Why All Personal Injury Lawyers Are Not the Same: What Accident Victims in Apollo Beach Need to Know

Apollo Beach car accident? Learn when to choose the ER or chiropractor and protect your Florida PIP benefits with Jim The Lawyer.

Learn 3 common insurance adjuster lies after a Florida crash and how an Apollo Beach injury lawyer can protect your settlement and your rights.

Injured in a rear-end crash in Ruskin or Tampa Bay? Learn who’s at fault under Florida law, key exceptions, and how compensation is determined.

Learn what happens after you accept a personal injury settlement in Florida, including payment timelines, medical bills, liens, and how much you actually receive.

Do I Have to Call the Police After a Car Accident in Florida? There is nothing more inconvenient than being in a car accident. That’s why many people don’t even wait around to call the Police after one occurs. But is this legal? The answer depends on the circumstances of the crash, but understanding the legal requirements and practical implications can help you make an informed decision in an otherwise stressful situation. Florida’s Legal Requirements for Reporting Car Accidents Florida law requires you to file a police report if your crash meets any of the following criteria: · If there is any injury or fatalities · When there is property damage exceeding $500 · Hit-and-Run situations · If there is suspicion of impaired driving · The accident involved a commercial vehicle · A vehicle needs to be towed from the scene Failure to report your accident in such a case could potentially result in criminal penalties. However, although the law requires a report of the crash if any of these criteria are met, the law does allow drivers up to 10 days to file a crash report with local authorities if they did not call the police at the scene. This obviously would not apply in the case of injury or fatality, or if a driver is impaired. These should be reported immediately. Regardless of the situation, it is always best practice to call the Police after a car accident. Why You Should Call the Police Even When You’re Not Legally Required to Do So There are number of reasons why you should still call the Police after a car accident even if you don’t meet any of the criteria that would legally require you to do so. The reasons include: There is Less Chance for Conflicting Stories When information is gathered quickly at the scene of an accident by the Police, it can then be preserved and there is less chance that it can be misconstrued in the future. People also tend to be more forthcoming at the scene when talking to the Police. However, when given time to think about it, stories often change, especially if a person knows that a claim is being pursued against them. Calling the Police and getting a report can help prevent this happening. Document the Accident The Police Report is the best place to document your accident right after it happened. Unlike merely exchanging information with the other driver, having the Police obtain a statement from all parties involved as well from any eyewitnesses is crucial for any subsequent insurance claim. The Police will often also assign fault to a party, which can be useful in a subsequent claim as well. Document Your Physical Complaints The Police Report is your first opportunity to document any physical complaints that you may have, while still at the scene of the accident. This is very important, especially if you’re unable to seek medical treatment right away. In such a case, without a Police report documenting your complaints, the insurance company may question whether you were even hurt in the accident, especially if it took 4-5 days for you to get in to see a doctor. When You Might Choose Not to Call the Police Although it is always best to call the Police after a Florida car accident, there are times where it may not be imperative that you do so. One such situation would be in the case of a minor accident with no injuries. If the crash is minor and all vehicles are driveable, and nobody is complaining of any injury, waiting around for the Police to show up and take down your information may not be necessary – as long as you still take steps to properly document your accident. Those steps should include: · Exchanging Information: Take a photo of the other driver’s license and make sure to get insurance information. · Take Photographs: If you are not going to call the Police after your accident, it is even more important that you document the crash by photographs. Be sure to take photos of the scene of the accident, and of the damage to all of the vehicles involved in the crash. · Witness Statements: If there are witnesses to your accident, ask for their names and phone numbers so you can get a statement from them later, if necessary. From here, contact a lawyer if you have any questions about filing an insurance claim, or if you begin to feel pain and believe that you may have been injured. Challenges in Pursuing an Insurance Claim Without a Police An insurance company will question everything after an accident. This is especially true if there is no Police Report. Without a Police Report, there is a good chance that liability may be disputed, as there is likely to be conflicting stories from each driver. The Police will investigate the crash and determine who they believe caused the accident. This can help if there are conflicting versions of what happened. Another challenge is in proving that your injury is related to the accident, and not to something else. Without a Police report documenting your complaints, the insurance company may dispute your injuries and their relation to the crash. This is especially true if you don’t seek treatment right away. Call Florida Car Accident Attorney, Jim The Lawyer, for Legal Help Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your Florida car accident case. If you’ve been injured in a Florida car accident, Jim The Lawyer is here to help you fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injury.  Contact Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, at (813)937-9907 for a FREE Consultation and Case Evaluation.

Riverview, Florida is one of the fastest growing areas in Hillsborough County. With this rapid population growth comes increased traffic congestion. This has made some areas of Riverview notorious for accidents. Below are some of the most dangerous roads and intersections in this region. Top Dangerous Roads and Intersections 1. U.S. 301 and Gibsonton Drive This is one of the most highly congested intersections in Southern Hillsborough County. Over a 15-month period, there were 95 reported crashes at this intersection. This is due not only to congestion, but also due to aggressive driving and frequent left-turn accidents. 2. U.S. 301 at Big Bend Road This is another very highly congested intersection during most times of day. The combination of speeding vehicles, failure to yield and poor visibility contributes to the danger of this intersection, which saw 86 accidents over a 15-month period. 3. Big Bend Road and Summerfield Boulevard Although this intersection is nestled in a residential community, it has accounted for 97 crashes within a 16-month period, with 14 serious injuries or fatalities. This intersection is dangerous due to its location which is known for speeding vehicles, and there is also very poor visibility for those making left-hand turns. 4. Big Bend Road and Summerfield Crossing Boulevard Located right down the street from Summerfield Boulevard is this equally dangerous intersection. Aggressive lane changes and insufficient signage are common issues contributing to the dangers present at this intersection. Over a 16-month period, there have been 92 crashes reported at this location. Common Causes of Car Accidents in Riverview, FL While many factors can cause a car accident, some of the most common causes of car accidents in Riverview, Florida include: · Failure to Yield : mostly occurring during the course of left-hand turns and due to drivers misjudging gaps in traffic; · Speeding: given the number of lanes of travel on roads such as U.S. 301, speeding has become a common occurrence in the Riverview, Florida area; · Poor Visibility: many intersections lack sufficient signage and become partially blocked to visibility due to overgrown landscaping; · Distracted Driving: texting and talking on mobile devices is problem on all roadways and is a significant contributor to accidents. Top 4 Things You Need to do After a Riverview, FL Car Accident Thankfully, car accidents are not a common occurrence for most people. However, when one occurs, it’s important to know what to do to best preserve your accident claim. Here are the top four things you should do after a Riverview, Florida car accident: 1. Prioritize Safety The first thing you should after an accident is to make sure that everyone in your vehicle is safe. If your vehicle is in a place of danger, move it to safety to avoid a secondary collision if possible. Then be sure turn on your hazard lights to ensure that your vehicle is visible to oncoming motorists. 2. Call 911 Calling the Police after a Riverview, Florida car accident is important for several reasons. First, the Police will document the crash and all parties involved, and conduct their investigation as to who is at fault for the crash. Second, the crash report that the Police will prepare documenting your crash will be your first opportunity to document any physical complaints you may have while you are still at the scene of the crash. This will be important for the insurance company to see and will help prevent any argument the insurance company may make that your injuries were not caused by the crash. 3. Take Photos Although the Police will be documenting the crash if you called them, it is still important for you, if possible, to take photographs of the damage. When taking photographs of the damage, don’t just take photos of your vehicle. Make sure to also take photos of all other vehicles involved in the crash. This is important because often times the other vehicle will have more damage to it than yours. In addition to taking photos of the damage to all vehicles, be sure to also take photos of the scene of the crash and the surrounding area. This will document everything as it existed at the time, and may also show nearby surveillance cameras that may have captured the crash as it occurred. 4. Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible The quicker you can seek medical attention after a crash, the better it will be for both yourself and any potential claim that you may have. By seeking immediate medical attention, you will not only be getting the treatment you need, but you will also be avoiding any argument related to a gap in treatment between the time of crash and your first date of treatment. Of course, in addition to doing these four things, you will also want to call a lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer will conduct their own investigation of the crash and seek to preserve all relevant evidence for your claim before it is disposed of or destroyed. Call Jim The Lawyer After Your Riverview, FL Car Accident Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your Riverview, Florida car accident case. If you’ve been injured in a Riverview, Florida car accident, Jim The Lawyer is here to help you fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injury. Contact Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, at (813)937-9907 for a FREE Consultation and Case Evaluation.

How Will My Medical Bills Get Paid After a Parrish, Florida Car Accident? The number one question that people have after a car accident is “who is going to pay my medical bills.” A lot of people think that since Florida is a “no-fault” state, that as long as they are not at fault for the accident the other driver’s insurance will automatically pay 100% of their bills. That is not the case. To understand how medical bills get paid after an accident, it is important to understand the various insurance coverages and how they work together to cover your medical costs after an accident. 1. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage After a car accident, the first layer of insurance that will be responsible for paying your medical bills is your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage. This is also commonly referred to as “no-fault” insurance. Every driver in the state of Florida is required to purchase PIP coverage, and it provides coverage for you regardless of who was at fault in the accident. So when you’ve been injured in an accident, regardless of who caused it, your PIP coverage will be the primary (or first) coverage that will be billed for your medical treatment. Here are some important points about PIP coverage in Florida: · The minimum amount of PIP coverage required by state law is $10,000; · To qualify for PIP – you must seek initial medical care within 14 days of your accident; and · PIP pays 80% of reasonable and necessary medical expenses and/or 60% of lost wages if you are prevented from working due to accident related injuries; So when you’ve been injured in an accident, your doctors will initially bill PIP under your own insurance policy before billing any other insurance (regardless of fault). With that said, PIP will only pay 80% of those bills, so the next question is “what happens with the 20% remaining?” 2. Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage Medical Payments Coverage, or MedPay, is not required in Florida. However, if you’ve purchased MedPay it can be used to pay the remaining 20% of the medical bills PIP didn’t pay, or any bills over and above PIP to the extent of your MedPay limit of coverage. It can also pay your PIP deductible, if you have one. 3. Health Insurance Health insurance can also play an important role in paying your accident related medical bills. If you don’t have MedPay, your health insurance can be billed by your doctors to pay the remaining 20% that PIP doesn’t pay. It can also be used to pay your medical bills over and above PIP and MedPay when those coverages have been exhausted and you require additional medical treatment. However, if health insurance pays for any of your accident related medical treatment, your health insurer will have what is called a subrogation interest. Subrogation is the process by which your health insurance can seek reimbursement for any expenses it has paid for your accident related medical treatment if/when you recover from the at fault driver’s insurance company. This means that when your health insurance pays and you recover money from the at fault driver’s insurance, you will likely have to pay your health insurer back for any money it has paid for your treatment. Unfortunately, not everyone has health insurance, and not all doctors accept every health insurance provider. If you’ve exhausted your PIP and MedPay and you don’t have health insurance, don’t worry because you can still seek treatment for your accident related injuries. That’s because there are doctors that treat accident victims who, in the case of someone without health insurance (or if they don’t accept your health insurance), will defer receipt of payment until your case is over. This is called a Letter of Protection, whereby you and your attorney agree to protect the doctor’s interest and pay them when your case is over. 4. Bodily Injury (BI) Coverage Bodily injury coverage is insurance that may apply when you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault (or you weren’t completely at fault). This is the at fault driver’s insurance that will cover you for medical expenses over and above what PIP has paid, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and/or pain and suffering damages. Unfortunately, Florida is the only state that does not require drivers to carry bodily injury coverage. Because it’s not required, and because of the rising costs of auto insurance, there are many drivers who choose not to have this coverage. In addition, because this coverage is not required, there are also many drivers who only purchase minimal bodily injury coverage. If there is no bodily injury coverage, or only minimal BI limits, there may not be much, if any, insurance proceeds for you to collect from the at fault driver. 5. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) is not mandatory in Florida but it is highly recommended that you buy it. This coverage protects you if you have been in an accident with an uninsured driver (a driver that does not have bodily injury coverage), or a driver that has only minimal bodily injury coverage limits. In such a case, you can file a UM/UIM claim with your own insurer who will then “stand in the shoes” of the at fault driver. You are then able to recover any of the damages you otherwise could have recovered from the at fault driver if they had bodily injury coverage (up to the limits of your UM/UIM coverage). Call Jim The Lawyer After Your Parrish, Florida Car Accident Navigating the complex world of insurance after a Parrish car accident can be a daunting challenge. That is why hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your Parrish car accident case. If you’ve been injured in a Parrish, Florida car accident, Jim The Lawyer is here to help you fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injury. Contact Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, at (813)937-9907 for a FREE Consultation and Case Evaluation.

Why do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage After a Ruskin, Florida Car Accident? Unfortunately, the cost of car insurance has skyrocketed, especially in the state of Florida. The effect of this is that many are now only purchasing the bare minimum of car insurance coverage. In Florida, the minimum coverage required by the state is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage coverage. That means that there are many drivers operating without bodily injury coverage. Bodily injury coverage is insurance that can be purchased and protects you by covering others for injury in the event you cause a crash. So if you’ve been injured in a car crash, the other driver’s bodily injury coverage will pay your economic and non-economic damages caused by the crash. The problem is, Florida is the only state in which there is no mandatory bodily injury coverage. This means many people are driving without it. In fact, nearly 20% of drivers are without insurance completely, and many more have only minimal coverage limits. Because of this, it is important that you have uninsured motorist coverage. What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage? Uninsured motorist coverage is insurance that protects you when you are involved in an accident with a driver that is uninsured, or a driver who has insufficient liability limits. In such a case, your uninsured (also known as underinsured) motorist coverage will step in and cover many of the areas of damage that you could have recovered from the at-fault driver had they had bodily injury coverage, or in the event of an underinsured driver, had they had sufficient limits to cover your damages. When you’ve been injured by an uninsured/underinsured driver, your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will cover damages caused by the crash, such as: · Past and future medical expenses · Past lost wages · Loss of future earning capacity; and · Past and future pain and suffering When Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Apply? Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the following criteria have been met and the driver has been determined to be either uninsured – or if they are insured, there is insufficient coverage limits to fully compensate you for your injuries: 1. The accident must have arisen out of the inherent nature of the automobile, as such; 2. The accident must have arisen within the natural territorial limits of the automobile, and the actual use, loading, or unloading, must not have terminated; 3. The automobile must not merely contribute to cause the condition which produces the injury, but must, itself, produce the injury. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage has been found to apply in the following situations: · Get hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient insurance coverage; · Hit and run accidents when you unable to identify the hit and run driver; · When you’ve been run off the road by another driver – no impact needed; · When you’ve been hit by a vehicle while riding your bicycle; · When you’ve been hit by a vehicle while a pedestrian; · In some cases, uninsured motorist coverage has been found to apply if you’ve been hit by an object thrown from a vehicle. · Accident involving a municipal or governmental vehicle. Given the high number of drivers who are driving without any insurance, or without bodily injury coverage, having uninsured motorist coverage is imperative coverage to have. As a personal injury attorney, I can say that there is nothing worse than having to tell a client who has been injured in a crash that there is no insurance to recover from the at-fault driver and, worse yet, the client didn’t spend the few extra dollars to buy uninsured motorist coverage. Call Jim The Lawyer After Your Ruskin, Florida Car Accident Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your Ruskin car accident case. If you’ve been injured in a Ruskin, Florida car accident, Jim The Lawyer is here to help you fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injury. Contact Jim The Lawyer, Accident and Injury Attorney, at (813)937-9907 for a FREE Consultation and Case Evaluation.

One of the biggest things people are initially concerned about after a car accident, even more so than any injury at first, is their car. People naturally feel helpless without the use of their car, and when its been damaged in an accident, there are a lot of unknowns. Questions like: Whose going to pay for the damage? What if the car is totaled? What about a rental car? How am I going to get work? These are all valid and logical questions, but for those who haven’t had to deal with insurance issues after an accident, these questions can be overwhelming, so it’s important to know what your options are depending on the different scenarios you may face. Here are several such scenarios, and the options available to you should you encounter one. Scenario #1 – You Caused the Accident If you cause an accident and your car is damaged or, worse yet, totaled, you better hope that you purchased collision coverage with your auto insurance policy. Collision coverage will cover you for any damage to your vehicle if it is involved in a collision with another object or vehicle, regardless of fault. So if the accident is your fault and your car’s damaged, your only option is to file a claim with your own insurance company under your collision coverage to get it fixed or replaced. The problem is, not everyone has collision coverage. This is because it is not a required coverage in the state of Florida, and it costs extra to add it to your policy. Given the high costs of car insurance, many people decide not to buy it. The bad news is if you don’t have collision coverage and you cause an accident, unfortunately you’ll have to come out of pocket for all of your own repairs costs, and there will be no insurance money to help. Scenario #2 - The Other Driver Caused the Accident When the other driver is at a fault for your accident, and if that driver has property damage coverage, which is required in Florida, then you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance and they will pay to have your car fixed up to the limit of that coverage which, in Florida, the law requires a minimum limit of $10,000 in property damage coverage If the repairs cost more than the driver’s limit of coverage - for example, your repairs are 12,000 and the driver only has the minimum $10,000 limit - or, if your car is a total loss and the value of your car exceeds the driver’s limit of coverage, you should then pursue your claim through your collision coverage, if you have it, as there is no limit to repair or replace your vehicle. The only downfall to using your collision coverage is that you will have to pay your deductible, if any, which will then be returned to you by your insurance company once they recover from the at-fault insurer. However, if you don’t have collision coverage, your only other option would be to go after the other driver personally for any amount over and above the policy limit and, in most cases, that’s probably not worth your time. Now it’s important to know that once the at-fault driver’s insurance accepts liability for the accident, then it’s at this point that they will also provide you with a rental car – if your car is a total loss - which you can use until the insurance company provides you with a valuation of your loss and agrees to pay your claim. However, if your car is not a total loss, a rental will only be provided for the time period that your car is being repaired. Sometimes though, it can take a few days, depending on the type of accident, for the insurance company to make a liability decision, so you may be without a vehicle during that time. If you have rental car coverage on your own policy and you’re in dire need of a car, then going your insurance for the rental car will be a whole lot faster. Scenario #3 - The Other Driver Caused the Accident and There are Other Vehicles that were Also Damaged in the Crash In this situation, when there are multiple vehicles that have been damaged, if the at-fault driver doesn’t have property damage coverage, then everyone is out luck unless everyone had their own collision coverage. However, if there is property damage coverage, the at-fault’s driver’s policy will need to be disbursed to each of the parties involved, and this will be done on a pro rata basis. Here’s an example. Let’s assume that there were three cars involved that were damaged in the crash, one being yours. Let’s also assume that the estimates for the damage to each car combined totals $24,000. Now if the at fault driver only has the minimum $10,000 limit in property damage coverage, the policy will be divided like this: You take your repair cost and divide by the combined total for each of the three cars, that will give you your percentage rate which you then multiple by the $10,000 policy limit, and then that will give you your pro rata share of the policy. You then do that for each of the 3 damaged vehicles and that is how the $10,000 policy will be divided amongst the 3. Car A $14,454/24,000= .060225 x $10,000 + $6,022.50 Car B $7,078./24,000=.029494 x 10,000 = $2,949.40 Car C $2,467.50/$24,000 = 0.10281 = $1,028.10 To sum it all up, it cannot be stressed enough just how important it is to have collision coverage given the number of uninsured drivers on the road and the minimum state requirements for property damage coverage. Although nobody has a crystal ball and can tell you if or when you might be in an accident and need it, you can protect yourself and your investment by simply spending the extra few dollars a month that it costs and, more importantly, you’ll have that peace of mind knowing that you’re covered regardless of the situation. Call Jim The Lawyer After Your Apollo Beach Car Accident Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your Apollo Beach car accident case. If you’ve been injured in a Apollo Beach, Florida car accident, Jim The Lawyer is here to help you fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injury. Contact Jim The Lawyer at (813)937-9907 for a FREE Consultation and Case Evaluation .