Brooks Law Legal Blog

I (Steve Brooks) have enjoyed sharing a glimpse of the Brooks Legacy here on our blog recently, and this week I want to highlight my own father, Beach Alexander Brooks M.D. His decision to move to Winter Haven established a continued legacy here in the Polk County area and set a precedent that my brother,…

Tuesday brought the news of a tragedy to Auburndale High School. Winter Haven first responders received a call early on January 23 that a pedestrian had been hit near 34th St. and Avenue S NW. They pronounced the victim, 15-year old Yeriel Gonzalez, dead at the scene. He was struck while driving his electric scooter…

What is a legacy? According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, one definition of legacy is: “Something transmitted or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.” At Brooks Law Group, our core values, ethical practices, and commitment to serving our community are part of our legacy, and it began with Dr. J. Culpepper Brooks. Dr. Brooks…

This week’s band of severe weather slammed into Tampa Bay with a vengeance. On Tuesday, high winds, heavy rains, and coastal flooding hit large areas of Florida, causing varying degrees of damage across the state. Locally, we experienced tornado touchdowns in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. An EF-1 tornado touched down in the Eagles subdivision and weather…

Have you been injured in a bicycle accident involving another motorist? Were you hurt while cycling (with permission) on someone’s property due to their negligence? Unfortunately, these are common scenarios often seen here in Tampa Bay. Just last month a 15-year-old bicyclist in Hudson was killed on his way to school when he was struck…

The season is changing, cooler weather is coming, and all of Florida’s winter residents are headed into town. That means more accidents are likely in Central Florida. As people age, chances of involvement in a car accident increase dramatically. In this age bracket, injuries are probable, and also more serious. Car crashes can lead to…

The holiday season means shopping, and in Tampa Bay, that means lots of trucks on our local highways. Keeping up with the demand of stores keeps hundreds of truckers on Florida’s roads throughout December and beyond. Unfortunately, that increases the likelihood of trucking accidents. As one of Tampa’s leading truck accident law firms, our team…

Christmas is ending and New Year’s Eve is right around the corner. In the days ahead, celebrations will be happening in restaurants, bars, and homes all over the Tampa Bay area, and alcohol will almost certainly be part of the plans. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a drink or two during the holidays…as long…

Christmas is just one week away, and the stores in Winter Haven are bustling more than ever! This week will be busy with shoppers trying to find last-minute gifts, grabbing what they need for their holiday parties, and stocking up on stocking stuffers before the big day. In all of the hustle, accidents can, and frequently do,…

Tire blowouts are a driver’s worst fear, and for good reason. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, at least 33,000 accidents are caused by tire issues each year. That’s a startling statistic for a single element of your vehicle. While a tire blowout might seem like a far-off chance, they’re more common than you…

When you drive in Tampa Bay, chances are you’ve experienced at least one major traffic jam. Heavy traffic is a way of life. Unfortunately, it means accidents are also a way of life, as hundreds of drivers are impacted, injured, or even killed on our roads each year. Many commuters wonder why traffic is so…

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,…

Thanksgiving is almost here! This holiday brings people together, whether it’s over shared recipes or shared football teams. Getting to each other though can be a hassle, as traffic in Tampa Bay has increased dramatically over the last 3 years. No one wants their Thanksgiving travel interrupted by an accident, so planning ahead is important. Whether…

Are you facing the job of having to choose a wrongful death lawyer? When you lose a loved one, we know the pain and grief are insurmountable. This grief is magnified though when the loved one was a key figure in not just your daily life, but your support structure. In situations where the death…

Halloween is just a few days away! As many families are preparing for the big night by getting costumes ready, residents of the Town and Country neighborhood in Hillsborough County are hoping their sidewalks are ready. Because of  unexpected delays and budget concerns,  repairs to sidewalk projects are running several years behind schedule. This has led to…

Boating season might wrap up in other places, but in Florida, boating season lasts all year long. Because of our surplus of boats in the state, our waterways are often crowded. The Chain of Lakes in Polk County, Tampa Bay, and the Alafia River are popular hot spots for boating and water sports. Unfortunately, they…

If you spend any amount of time on Florida’s highways, you are familiar with the fear of driving around semi-trucks. Why are these trucks so scary, and what makes them more dangerous than other vehicles? There are a variety of factors that play into the stigma of accidents with semi-trucks, but most of them are related…

If you live in Tampa Bay, you probably hate traffic as much as we do. The delays, the stress, and burning your fuel or battery needlessly are frustrating, to say the least. For local motorcyclists though, traffic is especially annoying. That’s why “lane splitting” is becoming an issue on Hillsborough County’s congested highways and city…

Have you ever been in a serious car accident involving multiple vehicles? Thursday night was scary for many residents of Lake Wales. When attempting a left-hand turn on Highway 27 at Chalet Suzanne Rd., a car was struck by a semi truck traveling south. The semi then careened over the median and into a group…

Pool pump explosions. What are they, and why are more Tampa homeowners worrying about them? It’s an important topic, and one we’re ready to tackle head-on. In Florida, a backyard pool is as common as a car parked in the driveway. Thanks to our extreme weather, homeowners consider private pools as a huge asset, and…

Have you been injured at the gym? Going to the gym is a regular activity for many of us in Tampa. Whether you value a healthy lifestyle, need stress relief, or simply find it fun, regular workouts are a great way to boost your mind and body. Unfortunately, gyms can also be dangerous due to…

If you’ve spent any time in Tampa over the last few years, you know the city is growing exponentially. Thousands of people have moved to the area, and business is booming. While Tampa’s extreme growth is great for our local economy, it’s certainly not great for our traffic! Tampa Bay’s major intersections have a reputation…

Have you experienced the trauma of being hit by a drunk driver? DUI accidents are a common occurrence in Tampa. In fact, according to experts at Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, alcohol played a role in almost 500 accidents in Hillsborough County in 2019. Sadly, those statistics don’t seem to be improving. Tampa Bay…

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…