South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog

As a Personal Injury Law Firm that deals with motor vehicle accidents everyday in Florida, we are constantly reminded of the unfortunate sequence of events which can follow if proper preparedness is not taken on behalf of the insured. Prior to an accident, you may not feel that car insurance is very important and purchasing the cheapest auto insurance, or or driving illegally without insurance, is good enough for you; because, hey you're a safe driver...right? Having that type of thought will only take you so far until you're sitting at a red light minding your own business and an uninsured driver slams into the back of you. Now what? Incidents happen like this everyday in Florida. Statistics have shown our roads are crowded with some of the worst drivers in the country so why take the chance! The bottom line is lack of proper car insurance will only cause you more aggravation and stress, not to mention, the possibilty of being left without proper medical treatment, lost wages, and a car. The car insurance you purchase and the specific elements of it, such as personal injury protection (PIP) can become pinnacle should you become involved in a crash. PIP coverage on your car is basically what pays for lost wages and medical bills if you are involved in a crash and is the minimum policy a driver must carry in the state of Florida. Make sure you do your due diligence and research when you'r e looking for auto insurance. A good place to start for basic auto insurance information is the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.

In this second half of our "Florida Nursing Home Abuse" blog we will discuss the various signs and symptoms of specific types of abuse. As mentioned in our last blog, the most common and obvious type of elder abuse is physical abuse. Symptoms associated with physical abuse are unexplained signs of bruises, welts, or scars, especially bruises that appear symmetrically on the body. Depending on the physical force of pressure used, broken bones, sprains, or dislocations will also occur. Restrainment, which is another common form of physical abuse used to keep patients confined to their beds, will show signs of black and blue marks around the wrists. Also, become more aware of details, especially items that belong to the victim, such as a pair of eye glasses for example. In the case of eye glasses, look to see if the frames have been bent, or the lenses have been scratched and/or chipped. Something else to consider; always take in the surroundings of where your loved one is being provided for, and keep a mental inventory as to where everything is, or isn't.

Sexual abuse, which can also show signs of physical abuse can include various bruises around the breasts or genitals as well as unexplained venereal disease or infections.

Neglect caused by the senior's aide can result in bed sores, malnutrition, weight loss, dehydration, and unsanitary living conditions.

Unfortunately, there are many other forms of elder abuse such as elder financial exploitation and elder health fraud.

If you feel your loved one or friend is experiencing nursing home abuse and or negligence, please contact our West Palm Beach Injury Lawyers for a free consultation and evaluation of your potential case.