According to the Sun-Sentinel:

“A Miami-Dade Police motorcycle officer involved in a crash was in serious but stable condition Friday, police said.

The collision between the officer and a 2006 Honda Civic occurred about 7:13 a.m. Friday at 37th Street and West 8th Avenue.

The officer was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Nobody else was hurt, police spokesman Detective Rebeca Perez said in a statement.

According to investigators, the police officer was traveling southbound on West 8th Avenue. As he entered the intersection, he was struck by the Honda that was traveling westbound.”

Authorities indicated that the accident is under investigation.  It will likely come down to determining which driver had the right-of-way in regards to assigning fault for the crash, and any supporting evidence will likely come from witnesses to the accident.

If you or someone you love has been harmed in an auto accident that you do not feel was your fault, contact the Florida personal injury attorneys who have years of experience in successfully fighting for the rights of the injured.  Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.

According to WPLG:

“A woman and two children were taken to a hospital Tuesday afternoon after a car hit them on a Hialeah street.

The incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. near West 12th Avenue and 39th Street in Hialeah. Police said Belkis Hernandez Cabreriza and three children were crossing a street when the car hit three of them.

Ten-year-old Lily Cabreriza made it to the sidewalk moments before the crash, but her mother, 5-year-old sister and 9-year-old cousin were hit by the car.

Carl Zogby of the Hialeah Police Department said the family was not crossing the street at the intersection, but a little beyond.

Police said the driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with Hialeah police. Investigators said that at this point, it appears the driver did nothing wrong.”

Luckily, everyone who was hurt is expected to recover.  In terms of civil liability, it could come down to whether the pedestrians were negligent in crossing outside the crosswalk and whether the driver should have seen them.  Regardless, if you or someone you love has been harmed in a collision, you need the help of a Hialeah auto accident lawyer who understands how to successfully fight for the rights of the injured.  Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.

According to the Sun-Sentinel:

“ A Miami Lakes special education teacher was sentenced today to two years of probation after she was found guilty of putting hot sauce in an autistic student’s soda, WFOR-Ch. 4 reports.

Sylvia Tagle also was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.

The boy’s parents said they were outraged at what they call a “lenient” sentence.

Last month, Tagle was convicted of abuse after she gave a soda with hot sauce in it to the Bob Graham Educational Center student to teach him a lesson.

Tagle says the boy grabbed the soda from her desk when she was with other students.

Tagle could have faced up to five years in prison.

Jurors found Tagle not guilty of three other charges, including pulling a student’s hair and not changing soiled diapers.”

Even though the criminal aspect of this case is over, it is possible that civil liability could arise given the extreme conduct exhibited. If you have entrusted the care of someone you love to someone and that care turns out to be abusive, you need to contact a Hialeah personal injury lawyer who understands how to hold those responsible for abuse accountable. Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.

According to the Sun-Sentinel:

“The police department’s medical crimes unit said Wednesday they had arrested Yglesias and charged him with the unlicensed practice of dentistry.

Investigators said they were tipped off to Yglesias’ alleged illegal activity through Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade County.

Here’s how Miami-Dade police uncovered the fraudulent activity:

Before visiting Dental Services Plus, 5376 W. 16th Ave., Hialeah, investigators checked with state officials and discovered that Yglesias was only licensed as a dental radiographer — not as a dentist.

An undercover detective then scheduled an appointment on Tuesday for dental work at Dental Services Plus, which is a legitimate dental clinic, according to police.

About 4 p.m., the undercover detective arrived for his scheduled appointment and told the staff he wanted to be examined and that he needed dental work.

The clinic staff then introduced him to Yglesias, who conducted a preliminary examination and requested that the staff take X-rays. Yglesias then reviewed the X-rays and further examined the undercover detective.

Yglesias gave his diagnosis: The undercover detective needed a root canal and told him about the procedure in detail.

Yglesias also used a sheet of paper to draw more details of the root canal procedure.

Yglesias then told the undercover detective that the procedure would be completed in two stages and that it would cost $180.

Yglesias prepared to begin the dental work by gathering his dental tools and preparing a dental syringe containing lidocaine.

That’s when the undercover detective signaled to his law enforcement colleagues to arrest Yglesias.”

While it’s too early to tell, it’s possible that people were injured as a result of trusting someone with dental care who did not possess the qualifications to provide this service. If you have been harmed as a result of this sort of situation, you need to contact the Hialeah personal injury lawyers at Bernstein & Maryanoff, as the firm has been holding those who commit fraud like this accountable for more than 20 years.

According to the Sun-Sentinel:

“An off-duty Surfside police officer fired at a charging pit bull this morning, missing the dog but grazing a woman standing nearby, police said.

The woman was grazed in the neck and treated at the scene, said Detective Eddie Rodriguez, a Hialeah police spokesman.

The officer, holding his young child, had gone to check his mail at the building on the 2900 block of West 80th Street.

The pit bull charged at him, Rodriguez said.

The bullet ricocheted off the ground and grazed a woman in the neck.

Her injuries were minor, police said.”

The article goes on to state that it’s not yet known what will happen to the dog. Thankfully, the woman hit was not seriously injured, but this represents a complicated legal situation if she decides to pursue legal remedies. The officer could be liable for discharging his weapon, and the dog owner could be liable for allowing a dangerous dog to roam the streets.

If you have been harmed in such a situation where more than one party could be liable, you need the help of a Hialeah personal injury attorney who understands the intricacies of the law. Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.

According to Miami Boating News:

“Investigators say a 23-foot cabin boat operated by Paudides Machado (DOB 03/24/63) of Hialeah, was travelling at an unknown rate of speed, east from the Dinner Key Marina, when it struck a 21-foot flats boat operated by Charles W. Clayton (DOB 03/19/77) of Tallahassee. The flats boat was travelling at an unknown rate of speed toward Matheson Hammock Marina. At some point, the two boats collided.

All three people on the flats boat were thrown into the water. Two of the three died as a result of their injuries. Clayton, the operator, and his brother, Wade A. Clayton (DOB 01/25/76) of Tavernier, were
pronounced dead at the scene. The third occupant, Brandon P. Foster (DOB 07/18/77) of Miami, was transported to Mercy Hospital with unknown injuries.”

It was also reported that no one was wearing life jackets, but the cause of the accident has not yet been determined. Regardless, this story illustrates the danger that accompanies boating in the area. If you or someone you love has been harmed in a boating accident, you need a Hialeah personal injury attorney who has more than 20 years of experience in fighting for the rights of the injured. Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.

When this occurs, the next step many people take is to contact an attorney, as they are confused/inquisitive/concerned about how that conversation may have gone. Generally, those instincts are correct, as the other driver’s insurance company has no interest in making sure that your needs and expectations are met. They are working for their own interests and, secondarily, the interests of their policy holder.

The reason is quite simple - insurance companies exist in order to generate revenue and profit. Most insurance companies are also public in nature, meaning that their management teams are held to the intangible standard that’s defined by their stock price and dividends. If those values are not present or they dissipate and dividends are not paid, insurance companies will react much like any business - they’ll make changes and work towards an improvement.

Therefore, it makes practical business sense for them to employ experienced and skilled defense attorneys whose mission is to limit the financial exposure their clients/employers face in every scenario. The less they have to pay for damages, the more profit the company shows at the end of the quarter, and as a result their stock price is measured based on how those efforts progress.

What should be clear is that if you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, you should not deal directly with these skilled attorneys. Instead, you should immediately contact a Hialeah auto accident attorney who has decades of experience in dealing with these real issues and who can help you obtain what’s fair. Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation and give yourself the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that you’ve leveled the playing field and given yourself the opportunity to properly protect and enforce your legal rights.

The question of whether or not to settle a personal injury claim is one that involves many levels and factors, each of which must be considered carefully before recommending a decision to a client. Below are just a few:

1. The Interests of the Client

Some clients simply need financial help as soon as possible, while others can survive for a time without any settlement check coming to them. While this should not ever govern a decision, it is one that must be analyzed.

2. Reputations

If an attorney that’s retained is known by insurance companies and/or defense firms as someone who always looks to settle, then it’s fair to posit the theory that the initial settlement offers will be lower than for an attorney or firm that’s known to take matters to trial without hesitation if necessary.

3. Opening Offers

Many times, an insurance company will provide an opening offer to the injured party, and this initial offer is almost always too low. The question is whether the low offer is unreasonably low or one that could provide a skilled attorney with the idea that a settlement that’s fair could be possible.

4. Positioning

There are insurance companies in existence that will bargain fairly for a settlement before any legal claims are filed with the courts. There are others who will not get serious until they’ve been served with documents that call them into court. An experienced attorney will understand who is whom.

As you see, obtaining a settlement involves much more than simply a couple of phone calls. Whether or not to take a settlement is a decision that needs to be based on the interests of fairness and what’s best for the client’s overall situation. If you have been harmed, contact the Hialeah personal injury attorneys who always put the client first and who will always go to trial if necessary. Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.

1. To share all of the information you have regarding the accident;

2. To provide any other information about you or your passengers that the attorney may request;

3. To answer questions regarding how the accident occurred;

4. To ask questions of the attorney so that you can make sure you feel comfortable with him or her moving forward.

5. To make a decision regarding whether or not to retain the attorney for your case if a valid one exists.

Basically, your initial consultation is an opportunity for both you and the attorney to get to know each other and for the attorney to get a handle on what happened before, during and after your auto accident. There should be nothing binding in place when you walk in the door, and this meeting should not cost you any money. If it does, you should consider that a potential problem.

It’s likely that the attorney will ask you a series of questions to begin, but you should also feel free to ask questions, as this is your case. Ask the attorney about his or her experience with cases like yours, how the fee arrangement works and what he or she thinks can be done with your situation. Under no circumstances should an attorney guarantee a result, so you should be mindful of that as well.

After you’ve had a chance to get to know the attorney, you should make a decision. If you’re not ready to do so, don’t sign anything, and if the attorney pressures you to sign a retainer agreement before you’re ready, you should refuse to do so until you’re sure that this is the proper fit.

Once this is complete and you’ve made your decision, the case will proceed. If you’d like to find out what your rights are with no strings attached as a result of an auto accident, contact the Hialeah auto accident attorneys at Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation. The firm has been fighting for the rights of those injured in auto crashes for more than 20 years.