairly, there are many things you can do:

1) Contact an attorney. Your first step should be to contact a qualified Florida attorney who can represent you and offer you advice about your situation. A good attorney can help represent you in court and can offer you information about your legal rights.

2) Have your sobriety tests investigated. In many states, field sobriety tests and mandatory. If you have taken such a test, you may want to have the results investigated. Studies have repeatedly shown that these tests have a high rate of error. As well, field sobriety tests rely very heavily on the experience and ability of the person administration the tests. If the tests are administered incorrectly, they will not yield accurate results. A good Florida attorney can investigate your field sobriety test for accuracy.

3) Have your blood alcohol screening tests investigated. Blood alcohol screening tests test blood alcohol levels (BACs) and these tests are generally mandatory. Although more accurate than field sobriety tests, blood alcohol screening tests have their own challenges. If the tests are not correctly maintained, administered, or calibrated, blood alcohol screening tests can also yield inaccurate results. Some drivers have been charged and even convicted of driving under the influence based on blood alcohol screening tests that were inaccurate, so it is a good idea to double-check these tests. A good attorney can check the accuracy of your blood alcohol screening tests.

4) Check your legal rights at the time of arrest. An officer cannot arrest you for DUI if you have been driving erratically or for other reasons. Field sobriety tests or BAC tests are usually used to determine probable cause. Go over the sequence of actions leading up to your arrest with an attorney. Your attorney can help you determine whether your rights were persevered at the time of arrest.

5) Move to protect your driving privileges. Speak with your attorney about preserving your driving privileges. You generally have only a short period of time to protect these rights and you will want to do so, especially if the case against you has no cause.

You probably don’t think of yourself as a “brand” but in some ways your reputation or your “brand” affect quite a great deal in your life. For example, if you have the reputation of being an excellent employee at work, that is part of your brand and it may help you land a promotion. You also likely have a brand online, based in part on your social networking activities and any websites you have.

If you have been in a car accident and are seeking legal action or a personal injury settlement after the accident, your brand may be very important. Your brand can help your attorney establish you as a reliable and honest person who has been injured in an accident. Your brand as an honest, responsible person can also make any testimony you give in a court carry more weight. In fact, your personal brand becomes very important in a personal injury case and you will want to take steps to protect that brand. There are many ways to do this:

1) Avoid social networking after your accident. If you have filed a claim after your accident, be careful about social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. Several claimants have had problems in recent years due to their online activities. Always assume that all attorneys and members of the court can see your online pages. If you present yourself as a hard-working person who is distressed at not being able to work but your social networking sites show someone who loves to party and hates their job, this can make your case more challenging. Similarly, if you are injured but your Facebook page shows you at a party, this can affect your case.

2) Check friend social networking sites. Even if you are careful about social networking or have stopped your online activities entirely during your case, keep in mind that your contacts and friends may still have contact about you on their pages. You cannot control what others say about you on their pages, but do check the websites and social networking sites of friends and contacts. Where possible, ask friends and contacts to remove and content that can make you appear in a less-than-flattering light.

3) Speak to your attorney about any problems that may affect your brand or case. If you have been convicted of drunk driving in the past, or have other things in your history or current situation that can affect your case, talk to your Florida personal injury attorney. He or she can offer advice and help.

4) Consider your brand closely. Now that you understand how branding works, consider your brand carefully. When taking photos of your injury, for example, consider the background of your photo. Try to keep it as neutral as possible. Consider that even something very innocuous – such as a beer can in the background – can subtly affect your case.

Fatalities caused by car accidents sometimes lead to wrongful death lawsuits. If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, you may wonder whether you have a legal case for a wrongful death suit. This can be a very difficult decision, and unfortunately must often be made at a very emotional and challenging time. If you have lost a family member in a car accident, you may wish to speak to a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. An attorney can provide you with an overview of your rights and can offer advice based on your specific situations. Generally, however, you may have a wrongful death suit if:

1) The car accident lead directly to the death and was caused by someone’s actions. If a driver was driving drunk, ran a red light, or did something which caused the accident which directly caused the death, you may have a lawsuit. Your attorney, however, will have to prove that the driver’s actions lead to the accident.

2) The car accident lead directly to the death and was caused by negligence or by someone’s failure to act. If a driver fails to yield to a right of way, for example, or fails to check a blind spot and this leads to an accident that directly causes a death, this can often be used to initiate a wrongful death suit. However, negligence can be difficult to prove. It often takes a good attorney and a team of investigators to prove negligence.

3) The death affects you financially in a significant way. This is often the most difficult part of a wrongful death suit for a grieving family. Each fatality leads to severe loss, but wrongful death suits must place a financial value on the loss, and this can be very difficult. Often, wrongfully death claims can only be filed by immediate family and usually are only successful when the loved one contributed significantly to a household income. Fatalities of elderly persons and children often yield a smaller “value” in strictly financial terms than someone who was working at the time of the accident. In addition to the earning potential of the person who has passed away, funeral expenses, medical bills, and pain and suffering are also considered.

No money replaces a loved one, but wrongful death suits are often important in cases where a family suffers a financial loss as well as a personal loss. These cases are meant to help surviving family members. For example, if a main breadwinner is killed in an accident, a wrongful death suit can ensure that the surviving family has the financial resources to survive financially until new earning arrangements can be made. If parents are killed, surviving children can sue to ensure that they have the financial resources to grow and develop without want or poverty.

In addition to providing financial support to a grieving family, wrongful death suits often bring a sense of closure and hold someone who is negligent accountable for the personal injuries and losses caused by the accident. In some cases, such a lawsuit can also be effective if another personal injury case is not possible to recover for medical bills. If you are uncertain about your legal options, speak to a Florida personal injury attorney.

If you have been injured in a car on work hours, you may have a worker’s compensation claim. Many employers rely on employee driving skills to get work tasks done. Some employers even make company cars available for employees. Some employers also ask employees to use their own vehicles to complete company tasks. What happens when an employee is injured on the job while in a vehicle?

If you have sustained an injury as the result of a car accident involving a company vehicle, you will likely have access to a worker’s compensation. You may also want to contact a good Florida personal injury attorney to see whether you should file a legal claim. A good attorney can investigate the causes of an accident. If improper maintenance of the vehicle by your employer caused the accident, you may be eligible for additional money in a settlement.

If your employer has asked you to use your own car for a work-related task and you are in an accident while on your way to perform that task or returning from that task, you will need to speak to a good personal injury attorney. It will be more difficult in some ways for you to file a worker’s compensation claim in this case, since the vehicle is not used exclusively to work and since you cannot claim the employer was negligent in taking care of the vehicle. As well, insurance providers for your employer may argue that your claim is not valid because you were not in the place of work at the time of the injury. A good attorney can apprise you of your rights and can ensure that you receive any compensation you are entitled to.

If you are working and are in a car accident that causes personal injury or property damage to someone else, you will need a good attorney. Part of any resulting legal action may include an attempt to assign liability. You want an attorney to represent you to ensure that you do not end up being blamed for an accident which was not fully your fault.

Keep in mind that many things may have caused the accident, including driver errors, mechanical problems with the vehicle, road conditions, and other contributing factors. A good attorney can ensure a thorough investigation gets you the answers you need. After such an accident, you may also be temporarily unable to work. Again, a good lawyer can ensure that you are compensated for your lost income. Car accidents involving work-related tasks are often complication and may result in finger-pointing. However, working with a professional attorney ensures that your rights are safeguarded.

Any seasonal changes can result in more car accidents. There are many reasons for this:

1) Seasonal maintenance. Most cars require at least some maintenance after a long winter, but many drivers fail to do this. If it has been a while since your car has a tune up, now is the time to take your car to a mechanic and ensure that your vehicle is safe for the warmer months.

2) Changing weather conditions. Warmer weather can make it harder to concentrate and warmer weather also often brings rains, which can make winter roads slippery. Slow down and acclimatize yourself to changes in weather before charging ahead.

3) Different sun situations. The sun tends to be brighter at this time of year, and also produces more of a glare. You may find, for example, that the sun is right in your eyes when you drive home at this time of year. Blinding sun, however, can make it hard to see. Make sure you use your visor and carry a pair of sunglasses in your car for those bright days. As well, keep your windshield clean so that the glare is easier to handle.

4) Roadwork in the warmer weather. Warmer weather usually means construction work on the roads as well as the obvious signs of winter weather wear. It’s time to make sure you listen to weather reports before you leave the house and plan your route accordingly. Try to maintain your patience and drive extra cautiously around road work.

5) More pedestrians. Warm weather and spring usually means more strollers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, which can increase the chances of a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident. Continue to watch for pedestrians and bicycles. Consider glancing over maps for your most-frequented routes. Are there trails nearby or schools? Use extra caution around bicycle lanes, places where walking trails cross the road, and other dangerous areas.

6) New distractions. Each season has its distractions. In the winter, it’s holiday lights. In the fall, it’s beautiful leaves. In spring, flowers, gardens, and spring events can all pose a distraction on the road. Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers, however. Keep your eyes on the road and your mind on the driving. If you are unable to do so, pull over.

Car accidents, truck accidents, and bus accidents often result in spinal cord injuries because the victim is trapped in an enclosed space while the vehicle is in a rapid motion. Even with a seatbelt, the head and neck area can be thrown forward and backward rapidly and the sheer impact of a vehicle colliding with a solid surface or another vehicle can cause permanent injury to the spinal cord.

Spinal cords injuries are an especially devastating injury. Often, they result not only in severe pain but in permanent loss of mobility. This can be overwhelming as it can affect a person’s career, social life, hobbies, income, and everyday life. Even every day tasks such as bathing can become very difficult for a spinal cord injury patient. In many cases, a long rehabilitation is needed as the patient strives to learn to live again with different abilities.

While in the past, many spinal cord patients had to rely mostly on simply re-learning to live life differently, treatment options are being developed at a rapid pace today. Many experimental treatments are now in clinical trial phases or will soon be in trail phases. Some of these treatments involve stem cells or other therapies and some are reportedly very promising. Often, patients are very eager to take part in clinical trials because they see these as a possible solution for their problem. However, patients who are considering clinical trials need to carefully consider their decisions.

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury and are considering taking part in a trial for experimental treatments, carefully consider your limits and your goals. Many patients consider experimental treatments to be a solution, but this is not always the case. Experimental treatments are just that – experimental. This is no guarantee that they will work and most come with risks as well. In addition, most clinical trials have random blind testing, which means that some participants in clinical trials experience experimental treatments and some do not, to account for the placebo effects. Taking part in clinical trials, therefore, is no guarantee that you will be getting experimental treatments at all.

Keep in mind, too, that experimental treatments usually have a cost associated with them. You might need to travel to take part in a trial or you may need to answer extensive questions or undergo extensive tests. Consider what you are willing to do to get experimental treatments and what your goals are. Do you hope for a cure? Do you wish to help with research so that other patients may benefit? Would you be upset to learn that you were getting a placebo drug or treatment? Are your expectations of experimental treatments reasonable?

Keep in mind, too, that the dynamics with clinical trials are very different than the dynamics with traditional treatment. You may ask your doctor as many questions as you wish about your treatment, but in a clinical trial researchers are usually very closed-mouthed about the treatment and what exactly is going on. You may need to accept many question marks and unknowns in your treatment. This means that you will need to be emotionally very strong to take part in experimental treatments. You may need the support of family and friends and even a professional counselor while undergoing experimental treatments. In fact, you may wish to discuss your decision with a therapist or counselor as well as your family before you decide on experimental treatments. This can help you decide whether experimental treatments are right for you.

Car accidents frequently cause many serious personal injuries, but of these one of the most painful and difficult is often the burn injury. Burn injuries in a car accident often tend to be severe, because when these injuries do occur they tend to be caused by a high-temperature fuel-fed fire which can cause very serious injury. Burn injuries sustained in a car accident can sometimes cover a large part of the victim’s body.

When a car accident patient arrives in the emergency room with a burn injury, doctors and burn specialists will try to determine how deep and pervasive the injury is. Usually, when a burn covers a larger area, the center of the burned area will sustain the most damage and have the deepest burn. Burn specialists in the hospital will very quickly have to evaluate the severity and depth of the burn in order to determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Hospitals will need to determine whether a burn is affecting any internal organs or a patient’s airway. When a patient has experienced damage to the pulmonary system as a result of their burn and has heat exposure damage as well as smoke inhalation, the burn may prove fatal. However, there are several types of burns, each with their own challenges to physicians:

1) A superficial burn occurs when a burn causes injury to only the top layer of skin. This is the most mild form of burn and it can occur even with a sunburn. Usually, this type of burn injury takes about a week to heal and there is usually minimal or no scarring at all. This type of burn usually heals quite well because only the top, thin layer of skin is affected and the body usually replaces this layer regularly anyway.

2) A partial thickness or dermal injury occurs when burn damage penetrates to the second layer of skin, which is called the dermis. This type of burn injury usually requires scarring. More severe burn injuries affecting the dermis may require skin grafts.

3) A full thickness injury occurs when a burn injury affects the subcutaneous tissue or third layer of the skin. This burn injury is more severe because this layer includes fat. In this injury, three layers of skin are damaged, along with sweat glands, hair follicles, and areas where new skin cells are made. For this reason, these burns will not heal on their own without severe scarring. These burns can be quite painful and usually require extensive care as well as skin grafts. Complications such as infections are more common with these burns.

4) A full thickness burn with injury to the underlying muscle occurs when burns injure the muscle and tissues under the skin layer. These types of burn injuries can penetrate very deep and affect ligaments and even organs. For this reason, they can often pose a threat to a patient’s life. They usually require critical care, surgical procedures, rehabilitation, and repeat plastic surgeries during the recovery process. These injuries are most likely to result on complications, loss of mobility, and chronic pain.

A car accident is often traumatic and usually requires at least a hospital visit. A more serious accident may require a longer hospital stay. As you recover from your injuries, you will want to give yourself every chance to recover fully and completely. Unfortunately, the rush to get to the emergency room for treatment and the rush of the emergency room can mean that medical mistakes are made. After an accident, medical mistakes can delay your treatment, cause you new injuries, and cause complications. They can even lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit. There are many ways you can avoid medical mistakes after an accident:

1) Keep communication good, even when you cannot speak. If you have a serious condition or are taking medication, consider wearing a medical alert bracelet to let paramedics know your condition. In an emergency, this can save your life. You can also keep important medical information about yourself in your wallet or next to your driver’s registration or license, where emergency personnel may look after an accident.

2) Have a health care advocate. If possible, have a friend or family member meet you at the hospital. This person can take notes on your behalf and can help you negotiate the medical process, especially if you are feeling confused and unwell after a brain injury or other serious injury. This advocate can start documentation for you and can ensure that your wishes are followed.

3) If you are in good condition after your accident and can speak and write, start documentation and take part in your own care. Ask for copies of your medical records, note the doctors who care for you after the accident, and note any treatment you are given. This helps you notice whether any mistakes are made and ensures that if your accident results in a lawsuit, you have documentation to support your injury claims.

4) Follow doctor directions carefully and ask for clarification when needed. You may be frustrated at being injured, but you need to follow doctor’s orders carefully to have a full recovery. If you are being cared for by several health care professionals (as is often the case in an emergency room) and one health care professional tells you something different than another professional, clear up the matter.

5) Get the help of a good Florida personal injury attorney. Many attorneys will arrive right at your hospital room to discuss your accident and to ensure that you get good quality medical treatment. They can advise you of your rights and ensure you have the resources to recover as fully as possible.