May
16
2013
Q: My son was riding on his school bus the other day when they were broadsided by a drunk driver. It threw him into the floor, skinning one knee, and his right elbow and low back are sore. Does he get that no fault coverage, and does he have a case?
A: Yes, school buses carry Personal Injury Protection but it goes in the normal pecking order. If you own a car, it is the coverage on your own car that pays medical expenses (presumaby no wage loss) up to $10,000 even though your vehicle was not involved. You don’t have to worry about an increase in rates, nor being dropped, etc. And yes, he has a case versus the drunk driver and his insurance company, or potentially uninsured motorist coverage if available. Our consultations are free and we’re more than happy to explain your full rights and potential benefits whether you hire us or not. 407-883-2618 – we look forward to hearing from you!
May
13
2013
Q: I’ve read some of what you’ve said, but I keep seeing these commercials talking about how I may be entitled to $10,000 in benefits and other attorney commercials saying my case may be worth a certain amount. Just how much money can I get? I got hit by a drunk driver three days ago, who was arrested, and the police officer got his insurance ID card out of his wallet and it’s one of the major companies. I carry very good insurance myself through a large company and one, I fractured my little finger on my left hand, banged my head on the steering wheel (airbag didn’t deploy; we got rearended) and my whole family was in the car.
A: My position is always the same. Anyone who is telling you the truth in a first inquiry or first interview would tell you we don’t know the worth of your claim until (1) we know the full extent of your injuries and (2) the total amount of insurance coverage available. The fact that the defendant was drunk adds money value to the claim. A fractured finger and potential closed head injury from banging your head adds value. And each of your family members has a potential claim as well. And you mention that there are two major insurance companies involved so the potential for large bodily injury liability limits as well as underinsured motorist protection. Each one of you is automatically entitled to $10,000 in medical expense and lost wage benefits (each). And I can tell you this, as I work on a percentage basis, the more money I make you, the more I make. And insurance companies know we do not take lowball offers; rather we will file a lawsuit and take it to trial when appropriate. 407-883-2618; we look forward to hearing from you!
May
08
2013
Q: I was on a Lynx bus the other day and another driver ran a red light and hit us right in the side. I got knocked down into the floor as did some other folks and hit my head on one of those metal poles. My neighbor said oh heck, just falling in the floor isn’t anything. You don’t have a case.
I ordered the accident report online and the other driver had a pretty big insurance company and he was in a new Mercedes. I’m still stiff and sore.
Can you help me?
A: Yes! City buses are excluded from the Motor Vehicle No Fault Law so no permanency threshhold needs to be surpassed. You can collect money for any injury(ies). That’s best done with a lawyer. Is your neighbor an attorney? Our consultations are free and we’re more than happy to meet after hours, including weekends. 407-883-2618; we look forward to hearing from you!
May
06
2013
Q: A friend of mine was in an accident about a year ago. He hired a lawyer but got a little suspicious when it seemed like that lawyer was trying to get him to take a small settlement offer. He did some research online and found that lawyer has been sued twice for malpractice. My wife and kids were in an accident three days ago and how can I be sure we hire the right lawyer?
A: You can certainly look on line to confirm that The Freedom Law Firm has never been sued for malpractice. Two questions every potential client should ask at the first interview are one, have you ever had a malpractice action filed against you, and if so, what are the details, and two, when is the last time you tried a case like mine before a jury or otherwise what arrangements do you make when a case must be litigated. You should also consider asking if the attorney has ever been disciplined by the Florida Bar. Our record is clean, and we don’t take lowball offers from insurance companies. The consultation is free and we’re happy to meet with you after hours. 407-883-2618; we look forward to hearing from you!
May
03
2013
Q: My wife and our two children were hit by another driver who ran a red light last week. My wife said that in speaking to the other driver, she thought she smelled alcohol. The police came out and she brought that to their attention. They performed a field sobriety test on the man and said he passed. They didn’t issue any tickets because there were no witnesses and the other driver swore he had the green light. She’s sore in her neck and shoulders although the kids seem fine. Does she have a case?
A: We can help! Florida is a comparative negligence state so even if we can solidify that the other driver was even partially at fault, we can collect money for her for pain and suffering. Your own auto insurance will pay her medical expenses without regard to who was at fault under state law.
She should immediately get in to at least get checked out and same for the children, although they may seem fine, again, at least have them checked out medically. I can assist in this regard also. Our consultations are free with no obligation. 407-883-2618; we look forward to hearing from you!
May
02
2013
Q: I was in an accident three days ago and I got a ticket for no proof of insurance. The other lady was ticketed for careless driving, though. Truth be told, I’ve been through tough economic times and my insurance had lapsed. The lady’s insurance company contacted me today about fixing my car and it’s one of the big insurance companies. They were like so sorry, but it’s your own insurance that has to pay your medical bills. Since my insurance had lapsed and I got that ticket, does this mean I don’t have a case?
A: Not at all. As you said the at fault driver’s insurance carrier is one of the larger ones, the odds are they carry bodily injury liability coverage. This simply means that medical bills will have to be paid from settlement, but I can probably still put money in your pocket for pain and suffering. I get paid only if indeed I do recover money for you and we can negotiate the medical bills to where you are sure to walk away with compensation. Our consultations are free and with no obligation. 407-883-2618; we look forward to hearing from you!
May
01
2013
Q: I keep hearing in lawyer advertising, both print and TV, about how much money I can get. I was in an accident a few days back and went to Centra Care. So how much money can I get and am I owed additional money because my car’s value has been diminished since it’s been in a wreck?
A: Anyone who’s telling you the truth right off the bat would tell you they don’t know what the case is worth. We don’t know the total amount of insurance coverage and we don’t yet know the full severity of your injuries.
I can tell you this, though, I don’t get paid unless I collect for you for pain and suffering, and as I work on a percentage basis, the more money I make you (or any of my clients) the more I make. So, I fight for every dime you can get. And yes, you can get additional money for the diminished value of your vehicle. Our consultations are free and we’re happy to meet with you after hours. 407-883-2618; we look forward to hearing from you!
May
01
2013
Q: My wife and two sons were in an accident over the weekend. They were rearended at a stop light. My wife’s neck is sore but my sons seem basically okay with the exception that one of them’s left calf is sore. They got hit by a company truck that seems to have good insurance but my neighbor keeps saying that pursuing such a claim other than fixing my car is what drives our insurance rates up. What do you think?
A: Your wife and sons should get checked out immediately by a doctor. I can help. Otherwise they lose up to $10,000 in medical expense and (where it applies) lost wage benefits. If an injury’s there it’s there, if it’s not it’s not. Moreover, I’m willing to bet your insurance premiums have gone up only nominally over the past few years and since they were rearended, and your insurance agent will tell you the same thing, as state law requires they use your own insurance company for no fault benefits (again, medical expenses and lost wages) they can’t raise your rates, nor drop you, nor refuse to renew you for using your rightful benefits you paid a premium for. As just one more example, Business Week in November 1999 carried a comprehensive article on State Farm, the nation’s largest insuror. They referred to the carrier as a “three headed monster”, comprised of
State Farm Life Insurance, State Farm Fire & Casualty (homeowners’ policies and coverage for commercial buildings) and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. Insurance companies may cry poormouth and try to discourage people from filing claims, however at the time of that article, their Mutual Automobile Insurance Company alone carried a surplus of over sixty
billion dollars ( ! ). I’d say with all due respect your neighbor is wrong. 407-883-2618; call now!
Apr
29
2013
Q: I was on my motorcycle last week and another driver in a pickup truck ran a red light and hit me. I’m sore all over. Does this no fault coverage apply? Can you help me?
A: Unfortunately motorcycles are an excluded class of vehicle under our no fault law. That said, provided the other driver is insured with bodily injury liability coverage, they will be responsible for repairs to your motorcycle and an eventual settlement that will both pay your medical expenses and compensate you for pain and suffering. If you had been in a four wheeled vehicle, your injuries would have to be considered permanent in order to collect for pain and suffering. When on a motorcycle, no such rule applies and often makes settlements much easier to obtain. Unless I do recover money for you, you owe me absolutely nothing, and our consultations are free. Call now, even after hours, 407-883-2618; we look forward to hearing from you!
Apr
29
2013
Q: I was hit by a drunk driver who ran a red light two days ago. He was arrested for DUI. I would up with a fractured arm and they hardcasted it at the hospital and sent me for follow up with an orthopedist who said I may need surgery later. An insurance adjuster came out, did an estimate on my car, and offered me $30,000 for my broken arm but said that’s about the going rate. My neighbor said if I hire an attorney I’ll only give up part of that settlement. What do you think?
A: There is no “going rate” per se and bear in mind you are faced with the potential of future surgery on that arm. I suspect you have other injuries as well. Additionally, that figure is kind of odd. We usually see bodily injury liability policies (not always but usually) in the amounts of $10,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000. This tells me they are probably offering less than the policy limits. I can agree to take a fee only on money offered above and beyond $30,000. I can also help with your medical care. I believe you can get considerably more money, although by rule I cannot promise an outcome. Our consultations are free.
407-883-2618; we look forward to hearing from you!
