St. Petersburg 4th Street Bridge is FINALLY Open! Will We See Fewer Car Accidents in Tampa Bay?

Everyone in Tampa Bay dreads the traffic that comes along with the Interstate 275 interchanges. If you’ve been anywhere near 4th Street in St. Petersburg, you know construction has been ongoing for the last two years and car accidents are a frequent occurrence. We’re excited to announce, the 4th Street Bridge is FINALLY open.  Starting…

Move Over! Florida Senate Approves the Left Lane Passing Bill

If you surveyed drivers in Tampa Bay about their biggest pet peeves about the area, we know one of the top answers would be: THE TRAFFIC!  In recent years, traffic in and around Tampa and Central Florida has only continued to get worse. Due to the influx of new business, people moving to the area,…

Gone Too Soon: Losing Young People on Our Local Roads Has to Stop

If you knew something was taking the lives of young people, you would do something to stop it. No one wants to see our children or teens taken from their families and friends. Yet, this is happening on our local roads on an almost monthly basis. The Tampa Bay area has been rife with traffic-related…

America’s Deadliest Highway Runs Right Into Tampa Bay – Big Changes on Interstate 4

If you’ve lived in Central Florida for any length of time, chances are you’ve driven on Interstate 4. I-4 is a major thoroughfare of the Sunshine State, spanning 132 miles from Daytona Beach to the Interstate 275 interchange in Tampa. The highway runs right through the heart of Orlando, making it a huge part of…

Holiday Shopping in Tampa: How New “Slip Ramps” Are Easing Traffic on Selmon Expressway

Thanksgiving is over and it’s time to shift into Christmas gear! In Tampa, you know it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas when packed highways are the norm long after regular commute hours, and weekend driving is nightmarish. Because we provide a huge selection of both big box stores and local boutiques and businesses,…

“DASH” Across Tampa: New Rideshare Service Will Make Transportation Easier for Students!

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, you know we frequently write on safety surrounding the use of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. These services are a huge part of transportation in Tampa, as they offer both local residents and tourists flying into Tampa International Airport a low-stress way to get to…

¡Notable victoria en juicio para un cliente de habla hispana con Brooks Law Group!

¡Estamos encantados de anunciar una notable victoria en el juicio de nuestros clientes, gracias al arduo trabajo y la dedicación de una de las abogadas litigantes de Brooks Law Group, Amy Smith! Uno de los problemas en este juicio involucró la barrera del idioma de un cliente de habla hispana. Las barreras del idioma pueden…

Change Isn’t Always Positive: The Advancement of HB 837

Friday marked the advancement of HB 837 ( the “Tort Reform” bill) following six weeks of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee preparing for the annual legislative session, and attorneys across Florida are concerned with what could be coming in Florida law. The bill received bipartisan opposition, as well as public opposition, due to it being seen…

Notable Trial Victory for Brooks Law Group!

We are thrilled to announce a notable trial victory for our clients, thanks to the hard work and dedication of one of Brooks Law Group’s trial attorneys, Amy Smith! One of the issues in this trial involved the language barrier of a Spanish speaking client. Language barriers can cause emotions and truths to get lost…

Benefits Guide for Florida’s Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Victims

Here is our long-awaited benefits guide for Florida’s Camp Lejeune water contamination victims. Camp Lejeune, NC has been highlighted a lot in the last year, and it has all been because of the ongoing lawsuit against them regarding past water contamination, and hundreds (maybe thousands?) of individuals and families impacted by it. The lawsuit was launched…

February Is National Heart Health Month!

Love is in the air! Red hearts, Hallmark cards, and boxes of candy are everywhere you turn here in Winter Haven, and it’s easy to see that Valentine’s Day is coming up fast. This popular holiday for couples (and in today’s world, for friends too!) often includes delicious dinners and sweet treats. However, while Valentine’s Day…

Know The Signs: What Camp Lejeune Victims Are Saying About Their Health

Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between 1953 – 1987? Did you or a family member live on base or work an on-site contracted position during that time period? The recently passed PACT Act could apply to you. Over the years since 1987, the truth about the water at Camp Lejeune has come out, and many veterans,…

What Was in The Water? 4 Dangerous Toxins Found at Camp Lejeune

By now, most people have heard about the toxic substances in the water at Camp Lejeune, and of the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination lawsuit. If you haven’t, you can read more about it on our blog, or you can learn more here on the Brooks site. While there are many discussions about the situation, the legal…

The 10th Annual Turkey Giveaway Was A Success

Last Saturday, November 19th, we were thrilled to hold our Turkey Giveaway for the 10th year! This year we partnered with other local organizations to provide Thanksgiving turkeys and many of the needed trimmings to give local families in need a holiday meal. Why? Because we believe no family should go without a holiday meal…

Accident with HART Bus Takes Life of Local Bicyclist in Tampa: How Can You Protect Yourself?

Bicycles are a common mode of transportation for residents in and around Tampa. Our year-round mild weather, large downtown scene, and many areas with lanes dedicated to those traveling on bicycles make it a prime place to spot people out on bikes… and a prime location for bicycle accidents. Unfortunately, where you have bicyclists and…

Why NOT? 3 Reasons Polk County Veterans Might Not Be Filing for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Benefits…and Why They Should

What do VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), North Carolina, and Polk County veterans have in common? Well, if you were a veteran (or military family member/contract employee) stationed at Camp Lejeune, the answer would be: A LOT. During the span of time between 1953 and 1987, dangerous substances were leached into the water, yet left undisclosed to…

Tragedy Strikes Polk City: Toddler Killed and Young Child Seriously Injured in DUI Crash

On Wednesday, October 12th at 12:15 AM, Polk County Sheriff officers responded to a call on Deen Still Rd. What they found left them frustrated and brokenhearted, as one 22-month old toddler was pronounced dead at the scene and a 5-year old child was rushed in for emergency medical care for a broken neck. The driver, Guadalupe…

The (Not So) Calm after The Storm: Filing Insurance Claims After Hurricane Ian

Ian left its mark all over southeast and central Florida, and while Brooks Law Group is thankful to be walking out with minimal damage, our hearts are with all of our friends and neighbors who weren’t so lucky. Many of our friends in and around Polk County were affected by the high winds and rain…

Patriots in Polk County: The True American Spirit Is Alive and Well After Hurricane Ian

Ian left a huge mark on Florida in many ways, and while many of these marks are ugly blemishes of damage and brokenness, one unexpected mark is shining brighter than the rest today. It’s not the sun coming out after the storm. It’s the American spirit. Americans believe in caring for our brother, loving our…

The Importance of Driving Defensively: 43-Year Old Tampa Motorcyclist Killed in Saturday Crash

Motorcycle accidents take the lives of countless bikers each year, and sadly, another individual was killed Saturday night in Tampa. A 43-year old Tampa motorcyclist was heading north on I-75 when he lost control of his bike around milepost 254. While the Florida Highway Patrol said the cause of the accident wasn’t known, what is known is that the…

Labor Day Q&A: Fun Facts about This Popular Holiday

As Polk County gears up for Labor Day weekend, you’re likely excited about having a Monday off work, and enjoying some well-deserved rest. What led to this popular holiday though, and why is it celebrated across the US? We took the time to dig up some fun facts about Labor Day, and what we found made…

New Drivers: Top 4 Tips for Tampa Bay Teens

As a new school year shifts into gear here in Tampa Bay, many sophomores will be picking up the keys for the first time as they complete Driver’s Ed. and prepare to take their licensure exam. We understand that it’s an exciting time, and likely one they’ve waited for since they were small, but do most teens really understand…

Tampa Bay Teen Injured in Hit and Run: What You Need to Know about The Moments Following an Accident

An arrest was made this week in the hit-and-run of a 13-year-old girl in Sarasota County. On Wednesday, police took David Chang into custody for hitting the teen when she was riding her bike across the crosswalk of her school. The accident happened on East Bay Street (at Old Venice Road) in a known school…

Back to School in Tampa Bay! Simple Gifts for Your Child’s Teacher

Many schools in and around the Tampa Bay area are back in session beginning this week, and we all know how exciting it is for the children (and parents) to see that yellow bus roll up and kick off a brand new year. For teachers though, the excitement is probably mixed with some nerves about new…

The Daily Ridge: More Than 350 Turkeys Given At 9th Annual Turkey Giveaway at Brooks Law Group

More than 350 turkeys were provided to local families in need during the 9th Annual Giveaway hosted by Brooks Law Group last Saturday morning. Local residents lined up on the sidewalk outside the law office’s building on 1st Street North to register and receive their free turkey, along with canned goods, cereal, pancake mix, and…