Monday begins a new school year for Polk County children. This time of year is filled with excitement and full shopping carts as parents furiously attempt to fulfill all of the supply list requirements and last-minute back-to-school tasks. It’s also the time that school buses start preparing to transport children to and from school. And…

After you or a loved one have been in an accident with a semi truck or other large vehicle you will experience many emotions: fear, sadness, anger, and many more. But what should you do to best help your personal injury or wrongful death case? The following is a checklist to help you begin this…

Nobody likes to hear the word “Brain Injury.” Brain Injuries are one of the scariest types of injuries known to man. One of the latest personal injury settlements in Polk County, Florida was for a gentleman who suffered from a brain injury. He received a 5 million dollar settlement. 5 million dollars is a lot…

One of the most common questions we are asked is “How much is my case worth?” Even though, Attorneys’ may use similar methods of analysis to help determine the value of your case, they also do extensive research. The two primary factors in determining case value: Injuries – Your injuries are going to be the…

Everyone knows drinking and driving is a bad idea. The statistics indicating just how bad an idea it is are startling: according to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 30 people die in this country from car crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver every day. Put another way, one person dies from car crashes involving alcohol…

Depression and anxiety plague many. While these afflictions can be debilitating, many find comfort—and sometimes simply the ability to function—in antidepressant medication. Paxil and Prozac are two antidepressant medications in a commonly-prescribed class known as SSRIs, or Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors. It is not known conclusively how depression begins; however, some experts believe that depression…

Mediation is an informal, confidential, non-adversarial negotiation process that is used to resolve disputes. Mediation is conducted by a neutral third party called a mediator. The mediator’s objective is to help the parties come to a mutually acceptable agreement, referred to as a settlement, to resolve their case. Often, mediation carries an informal atmosphere, which…

Wrongful deaths are a tragic and devastating time for families who have lost a love one due to personal injury. In the year 2014, there were over 32,000 fatalities as a result of auto accidents, and nearly 14,000 people lost their life while on the job. During this tragic and devastating time, families are often…

Out of the two million people that die each year in the United States, over 32,000 people die as a result of an auto accident, and nearly 5,000 of those people who die as a result of an auto accident, were in an accident involving a semi-truck. Two million semis operate in the U.S., all…

Driving a motorcycle provides a sensory experience that can allow one to feel footloose and fancy free. Feeling the wind blowing on one’s skin, the open road beneath one’s feet, taking in the sights and smells—there’s just nothing like it. As fun as riding a motorcycle can be, however, it is also risky. Motorcycles have…

In the United States, nearly 5 million people are involved in an auto accident each year. More than 200,000 of those auto accidents happen in Florida. That’s around 555 accidents just in the state of Florida, a day! If you live in the state of Florida and have a valid Florida license plate, you are…

For many Florida families, the arrival of summer means one thing: pool time. Indeed, there’s no better way to beat the heat than to jump in a pool of cool water, and owning a pool is a fun privilege. However, with privilege comes great responsibility. Pool owners may face liability when accidents occur, so due…

The arrival of a new baby brings so much joy, and the necessity for buying so many baby-related products. New parents naturally only want what is the best for baby, so choosing the safest products is a top concern. Strollers and carriages top the list of essential baby items that must be safe to ensure…

Last month Attorney Stephen K. Brooks and motorcycle riding trainer, Joe Strohmier came together to release their book, “Florida Motorcycle Accidents.” The book contains useful tips on riding in tumultuous weather, fix-it yourself advice, and information regarding motorcycle insurance. The pre-ordering of the book hit the market on Amazon right on time for Motorcycle Awareness…

It’s no secret that Americans love their dogs. As of 2012, approximately 78.2 million pet dogs resided in United States homes. Of those, approximately 11.15 million lived in Florida, according to the Florida Bar Journal. It’s certainly no wonder why: dogs can bring their owners happiness, companionship, and services. They can help lift their owners…

Hurricane Season is upon us for 2015 and according to NOAA this season will be relatively minimal for Florida in occurrences. However, many Floridians know that being prepared saves time, money and even lives. We have already experienced the summer storms with strong wind and fast lightning and those storms are cause enough for us…

For many, being a race car instructor at Walt Disney World sounds like a dream job: help the Monday through Friday minivan crowd act out their racecar-driving fantasy at the most famed theme park in the world. As a customer, being able to get behind the wheel of one of those powerful vehicles is an…

Memorial Day marked the beginning of summer for many people across the Nation. The holiday was also marked with some new facts circulating about summer time driving accidents. A study performed by AAA reveals information that shows why the season of summer is the most risky of all: Teenagers. They are free from school, finally…

It has been almost one year since the deadly accident that killed Wiley Clark occurred. Perhaps you never heard of him but Mr. Clark is an important example of what Wrongful Death means. Mr. Clark was a retired investigator for the Bradford County State Attorney’s office and was going out for breakfast one Sunday morning…

A slip and fall case is a lawsuit used to recover compensation for injuries sustained in an accident that occurred from allegedly unsafe conditions on a business property. In Florida, the law requires that owners or managers of businesses maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. If they fail to do so, and persons…

Picking an insurance plan can be confusing and overwhelming. Many people trust the agents to do the footwork in comparing rates and coverages. Depending on your lifestyle and needs, it is usually a good idea for you to ensure the coverage is in your best interest or to prepare a list of necessities for the…

What should have been routine train trip through the Washington-New York corridor the Tuesday night before last turned into a night of horror for the 238 passengers and 5 crew of Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188. According to passengers, the initially uneventful journey quickly turned to catastrophe when luggage, electronics and even people started flying…

We all know the importance of checking twice for motorcycles. The need to be absolutely certain that there is not a quiet easy rider cruising in your blind spot before you change lanes is crucial. But, we often see motorcyclists driving irrationally in traffic. This weekend there were two fatalities on busy roads in the…

A peculiar amount of wrong way accidents have occurred across the greater Tampa Bay region last month. On April 21, there were two wrong way accidents within one hour of each other and only 7 miles apart. The driver of the first incident was arrested for a DUI, luckily no one was injured as he…