West Palm Beach Legal Blog

Never accept cash from the other driver after an accident

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles on Sunday, February 17, 2019.

Numerous car accidents happen every day around Florida. The media tends to focus on those that result in death or significant injuries, such as one multi-car crash in Neptune Beach that left several people seriously injured.

When it comes to smaller accidents and fender benders, a lot of drivers assume they do not have to follow the same steps as a more serious car crash. Those steps include contacting your insurance agency and not trying to settle things with the other driver on your own. There have been incidents where the driver clearly at fault offers the other driver cash on the scene to not report the incident. Even if the driver seems nice, you never want to take this money.

Understanding the legal value of your loving relationship

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles posted in car accident injuries on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Valentine’s Day is approaching, and you may be spending a little extra time thinking about the people you love. You might buy flowers or send valentines to express your gratitude for the very special people in your life.

Our spouse or partner plays a huge role in our life. They may give us financial stability. They may provide us with emotional and social support—helping us to feel happy and whole. It seems appropriate then, during this Valentine’s week, to dedicate a post to our loved ones—and the ways in which the law values them.

Can you sue a bartender for a drunk driver’s accident?

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles posted in car accident injuries on Tuesday, February 12, 2019.

You’re driving home on a Friday night. Out of nowhere, a speeding truck runs a red light and slams into you. You suffer a concussion and serious physical injuries—rendering you unable to work for months.

You hire an attorney and begin the process of filing a lawsuit against the negligent driver. As you examine the police report, you discover that the at-fault driver had actually been drinking at a local bar just before the accident. Is there an opportunity for two personal injury lawsuits—one against the driver and one against the bar?

Construction’s “Fatal Four” cause majority of worker deaths

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

The construction industry is an undeniably dangerous one. If you are among the many people across Florida who make your living working in this environment, you may have firsthand knowledge of its risks. While today’s construction workers suffer a broad range of work-related injuries and illnesses, the most serious incidents often fall into the same four categories. For this reason, these four primary causes of death in the construction industry are known as the “Fatal Four.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, more than 20 percent of all American worker deaths in 2017 involved construction workers. In other words, one out of every five work-related deaths in America comes from the construction industry, with many resulting from circumstances surrounding the Fatal Four. So, what, exactly, are construction’s Fatal Four, and is there any way to minimize your on-the-job risks?

Don’t let your Super Bowl celebration end in tragedy

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles posted in fatal motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

The Super Bowl is one of those annual events that brings the entire country together. Regardless of which team you support—or whether you’re even a football fan at all—it’s a day on which the majority of Americans gather with friends to watch the big game.

Whether you’re viewing the event at a bar, at a tailgating party or in person, you’re probably also drinking while you do it. Alcohol consumption skyrockets on Super Bowl Sunday—making it one of the drunkest days of the year.

Falling correctly can help prevent injury

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles posted in Personal Injury on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

In a previous post, we discussed the added risks of being involved in a slip-and-fall accident in late adulthood. Compared to younger people, older adults have more brittle bones--making them more likely to suffer a break in the event of a fall. In addition, older adults who takes a tumble also have a higher probability of suffering traumatic brain injury.

While this may sound a bit scary, it doesn't have to be. In fact, most serious fall-related injuries can be prevented. You just have to know the right way to fall.

3 not-so-obvious car accident injuries

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles on Sunday, January 27, 2019.

Many people believe they do not need medical care after being involved in a a car accident. It is very common for injuries to occur that are not immediately noticeable. Some car-crash victims suffer obvious, life-threatening trauma, but even serious injuries can go unnoticed immediately after an accident.

It is crucial for you to receive medical attention after a crash of any severity. Untreated car accident injuries can result in death or the need for long-term or lifelong medical care. Non-obvious trauma can show up in the hours and days after a motor vehicle collision. Here are a few symptoms of delayed injuries in car accidents.

Is your teen asleep at the wheel?

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles on Saturday, January 19, 2019.

Are the following questions true, or are they false?

Your teen needs around 9 to 9.5 hours of sleep each night.
Your teens' electronic devices emit blue light that can disrupt sleeping patterns.
Your teens' school and household responsibilities can negatively impact their sleep.
Your teens should not get up early seven days a week.

If you answered true, congratulations: You scored an A+. You are a savvy parent who understands some of the challenges faced by American teens when it comes to being properly rested. The reality is that many teens are chronically sleep deprived. This ties into another statement that is sadly true:

How the government shutdown can reduce community safety

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles posted in truck accident injuries on Friday, January 18, 2019.

The partial government shutdown has been going on for nearly a month—the longest shutdown in U.S. history. More than 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed or are being forced to work without pay. But this crisis also has a ripple effect, which impacts not just these workers—but society as a whole.

There are many government services that—when abruptly halted—affect the average Joe. The shutdown may prevent you from buying a house or verifying the eligibility of your employees. But on a much broader level, the shutdown makes us less safe overall.

Florida may make its distracted driving laws stricter

On behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles posted in car accident injuries on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

Since the advent of cell phones, we—as a society—are more distracted than ever. We stare at our phones when we’re at the gym, waiting in line at the grocery store or walking the dog. And even though, psychologically, we know it’s unsafe, most of us even do it when we’re behind the wheel.

Local laws to combat cell phone-related driving distraction—particularly texting while driving—vary considerably from state to state. Florida’s laws on the matter have been relatively lenient. But that could all change this year.

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