South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Injured on an Escalator

Published on: September 25, 2026 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

Escalators are everywhere – in shopping malls, sports stadiums, office buildings, airports, subways, and many other multi-story structures. Escalators are essentially big conveyor belts designed to carry people up and down floors like a moving staircase. As mechanical devices, they have many components that need to function perfectly in order to maintain safety. But sometimes they don’t, and that can lead to injury.

Serious escalator accidents are uncommon in comparison to other types of injuries, but there are still 10,000 injuries per year caused by escalators that require emergency care.

Examples of real escalator injuries

Best Outcomes for Your Personal Injury Case

Published on: September 15, 2026 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

Accidents that cause injury happen all the time, both large and small, from spilling coffee on yourself to an auto accident or house fire. An unfortunate incident becomes a personal injury case when someone else’s negligence caused your injury.

Florida law requires that the plaintiff in a personal injury case prove:

The person or business who caused your injury owed you a duty of care

Mistakes to Avoid in Your Personal Injury Case

Published on: September 9, 2026 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

Right after an accident, you are likely injured or at least shaken up. It’s easy to make mistakes at the time of the accident, but if you know ahead of time what to do, you can remain calm and take steps to prepare for a personal injury case, if necessary.

As a personal injury attorney in Florida, I have seen many people make mistakes at the scene of the accident, but with my years of experience, I have been able to limit the damage done and build a strong case for my injured client. I can do that for you, as well, if you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence.

After the accident and while going through a personal injury case, there are other mistakes that you should avoid if you want to maximize your possible compensation. Take time to review this list of potential mistakes.

E-Bike and Scooter Injuries

Published on: August 20, 2026 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

As electric bikes and scooters become more popular, accidents and injuries associated with them are naturally also on the rise. These injuries can occur when the rider is struck by another vehicle on the road, but they can also occur from unsafe surfaces or from a manufacturer’s defect in the e-vehicle or in your protective equipment. If you’ve been injured riding an e-bike or e-scooter and you think someone else’s negligence contributed to your injuries, you may be able to receive financial compensation for your injuries and damages.

Reasons for increased injury

One of the differences between electric bikes, scooters, and even skateboards is that they can go significantly faster than their non-electric counterparts. Drivers may not be prepared for the sudden appearance of someone on a micromobility vehicle, and riders may not be aware of the seriousness of injury that can occur when falling off one of these electric devices.

Bad Faith in Insurance Claims and Litigation

Published on: August 12, 2026 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

When a person buys insurance in Florida, whether it is auto insurance, home insurance, fire, flood, or hurricane coverage, they expect to receive financial compensation when they have a claim, as stipulated by the policy, and receive it in a timely manner. Unfortunately, that is not always the case when a policyholder submits a claim. Sometimes, insurers use various tactics to delay, deny, or under-compensate claims. This is not acceptable behavior; it is considered acting in “bad faith,” and you have legal recourse to recover your full policy coverage plus damages.

Florida has laws that govern how insurance companies interact with their policyholders. In a nutshell, bad faith actions may include:

Unreasonable delays in responses and payments

Social Media and Your Florida Injury Case

Published on: August 1, 2026 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

When you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence in Florida, you may have the right to compensation for your injuries, lost income, and other losses. This includes injuries sustained in any type of vehicle accident (on land, sea, or air), from unsafe premises, including hotels and public places, and from animal attacks and product malfunctions. It also includes recreational accidents (such as extreme sports, amusement parks, and other recreational activities widely available in Florida) and medical malpractice.

Whatever the source of your injury, it is critically important that you and your friends and family avoid sharing any information on social media that may jeopardize your case.

Proving negligence

Assessing Fault in an Accident

Published on: July 28, 2026 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

When it comes to automobile accidents, Florida follows a no-fault insurance policy. This means that drivers are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on their auto insurance, which covers drivers (and passengers and family) when they are involved in an accident. There are certain rules and limitations, but essentially, it will cover up to $10,000 in medical expenses and up to $10,000 of lost wages.

The PIP law was enacted to decrease lawsuits, and it has succeeded in that respect. However, what if your medical expenses and lost wages far exceed what PIP covers, and/or you have also experienced significant property damage? In Florida, you may sue for additional compensation after PIP, and that is where fault comes in.

Understanding comparative fault in Florida

Psychological Trauma After an Accident

Published on: July 16, 2026 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

Historically, Florida residents who experienced emotional distress due to the negligence of another person were not able to prevail in a personal injury lawsuit unless the psychological trauma was associated with a physical injury. This is referred to as the “impact rule.” In other words, a plaintiff cannot recover for emotional distress unless that distress arises from physical injuries caused by physical impact.

However, recent changes in the legal environment in Florida have opened up the possibility that, in certain clear-cut and serious cases, a victim who has experienced emotional or psychological harm, PTSD, or other mental health issue clearly caused by the accident or event may receive compensation when the emotional distress has led to physical harm—in a sense, the reverse of the impact rule.

Emotional Distress and the Impact Rule

Truck Accident Injuries in Florida

Published on: July 8, 2026 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

Commercial trucks account for less than 5% of highway vehicles but 12% of all traffic fatalities. More than half of the miles logged by trucks each year are on the highways at high speeds. In some busy corridors, including in Florida, every fourth vehicle is a truck. Sadly, Florida has one of the highest rates of truck accident fatalities in the nation. The vast majority of the deaths are not of the truck driver—they are, sadly, victims in other vehicles involved in the accident.

Because of the size and weight of trucks and the frequently higher speeds, injuries from truck accidents are often more severe than car accidents. Some common severe injuries include:

Broken bones and severed limbs

Minor Fender Benders—Why You Still Need a Lawyer

Published on: July 24, 2025 | Anthony Quackenbush, Esq.

The term “fender bender” is a colloquialism people use to refer to a seemingly small accident that causes minor injuries to the vehicles involved. But in legal terms, it’s an accident. And all accidents should be taken seriously.

Even a minor bump that caused little damage to your car could cause damage to your body if you were jerked suddenly or if you were turning to look over your shoulder at the time. The spine and neck are very delicate and can be easily injured. Don’t take any accident lightly.

What to do immediately after a minor accident