Practice Areas
Personal Injury Practice Areas
At Harlan Law Firm, our Personal Injury Practice Areas represent seriously injured clients and their families in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. We handle a number of carefully selected cases at a time, in order to devote our full attention to the physical, mental, and legal well being of our clients and their families.
- We only represent people injured by the negligence, carelessness, and recklessness of others.
- We do not represent insurance companies, corporations, HMO’s, or other faceless entities.
We have successfully represented individuals and their families with claims caused by the negligence, carelessness, and recklessness of others in situations such as:
Auto Accidents
Injuries from auto accidents can cause a lifetime of pain, medical treatment and expense, loss of the ability to work or a shortened career from car crash related injuries, which often get worse with time and age. Fortunately, most auto accidents do not result in catastrophic injuries, but the resulting injuries can significantly interfere with quality of life and the ability to enjoy a life pain free. Our mission here at the Harland Law Firm is to obtain money to compensate our clients for what has been taken from them. This principle is a recognized tenet of our legal system; if you break something, you pay for it.
Why you may need us? When you are injured in a car crash, you most likely will be dealing with the at fault driver’s insurance company. Over the years, insurance carriers have figured out that there are many lawyers out there who will convince their clients to take less than fair value for their case, to avoid having to file a lawsuit and do actual legal work. This has driven down the value of what insurance companies are willing to pay to settle cases early on. This along with insurance companies tightening up on paying claims has caused many more auto accidents cases to go into litigation (filing a lawsuit). Essentially, you need a lawyer that is competent to be able to take a case from very first day you meet your lawyer, all the way through trial and maybe even an appeal. We are that firm. Our results speak to this.
What you get by hiring the Harland Law Firm?
When you hire our firm, you hire me. I have over sixteen years of experience handling all types of liability related cases, with an emphasis on auto accidents. I have tried these cases and have the experience trial results to guide my clients through this process so they can make the best, well informed decision about their case.
Motorcycle Accident
A Motorcycle Accident typically involve catastrophic damages with very little insurance compared to the injuries sustained. We have had tremendous success handling these cases, which require special legal skills to maximize client recovery. A Motorcycle Accident usually causes a lifetime of pain, medical treatment and expense, loss of the ability to work or a shortened career from motorcycle accident related injuries. Our mission here at the Harland Law Firm is to obtain maximum recovery to compensate our clients for what has been taken from them, which is often substantial.
Why you may need us? When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, you will most likely will be dealing with a situation in which the at fault driver does not have adequate insurance and the at fault party’s insurance company is attempting to pay the claim as promptly as possible. This can result in other sources of recovery being forever lost when you settle quickly without the advice of legal counsel. Essentially, you need a lawyer that knows how to think outside the box to maximize your recovery for what are most likely catastrophic injuries. We are that firm. Often times that requires a firm who is willing to go the distance all the way through trial and maybe even an appeal. We are that firm. Our results speak to this.
What you get by hiring the Harland Law Firm?
When you hire our firm, you hire me. I have over sixteen years of experience handling all types of liability related cases, with an emphasis on car and motorcycle accidents. I have tried these cases and have the experience and trial results to guide my clients through this process so they can make the best, well informed decision about their case.
Bicycle or Pedestrian Accident
The Harland Law Firm has had significant success handling both bicycle or pedestrian accident cases. These cases, often involve catastrophic injury, with very little available insurance coverage to compensate for these significant injuries. People generally do not come out of these crashes with just scratches and bruises as the human body does not fare well against cars or trucks that weigh many thousands of pounds. We have dealt with bicycle and pedestrian accident cases involving traumatic brain injuries as well as significant and permanently debilitating orthopedic injuries and our expertise has resulted in significant recovery for our clients whose lives have been forever altered through no fault of their own.
If you or a family member has been involved in a bicycle or pedestrian accident it is imperative that you act promptly as the insurance companies will typically attempt to resolve these cases before you have had the opportunity to seek any legal advice. Often times, adjusters will travel to the hospital to attempt to provide a settlement check in exchange for a full release of the at fault driver, and before the family or victim has had an opportunity to discuss their legal rights with an attorney of their choosing. We have even had situations where an adjuster attempted to leave a check under our client’s pillow while she was in a coma in ICU. If you or a family member have these types of questions or concerns, please contact us as soon as possible, we can help you.
Boating Accidents
Florida is a paradise for boaters. With over 20 million people living in the State and the largest coastline in the lower 48, Florida can boast that it is the boating capital of the United States. While boating can provide for endless enjoyment, scenery, and relaxation, it unfortunately can have a deadly side too, when boat operators make mistakes and/or use bad judgment. Boating accidents can occur as a result of inexperience, use of drugs or alcohol and a combination of these events. Often times the consequences are catastrophic or worse, fatal. As a former member of the United States Coast Guard, I have seen first-hand, the damage that can be caused due to inexperience and bad judgment on the water. Legal cases for injuries as a result of a boating accident require specialized knowledge, as the laws applicable on land are often entirely different when dealing with maritime injuries. Failing to hire a lawyer without the requisite knowledge can add further insult to injury. Our firm has the experience to guide you successfully through this type of legal matter. Cruise ship injuries are also prevalent in the sunshine state and our firm is experienced in dealing with these matters too. These cases often have a very short time within which to begin legal action so do not delay and contact us immediately if you have been injured on a cruise ship and wish to discuss your legal rights.
Semi Truck Accident
Their very presence of semi trucks on the road instills fear in us. We do not want them next to us on the highway and for good reason. These vehicles are enormous and can have devastating and often fatal results when they are involved in a Semi Truck Accident.
Semi Truck Accident cases require extensive knowledge into areas of law that are different from a run of the mill auto accident. Many trucking companies have rapid response teams who are immediately called to the scene of a crash to begin investigating and attempting to limit liability early on.
It is important if you are involved in a serious crash involving a semi truck to hire a competent law firm as soon as possible to begin working on your behalf. We are that firm. We have experience in taking these cases to trial if needed, in order to recover what has been taken from you.
If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in a semi truck accident, please do not delay and call us immediately for a free consultation.
Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
Medical Professionals have extensive experience, education and training that is relied upon every time they are entrusted by their patients to provide medical care, services and treatment in accordance with acceptable medical standards within the community.
Unfortunately, most patients are not on a level playing field with their healthcare provider when it comes to understanding what proper healthcare entails and therefore patients put enormous trust and faith in these professionals, that they are competent and know what they are doing. Sometimes this faith and trust is misplaced, and medical mistakes occur. Often times, the results are catastrophic.
Statistics show that medical negligence is the third leading cause of death among Americans and accounts for an average of 225,000 deaths per year in the last decade alone! That is over 2,250,000 people killed in the last decade alone.
When medical mistakes cause catastrophic injury or death, the results are devastating to the victims and their loved ones. Injuries from medical neglect can cause a lifetime of debilitation and loss of the ability to earn money and add up into the millions of dollars in lost wages and future medical care needs.
Allowing victims to claim these damages from the medical providers responsible soundly shifts the financial costs where they should be….on the shoulders of the individual or entity responsible.
In past years, tort reform has been pushed by the medical community and their insurers, which often cites increasing liability insurance premiums as the need for this reform. Often these reforms amount to nothing more than shifting the bill onto the taxpayers, while the negligent actors walk away scott free, while medical providers’ liability insurance premiums never decrease. Taxpayers pick up the tab by way of governmental programs such as Medicare and Medicaid picking up the tab for these injuries and treatment. It does not have to be this way.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of medical mistake or nursing home abuse and neglect, call us, we can help.
Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing Home Negligence – Medical Professionals have extensive experience, education and training that is relied upon every time they are entrusted by their patients to provide medical care, services and treatment in accordance with acceptable medical standards within the community. Unfortunately, most patients are not on a level playing field with their healthcare provider when it comes to understanding what proper healthcare entails and therefore patients put enormous trust and faith in these professionals, that they are competent and know what they are doing. Sometimes this faith and trust is misplaced, and medical mistakes occur. Often times, the results are catastrophic.
Statistics show that Nursing Home Negligence is the third leading cause of death among Americans and accounts for an average of 225,000 deaths per year in the last decade alone! That is over 2,250,000 people killed in the last decade alone. When medical mistakes cause catastrophic injury or death, the results are devastating to the victims and their loved ones. Injuries from medical neglect can cause a lifetime of debilitation and loss of the ability to earn money and add up into the millions of dollars in lost wages and future medical care needs.
Allowing victims to claim these damages from the medical providers responsible soundly shifts the financial costs where they should be….on the shoulders of the individual or entity responsible. In past years, tort reform has been pushed by the medical community and their insurers, which often cites increasing liability insurance premiums as the need for this reform. Often these reforms amount to nothing more than shifting the bill onto the taxpayers, while the negligent actors walk away scott free, while medical providers’ liability insurance premiums never decrease. Taxpayers pick up the tab by way of governmental programs such as Medicare and Medicaid picking up the tab for these injuries and treatment. It does not have to be this way.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of medical mistake or Nursing Home Negligence, call us, we can help.
Slip and Fall Accident
Slip and fall accident are a type of premises liability case. These cases have become increasingly difficult in Florida due to lobbying efforts of the large grocery store chains expending large sums of money to have laws passed that make it very difficult for patrons in their stores to receive compensation for their injuries, even when they become seriously injured in these stores through no fault of their own.
Here at the Harland Law Firm, we have had great success handling slip and fall accident cases, along with many other types of premises cases, ranging from injuries in parking lots due to poorly maintained conditions on the property to cases involving other dangerous conditions or hazards that exist on properties which then cause injury to unsuspecting visitors on the property.
If you have suffered a Slip and fall Accident and would like a free consultation, do not hesitate to contact us here at the Harland Law Firm.
Debt Collection
You owe the money, but you do not deserve to be harassed and hounded by those who are responsible for attempting to collect the debt. Under both Florida law and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, there are protections in place for individuals that owe money to lenders.
Often times, these lenders will harass and intimidate debtors at all hours of the day and night and often times on their cell phones. These debt collectors will also call friends and family, bothering them too. Fortunately, there are legal protections in place if you owe money and are being harassed.
Here at the Harland Law Firm we can help you recover money if you are subject to this harassment. Under the law, you may be entitled to up to $1,500 for every unwanted call made to you on your cell phone. This can add up quickly as many debt collectors call many times a day, even after being informed to cease and desist their collection harassment.
If you wish to discuss your legal rights concerning unwanted harassment on a debt you owe, call us for a consultation.
Unpaid Overtime and Wage and Hour Disputes
Unpaid overtime is an increasing trend across the state of Florida and the country.
Employers know that the job market today is not what it used be and if you are like most you are just thankful to have a job.
Employers across the state of Florida and the U.S. are exploiting this fear of job loss and expecting employees like you to work unpaid overtime. The fear of losing your job prevents you from standing up for your right to overtime pay.
Overtime pay should be equal to one and half times your normal hourly wage for each hour you work over 40 hours per pay week. Stop being a victim; your employer may have thousands of dollars of unpaid overtime that is owed to you!
Do not continue to be a victim of unpaid overtime. You worked hard and should expect to be paid fairly. Stand up for your right to collect your unpaid overtime.
Our law firm represents employees who have been victimized by their employer’s failure to follow the federal labor laws outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA Law)requiring payment of overtime pay. We handle class action and collective action cases where the employer’s decision to not pay overtime affects an entire class of employees who are purposely not paid fairly.
At The Law Firm of Patrick W. Harland, Jr., LLC, you will get the benefit of an experienced Civil Trial Lawyer who specializes in collecting unpaid wages and unpaid overtime.
The Law Firm of Patrick W. Harland, Jr., LLC handles cases involving:
- Unpaid overtime – Generally if you work more then forty hours per week you are entitled to overtime pay.
- Improperly calculated overtime – Overtime pay should equal one and a half times your hourly wage for each hour worked over forty hours per pay week.
- Unpaid wages – When you agreed to become an employee your employer agreed that they would pay you a specific amount of money. If you work you deserve to be paid and paid fairly as your employer agreed.
- Incorrect employee classifications – Employers have tried to label some employees as supervisor or manager and thus put them on a salary pay basis thinking that they will not have to pay you overtime wages if you worked over forty hours. This is usually not the case and if you have unpaid overtime it is your right to paid the money owed to you.
- Collective Actions under the FLSA – If your rights have been violated and you have not been paid, are due unpaid overtime, or have been paid an unfair overtime wage. Chances are your collegues have suffered from the same unfair treatment. Together we can collectively recover your unpaid overtime and wages from your common employer.