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Can Your Employer Require You to Wear a Face Mask?

There has been a lot of controversy in the last several weeks about mask-wearing; and while we don’t want to get political, we do want to make sure that you are aware of your rights and limitations under the law when it comes to this health mandate. To understand how the law applies, we have to look at local mandates as well as employment law and workers’ rights.

Can my boss force me to wear a mask?

The short answer? More than likely your boss can force you to wear a mask, but you may be able to qualify for an exemption under the ADA.

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Why You Must Move Quickly in Employment-Related Lawsuits

The fact is that worker rights are violated every day across the nation. A very small percentage of workers actually pursue employment-related lawsuits when faced with workplace discrimination, harassment, wage violations, or retaliatory practices.

Many employees are on the fence about pursuing employment violations. They are afraid that they will not get any great benefit from the lawsuit compared to the hassle of pursuing the matter. In addition, employees worry that it will affect their ability to obtain employment in the future.

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Overtime and Working Off the Clock—What Your Boss Doesn’t Want You to Know

It happens all the time. You’ve clocked out, gathered your belongings, and are headed out the door when your boss says, “Oh, one more thing before you go…”

Of course, your boss doesn’t want you to take the time to clock back in. “It will just take a minute, please?” If you just want to get out of there and go home to relax, just doing it off the clock is tempting, but this is actually illegal. 

According to federal law, you must be compensated for every minute that you work, even if it is going to give you overtime pay. Here’s what you need to know about working off the clock and overtime.

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How Long Will My Personal Injury Lawsuit Take?

No two personal injury lawsuits are ever exactly the same, so it can be hard to tell how long it might take to settle or win your case. Especially in the middle of the pandemic, attorneys, insurance agents, and courts are not operating at full capacity. This can further delay your case. Here are a few other things you should know about how long it will take to settle your personal injury case.

Extent of Your Injuries

Part of what determines how long it takes to get a settlement or payout depends on the extent of your injuries. The liable party is should compensate you for your medical bills and lost wages during your recovery; but if that recovery takes months or years, you typically would need to wait until you have reached maximum medical improvement and your doctors (and attorney) have a good idea as to what is your final diagnosis, future prognosis, and what future medical care will be needed, if any. 

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How Damages Are Assessed for a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Have you been injured due to the negligence of a person, group, or company? If so, you have a right to be fully compensated for your injuries, but how those injuries relate to a settlement or judgment amount can be difficult to understand. There are actually different types of damages, and they are calculated in different ways.

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are monies that you are entitled to based on verifiable, definable losses. For a personal injury case, this is going to be all of the financial impacts of the accident. This can include medical bills, necessary ongoing or future medical treatment, loss of wages because you were unable to work, or property damage that occurred at the same time as the injury.

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Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases in Florida

If you have suffered an injury in Florida, you have a set amount of time to file a claim against the party or parties that caused you harm. If you don’t pursue your case before that, you will lose your right to gain compensation for your injuries. It is very important to contact an attorney as soon as an accident happens so that you can get the legal representation you need to preserve your rights.

For most personal injury cases, the statute of limitations in Florida is four years. That means that if you file a lawsuit, it must be done before four years from the date of the accident. Cases against a government entity, typically has a shorter statute of limitations of three years. While medical malpractice cases have different statutes of limitations, typically 2 years, and complex rules for filing a case.

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Tips for Surviving the Pandemic in Florida Without Injury

The coronavirus pandemic has turned the whole world upside down; and as a part of that, the risk of injury is much higher. Many people are being very reckless, both on and off the roads. You are always at some risk of an injury accident, but during the chaos of this crisis your risks are much higher. Here are some tips for surviving the pandemic without an injury accident.

Shop at Odd Times

If you have to go out for essentials, try to do so outside of peak shopping or traffic times. The best way to avoid an injury accident is to avoid as many hazards as possible, and right now the biggest hazard is the people themselves. Shopping at odd times reduces your exposure to other people, which is good in more ways than one.

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Types of Distracted Driving and When It Becomes Dangerous

Every state has laws against impaired driving, and most states also now have laws against texting while driving. But there are many other situations in which your driving could be impaired by distractions. Even though these distractions are not against the law, they are likely to cause an accident. If you cause an accident due to being distracted, you could be liable for the other person’s injuries and property damage.

Here are some of the most common types of distracted driving.

Eating While Driving

A lot of people do it, especially people who travel a lot for work or recreation. It can be very tempting to go through the drive thru at your favorite fast food restaurant to grab a bite to eat so that you can stay on the road, but eating while driving can be very dangerous. Here are a few examples.

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Why Amazon Delivery Accidents Happen and What to Do

Since Amazon started making deliveries directly, there are a lot more drivers on the roads. Amazon drivers, like other delivery drivers, are more likely to have a car accident. For those of us on the roads handling day-to-day business, these drivers pose a unique risk.

Distracted Driving

We talk a lot about texting while driving, but any kind of distraction while driving can be dangerous. Amazon delivery drivers are particularly distracted. They must follow a GPS to each home and business where they are delivering. They may also be distracted by notifications and interactions with Amazon. This leaves little attention for other vehicles on the road.

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The Prevalence of Florida Dog Bite Injuries

You might think that your chances of getting a dog bite injury in Florida are slim. But in reality, dog bites happen quite frequently. There are about 600 people bitten by a dog each year in the state of Florida. Dog bites can happen for different reasons, and they don’t always lead to severe injury. 

Causes of Dog Bites

There are three main causes of dog bite injuries. The most common occurrence of dog bites is when people try to break up a dog fight. As a general rule, these dog bite injuries are not the responsibility of the dog owner. The other two causes of dog bite injuries are inappropriate behavior management and protective behavior. 

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