Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Closed head injuries can occur from automobile accidents, work related accidents, sports related accidents or falls. These injuries result from a trauma in which the brain is injured as a result of a blow to the head or a sudden, violent motion that causes the brain to knock against the skull.

A closed head injury differs from an open head injury, since no object actually penetrates the brain. A diffuse closed head injury can affect the cells and tissues throughout the brain or, if the damage occurs in one area, it is a focal closed head injury.

Individual circumstances dictate the degree and rate of recovery. Physicians state that good indicators of long term recovery would be the amount of time spent unconscious or in a coma, as well as how much normal functioning is recovered within the first month after the injury.

The victim in this Florida motorcycle accident was 22 years old and single. He was self-employed and worked as a tile setter, but had just passed his independent contractor’s examination and would have been qualified as a licensed general contractor. One of his passions was competitive motorcycle racing at a local track. In fact, the afternoon of the accident, he was test driving a custom built racing/competition type motorcycle, after having tuned it up earlier that afternoon.

While traveling southbound on a two lane road in Lake Worth, Florida, the victim encountered a slow moving pickup truck, also headed southbound. Apparently, the victim attempted to pass the pickup truck on the left when suddenly, without prior signal, the pickup truck attempted a left turn, right into the victim on the motorcycle.

The driver of the pickup truck had met a friend while drinking at a bar earlier that afternoon and had agreed to pick the man up for a party later that day. He had never been to this man’s home before and was searching for the street the man lived on. The other driver stated he never saw the victim until his helmeted head was inside the driver’s side of his truck’s cab.

This victim suffered a severe closed head injury and was comatose after the accident. In fact, his helmet had to be cut off of his head. The possibility of extensive brain damage and dysfunction was certainly a very strong possibility, and of course his parents were very distraught.

Continue reading " Truck Collides with Motorcycle in Lake Worth, Florida, Causing Severe Closed Head Injury " »

Posted by Schuler, Halvorson & Weisser | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motorcycle Accidents

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Making a decision to place your loved one in a nursing home is a very difficult decision, and the fact that there is such widespread abuse and neglect in nursing homes makes it even more difficult. It is a sad fact that abuse and neglect of the elderly happens every day and it can be either physical, emotional, or simply negligence.

Nursing homes are big business and very profitable. Total nursing home revenues have topped 55 billion dollars. Some nursing homes are privately owned, or non-profit charity-related organizations. Many of these homes are also managed by management companies for profit. It is important to ask who operates the facilities you are interested in. Nursing homes are regulated by the federal government and managed by individual states to assure that they provide adequate care and activities for their residents.

More families are currently having to rely on nursing homes and assisted living facilities to care for their family members and loved ones than ever before. It is hard to imagine that, rather than receiving the care we expect, those we love and cherish are abused or neglected in these facilities. Unfortunately, this type of horrific treatment does occur, and many elderly residents suffer in silence.

Abuse can come in many forms – verbal, physical or sexual. This abuse can be difficult to detect, especially in homes where abuse has become the norm and workers turn the other way and don’t report problems. These elderly victims are frequently unable to communicate about the ways they are abused. Many times, the victims may not even understand themselves what is happening. Family members need to be especially vigilant and look for the signs when they visit. If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, some of the solutions are:

• Visit frequently and vary your visits to different times of the day and week to enable you to assess the care provided at all times.

• Talk to nurses, aides, the doctor, the Director of Nurses, Social Worker and the Administrator about your concerns.

• Find out who the state licensing agency is from your nursing home. In each state there is a division of the Department of Health that deals with oversight of nursing homes and enforcement of the nursing home rules and regulations. This agency investigates complaints filed by family members and conducts yearly surveys of each nursing home.

• You can and should file a complaint with state Licensing and Certification if you believe the nursing home resident is a victim of abuse or neglect by the nursing home.

The signs of abuse range from physical signs like broken bones and bruises, to noticeable changes in a victim’s mood or behavior. It is easier to spot physical abuse, but often times, this is blamed on a fall or claimed to be the fault of the victim. It is important to note the body language of your loved one. If you observe cowering, flinching or wide-eyed looks from a victim, it could indicate that there is some form of abuse going on.

If you suspect that your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, don’t delay calling the law firm of Schuler, Halvorson and Weisser, P.A. to discuss this matter with one of our experienced, knowledgeable attorneys. As always, there is never a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf.

Posted by Schuler, Halvorson & Weisser | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Nursing Home Litigation

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