by Spencer Aronfeld | Jul 1, 2020 | Fourth of July Safety, Personal Injury News and Safety Resources
At Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, we are committed to family safety, and we urge our friends, loved ones and clients to leave the fireworks to the professionals this 4th of July. However, if you do plan on setting off fireworks, we strongly recommend you follow these safety tips and heed the advice of the National Safety Council. Children and fireworks DO NOT mix. Never allow children to handle fireworks. Never use fireworks while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eye wear. Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands. Never light fireworks indoors. Use fireworks away from people, houses and flammable material. Never point or throw fireworks at another person. Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting. Never ignite devices in a container. Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding. Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks. Never use illegal fireworks. The Dangers of Sparklers Never allow children to hold or ignite sparklers. They may seem less harmless than traditional fireworks. But be warned, these burn at up to 2,000 degrees- hot enough to burn some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing and result in serious burns. Sparklers are a leading cause for sending children to the emergency room each year. Doctors treated 500 people for injuries in 2018 and 54 percent of them were ages 5 and younger, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Here are some fun, kid-friendly alternatives to sparklers. Party Poppers filled with...
by Spencer Aronfeld | Apr 8, 2020 | Personal Injury News and Safety Resources
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has many of us on edge when it comes to doing basic tasks like going grocery shopping or ordering take-out. It has become increasingly competitive at grocery stores each week to obtain essentials before inventory runs out. On top of that, we now must worry about contracting COVID-19 while out in public. It can be a struggle to safely social distance while conducting what are essentially basic tasks. Anytime you go out in public, you run the risk of contracting the virus. It is recommended to bring Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer with you when going to the store. Make sure any surface you touch, such as your shopping cart, has been properly sanitized. Many people feel that gloves will adequately protect them. However, gloves will only work so long as you do not touch anything that has the virus on it and then touch your face. It is estimated that the coronavirus can live for a day on cardboard and up to three days on many metal and plastic surfaces, which means the groceries coming into your house could be contaminated. Disinfect your groceries. Anything that needs to be brought inside should be immediately disinfected, including items that go in the freezer. Studies have shown that the virus does not die from being contained in a freezer. If you do have to venture out in public to shop, make sure you are staying a safe distance away from everyone in the store, which is a recommended six feet. Many grocers are offering curbside pick-up and delivery services, and people are encouraged to take advantage of...
by Spencer Aronfeld | Apr 8, 2020 | Personal Injury, Personal Injury News and Safety Resources
The coronavirus has affected Americans in more ways than one. During this challenging time, let us assure you that Aronfeld Trial Lawyers is here and stands ready to help you even with it being remotely. We have had some inquiries about how COVID-19 may affect Florida personal injury cases and we would like to share with you some important information regarding the same. Status of Legal Proceedings One major disruption of the COVID-19 outbreak has been the delay of certain legal proceedings. However, the federal courthouse is still open and accepting filings. Our firm has and continues to file personal injury cases against the major cruise lines, even as many of them try to get cases against them stayed. The cruise line industry and their legal teams are working hard to have the court allow them to not respond to filings against them. Under an administrative order issued by Chief Justice Bertila Soto of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, only mission-critical or emergency hearings will be heard during this time. The initial period was set to expire on March 27 but has recently been extended through April 20, unless a remote appearance technology platform has been implemented before that time. At that point, non-emergency court proceedings will be able to be held remotely, although jury trials will likely still be suspended until the COVID-19 crisis lessens. While emergency hearings may be the only actual hearings being heard, the Florida Supreme Court has issued an order that most legal business can continue. Depositions can still be done electronically, and the oath to tell the truth can be issued to parties...
by Spencer Aronfeld | Jul 3, 2018 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury News and Safety Resources
Auto manufacturers are recalling more vehicles than any other time in U.S. history. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 46 million cars have been recalled so far this year. The problem is many drivers have no idea that their cars are under recall. According to the NHTSA, 1-in-5 cars that are on the road are under some type of auto recall. The Takata airbag recall accounted for more than 37 million recalls after the defective airbags caused 23 deaths worldwide over recent years. Thousands of individuals were injured due to these defective devices, as well. As a result, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched a website called Airbag Recall to keep drivers updated on recall notices. The following vehicle recalls have been issued in the last year: 8 million recalls for cruise control problems; 4 million recalls due to loose steering wheels; 350,000 transmission shifter recalls; and 123,000 power steering recalls. Federal law dictates that auto manufacturers send written notification to all car owners if a recall is issued for their specific vehicle. While this written notification is legally required, it does not always make its way the current car owner. If ownership has transferred or someone has moved, the auto manufacturer may not have the most recent information for the owner. It is helpful if a potential purchaser reviews the car’s history before buying the car. Many different sites and apps exist to allow for a quick search, including CarFax. By entering the license plate or vehicle identification number (VIN), the owner or purchaser can get all of the recalls that exist for the...
by Spencer Aronfeld | Jun 29, 2018 | Personal Injury News and Safety Resources, Slip and Fall/Premises Liability
The idea of simply slipping and falling may seem minor but slip and fall injuries can range from serious to life-threatening. Falls are the leading cause of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for the 65+ age group. Not only can these injuries be painful, they can end up being costly in terms of medical bills and lost wages due to having to miss work due to injuries. The following are some of the more common types of injuries we as attorneys see in slip and fall cases. Cuts and Bruises Some of the more common injuries that result from a slip and fall are cuts and bruises, also known as abrasions. Cuts and bruises to the leg and arm are common, but other parts of the body can be affected as well, depending on the injury. Some of these only require first-aid type of treatment but others may need stitches or more serious treatment. Broken Bones If the fall is severe, broken bones can result. These breaks can be minor fractures to severe breaks or even dislocation of bones. If the individual who falls has weaker bones, the breaks can take more time to heal and require casts and ongoing physical therapy. Broken hips are common injuries when it comes to older individuals falling. Broken bones require immediate treatment and can be painful and debilitating. Swelling will almost always occur, and if the swelling gets out of hand, this can make it difficult to treat the break. Therefore, if you have any suspicion that you broke a bone, it is extremely important that you go to an emergency room...
by Spencer Aronfeld | Jun 27, 2018 | Personal Injury News and Safety Resources, Slip and Fall/Premises Liability
Premises liability is a legal term that often comes up in personal injury and slip and fall cases when a person is injured on someone else’s property, whether that be at a business or on someone’s personal property. This injury is usually due to an unsafe condition or undetected hazard on that property. Premises liability cases are based on laws of negligence. In order to have a successful claim, the injured person must show that the business owner was negligent in his or her ownership or maintenance of the property. Negligence means the property owner failed to use reasonable care with respect to the condition of the property and because of this failure, an injury occurred. The dangerous or hazardous condition does not have to be specifically known by the business owner. All that has to be shown is that the property or business owner knew or should have known of the unsafe condition and failed to take the steps necessary to fix it. This means that the property or business owner has a duty of routinely inspecting his or her property to ensure that there are no unforeseen hazards that could hurt others while on their property. Property owners are charged with the duty to ensure that the property is safe for anyone who enters his or her property, but this duty extends even further for those who are considered invitees and licensees on the property. An invitee is someone who has the property owner’s express or implied permission to be there, such as friends, relatives or neighbors. A licensee is a person who has the property owners...
