Harrell and Harrell's Personal Injury law blog » auto accident

Help reduce Jacksonville car accidents

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:09:57 +0000

As the Memorial Day weekend and the end of the school year quickly approach us, the roads will be filled with younger less experienced drivers. Instead of sitting in a classroom, young kids will be headed to the beach, the local malls and just going to hang out with friends and family. Some out driving on their own for the first time.

We can all keep an eye out for these less experienced drivers and help ensure that they don’t cause an accident or become the victim of a Jacksonville car accident. No one wants their summer or for that matter anytime ruined by the far reaching effects of an auto accident or the injuries resulting from that accident.

This time of year is also a good time to remind people of the hazards of drinking and driving, using your cell phone or texting while driving, and driving while over-tired on those long vacation road trips. At least it looks like gas prices will cooperate this year so we can all afford that family vacation.

Take a moment to remind friends and family about the importance of safe driving and giving your full attention to the roadway and those vehicles around you. Take a deep breath and relax – you’ll enjoy the summer more and have a much better chance of arriving all in one piece to where ever it is you decide to go.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend and enjoy the upcoming summer months (safely) from all the lawyers and staff at Harrell & Harrell, PA - your Jacksonville personal injury team

Someone may be watching

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:30:55 +0000

As a personal injury attorney in Jacksonville, Florida, one of the most common ways an accident occurs is when a driver runs a red light. Last week, the Florida Legislature took action in an attempt to deter drivers from running a red light. A bill was passed by both the House and Senate and will become law when Governor Charlie Crist signs the bill. The new law will permit cameras to be installed at intersections to catch motorists running red lights. When driving on the roads of Jacksonville, I would suggest drivers err on the side of caution when faced with a decision to come to a stop or speed up to run a light. The consequences of running the light all to often lead to an accident and now within the next few days will also lead to a ticket of up to $160.00

Drive safe, David Black, Esquire

Here’s a link to the newspaper story

What is an Intake?

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:56:36 +0000

Here’s a brief submission from one of our “intake officers” talking about the initial process of hiring a personal injury lawyer or just getting a free consultation to discuss your options. We try to make everyone feel comfortable by just clearly explaining your options, so don’t worry about high pressure sales (that’s not the point of the intake process)!

Most people are not as “sue happy” as you would think, and most only contact an auto accident lawyer after becoming frustrated with the insurance companies and the seemingly endless run-arounds they get. In my 25 plus years as a legal investigator I have dealt with countless numbers of clients who are skeptical of lawyers and doctors in general, and they only turn to a lawyer when they feel there is no other option.

My job in intake is the first step in making sure you don’t settle for less than you deserve. I make an effort to make sure new car accident clients are well informed during the initial conference. I try to put them at ease, make them feel comfortable and relaxed. Sometimes however, due to the physical pain they are enduring, this is difficult. It’s my obligation to explain the best I can how the insurance process works, how the medical bills are paid, who takes care of wage loss, who pays to fix a car, what the responsibility of the at fault person and that person’s insurance company is, and, of course, how long the process takes.

Sometimes we have new auto accident clients who have involved other attorneys on previous cases, and I’m often told “I never got to meet a lawyer.” Meeting your lawyer happens quickly at Harrell and Harrell. I am usually able to walk down the hall and get your lawyer for a quick face-to-face.

Statements I hear often are “I don’t want to sue the other person,” or “we are not sue happy people.” Well the good news for them is that most of the time we will only be making a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company, not the at-fault driver, and not necessarily even filing a law suit. We will be attempting to negotiate a fair and equitable settlement if at all possible. If that doesn’t work, then a law suit at some point might be needed. Be assured, however, that is always the client’s prerogative and choice.

Car accidents and your weight

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:25:49 +0000

Thanks to one of our personal injury trial lawyers, David Black, for his insight on this very relevant matter.

As a personal injury attorney, I have noticed a recent trend with defense attorneys on how they defend car accidents which result in low back injuries. Unfortunately, instead of accepting responsibility for an accident, a defense attorney will attempt to place the blame for a client’s injuries on the client’s weight.

For instance, a defense attorney will claim an obese individuals increased weight has caused a degenerative condition to develop in a person’s spine which is now causing low back pain. The defense attorney will then attempt to bolster his argument by using studies and medical reports showing the relationship between obesity and back pain.

Usually, this argument will not be made when a client has been involved in a significant accident. However, when the accident results in minimal property damage the defense will consider the client’s weight as a possible reason for the cause of a low back injury.

For more information regarding the relationship between low back injuries and obesity please click here.

Want lower auto insurance premiums?

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:41:21 +0000

UPDATE – Looks like this might have been stopped through a “point of order” but I’m guessing they’ll find a way to get it back on the table. Stay tuned!

Yesterday, the Florida Senate Banking and Insurance Committee amended a proposed sinkhole coverage bill to amend your no fault auto or PIP coverage. PIP coverage currently provides, without regard to fault, medical and lost wage benefits to all drivers in Florida who are injured in auto accidents. The amendment allows auto insurance companies to offer “preferred provider” coverage for a premium discount. Sounds good. We all would like lower insurance premiums but at what price otherwise?

Who will pick the medical providers, the insurance company? Sounds like our wonderful workers’ compensation laws. Have you ever had to see a work comp approved doctor? All the horror stories I hear can’t all be wrong. So for a decreased premium, you get an insurance company approved doctor who says no medical treatment is necessary or only limited treatment is necessary. Who do you want picking your treating doctor… You, or your insurance company???? I vote to keep my choices as my choices.

The law today is that you can go to any medical professional you want for treatment and for a reduced premium ( yet to be defined)… you will give up that right and will be limited to whomever your insurance company says is a preferred provider. The insurance companies question lawyers about who they send their clients to for treatment which in some cases I understand but they shouldn’t be allowed to have it their way, using their doctors, and not be questioned themselves.

Thanks to attorney Don Black for bringing this to my attention.

How safe is your car?

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:38:43 +0000

While safety should always be a major factor when selecting a vehicle, frightening tales about drivers whose Toyotas accelerated for no apparent reason have driven that point home. And if you’re in the market for a vehicle, there are many places to look for safety information.

Automotive experts advise that consumers shouldn’t hit the panic pedal. Vehicles are safer than ever based on crash tests and fatality data, and even Toyotas statistically remain very safe vehicles. And though the Toyota recall of more than 8 million vehicles is unusual in its size, recalls are common among manufacturers.

A recall doesn’t always mean a car is unsafe. A recall occurs typically when a problem is identified and the manufacturer or industry comes up with a solution or fix to the problem. Usually it’s a good thing. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your point of view, the Toyota recall lingered and remained a hot news item in our 24/7 news world. Most come and go like ships passing in the night.

Here is a resource to help you determine how safe your car is:

SaferCar.gov offers one-stop-shopping for information on government crash tests, recalls and defects, safety tips and how to file a complaint about a vehicle.

The government uses a five-star system to rate the safety of vehicles based on the likelihood of serious injury in head-on and side collisions, as well as roll-overs. The more stars the better, and many vehicles are top-rated with four or five stars.

Be sure to check out our product recall page for pertinent information.

www.harrellandharrell.com – Don’t settle for less than you deserve!

Things to Do After An Auto Accident

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:22:34 +0000

The first moments following an auto accident can be extremely hectic and confusing. If you are involved in a collision, our auto accident attorneys advise you to take the following steps immediately to ensure that you protect your legal rights. Here are some recommendations as to what you should do following a car accident.

Dial 911 – In Florida, a police report must be completed after all auto accidents if property damage exceeds $500 or if it involves an injury or death. Call 911 to report the accident and make sure to advise the 911 operator of any injuries.

If possible, move your vehicle to the side of the road and turn off your ignition. Try to stand clear of the accident vehicles while calling for help to avoid injury in case the cars are hit again. If parties are injured, do not attempt to move them unless they are in immediate danger.

Our Florida car accident attorneys always recommend that you avoid admitting fault or discussing fault with others involved in the collision. You should always try to avoid confrontation and cooperate fully with law enforcement and/or rescue personnel.

Exchange information with all parties involved in the collision without discussing or admitting fault. Make sure to write down registration numbers, drivers license info, and insurance info.

Check for witnesses to the auto accident - obtain witness contact information (including work and home phone numbers). Don’t assume the police will write down all the witness information.

If you are experiencing any pain, seek immediate medical attention (even if you feel the injury is minor).

Make sure to photograph your vehicle (before repairs are completed) and injuries sustained from the crash. If you have a camera available at the scene you may want to photograph the crash scene and vehicles involved in the collision.

Above all, protect your rights. You are not required to give statements to the other party’s insurance company. While you should cooperate with your own insurance company, you may want to consider consulting one of our Jacksonville auto accident attorneys before giving a statement.

Give us a call (800)251-1111 or fill out our convenient online form at www.harrellandharrell.com if we can be of any assistance or just answer a few questions.

Hit and run car accidents

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:58:51 +0000

According to data provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Duval County ranks third in the State of Florida when it comes to hit and run car accidents even though our population is only seventh in the state. I have heard countless sad stories of accidents that have turned peoples lives upside down. Although you never know if you will be involved in a hit and run accident, you can rest assured if you know more of what your insurance policy actually covers. Make your agent or the insurance company explain what each type of coverage does before you just pick the lowest quote or just blindlessly renew your policy you have had for years.

I can’t recall the number of times people call thinking they have great coverage only to find out they have the bare minimum coverage allowed by Florida law.

If you can’t get your agent to explain the ins and outs of auto insurance, call us at Harrell & Harrell, PA. We would be glad to explain it to you BEFORE you have a car accident.

Don’t settle for less than you deserve!

Motorcycle safety

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:49:49 +0000

With our recent warm spell this weekend, I was quickly reminded of the number of motorcycles that share our North Florida roads. My kids and I actually had a contest to see who could count the most as we drove around town. Now that the weather has turned cold again I am pretty sure that some of the less avid bikers may put the hog back in the garage. The cold won’t last long (or at least I hope not) and they will all be out in full force enjoying our fabulous spring time weather.

Just as motorists look out for other motorists, we should always look out for others sharing the roadways – motorcyclists and cyclists alike. Check that blind-spot carefully and maintain traffic awareness at all times. The roads aren’t getting any less crowded but we can keep them safe by practicing safe driving. Be patient – I’d rather be 2 minutes late for something than be involved in a traffic accident and potentially injure someone or be injured myself.

LOOK TWICE – SAVE A LIFE

www.harrellandharrell.com

Big Toyota recall

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:09:30 +0000

Do you own one of these cars or trucks? Add the 2010 Toyota Prius to the list for bad brakes

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

If so, contact Toyota because they just recalled 2.3 million of them for “isolated incidents of the accelerator sticking”.

That could be bad news! Check it out before you wind up the victim of a car accident or just a scary white knuckle ride.

If we can help, please contact us at 800-251-1111