http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/ Chalik & Chalik Blog en-us 2012 Chalik & Chalik, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/ Thu, 17 May 2012 04:48:03 GMT http://www.chaliklaw.com/images/logoprint.gif http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/ About 12 people each day have lost their lives in pedestrian motor vehicle accidents in 2010 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This increase in pedestrian injuries and deaths has caused our Fort Myers auto accident lawyers to take a closer look at the responsibilities of drivers and pedestrians alike. 

Pedestrian Responsibilities Include:

• Look both ways before crossing the street.
• Cross only in crosswalks.
• Don’t cross the street when there is a red light for traffic traveling in the same direction.
• Cross the street by following traffic signals.
• Walk on the sidewalks in and around traffic.
• Increase visibility by wearing bright, reflective clothing and carry a flashlight when walking at night.

Motor Vehicle Driver Responsibilities Include:

• Drivers have to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing in crosswalks.
• Drivers need to look both ways before turning onto a street to avoid colliding into a pedestrian. 
• Drivers need to exit parking lots slowly and carefully, looking for pedestrians on sidewalks.
• Drivers always need to follow traffic signals and not run red lights.
• Drivers should not drive drunk or drugged.

If both drivers and pedestrians keep these tips in mind, then pedestrians will be a lot safer sharing the streets with motor vehicles.

If you or a loved one was injured in a pedestrian motor vehicle accident in Fort Myers, please call the Law Offices of Chalik & Chalik for a free, no-obligation consultation with our experienced Fort Myers auto accident lawyers at (888) 539-5297 and start seeking justice today.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/fort%2Dmyers%2Daccident%2Dlawyers%2Dreview%2Dpedestrian%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-81110 Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT When purchasing a used vehicle, a prospective buyer needs to not only be concerned with the engine, transmission, and the other components under the hood, but also with the tires on the vehicle. 

Tires are often exposed to heat and pollutants. If antiozonants or antioxidants are not applied during the manufacturing process, the tires can have side effects from atmospheric ozone and ultraviolet light. This causes ozone cracking in tires, also known as weather cracking.

Cracks in tires should not be taken lightly. Some cracks are simply minor small lines in the sidewall of the tires, but other cracks are deep or cause a web of fine lines. When inspecting a car for purchase, also inspect the tires. Things you will want to find out include:

• How long the tires have been sitting on the car
• If the tires have been driven much 
• How old the tires are
• What type of treatment has been used on the tires for cleaning

Cracking in tires over time can sometimes be caused by excessive tire cleaning, lack of use, and under inflation. If the tires are showing signs of cracking, you will most likely want to purchase a new set of tires if you are planning on buying the car. It is always wise to have a technician inspect a used car before purchasing one. This is especially true for used tires, since you don’t know the full history behind them. 

If your tire blew out and you believe it was due to no fault of your own, please call the Law Offices of Chalik & Chalik to speak with a qualified Florida tire lawyer at (888) 539-5297 in a free consultation today, and find out if you have a tire defect case that you may be able to get compensated for.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/florida%2Dtire%2Dlawyer%2Dwarns%2Dof%2Dozone%2Dcracking%2Dwhen%2Dbuying%2Da%2Dused%2Dvehicle%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-81109 Fri, 11 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT When a mother hears that her newborn baby suffered a birth injury, she is often not prepared for this news and doesn’t know much about birth injuries. So, when a mother hears the terms Erb’s palsy and shoulder dystocia used after her baby is born, she needs to understand the connections between the two birth injuries.

Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulder gets caught behind the mother’s pubic bone in the birth canal. This is often a scary situation, as doctors and nurses have to act fast and perform maneuvers correctly to get the baby unstuck. This situation can quickly become dangerous if a doctor uses too much force on the baby, causing injuries to the brachial plexus nerves located near the shoulder. Shoulder dystocia injuries can range from mild to severe.

Erb’s palsy is the term used to describe a similar injury. If the brachial plexus nerves are torn or severed at the shoulder and neck during childbirth, then Erb’s palsy can result. This injury is more significant, as the baby may only be able to minimally move - or in some cases not move - its arm due to the significant nerve damage.

Both shoulder dystocia and Erb’s palsy are birth injuries in Florida that are directly caused from excessive force being placed on the infant’s body during childbirth. Both injuries are considered a brachial plexus injury, which may result in lifelong disabilities.

If your child was diagnosed with shoulder dystocia, brachial nerve injury, or Erb’s palsy in Florida, call a knowledgeable Fort Myers Erb’s palsy lawyer at Chalik & Chalik today to learn how to protect your interests and seek justice for the wrong your family suffered. Call us today for a free consultation at (888) 539-5297, and make sure you and your child get compensated fully for your past and future medical bills, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and more.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/the%2Dconnection%2Dbetween%2Derb%2Ds%2Dpalsy%2Dand%2Dshoulder%2Ddystocia%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-80407 Wed, 02 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT Following your Florida construction work accident and injury, you may assume that your employer will be there for you. After all, you have been a loyal employee and worker for years, and you know that your direct boss values the work you do. Although this may be true, you need to understand one thing – your employer and their insurance company are looking at their bottom line. 

Companies are in business to make money and not give money away. Unfortunately, for you that may mean that they are looking out for their best interest and not yours. Sadly, your employer’s insurance company will do everything in their power to limit the amount of compensation you receive. 

It is hard not to take this personally, as you were a good employee who doesn’t deserve to be treated like this. This is why you need a neutral third party to get involved on your behalf. By hiring a skilled work injury attorney, you will be able to increase the size of your Florida workers’ compensation claim and the financial recovery you should expect to see for your medical expenses, lost income, future lost earnings, and instances of pain and suffering. 

If you have suffered a serious injury at work, the injury has already majorly impacted your life. Don’t let it also impact your wallet. You need to make sure you have someone in your corner fighting for your rights to compensation. Lawyers skilled in workers’ compensation will know how to negotiate with the insurance company and know how to build you a strong case to help get you the compensation you deserve.

To protect your interests after a South Florida work accident, call an experienced Fort Myers work injury lawyer at Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation of your case today. 
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/what%2Dyour%2Dfort%2Dmyers%2Dwork%2Dinjury%2Dmeans%2Dto%2Dyour%2Demployer%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-79470 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT It doesn’t seem fair. Why did your baby suffer cerebral palsy? Why your family?  Sadly, there are some things in life that go unanswered and just don’t make sense. Although we know why this Florida birth injury occurred – due to negligent doctors – it still doesn’t make you feel any better. 

Many parents of children who have suffered cerebral palsy are stuck on why this occurred to their child. Although this is a perfectly normal reaction to have, parents need to make sure they grieve, but then learn to focus on the “what can we do now” stage.

Because cerebral palsy occurs due to a doctor not acting efficiently, not making the correct calls during childbirth, or delaying a C-section, a baby can go too long without oxygen and suffer brain damage. Unfortunately, nothing a parent can do will rewind the clock and take the birth injury away. 

After a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis, parents need to focus on the following things:

• Request the medical records and charts from the hospital. Collect any documents related to your labor and delivery, even medical charts from your pregnancy checkups leading up to childbirth.
• If you have a video, watch the childbirth to see if you can see where the doctor delayed the birth of your son or daughter.

• Contact a Fort Myers birth injury lawyer at Chalik & Chalik to investigate your case.
• File a medical malpractice claim in Florida to obtain financial compensation for your family’s medical bills, ongoing medical care, therapy, pain and suffering, and more.

At Chalik & Chalik, we understand that the reality of your child’s birth injury has forever changed your family, and we want to help you seek justice and get the compensation your family deserves. Call us for a free consultation today at (888) 539-5297.


Link: new library article 10 not yet uploaded “If Your Newborn Suffers Cerebral Palsy, a Fort Myers Birth Injury Lawyer Explains What to Do Next”
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/fort%2Dmyers%2Dbirth%2Dinjury%2Dlawyer%2Dparents%2Dand%2Dcerebral%2Dpalsy%2Ddiagnosis%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-79469 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT The history of child seats and why they have become so important for the safety of your children is critical to review. It wasn’t until 1971 that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) required a car seat secured by a seat belt as the first child restraint system.

Since then, things have come a long way. By 1999, new car seats were introduced, and there were new standards for child restraint systems. Child seats have been designed to protect the brain and spinal cord of a child during a South Florida crash. Seats are manufactured to absorb the shock of an impact, and they are designed to cradle an infant properly and position older children correctly to minimize injuries in the event of a wreck. 

In the last decade, car manufacturers started equipping vehicles with tethers and latch systems to make it easier for parents to attach the car seat into the car securely. Through the years, child safety has continued to be a priority due to the fact that car crashes in Florida and throughout this nation are the number one killer of small children.   

Those who still believe that babies should still be allowed to be taken home from the hospital in someone’s arms should look at these facts:

• Proper restraint use saved 244 children ages four and younger in 2008.
• Child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.
• Booster seats reduce the risk of injury by 59% for children ages four to seven. 

Sadly, thousands of children die every year in motor vehicle crashes, and thousands more are injured because children are not buckled in to the appropriate safety seats or their seats are not secured correctly to the vehicle. 

If your child has been injured in a car crash due to the fault of someone else, please call the Law Offices of Chalik & Chalik today to speak with a Fort Myers car wreck lawyer at (888) 539-5297 in a free consultation.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/fort%2Dmyers%2Daccident%2Dlawyer%2Dlooks%2Dat%2Dthe%2Dhistory%2Dof%2Dchild%2Dsafety%2Dseats%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-79468 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT After a devastating work accident leaves you with a limb amputation, adjusting to your new reality can be extremely challenging. If you have to rely on someone else to feed you, bathe you or take care of you, you may be angry, frustrated, and overwhelmed - to say the least. Additionally, you may not be able to return to work or make the income you once had. 

The new realization of your Palm Beach work accident has left you in a state of shock, and you are dealing with complex feelings and thoughts. You may be angry at the world, including your employer, coworkers, doctors, and even the ones you love. 

Although it is normal to feel angry and frustrated when dealing with a debilitating lifelong injury, it is also important to make sure the anger does not take over your life. 

Your spouse, parents, child, or other loved ones may want to help you recover and be there for you in any way possible. Make sure you separate your feelings and don’t transfer your anger onto them just because they are the ones around you. 

If you need help adjusting after an amputation injury leaves you angry, try these tips:

• Talk to the ones you love, and express your feelings of frustration and anger.
• Talk with a professional therapist to help you recover emotionally.
• Talk to other amputees for support.
• Write out your feelings in a journal.

It is also important to seek justice to help you heal emotionally. For more information, call an experienced Palm Beach work injury lawyer at Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation of your case today.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/angry%2Dafter%2Dan%2Damputation%2Dinjury%2Dpalm%2Dbeach%2Dwork%2Dinjury%2Dlawyer%2Ds%2Dtips%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-79083 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT The constant busy schedule that many Americans keep is one of the leading reasons why so many drivers eat behind the wheel. Many drivers do not realize that eating at the wheel is considered distracted driving, but it is. 

The government reports that distracted driving causes 80% of accidents, according to a news report from MSNBC. This includes texting while driving, talking on cell phones, changing the radio, and even eating and drinking while driving. 

Although the majority of states have banned texting while driving, there are no laws against eating behind the wheel, and the Department of Transportation says that it can be just as dangerous. 

If people would realize that getting into the driver’s seat of their car is a serious obligation, then maybe they wouldn’t eat, talk on their phone, or text and drive. The role of a driver is to get from one place to another safely, and eating can be done once a driver reaches his or her destination. 

If you have been injured in a Fort Myers car accident caused by a distracted driver, then you may have rights to a financial recovery for your medical bills, lost wages, future loss of income, instances of pain and suffering, and more. 

For help making a just recovery, call an experienced Fort Myers accident attorney at Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation of your case and a free copy of our book Dealing with the Aftermath: 7 Mistakes to Avoid Following a Florida Accident.

]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/a%2Dfort%2Dmyers%2Daccident%2Dattorney%2Dwarns%2Ddrivers%2Dof%2Deating%2Dat%2Dthe%2Dwheel%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-78641 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT Many manufacturers have been held accountable over the years for their defective products that have caused injuries. Although every injury that could have been avoidable is a serious matter, child injuries are some of the worst injuries that occur due to defective products. One example of this is when a defective crib has been released into the market.

Although manufacturers are supposed to make sure their products (such as cribs) are safe before being sold in stores, some companies cut corners, fail to do the proper testing, or have a defect in manufacturing or design.

When a crib is poorly designed or manufactured, serious injuries could occur, including:

• Cuts and lacerations
• Bumps and bruises
• Fall injuries
• Broken bones
• Head injuries
• Suffocation
• Strangulation
• Death

Sadly, there have been many infant deaths that have been caused because the proper materials in a crib weren’t used, the design was defective, or the manufacturing was faulty. Because too many child injuries or fatalities have occurred through the years due to defective cribs, parents need to be aware of the below crib design elements for the safety of their children:

• Stability – It is important to make sure the crib is stable so that the crib will not collapse when the infant is in it.
• Missing parts – It is critical that the crib not have missing slats or other parts so that a child cannot get trapped between the slats.
• Mattress – The mattress in the crib should be tight-fitting so that the child cannot get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib.

If you believe a manufacturer is guilty of producing a defective product in Florida, please call a Fort Myers personal injury lawyer at Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a free consultation today and find out if you can hold the company liable for the injuries your child suffered. 
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/fort%2Dmyers%2Dpersonal%2Dinjury%2Dlawyer%2Dwarns%2Dof%2Ddefective%2Dcribs%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-77973 Sat, 07 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT The majority of car wrecks in Palm Beach and throughout Florida are caused by the carelessness or negligence of drivers. When drivers make bad decisions or are distracted at the wheel, they can cause serious accidents and injuries. 

Automobile manufacturers have to try to minimize the harm caused to drivers and passengers involved in a car accident. This is the case even if the wreck was the cause of someone’s bad actions, such as:

• Speeding
• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Failure to obey traffic signals 
• Participation in distracted driving and texting while driving

When a driver causes an accident due to one of those actions, it is the job of the automobile manufacturer to make sure the car is as safe as possible in the event of a side impact, rear-end crash, or head-on collision. 

Automobile manufacturers have done a great job over the years improving crumple zones and introducing safety features like airbags and energy-absorbing materials. And automobile safety ratings over the last several years have shown a significant improvement. However, some Palm Beach accidents are caused by conditions beyond the control of the driver, as there are sometimes vehicle defects in manufacturing or design.

If you believe your car accident was the result of a defective tire or other mechanical defect, you may have a claim against the automobile manufacturer. Call a skilled Palm Beach car wreck attorney at the law offices of Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation of your case and a free copy of our book Dealing with the Aftermath: 7 Mistakes to Avoid Following a Florida Accident.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/a%2Dpalm%2Dbeach%2Dcar%2Dwreck%2Dattorney%2Ddiscusses%2Dautomobile%2Dsafety%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-78640 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT Although Florida’s texting while driving ban did not become law this legislative session, there is no denying that the dangers of texting while driving exist and have caused many South Florida car accidents and crashes throughout this nation. 

The danger is especially real for teenagers and those sharing the road with teen drivers, as many teenagers are glued to their cell phones and text messages even while driving. Sadly, many drivers of all ages continue to text and drive, even though they know their distracted driving can cause a Fort Myers accident. 

Because teenagers are one of the main groups of drivers that have a high percentage of texting and driving accidents, many parents are rightfully concerned. Now, there may be an answer for concerned parents hoping to prevent accidents involving their teens due to texting and driving.

The Answer is New Technology 

Mike Watkins, a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientist, created a new technology that tracks a person’s texting patterns. This technology is so advanced that it can tell if a person is normally texting or if they are texting as a driver or passenger. 

This technology has not been made into software yet. However, in the foreseeable future, parents may be able to purchase this as a phone app to make sure their teen drivers are not participating in texting while driving. Additionally, this technology may be able to help reduce distracted driving accidents in Florida as a whole. 

If you have been injured by a distracted driver in a Fort Myers car accident, please call a skilled Fort Myers car crash lawyer at Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation of your case and a free copy of our book Dealing with the Aftermath: 7 Mistakes to Avoid Following a Florida Accident.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/can%2Dnew%2Dtechnology%2Dstop%2Dfort%2Dmyers%2Ddrivers%2Dfrom%2Dtexting%2Dand%2Ddriving%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-78639 Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT Certain Goodyear tires that have been designed for trucks, vans, and SUVs are being recalled due to safety concerns. Goodyear announced their tire recall recently due to concerns over tread separation issues. 

The tires being recalled include six versions of the Wrangler Silent Armor. The company announced that the tread could separate from the rest of the rubber and cause tire failure and accidents in South Florida and throughout this nation. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has indicated that this separation issue generally occurs under “severe usage conditions.” 

The tires being recalled were made in 2009, and the recall affects about 40,000 tires; however, the company believes about 27,000 are still in service. Goodyear will start notifying customers by March 22, 2012, that they will replace the recalled tires with new tires for free.

When a tire fails, it can cause a driver to experience decreased handling, lose control of the car, and crash. Rollover accidents sometimes occur as a result, as well. It has been reported that two people traveling in a car with Wrangler tires have died in a rollover crash due to a tire failure last year.

Although the company’s spokesman Scott Baughman said the cause of that crash was most likely worn out tires that were subjected to extreme use, the tires are still being recalled. These types of tires were meant for off-roading and use at construction sites. 

To find out if your tires have been recalled, you can visit NHTSA’s website or call the hotline at 1-888-327-4236. 

If you believe your South Florida accident was caused due to a tire defect, you need to talk with a skilled Fort Myers accident attorney to find out your rights. Please call Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation of your case and a free copy of our book Dealing with the Aftermath: 7 Mistakes to Avoid Following a Florida Accident.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/fort%2Dmyers%2Daccident%2Dattorney%2Dannounces%2Drecent%2Dgoodyear%2Dtire%2Drecall%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-77972 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT Although a Florida fall accident may seem pretty straight forward, slip and fall injury cases can be very complex because the injured party is trying to prove that the property owner is liable due to their carelessness and negligent property maintenance actions. 

When an injured person wants to hold the property owner or business responsible for injuries that occurred on the property, the injured party will need to file a premises liability claim against the owner.

If the case goes to court, a judge and jury will look at all the details to determine which party was careless. Although courts will agree that property owners have a duty to take care of their property and keep it safe - especially stores that invite shoppers onto their premises - they also will recognize that sometimes people are clumsy or are distracted and simply fall due to no fault of the property owner. 

This is why the injured party must prove that the property owner created the hazard, knew about the dangerous condition, and either did nothing to correct it or should have known about the dangerous condition. 

When trying to prove negligence in a slip and fall accident in South Florida, it is critical to have an experienced slip and fall lawyer who has had success in premises liability cases previously. For help determining if you have a case and to find out more about your rights, please call the Law Offices of Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 to schedule a free consultation with a skilled Fort Myers personal injury lawyer today.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/fort%2Dmyers%2Dpersonal%2Dinjury%2Dlawyer%2Don%2Dcomplex%2Dslip%2Dand%2Dfall%2Dcases%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-77580 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT As Fort Myers personal injury attorneys, we have represented victims of premises liability accidents in Florida for a number of injuries. While head injuries can be some of the most serious injuries that victims of falls may suffer from, joint injuries are often the most common.

Shoulder injuries from slip and fall accidents in South Florida seem to be a common injury. Although common, this injury should not to be ignored. Victims who suffer shoulder injuries in slips and falls still need to pursue compensation from the negligent party or property owner. Victims will need compensation for their medical bills, physical therapy, lost wages, and more. 

When falls cause shoulder injuries, such as injured ligaments, shoulder dislocation, shoulder separation, or broken bones in the shoulder area, physical therapy or surgery may be needed to repair the injured area. Shoulder injuries can be quite painful, and bruising and swelling can develop soon after the injury. These injuries cause victims to not be able to care for themselves, drive, or work while they are healing. 

Shoulders aren’t the only joints that are injured in fall accidents. Elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles are all common joint injuries people suffer in slip and fall accidents. 

If you suffered a joint injury because you fell on someone else’s property due to a hazard, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. For more information, please call a Fort Myers personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 to discuss your potential premises liability case in a free confidential consultation.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/fort%2Dmyers%2Dpersonal%2Dinjury%2Dattorney%2Dhelps%2Dvictims%2Dof%2Djoint%2Dinjuries%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-77578 Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT When you go into a restaurant, have you noticed that employees are busy walking speedily back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room? Food servers are trained to get the drinks and food out to their customers as fast as possible. Because of this, they often walk very fast. 

Walking fast is a good thing for customers, as they will get their food and drinks quickly; however, walking fast may be a hazard for the employee if there is a dangerous floor condition that could cause a slip and fall accident in Florida to occur. 

Slip and fall accidents happen every day across this nation. They occur due to uneven flooring, broken stairs, cracks in the floor, and spilled liquids. Workers at restaurants are often at risk for slip and fall accidents in South Florida due to spilled beverages, water, or oil on the floor. The types of people often affected by these hazards include:

• Food servers (waiters and waitresses)
• Busboys
• Food runners
• Food preparation workers
• Cocktail servers
• Bartenders

When restaurant employees fall due to hazards on the floor that have not been handled properly, they may break a leg or suffer back and hip injuries, ligament injuries, head trauma, and more. Restaurant workers need a healthy body to return to work and make money. If they are hurt due to the negligence of another, they may be entitled to compensation. 

However, it can be difficult to prove negligence in slip and fall accidents. For help establishing liability in a slip and fall accident, please call a skilled Fort Myers personal injury lawyer at Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a free consultation.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/restaurant%2Demployees%2Dat%2Dhigh%2Drisk%2Dfor%2Dflorida%2Dfalls%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-77577 Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT We have all seen a group of teenagers piling into someone’s car to go grab some food or go to a high school football game. Although this seems innocent, it is actually unsafe. The risk for fatal Florida crashes involving teen drivers increases with other teen passengers in the car.  

According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, crash risks increase by 200 percent when there are three teenage passengers in a car driven by another teenager. Teen drivers may also be at risk with just one other teen passenger in the car with them.

So how can parents tell if their teens are transporting other teens?
Although parents can talk to their teen drivers about the safety concern of driving with other teenagers and set rules ahead of time, it may be impossible to know what teens are doing every time they are behind the wheel.

There are operators who will follow, film, and capture teenage drivers at a discreet distance and report back to parents for a price. However, short of hiring someone to follow your teen, you may not know for certain if your teenager is transporting other teens.

There are other technologies that may soothe parents’ concerns regarding their teens’ safety, including devices that will set top speed limits, limit audio volume, and block incoming phone and text messages while driving.

Although parents may not be able to control every move and decision their teenage drivers make, they can help their children seek damages if another driver was to blame for their crash.  If your teenager was injured in a Fort Lauderdale car crash, your family may have rights to a recovery. Find out more from a skilled Fort Lauderdale car accident lawsuit lawyer. Call Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/fort%2Dlauderdale%2Dcar%2Daccident%2Dlawsuit%2Dlawyer%2Ddiscusses%2Ddangers%2Dof%2Dteens%2Ddriving%2Dwith%2Dteenage%2Dpass%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-76981 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT Goodyear, Bridgestone, Michelin, Dunlop, Pirelli, and other tire companies are responsible for designing and manufacturing tires for vehicles. These companies have a responsibility to design the tire correctly, make the tire with good materials, and make sure each layer of the tire is placed precisely on top of the other layer for optimal safety.

Because a tire is made up of many components, each layer needs to be placed accurately in the process. When the inner layer, polyester covering, steel belts, and tire tread are not put together correctly during the tire manufacturing process, air can get trapped inside any of the components. When this happens, tread belt separation can occur and cause a driver to lose control of the car or cause a tire to blowout and a rollover to occur due to defective tires.

When companies take shortcuts, use poor materials, or improperly manufacturer a tire, tire defects can occur and lead to serious South Florida car accidents and injuries. 

When a Fort Lauderdale accident leaves you with broken bones, back and neck injuries, head trauma, spinal cord injury, or other serious injuries, you need to seek compensation from the tire manufacturer responsible.

As experienced Fort Lauderdale accident lawyers, we know how to hold tire manufacturers liable for the injuries you suffered. Don’t attempt to pursue cases of this nature alone. You will need someone on your side to stand up to the large tire manufacturer. Call Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation and a free copy of our book Dealing with the Aftermath: 7 Mistakes to Avoid Following a Florida Accident.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/hold%2Dtire%2Dcompanies%2Dliable%2Dwith%2Dhelp%2Dfrom%2Dflorida%2Daccident%2Dlawyers%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-76816 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT We have all seen drivers on the road, honking their horns, giving vulgar gestures to other drivers, screaming, and looking utterly miserable and mad behind the wheel. This type of behavior is generally considered aggressive driving and can lead to a Fort Lauderdale car accident.

What should you do if you come in contact with an aggressive driver?
It is important to learn the signs of an aggressive driver, including:

• Flashing headlights
• Frequent honking
• Hand gestures
• Tailgating
• Swerving in and out of lanes

If you determine that you are sharing the road with an aggressive driver, try not to let your emotions get the best of you. Although drivers who participate in these poor actions are hard to ignore, try to avoid making eye contact, hand gestures, or anything else that would anger the driver or cause a bad reaction from that driver. 

Additionally, it is important that you get out of the way, if it is safe to do so. Do not brake suddenly to teach that driver a lesson. Doing so may only anger that driver or cause a South Florida car crash. If you feel threatened, call the local authorities and report the aggressive driver to police. 

If an aggressive driver’s negligence caused your collision and injuries, call a skilled Fort Lauderdale car accident lawsuit attorney at Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation and a free copy of our book Dealing with the Aftermath: 7 Mistakes to Avoid Following a Florida Accident.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/do%2Dyou%2Dknow%2Dhow%2Dto%2Dreact%2Dto%2Dan%2Daggressive%2Ddriver%2Dget%2Dtips%2Dfrom%2Da%2Dfort%2Dlauderdale%2Dcar%2Daccident%2Dl%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-76980 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT Inevitably, parents have to drive their children around in the car. While children may sometimes sleep in the car, there are other times in which they scream, fight, cry, or need something from the parent who is driving the car – making for a dangerous situation. 

If you are a parent, you understand how easy it is to take your mind off driving and turn your attention onto your kids in the back seat. This action, however, can lead to South Florida car crash. 

In order to help keep your children from distracting you, the driver, you need to do the following five things:

• Establish rules in the car – If your children can understand you, tell them that you will not turn around to attend to them in the car and that you will get them what they need when you get to the destination. Explain to them the dangers of distracted driving.
• Plan and prepare – Before driving away, make sure your children have what they need within reach.
• Don’t allow your kids to eat in the car - They may choke or spill, which will cause you to become distracted and concerned.
• Distract your children – Children may not distract you if they are distracted with a movie or a toy.
• Pull over if necessary – Sometimes an emergency may occur. You should pull over instead of reaching and looking into the back seat while driving. 

Children often cause parents to take their eyes and attention off the road, which can lead to a Fort Lauderdale car crash.  

If you were injured in an accident due to a distracted driver, call the skilled Fort Lauderdale car crash attorneys with Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a free, no-obligation discussion of your case today.




]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/5%2Dtips%2Dfor%2Dparents%2Dto%2Dminimize%2Ddistracted%2Ddriving%2Din%2Dfort%2Dlauderdale%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-76815 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT Are Florida seniors at higher risk for fatal crashes? Yes, according to a new TRIP study that revealed the Sunshine State accounted for the most seniors killed in traffic accidents in 2010.  

Although these crashes were fatal, many of them occurred on city streets and not at highway speeds. This is because many elderly drivers avoid driving on interstates or highways. Because of this, side impact crashes tend to be an older driver’s crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Side Impact Crashes Involving Seniors

Most elderly drivers are aware that they don’t feel as comfortable behind the wheel as they once did. This if often due to the normal aging process, but could also be magnified with medical problems and medication. Additionally, eyesight often fades with age.

Because of these issues, seniors sometimes miss a stop sign or make a turn in front of an oncoming car because they don’t realize how fast the other car is approaching. These behaviors often lead to side impact crashes in Florida and serious injuries for the seniors, as well as to other innocent motorists involved in these types of crashes. 

Although Florida requires elderly drivers 80 years old and older to pass a vision test, about 7 percent don’t pass and another 20 percent don’t take it because they know they will fail, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 

Some analysts are urging communities to request safer traffic signs and better roadways, but others believe seniors need to turn to alternate forms of transportation. 

If you or someone you love has been injured in a South Florida car crash due to another’s negligence, you may have rights to pursue financial compensation. Call our knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale car crash lawyers at Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 for a complimentary consultation today.
]]> http://www.chaliklaw.com/blog/fort%2Dlauderdale%2Dcar%2Dcrash%2Dlawyers%2Ddiscuss%2Dsenior%2Dside%2Dimpact%2Dcrashes%2Ecfm www.chaliklaw.com-76813 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT