I made it very clear to these two outstanding young people how impressed I was with their dedication and commitment to early voting.  Emily, the audio engineer, told me that this was her second polling place that she had visited that morning.  The other poll was at Broward College and was longer than the Pompano Beach public library. She had a family day planned to watch a football game with her family that kicked off at 1pm. Several of us were taking bets on when we would get into the building,  Emily took 12pm, I took 1pm and another woman took 2pm. Unfortunately, I did not win the bet, but then again, none of us won.  However, it did not matter, we all had fun and were making history by standing in the heat, with hundreds of other people waiting in line to cast our vote for our candidate.

Now back to my early voting experience.  To my amazement, there were mostly Democratic supporters at the polls passing at literature.  I saw only the Republican Senator Jeff Atwater's campaigners passing out literature on the Republican side. The Obama Campaign had massive volunteers passing out Crystal Springs water in Publix reusable shopping bags.  I must add that they only handed out water and did not solicit for Obama. They had Obama, hats and pins on, so you could not miss the fact that they were with the Obama Campaign for Change as they were passing out water to people. I could not help but wonder where were the McCain Palin supporters?  I was there several hours and did not see anyone out there for John McCain and Sarah Palin handing out waters to the die hards standing in line for hours waiting to cast their vote.  I do not know if this will make a difference in the outcome of the election, but it did stand out in the minds of my three new early voting friends, the teacher, audio engineer, and the attorney.

By 1pm, we were very close to the front door. We all phoned our friends and family and told them that we were still in line waiting to go in to vote.  It was not until 2:15pm, that we stepped foot into the Pompano Beach Public Library. However, Amy, the staffer from the Supervisor of Elections informed us that all 38 of us, would go in, take a seat and wait a little while longer before we could go into the back to cast our vote. We sat down and waited in the center of the library for about 15 min. The Librarian made a pitch for the Library's services. And then the entertainment came, two staffers from the Supervisor of Elections Office, were so funny, when they explained how to fill in the paper ballot.  I wish that I could have taped it, because they were funny, telling tales of how people could not shade in the oval circles. There was one incident, where an elderly gentleman came up to them after he submitted his ballot and asked where is the ballot for voting for President?  The staffer explained that after a ballot is submitted into the polling machine, it can't be changed. Once a ballot is submitted, it is official, there is no going back.

As I stood at the voting booth filling out my four page ballot, I knew that my one vote could make a difference. My standing in the heat for several hours was not in vain. I walked over to the finish line, placed my yellow folder on the table and the Senior staffer, walked me over to the machine to submit my ballot. One by one, I submitted all four pages. When I was finished, I was handed an I voted sticker. I took one extra, so that I could wear it on Tuesday, the actual Election Day...

I put on my I voted sticker and walked out of the building, at 3pm o Sunday, the line was still long.  I told the people standing near the door, that they were almost there. Only a few more steps and they would be in the nice Air conditioned building.  I smiled to myself and thought, I have made a difference. I voted for my candidate. I am also thankful that we have early voting in Florida and excellent poll workers, both paid and volunteers.

Now the question is Have you voted?  If you did not, you have one more day... Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4, 2008.  I implore you, to make a difference and let your voice be heard. Vote, on Tuesday, November 4 at your designated polling place. We know one thing for certain that on Wednesday, November 5th either we will have a new President. It will either be John McCain or Barack Obama, President of the United States of America. 

Have you voted for your Presidential Candidate?

What can we do?  We can all lend a helping hand to the less fortunate.  We can support organizations that reach out and help the less fortunate.  We can give money or we can give time.

One critical issue that many working poor families face is healthcare for their children. In Florida, we have a program called Florida KidCare that provides medical insurance for children, birth through age 18.  If a family can't afford to pay the basic premiums, which can be as low as $15/month, a family may qualify for no monthly premiums for their children. 

Another great organization that reaches out and helps the poor and less fortunate is the United Way of  Palm Beach County. This group gives to families and supports many other non profits that help communities. We can all do something to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate.   Education and programming is key to the solution. 

Reach out in your community and find a homeless shelter that welcomes volunteers.  Talk to the residents and listen. Share your story with them and encourage them. If you have no money to give, your time is just as valuable.  If we all do something, our collective efforts can make a difference.

Check out blogactionday.org/ for more insights on what others are doing in the fight to end poverty.

The LaBovick Injury Law Blog is participating in the National Blog Action Day for Poverty on October 15, 2008. It is a worldwide collective effort of over 7000 Bloggers discussing the subject of Poverty to their readers.

You may be asking yourself why is a law firm participating in something like this and why is it of interest to our readers?  Poverty is something that affects millions of people in this country.  The Attorneys of LaBovick & LaBovick constantly come into contact with personal injury victims seeking help. In some instances, the injured person my not have health insurance, they may not have a home or employment. In other instances, LaBovick & LaBovick Attorneys come across people in in need while working on Community Charitable projects. The firm tries to lend a helping hand to worthy causes that are making the community a better place and helping to solve critical needs for families and children. 

What can someone do to participate in Blog Action Day for Poverty 2008?
Advocate - Consumer, Political, and Community
Work/Volunteer - Donate time to a worthy organization
Give - Donate money and resources
Inform - Spread the word to others

If everyone does something all of the collective efforts will make a difference.  On October 15, 2008, join in and make a positive impact on the war against Poverty.

Please read and share the LaBovick Injury Law Blog post on Poverty with others.  Your comments and feedback on the post will be greatly appreciated. If you decide to do something positive for the war on Poverty, please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas.  Comments and feedback are welcome.
 
 

We sometimes forget how fortunate we are to live in an open Society. Journalists covering the Beijing Olympics have been routinely prevented from going into certain parts of Beijing, including Tiananmen Square, have been promised access to the Internet and have not been able to get it. We forget how lucky we are in the United States to have it here, where we can look at things and do what we believe is right and say anything and be critical of Government Officials, Lawyers, Judges and anyone that we want.

As an Attorney, when we are reviewing our files and looking at cases, sometimes we are critical of certain people involved, whether it is the Judge, opposing Counsel, or witnesses. But what we take for granted in our Society is that we can be openly critical, whereas, in a lot of places, we would not have that option. It is special for us to be able to voice our opinions.

In relation to Personal Injury cases, in most Countries, you would not have the right to bring a Suit if you have been hurt. If there is no Healthcare and you do not have the money for it, you would just suffer. When people talk about Tort reform and that there are too many lawsuits, most of those people have not been on the receiving end of an injury. If they ever are, my suspicion is that their opinions would change. It is special in the United States that we have the right to try and balance the scales, when someone has been hurt. The Justice system was never designed for someone to try and make a profit and never have to work again for a relatively minor injury. But it is designed to allow people who have been hurt to get the medical treatment they need to fix the Injury and try to bring them back as close as possible as to where they were before the injury. If they are not able to be brought back physically equal, the Justice system attempts to balance that scale. In addition, the Justice system attempts to provide the injured party the finances that will allow them either to get nursing treatment at home or additional medical care to help alleviate their pain, or wages that they would have earned but can’t because of whatever has happened to them.

Enjoy watching the Beijing Olympics 2008… Go Team USA!

"The purpose of the Back to School Florida KidCare Enrollment Fair is to bring awareness of the healthcare coverage available to kids in Florida without health insurance coverage", stated, Attorney Esther Uria LaBovick, Partner, LaBovick & LaBovick, PA.

Coalition Member, Kid Finders Network will provide digital fingerprints to  kids enrolling in Florida KidCare. KidFinders Network will also be give out professional Kits for Child ID cards at the Florida KidCare Back to School Enrollment Fair.

The main thing is that Free School Supplies will be given to Kids attending the event.  There will be food, Entertainment and fun giveaways for  families and kids attending the Back to School Enrollment Fair.

Please Share this information with any family that has children and cannot afford to provide healthcare coverage for their kids.

Palm Beach County Florida KidCare - Back to School - Enrollment Fair Sunday, August 3, 2008 -

 12 noon - 3pm - Admission is Free
 

On Independence Day we reflect and remember the people who paved the way for Americans to have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Let's not forget about the sacrifices that were made for our gift of freedom.

Remember that freedom is a delicate balance. Throughout history, societies have given up their freedom to dictators. Our right to free speech, to assemble and most importantly to vote, is the guarantor of that freedom. Exercise your rights and remember to vote. Don't limit your vote to the presidential election. Vote in all the primary elections. Your community and your country deserve your participation. I have provided a link to several Florida Voters Registration Sites and Florida Supervisor of Elections websites at the end of this blog post.

As you celebrate today, we encourage you to be safe. According to reports, there were nearly, 10,000 injuries in 2007 related to fireworks. In Florida, reports claim 137 fires were started due to fireworks. Injuries and fires that are caused from using fireworks can be prevented, if people are cautious and pay attention to what they are doing. As a parent of three young children, I was surprised to learn that Sparklers have caused more injuries to children under age five than any other type of fireworks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission states that  Sparklers burn at temperatures hot enough to melt some metals. If you are a parent or happen to see children handling Sparklers, make sure they are over the age of 12 and are doing so with Adult Supervision.

If you are purchasing fireworks, be sure that you are buying consumer fireworks from a licensed store or stand. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has safety warnings on legal fireworks packaging. Look for the CPSC label and read the warnings.

Voters Registration Websites:
State of Florida Division of Elections
Florida Voter Registration and DMV,            Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections,
St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections,    Martin County Supervisor of Elections

This is a serious issue the LaBovick & LaBovick Law Firm is deeply committed to supporting. This year we partnered with the Dori Slosberg Foundation in helping to make the community more aware of this important roadway safety issue. This year, Governor Crist and law enforcement has  extended the campaign in hopes of saving more lives. Drivers on the roadways should be aware:

During May 19 - June 1, 2008, law enforcement will be increasing normal patrols and enforcement activities. In addition, law enforcement will be practicing a zero tolerance policy for safety belt usage. If a person is stopped for any traffic violation and is caught not wearing a safety belt, he or she will be ticketed. 

Research indicates that when people are wearing their seat belts/safety belts, lives have been saved in automobile accidents and automobile crashes.

Join the LaBovick & LaBovick Personal Injury Law Firm in promoting the 2008 Click it or Ticket Florida Campaign. We can all take it one step better and promote wearing seat belts all year long.

Important Florida seat belt usage statistics:

South Florida Seat belt Usage Statistics by County
Broward –  81.5% (2007) 
Miami Dade –  76.2% (2007
Palm Beach – 79.0% (2007) 

Seat belt Safety Usage Statistics in Florida:
• 2,103 people killed in vehicles.
• (1,301) of those killed not wearing seat belts.
• 72% (79 of 110) of the children ages 0 to 17 years old killed were not using safety equipment

Seat belt Usage by Florida Drivers:
• 618 drivers not wearing their safety belts were killed in traffic crashes. 
• 23,197 drivers involved in traffic crashes were not wearing their safety belts.

Day and Time of Crashes in Florida:
• Friday, during the 5 p.m. hour, had the highest number of all types of crashes (3,294).
• Sunday, during the 2 a.m. hour, had the highest number of fatal crashes (48).
• Saturday, during the 2 a.m. hour, was second with 40 fatal crashes.


NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, 2006 Nationwide Crash Statistics
1 fatality every 12 minutes
1 injury every 12 seconds
1 property damage crash every 8 seconds
1 law enforcement reported crash every 5 seconds

Jared Greenberg, a 10-year old, saw first hand, how important preparation and following up is for an attorney. He learned how important completing assignments were for schoolwork. Good work takes discipline and hard work. He saw his dad interact with clients and opposing counsel. The art of negotiation and effective listening skills were also on display in today's life lesson in our Jupiter Law Office today. Mark wanted today's visit by Jared to be meaningful, so he assigned him tasks to complete such as making copies, tagging exhibits and other meaningful things that he could work on with the team. I was amazed at how many questions Jared would ask his dad regarding projects he worked on or meetings that he would sit in on. These strong probing questions shows that Jared Greenberg has good instincts.  Who knows? One day when Jared is grown up, he may decide to follow in Attorney Mark A. Greenberg's footsteps to become a Civil Justice Prosecutor and fight for the rights of injured accident victims. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words... Take a look at the above picture and see the excitement in the eyes of Jared and the joy and love in the eyes of Mark. 

I spoke to Managing Partner, Brian LaBovick, Esq. regarding my post on Earth Day and asked what he was doing today to acknowledge Earth Day. After my story of the Publix "reusable shopping bags" he decided to go out and buy bags for all of our LaBovick & LaBovick staff members in an effort to help promote saving the environment in small steps. Yes, I mention small steps, because if we all take a few steps to make the environment better, it will make a difference. According to the EPA, companies can make a difference at the work place in helping the environment. A few   simple things, to start with include: 1) reducing energy use, 2) Re-use or recycle office products, 3) Use water more efficiently 4) Efficient Commuting for the environment, this includes, working from home when possible, carpooling use of mass transportation 5) Turn off  equipment, copier, printers, computers when not in use, 6) Use energy efficient lighting.

As a Boutique Florida Personal Injury Law firm, we are doing a little bit more than just giving reusable Publix Shopping bags to our employees. About a year ago, Managing Partner, Brian LaBovick, told me that he wanted to go paperless. He asked me to investigate and find the necessary steps on what it will take for us to be a paperless office. Imagine a paperless law firm. Believe it or not, they do exist. They are few and far between, but not impossible.

We are exploring the paperless office, which will take some time and effort, but in the interim, our Florida Injury Law Firm has taken some giant leaps in being more efficient and environmentally friendly. Last year we recycled old computers and monitors, after stripping them of all data, first. We shred and recycle paper and recycle cans that we use for beverages in the firm for staff and clients. We purchased a state of the art copier to scan documents for us to send PDFs of files to Doctors,  Insurance Adjusters, Defense Counsel, Experts and others involved in Personal injury and Qui tam cases we are working on. This cuts down on the use of paper tremendously. We satisfy requests of those that prefer receiving paper instead of a PDF or file.

If our Florida Injury Law firm can take small steps in our business to help the environment, we encourage other firms to join in.  A few weeks ago, the wonderful Governor of Florida, attended a "Going Green" event in Palm Beach County sponsored by Palm Tran. It is nice to see that officials in Florida are trying to make the public aware of their efforts to improve the environment.

You too can make a difference and do your part for our environment.

In the Fall, we Spring back each year at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November. In the month of November, move your clocks back one hour at the resumption of Standard Time.

We uncovered some interesting statistics for Roadway crashes in Florida from the Florida Department of Motor Vehicle Safety Administration. According to published reports, there was a significant spike in crashes in the month of March 2006. There were 24,066 crashes in the month of March, an increase of nearly 3,000 crashes from the month of February.  The number of fatal crashes also increased in March to 308 an increase from February's fatal crashes which were 221. It is important to note that in the month of November, the number of crashes went down from the previous month.  In November 2006 there were 20,984 crashes in Florida, which is much less than the month prior, which was 21,306 total crashes.  Fatal crashes in Florida also went down in November to 240 fatalities, down from 268 fatalities in October. 

We share this information with our readers to hopefully drive home the message for drivers to be safe on the highway, especially in the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, which is the month of March. In 2006, there were 3,097 total fatal accidents in Florida, March had the highest number of fatalities with 308 deaths.

At LaBovick & LaBovick, our goal is to help save lives by promoting and sharing safety information.  If we can help save a life or several lives on the highway, we feel that our time sharing this information has been well spent.

Click here to read more on the Florida Highway Motor Vehicle Safety Administration on crash statistics and highway data.
 

Attorney LaBovick will be writing  a synopsis of the seminar for the readers of the LaBovick Injury Law Blog, when he returns from his trip. He will share pertinent and relevant information that will be of interest to readers of the LaBovick Injury Law Blog.

The Law Firm, LaBovick & LaBovick, Civil Justice Prosecutors, is a Plaintiff’s firm. The firm focuses on fighting for Plaintiff’s personal injury victim’s rights in Florida and on qui tam (whistleblower claims) nationwide.  We handle all serious injuries, car accidents, maritime accidents, wrongful death, slip & fall, toxic torts and product liability cases. We have locations in Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Jupiter and Port St. Lucie, Florida. Visit our firm website at www.labovick.com for more injury information.

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