Preparing for the Coronavirus Quarantine
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Coronavirus | ,

Planning Your Prescription Medication Needs During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Keep an Ample Supply but Make Sure You’re Getting the Right Medication

Headlines like this one “Pharmacy Shelves Empty as Health Officials Urge Home Preparedness to Protect Against Coronavirus” (wusa9.com March 2020) can certainly cause anxiety in people, especially those who depend on prescription medications to stay alive.

This coronavirus crisis is causing financial hardships, increased anxiety, and of course serious sickness and death. It is vitally important for everyone to remain calm, follow the guidelines established by health officials, and take care of themselves as well as their loved ones.

One of the things people should do is be prepared by having sufficient medications on hand because they may not be able to get to the pharmacy as often as they normally do.

How Much Medication Should You Have on Hand?

According to an article at AARP.org “If you want a reserve of prescription medication at home, start by talking to your doctor” said Robert McLean, a rheumatologist and president of the AmericanCoronavirus Quarantine College of Physicians. “It’s possible your physician could bump up your prescription from a 30-day supply to a 90-day supply. Then, call your pharmacy to make sure it can fill it.”

Pharmacy Errors

We have helped people who have been injured by pharmacy errors for 28 years, and we know there are many factors that contribute to mistakes made by pharmacies and pharmacists, but one of the most common is that they get too busy.

We have always stressed the importance of slowing down the patient-pharmacy relationship long enough speak with the pharmacist and verify that you receive the medications that were ordered by your physician. Make sure the dosages are correct and that there will be no adverse reactions with other medications, foods, or supplements.

We’re Here to Help

If you believe you may have experienced an error by a pharmacist or pharmacy we are here to answer your questions. We are prepared to arrange a consultation by phone or online if you call us at (954) 356-0006.

Preparing for the Coronavirus Quarantine

Accident Attorney During Coronavirus Crisis
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | South Florida Accident Attorneys | ,

What to do if You are Injured During the Coronavirus Crisis

Help is Here and the System Will Continue to Work

Recent weeks have taken us all into what might be called uncharted waters because we have never experienced anything quite like this. The first thing we will say is that panic will only make every situation worse, and it’s best to slow down and try to remain calm. We will get through this together.

Most people are staying home and that’s best, but many of us still have to venture out to shop for food or go to jobs that have been deemed to be essential. People who go out in their automobiles are doing so in an environment that is populated with other people who are likely on edge and not focused on the road and other cars.

It’s a recipe for accidents.

If you are in an accident on the road, or perhaps in a store or on some other property, remember that our first responders, the police and paramedics are still there for us. The first thing to do after any accident is to make sure any injured people are attended to immediately.

Next, get some advice from someone who can calmly assess the situation and make sure your rights are protected and your responsibilities are understood: an experienced and qualified injury attorney.

Our civil justice system is still in place, and it will continue to work for people who are injured.

If you have questions about some type of injury or harm that happened to you or a loved one and you’re not sure how to proceed, you do not have to come to one of our offices. We can arrange a free, virtual consultation online if you call (954) 356-0006. We monitor our phone lines 24/7 and will respond to you promptly.

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Florida Pharmacy Error Attorneys | , ,

Dangerous Pharmacies – Woman Charged with Impersonating Pharmacist

Pharmacy Negligence and Malpractice

Sometimes you just have to say out loud, “How does something like that happen?”

Walgreen’s recently settled with authorities in California after a woman was criminally charged with impersonating a pharmacist. Allegedly she used the license numbers of other pharmacists to work in more than one pharmacy from 2006 to 2017 and no one caught on according to a story by the Associated Press. It’s inconceivable that someone Pharmacy Negligence Attorneys Floridacould get away with this for even one hour, much less several years.

The phony pharmacist was charged will filling over 745,000 prescriptions and many of them were for opioids such as fentanyl and morphine. Some opioids, in very small amounts, can quickly kill a human being.

We can only hope that it’s very rare for an impostor to successfully gain access to a licensed pharmacy, all the drugs, and patient records contained therein, but if it happened even once it shows there is a lack of diligence, due care, proper procedures, and protocol on the part of the pharmacy.

We have been representing people hurt by pharmacy errors, negligence, and malpractice for 25 years and we urge everyone who does business with any pharmacy to closely scrutinize their medications. Make sure what you receive is what your physician intended. Take time to speak with your pharmacists and ask them to double check your medication each time you visit the pharmacy.

Everyone is capable of making a mistake, but our experience has taught us that when dealing with pharmacies there are often not enough steps to absolutely insure that all prescriptions are properly dispensed.

If you have any questions about a situation involving your medication, your doctor, nurse, or pharmacy we are here to help. We can be reached 7 days a week at (954) 356-0006.

 

 

 

Auto Accident Insurance Delays and Denials
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Auto Accident Insurance Delays and Denials | , , ,

Auto Accident Insurance Delays and Denials • Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys

Auto Accident Insurance Delays and Denials

You’re a safe driver, and you’ve always paid your auto insurance premiums on time. But when you are involved in an accident, it seems like your friends at the insurance company aren’t in a hurry to help you get your car fixed, pay for your injuries, or give you any help at all. We can help.

One of the first things that happens after an accident is the insurance companies involved start to play the blame game. They often delay issuing payment for damages and will try to stall while they also try to limit what they will pay. They may deny your claim entirely.

Auto Accident Insurance Delays and DenialsEveryone who is involved in an accident that involves significant damage to property or any injuries at all should consult with a personal injury attorney. Keep in mind that many injuries do not become apparent until days or weeks after the accident.

Believe it or not, some insurance companies will delay paying benefits to people who are injured and cannot work so they can offer a lower settlement and hope for an acceptance because the victim is desperate. This sounds callous but we see it happen. Of course not all insurance companies engage in these tactics, and sometimes delays are due to “processing” and other technicalities but that doesn’t help the person who needs to pay bills.

You may need someone to deal with the insurance company, or you may need someone to actually move forward with a lawsuit. Either way, it’s best to get legal advice. Keep in mind that there are limitations on time about when you can file a lawsuit and if you miss that window while haggling with your insurance company you may lose your right to sue.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been working with victims of accidents in south Florida for over 25 years. We have dealt with every insurance company and heard every imaginable excuse why they can’t pay what they should pay for injuries and damages. We don’t accept excuses, we get results.

Please call us if you have any questions about an auto, truck, or motorcycle accident. We’re here to help: (954) 356-0006

Auto Accident Insurance Delays and Denials

| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENTS

Shore Excursion Accidents and Cruise Ship Negligence – Lazarus Law Firm

Cruise Ship Negligence and Shore Excursion Accidents

When you see television commercials for cruise lines, you would think that vacationing on board a big ship is nothing but merriment and safe sanctuary away from worldly worries. But that’s not entirely accurate.

The truth is that people suffer from a range of accidents and suffer a variety injuries every year including slips and falls, falling overboard, food poisoning, and accidents at shore while docked at a port-of-call.

Recent incidents in the news include a passenger who was hospitalized after staying in a stateroom infested with bed bugs, 6 victims injured when two Carnival Cruise Ships collided in Cozumel, Mexico, and 2 Carnival Cruise passengers who were killed in a van crash while ashore in Belize. Passengers have been assaulted by other passengers and crew members, and some have been Cruise Ship Accidents and Negligenceincorrectly diagnosed and treated by ship’s medical personnel.

Parasailing, for example, is a very popular recreational activity around the world, and Florida Statute 327.375 deals with commercial parasailing, requires liability insurance, and forbids operating under certain weather conditions. When a traveler is not within the borders of the United States they are not necessarily protected by the same state and federal laws we are familiar with, but that doesn’t mean a victim of negligence cannot recover damages. If you’re on a cruise and engage in some parasailing while off the ship at the beach in a foreign country, the Florida Statute does not cover the operator. If you are injured due to negligence, finding who is at fault is not always clear.

Pursuing justice and reasonable compensation for injuries and other damages while on a cruise is a very specialized area of law, and victims should seek out attorneys who have experience dealing with these cases. The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been helping victims of cruise ship accidents since 1992. Our proximity to three of the world’s busiest ports, Miami, Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, and the Port of Palm Beach has us uniquely positioned to meet with passenger-victims and quickly assess the situation and recommend the best course of action.

You may reach us 7-days-a-week at (954) 356-0006.

 

Florida Pharmacy Error Attorneys
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Florida Pharmacy Error Attorneys | ,

Drive-Thru Danger at the Pharmacy – Florida Pharmacy Error Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus

Florida Pharmacy Error Attorneys

If you go to the drive-thru at McDonald’s and they give you the wrong burger, it’s not the end of the world. But a mistake at the pharmacy drive-thru might cause you real pain, suffering, and perhaps even death.

Americans filled a record 5.8 billion prescriptions in 2018 — at a rate of 17.6 prescriptions per person — up 2.7% over 2017, according to a report published at Medscape.com. Depending on how many pharmacists there are actually completing all those orders, it seems reasonable to assume that mistakes will be made, and they are.

Florida Pharmacy Error AttorneysIt’s important to understand that medication mistakes are made at different stages along the way after a patient is issued a prescription by a physician or a nurse practitioner in a hospital, at an office, or by phone or computer.

  1. Sometimes a specific details of a prescription are improperly read by the pharmacy or pharmacist. High volumes of orders may cause employees to be overloaded and they simply push the wrong button on the computer. Imagine someone hitting an extra zero and receiving 1000 mg of a medication instead of the 100 mg intended. These types of mistakes are supposed to be caught but sometimes they aren’t.
  2. Studies show that a common error at the pharmacy involves label errors. Incorrect labeling happens when the wrong label is put on a bottle of pills and it therefore goes to the wrong patient. Other common pharmacy errors include incorrect instructions to the patient on when and how often to take the medication.
  3. There are instances where a patient will not read the instructions completely or there will be a failure to understand the proper time and frequency directions from the doctor. This is why we urge people to take time to speak with the pharmacist and ask questions. Always make sure your doctor and your pharmacist are aware of all medications you take, including over-the-counter products, so they cam make sure there are adverse reactions.

Having a proper consultation with your pharmacist is where the issue of “drive-through” pharmacy windows becomes an issue. It is almost impossible to have a meaningful discussion with a pharmacist through a window. People behind you may be honking and it’s just not a system designed for accurate communication.

A Very Disturbing Pharmacy Error

According to the Pharmacy Times:

The clerk handling the transaction at a drive-through window of a community pharmacy in a Southern state erroneously gave 2 prescriptions for a patient with the same last name to the spouse of a patient. The patient suffered from Alzheimer disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The medications dispensed in error were alprazolam and sertraline. Those were administered to the patient by his wife at about 11 pm, and at 4 am, she heard him calling her name. She found him on the floor near the front door with nothing around that constituted a tripping hazard. Nothing in the area accounted for his fall.

He could not get up. An ambulance was called, and it was discovered at the emergency department that he had a broken hip, requiring emergency surgery.

If you think a mistake was made regarding prescription medication or that of a loved one, please feel free to call us and ask questions. We have been working for victims of pharmacy errors, medical malpractice, and other negligence since 1992 and we understand these situations. Let us recommend the best course of action because there is no acceptable mistake when it comes to medical care. Our number is 954-356-0006.

South Florida Accident Attorneys Distracted Driving
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys |

No More Warnings – Tickets for Texting are Here Now – Lazarus Law Firm

Distracted Driving – Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys

Many people remember the 1973 song by Alice Cooper “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and that’s what police officers may sing to drivers as they write tickets for texting and driving on south Florida roads. Since October 1st of last year they have been issuing warnings, but beginning January 1st they are writing real tickets for offenders.

The Pembroke Pines Police posted on their Facebook page:

ATTENTION DRIVERS: It is illegal for drivers to hold phones while driving through school zones and active construction zones. Any cell phone use while driving in these areas is restricted to ‘hands-free’ modes. (FSS 316.306)

Since October 2019, officers have been issuing warnings to drivers who have been seen disobeying this new law. As of this month, we will begin regular enforcement and any violators will face a citation.

In addition, texting while driving (regardless of the location) has been increased to a primary offense. This means that police officers can pull over drivers just for texting and driving, without committing any other traffic violation. (FSS 316.305)

South Florida Accident AttorneysThe fines vary according to the location of the infraction (construction or school zone) and if it is a first or second offense, and there are points involved as well as other costs including higher insurance premiums. Smart drivers will just put the phone down, away from where it can be a distraction, and focus on the road. Thousands of accidents are injuring and killing people across he country every year and these tragedies can be prevented just by using some common sense, courtesy, and caution.

We have been helping automobile, truck, and motorcycle collision victims in south Florida since 1992 and sadly many of them were injured because of distracted driving. If you have been in an accident and have questions, we are here to help. Call us 7 days a week at (954) 356-0006 and we’ll listen and offer advice.

Florida Personal Injury Law Firm
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Florida Personal Injury Attorney | , , ,

You Don’t Have to be the President to be Impeached – Florida Personal Injury Attorneys Lazarus & Lazarus

Florida Personal Injury Law Firm

There is a lot of talk in the news about “impeachment” and yet many people don’t fully understand what the word means. In the case of an elected or other public official, impeach means to accuse them of official misconduct, but the word also means to challenge the credibility of a witness.

Our justice system operates with the basic principle that all participants must be truthful, and a person who provides testimony (a witness) is usually sworn in before speaking so they understand the importance of being completely honest. Any witness can be subjected to scrutiny, including their previous record to determine if their testimony is to be trusted. If an individual has a prior record of being untruthful, or has a criminal record, it’s possible a jury will be less likely to believe them.

Florida Statute 90.608 says, in part: Who may impeach. — Any party, including the party calling the witness, may attack the credibility of a witness by:
(1) Introducing statements of the witness which are inconsistent with the witness’s present testimony.

Florida Personal Injury Law Firm
Lazarus and Lazarus (954) 356-0006

In personal injury cases witnesses are often called to give testimony, including expert witnesses who are frequently called upon to offer opinions on a particular subject where they are highly experienced and educated. It is important that all witnesses be looked at closely to make sure they are offering valid, accurate, and truthful evidence.

If you are involved in an accident and you plan to represent yourself, the story you tell may be scrutinized not only on its substantive content, but on your own record. The opposing side in your case may look to “impeach” you as a witness for any number of reasons, and this is one of many reasons it is prudent to seek professional legal help when you are injured. A qualified and experienced attorney can guide you through the entire process and make every ethical effort to make sure the truth is brought to light.

If you are involved in a traffic accident it is important to be truthful right from the start, but it is also important to not offer information that is not asked for or necessary. After contacting emergency authorities it is a good idea to call an attorney who specializes in accidents. We hope you will consider our firm, working to bring justice to victims in south Florida since 1992.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus – (954) 356-0006

 

 

Package Delivery Service Negligence and Liability
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Package Delivery Service Liability | , ,

Are Amazon Deliveries Dangerous? South Florida Accident Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus

Package Delivery Service Negligence and Liability

“Are you aware that rushing toward a goal is a sublimated death wish? It’s no coincidence we call them deadlines.”
― Tom Robbins, Author

Package Delivery NegligenceEveryone is in a hurry. When we’re hungry we want our food fast and we want the products we purchase online to arrive on our door step just as fast. While Amazon and other big internet retailers are not quite as prompt as the pizza companies, they are trying to match them. Soon drones will drop packages on our front yards.

Online ordering is great, but are the delivery times unrealistic and do they risk our safety?

In 1973 Domino’s launched a “30 minutes or it’s free” ad campaign and it worked until lawsuits were initiated by people who were injured by delivery drivers rushing to get pies to people in an unrealistic time frame. The company continued the program for twenty years until 1993 when this happened, as reported by the Chicago Tribune: A St. Louis jury reached the same conclusion last week in the case of Jean Kinder, who was hit by a Domino’s delivery driver in 1989. The jurors ordered Domino’s to pay her $750,000 in actual damages and $78 million in punitive damages.

Today the rush is on for package delivery and Amazon leads the charge to get products delivered to customers fast. Reports are coming in about workers being injured in regional sorting facilities and drivers rushing through traffic to make deadlines.

An NBC News investigation revealed:

Some people who deliver Amazon packages have been involved in deadly wrecks. In September, ProPublica and The New York Times reported in a joint investigation that they had found more than 60 crashes since June 2015 involving Amazon delivery contractors that resulted in serious injuries, including 10 deaths. They said the tally was likely a fraction of the crashes because many people don’t sue.

The same NBC report quoted a former delivery contractor: “You don’t take your lunch break. You don’t use the bathroom. … There were guys peeing in bottles in the van,” Rowe said, adding that he did the same. “You speed. You run stop signs in a neighborhood. …You start conditioning yourself to just go as fast as possible.”

While companies may ignore proper safety procedures and precautions in the interest of higher profits, that does not limit their liability when one of their drivers causes a serious accident. Florida law is very clear about victims having the right to sue for their injuries and damages.

Companies who hire independent contractors to do their deliveries in an effort to shirk responsibility should be held accountable for damages.

If you are involved in any accident you should make sure your rights are protected. An experienced traffic accident law firm will see that the negligent individual or company is held responsible and will fight for your rights to receive justice. The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has earned a solid reputation for handling these types of cases and we can be reached by calling (954) 356-0006 seven days a week.

Fort Lauderdale Pharmacy Error Attorneys
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Prescription Errors

Should Your Doctor Dispense Medications? Pharmacy Error Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus

Pharmacy Errors

We all know the routine. You visit your doctor and before you leave you are handed a prescription for a medication to take to the pharmacy. Many doctors today can send the prescription by computer direct to your pharmacy and that makes life a little easier but you still need to stop at the pharmacy on the way home.

What if doctors were to fill your prescription right in their office?

One issue with going to the pharmacy routine is that some people never go. A study revealed that 20-30% of all prescriptions are never filled. The reasons for this could include forgetfulness, cost, or just apathy, and it’s a serious issue.

If a doctor gives a patient a prescription and it is never filled, the doctor will usually assume the patient is taking it. If something happens, a physician will not be able to thoroughly understand what’s happening with the patient and why certain symptoms are present or missing. It is very important to take medications as prescribed and always carry a list of all medications including dosages with you in case of emergency.

Getting the medication into the patient’s hands as quickly as possible is definitely an advantage of in-office dispensing. Another advantage is communication. Patients would probably be more Pharmacy Negligence Attorneysinclined to take a few minutes to speak with their doctor or nurse about how and when to take the medication, and ask questions about side effects.

People who favor doctor dispensing also claim that privacy, accuracy, and convenience are also benefits.

Pharmacies obviously would not favor increased doctor dispensing of prescription medication because they would lose business, and they claim that costs would rise dramatically. Pharmacies feel they do a good job filling prescriptions accurately and making sure they watch for any negative drug combinations that could cause issues for patients. However, several studies and investigations including one by the Chicago Tribune found that pharmacies actually make many errors.

Forbes magazine recently reported an incident where several people received injections of insulin instead of a flu shot. It happened at a facility, not at a pharmacy but the injections were administered by a pharmacist.

Whether a patient gets medications from their physician or their local pharmacy the important thing is that they receive the medicine they are supposed to take. Pharmacy errors have included putting the wrong medication in the bottle, or incorrect dosages and these mistakes can cause serious injury or death.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been helping victims of prescription injuries since 1992. These cases involves a special level of expertise and victims should seek a personal injury attorney with experience. Please call Gary and Arleen Lazarus at (954) 356-0006 and we will listen to you, then recommend the best course of action if you believe you may be a victim of pharmacy errors or if your physician may have made a mistake in your treatment.