Sarasota Injury Attorney Blog

Florida No Fault Auto Insurance
By: Thomas Harris
August 13th, 2011

Florida is a no fault state for auto accidents, at least with respect to medical bills. All Florida car owners must have a minimum of $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical benefits. Regardless of fault, if you are in an accident, your carrier will pay 80% of your own medical bills up to the limits of your policy, which is typically $10,000. The law also requires that each owner carry $10,000 of Property Damage Liability (PDL). This coverage applies to repair the car of the owner who was not at fault. So if you are in an accident and not at fault, and your damages are over $10,000, most likely your carrier will repair your vehicle (if you have collision coverage) and then pursue recovery from the at fault carrier. If the damages are under $10,000, either the at fault carrier will tender a check for your repairs and if they do not, your own carrier will likely repair your car and then pursue the at fault carrier for reimbursement. So Florida is only a no fault state with respect to medical bills, not property damage.

Also Florida law allows you to sue another driver for certain damages, and not be limited to PIP or no fault benefits, if you have a permanent injury caused by the auto accident. In this case you should hire an Sarasota or Bradenton auto accident attorney and demand recovery for past and future medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Besides covering 80 percent of your own medical expenses, your PIP will cover your child, members of your household, and passengers who may not have PIP Insurance as long as they do not own a vehicle. Also, passengers in your automobile and authorized drivers of your vehicle who have PIP will be covered under their own PIP for their medical bills.

Finally, If you are hurt in a motor vehicle accident while in someone else’s automobile, or as a pedestrian or bicyclist, then you should be covered by your own PIP medical insurance.

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Sarasota Whiplash Attorney
By: Thomas Harris
July 25th, 2011

Whiplash

Most people have heard of “whiplash”, and seen people wearing large neck braces to keep their neck stable. But not everyone understands that whiplash can turn in to a serious injury?

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a potentially serious injury, caused when the head or neck is thrust forcefully to the back, forward, or side by a sudden and sometimes violent unexpected impact. This impact can also cause a neck strain, which is an injury attributable to the fact that the soft tissue in the neck are over stretched due to the sudden impact.

Whiplash can occur whenever a person’s head or neck is snapped around, like in sports. But by far, the most common cause of whiplash is a motor vehicle accident. Whiplash is often the only injury that a person in an auto accident suffers because if the person is properly belted in, their head and neck are the only parts of the body that will move much, but they will move suddenly and violently.

Whiplash Symptoms

Like most injuries, the effects of whiplash can vary from mild to severe. At its mildest, whiplash will cause short-term stiffness or soreness. More serious cases can make it impossible to turn one’s neck. At its worst, whiplash can cause long-term disability due to sever headaches, muscle spasms, pain and paresthesia, which is a numbness or tingling in the extremities. The treatment of whiplash will vary with the severity of the symptoms. These treatments can range from rest to chiropractic care to physical therapy. Whiplash pain and symptoms may get worse over time, even hours or days after the accident.

See A Doctor Right Away

Since the onset of whiplash symptoms can be delayed, it is vital to see a doctor as soon as possible after an auto crash. This is important because it allows a professional to examine you and, if necessary, to start treatment. The doctor will also document your injury and cause, as well as the symptoms that you feel are related to the collision. A delay between the auto accident and treatment allows the insurance company for the other driver to argue that you don’t actually have whiplash or that it was caused by something other than the crash.

Prompt examination by a medical provider is necessary not only to provide the proper care for your injuries, but also because it will make it easier for you to prove the relationship between your neck pain and the auto accident. In order to recover for an injury, you have to prove that the injury was either caused or aggravated by the accident, and such proof requires a doctor to give a diagnosis and cause. A good doctor will document your symptoms, treatment, injury, and the probable cause, making it more likely for your attorney to “connect the dots” and prove that the vehicle accident caused the whiplash.

If you have suffered a neck “whiplash” injury in an accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to money damages for your injury. This compensation can include the medical bills, lost wages and other damages suffered, such as pain and suffering.

Undoubtedly, the amount you can recover will vary depending on the significance of your injuries and the length of time for your treatment and recovery. Because of the possible delay in the appearance of whiplash symptoms, you should resist the urge to take the initial offer that the other driver’s insurance company makes–an offer that may seem generous now, may turn out to be far less than your actual future medical expense.

Contact Sarasota Whiplash Attorney

What should you do next if you believe you have suffered a significant whiplash injury? The first step is to obtain medical evaluation and treatment, then contact a Sarasota or Bradenton auto injury law firm. We can help evaluate your case and decide if you have a auto accident whiplash injury, and then make the whiplash claim within the limited time required. Under our direction, hopefully you will receive all of the compensation that you deserve. Harris Law Group has successfully represented many Sarasota and Bradenton auto accident whiplash victims and we are available for an initial free consultation to discuss your case.




Sarasota o Bradenton víctima de un accidente
By: Thomas Harris
July 15th, 2011

¿Habla español?

Contamos con personal de habla hispana que trabajará directamente con usted y mantendrá la comunicación siempre disponible con su abogado.

Los tipos de accidente de tránsito a los que nos dedicamos incluyen:

- Imprudencia y manejo temerario
- Accidentes producidos por manejar en estado de ebriedad
- Colisiones frontal, trasera o lateral
- Accidentes causados por seguir muy de cerca al vehículo delantero
- Colisión en intersecciones
- Exceso de velocidad

Llámenos para una consulta gratis en su propia casa.

Si usted, su familia o alguien a quien usted conoce ha sido víctima de un accidente de tránsito en Sarasota o Bradenton, llame al abogado Thomas Harris para una consulta gratis a nuestra línea 1-888-717-4878. Atendemos las 24 horas, 7 días a la semana. Inmediatamente estudiaremos su caso y le diremos como lo podemos ayudar.

El Abogado Thomas Harris se especializa en lesiones ocasionadas por accidentes de tránsito y se asegura de que sus clientes reciban el tratamiento adecuado, sin tener que afrontar los gastos sin cobertura, así como un seguimiento constante hasta resolver su caso, pudiendo recibir la mejor compensación por parte de la parte negligente y las compañías de seguros, ya sea por gastos médicos, gastos futuros, salario perdido y futures ganancias, daños y perjuicios o pérdida en su capacidad de mantener el rítmo de vida acostumbrado.

¿No vive en el area de Sarasota o Bradenton?

Nosotros iremos hacia usted para ayudarlo. Harris Law Group es la firma de abogados con la que usted puede contar para un trato personal y directo con el abogado.

UN ABOGADO CON EXPERIENCIA

¿Está buscando un abogado que lo ayude a recuperarse de un accidente de tránsito en el condado de Sarasota o Manatee? Lo mas probable es que usted tenga muchas preguntas, pero no sepa donde encontrar respuestas adecuadas.

El Sr. Thomas R. Harris tiene una trayectoria de 17 años defendiendo compañías de seguros. Actualmente, Thomas R. Harris utiliza esa experiencia y se especializa en representar a las víctimas en un accidente.

La larga experiencia de Harris Law Group lo ayudará con el largo proceso de lidiar con las compañías de seguros. El Sr. Harris ha trabajado para compañías de seguros por muchos años y sabe como funcionan estas grandes compañías, y sabe por experiencia que las compañías de seguros tratarán siempre de pagar la mínima cantidad posible, sin importar la gravedad de las lesiones en cada caso, los gastos incurridos y lo que la víctima en realidad merece para recuperarse.

Cada caso es diferente, pero dependiendo de su situación, es posible llegar a un acuerdo y conseguir una indemnización y compensación por sus gastos y daños.

PODEMOS IR HACIA USTED

Si no le es posible llegar a nuestras oficinas, nosotros le haremos una visita gratuita para que usted pueda consultar su caso directamente con el Abogado Harris.

RESPUESTA INMEDIATA

Estamos disponibles las 24 horas del día en nuestra línea 941-366-0860 o llame gratis al 1-888-717-4878 y alguien en nuestra oficina le responderá inmediatamente, o dentro de las 12 horas siguientes. Luego de nuestra consulta telefónica, de poderlo ayudar, un representante de nuestra firma se reunirá con usted inmediatamente. En la firma Harris Law Group sabemos que es muy importante no dejar pasar el tiempo entre un accidente y la atención que usted necesita. Puede estar seguro de que esta firma le dará la mayor importancia a su demanda y se mantendrá luchando por lograr un resultado satisfactorio para usted.

MAS QUE UN ABOGADO

Para la firma de Harris Law Group, usted no es un número más. Nosotros tratamos de manejar no sólo los aspectos legales de su caso, pero además lo ayudaremos a presentar el papeleo correspondiente a la compañía de seguros, recomendar al doctor pertinente para sus lesiones, además de estar disponibles para hablar directamente con el abogado, en caso de tener alguna duda o pregunta.

UNA CONSULTA GRATIS

Si usted, su familia o alguien a quien usted conoce ha sido víctima de un accidente de tránsito, llame al abogado Thomas Harris para una consulta gratis a nuestra línea 1-888-717-4878. Atendemos las 24 horas, 7 días a la semana. Inmediatamente estudiaremos su caso y le diremos como lo podemos ayudar.




How long do I have to file a FL auto injury lawsuit?
By: Thomas Harris
July 14th, 2011

Florida Injury Statute of Limitations

You have a time limit of four years to file a Sarasota or Bradenton auto accident personal injury lawsuit in Florida. The same four year statute of limitations applies to slip, trip, and fall accidents as well as any other injury claim in Florida, except medical malpractice. You have only two years from the date you knew or should have known of the medical negligence to file a Florida medical malpractice lawsuit.

However if an injury claim is based on contract, such as an uninsured or under insured motorist claim against your own insurance company based on your policy coverage, then you have five years to file a lawsuit against your own insurance company. This is because Florida has a five year statute of limitations for actions based on contracts. Uninsured or under insured motorist insurance coverage is the coverage that covers you in the event the other driver has no insurance or inadequate coverage to pay your damages. Under these circumstances your own company stands in the shoes of the at fault driver as if they were his carrier and pays you for your damages.

Although the legal time limit for barring a claim is four years for an injury claim, realistically any delay may well prejudice your claim because of the passage of time. This is because of the loss of tangible evidence and inability to locate witnesses who are no longer in the area. Even if you find witnesses their memory of your accident or injuries may have faded over time.

So don’t wait for the statute of limitations to come around before consulting a Sarasota or Bradenton auto accident or slip and fall injury attorney. Call toll free 1-888-717-4878 for a free consultation with a Sarasota injury attorney or submit the form below to contact Mr. Harris by email.

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Understanding Contingent Fee Contracts
By: Thomas Harris
July 14th, 2011

Sarasota Auto Accident Lawyer Contingency Fee Contract

As a Florida personal injury lawyer with an emphasis on representing auto accident victims in Sarasota County and Manatee County, I represent injured people on a contingent-fee basis. This means I will collect no attorney’s fees unless and until I win your case by obtaining a money settlement or a jury verdict award.

I advance all court filing fees and litigation expenses for your case. I am only reimbursed at the end of your case out of the proceeds of the settlement or verdict. No fees or litigation expenses are charged to you unless and until I win your case. As a Florida personal injury auto accident attorney, I put your needs and priorities first.

If I do not obtain a recovery for you, my out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred are waived. I calculate my fee as a percentage of the total or gross recovery obtained. Out of your client share, you pay any medical liens or unpaid medical bills. You also reimburse me for my costs out of your share. My percentage fee is one third of your total gross recovery if the case is settled without filing a suit, and increases to forty percent if suit is filed.

The clear advantages of a contingency fee agreement are:

1) A client can afford to hire a lawyer since there are no up front fees or costs and none if the lawyer does not win your case. So the client risks only his time, not money.

2) A lawyer is motivated to only take legitimate cases because he is only paid is he wins. This type of contract protects everyone against frivolous lawsuits.

3) The client and lawyer’s interest are aligned with each other as if they were going into business together. Because the more money the attorney obtains for the client, the higher the fee for the lawyer.

Contact me today, your Sarasota personal injury auto accident lawyer at Harris Law Group serving both Sarasota and Manatee counties in Florida. Call toll free now for a free consult 1-888-717-4878 or complete the form below to email me.

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