Large Truck Collisions Cause Devastation

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 Group 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 Group 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 about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.

Safety On and Off the School Bus Is an Issue

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 Group 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 Group 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 about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.

Spinal Cord Injuries Costly

Spinal cord injuries have been documented in history as far back as 1700 BC when a treatment for such an injury was penned out by a doctor of the times. Spinal cord injuries are still with us today, but suffice it to say the method of treatment today is likely far more advanced.

At one time when someone suffered a spinal cord injury it was considered permanent, as there was no real medical solution to address this. Thanks to advancements in modern medicine and the wondrous discoveries of the 21st century, this has changed, and there is a glimmer of hope. This isn't to say that there is a cure, but there has been a remarkable change in the amount of time people stay in the hospital for this type of injury. An Orlando injury lawyer knows this first hand.

While there is no real way to totally reverse this type of injury, the kinds of treatments have improved dramatically and when combined with a laser-like focus on helping the person return to a full life, great strides have been taken. This only happens if the person gets immediate treatment right after the injury and if they make the decision to continue the spinal cord injury care, in consultation with their Orlando personal injury lawyer.

The first thing that makes a significant difference to a spinal cord injury patient is the prompt treatment of the initial cause of the paralysis. There are a variety of ways to achieve that, including medication and immobilization. The medication used is generally Medrol, known as methylprednisolone, which decreases the inflammation near the site of the injury. This must be given within 8 hours of the injury. This medical intervention has been known to promote recovery to a certain point.

Immobilization usually means a body harness, traction, or even metal braces to stabilize the spine for transport or for an MRI. While there are no guarantees it will cure this type of injury, immobilization combined with medications and supportive therapy has a significant chance of making a difference in the outcome of spinal cord injuries. Injuries like this need to be investigated by your Orlando accident lawyer to ensure you receive just compensation as a result of your accident.

If you are faced with a situation like this, make sure you call and consult with an Orlando personal injury lawyer. Only your lawyer will be able to inform you of the long-term ramifications and discuss settlement issues that will directly affect your life.

Tony Francis is an Orlando personal injury lawyer. His practice specializes in being an Orlando accident lawyer helping innocent victims get compensation for their losses. To learn more about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.

Slip and Fall Accidents Cause Personal Injuries

Slip and fall, or slip, trip and fall accidents are not always the easiest cases to try for the simple reason that the landowners only have a certain limited liability to those who come onto their property. Each case varies according to the set of circumstances, and this is one of the first things a competent Orlando personal injury lawyer will tell you.

A slip and fall accident "falls" within the realm of personal injury, which as your Orlando injury attorney will tell you, means an injury directly to your "person" such as when you fall on someone's property, thanks to a dangerous situation. You may have tripped over an uneven sidewalk, jammed your foot and ankle in a hole in the ground, or even fallen over blocks sitting out in the middle of nowhere. No matter what caused you to fall, you're likely going to hurt later.

If you suffered injuries that are bad enough that they sent you to a doctor for treatment, your Orlando accident lawyer will advise you that there may be a case for claiming compensation for the medical expenses you incur. In addition, you may also be able to claim pain and suffering and/or other economic loss. This is something that must be discussed with your personal injury lawyer.

While there are various ways to settle a slip and fall case, one of the first ways that may produce results (and save a costly trial) is to attempt a settlement with the property owner. This must be negotiated by your Orlando injury lawyer, and not something you try on your own; or literally, you will have no leg on which to stand. This is your lawyer's job, and it's best to let him or her do the job. Just remember to keep track of all your receipts for your expenses, after your slip and fall incident.

If the first route of settlement doesn't bear fruit, then usually it is time to take the case to court and when that happens, the claim is filed against either public or private property and is phrased as a personal injury due to negligence. This is where the expertise of your Orlando accident lawyer will come to the fore. They have the ability to assess and evaluate damages and get a maximum settlement from the courts.

While you may think hiring an attorney for a slip and fall accident is rather ridiculous, think of it this way -- if you fell and were injured due to someone else's negligence, then you are entitled to compensation. It's that simple.

Tony Francis is an Orlando personal injury lawyer. His practice specializes in being an Orlando accident lawyer helping innocent victims get compensation for their losses. To learn more about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.

The Reality of Spinal Cord Injuries

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 about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.

The Dire Consequences of Auto Accidents

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 about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.

Florida Is Tough on DUI

In the state of Florida you can get tagged for driving while under the influence for two reasons. In one of these reasons, it doesn't matter how much drugs or alcohol you have in your system.

The mere fact that you are driving unsafely and attract the attention of the police is reason enough to get stopped. If the police have reason to suspect you are driving impaired due to the way you are handling your vehicle, you may be arrested for a Florida DUI.

The other way you may be arrested is if your blood or breath alcohol levels are .08% or higher. The fact you were not driving as if impaired makes no difference. It is enough for an arrest even if your actions do not raise suspicions at first.

If you are pulled over because the police have some questions about how you were driving, you will be asked to submit to a breath or urine test. There is no implied consent law in Florida. You do have the right to refuse this test and this is actually the best thing to do. This is where you contact a highly experienced DUI lawyer who has extensive experience handling these types of charges.

The unnerving thing about a DUI in Florida is that there are usually two separate cases, all the more reason to speak to a competent attorney. The first court case, should it even get that far (your lawyer may have succeeded in getting the charges thrown out) is a traditional court case. The other is a Florida Department of Highways Safety and Motor Vehicles case.

When you are arrested, you are handed a 10-day permit to drive and after that, suspended for 30 days. Now if you were smart and hired a DUI attorney, you might not face this suspension. Don't assume that just because it's "just a short suspension" that it won't have grave consequences for you down the road if it is not dealt with promptly. While you may think hiring a lawyer is something akin to overkill, an knowledgeable attorney knows the system and how to make it work in your favor.

Be aware that the 10-day period of time is supposed to allow you to file all the necessary forms, etc., for both court cases. Do not attempt to do this on your own; this is one of the worst mistakes you could make and may have a nasty domino effect. Just remember that everything you do within this system has a consequence that you may not like. Hiring a lawyer gives you a fighting chance to come out ahead.

Just so you know, the first DUI you are charged with in Florida with a blood alcohol level of less than .20% may net a fine of between $250-$500, up to 50 hours of community service, possibly 6 months or less in jail, mandatory DUI education, and the impounding of your vehicle for at least 10 days. You may also have an ignition interlock installed on your car. Is all this worth drinking and driving? Only you are able to answer that, as the fines escalate as the blood alcohol content soars.

Tony Francis is an Orlando personal injury lawyer. His practice specializes in being an Orlando accident lawyer helping innocent victims get compensation for their losses. To learn more about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.

Slipping and Falling and What It May Mean Legally

Slip, trip and fall accidents are in the category of personal injury accidents and are defined as someone falling on another person's property due to a dangerous situation.

While the operating definition is dangerous situation, there are various ways to interpret this according to the law. So if you do slip, trip or fall and injure yourself, make sure you discuss your potential case with a competent attorney. There are several exceptions in this area of the law – call them rules – that would mean a case is not viable for court. This is one of several things your attorney will let you know right away.

What are risky conditions? In general they could be related to snow, bad lighting, icy surfaces, wet surface conditions, cracks, gaps or breaks in floors, uneven pavement or poorly installed expansion joints. If any of these conditions apply in your circumstances, there is a good chance your personal slip and fall claim is eligible for compensation from the courts for things such as pain and suffering and your medical expenses.

Depending on the nature and extent of the injuries sustained as a result of a slip, trip and fall accident, other areas that may qualify for compensation are lost wages and rehabilitation. This means that you need to keep good records in order to put in a claim. Understand as well that liability in these cases is not always laid at the doorstep of the landowner. The law is written in such a way as to protect the owner, meaning the plaintiff needs to prove the landowner was negligent.

If you and your personal injury lawyer have decided to pursue a court case, you may do so against private or public property. One of the major factors in figuring out if there is liability is whether or not the property owners were negligent; if they knew or should have known about the hazardous situation (and had enough notice to fix it.) This is where you need to also know about those two rules mentioned earlier – the open and obvious rule, and the natural accumulation rule.

The open and obvious rule basically states if there is some really, patently obvious danger and you choose to walk right into it, you can't sue for the consequences. The natural accumulation rule is pretty direct and states, for example, that you can't decide to sue when it snows on a walking surface and you fall because it wasn’t cleared off.

Don’t let any of these rules stop you from talking to a personal injury lawyer. Each case is different and has different variables. You won't know until you talk to a lawyer if you have a case or not; and the bonus is the first consultation with your lawyer is usually free.

Tony Francis is an Orlando personal injury lawyer. His practice specializes in being an Orlando accident lawyer helping innocent victims get compensation for their losses. To learn more, visit Francislawgroup.com.

To learn more about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, Tony Francis visit Francislawgroup.com.