Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

On April 6, 2011 Miami personal injury lawyer Spencer Aronfeld will be speaking at the University of Miami School of Law.. The topic will be: how to make your own law firm upon graduation from law school and lunch will be served. The event is open to the public as well as students from both undergraduate and law school. He will be reading portions of the book and signing copies from noon to 1:30 pm. Attorney Bruce Shemrock the book's editor will also be in attendance.

Aronfeld, a 1991 cum laude graduate wrote "Make It Your Own Law Firm" a how-to-guide for law students and graduates starting their own practices. Aronfeld has been teaching law students around the country for nearly twenty years regarding flying solo so that no lawyer will have ever take a job for the wrong reasons or find no job at all.

Spencer Aronfeld started his own law firm in 1991 upon graduation from University of Miami and has a nationally recognized Florida plaintiff's personal injury and medical negligence practice in Coral Gables, Florida.

As a Miami expert lawyer in specializing in civil trials, I believe that the lawyer one chooses can have a profound affect on the outcome of a given case, whether it be an administrative law issue or a zoning matter. The Florida Bar makes selecting and hiring an appropriate and qualified expert easier by carefully allowing only certain lawyers to claim that they are experts in a particular area.

The Florida Bar certifies expert lawyers in Admiralty and Maritime, Adoption Law, Anti-Trust and Trade, Appellate Practice, Aviation, Business Litigation, Government Law, Civil Trial, Construction Law, Criminal Appellate, Criminal Trial, Education Law, Elder, Health, Immigration, Intellectual, International, Labor, Family, Real Estate, State and Federal Government, Tax, Wills and Trusts and Estates and Worker's Compensation.
According to Florida Bar Rule 4-7.2(c)(3) only lawyers certified in these areas can use the words "specialize," "expert" or "expertise." So even lawyers who devote their entire careers to a certain area of the law are forbidden to claim they are experts unless the Florida Bar has certified them.

Estimado Abogado Spencer Aronfeld:

En una reciente visita a una tienda local de partes de auto, me resbale y cai. Me quebre el brazo y quiero conocer mis derechos.

Quebrado en South Beach

Estimado Quebrado en South Beach:

Gracias por su correo electronico a nuestro bufete de abogados en la Florida de casos de tropiezos y caidas. El estado de la Florida tiene dos requerimientos para duenos de negocios. Primero, los duenos de negocios tienen que mantener sus negocios en condiciones razonablemente seguras y segundo, ellos deben de advertir si hay alguna condicion peligrosa. Sin embargo, si la vitrina esta abierta y evidente, la tienda o negocio todavia tiene una obligacion de mantener su propiedad.

En el caso de Maria Rocamonde v. Marshall's, una senora tropezo y cayo en una base de estante de exhibicion que sobresalia mas alla de la parte superior y fue herida. El Tribunal de Apelaciones del Tercer Districto dictamino que si bien la senora Rocamonde vio el estante de exhibicion antes de caer, lo que haria que el bastidor "abierto y evidente", Marshall's todavia tenia que mantener su tienda en una condicion segura.

Como abogado de la ciudad de Miami especializado en casos de tropiezos y caidas, estoy feliz de ver que los resultados de este caso, ya que obligara a los duenos de negocios a mantener sus tiendas seguras para todos sus clientes. Le deseamos lo mejor en su busqueda por la justicia.

La horrenda noticia del terremoto, sunami, y escape nuclear que sucedio en Japon la semana pasada esta presente en las mentes de Abogados al Rescate y nuestros abogados de Miami. Si quisiera donar su tiempo o dinero, la Sociedad de La Cruz Roja Japonesa esta urgentemente necesitada de su ayuda y recursos.

Por favor unase con los Abogados al Rescate el miercoles 30 de marzo de 5:30pm a 6:30pm para una subasta y recaudacion de fundos en Sakura Japanese Restaurant 440 South Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, Florida 33146.

Todo lo recaudado sera donado a La Sociedad de La Cruz Roja Japonesa.

Para donar algun articulo para la subasta, por favor contacte a Dina Aronfeld.

Dear Spencer:

Broken in South Beach

Dear Broken in South Beach:

Thank you for your email to our Florida trip and fall law firm. Florida law has two requirements for business owners. First, store owners must maintain their businesses in a reasonably safe condition and second, they must warn of any dangerous conditions. However, in your case, if the display case is "open and obvious" the store still has the obligation to maintain its property.

In the case of Maria Rocamonde v. Marshall's, a lady tripped and fell on the base of a display rack that protruded further than the upper portion and was injured. The Third District Court of Appeal ruled that while Ms. Rocamonde saw the display rack before she fell, which would make the rack "open and obvious", Marshall's still had to maintain its store in a safe condition.

As a Miami slip and fall lawyer I am happy to see that the results of this case as it will force business owners to keep their stores safe for all customers. We wish you the best in your pursuit of justice.

The horrifying news of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear leak that hit Japan late last week is vivid in the minds of Lawyers to the Rescue and our Miami lawyers. If you would like to donate your time or money, the Japanese Red Cross Society is in dire need of your help and resources.

Please join Lawyers to the Rescue on March 30, 2011 at 5:30 PM-6:30 PM for a silent auction and fund raiser at: Sakura Japanese Restaurant 440 S Dixie Hwy Coral Gables, FL 33146.

All proceeds go to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

To donate an item for auction please contact Dina Aronfeld.

Yo creci en Wichita, Kansas y mi mas querida amiga era Carrie Marcus. Tristemente, durante la secundaria elle fue diagnosticada con un cancer incurable. En ese tiempo, yo no sabia el significado de dicha enfermedad. Ella falto casi todo el ano, pero cuando ella asistia a clase siempre se vestia con su traje de dirigir los vivas en las competencias deportivas. Yo sabia que algo no estaba bien. En nuestro ultimo ano, ella estacionaba su auto en un parqueo para impedidos. Ella no tenia la calcomania de impedidos, probablemente por orgullo, y nuestro colegio le puso varias multas de parqueo.

Un dia en clase ella le estaba contando esto a nuestro maestro de ingles. El le dijo que se dirigiera al principal del colegio y yo pedi ir con ella para ayudarla. Fuimos al principal y yo "discuti" su caso. El podia ver que ella estaba enferma, mas de lo que yo pensaba o entendio, y acordo suspender sus multas. Ella me agradecio haberla ayudado y caminamos juntos de vuelta a clase. Esa fue la ultima vez que la vi. Ese momento se quedo conmigo por vida.

Usar mi abilidad para hablar por otra persona que no podia me dio una gran felicidad, ademas saber que ayude a mi amiga.

Siempre me decian que seria un buen abogado en la Florida. De hecho, nadie nunca me dijo que yo seria bueno en otra cosa. Yo queria ser un ciclista profesional, pero simplemente no tenia ese talento. En muchas ocasiones pienso en Carrie y le agradesco haber sido mi primera cliente. Para mi todo cliente es Carrie Marcus, y estoy orgulloso.

Nuestros abogados de muertes injustas reciben varias preguntas a la semana sobre equivocaciones medicas que han matado pacientes. Tristemente, la ley de la Florida previene a muchas victimas obtener justicia.
Por ejemplo: Si un caso de un padre que pierde a un hijo adulto (sobre la edad de 25 anos) sin hijos menores la ley de la Florida de Muertes Injustas prohibe la justicia para estas victimas. Ademas, el Estatuto de la Florida 768.21 previene cualquier recuperacion por un hijo adulto por la perdida de un padre y de un padre por la perdida de un hijo.

Mas sorprendente es, si un padre muere sin familia, ningun reclamo puede ser iniciado.
Como abogado de la Florida de casos de equivocaciones medicas, yo creo que el Estatuto es injusto e inconstitucional porque provee a los medicos y hospitals una capa de protection que ninguna otra profesion tiene.
PREGUNTA: Porque los medicos y hospitals son immune por sus equivocaciones fatales? Si el mismo medico mata a un paciente en el parqueo con su vehiculo y el paciente es un hijo adulto sin sobrevivientes, sus padres pueden recuperar o cobrar por su dolor y sufrimiento. Sin embargo, si el mismo medico mata ese mismo paciente en el hospital por fallar a recetar la medicina requerida o apropiada no se puede hacer ningun reclamo.

Este es otro deslumbrante ejemplo de la desconfianza inherente del sistema tribunal de la Florida y su ilimitada obsession por proteger medicos y hospitals.

Our Miami wrongful death lawyers receive several inquires per week with questions regarding medical mistakes that have killed patients. Sadly, Florida's law prevents many victims from obtaining justice.

For example, if a case involves a parent who has lost an unmarried adult child (over the age of 25) with no minor children Florida's Wrongful Death Act steps in to provide a complete bar to justice for the victims. In addition, Florida Statute §768.21 prevents any recovery by an adult child for the loss of a parent and for a parent for the loss of a child. More incredibly, if a patient dies with no family, no claim can be made.

As a Florida medical mistake lawyer I believe that this statute is unjust and unconstitutional as it provides doctors and hospitals a layer of protection that no other profession enjoys. Why should doctors and hospitals be immune from accountability for their fatal mistakes? If the same doctor kills a patient in the hospital parking lot by running them over and the patient is an adult child with no other survivors, his parents can recover for mental pain and suffering. However, should the same doctor kill the same patient ten feet away in the hospital by failing to prescribe a needed medication, no claim can be made.

This is another glaring example of Florida's inherent distrust of the jury system and its unlimited obsession for protecting doctors and hospitals.

As a Florida hospital mistake lawyer, I am troubled by the recent news involving patients of a West Virginia hospital who were receiving overdoses of radiation when undergoing brain scans.

In November 2010 the FDA issued its findings of a safety investigation with recommendations to both doctors and hospitals. According to the New York Times, the Virginia Hospital continued to over-radiate patients and failed to report the errors.

Our Florida hospital safety attorneys recommend that any patient scheduled to undergo a CT Scan of the brain consider the following:

1. Why do you need the exam?
2. How will the exam improve my health?
3. Don't insist on the exam if the doctor does not feel it is necessary.
4. Don't refuse the exam if needed as the benefits generally outweigh the risks.
5. Keep a diary of the date, time and kind of CT scans you have had.

Todo el mundo contribuye a que el cuidado de la salud sea seguro como los medicos, enfermeras y los tecnicos. Como un abogado de malapractica de medicina de la Florida, yo creo que el paciente tambien puede jugar un papel primordial en hacer que su cuidado sea seguro al involucrar e informar a su equipo medico.

El Instituto de Medicina ha identificado que la ocurrencia de errores medicos es un problema serio en nuestro sistema de salud.

El programa "Hable" ("Speak Up") es apoyado por la Comision Conjunto sobre Acreditacion de Organiciones del Cuidado de la Salud (Joint Commission on Accrediation of Healthcare Organizations), le urge a los pacientes a involucrarse con su salud.

Nuestra oficina de abogados en Miami recomienda:

1. Hable con sus enfermeras y doctores si tiene preguntas o preocupaciones y si no entiende.

2. Asegurese de que esta recibiendo los tratamientos y medicamentos apropiados.

3. Eduquese respecto a su diagnosis, pruebas y medicinas.

4. Logre que un miembro de su familia o un amigo de confianza le acompane y actue como un representante suyo.

As a South Florida medical malpractice attorney, I consider the case of Ancel Pratt, Jr. an important example of the need to hold volunteer team doctors to the same standard of care on the field as in the hospital. Florida has a complex medical malpractice statute which provides often insurmountable obstacles to injured patients and their families to obtain justice.

Florida Statute Section §768.135 is specifically carved out to provide additional immunity for doctors who are serving as volunteer team physicians. The statute is intended to apply when the doctor is volunteering his services at an athletic event sponsored by a public or private elementary school and who agrees to render emergency care to a participant provided that the care is reasonable.

The danger of this statute is that it encourages doctors who are not necessarily competent or experienced in providing emergency trauma services with a layer of protection in volunteering for the local soccer team. As a Miami medical malpractice lawyer and a father, this law concerns me. I do not want to see a soccer mom who is a radiologist or plastic surgeon get drawn into volunteering as the team's doctor, and end up providing negligent care and be immune from liability.

Florida law should not allow doctors to serve as volunteer team physicians unless they are qualified emergency room or trauma specialists.

As a Florida car insurance claim lawyer I was pleased that Florida's Fifth District Court of Appeal ruled in favor of injured Florida driver, Christopher Ruddy, in Ruddy v. Carelli and Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company. Ruddy sued his own insurance company, Metropolitan, to obtain his uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage (UM). UM insurance provides valuable coverage to Florida's drivers in the event that they are injured in a car accident by a driver who either does not have coverage or not enough to compensate for injuries, lost wages or medical bills.

The Court ruled that if a UM insurance policy forces the insured to sue the defendant driver, in order to collect on UM benefits it is on its face "against public policy." Of course, UM carriers like Metropolitan are not in favor of such rulings as they prefer to have individuals on verdict forms, hoping it will convince jurors to return smaller verdicts than if the case was against a corporate giant insurance carrier.