Frequently Asked Questions

I've been in an accident, and the doctor said I have degenerative condition. Can I make a claim?

You've been involved in an accident, and you've injured, let's say, your back. Your doctor has told you that you have what are called degenerate changes in your spine. These are the normal changes that take place as people age. You've never had symptoms before, but your doctor's told you that that condition exists, and you're wondering if you can still make a claim. The answer is absolutely you can. The fact that you have normal on-going changes in any part of your anatomy makes no difference to the possibility of you being able to pursue a claim. It may predispose you to injury. It may make you more fragile, and that's all certainly something that you're entitled to be compensated for. So, the short answer is, preexisting or degenerative conditions do not disqualify you from being able to bring a claim. If you'd like to discuss your unique circumstances, feel free to give me a call.

I've been in an accident. Should I give the insurance company a recorded statement?

You've been involved in an automobile accident or a fall down at a grocery store or a restaurant or a supermarket, and you've hurt yourself. You've been contacted by the insurance company for the store or for the at-fault driver and asked to give a recorded statement, and you're wondering whether or not you should do that. Generally speaking, the answer is this. If you're contemplating hiring an attorney, you'd be well advised to speak with that attorney before you give a recorded statement. The terms of an insurance policy, in particular if it's your own coverage, may require you to give a recorded statement as part of your responsibility to cooperate with your insurance company in the investigation of the claim. But generally speaking, the best single bit of advice I can give you is, if you are considering retaining an attorney, do so before you give a recorded statement to any insurance company, adjuster, or representative.

I've been in an accident. Do I have to accept the insurance company's offer?

You've been in an automobile accident, you've damaged your vehicle, and you haven't been able to reach an agreement with the insurance company over what it's gonna cost to repair your vehicle or how extensive the damages are. You're wondering if you're stuck with what the insurance company is proposing to you. The answer is no, you're not. You don't have to accept how the insurance company evaluates the damage, appraises the damage, where they wanna send you to have repairs done. Those are all things that are within your decision making. It may result in having to work with the insurance company or it may result in having to litigate with the insurance company to resolve that issue. Bottom line is you're not stuck with what the insurance company is telling you about the damage to your vehicle or how it's about to be repaired. If you'd like to talk about that or any other issue in more detail, feel free to give me a call.

I've been in an accident, and the other driver doesn't have insurance. What can I do?

Clients who've recently been in an automobile accident often call me concerned that they've just learned that the person responsible in the accident does not have liability insurance, and they're wondering what they can do. Well, there's a couple things they can do.

First is to investigate their own insurance coverage. It may be that you've purchased an optional form of coverage called uninsured motorist coverage or also under-insured motorist coverage. We can help and assist you with that. It's possible also that you may yet be able to pursue the person who is responsible in the accident even though they are uninsured, and we'd be happy to investigate that for you as well.

There may be other avenues of liability that are applicable to a particular claim. Things such as road design, signage, hazards that may be on the highway at a given time that contributed to your accident. But there are many things to be investigated in a claim where there is little or no coverage held by the party at fault. We'd be happy to investigate that for you and help you if we possibly can. Please give me a call.

I've been injured in an accident, yet have been turned down by attorneys.

You've been turned down by one or more attorneys that you've discussed your case with, and you're wondering if you should just give up or try again. I'd like to suggest that you try again. I've taken many, many cases over the years that other attorneys have turned down and have been able to achieve successful outcomes for my clients. I'm not at all put off by the fact that you've spoken with attorneys previously and for whatever reason have indicated to you they're not interested in your case. Please, give me a call. I'd be more than happy to discuss all the details of your case and see if we could help you.

I've been bitten by my neighbor's dog. Who pays for my medical expenses?

You've been bitten by your neighbor's dog, you've been injured, and you're wondering what to do next. In all probability, your neighbor is in fact responsible for the injuries that you suffered for the result of being bitten by their dog. In all probability, your neighbor has a form of coverage called homeowner's coverage that includes liability coverage for dog bites. Occasionally, we're seeing exclusions in policies for dog bites, but that's something that we'd be happy to investigate for you. Your neighbor also probably has a form of coverage called medical payments coverage which also will assist you with your medical expenses. If you'd like to discuss the circumstances of your dog-bite case, feel free to give me a call.

I can't work due to an injury from an accident. How can I pay my bills?

You're wondering how you're gonna pay your bills now that you've been in an accident and, because of your injuries, cannot work. If you've been in an automobile accident, one of the forms of coverage that you have, Personal Injury Protection, will pay a portion or percentage of your wage loss during the period of your disability. If you have a wage continuation policy through your employer, that's another avenue that you can pursue to obtain income during the period that you're unable to work. Beyond that, often times it is a difficult question. Sometimes we've been able to work out arrangements with landlords who've allowed our clients to continue to remain in their apartment on what's called a letter of protection. That's a promise to pay the rent when your case resolves. Those are avenues that are available, things that we often help our clients with to try and ease the financial burden they're experiencing during a period of disability following an accident. If you'd like to discuss this further or have more details, feel free to give me a call.

My car was totaled in an accident, and the insurance company doesn't want to pay what it's worth.

You've been in an auto accident, and you've just learned that your car or your truck has been totaled, and the insurance company doesn't agree with you on how much the car is worth and how much you should be paid based on your car being a total loss. You're wondering what to do.

You're not stuck with the value given by the insurance company. That is a negotiable item of damage and something that you're free to have input in. There are many ways to approach determining the value of a totally damaged vehicle. You're probably familiar with NADA valuation, Blue Book valuation, Edmunds; these are all sources that are available on the internet. You should access those resources, value your car reasonably, and take that information to the adjuster handling the property damage portion of your claim. When we handle injury cases for clients, we also assist them with their property damage, and these are things that we routinely handle as part of our service to our injured clients. If you'd like to discuss with me in more detail the specifics of your case, feel free to give me a call.

I've been in an accident. How long will it take to finish my personal injury case?

You've been injured, and you're wondering how long it will take to resolve your case. That's a great question, one I'm often asked by clients but not one that's very easily answered at the very beginning of their case. How long it will take to resolve your claim depends on a lot of factors: how severe the injury is, how extensive your treatment will be, how long it takes you to recover, whatever special elements of damage there may be to your claim, and things like your wage loss or, if you're a business owner, the damage to your business that results from your inability to work in that business. Many, many factors come into play. If you'd like to discuss the specifics of your case, I'd be happy to do so with you.

I've been in an accident. Can I afford to hire an attorney?

Clients often ask me whether they can afford to hire an attorney to represent them on their case. I handle personal injury cases on a percentage or contingency basis. What that means is only on the successful conclusion of your case am I paid a fee. I also advance all of the costs to handle your representation. I pay for your medical records. I pay all of the costs of litigation, expert witness fees, interviews with your physicians, all of those things necessary for your representation we handle. Only at the end of your case do we receive a fee and the reimbursement of those expenses. If you would like to speak further about this, please give me a call.

I have been injured in an accident. When can I meet with an attorney?

Clients that are looking for an attorney who've been injured, whether it's been an automobile accident, a fall down case, a motorcycle crash, any one of a number of a different things, are often concerned about how long it will take to get in and see the attorney. In my office, I'm typically available the same day you call. I will stay late in the day, I'm available on weekends. If you'd like to speak with me face to face, please give me a call. We'll schedule that almost immediately.

I was injured on the job. Can I make a claim against the other driver?

You've been injured in an accident while you were on the job. You were driving your employer's truck. Someone has caused an accident, and you've been injured, and you're wondering if the only thing that's available to you are worker's compensation benefits. The short answer is no. Where there is another person involved, even if you were on the job when the accident occurred, you're entitled to pursue a claim for bodily injury against the person who caused the accident. If you'd like to discuss the specifics of your case in more detail, please feel free to give me a call.

I've been in an accident. Will I get to talk directly to the attorney?

You've been involved in an accident, and you're considering hiring an attorney, but you're wondering whether or not, after you've hired the attorney, you'll only speak with a case manager, or a paralegal, or a secretary, or whether you'll have access to the attorney as the case progresses. I can't answer for every attorney in the state of Florida, but I can tell you what happens in my office. In my office, you'll speak with me any time and every time you wish to do so. I'm available 24-hours a day from the time you sign up with my office throughout the entire handling of your case. You can reach me at my e-mail address on this website. You'll have my cell phone number from the time you become a client. I want you to have ready access anytime you have a question. At my office, you'll have that.

I've been in an accident. What is medical payments coverage?

Clients who've been involved in an automobile accident often ask me, "What is medical payments coverage?" Medical payments coverage is an optional form of coverage that supplements the basic primary coverage personal injury protection benefits. As I've mentioned in another video on this website, PIP coverage covers 80% of your medical expenses. Medical payments coverage supplements that coverage and pays the remaining 20%. So, if you have medical payments coverage in your auto coverages, you have 100% coverage for your medical expenses up to the limit of both of those two forms of coverage. I'd be happy to explain this to you in more detail and in relationship to your specific needs. Feel free to give me a call.

I've been injured in an auto accident and am out of work. Will PIP pay my bills?

You've been involved in an accident, and as a result of your injuries, you're no longer able to work. You're wondering how you're gonna pay your bills. If you're involved in an automobile accident, you'll be able to utilize your personal injury, PIP, or no-fault benefit to pay up to 60% of your average weekly wage for as long as your coverage remains. Typically, we see policies providing $10,000 worth of coverage. Although occasionally, people purchase extended benefits as well. There's also the possibility that you have a form of disability insurance available through an employer or a spouse or through a private source if you've purchased it independently of your employment, and that may be available also for the payment of those wages that you've lost to help you cover your bills, your rent, things of that nature. This is a complex area of each particular claim and is dependent on each person's circumstances. If you'd like to discuss this or any other aspect of your claim in further detail, feel free to give me a call.

I've been injured in an auto accident or slip and fall. How will an attorney help?

You've been injured in an automobile accident or a fall or slip at a restaurant or a retail store, and you're wondering whether or not you should hire an attorney. You're wondering how do you go about deciding who to hire. You're wondering will the attorney really help me in any way? You're wondering will the attorney bring enough value added to the claim to justify paying an attorney's fee? Those are all very reasonable, very fair things to consider in making a decision. At this point, all you're investing in the decision process is a phone call. A phone call to an attorney is a simple thing. The attorney will make no charge for that. At my office, we don't charge until the very end of your case, and then only if we are successful, and then only a percentage of the recovery. Generally speaking, the attorney has knowledge over the various elements of a claim that an insurance company will consider, knowledge that typically folks don't have readily available to them. The attorney also brings to the equation the threat of litigation, or the threat of a lawsuit, which the insurance company knows will be behind your claim throughout the process. So, generally speaking, it's reasonable to conclude that there is value added brought to the equation by involving an attorney, whether it's me or any other attorney out there. You'd be well advised to at least consult with an attorney. If you'd like to consult with me, I'm available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

I've been injured in accident and don't have insurance. How can I pay my medical expenses?

You've been involved in an automobile accident or a fall down or a slip and fall case or some other circumstance where you've hurt yourself, and you've suffered injury. You don't have group health insurance, and you're wondering how you're gonna have your medical expenses paid. There's a couple things we can do. First, if you're involved in an automobile accident, you'll have a form of coverage on your auto policy called personal injury protection benefits and perhaps an optional form of coverage called medical payments coverage. Both of those are available to pay your medical expenses. If it's not an automobile accident or you no longer have any PIP or medical benefits payments available to you, the next thing we would do is speak to the physicians that you've established a relationship with and see if they'd be willing to accept what's called a letter of protection, which is essentially a commitment from you and from my office, to pay the doctor from the proceeds of settling your case when your case settles. We've had fairly good success over the years convincing physicians to help in that regard. That's part of the service we provide. If you'd like to discuss the specifics of your case, feel free to give me a call.

I've been injured in an accident. What is PIP or Personal Injury Insurance?

Clients who've been involved in an automobile accident often ask me, "What is PIP or PIP coverage?" PIP or PIP coverage or no-fault as it is commonly called is one of the mandatory forms of coverage that every driver lawfully operating an automobile in the highways of the state of Florida is required to have. PIP coverage pays your medical expenses and also covers your wage loss. There are percentages that apply to such claims. The medical portion of the PIP benefit pays 80% of your medical expense. The wage loss portion of the PIP benefit pays 60% of your wage loss. In addition to PIP coverage, there's an optional form of coverage also available. It's called medical payments or med pay coverage which supplements the PIP benefit for medical expenses. If you've purchased medical payments coverage, you'll have 100% coverage for your medical expenses. in my office, we are specialists in the handling of PIP claims for our clients. It's part of the service. We do it every day. I'd be more than happy to help you with your PIP claim. Please feel free to give me a call.

I've been in an accident, the the other person's Insurance company said I have to use my own insurance for my medical bills.

Clients who've been involved in an automobile accident often call me and tell me that they've been advised by their own insurance company that they have to use their own personal insurance to pay their medical expenses. That sounds confusing and sometimes incorrect, especially when the client's not at fault in the accident. What you're being told by the adjuster in that case is that you are required to use, by Florida law, your own personal injury protection coverage. This is a unique form of coverage that only applies in motor vehicle collisions. This is PIP, personal injury or no-fault coverage, and what it does is compensates you without regard to fault for typically the first $10,000 of your medical expenses. It also pays a portion of your wage loss up to the limit of the available coverage. This is something of a technical issue and certainly something I'd be more than happy to discuss with you in greater detail.

I've been in a motorcycle accident, and I wasn't wearing a helmet. Can I still make a claim?

You've been injured in a motorcycle accident, and, unfortunately at the time of the accident, you weren't wearing a helmet. You've been told by the police officer or perhaps a friend of yours or an insurance company that, because you weren't wearing a helmet, you can't make a claim. You're wondering if that's true. It's absolutely not true. Not having a helmet on at the time of a motorcycle accident does not mean that you cannot bring a claim. It may bare to some extent on the degree to which the insurance company could succeed and blaming some of the accident on you from the standpoint of the injuries you suffered, but that's something that would have to be evaluated in consultation with your attorney. If you have a case such as that or any case involving a motorcycle that you'd like to discuss, feel free to give feel free to give me a call.

I've been in a motorcycle accident. Can PIP pay my medical expenses?

You've been involved in an accident on your motorcycle, and you're wondering how your medical bills are gonna be paid and any wage loss you may experience during the time that you're recovering from your injuries. In Florida, every driver of an automobile is required to have a form of coverage called personal injury protection, PIP, or no-fault. Unfortunately, it doesn't apply, because you've been involved in an accident driving your motorcycle. So, your medical expenses will have to be paid using group health insurance, hopefully available to you through your employer, through a spouse's employer, or through your parent's employer. If that's not available to you, then we would ask your physicians to consider accepting you as a patient on what's called a "letter of protection." It's a form of an I.O.U. basically saying, when your case settles, we'll see that they are paid the fees that they are due for assisting you with your medical care during the time that you're recovering. If you feel like you'd like to have our help in that matter, please feel free to give me a call.

I was in an accident. Can I get a rental car while it is being fixed?

Clients who've been involved in an automobile accident often ask me whether or not a rental car or a rental truck is available. And the answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no. The typical case, though, is one where you don't have your own rental coverage. If you have your own rental coverage on your policy, certainly you can get a rental car via your own insurance company. But where, as is typically the case, you don't have that, then the availability of a rental vehicle depends on the coverages held by the person who's at fault in the accident. Typically, if they have the minimum required coverage, which is a $10,000 policy of liability coverage for property damage, then, yes, you will be able to be reimbursed for the cost of a rental car. It may also be that the insurance company will agree to arrange for the rental car for you. These are things that typically we help clients with. We assist them in arranging rental cars or recovering their loss of use for their vehicle while their car is under repair or during the period of time that is necessary to negotiate property settlement for damages where the car is totaled. This again is somewhat complicated. I'd be happy to discuss it with you in more detail and with specific reference to your particular claim. Feel free to give me a call.

Personal Injury claim: the insurance company not paying my medical expenses!

You've been involved in an automobile accident, and you've begun to treat with a physician. Your medical expense billings have been submitted to your automobile insurance company, but your bills aren't getting paid. The doctors are calling you. They're complaining, and they're looking for you to make payment, and you're wondering what to do. Your personal auto policy that contains this PIP, or personal injury protection or no-fault coverage, has deadlines in it, as does the law that established personal injury protection coverage, that requires the carrier to make payment within a specified amount of time. If the carrier doesn't, you have legal rights that you can pursue to compel payment. If you'd like to discuss the issues concerning late payment of your medical expenses or the absolute refusal to pay medical expenses, I'd be happy to discuss those with you.

Personal injury from an accident: How often will I talk to my attorney?

You've been involved in an automobile accident or you've fallen and injured yourself somewhere, and you're thinking about hiring an attorney. You've heard horror stories though about others who've had difficulty reaching their attorney after they've hired the law firm, where they're only able to speak with secretarial or clerical staff. They never see the attorney again, and you're wondering if that's gonna happen to you. I can't promise to tell you what might happen at other law firms, but I can tell you what happens at my law firm. From the time you hire me, you'll have not only my office phone and my e-mail address, you'll have my cell phone number and my home number. Anytime you want to speak with me, I'm a phone call away. You can stop into the office. You don't have to have an appointment. I'm available to speak with you anytime. Now, realistically, there will be times when I'm in court, doing depositions, in conference, engaged in some way with another client, or I can't stop or drop everything to speak with you. But you are our highest priority. If you wanna reach me, you will reach me as soon as I'm available. And as I said, you'll have all my personal contact information, and the only reason you won't be able to reach me is if you don't call. If you'd like to talk more about this or any other aspect of your case, please feel free to call.

The police officer said the wreck was my fault. Do I have a claim for my injury?

You've been in an accident, and the police officer has given you a ticket or has indicated that he or she blames you for causing the accident. You're wondering whether or not, because of your injuries, if you're still able to bring a claim. The answer is, very likely you can. And I would like to speak with you in more detail to discuss that. Simply because the police officer believes that you may bear some of the fault or all of the fault for your accident does not mean that that's the same conclusion that would be drawn by a jury. Unless the police officer was a witness to the accident, the opinions of the police officer will not even be something that a jury would consider in evaluating your claim. Please give me a call if you'd like to discuss the specifics of your case in more detail. I'm available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

Slipped and fallen in a restaurant. Who pays my medical expenses?

Clients often ask me about incidents that have occurred at a restaurant or a grocery store, or they've slipped and fallen or tripped and fallen and injured themselves. Often they ask me, "Is the store or the restaurant responsible for my medical expenses?" The answer to that is oftentimes complicated. In order to have a successful claim in such a case, it's necessary to demonstrate that the owner of the property either knew of the hazardous condition, that is knew, for instance, there is a liquid substance on the floor or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known. There are other issues that are driven by the available insurance coverage and the type of coverage that the owner of the property has that may also affect whether or not you would have prompt access to the recovery of medical expenses. As I said, these are complex and often very technical cases. I'd be happy to discuss your case with you. If you'd like to call me, please do so. I'm available 24-hours a day 7-days a week.

The other driver in my accident was drunk. How does it affect my case?

You've been involved in an automobile accident with a drunk driver. The driver at fault was driving while intoxicated, and the police officer has cited that driver as such. You're wondering how that affects your case. It potentially affects the case in a number of different ways. Obviously, it's a factor that's going to be considered by the insurance company that insures the defendant driver. It's also something that the jury is gonna consider if the case winds up being tried to a jury for a resolution. If the person driving intoxicated is found guilty of those charges, it has an impact also on your PIP coverage. It can eliminate, for instance, any deductible you may have purchased with your coverage. It also gives you access to what's called the Florida Victims Compensation Fund in the event that that driver had inadequate coverage to pay for all of your damages. In short, the fact that a driver causing your accident may have been driving drunk is something that is a very significant element to your case and something that we would consider very carefully in evaluating the total value of your claim. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, please give me a call. I'm available 24 hours a day 7-days a week.

I tripped and was hurt at my neighbor's house. Who pays my medical bills?

You've fallen or tripped at, let's say, a friend's house or a neighbor's house, and you've injured yourself, and you're wondering whether or not your neighbor is responsible for your medical expenses. There's a kind of coverage that most people have who own their own home called home owner's coverage. Home owner's coverage includes an optional form of coverage called liability insurance. There's also another form of coverage called medical payments coverage. Either of those two forms of coverage may be available to pay your medical expenses resulting from falling at your neighbor's home. If you'd like to discuss that in more detail or the specifics of your case, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

Who pays my medical bills when the accident was not my fault?

You've been in an automobile accident, and you've spoken with your insurance company who's told you that your medical expenses are to be submitted on your own insurance policy, and you're wondering how that can be true since you're not at fault in the accident. Well, in Florida, we have a form of coverage called personal injury protection, or PIP for short. It's sometimes also referred to as no-fault, and it's what we call primary for medical expenses and wage loss. It's the first line of defense, the first place you go for recovery of medical expenses and wage losses when you've been involved in an auto accident. Basically, by law, you have to use your own insurance until you've exhausted or used up all of your PIP insurance for your medical expenses and wage loss. I'd be happy to talk to you about that in more detail and with specific regard to your particular situation. You can reach me 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. at 723-1997.

Can the Insurance Authorize Used Parts to Repair My Vehicle?

You've been involved in an automobile accident, your vehicle's been damaged, and your insurance company is telling you they're not going to repair the damage with new parts. You're wondering whether or not they can do that. Generally speaking, your own insurance company, under the terms of your policy, has the option to replace the damaged parts to your vehicle with what are called LKQ or parts of like, kind, and quality. It'll depend on the specific wording of your policy. In the event that the insurance company you're dealing with is the insurance company for the party at-fault or a third party policy, different rules would apply. If you'd like to discuss the specifics of your case I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach me at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Do I Need a Lawyer?

One of the first things clients often ask me is whether or not they have a personal injury case. Typically that's made up of three things. First, is there liability? That means, is there an at-fault party in your accident? The second, have you suffered damages? Is there a distinct personal injury that we can attribute to a specific event? The third thing is coverage. Is the at-fault party covered by insurance that will apply to your claim? If you would like to discuss your case in more detail I am available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach me at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

When do I Settle My Case?

New clients often ask me what they should settle their personal injury case for. It's a great question, but one that's very difficult to answer at the beginning of a case. What a case will ultimately settle for depends on many factors, things like the extent or severity of injury, issues pertaining to liability, who's at fault or how fault is shared among a number of parties. It also depends on all of the damage elements that may be applicable to your particular case. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach me at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Can I File a Personal Injury Claim?

You've been involved in an automobile collision or a fall down or some other event that's caused you injury, and you're wondering, because you have a preexisting condition, whether or not you can bring a claim. The answer is, generally, yes, you can. A preexisting condition will not disqualify you from being able to proceed and seek compensation. There'll be issues as to whether or not there was an aggravation of an old injury, something that can be defined over and above the existing condition you had before the accident, or it may be you do have some elements of injury that are new or different from the old injury. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Can I Make a Claim if I Have a Pre-Existing Condition?

You've been injured recently in an accident. But you've had neck pain, back pain, or joint pain for many years, and you're wondering whether or not you can make a claim. The answer to the question is yes. If the reason for your neck, back, or joint pain is an old injury, an injury for which you've made a claim for instance, that's a complicating factor, but one we deal with all the time and deal with effectively. If the reason for your past pain are degenerative changes, these are the naturally occurring changes that occur as we age, it's a most definite yes. If you'd like to discuss your case with me, I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach me at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Have You Been Hit by a Vehicle?

You've been involved in an accident as a pedestrian or a bicycle rider where you were hit by an automobile or a truck or some other vehicle. As a result, you've incurred medical expenses, including emergency room bills, and you're wondering how those are going to be paid. If, at the time of the accident, you owned a car or you resided with a relative with an insured vehicle or you were named as a driver on a policy of a resident with whom you lived, then that policy under the Personal Injury Protection coverage will pay those medical expenses. If you didn't own a vehicle, didn't reside with a relative with a PIP policy, then you receive the Personal Injury Protection coverage for the vehicle that hit you. Other options are group health insurance, if that's available to you, as well as Medicare or Medicaid. If you'd like to discuss the specifics of your case, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach me at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Full Coverage Insurance and Accidents

When I meet with clients for the first time and I ask them about their insurance coverages, I often hear, "I have full coverage." I refer to that as the "full coverage myth." Because in Florida there is no standard meaning to "full coverage." A person is fully insured from the standpoint of being able to lawfully operate an automobile on the highways of Florida if they carry Personal Injury Protection, or PIP coverage, and property damage liability. Those are the only two required forms of coverage to be driving lawfully. There are many other forms of coverage, optional forms, such as Bodily Injury Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Comprehensive, Collision, Medical Payments, and there are questions about the limits and deductibles attributable to those additional kinds of coverages. If you'd like to discuss your insurance coverages and how they might apply to your claim, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Should I give a Recorded Statement?

You've been involved in an automobile accident or a fall-down incident, and you've suffered personal injuries, and you've been asked to give a recorded statement. You're wondering whether or not you should do so. Generally speaking, if you're going to retain legal counsel, my advice would be to do so before giving a recorded statement. Keep in mind, if it's an automobile accident and the request for the statement comes from your own insurance carrier, you have a duty to cooperate, which means you have a duty, also, to give a recorded statement. You needn't give the recorded statement immediately or in any hurry but within a reasonable about of time so that the insurance company has adequate time to conduct their investigation. You have no duty to give a recorded statement to the insurance representative for the at-fault party. If you'd like to discuss this in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

How Will I Pay My Bills if I Have No PIP or Group Insurance?

In 1988 Attorney Scott Wright opened his own solo practice with a vision for a new kind of law firm serving Brevard County, Florida. From Sebastian to Titusville, including; Melbourne, Palm Bay, Indialantic, Indian Harbour, Satellite Beach, and Cocoa Beach. The law office of Scott Wright is a firm dedicated to the service of clients and determined to provide quality legal representation. I have limited my practice to the representation of individuals harmed by the negligent or wrongful conduct of others. From Auto accidents, Motorcycle accidents, Slip and falls, Boating accidents and many more. We are prepared to handle all forms of injury and death cases whatever the cause. Attorney Scott Wright will meet with you at your first appointment and every appointment thereafter.

How Long Will My Lawsuit Take?

One of the first things I'm often asked by new clients is how long will it take to resolve my case? That's a great question, but one that's very difficult to answer early on. In some instances, a matter of weeks or months are all that's necessary. In other instances, a year or more. The complexity of the case, the number of parties involved, the nature of the injuries you've suffered, their severity, and the length of time it takes you to recover, these are all things that affect the length of time to resolve a case. If we have to file a lawsuit, the calendar of the court also becomes an issue, when there'll be a judge available to try your case. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Should I Go to Trial or Settle?

You've been involved in an accident, and you've suffered a personal injury. You're wondering, though, about whether or not it will be necessary to take your case to trial or whether the case can be settled and who makes that decision. I tell my clients the case belongs to the client. The client makes all decisions, including the decision of whether to settle or whether to go to trial. My job is to make recommendations, to give advice, to give you the benefit of my experience. But the final decision is yours. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Who Determines the Value of My Totaled Vehicle?

You've been involved in an accident, and your truck or your car has been badly damaged and probably will be a total loss. You're wondering how the value of your truck or your car is going to be determined. It may surprise you to learn that your opinion of the value of your vehicle is just as meaningful as the opinion of the adjuster. You should prepare before you attempt to negotiate the value of your vehicle. Go to Kelley Blue Book, go to Edmonds.com, go to NADA, any other source that you can think of to give you ammunition to speak with the insurance company and argue effectively the value of your vehicle. If you'd like to discuss this in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Who Pays My Medical Bills after an Accident?

You've been involved in an automobile accident, you've experienced a personal injury, you're beginning to incur medical bills, and you're wondering how those medical bills are going to be paid. At the time of the accident, if you owned an insured vehicle, then the Personal Injury Protection, or PIP coverage on your automobile, will be primary for the payment of those medical expenses. If at the time of the accident you didn't own a car but you resided with a family member who did, then that PIP coverage is most probably going to be available for your medical expenses. In the event you were a bicyclist or a pedestrian and don't have PIP insurance, for instance if you don't own a car or don't reside with a family member who has PIP coverage, then you would have the benefit of the coverage from the at-fault driver. If all of those are unavailable, group health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or perhaps letters of protection, which I'll explain in a different video later. If you'd like to discuss your case, feel free to give me a call. you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997.

I Have No PIP Insurance

You've been involved in an auto accident but have no PIP insurance available to you. Perhaps because at the time of the accident, you didn't own a car, for instance you were a passenger in a vehicle, or perhaps because your insurance coverage lapsed. It may be that there is still insurance available to you to cover your medical expenses. If in the instance of being a passenger, the auto you were in was insured, you may have access to that coverage. If at the time of the accident, you were residing with a relative with coverage, it's possible, under certain circumstances, you'd have access to that coverage. If you'd like to discuss your particular circumstances in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Accident on Motorcycle, Who Pays for My Medical Expenses?

You've been involved in an accident with your motorcycle, you've suffered personal injuries, and you're concerned about how your medical bills are going to be paid. You've probably learned by now that PIP insurance, although you carry it on your automobile, does not apply to your motorcycle. So how will your bills be handled? If you have group health insurance available to you trough your employment or through the employment of a spouse or a parent, that may apply. It may also be, if you're qualified, that you could receive Medicare or Medicaid assistance for the payment of your medical expenses. It may be, as a last resort, we would have to try what's called a letter of protection, where we negotiate on your behalf, in agreement with your doctor, to wait until your case is settled to receive payment for the medical services that are provided. If you'd like to discuss the circumstances of your case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

In Auto Accident and Emergency Room Bills are too High?

You've been involved in an accident that resulted in a trip to the emergency room at the local hospital or perhaps an overnight stay even. You've now received notification from the hospital that the hospital is claiming a lien for the payment of those services. It's important to understand that this lien is not a lien on your house, it's not a lien on your car, it's not a lien on your wages. It's a lien on any settlement you may receive from a third party that includes payment for those medical expenses. As part of the service that we provide at my firm, we routinely negotiate to reduce those liens with hospitals wherever possible. If you'd like to discuss the particular circumstances of your case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Involved in a Trip & Fall Accident?

You've been involved in a trip and fall incident, and you've suffered personal injury. You're wondering what to do. More than likely, you completed a form called an incident report at the location where you fell. If you didn't receive a copy of that, return to the location and ask for a copy. You're entitled to receive that. You should also promptly write down everything you remember about what caused you to fall. If you have the name, address, phone number, any identifying information for witnesses, jot that down as well. If possible, take photographs of the area where you fell, in particular what you think caused your fall. Put aside your shoes, and don't wear them until your case is resolved or you've discussed your case with an attorney. Don't give a recorded statement to anyone for any reason until you've consulted with an attorney. If you've not already done so, see your doctor to discuss your injuries or go to the emergency room as soon as you can. If you'd like to discuss your trip and fall case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Uninsured Motorist

You've been involved in a car accident, and you've discovered that the driver of the vehicle causing the accident has no insurance. You're wondering what to do. Well keep in mind, in addition to the driver, the owner of the vehicle may also be responsible for your injuries. It may also be that the driver was on the job at the time of the accident, and as a result, the driver's employer may be responsible. If you'd like to discuss the specific circumstances of your case, I'd be happy to speak with you. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

What Happens after You're Hurt on the Job?

You've been hurt on the job and may be surprised to learn that in addition to worker's compensation, there are other possible sources of recovery for your damages. Clients are often surprised to learn that whether hurt on the job in a car accident, for instance, the at-fault driver is also responsible for their damages. It may also be if you're injured by someone other than a coworker, you have an alternative source of recovery. In your particular case, if you'd like to discuss more details, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Who Determines if My Car Was Totaled?

You've been in an accident, and your car of your truck has been badly damaged, but you don't want your vehicle totaled. You're wondering what you can do. Keep in mind that many insurance companies total-loss vehicles where the cost of repairs fall between 50% and 80% of the value of the car at the time of the collision. So, what can you do? One is to attempt to negotiate an increase in the value of your car. Another alternative is to negotiate a decrease in the cost of repairs. Perhaps you can change the scope of the work that will be done to fix the damage to your vehicle. Different body shops may charge different amounts for the repair. If you'd like to discuss the specifics of your case, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

I Can't Work after My Car Accident

You've been involved in an accident, and as a result, you're not working. It may be that you either lost your job after the accident or you were not working at the time of the accident. In any event, before you apply for work, you should speak with your physician and get clearance to return to work. Make certain that any work you pursue falls within the limitations or restrictions your doctor has imposed on you. You should also reveal your injury on any application that you complete. Be truthful with any potential employer about your accident or the restrictions on your ability to work. The insurance company, in the event you later pursue a claim, will more than likely subpoena those job applications to see whether or not you reported the physical limitations as a result of your injury. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

How Does Insurance Determine if My Car Is a Total Loss?

You've been involved in an accident, and your car or your truck has been declared a total loss. You're wondering how you can argue effectively with the insurance company over the value of your vehicle. The most important thing to do is get a copy of insurance company's evaluation report from the adjuster that you're working with. Make sure that the information on the report is accurate, that the options on your car are correctly stated, that the engine size is correct, or that the stereo that you have is correct. Next you should get comparables. Go to Kelley Bluebook or NADA or Edmonds.com and arm yourself with information regarding the value of your particular vehicle. If you'd like to discuss the specifics of your total-loss claim, I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach me at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

I Was in an Auto Accident with a Drunk Driver.

You've been involved in an accident with a drunk driver, you've suffered personal injury, and you're wondering what to do. Keep in mind that under these circumstances, you're the victim of a crime. By Florida law, certain things happen when you are the victim of a drunk driver. If you have a deductible on your Personal Injury Protection, that's taken away. It's as if you've purchased a zero-deductible policy. Your Personal Injury Protection also covers 100% of your medical expenses up to the limit of your coverage. The co-pay that you would otherwise have goes away. Keep in mind also that the misconduct of the defendant driver potentially enhances the damages that you can recover because that driver's exposed to punitive damages. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, please feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

After a Car Wreck, You Need to See a Doctor.

You've been involved in a car accident, you've suffered a personal injury. You're about to visit your doctor for the first time, and you're wondering what to say. First and foremost, be truthful. Tell your doctor at the first visit about the accident and all the injuries you received. Even the smallest complaint may be important. Tell your doctor also about any preexisting complaints that you may have had. If before your injury, you had a sore neck or sore back or a joint injury in the past, tell your doctor about that and tell your doctor about how the injuries, from the accident that you're there to see him for is different from those preexisting complaints. It's also very important that you follow the doctor's instructions. If the doctor imposes limitations on your daily activities, you should adhere closely to those instructions. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Was In Auto Accident & It's My Fault. Can I File a Claim?

You've been involved in an accident, but the policeman has blamed you for the accident and may even have written you a ticket. You're wondering whether of not you can pursue a claim for your injuries. Keep in mind the policeman's opinion about who's to blame in an accident is not the final word. It'll be a judge who makes that decision. If you received a ticket and don't feel you're to blame, fight the ticket. Even if you're found guilty on the ticket, it may be that you still can pursue a bodily injury case. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach me at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Can Auto Insurance Pay for Mileage to Doctor?

My clients who've been involved in motor vehicle accidents are often pleasantly surprised to discover that their own automobile insurance provides reimbursement for their mileage to and from medical appointments. If you'd like to discuss your accident in more detail, feel free to give me a call. I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997, and I look forward to speaking with you.

I Was Injured in Car Accident and Can't Work

Clients who've been involved in motor vehicle accidents who've suffered a personal injury are often very concerned about lost wages and how they'll be able to pay their bills during any period of disability. They're often pleasantly surprised to learn that we're often able to reserve a portion of their Personal Injury Protection benefits to cover wage loss. If you'd like to discuss your wage loss claim or your injury case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Does PIP Cover Personal Injury and Medication after an Accident?

Clients who have been injured in an accident are often concerned about how they'll pay the cost of prescription medication. If the injuries result from a motor vehicle accident, their auto policy's PIP or Personal Injury Protection coverage will pay the cost of those medications. If it's not an auto accident, group health insurance will pay those costs. And if there's no group health insurance, it may be the only alternative is a letter of protection. A letter of protection is an agreement on the part of the pharmacist to await the outcome of the case before seeking payment. The problem is with large national pharmacies, rarely are letters of protection are rarely acceptable. Occasionally, with small local pharmacies, we have been able to work out arrangements for a letter of protection. If you'd like to discuss your claim, feel free to give me a call. I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Do I Need an Accident Attorney?

You've been involved in an accident, and you've suffered a personal injury, and you're wondering whether you need an attorney. There's no legal requirement that you have legal representation to pursue a claim from damages resulting from a bodily injury. You should ask yourself though whether it's advisable to have legal council. Are you comfortable negotiating intensively with an adjuster? Do you feel as though you're aware of all of the elements of damages to which you're entitled? If not, more than likely it would be advisable to seek legal council. If you'd like to speak with me regarding your claim, I'd be happy to do so. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

I Can't Afford a Doctor after My Accident

You've been involved in an accident, you've suffered a personal injury, and you've been to see a doctor. The doctor has proposed a treatment plan that has you concerned. It may be the cost of the plan or it may be the amount of time you're worried about being away from work treating under the plan. What can you do? First, don't hesitate to talk candidly to your doctor about those issues. Explain that you'd like to find ways to reduce the expense of care, if that's possible, or reduce the amount of time away from work. It may also be that the doctor would be willing to accept what's called a letter of protection, which is an agreement we negotiate with the doctor where the doctor agrees to wait until the end of your case to receive payment and that payment then coming from your settlement. It's important also that you not miss appointments or that you be non-compliant. If you'd like to discuss this or any aspect of your claim in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

I Was Hurt at My Job. What Is Workers Compensation?

If you've been injured in a motor vehicle accident on the job, you're probably aware that Worker's Compensation Insurance provides coverage for your claim. What you may not know is that Worker's Compensation benefits do not begin until the 8th calendar day following the onset of your disability. Those first 7 days of wage loss though can be covered by your own auto policy under your Personal Injury Protection coverage. If you'd like to discuss this in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Defective Parts Causing an Accident?

An often over-looked potential avenue of recovery for those who have suffered personal injury is defective products. Many times in motor vehicle accidents, there's a defect in the car or a car part or a problem with the seat belts or a defect in the airbag that causes or enhances injury. Many times, children are injured by defective or dangerous toys. Toys with lead paint are a common example. Many times people suffer serious electrical shock in the simple operation of household appliances and products. Prescription medications improperly prescribed or improperly filled or inappropriate for a particular illness are often a source of injury. A manufacturer owes a duty to the consuming public to make certain that its products are safe for use. If you believe you've been injured by a defective product, please feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

PIP or Health Insurance Coverage after Car Accident?

You've been involved in an automobile accident. You've suffered personal injuries. You have both Personal Injury Protection coverage available to you through your auto policy and group health insurance available through work, and you're wondering which to apply for payment of your medical expenses. Well, in an auto accident, your Personal Injury Protection coverage is primary, that means it's first in line for payment up to the limit of coverage, followed by your health insurance, which is considered secondary. With PIP insurance you can treat with essentially any doctor of your choice. With your health insurance, you're limited to your plan participants. So, in making your decisions on which doctors to use initially, you might want to have in mind physicians that are within your plan so that if your PIP is exhausted or used up, you don't have to change physicians. If you'd like to discuss this issue or any other regarding your claim, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

After an Accident, When Can I Return to Work?

You've been involved in an accident, and you're wondering whether or not you can return to work. The first thing you should is speak with your physician. Ask your doctor whether or not there are any limitations on your ability to return to work. If there are limitations, you next should speak with your employer. Be certain that your employer is aware of these restrictions or limitations and won't impose work obligations on you that exceed those limits. It doesn't hurt your case to return to work. It does hurt your case if you violate the instructions given by your physicians. You should also be truthful with your employer about the accident and about the injuries that you suffered and how you believe they affect your work. If you have any questions about your case, please feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

What are Replacement Services?

Clients who've been injured in an auto accident often ask me about what are called replacement services. They're concerned about how their house will be kept up, yard work maintained, getting their car washed, etc., during the period of disability while they're recovering from their injuries. And oftentimes, it's a surprise for them to learn that their auto policy, under their Personal Injury Protection, will cover the cost of these services. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Who Decides if My Car Is Totaled?

You've been involved in an accident, and your car or truck has been badly damaged and is more than likely a total loss. You'd like to keep it and wonder whether or not that's something you can accomplish with the insurance company. It may very well be that the insurance company will agree to allow you to keep the vehicle as long as you agree to reduce by some small amount, maybe 10% or 20%, the amount you receive in settlement of your property damage claim. Keep in mind that the vehicle will then carry, also, a salvaged or rebuilt title, which has certain issues associated with it. If you'd like to discuss your total-loss claim in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

What to Do after a Slip & Fall Accident?

You've been involved in a slip and fall, and you've suffered personal injury. You're wondering what to do. If at the time of your fall, you completed and incident report and have not received a copy of that report, I'd recommended that you ask the manager of the location where you fell for that incident report. You should also promptly write down everything you can remember about the reasons for your fall. If there were any witnesses, write their names, their addresses, and phone numbers if you have them as well. If possible, take photographs of the area where you fell. If you still have the shoes that you were wearing at the time you fell, stop wearing them and set them aside until your case is concluded. If you're asked to give a recorded statement, decline that until you've had an opportunity to speak with legal counsel. If you've not already sought medical attention, go to the emergency room or see your physician as soon as you can. If you'd like to discuss your slip and fall case, I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach me at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Return to Work on Light Duty

You've been involved in a car crash or you've been injured as a result of someone else's negligence, you've suffered injuries, and as a result, your doctor has taken you off of work. Three to six weeks have gone by, and your doctor has now decided that you're able to return to work on what's called a light duty basis. Unfortunately, in your line of work, there's no such thing as light duty, and you're wondering how that affects your wage claim. If you work in an occupation with no light duty work available to you, then it's just as if you were not able to return to work at all. In effect, you continue to have a total disability. If you'd like to discuss your wage claim or your case, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Shortened Work Life

Most Americans look forward to working to age 65 or longer if they're physically able. You've been involved in a car crash or injured in some other way as a result of someone else's negligence, and you're concerned that you'll not be able to work to age 65. The shortened work life expectancy that results from personal injury is an element of damages for which you're entitled to be compensated. Generally, we would speak with your physician and obtain an opinion within what's called reasonable medical probability that you will have a shortened work life expectancy. In that case, you'd be entitled to recover wages for the years that you lose before age 65, which is normal retirement age. If you'd like to discuss your wage claim or your concerns over shortened work life expectancy, please feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Prior Work Too Demanding

You've been involved in an accident and been injured, and as a result, you're no longer able to meet the demands of your job. It might be that your job requires lifting, climbing, bending, twisting, work overhead, things of that nature that you're simply no longer able to do. There are some things though that you believe you could do to become gainfully employed. In those circumstances, you're entitled to vocational retraining -- that's an element of your damages -- and any difference in income that you realize as a result of having to take a work that's below what you were previously able to do is something that you're entitled to be compensated for. If you'd like to discuss your wage claim resulting in your inability to return to previous employment or any other aspect of your case, please feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Temporarily Unable to Work

You've been involved in an accident. As a result, you've suffered injuries. Because of those injuries, you know you're going to be out of work at least on a temporary basis, and you're wondering whether or not those temporary wage losses are something you're entitled to be compensated for. The answer is yes. You needn't have a permanent disability in order to sustain a wage loss. All that you need is the opinion of your treating physician that, as a result of the injuries from the accident, you'll be unable to perform your normal occupational responsibilities and a statement, also, as to how long the doctor believes that will be so. If you'd like to discuss your temporary wage loss claim, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Wage Loss for Medical Appointments

You've been injured in an accident, and you've been able to return to work, but you're beginning to miss time either for doctor appointments or physical therapy and having to use your sick leave or perhaps your employer isn't paying you for time away from work. You're wondering if those lost wages or those hours of sick leave that you lose are something that you can be compensated for. The answer is yes. In fact, if your condition is permanent and you're going to be losing time for work perhaps for the remainder of your work life, you're entitled to be compensated for all of that time. It can, in fact, amount to a surprisingly large sum. If you'd like to discuss your wage claim, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Loss of Promotion

You've been injured in an accident, but you've been able to return to work. You're concerned over the effect of your injuries on future promotions or pay raises you'd hoped to receive. You're wondering whether or not those lost earnings are something you're entitled to be compensated for. The answer is yes. It's our responsibility to demonstrate those losses with reasonable certainty. Typically, we use vocational experts to do that. But provided that we're able to establish that claim, you're entitled to recover those damages. If you'd like to discuss your lost earnings claim with me, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Loss of Benefits

You've been injured in an accident, and as a result, you're unable to work. Not only are you experiencing a wage loss, but you've also lost certain benefits. You've had to use up your sick leave. Perhaps you've used up your vacation leave. Now you're faced with the loss of your health insurance, your disability insurance, dental insurance, eye insurance, maybe even your retirement plan contributions, and you're wondering if those are something you're entitled to be compensated for. The answer is yes. It's necessary to value those benefits. Typically, we hire experts to do that. But the value of those benefits for as long as you're going to be disabled from work is certainly something you're entitled to be paid for. If you'd like to discuss your loss of benefits claim, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Proof of Wage Loss

Clients who've been involved in an accident and suffered a wage loss often ask me how we go about proving or establishing their wage loss. The simplest way of course is pay stubs for a three to six month period before the date of accident. Sometimes those aren't available, and we have to look to alternatives. W-2s or 1099s can be helpful. Tax returns can also be helpful. But in the absence of those things, a simple statement in the form of a letter from the client's employer can be helpful. It doesn't have to be ironclad evidence of earnings, but something that's reasonable and reliable. If you'd like to discuss the proof of your wage loss claim, please feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Documenting Wage Loss

Clients who've been injured in an accident often as me how we'll go about proving their wage loss claim. It's basically two steps. The first step is to receive from the client's treating physician an opinion usually in the form of a disability statement that as a result of accident-related injuries, the client will be unable to return to work and how long the doctor thinks the client will be out of work. The second thing that's necessary is proof of earnings. This can be a W-2, an earnings statement, 1099, anything from the employer that demonstrates the client's typical earnings during a period that's at least 13 weeks before the date of the accident. The loss then is simply the earnings lost during the period of disability. If you'd like to discuss your wage loss claim, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Return to Work Fails

You've been injured in an accident, but you've been able to return to work. You're concerned though that you may not be able to continue, and you wonder whether or not that will affect your case. Generally speaking, the return to work is a positive thing. Your doctor will, if at all possible, encourage you to do so. If the effort proves unsuccessful, that in no way reduces or diminishes your claim. You're still entitled to recover any wage loss that you experienced as a result of the injuries from your accident regardless of whether your attempt to return to work was unsuccessful. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Statute of Limitations

You've been injured in an accident, and you believe your injuries are permanent. You're wondering whether or not your case can be held open indefinitely so that you can submit your medical expense billings to the insurance company for the driver that caused your crash. Unfortunately, the answer is no. There are statutes of limitation that affect claims such as yours. These are essentially deadlines that set an outside limit on how long you can submit claims for your medical care. So, how do we handle this? In our office we retain experts such as medical doctors, medical economists, vocational specialists, things of that nature to forecast your need for future medical care and the costs of that care for the remainder of your life. That way, we're able to submit your entire claim now -- even claims that may arise after the statute of limitations has expired. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

What is a Statute of Limitations?

Clients who've been injured in an accident often ask me if there are time limits on how long they have to bring their claim. The answer is yes. Claims such as yours are subject to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is essentially a deadline by which your claim must be submitted. In this case, "submission" means filing a suit in the appropriate court of law. There are many different statutes of limitations. Some are short, some are much longer. If you miss the statue of limitations, your opportunity to submit your claim will be lost. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Government Worker Negligence

You've been injured in an accident, and the person that caused the accident is a governmental employee. That would be someone who works for a city, or the county, or the state. You're wondering about how that affects your claim. Well, it does. There are different rules that apply when the party at fault in an accident is employed by a city, county, or state government. There are different notice requirements that have to be met, there are different deadlines for the submission of your claim, there are or may be limits on your recovery. Many different factors that have to be taken into account when the person who caused the accident works for a governmental entity. If you'd like to discuss your governmental entity claim in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Claims Bill

You've been injured in an accident, whether it's an automobile crash or a fall down case, and you're wondering what your damages are. Generally speaking, in Florida, damages fall into two broad categories. The first is economic damages, which are things like past and future medical expenses and past and future wage loss. The second category is non-economic damages. These are things like emotional and physical pain and suffering. We determine these damages through the use of experts, physicians, life care planners, vocational specialists, economists, experts who are able to quantify these damages and forecast the amount of these medical expenses for the remainder of our client's life. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail and the damages from your case, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Wrongful Death Claims

You've lost a loved one through the negligence of another, whether in a car accident, medical negligence, or by some other cause. First, please accept my condolences. Claims such as these are described in the law as wrongful death claims. They are governed by law, a specific statute, and special rules apply to them. For instance, the time to bring the claim is shortened, generally speaking. The family members who have damage claims as a result of a loved one's death is specifically described in the statute. The types of damages that may be recovered are also specifically described in the statute and, in some cases, somewhat limited. If you'd like to discuss your claim in more detail, please feel free to call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. Thank you.

How Negligent Claims Are Handled

You've been injured in an accident, whether a motor vehicle crash or a fall-down case, and you're wondering how an attorney handles claims such as yours. Generally speaking, these types of claims fall into two distinct categories. The first stage is the pre-suit stage. The second is the lawsuit stage. In the pre-suit stage, we attempt to resolve your case through negotiation with the insurance company. We furnish various documentary materials and engage in a back and forth that hopefully results in reaching a number that's acceptable to all concerned. The vast majority of cases are resolved in this way. The second stage, the lawsuit stage, occurs when the insurance company refuses to make a reasonable offer to resolve your claim. The decision to enter into the lawsuit stage is entirely yours. It's my job as the attorney to give you advice and counsel, but the final decision is yours. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, please feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Why I Specialize in Personal injury

I'm often asked why I specialize in personal injury. Basically, it's because I enjoy working with people. I like the feeling that at the end of the day, I've done something to help others. Keep in mind, my job every day is to come to work and devote myself to solving other people's problems. It's interesting, challenging work, and there's lots of variety every day. It's something I really love. If you'd like to discuss your case in detail, I'd be happy to speak with you. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Injured Riding in a Friend's Vehicle

You've been injured in an auto crash. At the time of the accident, you were riding in a car belonging to someone other than yourself. You're wondering what medical insurance applies to your injury claim. First in line is your insurance, that's the medical coverage on the automobile you own. If, at the time of the accident, you didn't own an automobile but lived with someone who did, then it would be the medical insurance insuring the motor vehicle of the relative that you live with. If neither of those apply, then you would be entitled to receive the medical insurance on the vehicle in which you were riding. If none of those apply, the only other alternative would be group health insurance. This is a complex and complicated aspect of your claim and one that requires deep investigation to fully evaluate. If you'd like to this aspect of your claim in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

When to Submit a Claim

You've been injured in an accident, and although you're hurting, you're not sure if your injuries are severe. You're wondering whether or not you can still bring a claim. The severity of your injury has nothing to do with your right to bring a claim. It may have an impact on the extent of the damages you can recover. You may be limited to things such as your medical expenses, wage losses, replacement services, and the like, but it has nothing to do with your right to bring the claim. Keep in mind also, my experience, minor injuries oftentimes evolve into major injuries. If you've not already done so, you should see your physician so that your injuries can be fully investigated and treated. If you'd like to discuss your injury claim in more detail, I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach me at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Permanent vs. Non-Permanent Injuries

One of the most important things to determine in a personal injury case is whether or not your injuries are permanent. In this sense, permanency means whether or not your treating physician believes that your injuries will affect you in some way for the remainder of your life. It's not the same as disability. You can have a permanent injury and yet not be totally disabled. If you have a permanent injury in the opinion of your physician, you're entitled then to recover damages for the remainder of your life. If you'd like to discuss your injury claim in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

When to Submit a Claim to the Insurance Company

Clients often ask me when their case will be ready for presentation to the insurance company. Generally speaking, that occurs only after you've recovered from your injuries to the point that you've become reasonably stable. There's a medical legal term for that called maximum medical improvement. It boils down to the date at which your doctor thinks you've healed up about as much as you're going to, and there's not likely to be any significant change for the foreseeable future. That's an important date because then the doctor can tell us whether or not you have a permanent injury and can tell us also whether or not there's a physical impairment associated with that injury. The doctor then would also tell us what future treatment you'll need for the remainder of your life. At that point, we can also estimate the impact of your injuries on your earning capacity and the affect of your injuries on your ability to enjoy life. It's an important date, but it's a date we have to reach before your claim is ready to be submitted. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Insurance Company Investigation

If you've been injured in an accident, you should know the insurance company will aggressively investigate your claim. Their purpose in doing so is not to support your claim, but to improve their prospects for denying it. The insurance adjuster will interview witnesses, will request from you an authorization to release all of your medical records, may ask that you agree to be examined by a physician of their choosing at their expense. They may also hire a private investigator, conduct background checks on you, and also place you under surveillance. If you'd like to discuss how to deal with these measures of investigation by the insurance company, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Should I Sign Insurance Company Documents?

You've been injured in an auto crash, and an insurance adjuster has asked you to sign an authorization to release your medical records. You're wondering whether or not you have to do that or if it's in your best interest to do that. The answer to the question turns on whether or not the request comes from your insurance company or the insurance company that insures the driver at fault in the accident. If it's the insurance company for the driver at fault, the answer is no. You have no obligation to provide them with an authorization, and generally speaking, it's not in your best interest to do so. If the request for the authorization comes from your insurance company, under the terms of your insurance policy you have an obligation to respond. You have a contractual duty to cooperate with your own insurance company, and included within that duty to cooperate is an obligation to make your medical records available. If you'd like to discuss your case in more detail, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

What to Do if Your Doctor Won't See You

You've been injured in an accident, but when you called your family doctor for an appointment, you were told your doctor doesn't accept accident cases. You're wondering what to do. The first step obviously is to ask your doctor for a referral to a physician in your area that does handle what are called trauma cases. If that fails, the next option would be to speak with family members or friends that you know of that have also been in an accident and needed treatment. Ask who they treated with and if they were happy with the services provided by the physician. You might also want to speak with any local medical referral service. There you'd be asking again for physicians that handle trauma cases. In our area, we've become familiar with the doctors that handle these types of cases, and we'd be happy to share that information with you on request. If you'd like to speak about your case, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

What is Mediation?

You've been involved in an automobile crash or a slip-and-fall incident, and you've heard about mediation as a way of resolving you claim. you're wondering what mediation is. Well, mediation is a process for resolving injury claims short of going to the courthouse. Basically, it involves a meeting that is attended by you, your attorney, an insurance representative, an attorney for the insurance company, and a trained mediator. The process begins with a joint session where each side states the strength of their case and discusses their claim in detail with each other and with the mediator. You then break into separate sessions. The mediator then goes back and forth between each side attempting to find common ground. If a settlement is reached, an agreement is written up and signed, and your case is concluded. If a settlement is not reached, the next stop is the courthouse. If you would like to discuss the mediation process further or if you would like to discuss your claim in general, feel free to give me a call. you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

What is Arbitration?

You've been involved in an automobile crash or injured in a slip-and-fall incident, and you've heard about arbitration as a way of resolving your claim. you're wondering what that is. Arbitration is an alternative method to resolving disputes short of taking them to trial before a jury. Arbitration can be binding or non-binding, and it's generally governed by statutory rules or rules contained in a contract. The process is simply this. you would attend a hearing after selecting one more more arbitrators to decide your case. At the hearing, your attorney would present witnesses, documents, medical records, or other materials intended to support your case. By agreement, the arbitrator would then make the final decision in your case, and your matter would be concluded. If you would like to discuss the arbitration of your case in more detail, or if you would like to discuss your claim in general, you can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

What is Health Insurance Subrogation?

You've been involved in an automobile crash or as the result of a fall-down incident, but are fortunate enough to have health insurance to pay all or a portion of your medical expenses. Many clients, though, are surprised to learn that their health insurance contains a provision entitling the insurance company to be reimbursed for amount it has paid for your medical care if you collect from an at-fault party. This right of reimbursement is stated in your insurance policy and typically can be found in the benefits booklet if you read it closely. But keep in mind, even though your insurer is entitled to be reimbursed, it may not be entitled to be reimbursed in full. If you would like to discuss the reimbursement provisions of your health insurance policy or any other matter regarding your claim, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Contact with Your Attorney

Many clients I've represented over the years have come to me after a prior experience with another attorney. I've learned that the main reason clients fail to return to their previous attorney is frustration over the inability to reach their attorney to discuss things that are of importance to them. Certainly, an injury case resulting from an auto crash or a fall-down incident is stressful enough without being unable to reach your attorney. In my office, I've adopted a simple system to avoid this. When I first meet with a client, if the client decides to retain me, I give them all of my contact information. That includes my cell phone and my home phone number. If a client's unable to reach me, they're just not trying hard enough. If you would like to discuss your injury claim in more detail, I'd be happy to speak with you. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

Surveillance by an Insurance Company

People who have been injured in an automobile crash or as a result of a slip-and-fall incident are often surprised to learn the insurance company has hired an investigator to obtain video footage of them going about their daily activities. Video footage showing an injured person doing things that, because of their injuries, perhaps shouldn't be doing can have a devastating effect on their claim. Even simple things like carrying groceries from the car into the home or washing your car, playing with children, lifting and carrying your child can have a significant impact when viewed by a jury considering the seriousness of your injuries. The lie of surveillance of course is that there is no footage later demonstrating the price being paid in terms of increased pain for those activities. If your doctor has placed restrictions on you, you should do everything possible to observe those restrictions. If you would like to discuss the possibility of surveillance in your case or your claim in general, feel free to call me at any time. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.

What is a Deposition?

You've been injured in an automobile crash or as a result of a slip-and-fall incident, you've been asked to give a deposition, and you're wondering what that is. A deposition is part of the information gathering process once a lawsuit has been filed. It typically occurs at an attorney's office or a court reporter's office. You would attend, You would be accompanied by your attorney. It would also be attended by the attorney representing the insurance company, and there would be a court reporter there as well. You would be sworn under oath, and the attorney representing the insurance company would ask you a series of questions. These questions would basically be background information on you, your health history, your work history, things of that nature, how the accident itself occurred, and the injuries you've experienced as a result. You'll be asked questions about the medical treatment you've received and how your injuries have affected you. If you would like to discuss the deposition process in more detail, feel free to give me a call. You can reach me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 321-723-1997. I look forward to speaking with you.