Florida Injury Attorney Blog

This week, Rep. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) handed in her resignation from the US Congress. The 41-year-old congresswoman sustained a traumatic brain injury over a year ago when she was shot in the head outside a Safeway in Arizona. The shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, injured 19 people on January 8, 2011, killing six of them. While Giffords has made remarkable progress since that day, she still has a long way to go.

Traumatic Brain Injury
Recovering from a brain injury can be a long road and not everyone fully recovers. Many TBIs can prove fatal—as evidenced by the death earlier this month of Canadian freeskier Sarah Burke, who sustained severe head injuries during a superpipe training run. The 29-year-old athlete died nine days after the January 10 skiing accident in Utah.

In South Florida, our Miami traumatic brain injury law firm represents clients injured in motor vehicle crashes, premises liability accidents or as a result of medical malpractice, defective products, or nursing home abuse. Or other personal injury related accidents. We know the financial and emotional toll that a TBI can take on the victim and his/her loved ones.

Depending on the severity of one’s brain injury, recovery can come quickly or not. There are two main kinds of TBIs:
Closed Head Injuries: Usually involves a blow (or something striking against) the brain. This can lead to primary damage, which occurs immediately upon impact and may include nerve damage, blood clots, contusions, lacerations, or a skull fracture, or secondary brain damage, which develops over time following the incident of trauma and can involve epilepsy, brain swelling, intracranial infection, intracranial pressure, hematoma, fever, changes in blood pressure, anemia, low sodium, not enough or too much carbon dioxide, cardiac changes, nutritional changes, lung changes, and/or abnormal blood coagulation.

Penetrating Injuries: A foreign objects enters the brain, causing brain damage. The symptoms are different depending on which part of the brain suffered damage.

Serious brain injuries can lead to cognitive difficulties, communication problems, memory loss, confusion, expressive aphasia, vision loss, receptive aphasia, sensory issues, hearing problems, chronic pain, seizures, paralysis, sleep problems, spasticity, personality changes, brain death, depression, coma, and death. Treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care for a TBI can be costly. The victim may no longer be able to work or maintain the same quality of relationship as he/she did with loved ones and friends prior to the accident and medical bills may accrue.

Gabrielle Giffords Resigns From Congress, ABC News, January 25, 2012

Sarah Burke dies from injuries, ESPN, January 20, 2012

More Blog Posts:
Pro Golfer’s Son Sustains Head Injuries in Palm Beach County Semi-Truck Crash, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, December 2, 2011

West Palm Beach Artist Awarded $2.1 Million for Traumatic Brain Injury from Car Accident, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, May 27, 2008

Hulk Hogan Is Sued In Florida Personal Injury Lawsuit By Family Of Man Seriously Hurt in Car Crash With Wrestler’s Son, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, March 24, 2008

Continue reading "Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’s Resignation a Reminder that Recovering From a Serious Traumatic Brain Injury Can Be a Tough, Long Road" »

Devon Quigley, the son of PGA golfer Dana Quigley, sustained serious head injuries when his BMW crashed into the back of a semi-truck on Wednesday. The 27-year-old was going home to West Palm Beach at around 11:15pm when the Riviera Beach truck accident happened.

Police are trying to determine what happened and who was at fault. Photographs of the Palm Beach County semi-truck crash show Dana’s car driving under the rear end of the truck.

Truck Underride Crashes
According to statistics, over 350 people a year are killed in truck underride accidents. Truck underride accidents usually involve a smaller vehicle sliding underneath the front, side, or back of a truck during a collision. This can prove catastrophic for the occupants of the smaller vehicle, who may be crushed or beheaded from going under the truck.

Although sometimes truck underride crashes are the fault of a negligent driver, they can also occur because the other driver committed an error. However, even if that happens to be the case, there is the possibility that the truck may have been outfitted with inadequate protections that failed to prevent this type of truck crash from happening.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, when it tested rear impact guards that met US safety standards, they gave way during crashes. This allowed a smaller vehicle, which was going a mere 35 miles an hour, to drive right under the trailer. The IIHS says that if anyone had been in the auto at the time, he/she would never have survived.

In real life, if a Palm Beach truck underride crash could have been prevented if only sturdier rear-end guards had been in place, there could be grounds for a Florida products liability case against the truck manufacturer or the underride guard maker. Anyone injured in this or any type of Palm Beach County motor vehicle crash should contact an experienced Riviera Beach personal injury law firm right away.

Son of golf pro critically injured in Riviera Beach crash, Palm Beach Post, December 2, 2011

Truck Underride Accidents: Drivers Endangered When Cars Slide Under Trailers, ABC, March 1, 2011

Underride guards on big rigs often fail in crashes; Institute petitions government for new standard, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, March 1, 2011

More Blog Posts:
Preventing Florida Truck Accidents: NTSB Recommends Banning Commercial Drivers from Texting and Cell Phone use While Driving, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, September 14, 2011

Florida Wrongful Death Lawsuit Blames Volusia County for Truck Accident on Beach that Killed 4-Year-Old, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, August 11, 2011

South Florida Pickup Truck Crash Kills 2 Broward County Teens, Injures Four Others, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, April 20, 2011

Continue reading "Pro Golfer’s Son Sustains Head Injuries in Palm Beach County Semi-Truck Crash" »

A 21-year-old college student is seeking Miami, Florida personal injury damages from ex-Heat basketball star Alonzo Mourning. The former-NBA star had crashed his Porsche’s into William Candelario’s disabled car on the Julia Tuttle Causeway at around 3am on Sunday. Although Mourning stopped to make sure that Candelario was okay, rather than remain at the accident scene, he went home. It was then that he called police, and they told him to return to the crash site.

Now, Candelario has filed a Miami Beach car accident lawsuit against Mourning, who he says should have stayed at the collision site and made sure he got medical help. It was just before the accident with the NBA star that Candelario was involved in another collision that left his vehicle disabled. Candelario’s Miami personal injury lawyer claims that his client sustained a concussion and experienced memory loss during the first crash, and, as a result, he had to receive emergency room treatment twice.

Miami Car Accidents
If you were hurt in a South Florida car crash, your injuries may be serious enough that you had to seek medical help, take time off work, or must now contend with serious damage to your car. Even though you likely have Florida’s Personal Injury Protection coverage, this may not be enough to cover all your costs, damages, and losses. It is important that you know that there may be legal avenues available to you to allow you to file a claim against the party or parties that may have caused or contributed to your accident or injuries occurring.

For example, motorists involved in Miami Beach car crashes are supposed to stay at the scene, report the incident to the authorities, and if someone was hurt, then make sure the victim gets medical help. Leaving the car accident site without stopping is against the law, and not calling for emergency help when someone is hurt can cause a person’s injuries to become more serious than they could have been had he/she immediately received medical care. Obviously, each Miami personal injury case has its unique details, which is why it is important that you speak with an experienced law firm to find out whether you have a case.

Obtaining any recovery you may be owed can help significantly—especially if you end up with costly medical and rehabilitation expenses or have to take time off from work and lose wages. Permanent injuries can be especially daunting if it means full-time nursing care and disabilities that can prevent you from holding a job or supporting your family.

Alonzo Mourning sued over alleged hit-and-run accident, NBC Sports, June 20, 2011

Ex-Heat star Mourning sued over traffic crash, Miami Herald, June 20, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents, Justia

Car Accidents Responsibilities, DMV Florida

Alonzo Mourning, Basketball-Reference

More Blog Posts:
Jury Awards $2.25M Palm Beach County Wrongful Death Verdict in Fatal 2008 Boynton Beach Car Accident, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, March 16, 2011

South Florida Pickup Truck Crash Kills 2 Broward County Teens, Injures Four Others, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, April 20, 2011
Deadly South Florida Crash Near the Palm Beach County Line Claims the Life of Three Children, Injures Two Others, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, April 6, 2011

In West Palm Beach, a jury has awarded Terry Williams, a 45-year-old mural artist $2.1 million for permanent and disabling neck and brain injuries that he sustained in a 2003 Florida truck crash.

Williams’s van was rear-ended by a Loomis & Fargo truck on Interstate 95 in Palm Beach Garden. Because of the accident, he cannot paint quality work. The jurors ruled that the driver and Loomis & Fargo were negligent in causing the accident.

Traumatic Brain Injuries
Some 1.4 people sustain traumatic brain injuries each year. A TBI usually occurs when there is a violent blow to the head. Common causes of TBIs include car accidents, motorcycle crashes, truck collisions, assault crimes, fall accidents, physical abuse involving violent shaking of the head, and gunshot wounds.

Traumatic brain injuries can be completely life changing. A person with a serious traumatic brain injury may have problems speaking, eating, remembering things, or have difficulty controlling their motor functions. Seizures may ensue and a TBI patient may experience sudden mood swings or personality changes.

A TBI can also seriously affect the lives of the victim’s friends and family, who can no longer enjoy the kind of relationships and interactions that they used to with their loved ones. If the TBI victim was the main source of financial support for the family, their quality of life can also be compromised.

A person with a serious TBI may also require costly, ongoing, specialized medical care.

In South Florida, our serious injury attorneys know how to properly pursue your case and prove to a jury that your injuries warrant significant recovery. Our motor vehicle crash lawyers have helped many auto accident victims and their families recover compensation through settlements and verdicts.

Jury awards West Palm artist $2.1 million for 2003 car wreck, Sun-Sentinel.com, May 27, 2008

Traumatic Brain Injury, MayoClinic.com

Related Web Resource:

Traumatic Brain Injury Information Page

Continue reading "West Palm Beach Artist Awarded $2.1 Million for Traumatic Brain Injury from Car Accident " »

In Florida, wrestling and Reality TV star Hulk Hogan and his family have been named in a car accident injury lawsuit by the family of John Graziano, a friend of Hogan’s son Nick Bollea.

Graziano sustained serious head and brain injuries in the August 26 crash. He remains in the hospital.

Graziano had been riding a car driven by Nick, who was racing his friend, Daniel Jacobs, in Clearwater, Florida. According to prosecutors, Nick had been driving his car about 40 miles above the legal speed limit. His car spun out of control and hit a palm tree.

Earlier this month, the Clearwater Police Department released photos from the catastrophic motor vehicle collision.

The lawsuit, filed in Pinellas County, names Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, his wife Linda Bollea, Nick Bollea, and Daniel Jacobs as plaintiffs.

According to the lawsuit, Hogan is responsible for the catastrophic auto collision because he had signed a consent form so his son could get his driver’s license and allowed his son to drive even though he knew that Nick enjoyed speed driving and racing. Hogan also owns the car that Nick had been driving during the crash.

Linda is being held legally liable for allegedly being aware of Nick’s reckless habits and “encouraging his dangerous behavior.”

Nick is named as a defendant because he drank alcohol before driving even though he is under 21 years of age and for speeding and racing his car on the night of the accident. Jacob’s is named in the lawsuit for participating in the speed racing that lead to the catastrophic car crash.

Graziano could require millions of dollars in medical care for the remainder of his life. He is reportedly in a semi-conscious state. Graziano’s parents, Edward and Debra Graziano, want to place any money they receive from the lawsuit in a trust for him.

Nick has been charged with reckless driving.

In South Florida, if you have been injured in a car collision because another driver was negligent, do not hesitate to contact our Florida personal injury law firm right away for your free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers.

Hulk Hogan sued by family of Florida crash victim, Reuters, March 24, 2008

Photos Released Showing Severity Of Bollea Crash, 2.tbo.com, March 12, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Hulk Hogan's Son Nick Arrested in Connection With Car Crash That Injured Friend, Foxnews.com, November 7, 2008

Traumatic Brain Injuries, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Continue reading "Hulk Hogan Is Sued In Florida Personal Injury Lawsuit By Family Of Man Seriously Hurt in Car Crash With Wrestler’s Son" »

A Polk County, Florida jury has awarded the Ladler family $50 million because their son sustained a traumatic brain injury in a car accident in 2004.

Mario Ladler II, a 4-year-old preschooler at the time of the crash, had his skull shattered when Michael Yow, the driver of a pickup truck, struck the car that the family was riding in. Yow has pleaded guilty to DUI involving serious bodily injury.

Doctors had to remove part of Mario’s frontal lobe. Mario, now 7, is institutionalized at the Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation because he requires full-time medical care. His brain is now missing the portions that monitor judgment and impulse control. His father Mario Ladler Sr. also sustained injuries in the car crash. His personal injury trial is expected to start in a few months.

The $50 million personal injury award is considered the largest civil lawsuit award in Polk County’s history. Of the $50 million, $27 million will go towards Mario’s ongoing medical care. $23 million was awarded for pain and suffering and lost wages.

Yow is serving five years in state prison. The $50 million compensation will have to be collected from Geico, Yow’s insurance company.

If you or someone you love is seriously injured in a car accident anywhere in Florida, you should speak with a personal injury attorney immediately. You may be entitled to personal injury compensation if another party acted negligently or carelessly and caused your accident.

Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are very serious injuries that can be very costly to treat. A TBI can occur in a car accident if an injury victim’s head strikes a hard object or is jolted by the force of impact.

TBI’s can lead to other serious medical conditions, such as seizures, memory problems, paralysis, loss of vision, speech problems, emotional difficulties, personality changes, loss of motor functions, seizures, and permanent brain damage.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of TBIs. By filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the person responsible for your accident in Florida, you may be able to obtain compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, ongoing medical care, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Lakeland Family Awarded $50 Million In 2004 DUI Crash, TBO.com, November 1, 2007

Lakeland family awarded $50 million for accident, Tampa Bays 10.com, November 1, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Traumatic Brain Injury, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation

Continue reading "Lakeland, Florida Family Awarded $50 Million For Son’s Traumatic Brain Injury During 2004 Car Accident " »