Paul, Elkind, Branz & Paul Paul, Elkind, Branz & Paul | Florida General Practice Law Firm 2026-05-15T05:38:31Z https://www.paulandelkind.com/feed/atom/ WordPress /wp-content/uploads/sites/1604043/2022/02/cropped-PaulElkindBranzPaul_SITEICON_512x512_FEB22-32x32.jpg On Behalf of Paul, Elkind, Branz & Paul <![CDATA[5 steps to take after an auto collision]]> https://www.paulandelkind.com/?p=48179 2022-05-23T19:10:22Z 2022-05-23T19:10:22Z personal injury as a result. To help yourself get through this situation and get the compensation that you deserve, here are five steps you should take.
  1. Call 911 to report the collision
The first thing to do after a crash is to report the collision as soon as you can. If there are injuries, you need to call 911 to get paramedics to the scene. Usually, calling 911 will get the police, the fire department and paramedics to come to the scene immediately.
  1. Protect yourself when talking to the police
Next, remember to protect yourself when you talk to the police. Don’t say or do anything that could make them think you’re taking the blame for the crash. Keep your discussions factual. At this point, it may also be helpful to take photos at the scene and of the officers’ information, so you can refer back to it later.
  1. Go to the emergency room
The next step is to go to the emergency room to have a physical exam. You may need different kinds of imaging scans, surgery or other treatments, so follow your doctor’s orders at that time.
  1. Keep your documents in order
No matter what happens from the time of the crash onward, you need to keep track of your documents. Keep copies of medical paperwork, fees, receipts, time lost at work and other documents. You’ll need those for your personal injury claim.
  1. Talk to your attorney
Finally, be ready to talk to your attorney as you prepare to make a claim. The at-fault driver may be held accountable for the injuries that you’ve suffered from, but how much you get can vary based on negotiating skill. Your attorney will help you understand your rights and what you need to produce to build a case with the best chances of getting the kind of compensation that you want.]]> On Behalf of Paul, Elkind, Branz & Paul <![CDATA[A look at dog attack liability]]> https://www.paulandelkind.com/?p=48180 2022-04-10T18:09:45Z 2022-04-10T18:09:45Z What is reasonable? Specific to animal attacks, reasonability has two aspects to it. First, you must be reasonably aware that animals pose a danger on your property. Florida law is clear on what defines a dangerous dog, including:
  • A dog that has bitten or attacked a person on public or private property
  • A dog that has chased or bitten livestock while off the dog owner's property
  • A dog that has menacingly chased people without provocation
The next thing you must do is ensure that people are aware of the danger or there is a barrier between the public and your property. This could be notices, warnings or even fencing. If the dangerous animal is a pet, proper leash use will likely keep you from being held liable.

What about wild animals?

While the law speaks explicitly to "dangerous dogs," property owners may have liability in wild animal attacks on their property. If the property owner knows of a wild animal on their property, they must take reasonable care to prevent injury. However, trespassers do not gain the full rights of safety that guests and vendors do, and it may be a less significant case. That, however, would be for a court to decide.]]> On Behalf of Paul, Elkind, Branz & Paul <![CDATA[Do you have a succession plan?]]> https://www.paulandelkind.com/?p=48181 2022-04-08T18:15:29Z 2022-04-08T18:15:29Z without a succession plan in place, the company may suffer. Here are five tips to aid you in building your succession plan:

Choose your successor.

Finding the right person to lead your company into the future isn’t easy. It requires understanding what your company will need for tomorrow. You might have many people you trust to manage things as you would today. But the world will be quite different in the future, and you want to put a person in charge who can anticipate and change with the times.

Choose your time frame.

When you’ve developed an idea for moving on, you need to set a firm timeline for everyone involved. A lack of clarity can lead to frustrations that may derail your plans. The firmer you are with your planned exit, the easier it will be in the long run.

Choose your training program.

Whoever you choose to take over will have to understand the needs of the business from a whole new perspective. That perspective is and remains yours until you leave. You’ll need to develop a training program that shows your successor how all of this works as you move toward your next step.

Learn to let go.

Once you've trained your replacement, you must step away once the timeline has reached its end. The only way you and your company can move forward is if you are prepared to let it go.

Remember, you are not your business.

A struggle for many business owners is the difficulty in understanding where they and their businesses begin and end. Many owners have spent an entire career being their business's brand. Now, it's time to build something new, whether it is retirement or a new company, which is your choice. Make no mistake. You’ll have many difficult choices to make as you plan for the next chapter of your business, and it's a tough job, but you can do it.]]>