It is no secret that the way we communicate and interact with each other has been permanently changed as a result of the advent of social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, & Twitter. Recent statistics indicate that Facebook now has more than 300 million active users – a number that grows by more than 250,000 every day. It seems that almost everyone, including many businesses, use social media to create new relationships and strengthen or re-discover existing ones. While the benefits of these social networking sites are obvious, the potential pitfalls may not be. You might recall a story that received some attention back in July concerning the incoming chief of MI6, Britain’s international spy agency. In that case, the spy chief’s wife posted personal details about their family, vacations plans, and residence on her open Facebook page. While the British Foreign Secretary tried to downplay the significance of the disclosure it was obvious that the leak was more than just an embarrassment for the government. Though I don’t expect that any of us will be divulging state secrets on our Facebook pages, the information we do post can have unintended consequences months and even years later. Remember, the information you post on these sites can float around in cyberspace in perpetuity.

As a trial lawyer, I have seen many cases adversely impacted by the information innocently posted on social networking sites. Savvy defense lawyers, investigators, and insurance adjusters are routinely scouring these sites to obtain information that can damage or, in some cases, destroy your injury claim. For example, comments such as “Wow, my back really hurts after that tennis game” or “Spent last night horsing around with the kids and now my neck is killing me” can and will be used against you in your personal injury case. Even vacation photos that you post can be used to argue to a jury that you aren’t really injured.

My advice is to not post any information on Facebook that you wouldn’t want your employer, your parents, or a jury to see at a later date. If you have a pending case or claim, it is best to take down your site until the case is over with. Do not assume that by setting your page to private you are protecting yourself and preventing uninvited guests from accessing your posts. Insurance companies and defense attorneys have many ways, some ethical and some not, of obtaining this information. Remember, as Benjamin Franklin famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

If you have any questions regarding setting a social networking policy, or would like a free consultation about your personal injury claim, please feel free to contact me, Andrew Weinstein of the Weinstein Law Firm • (954) 757-7500.

Recently the Florida Supreme Court issued a new Opinion limiting the type of information lawyers can include on their websites. Beginning in June 2010 law firm websites may no longer include testimonials, laudatory statements, and information about past results. While some changes to the current rules were necessary, with the proliferation of advertising it will now be more difficult for prospective clients to determine whether the lawyer they intend to hire has the experience necessary to handle their case. There are however many additional ways to obtain that information. The first and most obvious way it to simply ask the lawyer, over the phone or at the initial meeting, to tell you what qualifies them to represent you. Any lawyer worth hiring will welcome this question though, surprisingly, it is one that few clients choose to ask. Ask the attorney how many cases similar to yours they have handled in the past. Ask if they will litigate your case to conclusion if necessary and find out how many jury trials they have personally handled. Ask if they intend to associate with other lawyers or refer your case out if the matter is not able to be resolved before a lawsuit is filed. You should also search the internet to see if you can find additional information about the lawyer you intend to hire. Websites such as www.avvo.com , www.martindale.com, and www.floridabar.org are excellent resources as they provide useful information to help you decide which lawyer to retain. The bottom line is, the more educated you are about the lawyer you choose, the more likely you are to be happy with your choice.

The Coral Springs-based, Weinstein Law Firm was established by managing partner and civil justice attorney, Andrew Weinstein more than 10 years ago. The firm represents individuals and families injured in automobile and premises liability accidents, as well as those harmed by dangerous and defective products throughout the State of Florida. In addition, the firm represents Florida health care professionals in a wide range of legal issues, which include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and insurance claims. More information can be found at www.weinstein-law.com or by calling (954) 757-7500.

Every year 1.5 million people in the United States become sick or severely injured as a result of medication errors, according to the Institute of Medicine. Out of this number, 100,000 die. The most common medication error relates to the administration of a drug, where a patient is given an improper dosage. Other errors involve a doctor or health care professional administering the wrong drug entirely or simply patient misuse of the medication prescribed.

Nearly all medication errors are preventable. To help better protect yourself it is important that you follow these simple steps:

When your doctor gives you a prescription, ask him or her to tell you the name of the drug, the correct dosage, and what it is used for.

Be sure you understand the directions for any medications you may be taking including the correct dosage, storage requirements, drug interactions and any special instructions.

Be sure to tell your doctor the names of all the prescription and non-prescription drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies you are taking every time he or she writes you a new prescription. This will help prevent another type of common medication error, undesirable and potentially serious interactions among medications.

Finally, never be afraid to ask questions. If the name of the drug on your prescription looks different than what you expected, if the directions appear different than you thought, or if the pills or medication itself look different, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Asking questions can help save your life. It is a free and easy way to ensure that you do not become the victim of a medication error.

The Coral Springs-based, Weinstein Law Firm was established by managing partner and civil justice attorney, Andrew Weinstein more than 10 years ago. The firm represents individuals and families injured in automobile and premises liability accidents, as well as those harmed by dangerous and defective products throughout the State of Florida. In addition, the firm represents Florida health care professionals in a wide range of legal issues, which include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and insurance claims. More information can be found at www.weinstein-law.com or by calling (954) 757-7500.

Law costs draftsmen deal with costs in every sector of law both litigated and non litigated.

The main job of a law costs draftsmen is to settle the cost of a law case. They provide that vital link that can not only lead to a satisfactory recovery of legal costs as efficiently as possible, but can also release the lawyer to concentrate of servicing their clients without distractions. A law costs draftsman will also optimise the costs of a case ensuring the best possible outcome.

Law costs draftsmen deal with costs in every sector of law and have the best systems in place for the recovery of legal costs – the legal costs drafting service that moves cases to completion as quickly and efficiently as possible. Saving time means much less stress and hassle and also means costs saving.

A law costs draftsman recover Claimants’ Costs or Part 20 Claimants’ Costs (additional costs) on non litigated matters and litigated matters. When representing a client, a law costs draftsman will assess the case, offer advice, drafts the schedule of costs, negotiate the costs, prepare the necessary bills and costs, prepare court forms and draft replies. As you can see, there are a number of components relating to costs and without the use of a drafting service, these costs are often not tracked and optimised as well as they could be. A professional law cost draftsman who specialises in this sector of legal services is invaluable.

Legal cost negotiators can also offer the following:
Advice and assistance on RTA Predictable Fee Cases
Drafting interim Bills
Drafting Schedules of Costs for:
Allocation questionnaires
Listing questionnaires
Infant Approval Hearings
Application hearings
Consideration and Drafting of Points of Dispute
Telephone and / or email Question and Answer Service
Seminars presented by our best Law Cost Draftsman

When looking for a law cost drafting service, check the firm has the latest computer software relating to drafting and preparation of bills and costs. This ensures the firm consistently produces a quality service through every aspect of the case.

However, no matter how good systems and computers are, the most important ingredient is the law costs draftsman. Reliable, professional and dedicated law costs draftsmen operating as a team provide clients with a quality, reliable service.

So to conclude, the assistance of a law costs draftsman gives the solicitor and their client the peace of mind that all costs are fully layed out, that the costs are controlled and that the best possible practices are in place for the case.

When an employee is facing dismissal on the spot that has significant legal and financial implications.The employee is immediately terminated from service and therefore will not immediately be entitled for a compensation, and no right to unemployment benefits. For both employer and employee in such a situation legal advice given is not a luxury. Indeed, there are strict requirements for the validity of a resignation on the spot. The fact that a dismissal is granted on the spot, does not mean that this is legally tenable. An employer is therefore well advised to carefully note here and not to start the termination procedure because a wrongly granted dismissal on the spot can cause damage.The employer is liable to pay damages if challenged in the court.

The fact remains that due to the time bound nature of a termination and because when such a dismissal has to be granted immediately.There is very less time to act and seek legal advice. When in doubt a contingent legal process with the district judge should be conducted to avoid a later confrontation for avoiding unwanted higher wages. A employee also can face consequences when his services are terminated.Some people do however resort to timely legal advice and to give them a better outcome many beneficial options can be granted .In typical scenario such dismissals can be nulled or/and an advance salary or compensation may be claimed in relation to the disregard of the notice period or the unfairness of the dismissal as claimed by the employer.

The dutch law system has very specific laws when it comes to labor laws and laws relating to employee dismissal.It is very strongly advised for a employer as well as an employee to seek immediate legal advices when such situations may arise.Most employees don’t have an idea that they are still entitled for wages, severance pay and benefits.A few case scenario when a immediate termination can be served are -

For an employer:

* The employee is constantly drunk at work.
* The employee indulges in Theft or other crime against the employer.
* The employee is violent at work.
* The worker exibits sexual immorality at work.
* Actions by the employee by which property or human lives is endangered.
* The employee refuses stubbornly to act on the orders of the employer.
* If the employee had used forged diplomas,degree’s or fake educational qualification to seek employment.

For an employee:

* The employer fails to pay the wages.
* The workplace is unsuitable for work and is dangerous to the human life.

About the author
Roland de Graauw is founder of De Graauw Legal Services, a result driven firm specialized in employee dismissal cases also referred as ontslag op staande voet as per the dutch law convention.De Graauw legal services provides legal advice to private individuals and SME’s(small and medium-sized firms) on mainly labour law and employee termination cases.

Contact Information:
Website – http://www.degraauw.com/LegalServices/Ontslagopstaandevoet.htm
Email – Legalservices@degraauw.com

We all know that snow is that cold, sometimes pretty wet stuff that falls from the sky. As it builds up it can cause all sorts of problems and all kinds of injures. Slips, falls, auto accidents all rise dramatically in their risk factor when it is snowing. If you are injured due to snow or ice conditions it can sometimes be difficult to find anyone liable. Snow is an ‘act of God’ and surely no human can be responsible for it.

When we choose to engage in activities such as snowing, we pretty much do so at our own risk. A day or more in the snow can be wonderful fun. What happens though when we get injured? Are we always responsible? Very often the answer is yes, but there are also times when our injuries may be due to someone else’s negligence.

Ski’s poles and other gear can sometimes be defective and not live up to what they have stated. If you have an accident where your gear has given out you may well be advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in personal injury and product liability law. These cases are not always easy to deal with so choosing a specialist lawyer can make all the difference

Legal Tools: Jodat Law Group. Assisting

Back injuries are the second leading cause of time off work (number one is the common cold). Some back injuries are the result of poor lifting, obesity and generally being unfit or are sports related. Many though are caused through accidents and injury that are not necessarily our own fault. The back and spine is a vital part of our anatomy and covers a fairly large area of the body making it prone to injury. Back injuries can range from common lumbar pains to life-changing spinal cord injuries.

The human spine joins the skull at the base and continues down to the coccyx (tailbone). The spine is made up of a series of separate bones or vertebrae. There are a total of 33 of these (from the neck down – 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, 5 sacral vertebrae and 4 coccygeal vertebrae). Between is vertebrae are the discs, which are sometimes referred to as being like a jelly donut, with a fairly tough outer covering. Running through the whole spine system are nerves that control many parts of the body and bodily functions. All around the spine and throughout the back area are muscles that are often used in nearly every action we perform as human beings.

Damage to the back can be caused in many ways. In home or workplace situations our backs are sometimes put under continual repetitive stress. Anyone who is employed in a job that requires a lot of lifting should be wearing a protective belt. Sedentary office workers can suffer back injuries from sitting for long periods in poor chairs, construction workers, builders and plumbers are often in situations that present a risk of falling.

Additional Legal Tools: Visit the law offices of Elan Wurtzel for more information on

Understandably many parents go through a long period of shock when their child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, particularly if the brain injury occurred during a difficult delivery. As they come to terms with the diagnosis and dealing with the day to day life of caring for their child and endless medical visits, parents begin to try to piece together exactly what happened, and how and who was responsible.

Medical error, negligence or malpractice is sometimes the cause of brain injury at birth. Oxygen deprivation during birth can occur when the umbilical cord cuts off the oxygen supply. Babies who are in a difficult position such as in a breach birth are also at risk. Large babies can get stuck in the birth canal and so be deprived of oxygen. Failing to monitor the baby’s condition or make a timely decision to perform a caesarian are examples of medical error or negligence that can lead to Cerebral Palsy.

In these cases it is only right that parents should go to a personal injury lawyer and seek compensation. Usually a case is filed on the child’s behalf but sometimes parents can be named as plaintiffs too as they have suffered both financially and emotionally. Medical costs, home care, educational costs and pain and suffering can and should all be claimed for.
Fortunately there are many supportive groups for Cerebral Palsy that parents can turn to. There are also highly skilled and understanding lawyers available to ensure Cerebral Palsy victims and their parents receive the compensation they rightly deserve.

This article is not intended as legal advice.

Additional Website:

Depending on the farm there are often water hazards to be found. When these are not appropriately fenced off it is easy for people to accidentally wander into them and drown. This is less likely to occur on small family farms where the family is aware of the hazard. When workers are brought in to help at certain times of the year though, they are unaware of the danger.

Respiratory diseases are also common on farms. Chemical spills and exposure are common and protective gear is not always supplied or worn. Carelessness with storage can also lead to accidents involving harmful chemicals.

Sometimes people can also become trapped in silos or barns and die from asphyxiation. This is not a particularly common kind of accident but it does occur, particularly when there are a lot of workers at a time and communication is not clear.

Farm animals can also cause accidents and injury. Falls from horses, being trampled on, and attacks from any animal are all likely risks. Dairy farmers who need to work in slippery surfaces are also prone to slip and fall accidents.

A 1998 report from the United States Department of Agriculture highlights the need for farm safety education programs while recognizing that these are not necessarily easy to put into practice. Formal safety training is seen as a major key in reducing the number of serious injuries on farms.

Safe farming practices, including careful maintenance of machinery and protective gear can do a lot to reduce the number of accidents on farms. Whether a farm is a small family operated business, or involves large numbers of migrant workers it is important that the risk of accidents is reduced.

Legal Website: Dallas Attorney Kristopher Barber.

CT scans and MRI’s are commonly used to help assess the type and level of damage in whiplash cases, but they do not necessarily show all damage. Initial treatment for whiplash will be cold ice packs for the first 24 hours along with anti-inflammatory pain relief. Sometimes muscle relaxants are recommended too. A collar helps to support the neck during recovery and for most people physiotherapy will be required. Gentle exercise will be recommended. Even though this can be painful it has been shown to speed up recovery and prevent more long term complications.

While the majority of people recover fairly quickly from a whiplash injury others continue to suffer pain and on-going complications. This can not only be expensive in terms of medical and physiotherapy treatment but can cause on-going loss of income and quality of life. Long- term sufferers often find themselves suffering from depression and chronic fatigue. They also often have to face ridicule or disbelief from friends, employers and even their own doctors.

More often than not whiplash injuries, particularly from rear-end crashes, are the result of someone else’s negligence. Despite this, they can often be tricky cases to deal with and insurance companies are notoriously difficult about whiplash so selecting a personal injury lawyer who specializes in whiplash lawsuits is always a good idea.

Whiplash is no laughing matter and anyone is entitled to get the compensation they deserve. Pain and suffering, medical expenses and loss of income can all be claimed for. If you have received a whiplash injury follow through on gathering information at the time of your accident and be sure to get medical attention early and consult a lawyer.

Additional Legal Website: Dallas Injury Lawyer Michael Lowe. Serving clients in the