Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Can a Landlord Be Liable for a Dog Bite?
If you were bitten while visiting someone in an apartment building, you are probably wondering who you can hold legally liable for the bite. In Florida, owners are generally liable when their dogs bite someone—regardless of whether the dog had a history of aggressiveness. However, suing the dog owner doesn’t always make sense. The… Read More »
Our Firm Secures a Six-Figure Settlement for an Elderly Client
Some of our hardest cases we accept involve situations where there is a real lack of evidence. Our client is injured and definitely knows what happened, but we need evidence to back up the claim. Insurers rarely accept a person’s version of events but can be persuaded to pay compensation when our firm finds… Read More »
Halpern Santos & Pinkert Scores Win for Disabled Veteran
Accepting difficult cases is something we pride ourselves on. Many of our clients have met with countless other Florida personal injury attorneys, only to be told, “Sorry, but we don’t think you have a case.” When they come to us, they are often afraid that obtaining badly-needed compensation is out of reach. A recent… Read More »
A Landlord’s Legal Duty to Provide Adequate Security
Landlords owe many responsibilities to their tenants. One little-known duty is to provide reasonably safe premises. Under Florida law, this duty includes a duty to provide adequate security against criminal activity. If you were attacked in your apartment or on the premises, you might have a legal claim. Meet with a Florida personal injury… Read More »
Can We Make Cars Safer for Pedestrians and Cyclists?
Over the past decade, the number of fatalities has fallen for those who are riding in automobiles. At the same time, however, the number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities has actually jumped—from 6,300 in 2010 to 8,800. As Bloomberg notes, the roads are much safer now for those travelling inside a car and more… Read More »
Truck Override and Underride Accidents
Tractor-trailers sit higher off the ground than other vehicles, and this creates a problem as other cars on the road can easily get wedged underneath. Overrides and underrides are two types of truck accidents that can turn deadly, and motorists are helpless when a larger vehicle rides up over them or they slide under… Read More »
Right on Red Collisions
Making a right turn on a red light is legal in Florida unless specifically prohibited by signage. There is a reason for this: the federal government in 1975 included a requirement in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act that states allow right turns on red as a condition for receiving federal funds. However, a… Read More »
Avoiding Common Summer Accidents
Summer is a great time to go on a family trip or host relatives at home. With children out of school, families get to spend more time together playing, traveling, or just relaxing in their yards. Summer is also a time when many people get injured. Car accidents increase with more teens out on… Read More »
Have You Fractured Your Hip?
One of the worst injuries a person can suffer is a hip fracture. The hip is so vital to balance and walking that any injury to the bones or socket, no matter how small, can become debilitating. Many people cannot walk, work, or spend time with their family as they struggle with pain. Our… Read More »
Florida Car Accidents Cut in Half due to Pandemic
According to state data, the number of car accidents has dropped dramatically in the state due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Tampa Bay Times analyzed the data and found that the number of accidents dropped by 25% in March compared to the year earlier, but then dropped 50% in April. This is good news… Read More »
