The qualities you should look for when you go to hire a personal injury law firm in south Florida

There are many personal injury law firms located here in Jupiter, Palm Beach County, south Florida, and throughout the entire country. What you need to figure out is who are the best personal injury attorneys to handle your case and give you the best chance of getting what you think you deserve out of your case.

 

The first important thing for you to know: most personal injury law firms like ours at Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. will sit down with you and have a free initial consultation with you. So the first thing we would advise you is to cut out most if not all of the law firms who want to charge you for that initial consultation. There are enough quality firms and lawyers that will look at your case and give you an honest assessment for no charge that you need not consider paying for that meeting.

 

Here are some other important questions you should ask when hiring a personal injury law firm:

• Do I have a legitimate case?
  • Practically everyone who walks into a personal injury law firm believes they have a case that could get them money… often, a lot of money. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Be willing to listen to what feedback the lawyer is giving you. If you do not agree with the feedback, you can always go and get a second and even third opinion. But also be open to the fact that maybe you do not have as easy a case to win as you think.
• Who will be working on my case on what are their resources?
  • Will a lawyer be working on your case, or paralegals and legal assistants? Yes, you should expect that the paralegals and assistants will do some of the work, but one of the firm’s lawyers should be involved every step of the way as well.
• What types of cases has the firm worked in the past?
  • This is an important question as most people do not realize that there are many types of personal injury cases. Make sure to find out if the firm has a positive history in working cases in the area which your case would fall under – including Slip & Fall, accidents, malpractice, workers compensation, defective products just to name a few.
• What is the firm’s reputation?
  • This can be found by doing some research on google. Look for industry recognition and accolades. And definitely check on their website, and through social media to view testimonials from clients and others who have worked with the firm and the attorneys in the firm.
• How does the law firm get compensated for working your case?
  • In addition to offering a free initial consultation, The best personal injury law firms also give a “No Fee Unless We Win” guarantee. In the legal industry this is known as a “contingency fee contract.”

 

Arm yourself with these questions and you will give yourself the best chance at winning a personal injury lawsuit.

 

You often here personal injury attorneys and many other types of attorneys say that they give the best service, have the most experience, and will do what it takes to help you win your case, and get you a lot of money in the process. You can see it in the ads on television, hear it on the radio driving to and from work, or see it on the multiple billboards along I-95 that you pass on a daily basis.

 

But you will never see Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. on a television ad, or on a billboard along the highway? Why? Because we believe that our best sources for new business always come from our current and former clients. We pride ourselves on delivering on our promise – to help you get the compensation that you deserve for the injuries you have suffered: physical, mental and psychological.

 

While a television advertisement or a billboard may make an attorney appear knowledgeable and trustworthy, that is not always the case. Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne has stayed away from big advertising and relies on word of mouth referrals from prior clients which is the true test of a law firm’s service to a client. Relying on referrals can only be accomplished when past clients are happy with the dedication and services provided by Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne.

 

The Law Firm of Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. provides:

• Contingent fee contracts – No Fees or Costs unless we prevail on your injury case.
• Free confidential initial consultations
• Attorneys who handle your cases…not just paralegals or support staff
• We are proud to offer home, hospital and nursing home visits to you in the event that you are unable to meet with us in our office. Let us travel to you.

 

If you are in an automobile, motorcycle or boating accident; or a Slip and Fall accident, Wrongful Death & Serious Injury situation, Medical Malpractice, Defective Products, or many other types of legal situations where injury or death has occurred, contact us immediately.

You can contact us by phone at (561) 686-3400, via email at info@sswlawfl.com, via fax at (561) 686-5683, or by filling out the contact form on our website at http://www.sswlawfl.com/contact/.

 

We look forward to helping you obtain payment to cover hospital and other medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more, if the situation warrants it. Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A., where we have been devoted to protecting south Florida families for over 40 years!

Follow up to last week’s blog re: the growing incidence and danger of prescription drugs causing DUI

In our last blog we discussed the growing epidemic of DUI (Driving Under the Influence of a controlled substance) related arrests here in south Florida and throughout our country being caused by prescription drugs. The Tiger Woods DUI case has shown a spotlight on a problem that law enforcement has become all-too familiar with in recent years: prescription drugs are often powerful, and can become just as dangerous as alcohol when a person uses them and then gets behind the wheel of their motor vehicle.

In fact, taking a prescription drug before driving can be even more dangerous than alcohol because the danger of mixing prescription drugs and motor vehicle operation has been much less discussed and spotlighted than its counterpart alcohol. Furthermore, as The Palm Beach Post writers Jorge Millan and John Pacenti highlighted in their article on this very subject in last Thursday’s edition of The Palm Beach Post:

“According to a 2015 study released by the Governors Highway Safety Association, about 43 percent of fatally injured drivers were found to have either prescription or illegal drugs in their system, compared with 37 percent of drivers who had consumed alcohol. In 2005, only 27 percent of fatally injured drivers showed evidence of drug use.

The American Automobile Association reports that “prescription drugs are the most prevalent of all drugs” found in fatally injured drivers (46.5 percent).”

Millan and Pacenti further pointed out that the danger of driving under the influence of prescription drugs is even more pronounced because many drivers are “unaware they are doing anything wrong by driving drugged.”

To read the entire article go to: http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/crime–law/tiger-woods-arrest-reflects-nationwide-surge-drugged-driving/SW8HpnE6rfpcY7d1yjK5bK/

As we stated in last week’s blog and as you see discussed clearly in this and many other articles, an impaired person is held responsible for all damages incurred in an accident, even if under the influence of prescription drugs and not alcohol or hard drugs. That is obvious to most people. Fewer people realize that in this scenario you may also be considered a victim of a criminal act under our state law.

If you or a person you care about gets injured in a vehicle accident caused by a driver under the influence or you simply have a question about a potential personal injury situation that you have not yet had answered, please call us at Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. We offer a free initial consultation, and our phone number is (561) 686-3400.

At Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne, we know unfortunately that DUI accidents happen all the time. If you are in an accident because of the negligence or drug use of another driver then you need to contact us right away. We help our clients obtain payment to cover hospital and other medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more, if the situation warrants it. If you want to learn more about how we can help you in a situation where someone you love has been in an accident, then go to this page on our website: http://sswlawfl.com/areas-of-practice/accidents-serious-injury/. We also specialize in Wrongful Death & Serious Injury, Medical Malpractice, Slip and Fall, Defective Products, and many other types of legal situations where injury or death has occurred.

Whether you are in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Stuart, West Palm Beach or any other city in the state of Florida, you need to find and hire a law firm that has the level of knowledge and experience that will get you the financial results you deserve, while also working with you throughout your case until some type of resolution has been reached. With over four decades of experience, that firm is Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne.

Contact us directly at (561) 686-3400, or via email at info@sswlawfl.com.

 

 

Study of NHTSA data reveals that more fatal accidents occur today than any other day during month of April

saved from yesemails.com

 

Today is income tax filing day here in Jupiter, Florida and throughout the United States. In other words, most people’s least favorite day of the year. An interesting study which looked at data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave us all another reason to not like tax day – more fatal automobile accidents occur on this day than any other day during the entire month of April.

 

The study, conducted and published by researchers at the University of Toronto, found that over a 30 year span, the “car accident death rate” was in fact 6% higher on tax day over any other April day. Several experts quoted in an April 30, 2015 article published in The Legal Examiner (a Central Pennsylvania Legal Newsletter) offered four reasons why the fatal accident rate goes up on this day:

1. There are more motorists on the road on tax day than on the average day in April.
2. More drivers are forced to drive off of their “regular route” to get to the post office or their accountant’s office to get their taxes filed on time on this day.
3. More drivers driving “recklessly” to get to the post office to meet today’s deadline.
4. More drivers are driving distracted due to the stress caused by having to file their taxes today.

To read this entire article, go to: http://central-pennsylvania.legalexaminer.com/automobile-accidents/study-suggests-car-accidents-increase-on-tax-day/

 

Whatever the reasons are, today is statistically the most dangerous day to be driving out on the roads of Florida, and practically everywhere else in America.

 

If you are injured in an auto accident because the other driver was distracted by the stress of tax day, or they were texting while driving, or by any form of distraction including drugs or alcohol, you may have the right to bring a claim for various damages, injuries incurred and all other incidental costs you incur. Contact us at Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. and find out all of your options from the law firm that has been protecting the rights of south Florida families for over 40 years!

 

We offer a free initial consultation. Our phone number is (561) 686-3400. For additional information go to our website at http://www.sswlawfl.com.

 

At Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne, we know that motor vehicle accidents are happening at an increased rate. If you are in an accident because of the willful negligence of another driver then you need to contact us right away. We help our clients obtain payment to cover hospital and other medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more, if the situation warrants it.

 

If you want to learn more about how we can help you in a situation where someone you love has been in an auto accident, then go to this page on our website: http://www.sswlawfl.com/areas-of-practice/auto-accident/. We also specialize in Slip and Fall accidents, Wrongful Death & Serious Injury, Medical Malpractice, Defective Products, Motorcycle Accidents, Boating Accidents and many other types of legal situations where injury or death has occurred. Our main offices are located in Jupiter, Florida and we have tried and successfully won cases for our clients throughout Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, St. Lucie counties and many other places throughout the state of Florida.

 

And a piece of advice: be extra safe driving out there today – and every day. Your life is worth saving.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt taking place this Saturday at Jupiter Community Park

This week marks the holy weeks for both our Christian and Jewish communities. Passover has already begun (it started Monday after sundown, and it goes until next Tuesday, April 18th) while this Friday is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter.

The arrival of Easter also means that the town of Jupiter’s popular annual Easter Egg Hunt is upon us. This year the event is this coming Saturday, April 15th starting at 9:30 a.m. and going until 12 noon. As has been the case the last few years the event is being held at Jupiter Community Park, located at 3377 Church Street.

To learn more about this festive event that is fun for the whole family, show up at the Park Saturday morning with a basket (the event is B.Y.O.B. – Bring Your Own Basket), go to http://www.southfloridafinds.com/event/fl/palm-beach/jupiter/jupiter-egg-hunt.html or call the Facilities office directly at (561) 743-0647.

From Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. we want to wish all of you in our Jewish community a Happy Passover, and those of you in our Christian community a Happy Easter.

For more information about our law firm go to http://www.sswlawfl.com or call us directly at (561) 686-3400. We are personal injury attorneys who have been devoted to protecting the rights of south Florida families for over 40 years.

Also used in the compilation of this article: https://www.jupiter.fl.us/647/Easter-Egg-Hunt

 

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in the state of Florida?

Like every other state in America, Florida has a law in its statutes that specifically sets a deadline for the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit in our state’s civil courts against the person or business that might be legally at fault for your injuries caused in an accident. This law is called a statute of limitations, and in Florida law this statute can be found in the Florida Statutes Annotated section 95.11.

 

The most important aspect of the statute of limitations for you if you are injured in an accident is that it gives you four (4) years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Otherwise, unless under extreme and very rare cases, the court will almost certainly refuse to even hear your case at all.

 

One important adjunct to the Florida statute of limitations law is that if your injury claims are against either a city, county or state government entity or official your time limit to file is only three (3) years.

 

To read more on Florida’s Personal Injury Laws & Statutory Rules go to: http://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/personal-injury/laws-florida.html

 

Our Board Certified lawyers from Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne, P.A. are the right lawyers to get you the best settlement that you deserve based upon your unique set of circumstances when you have been involved in an automobile accident, truck accident, boating accident, motorcycle accident, any other vehicle or a slip and fall.  We have been devoted to protecting South Florida families for over 40 years.

 

If a person you care about gets hurt or killed in a car, motorcycle or boating accident, or you simply have a question about a potential personal injury situation that you have not yet had answered and you are not sure whether hiring an attorney is your best plan of action, please call us at Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. We offer a free initial consultation, and our phone number is (561) 686-3400.

 

Your initial consultation with our law firm is free, and we lay out all of your options for you honestly and completely. If we do agree to move forward together you will find that we work tirelessly to help you and/or your loved ones obtain payment to cover hospital and other medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more, if the situation warrants it. If you want to learn more about how we can help you in a situation where someone you love has been in an accident, then go to this page on our website: http://sswlawfl.com/areas-of-practice/accidents-serious-injury/. We also specialize in Wrongful Death & Serious Injury, Medical Malpractice, Defective Products, and many other types of legal situations where injury or death has occurred.

 

Whether you are in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Stuart, West Palm Beach or any other city in the state of Florida, you need to find and hire a law firm that has the level of knowledge and experience that will get you the financial results you deserve, while also working with you throughout your case until some type of resolution has been reached. With over four decades of experience, that firm is Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne.

 

Contact us directly at (561) 686-3400, or via email at info@sswlawfl.com.

Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne: what our membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum® means to you

At Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. we realize that most of our neighbors here in Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast of Florida go through life hoping they never need the services of a personal injury law firm like ours. Honestly, we wish that for all of you as well.

 

The fact is; the average automobile driver will be in between 3 and 4 accidents during your life, according to recent car insurance industry estimates as stated in this Forbes magazine article. http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2011/07/27/how-many-times-will-you-crash-your-car/#1e1ddcb050f9. A sobering statistic for all American drivers, to be sure.

 

Although not all of those automobile accidents require the use of a personal injury attorney, some of them obviously do. So how do you find the best law firm to represent you in your case when you need one?

 

One way is to find attorneys who have distinguished their ability to be successful enough for their clients to belong to a group that less than 1% of all personal injury law firms across the United States are a part of. In the case of personal injury attorneys, that select group is called the “Million Dollar Advocates Forum®”.

The Million Dollar Advocates Forum limits its membership to only those personal injury lawyers who have demonstrated “their ability to accomplish superior results in complex cases.”

As stated on the forum’s website: “Established in 1993, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum (which includes the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum) is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States.  Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. There are over 4000 members throughout the country.  Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.

The quality of our membership is very impressive and includes many of the top trial lawyers in the country. Many of our members have achieved numerous million and multi-million dollar results (several members have won billion dollar cases). Their practice areas include most areas of litigation, including: major personal injury, products liability, malpractice, construction, environmental, employment, insurance and business litigation. The common fact is that they have each demonstrated, in an objective and tangible way, their ability to accomplish superior results in complex cases. Certification by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum provides recognition of such accomplishment and a national network of experienced colleagues for information exchange, assistance and professional referral.

Since 1993 membership has been based upon strict objective qualifications.”

 

To learn more about this exclusive group of the Top Trial Lawyers in America®, go to:  http://www.milliondollaradvocates.com/

 

Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. is a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We practice in Jupiter, Palm Beach County, the Treasure Coast and throughout the great state of Florida. We have been devoted to protecting South Florida families for over 40 years, and getting you the results that you deserve.

 

Contact our Palm Beach law firm at any time with questions about your legal issue. Provide as much information as possible regarding your inquiry. While this contact does not serve to establish an attorney/client relationship, it will allow our legal team to begin an assessment of your case even before you come in for your initial consultation.

 

At Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne, we understand that an accident, serious injury and wrongful death can occur without warning. Whatever happened, we also know that it is tragic for all of the loved ones left behind. We help our clients obtain payment to cover funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and more, if the situation warrants it. If you want to learn more about how to go about hiring the right attorneys for you in a situation where someone you love has been injured or died in an accident or some other situation caused by negligence, then go to http://www.sswlawfl.com/areas-of-practice/. We specialize in Auto Accident & Serious Injury, Motorcycle Accidents, Boating Accidents, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Defective Products and many other types of legal situations where injury or death has occurred.

 

Our main office is located in Jupiter, Florida at 1015 W. Indiantown Road, Suite 101A. Contact us directly at (561) 686-3400, or via email at info@sswlawfl.com.

Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne – a real automobile accident story from one of our clients

How do you go about picking a personal injury attorney when you need one? So many of us are afraid that after you get past the television commercials and the hype, most personal injury law firms are little more than uncaring “ambulance chasers”, just looking for their next big score, whether or not you have a legitimate personal injury case or not.

 

Here is a story that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that attorneys and staff at Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. are not your typical personal injury law firm personnel. Their practice is made up of people who really do care about their clients – and they really do go the extra mile to try and get you the compensation you deserve for the losses that you suffered.

 

How do I know this? Because I have been a client of theirs. During the late afternoon/early evening of a Monday in April of last year (2015), I was involved in 2-car automobile accident on I-95 in West Palm Beach. Luckily, neither I nor the people in the other car involved suffered any type of serious injury. My car, however, was deemed a total loss by my insurance company.

 

During the weeks that ensued I would come to learn that my automobile insurance company of 25 years valued my car at almost $5,500 less than I owed on my loan (despite the fact I purchased it used, two years old), AND they would only cover 5% of the cost of my visit to my local MDNow to have my neck checked out – an additional loss of $525 for me. Since I had only owned the car for 10 months, I argued with my insurance company that they had covered the car for the full value of what I purchased it for, and I could not understand how they now valued it for $8,000 less than my purchase amount in less than a year.

 

Suffice it to say – the multiple debates accomplished nothing other than to make me extremely frustrated. Particularly since I have been a loyal customer for all of those 25 years, involved in only one accident since my early college days. Conservatively they have made at least $20,000 on me over that time.

 

When I related my story to Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. partner Ryan Wynne at a networking event, he asked me if I were willing to allow him to work on my behalf to try and recover some of the money I had lost. Honestly, I had given up. After hours of useless arguing with multiple insurance company representatives on the telephone, I figured that Ryan and his firm had zero chance of getting me another penny. But hey, since he was willing, why not let him try?

 

Well, it took about 9 months of effort by Ryan and his team – yes, he did not give up fighting for me, even after I had said to him that he could give up at least 2 or 3 times. And amazingly, Ryan Wynne and his team was able to get the insurance company to agree on a settlement that netted me a payment of around $3,300.

 

I realize that does not sound like a lot of money. But for me, that $3,300 was totally found money – from the same insurance company that told me, in essence, to go pound sand. That surprise and welcome settlement helped me to pay off the rest of my car loan.

 

Therefore, if you are like so many other people, and you have no idea how to go about finding a personal injury law firm you can trust will work hard for you when you have been injured – then take it from me, and my personal experience. If you are located in Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Stuart or anywhere else in south Florida, then Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne is the personal injury attorney firm that will get you every penny that you deserve from your case – even if you are sure, like I was, that your insurance company or the party who caused your injury will never have to give you a penny. The lawyers at this firm understand personal injury law thoroughly, are hard-working, and willing to fight for you.

 

Go to our “Cases and Judgments” page to learn more about the many cases we have won fighting for our clients in a variety of personal injury cases, including automobile accidents, defective products, slip and fall, medical malpractice and others: http://www.sswlawfl.com/cases-judgments/.

 

At Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. we have practiced law in Jupiter, Florida, Palm Beach County, and the Treasure Coast since the early 1970’s. During that time we have been devoted to protecting South Florida families for over 40 years.

 

We limit our practice to serious injury and wrongful death arising out of severe accidents and medical negligence. Those areas of personal injury law we focus on include automobile accidents, boating accidents, motorcycle accidents, defective products and medical malpractice. We look forward to meeting you and fulfilling the needs of you and your family.

 

Contact our Palm Beach law firm using our Case Review Form right on our website with questions about your legal issue. Or, call us directly at (561) 686-3400. Provide a much information as possible regarding your inquiry. While this contact does not serve to establish an attorney/client relationship, it will allow our legal team to begin an assessment of your case. Please note that your initial consultation with our law firm is FREE.

 

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 – the utter disaster that a defective can be for a company

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 issues with phone, battery problems on smart phone

At Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne we believe that one of our most important duties as an active member of the Jupiter, Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast communities here in Florida is to provide pertinent information and guidance to our fellow citizens on a variety of legal topics. One of those topics that has taken center stage in the media once again is a defective product from an easily-recognizable international company: Samsung.

Of course we are referring to their recently-released Galaxy Note 7. The problem with these smartphones is that their catching on fire, or exploding due to an apparent faulty battery pack. The issue so serious that Samsung has done everything it could to get in front of this issue – offering free exchanges to everyone who brings in their Galaxy Note 7, no questions asked.

In addition, according to a multitude of reports from a variety of news outlets including our own Channel 12, Samsung has also recalled all of the phones it has shipped to the U.S. that have not yet been sold – bringing the total of recalled phones to as high as a staggering 2.5 million units, so far.

To view the entire video piece, go here: http://cbs12.com/news/local/samsung-recalls-galaxy-note-7-replacement-phones-available

Further complicating an already horrible situation for Samsung, the replacement phones the company promised to those who already purchased the phone have not arrived here in the U.S. yet, and Samsung has yet to release a revised time table. In addition, several people who allege their phones have already caught fire and have suffered injury as a result are suing the company. One such story of a man who says his phone exploded while he was in a Costco store in Palm Beach Gardens on September 9^th has been well publicized, including an article in the national news magazine Fortune.

http://fortune.com/2016/09/16/man-sues-samsung-galaxy-note-7/

 

People do get hurt every day while using cell phones, appliances, equipment and even toys that assist us in living our lives on a daily basis. Sometimes these injuries are 100% due to user error, or alterations made to the products leading to accidents because of improper usage. Sometimes, as in the case of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the defective product itself is partially or fully to blame for you or your loved one getting injured.

Instead of trying to figure out how to get some type of settlement out of the manufacturer or their high-powered, expensive lawyers who are paid to keep as much money from you as possible, come to Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. We are a law firm who has well over four decades of experience helping our clients receive the maximum amount of compensation they deserve for injuries, medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering due to defective products.

 

At Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne, P.A., we know that any product may cause injury or death, including a smartphone. Even if the defect is not due to any negligence on the part of the manufacturer, the manufacturer can be held responsible for any damage caused by the defective product. The retailer may also be viewed are partially responsible for having sold the defective product. A claim can even be brought against the person or company that was involved in distributing the defective product.

If you want to learn more about how to go about hiring the right attorneys for you if you have a potential defective product case, then go to http://sswlawfl.com/areas-of-practice/defective-products/. We also specialize in Accident & Serious Injury, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice and many other types of legal situations where injury or death has occurred.

Whether you are in Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Stuart, West Palm Beach or any other location throughout the state of Florida, you need to find and hire a law firm that has the level of knowledge and experience that will yield you maximum results, while also working with you throughout your particular situation until it is resolved. With over four decades of experience, that firm is Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne.

Our main office is located in south Florida in Jupiter at 1015 W. Indiantown Road, Suite 101A. You can contact us directly at (561) 686-3400, or via email at info@sswlawfl.com. Contact us today for a FREE initial consultation.

Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne safety tips: driving during school days in Florida

The middle of August here in Florida means several things: the summer season weather-wise (hot and humid) is about half over, but more importantly, schools are back in full swing. Even if you do not have any children that are school-age, you know school is back in session with the significant pick up in traffic and congestion on the roadways as you try to make your way to and from work. That also means you must be significantly more careful where ever you are driving at this time of year.

Therefore, we will do a 2-part blog on driver safety during school days. This first part is a refresher of general driving safety tips for all drivers at this time of year to help keep kids, other drivers and yourself accident and injury-free during school days. In the second part we will share with you some safety tips for parents and others driving kids to and from school:

• Plan to leave your home a few minutes earlier than you did during the summer to get to your destination.
  • Between school buses, kids walking and on bikes, and parents trying to drop off or pick up their kids, traffic congestion is significantly more than it was just two weeks ago. Adjust for that so you keep yourself from getting frustrated, angry and impatient behind the wheel.
• Slow down and pay attention to the road AND the surrounding sidewalks
  • Even the safest of drivers can not predict a child darting out into the middle of the road apparently out of nowhere. The slower you are driving, the more time you will have to react when unexpected, potentially dangerous actions by others, particularly kids, happen.
• Do NOT pass a bus that has its “Stop Sign” and blinkers on. Ever.
  • Of course we all have had that morning we are running late, and then we get stuck behind a school bus stopped to pick up kids… and it is taking forever. There is no one on the other side of the road, and it looks so tempting to go around the bus and continue on your way. Don’t do it. The leading cause of death among kids and teenagers is accidents/unintentional death, according to https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001915.htm

 

If you or a person you care about gets injured or killed in an automobile accident caused by negligent driving or you simply have a question about a potential personal injury situation that you have not yet had answered, please call us at Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. We offer a free initial consultation: our phone number is (561) 686-3400 and our email address is info@sswlawfl.com.

At Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne, we know that automobile accidents involving children happen. We help our clients obtain payment to cover hospital and other medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more, if the situation warrants it. If you want to learn more about how we can help you in a situation where someone you love has been in an accident, then go to this page on our website: http://sswlawfl.com/areas-of-practice/accidents-serious-injury/. We also specialize in Wrongful Death & Serious Injury, Medical Malpractice, Slip and Fall, Defective Products, Motorcycle accidents, Boating accidents and many other types of legal situations where injury or death has occurred.

Whether you are in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Stuart, West Palm Beach or any other city in the state of Florida, you need to find and hire a law firm that has the level of knowledge and experience that will get you the financial results you deserve, while also working with you throughout your case until some type of resolution has been reached. With over four decades of experience, that firm is Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne, where we have been devoted to protecting south Florida families for over 40 years.

Should you bring a lawsuit against the creators of “Pokemon GO” if you get hurt playing? You probably will lose – here’s why

Terms of Service Conditions Rule Policy Regulation Concept

There seems to be a new story almost daily of someone getting in a car accident or injured in some way while playing the new game Pokemon GO on their phone. The game causes people to get distracted, resulting in falls, car accidents (yes, people are playing while driving) and even muggings. But what if you are hurt while playing Pokemon GO? Can you sue the creator of the app and get a financial settlement for helping to cause your injuries?

The answer is: most likely No. Why? The answer lies within the terms of agreement that you agreed to right before you start the process of actually downloading the game app to your cellphone. Included in that rather lengthy document are terms that specifically protects the app’s creator from you suing them.

Here are the sections of the Pokemon GO “Terms of Service” that relate specifically to what you are agreeing to that limit the company’s liability in case you are injured playing the app.

1. Safe Play
   1. You play the game at your own risk. If you get hurt or hurt someone while playing, the company is not liable. An dispute you have with any other player does not involve the company, either.
2. Conduct, General Prohibitions and Niantic’s Enforcement Rights
   1. A lengthy section that describes in detail the many things you can do to break the service terms and be banned by the company.
3. Links to Third Party Websites or Resources
   1. You assume responsibility and risk from using any third party websites or resources while playing the game.
4. Termination
   1. Niantic can terminate your access to the service at any time, without notice or warning to you.
5. Disclaimer of Warranties
   1. There is no warranty of any kind.
6. Indemnity
   1. You hold Niantic and everyone else connected to the game harmless for anything that may happen to you while playing the game.
7. Limitation of Liability
   1. It is not Niantic’s fault if you lose data or money as a result of playing. At most, the company limits liability up to but not exceeding $1,000.
8. Dispute Resolution
   1. If you have issue with any of these terms you agree to an independent arbitrator to settle any dispute. You agree not to join in a class action lawsuit and you also agree to go to waive your right to have a trial by jury.

According to consumerist.com, you can opt out of the “Terms of Service” agreement by sending a message directly to Niantic within 30 days of downloading the game. Instructions on how to do so are contained within the following article: https://consumerist.com/2016/07/14/pokemon-go-strips-users-of-their-legal-rights-heres-how-to-opt-out/

But be aware of the fact that Niantic can (and probably will) terminate you from playing the game. This is a fascinating topic that brings up an important facet of the law here in Florida, and the United States. Understanding what rights you could be signing away when you agree to a “Terms of Service” contract.

If you are injured due to the negligence of another person in Florida, you may have a right to bring a claim for various damages and injuries incurred. Call us at Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. We offer a free initial consultation, and our phone number is (561) 686-3400. Our main office is located in Jupiter, Florida. We have been devoted to protecting South Florida families for over 40 years.

If you want to learn more about how we can help you in a situation where someone you love has been in an accident or some other mishap caused by someone playing Pokemon GO or distracted in some other way while driving, then go to this page on our website: http://www.sswlawfl.com/areas-of-practice/wrongful-death/. We also specialize in Slip and Fall accidents, Wrongful Death & Serious Injury, Medical Malpractice, Defective Products, and many other types of legal situations where injury or death has occurred.