Best & Anderson, P.A.

Target stores and superstores are some of the most popular shopping establishments across the U.S. When you shop there with your family, you don't think about the fact that the stores might not be entirely safe.

But the reality is that injuries do occur at Target stores. Some of the types of injury accidents that can happen to Target shoppers include:

• Slip-and-fall injuries from wet floors or tripping hazards
• Injuries from falling and unsecured merchandise
• Freezer burn injuries from frozen food cases
• Injuries and even deaths from the selling of faulty products
• Salmonella poisoning from in-store delis or other sold food products
• Choking hazards from loose display bolts or other premises liability issues
• Assault, battery and other violent crimes from negligent security

A recent personal injury report on the Target Corporation, according to the website Productsthathurt.com, included a class action lawsuit pertaining to the selling of recalled infant cribs. Target has also been one of the three largest chains in the U.S. to recall children's products (that it had already sold) containing excessive amounts of harmful lead.

If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed while shopping at a Target store, please contact the Orlando, Florida personal injury legal specialists at Best & Anderson, P.A. at 800-282-2378.

When you shop, you expect the store to be safe for you and our family. Especially in warehouse or superstore environments, you expect large amounts of merchandise to be shelved and stacked appropriately overhead.

Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Thousands of customers every year are injured, and some are even killed, by falling merchandise.

Even more troubling is that in about one-third of the cases of falling merchandise injuries, the customer suffers a head injury. Head injuries can be the most serious and permanently disabling types of injuries. Other types of common falling-merchandise injuries include foot, neck, spinal and shoulder injuries.

Under premises liability law, property and business owners can be held liable if they have not taken the steps to make their stores safe for their customers. Some of the factors that cause falling merchandise injuries include:

• Sloppy stacking
  
• Inappropriate policies for employees on how to stack merchandise
  
• Faulty employee training
  
• Too much merchandise for shelf load limits
  
• Faulty shelving
  
• Unsecured shelving
  

If you have been injured by falling merchandise, it is important for you to seek legal assistance quickly. In the Orlando, Florida area, please contact the skilled falling merchandise lawyers at Best & Anderson at 800-282-2378.

Did you know that an estimated 100,000 employees in the state of Florida are injured on the job each year? (Many of those are construction site accidents.)

Fortunately, there are state Workers' Compensation laws that require employers with more than four employees to have Workers' Compensation insurance to cover injured employees'medical care and other needs, such as lost wages and dependent death benefits.

There are steps that you need to take, though, to make sure you receive your Workers'Compensation benefits:

1. Report your on-the-job injury to your employer within 30 days of the date the injury occurred, the onset of your symptoms or when a medical professional diagnoses the injury.

2. Follow up with your employer to make sure that your Workers' Compensation report is being handled appropriately and in a timely manner.

3. Request and keep copies of documents relating to your injury, to workplace safety procedures and to any drug-testing programs you've participated in with your employer.

4. Refrain from providing anyone with a recorded statement about your injury until you have talked with a qualified personal injury attorney.

5. Follow all treatment instructions your doctors give you.

If your employer has refused your Workers' Comp claim, or you are unsure if you are eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits, please schedule a free consultation with the Orlando, Florida personal injury attorneys at Best & Anderson, P.A. at 800-282-2378.

More than 75 million people visit Florida on vacation every year. Unfortunately, some of those trips end in injury. A few of the types of injury accidents that can occur include:

Automobile and scooter accidents. A high rate of tourism means a high rate of drivers who are sight-seeing and not paying attention to the road, drunk-driving or simply unsure of unfamiliar roads.

Amusement park accidents. Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios Florida are just a few of the amusement parks in Florida.

Cruise ship accidents. With the increased popularity of cruising comes an increase in the potential for passenger injuries.

Here are some tips if you experience an injury while on vacation:

• Write down everything you can remember about the accident as soon a possible.
  
• Write down the names of witnesses.
  
• Visit a doctor right away.
  
• Take photos or video of the scene when possible.
  
• Keep track of your expenses.
  
• Seek a local attorney.
  

You will need a lawyer licensed in Florida to file a lawsuit on your behalf.
If you or someone you love has been injured while on a Florida vacation, please contact the nationally known, Orlando, Florida personal injury legal team at Best & Anderson at 800-282-2378.

According to recent reports on MSNBC and NPR, the number of uninsured drivers is rising due to the poor economy. Drivers are letting go of even the most basic of policies as individuals have to choose between paying their premium and putting food on the table.

The danger for all consumers are evident. An accident can turn into a veritable catastrophe when there is no coverage to pay for property damage and medical bills.

As a consumer, it is more important than ever that you consider taking uninsured motorist coverage (UM) when renewing your policy. The cost of this extra coverage is usually quite low. It is well worth the cost considering the peace of mind it provides. Recent studies predict that the rate of ininsured drivers could reach 16% in the near future.

If you have any questions about UM, or any other aspects of car insurance, call us, we would be happy to assist you.

Labels: uninsured drivers car accidents

The fatal shooting this weekend of a teenager at the Millenium Pointe Apartments on south Orlando demonstrates the rapidly rising violence in our community.

If you, or a relative, have been the victim of crime because of negligent security, you may be able to collect compensation for damages suffered. This subset of the law is called premises liability. Premises liability is complex, not every attorney has the expertise to successfully conduct these types of cases.

Our law firm has experience in this type of law. Our attorneys would be happy to give you a free consultation, to make you aware of your rights, and to counsel you about what further action you, as a victim should undertake.

Labels: Lawyer, Orlando, Premises Liability, Shooting

Social Security Disability – The wait

We at Best & Anderson share the frustration of our clients at the unconscionable long waits endured by many of those seeking benefits under Social Security Disability. A recent report showed that the average wait for a hearing is now 17 months, more in some parts of the country. The budgetary cutbacks of the last few years have forced the agency to reduce staff; the number of administrative judges is inadequate; the result is the cruel waits that those who are most vulnerable are subjected to.

Our Social Security administrator, Ms. Runge, has been working Social Security Disability cases for the last 15 years. She agrees that the backlog of cases seen today is unprecedented.

One tool that is at her disposal is what is called an “on the record” decision (OTR). For certain, well-documented cases, we can apply using only the documentation available. This process negates the need for a hearing, thus cutting back the wait time. Sometimes decisions can be received in a matter of weeks.

If you think that your case merits an on the record decision please call us. We will be more than happy to inform you about this procedure and any other aspects of Social Security Disability.

Labels: Social Security Disability On The Record Decision