Insurance Adjuster’s Tactics to Harm Your Slip and Fall Claim

Published on November 21, 2010 in Slip & Fall Accidents. 0 Comments Tags: .

After you have suffered serious injuries in a slip and fall accident in South Florida, you will likely hear from an insurance adjuster. Although the insurance adjuster may be cordial or lend a sympathetic ear, their goal is to get you to admit information or trick you into saying something that will allow them to deny your claim or pay as little as possible to settle the issue. 

Beware of the following tactics that an insurance adjuster might use when “investigating” your Florida slip and fall claim: 

  • Denying liability – an insurance adjuster will search for any reason to deny your claim. They might say you were 100% responsible for your accident or that you made false statements to boost your Florida slip and fall claim.
  • Taking a recorded statement – an insurance adjuster will try to get you to minimize the seriousness of your injuries in a recorded statement. They usually try to do this before you have even seen a doctor. You do not have to let an insurance adjuster record your conversations. You can also direct them to communicate with your lawyer instead.
  • Getting medical authorization – an insurance adjuster will ask for your signature to obtain your past and present medical records. They should not have access to your medical records until after a claim is made. The adjuster wants you to sign this authorization form so they can look at your entire medical history to come up with reasons for why your current injuries are actually past injuries for which they are not liable.
  • Pressuring you to sign a full release quick settlement – an insurance adjuster might try to get you to accept a small sum of money so they can quickly close your case. They’ll usually try this before you even know the extent of your injuries. By accepting a quick settlement, you will likely waive your rights to any future compensation, even if you later find out your injuries need surgery or long-term care.
  • Convincing you that a lawyer is not necessary – without a Palm Beach slip and fall lawyer on your side, you could miss out on a fair settlement or verdict. Remember, the insurance adjuster does not work for you; only your lawyer does. 

To be sure of your rights and options in proving fault in a Florida slip and fall accident, contact a Palm Beach slip and fall lawyer.

Contacting a Palm Beach Slip and Fall Lawyer 

If you have suffered a slip and fall injury in West Palm Beach or North Palm Beach, Florida, you should contact a Palm Beach slip and fall lawyer to learn about your rights and determine liability. 

24/7 Injury Law, a law firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, takes time when speaking with you about your case and works with you on a contingent fee basis so there are NO FEES unless one of our trained personal injury lawyers wins your case. Call now to schedule a FREE evaluation of your case – 1-888-984-4878.

Boca Raton Man Charged in Connection With Fatal I-95 Accident Flees

Published on November 20, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments Tags: .

November 17, 2010 – Palm Beach County, FL – A man from Boca Raton who was charged in a wrong-way crash that killed a woman in 2008 is now a fugitive, the Florida Highway Patrol has announced.

James Baker was expected to go to court and plead guilty to charges of DUI manslaughter for 2 motor vehicle accidents that occurred June 6, 2008.

Rather than go to court, the 67-year-old man managed to cut off an ankle monitor and flee, The Palm Beach Post has reported.

The accidents happened when Baker was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 near Yamato Road. He caused an SUV to run off the highway and the vehicle turned over, ejecting 3 of 5 passengers.

Christina Duvalsaint, 23, of Plantation, was pronounced dead on the scene. Baker continued driving and hit another SUV near the overpass by Clint Moore Road. The driver of the SUV and Baker were injured in that crash, court records stated.

Baker had already been charged with DUI, speeding and driving with a suspended or revoked license before the accidents.

Authorities are seeking the public’s help in locating Baker. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-458-8477.

According to the 2009 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report, there were 197,214 traffic crashes resulting in injury and 2,563 fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

Senior Citizen & Her Poodle Killed in Delray Beach Pedestrian Accident

Published on November 19, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments Tags: .

November 17, 2010 – Delray Beach, FL – Josephine Patterson and her poodle were killed on the morning of November 5 when they were struck by a neighbor’s car in a pedestrian accident, The Palm Beach Post has reported. 

The fatal accident occurred on Mansfield Hollow Road at the community of Pine Ridge in west Delray Beach.

The 83-year-old Patterson became a widow in August, but family members and friends said she was in strong health and spirits.

Neighbors said the driver who hit her was the son of another neighbor. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the driver was Richard Rubin, 52, and he was in a Toyota Avalon. Investigators said alcohol was not involved in the crash.

Rubin, who has 2 speeding fines on his record, was not able to be reached to comment on the accident.

Although Patterson had bad knees, she rejected offers from neighbors to take her poodle for a walk. Friends said the dog became very important to her after the death of her husband, Jim, whom she was married to for 62 years.

The couple is survived by 3 children: Sara Tambellini, 53, who lives in Delray Beach; James Ray Patterson Jr., 61, who lives in Aptos, Calif.; and Joanna Patterson, 51, who lives in Belleair.

According to the 2009 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report, there were 197,214 traffic crashes resulting in injury and 2,563 fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

Boca Raton Man Dies When Bentley Hits Mack Truck in Construction Zone

Published on November 18, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments Tags: .

November 17, 2010 – Boca Raton, FL – An 83-year-old man has died after losing control of his luxury vehicle and crashing into a Mack truck at a construction zone, the Boca Raton Police Department has reported.

The fatal accident happened shortly after midnight on November 11. Charles West, of Boca Raton, was on Federal Highway’s 5400 block traveling north in a 2006 Bentley, The Palm Beach Post has reported.

When West approached the construction area at Federal Highway’s 4700 block, he failed to maintain control of the car. He continued driving toward Yamato Road and hit the back of a dump truck that was driven by Mario Guzman, 59, of Miami Gardens, according to police.

When Guzman was struck, he was stopped on the inside of a lane that was blocked. The accident forced the Bentley to veer east before it came to a stop. The truck was partially forced onto the grass median, the accident report stated.

Fire Rescue said West died at the scene. Guzman did not suffer any injuries.

Police are requesting that any witnesses call traffic investigator Chris Somers:  561-620-6141.

According to the 2009 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report, there were 197,214 traffic crashes resulting in injury and 2,563 fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

Compensation in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Florida

Published on November 14, 2010 in Wrongful Death Lawsuits. 0 Comments Tags: .

When a wrongful death lawsuit is filed in Florida, the court will decide the amount of compensation to which you are entitled. The amounts and the individuals who may receive compensation vary by case.

To do this, the court will examine quantifiable data, that which can be measured, such as:

  • the amount of money that the deceased earned;
  • the amount of money that the deceased saved;
  • the financial dependence of the survivors in relation to the deceased;
  • funeral and burial expenses; and
  • medical expenses. 

If the deceased is a minor child who is under age 18, it would be highly unlikely that the child contributed to household finances. Therefore, in this case the court would not be able to consider quantifiable data such as earnings.

Parents could recover damages for the loss of affection and companionship. “Parent” is defined as the biological mother, the acknowledged father or adoptive parents. Caretakers who are not the child’s legal parents would be unlikely to recover compensation.

If the person who suffered the wrongful death is an adult, the court might take a different approach. If the parents were dependent on their adult child for finances or valuable services, they may be able to recover damages.

The courts may also award damages based on non-economic factors for surviving parents, spouses and children of the deceased, such as: 

  • loss of companionship;
  • mental anguish;
  • pain and suffering; and
  • loss of guidance and instruction.  

To learn more about your eligibility and right to compensation through a Florida wrongful death lawsuit, you’ll want to consult with a Palm Beach wrongful death lawyer.

Contact a Palm Beach Wrongful Death Lawyer

If your loved one has suffered a wrongful death in West Palm Beach or North Palm Beach, Florida, you should contact a Palm Beach wrongful death lawyer to learn about your rights and determine liability.

24/7 Injury Law, a law firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, takes time when speaking with you about your case and works with you on a contingent fee basis so there are NO FEES unless one of our trained wrongful death lawyers wins your case. Call now to schedule a FREE evaluation of your case – 1-888-984-4878.

Boca Raton Man Dies from Car Crash Injuries

Published on November 13, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments Tags: .

November 10, 2010, Boca Raton, FL – An elderly man from suburban Boca Raton has died after he sustained critical injuries in an October car crash, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reported on November 4, 2010.

Ralph Lessman died on the morning of November 3 at a center where he was receiving hospice care, The Palm Beach Post reported. The 86-year-old was injured on October 20 in a collision where Central Park Boulevard North intersects with State Road 7.

The report from the Sheriff’s Office stated that Lessman was on State Road 7 southbound. As he approached Central Park Boulevard North, he turned and entered the path of a vehicle that was northbound. That vehicle, a Toyota Camry, rammed into his Honda Accord.

Lessman was transported to West Boca Medical Center, and then hospice, the Sheriff’s Office said. 

The Camry’s driver, Rashida Abdullah, 21, was not injured.

Charges have not been filed. The fatal car accident remains under investigation.

According to the 2009 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report, there were 197,214 traffic crashes resulting in injury and 2,563 fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

West Palm Beach Woman Killed Riding Moped in Riviera Beach

Published on November 12, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments Tags: .

November 10, 2010, Riviera Beach, FL – A car that struck a moped from behind led to the death of a 32-year-old West Palm Beach woman, The Palm Beach Post has reported.

Brandy Shepard was riding the moped in Riviera Beach on October 31 when a Toyota Camry ran into her on Broadway, said Rose A. Brown, a police spokeswoman. Shepard was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center and later died.

Charges have not been filed against Kristine Brand, the driver of the Camry. Brown did not say whether alcohol may have been involved. The fatal moped accident remains under investigation.

Shepard was an alumnus of Boca Raton’s Spanish River High and was employed as a nursing assistant, according to Mikel Perez, who also said she had many close friends. Those friends had planned a memorial to take place at Shepard’s apartment a few days after the moped accident.

According to the 2009 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report, there were 197,214 traffic crashes resulting in injury and 2,563 fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

Multi-Vehicle Accident on I-95 in Delray Beach Sends 3 to Hospital

Published on November 11, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments Tags: .

November 10, 2010, Delray Beach, FL – Three people were hospitalized, one of them in critical condition, after an October 29 accident on Interstate 95 in Delray Beach, The Palm Beach Post has reported. 

The I-95 accident occurred when a woman hit a car and a tractor trailer before she slammed into a median wall, said Lt. Tim Frith, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol. 

The wreck shut down I-95 south near Linton Boulevard, snarling morning traffic. 

According to FHP, Regina Sexton, the driver of a Mercury Grand Marquis, merged left, lost control of the car, over-corrected and hit a Toyota Corolla. She then hit the truck and struck the concrete median. 

Sexton and her passenger, Lawrence Sexton, were transported to Delray Medical Center. Her condition was listed as serious and his was critical. Both are from Jenkins, Ky. 

Wilson Hinds, of Lantana, who was driving the Toyota, was also transported to the hospital, but only as a precautionary measure. The victim was expected to be discharged the same day. Luis Lopez of Wellington, the driver of the tractor trailer, did not sustain any injuries. 

According to the 2009 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report, there were 197,214 traffic crashes resulting in injury and 2,563 fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

Complications in a Serious Burn Injury

Published on November 7, 2010 in Personal Injury. 0 Comments Tags: .

Any burn, whether it is a first-, second- or third-degree burn, can be considered serious, depending on the area of the body that is affected and the general health of the individual.  

All burns that cover more than a 3-inch area should be considered serious. So should all third-degree burns and any burns that affect the face, feet, hands, groin, buttocks or skin that covers a major joint.  

Burn injuries that are deep or cover a large area can lead to the following complications: 

  • Infection – when skin has been penetrated, you lose your protective barrier.
  • Sepsis – this life-threatening condition results from an infection that rapidly progresses.
  • Hypovolemia – damaged blood vessels can lead to a severe loss of blood and fluid.
  • Hypothermia – the more skin that is damaged, the more likely you are to lose body heat.
  • Respiratory difficulties – inhaling smoke or hot air can damage your lungs.
  • Scarring – burns can cause scar tissue to overgrow.
  • Joint and bone issues – scar tissue could knock joints out of alignment, and deep burns could affect movement. 

If you have suffered a serious burn accident in Florida because of someone else’s negligence, it is crucial that you seek medical treatment and maintain all follow-up appointments. Doing so can help support your personal injury claim to seek compensation for the medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering your burn injuries have caused. 

Contact a Palm Beach Burn Injury Lawyer 

A burn injury can completely change your life. If you have suffered a burn injury in West Palm Beach or North Palm Beach, Florida, you should contact a Florida burn injury lawyer to learn about your rights and determine liability. 

24/7 Injury Law, a law firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, takes time when speaking with you about your case and works with you on a contingent fee basis so there are NO FEES unless one of our trained personal injury lawyers wins your case. Call now to schedule a no-cost evaluation of your case – 888-984-4878.

Family Seeks Punitive Damages in Fatal DUI in Wellington

Published on November 4, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments Tags: .

October 27, 2010 – Wellington, FL — The attorneys for John Goodman have agreed to the plaintiffs’ request for the polo mogul’s medical records from the February 12, 2010 crash that resulted in the death of Scott Patrick Wilson.

According to reports from The Palm Beach Post, Wilson’s parents, William and Lil Wilson, will ask for punitive damages in the wrongful death case against Goodman, 46, founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Goodman was behind the wheel of a 2007 Bentley convertible when he ignored a stop sign in Wellington, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reported. He collided with Wilson’s Hyundai, which flipped into a canal, where Wilson, who was 23, drowned. Police said Goodman fled on foot, and one hour later, he called 911.

Daniel Bachi, Goodman’s attorney, said Goodman’s medical records include blood samples drawn after the car accident when Goodman was treated at Wellington Regional Medical Center for injuries to his wrist.

Blood tests showed that Goodman’s blood alcohol content topped 0.17, which is twice the state’s legal limit for intoxication.

In the original lawsuit, the Wilsons sought damages for pain and suffering and medical bills. Now they are preparing an amended lawsuit to seek punitive damages and will be allowed to obtain records to get an idea of Goodman’s financial worth.

Goodman has been charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and fleeing an accident scene.

According to the 2009 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Statistics Report, there were 197,214 traffic crashes resulting in injury and 2,563 fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog posting removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.