Bagen Law Blog

They say that dogs are man’s best friend. However, dogs are still animals, and animals can bite whether provoked or not. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States each year. 

There are more than 37,000 fatal car accidents that happen throughout the country each year. Of these, approximately 1 in 3 collisions involve a driver who was operating their vehicle above the legal posted speed limit.

Speeding is a danger to everyone on the road. It is reckless, and in the blink of an eye, speed demons who drive faster than they should can cause or contribute to a devastating accident.

Driving speeds can have a major impact on motor vehicle collisions. Here’s what you should know about driving speed and how it affects accidents.

Mild, beautiful Florida winters mean we don’t take seasonal road conditions as seriously as we perhaps should. While snow and ice are not a threat here, there are other adverse conditions that can be just as dangerous, especially around the holiday season, and if you are taking a road trip up north. 

It’s the spookiest time of the year! Many people call Halloween their favorite holiday; with fun decorations and creepy ambiance, grinning jack o’ lanterns, and plenty of sweet treats, it’s no wonder! Since most of us didn’t get a chance to go all out for Halloween last year, we expect this year’s celebrations to be bigger than ever.

Despite all the excitement, Halloween also comes with its own set of risks including lack of visibility on the streets, increased pedestrian traffic, and inattentiveness of drivers. As a refresher, here are some ways you can make sure your community stays safe this Halloween:

In Florida, all car accident cases come under Florida's PIP or no-fault law. Dealing with medical expenses after being injured in a car accident can be stressful. When you are suffering from potentially serious or even life-threatening injuries, the last thing you want to worry about is the financial burden that follows a car accident. Even if your injuries are minor, they may still require expensive treatments that you can’t afford.

In these situations, it’s helpful to understand your rights and what will or will not be covered by insurance. In some states, if you are the victim, you can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company for compensation to help cover costs related to the accident. However, in other states, like Florida, they have “no-fault” laws that require you to seek compensation through your own insurance company’s no-fault coverage, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. 

When car accidents happen, adrenaline, stress, and shock can keep you from thinking clearly in the immediate aftermath. That’s why accepting cash from an at-fault drive might seem like a good idea at that moment. After all, you need your car, you’ll need to pay for repairs as quickly as possible to get it back on the road, and insurance claims and settlements can take forever and feel like a giant hassle. 

However, if you’re ever faced with this - a driver who hits you and offers you cash on the spot to pay for damages instead of filing a claim with insurance - it’s best to go through the red tape to make sure you are getting all the compensation you are entitled to.

When you place your loved ones into a care facility or nursing home, it’s hard to imagine any harm coming to them. After all, these places make their living on the care and treatment of elderly individuals. Unfortunately, the mistreatment and neglect of the elderly are all too common, even in nursing homes. 

According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 people 60 years and older experience abuse each year.¹ And in care facilities such as nursing homes, it’s especially common with 2 out of 3 staff members reporting incidences of abuse in the past year. 

Recreational boating is a great way to get out on the water with your friends and family, but it’s important to make good choices and take precautions to avoid turning your day in the sun into a day at the hospital. 

Boating accidents can lead to significant physical and emotional injuries. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 5,265 boating accidents occurred in 2020, resulting in over 3,000 injuries and 767 deaths. The numbers were higher last year due to the pandemic and will potentially increase this year as well, with everyone itching to get outside and see their friends and loved ones. For this reason, it’s more important now than ever to use good judgment and take extra care to keep safe while cruising the water this summer. 

Using human power rather than gas to get around makes a lot of sense, especially in Gainesville and Ocala where the weather is great for biking. Safety is a big concern, though, even in the quietest neighborhoods.

When a vehicle strikes a biker, there is nothing between the biker and the road, and the risk of serious injury is very high. When biking it’s always best to buddy up, and bike with a friend. Let others know where you are going, and what route you plan to take.