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

Auto Insurance – Do you have the right coverage?

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:44:52 +0000

Most people have no idea what kind of insurance they have until AFTER they get into an auto accident. Every state is different when it comes to required coverages for your automobile. Florida is considered a “NO-Fault” state because of our required coverage or lack thereof. People call us all day long and tell me until they are blue in the face that they have full coverage. The definition of full coverage varies greatly from caller to caller. Have you ever heard the saying – you can never have enough insurance? What kind of insurance should you have?

The answer to that question also varies tremendously. In my opinion, the most important coverage you can carry in Florida is UM or under/uninsured motorist coverage. How do you know if you carry any or enough of this coverage? Find out BEFORE you have a car accident. Call your insurance company or agent to have them clearly explain to you what type of coverage you have and then ask them what you don’t have. Run through different scenarios in your head to double check that you have not just the state mandated coverage but the coverage to give you and your family peace of mind in the event of an auto accident related injury. If you need some help, give us a call. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard almost every possible scenario you could dream up.

www.harrellandharrell.com

Jacksonville car accident

admin — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:15:59 +0000

Have you had the misfortune of being involved in a car accident recently? Even though it hasn’t rained much this spring, there have been no lack of auto accidents on the roads in and around Jacksonville. Gas prices seem to be keeping some people off the roads but thankfully the high price of gasoline is starting to ease also. I do like my quicker drive to work but paying $60 for a tank of gas even in my Ford Fusion is getting old.

What should you do if you are involved in a car accident? There are so many things to consider and I know most of you don’t want to commit that kind of stuff to memory. Give us a call regardless of the facts of your accident or the extent of your injuries so we can help answer those questions. Yes there is still such a thing as FREE advice. Of course we would love to make you a client. Avoid the unnecessary referral services and consider using a local and highly respected law firm to handle your personal injury case.

If we can be of assistance, feel free to contact us! Your FREE consultation won’t cost you a thing and it is always confidential.

Don’t settle for less than you deserve!

Wear your seat belt – 10 reasons why

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:21:52 +0000

Besides the fact that the law requires seat belt use, here are ten reasons why you should wear your seat belt based on statistics from a James Mason University study:

One in five drivers are involved in an auto accident each year.
Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for those under the age of 45.
Close to 35,000 people die each year in auto accidents, half of whom would have been saved by the use of seat belts.
For every one percent increase in the use of seat belts, 172 lives are saved.
Seat belts reduce auto accident fatalities by 60-70 percent.
A person is 25 times more likely to die when thrown from a vehicle.
Children are often killed by being crushed by unrestrained adults.
The most common injuries to children in car accidents are head injuries resulting in brain damage, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy or death.
Over 80% of child fatalities in auto accidents would have been prevented by the proper use of seat belts or car seats. Unfortunately, less than ten percent of children are properly restrained.
Seat belts may provide the greatest and only protection against DUI drivers.

A seat belt may very well save your life in the case of a car accident. If that is not enough, it may save your child. Just as importantly, it could minimize physical injuries.There many more good reasons for wearing a seat belt and none that would suggest otherwise.

www.harrellandharrell.com

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!