Bagen Law Blog

In Florida, all car accident cases come under Florida's PIP or no-fault law. Dealing with medical expenses after being injured in a car accident can be stressful. When you are suffering from potentially serious or even life-threatening injuries, the last thing you want to worry about is the financial burden that follows a car accident. Even if your injuries are minor, they may still require expensive treatments that you can’t afford.

In these situations, it’s helpful to understand your rights and what will or will not be covered by insurance. In some states, if you are the victim, you can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company for compensation to help cover costs related to the accident. However, in other states, like Florida, they have “no-fault” laws that require you to seek compensation through your own insurance company’s no-fault coverage, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. 

When car accidents happen, adrenaline, stress, and shock can keep you from thinking clearly in the immediate aftermath. That’s why accepting cash from an at-fault drive might seem like a good idea at that moment. After all, you need your car, you’ll need to pay for repairs as quickly as possible to get it back on the road, and insurance claims and settlements can take forever and feel like a giant hassle. 

However, if you’re ever faced with this - a driver who hits you and offers you cash on the spot to pay for damages instead of filing a claim with insurance - it’s best to go through the red tape to make sure you are getting all the compensation you are entitled to.

When you place your loved ones into a care facility or nursing home, it’s hard to imagine any harm coming to them. After all, these places make their living on the care and treatment of elderly individuals. Unfortunately, the mistreatment and neglect of the elderly are all too common, even in nursing homes. 

According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 people 60 years and older experience abuse each year.¹ And in care facilities such as nursing homes, it’s especially common with 2 out of 3 staff members reporting incidences of abuse in the past year. 

Recreational boating is a great way to get out on the water with your friends and family, but it’s important to make good choices and take precautions to avoid turning your day in the sun into a day at the hospital. 

Boating accidents can lead to significant physical and emotional injuries. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 5,265 boating accidents occurred in 2020, resulting in over 3,000 injuries and 767 deaths. The numbers were higher last year due to the pandemic and will potentially increase this year as well, with everyone itching to get outside and see their friends and loved ones. For this reason, it’s more important now than ever to use good judgment and take extra care to keep safe while cruising the water this summer. 

Using human power rather than gas to get around makes a lot of sense, especially in Gainesville and Ocala where the weather is great for biking. Safety is a big concern, though, even in the quietest neighborhoods.

When a vehicle strikes a biker, there is nothing between the biker and the road, and the risk of serious injury is very high. When biking it’s always best to buddy up, and bike with a friend. Let others know where you are going, and what route you plan to take.

Just when you thought family dinner couldn’t get any more painful than the unprompted political discussion, it happens: the unthinkable occurs. Uncle Joe backs into your modest sedan with his towering pickup truck. Your car is totaled and you are hurt to boot. You need to file an injury claim for compensation. 

The complexities of insurance policies could confuse anyone. While some policies cover certain types of damage, other policies will not touch a particular type of damage. Worse, the names of some policies might lead you tobelieve you are covered when, in fact, you are not covered.

This is particularly frustrating when you want reimbursement for car repairs in case of an accident. You may need to involve a personal injury lawyer when you need to collect your due from a property damage claim. An experienced property damage attorney can make all the difference when it comes to receiving fair compensation.

While dealing with an injury from an accident is always an incredibly challenging time, it can ultimately be a force of change for the better in the long run. The result hinges upon who you choose to represent you.

There are a lot of attorneys out there. How do you find the best one for your accident case? First, asking the right questions can help you ensure you choose an attorney who will best represent you during your journey towards a settlement. 

After an accident, it can be easy to make a mistake: a mistake that could cost you dearly, and may prevent you from receiving the money you deserve. These seven common mistakes may not seem like a big deal, but they can have a profound effect on the outcome of your case. A little attentiveness can go a long way towards reaching a successful settlement or award!