Bartow Legal Blog

What victims of a delayed diagnosis can do about it

On behalf of Saunders Law Group posted in medical malpractice on Friday, October 11, 2019.

When a doctor or other medical care professional has failed to provide the patient with a timely diagnosis, serious consequences and harm can result. Victims of a delayed diagnosis, failure to diagnose or erroneous diagnosis and treatment may all be able to seek remedies for the harm they have suffered through a medical malpractice claim for damages.

In many circumstances and medical conditions, such as cancer, heart attack, stroke and others, it is essential that the medical condition be diagnosed as timely as possible. When the victim has suffered harm, such as a worsened condition, because of the delayed diagnosis, failure to diagnose or erroneous diagnosis, medical malpractice protections may be available to them and their families. The consequences of a delayed diagnosis or delayed treatment can be fatal.

Create a common sense, workable parenting plan

On behalf of Saunders Law Group on Friday, October 4, 2019.

As you move through the divorce process, you're pulled in many different directions. You have questions about what will happen to your family home, while also dealing with concerns about child custody and child support. And that's just the start.

In all of this, it's easy to lose sight of the importance of creating a common sense, workable parenting plan. Neglecting to take the right steps now will result in additional challenges, tension and stress in the future.

How property is divided in Florida when couples divorce

On behalf of Saunders Law Group posted in Family Law on Friday, September 27, 2019.

The property division process during divorce implicates many things couples care about and may be concerned about during their divorce which makes it helpful for them to understand how property division is handled during divorce. Florida follows equitable property division rules which means that property will be divided during divorce as equitably as possible.

Marital property is subject to the property division process during divorce which can include houses, cars, furniture, retirement accounts, debts and other types of property. Marital property includes property and assets acquired during the marriage. It should be distinguished from separate property that is generally not subject to the property division process. Separate property includes property and assets one of the spouses had prior to the marriage, gifts, inheritances and personal injury awards.

Tips for coping with the emotional strain of divorce

On behalf of Saunders Law Group on Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

A divorce is a major life change that can have a significant impact on your emotions. This comes as a surprise to some people because they expect that they will be relieved and happy. When they start feeling the painful emotions, they aren't sure how to react.

You are going to feel a range of emotions after the divorce. Typically, people say that the first year is the hardest because you are dealing with first experiences as a single person. Learning how to cope with all of these can help you.

New Florid distracted driving laws aimed at keeping roads safe

On behalf of Saunders Law Group posted in motor vehicle accidents on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

Legal protections are available to hold distracted drivers accountable for the harm they cause. New Florida laws going into effect at the beginning of October will require all Florida drivers to be hands free in certain areas. The new law will require drivers to put down electronic devices, including cell phones and GPS devices, in school zones and work zones where workers are present. Texting while driving is also now a primary offense in Florida. Authorities note that there is a grace period but they plan to begin ticketing at the first of next year. Drivers face fees, points on their license and increased insurance costs.

In addition to the penalties distracted drivers face, they may also face civil liability to victims they harm. It is important to note that distracted driving, including using a cell phone while driving and texting while driving, is dangerous behavior that can lead to serious motor vehicle accidents. Victims of distracted drivers can suffer serious physical, financial and emotional injuries. Fortunately, personal injury legal resources are available to help victims with the injuries and harm they suffer because of a distracted driver.

Lifetime costs are expensive for spinal cord injuries

On behalf of Saunders Law Group on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

Spinal cord injuries are costly, so people who have suffered one will often have a lifelong increase in expenses based on that singular fact. Motor vehicle crashes, which account for 38% of all cases, are the leading cause of this type of injury. Falls are the second leading cause accounting for 30.5%. For the victims of these types of accidents, trying to discover ways to cover the added costs can be challenging.

One thing that makes it so difficult to pay for these expenses is that the victim might not be able to do the same type of work they are accustomed to doing. Those with severe injuries may not have the ability to work at all. They might turn to a personal injury lawsuit filed against the party liable for the accident to cover these expenses.

The benefits of collaborative divorce

On behalf of Saunders Law Group posted in Family Law on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

Collaborative divorce is an option to help guide divorcing couples through the divorce process in a more peaceful manner. The collaborative law process is best described as a cooperative approach to resolving divorce-related issues. Divorcing couples should be familiar with collaborative divorce as one option.

The collaborative divorce process focuses on problem solving and helping divorcing couples reach agreements related to property division, spousal support, child support and child custody concerns. The collaborative divorce process differs from the traditional litigated divorce process because it is collaborative and not adversarial. Because of this, collaborative divorce can be more efficient and less costly. In addition to taking less time and cost, it can also be a more private process.

Understanding alimony awards in Florida

On behalf of Saunders Law Group posted in Family Law on Thursday, August 15, 2019.

Alimony is a divorce-related topic that is important to both the paying spouse and the recipient spouse requesting alimony. Alimony is a payment that one former spouse makes to the other after the spouses are divorced which makes alimony an important concern to resolve during divorce.

The family law court uses alimony as a tool to help ensure that both spouses are in as positive a financial position as possible following a divorce. Alimony, which is sometimes referred to as spousal support or spousal maintenance, can help a lower-wage earning spouse or spouse who remained at home to care for the household and children enjoy some measure of financial stability following their divorce. When seeking alimony, the duration of the marriage, the standard of living during the marriage and the contributions of the spouse seeking support to the marriage will be considered.

Stability in child custody matters is important

On behalf of Saunders Law Group on Wednesday, August 7, 2019.

One of the most difficult things for parents to do is to ensure that their children have a positive environment in which to grow. When the parents are divorced, this can become even more challenging. Not only do you have your own home to think about, you also have to consider how your kids are handling your ex's house.

There are many ways that you can boost your child's stability. One of the primary focal points must be that your child feels at home in both houses. Even though it might seem odd to think that setting rules would help, it will because it creates important expectations. They know what is allowed and what isn't. If you and your ex can work as a team, consider working out major rules, such as bedtime, that span both homes.

Wrongful death protections for victims of medical malpractice

On behalf of Saunders Law Group posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, August 2, 2019.

Wrongful death legal protections apply to medical malpractice situations for those who have lost a loved one due to medical malpractice. Wrongful death claims protect surviving family members who have wrongfully lost a loved one due to some type of negligence including medical negligence.

If a loved one has been killed due to medical negligence such as because of medical errors by a doctor, nurse or other medical care professional, they may be able to bring a wrongful death claim for damages. Damages available in a wrongful death claim for medical malpractice may include those for pain and suffering prior to death; medical and funeral expenses; loss of consortium for the family and spouse; lost of wages and earning capacity; and other possible damages depending on the circumstances.