Orlando Personal Injury & Accident Lawyer Blog

Weekend Visitation or kidnapping?

A couple of weeks ago a client called me to let me know that her soon-to-be ex-husband had failed to return the kids from a weekend visitation. Although she didn't believe that he would hurt the kids, she was still extremely distraught. I advised her to call the police and let them deal with the situation. Unfortunately, the police didn't do anything because an Order on visitation had not yet been entered.

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New Florida PIP Law approved

Ok, we can take a deep breath. PIP is saved, for now at least. Last week the Florida Legislature approved a bill that would reenact the PIP/No-Fault statute effective January 1, 2008.

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Agreement on PIP?

I recently received word that House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement in principal on legislation that would extend the current PIP law through the end of 2007.  The full details of an agreement have not yet been released, but the proposal would apparently extend the existing system until the end of 2007, and then certain other reforms would be introduced that would prevent fraud.

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Sign the Petition to urge legislators to extend or reform PIP

Following is a message I received today from CIVIC Concern, which is a non-partisan policy incubator, legislative watchdog, and advocate for ordinary Floridians.  I encourage my readers to sign their petition to  urge Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt and Speaker Marco Rubio to expand the scope of the October special session to include passage of an extension of PIP.

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NHTSA Urges Drivers to Check their Tires During Hot Weather

Last month, the nation’s top highway safety officials cautioned motorists that hot weather and under-inflated tires are a dangerous combination.  Nicole Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, unveiled a public service announcement urging drivers to check tire pressure and tread-wear often, but especially during the hot, summer months.  In Florida, this period can easily extend into the months of October and November.

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How to Keep your car insurance rates low...

There are a number of factors that will influence your car insurance rates.  Some of these factors you can control, and some you can't.  Each factor corrolates to a level of risk for the insurance company.  Basically, the higher the risk that is associated with a person, the higher your premium.  Following are some of the major risk factors that the insurance companies will consider, starting with factors that you cannot change:

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Progressive Insurance investigated for fraud and invasion of privacy

I always try to warn my clients to be honest and forthright with me about their cases and their activities, especially in car accident cases where damages are at issue. This is because the insurance companies will do anything they can to keep from paying out claims.

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Big problems if PIP expires...

The clock is ticking. I've posted quite a few times about what will happen if the Florida Legislature doesn't act quickly to do something about the PIP law (click here for the first of my series about how to protect yourself in a post no-fault world). Right now, the law is still set to expire on October 1st.

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Is Tort Reform really needed?

It's very interesting how the government would have us believe that we just have no money. No money to hire teachers for public schools. No money for Public Housing. No money to spend on health programs for children. No money to assist in providing a college education for our young adults. And certainly no money to assist in a hurricane fund so the citizens of Florida can obtain affordable homeowners insurance.

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How to protect yourself in a Post No-Fault World - Part 3

A lot of people will want to know how their auto insurance rates will be affected by the expiration of No-Fault on October 1, 2007. You may see a decrease in your auto insurance premiums, although I wouldn't count on it based on past experience with the insurance companies. Additionally, if you choose to purchase (and you should) optional med-pay coverage, then there will be an additional cost to you.

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How to protect yourself in a Post No-Fault World - Part 2

With the end of no-fault insurance, you must insure that you have adequate med-pay with your car insurance. However, if you are at fault in an accident, and your medical expenses exceed the limits of your med-pay coverage, then you will be personally responsible for the damages. This means that either you or your health insurance will pay for your medical expenses that exceed the limits on any medical payments coverage under your auto insurance policy.

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How to protect yourself in a Post No-Fault World - Part 1

If the Legislature does not make any changes, the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law and the requirement to purchase PIP coverage will expire on October 1. Beginning October 1, whether you are at fault or not in an accident could make all the difference as to which driver is liable to pay for damages from an automobile accident.

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Tort Reform: Texas Judges say it's not necessary

For the last two years, the professors at Baylor University School of Law have conducted a survey of Texas District Court Judges to determine whether tort reforms are necessary. An incredible 78% of the judges responded, and the results of the survey were recently released in the Baylor Law Review in an article entitled Straight from the Horse's Mouth: Judicial Observations of Jury Behavior and the Need for Tort Reform.

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P.I. Lawyer pleads guilty to using a runner to solicit business

This is why personal injury attorneys get a bad name from uneducated consumers. A lawyer in New Jersey pleaded guilty to violating a New Jersey Statute that bars lawyers from using paid runners to drum up or "solicit" new business.

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Wrong-site Brain Surgery?

Are you kidding me? Last week I was having dinner with my inlaws, who were concerned at the rising insurance costs that doctors have for medical malpractice insurance. It really kills me when people believe that Plaintiff's lawyers are the cause of the problem.

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Defamation Lawsuit proceeds where Nationwide Claims Adjuster says that clients will get more money if they don’t hire an attorney

The adjuster claimed he was merely stating an opinion, but the Supreme Court of Virginia didn’t buy it. In an opinion issued late last year, the Court has held that an attorney may proceed in a defamation action against Nationwide Insurance Company for disparaging statements that were made by one of the companies’ claims adjusters.

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"No Fault" Insurance Nearing an End

As of October 1st, 2007, it will once again matter who was at fault in automobile accidents in Florida. The current automobile, no-fault insurance law will expire at that time, leaving a potential mess for consumers, doctors, and the courts.

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Florida Couple Awarded $21 Million for "Wrongful Birth"

On Monday, a jury awarded more than $21 Million to a couple who claimed that a doctor misdiagnosed a severe birth defect in their son, which lead them to have a second child with similar problems.

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Fatal Car Accident closes I-4 in Orlando

In a sad turn of events, one person died and four others were seriously injured in a three-car crash on Interstate 4 near downtown Orlando this morning.

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Personal Injury Lawyer Referral Service found Unethical - Florida Consumers Beware

The Florida Bar is cracking down on scores of personal injury lawyers who have benefited from the 1-800-ASK-GARY referral service. The investigation appears to be an indictment of the Ask Gary advertising style, which is heavy on personal testimonials from accident victims who call the toll-free hot line for help.

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