Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Don’t Get Taken in By a Scam After Your Florida Truck Accident

Published on: November 3, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

After a Florida truck accident or car accident, you will likely be frightened and worried. You may worry about the medical costs or the lost income you are facing and you may feel overwhelmed by the insurance claims process or forms you need to sign. Unfortunately, there are some people who will take advantage of your situation and may try to create further problems for you by luring you into scams.

Recently, for example, police have been investigating a fraudulent accident help line known as Latina de Accidentes. Authorities allege that while the accident line claimed to send interpreters to accident victims, the people who operated the business pressured callers to commit medical fraud by claiming injuries they did not have.

If you have been in a Florida car accident or truck accident, there are many red flag signs you will need to watch out for:

1) Attorneys who guarantee a result or a recovery amount. No experienced attorney can guarantee an outcome for your case. By hiring a qualified, experienced attorney, you can increase the odds of a fair recovery. However, attorneys know that there are simply no guarantees in a Florida car accident or truck accident case and honest attorneys will make this clear.

2) Insurance professionals who claim you will not receive any money unless you sign a document immediately – without reading it carefully. You should never sign a document after your accident without first consulting a good Florida personal injury attorney. If someone pressures you into something you don’t understand, be wary. You could end up signing away your rights for a lowball offer.

3) Drivers who try to get you to accept blame or try to get you to drive away from any accident. If you have been in a Florida truck accident or car accident, you should not accept any blame. There is simply no way to tell who is liable without a good investigation. Similarly, you should always exchange contact information, insurance information, and license plate numbers with the other driver. If you do not, the other driver may accuse you of a hit and run accident.

4) “Too good to be true” offers. If someone offers you something that simple seems too good to be true – like a guarantee of a million dollar settlement for very minor injuries – proceed with caution. Often, scammers make elaborate offers to hook you in. Always consult with a legitimate and experienced Florida personal injury attorney before agreeing to anything after your accident.

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Florida Trucking Accidents and Your Finances

Published on: October 20, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida trucking accidents and car accidents cause deaths and considerable suffering every year, but they also have a severe impact on victims’ finances. Some experts believe that truck accidents cost more than twenty-four billion dollars annually in damages. Car and truck accidents involving a large commercial truck with two or three trailers average about $117,309 in damages per collision. These costs can include property loss and damage, pain and suffering, medical costs, and lost income as well as related expenses. While insurance is meant to help Florida traffic accident victims deal with the catastrophic costs of truck accidents, in many cases victims are unable to recover all the damages associated with their injuries. Some Florida car accident and truck accident victims face bankruptcy, reduced quality of life and even eviction or foreclosure of their homes due to the financial devastation of a truck accident.

There are many reasons why Florida truck accidents cause this type of financial devastation to insured victims. One reason is that insurance companies sometimes estimate the total costs associated with an injury. In some cases, insurance companies offer a low claims amount, based on immediate medical costs. However, Florida brain injury victims, spinal cord injury victims, and other injury victims may face a long lifetime of reduced earnings capacity as well as considerable medical bills.

As well, insurance companies sometimes underestimate the total costs involved with an injury. For example, they may pay for car damage, immediate medical costs and immediate lost wages without paying for medical devices, long term treatment or specialty treatment. A Florida burn injury victim, for example, may need counseling, a series of expensive skin grafts, and other rehabilitative treatments. However, an insurance carrier may only agree to pay for basic doctor’s visits.

Due to this problem, it is very important for Florida truck accident victims to speak with a good Florida personal injury attorney soon after the accident. Once statements and insurance papers are signed and once a claim amount has been given, it may be too late to pursue a fairer settlement that covers all medical expenses, which is why it is important to contact an attorney first. An initial consultation with a good attorney can at least give a patient a sense of their rights and options.

Another common problem that affects Florida truck accident victims is the amount of time it can take in order to recover damages for an accident. After a Florida truck accident, a patient may immediately face lost income as well as substantial expenses. However, the claims process can take a long time. While waiting for the insurance money, a patient may be facing severe financial stresses. In some cases, insurance companies promise quick payment in exchange for the patient agreeing to a low claims amount. This places the patient in a difficult position: They can have some much-needed money immediately but may still face many tens of thousands of dollars in costs out of pocket.

A good Florida personal injury attorney can help with this, as well. A good attorney can pursue a case aggressively, to make sure that the injured plaintiff gets as much damages covered as possible. A good attorney can also advise a plaintiff who is in financial distress and offer advice about ways to survive financially while a legal claim works its way through the courts.

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When You Need to Run for an Attorney After a Florida Truck Accident

Published on: October 15, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you have been in a Florida truck accident that has resulted only in a fender bender, you can often handle the claim through your insurance provider. However, most Florida car accidents involving a truck do not end so happily. Many serious Florida brain injuries, amputations, fatalities, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries occur each year as a result of truck accidents. There are many reasons besides these why you may wish to see a Florida personal injury attorney immediately:

1) Someone has been injured in the accident. If you or a passenger have sustained a serious or permanent injury, you need to speak to a qualified Florida personal injury attorney at once. Florida spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, brain injuries, and other serious injuries caused by truck accidents can be very costly to treat and most insurance policies only cover a fraction of the total costs over time. It is important to speak to a good attorney to protect your financial future.

2) You have lost significant time away from work or other duties due to the accident. With lost income, you may need to go into debt or face financial hardship due to the accident. Some people even find themselves facing bankruptcy or foreclosure after a serious Florida pedestrian accident, car accident, or truck accident. A good attorney can ensure that you are compensated for the income you have lost.

3) Fault and liability are an issue. If you are being accused of causing the accident or if it looks as though your claim amount may be reduced due to liability issues, it is important to consult with an experienced Florida personal injury attorney. If a police report suggests that you are at fault or contains errors or inaccuracies, it is also vital to speak to a Florida lawyer. A good attorney can ensure that your rights are protected.

4) The accident was complex. If pedestrians or multiple cars are involved in a Florida car accident, liability issues and damages become more complicated. In this case, it is often best to work with a Florida truck accident attorney who has extensive experience in examining the details of complicated accidents.

5) If the accident involves a government vehicle or takes place in a construction site. These situations are legally more complex. Government employees are protected and it may be harder for you to recover all the damages needed for your medical bills, for example, if you are involved in an accident with a government truck. Construction site accidents are also more complex because determining liability in these cases is often challenging.

6) You start to have insurance problems. You rely on your insurance to protect you in the event of an accident. However, if after your accident you find that your liability coverage is too low or if your insurance companies claims you are not covered, it is time to speak with a qualified attorney. Similarly, if your insurance provider stops taking your calls or starts to act unusual or has you speak with the insurer’s attorney, it is imperative to involve a very good Florida personal injury attorney on your behalf. Insurance problems can be very costly and often a good attorney can better resolve these issues.

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Florida Truck Accidents and Structured Settlement Laws

Published on: October 13, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you have been in a Florida truck accident or other type of traffic accident and have worked with a Florida personal injury attorney to settle your claim, your claim amount may be significant. In fact, many Florida car accidents involving trucks involve serious Florida brain injuries, burn injuries, and even wrongful death claims. As a result, the settlements in these cases can be quite large. If you are expecting a larger settlement in your Florida truck accident case, you may wish to establish a structured settlement plan. A structured settlement means that you will receive your settlement amount in regular installments rather than in one lump sum. This can have several advantages in a Florida truck accident case:

1) Tax benefits. You may be able to set up a structured settlement in your case so that you pay less taxes or even no taxes. Even if your settlement amount is significant, you will of course want to use all of it to recover from your injury, so the less you need to pay in taxes, the more effectively you can use the funds.

2) Money protection. By receiving money gradually, you can be sure that you will have the financial resources in place when you need them. If you are not used to receiving and managing larger amounts of money, a structured settlement can be financially safer.

3) A good asset. You can use a structured settlement just like any asset. It is possible to sell your structured settlement, for example, in order to earn more money for larger purchases. You will need to contact a Florida attorney first, however, to learn about current laws affecting the sale of your structured settlement.

Of course, there are some disadvantages to structured settlements. You may need more money initially to pay for costs and a structured settlement leaves less flexibility in how you will invest your money. You also do not have the option of investing a lump sum settlement in order to make more money.

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If You’ve Been in a Florida Truck Accident, Are You Covered for Your Injuries?

Published on: October 11, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you have been in a Florida car accident or pedestrian accident involving a truck, you likely will need to make a claim on your insurance policy. Most Florida truck accidents result in serious damage as well as costly medical expenses. For example, Florida spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and other serious injuries are a common result of truck accidents. Once you have received basic medical attention, you will need to file a claim with your insurance provider at the earlier possible opportunity. You will also want to look at your insurance policy to understand what you are covered for. Your insurance policy may include coverage such as:

1) Liability coverage. In Florida, liability insurance is required to drive a car. This type of insurance covers the personal injury costs and property damage that occurs to others if you have been in a car accident. This insurance may also cover your legal costs. If your liability insurance does not cover the injuries and damages that others have sustained in a car accident, you may face legal action, especially if it can be proven that you are at fault.

2) Collision coverage. This insurance covers the damage which occurs to your vehicle in the event of an accident. This coverage will be paid out, regardless of who was at fault in the accident. If you have a deductible, you will need to pay that and the insurance provider will pay for the rest of the repair costs to your car. Many Florida trucking accidents, however, result in total destruction of a car. If your car is a complete loss, you will receive the cash value of the car.

3) Comprehensive coverage. This type of insurance usually covers damage which can occur due to vandalism, theft, weather, and fire. You will pay the deductible and the insurance company will pay the cash value of your car or the costs to repair your car. If you have been in a Florida truck accident, you will often not need to worry about comprehensive coverage.

4) Medical payments coverage. This coverage pays (regardless of fault) the medical bills of your passengers and yourself. If you receive payment from the other driver in the car, you will need to repay these benefits.

5) Personal injury protection (PIP) and No-Fault coverage. These optional and additional features of your insurance policy may cover additional medical costs as well as lost income and related expenses of your car accident.

6) Uninsured and underinsured driver coverage. This insurance protects you in the event that you are in an accident with a driver who does not have the legally required liability insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover your injuries. If you have this insurance coverage, your own insurance company will pay for your injuries and damages.

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Resources That Can Help After Florida Trucking Accidents

Published on: October 1, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

After a Florida trucking accident, you will need as many resources as possible as you work to recover. Being in a Florida car accident involving a truck is devastating and often leads to serious injuries as well as losses. This is not a time to try to be stoic and do it alone. There are many people who can help you as you recover:

1) A Florida personal injury attorney. An experienced Florida personal injury attorney can be invaluable when you have been in a serious Florida pedestrian accident, traffic accident, or any incident causing injury. A good attorney can ensure you don’t sign away your rights and can help ensure that your accident is carefully investigated in order to find all liable parties. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help ensure that you get all the support you are entitled to under the law as you recover. Working with a good attorney can help ensure quality care and can ensure that you pay fewer costs out of pocket.

2) Friends and family. After an accident, you will need your friends and family as your emotions run the gamut. Friends and family can support you emotionally and encourage you as you heal.

3) Insurance providers. If you are covered by insurance, insurance providers can play a large role in ensuring that most of your accident-related costs are covered so that you are not responsible for these costs. Unfortunately, not all insurance providers are eager to pay you fully for the costs of your accident. For this reason, it is often good to work with a Florida personal injury attorney to ensure that your costs are covered.

4) Counselors. If you are still having trouble recovering from your accident after a few weeks, you may wish to seek help from a counselor or therapist. This can help you get help in recovering from the emotional trauma, especially, of your accident.

5) Health care professionals. After your Florida truck accident, you will likely need to rely on health care professionals and doctors for at least part of your recovery. In many cases, you may need to rely on specialists as well. Florida burn injury patients, for example, may need to work with cosmetic surgeons to recover while Florida spinal cord injury patients may work with surgeons and rehabilitation professionals in order to regain mobility.

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Coping with Loss After Florida Truck Accidents

Published on: September 29, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

Florida trucking accidents can be devastating for the losses they cause. If you have been in a Florida car accident involving a truck or have been in a trucking accident, you may face many losses:

1) Loss of your health. One of the most tragic losses associated with Florida trucking accidents is the amount of devastating injuries which can occur from such accidents. Due to the size and force of large commercial trucks, Florida trucking accidents may result in amputations, brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, and other serious injuries. In some cases, these injuries may be permanent and can affect every aspect of a patient’s life.

2) Loss of income. Florida trucking accidents often leave patients unable to return to work for weeks. In some cases, permanent injuries mean that patients can never return to work. Worse, while trucking accidents deprive a victim of income, they also almost always mean substantial medical bills and other costs.

3) Loss of family members. Florida truck accidents often lead to fatalities, depriving families of parents, siblings, children, and loved ones. It can often be devastating to try to recover from such a loss.

4) Property loss. Patients who are in a Florida car accident involving a truck often do not think about property loss immediately, but this type of loss can be significant. You may lose your car as well as any valuables in your car during a collision.

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Florida Trucking Accidents and Vulnerable Individuals

Published on: September 22, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

While Florida trucking accidents are almost always tragic in that they lead to many injuries and often lead to fatalities as well, not everyone has an equal chance in a truck accident. Due to the unique nature of trucks as well as their size and weight, some individuals are especially vulnerable in Florida trucking accidents:

1) Bicyclists. Bicyclists are not surrounded by a protective layer of metal, the way occupants in passenger vehicles are. Passenger vehicles are specifically designed to shield passengers in the event of a collision. There are seat belts, air bags, and other safety features intended to protect occupants. Bicyclists do not have these advantages. When hit by a truck in a Florida bicycle accident involving a truck, bicyclists are likely to sustain very severe injuries and have a high risk of fatal injuries.

2) Pedestrians. Like bicyclists, pedestrians are not protected by any external car or safety features. Worse, when an adult is struck by a truck, the truck’s relatively flat front usually means a sizeable area of impact and trauma. For an adult, being hit by a truck usually means substantial injuries to the head and abdomen area – injuries which often prove fatal. In fact, research has proven that Florida pedestrian accidents involving trucks are more fatal than pedestrian accidents involving cars.

3) Young children and minors. Even when children are protected by the safety features and the external structure of a passenger vehicle, they may be vulnerable to more injuries in Florida trucking accidents. One problem is that many safety features – such as airbags, for example – are in fact designed for adults and can be dangerous for child passengers. For this reason, it is important to always use age-appropriate child safety seats and safety restraints.

4) Motorcyclists. Like pedestrians and pedestrians, motorcyclists do not have the advantage of being surrounded by the safety features and the metal cage of a car. Worse, in a Florida trucking accident involving a motorcycle, the motorcycle itself can become a danger. It can land on the motorcyclist, crushing bones. It can slide under a truck, dragging the motorcyclist along. In many Florida burn injuries involving motorcycle accidents, the fuel tank of the motorcycle ignites in a collision, causing a fire and burn injuries. As well, since motorcyclists can travel faster than pedestrians or bicyclists, they can collide with a truck at a greater speed, causing even more injury and creating an even greater risk.

5) The elderly. The elderly often have lower bone density, which makes them more vulnerable to broken bones and serious injuries in a traffic accident, even when protected in a passenger vehicle.

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