Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Working Through the Real-Life Impact of a Car Accident in Hallandale Beach

Published on: April 25, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you live in Hallandale Beach and are involved in a serious car accident, the impact of that accident can last for years. If you have sustained a serious injury, such as a spinal cord injury, burns, fractures, or a head injury in Hallandale Beach or another community, you may face a long medical recovery process and the impact of your accident can also affect your finances, your relationships, and your emotions for years to come. You will want to address all the areas of your life that may be affected by your injuries:

1) Medical. The most obvious impact of a serious traffic accident in Hallandale Beach is the injuries suffered. You may face head injuries, soft tissue injuries, or other serious injuries. You may be rushed from the scene of the accident to Memorial Regional Hospital or another local hospital. Even if you are not taken to hospital, you will want to visit a local clinic or your doctor for a check-up as soon as possible after the accident. Some soft tissue injuries and head injuries do not manifest symptoms right away but may be serious. Once you have received emergency medical care, you may face months or years of recovery time and medical treatment. Depending on your injuries, you may need surgery, follow-up treatment, rehabilitation, and other care.

2) Financial. The high cost of medical care after a car or truck accident in Hallandale Beach is usually compounded by the fact that after an accident you may not be able to return to work for some time, causing you to lose wages. The financial devastation of a serious car accident can push households into bankruptcy – and car insurance may not always be the answer. In cases where patients need long-term care, especially, insurance money often does not cover the full cost of an accident. For this reason, it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney in Hallandale Beach soon after your accident. A good attorney can negotiate with insurance companies for you or can help you pursue legal claims, if possible in your case, so that you get the compensation you and your family need.

3) Relationships. It’s true that relationships often suffer after a serious car accident. In addition to the frustration and upset that serious injuries can cause, the financial burden of a car crash in Hallandale Beach can lead to household and relationship disputes. After a serious car collision, you may need to see a therapist or counselor to get assistance. It may also be useful to speak with a support group.

4) Mental. After a serious accident, it is normal to feel anxiety, fear, upset, and a whole turmoil of emotions. It is important to get help or counseling for these emotions, especially if they hurt your relationships or prevent you from living a full life.

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How to Strengthen Your Car Accident Claim in Davie

Published on: April 16, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you have decided to launch a car accident claim in Davie or any South Florida community, building the strongest case possible may increase your odds of getting fair compensation for your injuries. Here’s how you can build the strongest traffic accident claim in Davie or your community:

1) Hire the right attorney. The right attorney can make a huge difference in your case. An attorney with extensive experience in personal injury claims, insurance company negotiations, and local laws will have the experience and knowledge about how to build the strongest case. He or she will likely be familiar with the local justice system and with the local professionals who will be involved in your case. A full-service law firm that has handled many similar cases to yours will have the resources, private investigators, expert witnesses, and other professionals needed to take care of the case. More importantly, an experienced personal injury attorney in Davie or your community will be able to take care of all the details, so that you can focus on healing.

2) Act quickly. There are statutes of limitations when filing many types of personal injury claims in Florida. In addition, after a traffic accident in Davie, the longer you wait, the less evidence will be available. In addition, if you sign any documentation or accept any insurance money for your injuries, you may find that you’ve signed away some of your rights to pursue a legal claim. For all these reasons, if you’ve been in a car or truck accident in Davie or any other community, it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney right away to discuss your legal options and to discuss the best ways to preserve your rights. Even if you’re not sure whether you want to file a legal claim, an attorney can give you important advice on preserving your right to file a legal claim down the line. An attorney can also help you understand how much your injuries could be worth and how much your case might be worth, both of which are important pieces of information to have when you’re trying to decide whether to launch a lawsuit or not.

3) Gather documentation where you can. As soon as possible, start the documentation process. Make note of the other driver’s insurance and contact information, but also notice much as you can about the scene. Take photos if you can. If you are taken to a hospital, get copies of the police report and any medical reports about your condition. If you have to make any purchases related to your injuries – such as medications, taxicabs to and from doctors’ appointments, and other expenses – keep a list of the expenses, the dates you spend the money, and receipts where you can. Document your injuries, taking photos of any bruising or fractures and keeping a journal of symptoms and the recovery process.

4) Be careful of what you say, sign, and do – both in real life and online. Even saying something as simple as “sorry” at the accident scene may be construed as you taking blame for the accident. Signing documents can also impact your ability to pursue legal action later on. Even posting pictures of yourself on Facebook can have a detrimental effect if they show you looking injury-free. If you decide to file a legal claim, make sure that your attorney takes care of any documentation you may need to sign related to the case. In addition, be sure to discuss with your attorney your social media presence and what you can and cannot say about your accident to others.

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Possible Issues with Insurance Claims After a Car Accident in Davie or South Florida

Published on: February 21, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you sustain injuries in a car accident in Davie or another community, you may assume that car insurance will cover the costs of your injuries. After all, that is what you pay premiums for. Unfortunately, many people who sustain serious injuries – such as head injuries – in Davie and South Florida after being in a car accident find that they have issues after being in a traffic accident. You may face some of these same issues when you try to file a claim:

1) The insurance company may dispute your claim. The insurance company may accuse you of insurance fraud or may dispute some medical charges or other claims that you have made – even if they are valid.

2) The insurance company may not consider longer-term costs or all costs. In many cases, insurance companies look at immediate medical costs and related costs. However, if you have sustained a serious injury you may face months or even years of recovery time. You may need home care, accessibility features for your home and car, rehabilitation, medication, and other assistance on the road to recovery – and insurance companies often do not take these total long-term costs into account.

3) The insurance company will want to settle claims quickly and inexpensively. In many cases, an insurance carrier will want to settle a claim quickly – before the full extent of your injuries and possible long-term expenses are even known. This can make it harder for you to get the fair compensation you may need to recover fully and to get the medical care you need.

4) Thanks to new legislation, if you are visiting Florida at the time of your accident, your insurance carrier may not honor your claims. Since January 1, a new law has required all international drivers in Florida to have an international driver’s permit (IDP). The idea behind the law was to make sure that all drivers in Florida had a driver’s license translated into English. However, many visitors to Florida are not aware of the law and when they find themselves in a traffic collision in Davie or another South Florida city they find they have a hard time getting an insurance claim honored because they did not realize they needed an IDP.

5) Some required expenses may be considered “extras” by your insurance company. For example, burn patients in Davie and other communities often need skin grafts or other skin treatments to recover from their injuries. However, some insurance companies may deem such procedures “cosmetic” and not pay.

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Who Pays the Costs of Car Accidents in Coral Gables and Other Florida Communities?

Published on: February 19, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

According to Floridainsurance.com, car collisions cost each American an average of $1000 a year. There are about 43,000 fatalities related to car accidents each year. In Florida, the costs of an accident can vary from under $100 (for a minor fender bender) to millions of dollars for a serious car and truck accident in Coral Gables or another community. Of course, if you have been in a truck or car accident in Coral Gables or any other community in Florida, you know that the costs of the accident are far greater than just the monetary costs. The emotional upheaval and pain and suffering can endure for years.

Many people pay the costs for a serious traffic accident in Coral Gables:

1) The victim injured in the traffic accident. Victims who are injured in a truck or car accident in Florida often pay the highest price. They may need to get their cars replaced or repaired and they may miss income and work. In many instances, car accidents lead to serious injuries, and treating soft tissue injuries, back injuries, fractures, burns, or head injuries in Coral Gables and other communities is very expensive.

2) The family of the victim. The family of the victim often pays a high price in a serious traffic collision, as well. In a fatal accident, the family may be left with final bills, final medical expenses, funeral bills, and other costs. If the loved one was an income earner, the loss may also devastate a family’s finances for years to come.

3) Employers. Employers lose millions of dollars each year due to employees being injured in car accidents and therefore being unable to work. If the accident was a workplace accident, an employer’s insurance costs may rise.

4) Insurance companies. Insurance companies may need to pay out damages in a car accident case. The costs are covered by the insurance premiums that insurance clients pay, but in many cases insurance carriers are interested in resolving cases inexpensively and quickly. This is one reason why many car collision victims turn to personal injury attorneys in Coral Gables and across South Florida – to get fair compensation for their injuries.

5) Society as a whole. Society as a whole pays for car collisions in Coral Gables and beyond with loss of productivity, more hospital crowding, and damaged roads. Almost everyone is affected by car accidents in some fashion and everyone suffers due to the suffering, medical costs, and damage that a serious accident can cause.

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If You are in an Accident in Davie or Your Florida Community, the Type of Car You Drive May Matter

Published on: February 2, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Each day, car accidents in Davie and across the state result in serious spinal cord injuries, fractures, head injuries, fatalities, and other injuries. Could the type of car determine how badly you are hurt in a traffic accident in Davie or your community? According to research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the answer is yes. IIHS representative Russ Rader said that some cars, especially sub-compact cars fare well on safety tests but in real life are more likely to result in insurance injury claims in the event of a car accident.

Rader noted that today’s smaller, lighter cars have more safety features and are safer than similar models of years past. Nevertheless, he says, in a collision, physics and weight matter more. In a collision between a smaller car and a larger car, the passengers in the larger car are more likely to enjoy more protection – including larger crumple zones – which protect them in the event of a crash.

According to Rader, in a head-on car accident, the larger car will push the smaller car back. This will reduce crash forces for occupants of the larger, heavier vehicle while increasing the crash forces for those in the smaller car. This is seen all the time in truck accidents in Davie and across the nation – smaller cars simply have no chance against much larger vehicles. Even in cases where the size and weight difference is not as extreme, the difference counts.

Research by Insure.com supports these findings. Insure.com recently compiled a list of safest cars based on rates of for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Medical Payments (MedPay). Cars with higher rates had the higher costs because more people were making injury claims with these cars in the event of an accident. Even in cases where a car had good safety ratings, it could still end up with higher real-life injury rates. According to Insure.com, the top five cars that fared best when it came to protecting passengers from injuries were generally larger models:

1. GMC Sierra 1500 (SLE, SLT and Work Truck)
2. Porsche Cayenne
3. GMC Yukon (Denali and SLT)
4. GMC Sierra 2500 SLE
5. GMC Terrain SLE1
The five cars that fared worst, according to Insure.com, tended to be smaller:

1. Fiat 500 (Lounge, CLounge, Sport, Pop and CPop)
2. Kia Rio 5 (LX and SX)
3. Toyota Corolla L
4. Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
5. Mercedes-Benz CL600
No matter what kind of car you drive, safety experts agree that there is much that you can do to make your vehicle safer for you. For example, start by choosing a car that has good safety ratings and feels comfortable for you. Secondly, get required maintenance on the vehicle so that it responds as you expect it to. Make sure that you outfit your car with any extra safety devices you need. These may be an issue if you have health problems or mobility issues that prevent you from operating a car safely. And don’t forget the most important safety feature of all: your seat belt. You should always wear your seatbelt, even if you are going for a very short drive or just parking the car. Accidents can happen at any time.

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Staged Miami Car Accidents and Identity Fraud?

Published on: August 21, 2012 | By Flaxman Law Group

Are identity thieves staging car collisions to steal your personal information and your identity? Experts believe so. According to some experts, some identity thieves are staging car accidents – usually minor fender benders – in order to get personal information from a target. The ruse works because after a Miami car accident, victims are usually shaken up and provide more information than is needed. When identity thieves get insurance information, a target’s name, number, address, and other personal information, they often have enough information to steal that person’s identity. With a stolen identity, the thief may be able to access credit card accounts, bank accounts, and other forms of money or may be able to open accounts in a target’s name. To prevent this from happening to you after a Miami truck accident or car accident, follow these expert tips:

1) Be on the alert for signs of a staged accident. If a car seems to have time to avoid a car accident but bumps into you anyway or if you see anything else suspicious, proceed with caution. Document as much as possible – take photos of the other car and be sure to get contact information for the driver and any witnesses.

2) Give out only the minimum information you need to. According to The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), you only need to provide your first and last name and the name and phone number of your insurance company. Giving out your number and your address or other personal details, while seemingly innocent, is enough for someone to pose as you online.

3) Stay calm and be on the lookout for someone trying to get more information than needed. Fraudsters often take advantage of the stress and panic of a Miami car collision to dupe you into providing more information than you need to. It is best to stay calm and only provide the minimum needed. Be wary if someone presses you to provide more identifying information, especially if they ask for things such as birth date and other identifying information. If you do give out personal details, write them out yourself or spell them as the other driver writes them down. Never hand over your driver’s license or other ID – it contains enough information for a fraudster to steal your identity.

4) Check your credit score twice a year, and be careful to check your credit score and credit report after a Miami traffic accident. Your credit report, readily available from any credit agency, will show you if anyone has tried to open a new account in your name. There are three major credit agencies in the US, and you may wish to periodically order a report from each, since each agency has a different way of gathering data.

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The High Costs of a Miami Spinal Cord Injury after a Car Accident

Published on: August 2, 2012 | By Flaxman Law Group

Miami spinal cord injuries are most often caused by Miami car accidents and traffic accidents, violence, and falls. Miami traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of these types of injuries. Unfortunately for patients who have sustained this type of injury, spinal cord injuries can be among the most expensive injuries to sustain in a Miami truck accident or car accident. The medical costs alone in the first year can exceed $100 000, in part because of the many treatments that these patients need:

1) Emergency medical care. Most Miami spinal cord injury patients are rushed to hospital directly from the accident scene, where they require immediate medical help.

2) Rehabilitation. Miami spinal cord injury patients almost always need years of rehabilitation in order to strength muscles, regain some mobility, and learn to deal with a severe injury. Thes cost of this type of help can be substantial.

3) Counseling and support. Depression is a common concern for Miami spinal cord injury patients, many of whom suffer from depression and even substance abuse problems as they try to cope with their injury. In many cases, patients require help for the depression or even medication for the condition.

4) Surgery. After sustaining a traumatic spinal cord injury, many patients require emergency surgery to stabilize the spinal cord or to remove pressure from the spinal cord. These surgeries generally require a specialist and are quite complex, resulting in higher costs.

5) Extended hospital stays. Most patients who have sustained a spinal cord injury need to be in traction or kept immobilized in order to allow the injured area to heal. Patients may also require more healing time after surgery, resulting in extended hospital stays as well as numerous costs.

6) Ventilators and other costs. Patients who have sustained injuries high on the spinal cord may not be able to breathe on their own and may need to be on a ventilator or may need a pacemaker for the rest of their lives. The yearly costs of the ventilator and patient care for someone using this type of device can be quite high.

7) Transportation costs. If a Miami spinal cord injury patient recovers some mobility, they may be able to drive but may require a special vehicle or a specially modified vehicle that accommodates the injury. In cases where patients do not have the mobility to drive a car, they may need to pay for other methods of transportation. Many patients will also need a wheelchair.

8) Loss of income costs. Many patients spend months away from work after a Miami spinal cord injury. In some cases, mobility issues do not allow a patient to return to work and the patient must find some way to replace the lost income of decades.

9) Home care and home accessibility changes. Many patients with severe Miami spinal cord injuries need home care and in some cases require around-the-clock care because they do regain enough mobility to take care of everyday tasks themselves. The cost of a lifetime of at-home care can be substantial. In addition, in most cases, some changes to the home will also be needed to accommodate mobility issues. For example, grab bars may need to be installed in the bathrooms, lifts on the stairs, and ramps to the house. In some cases, doorways may need to be widened and counters lowered if a patient is wheelchair-bound.

10) Medication and incidental medical costs. Medications are usually required for Miami spinal cord injury patients. In addition to pain medication and anti-depressants many patients may also need medication to deal with occasional infections. In fact, spinal cord patients are subject to many complications, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and other problems which may require treatment and medication.

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PIP Changes Mean Different Options for Those Injured in a Miami Car Accident This Month

Published on: July 10, 2012 | By Flaxman Law Group

As of July 1, Florida has introduced changes to its PIP coverage, so anyone who is involved in a Miami car accident from this month forward can expect some changes. PIP (Personal Injury Protection) coverage, also commonly called “no-fault” coverage, ensures that if someone is injured in a Miami traffic accident or Florida traffic accident they have medical care paid for promptly, regardless of who caused the car collision.

While the system is intended to ensure that everyone has money for needed medical care without a complex claims process, there have been criticisms of the system. Florida has come under fire for having one of the highest instances of insurance fraud in the country, and many claim that this is because the PIP coverage system is easy to abuse. In recent years, many fraudsters have been accused of staging Miami truck accidents and car accidents and even working with clinics to get the maximum $10 000 payout for even minor or fake injuries. The insurance has also become very expensive.

As a result of the criticisms, Florida legislators have made some changes. Starting July 1, those injured in a serious car accident will only be able to claim the maximum $10 000 PIP amount if they have an “emergency medical condition.” Less serious injuries will have a maximum coverage of $2500. In addition, only dentists, medical doctors, and osteopaths will be able to declare an injury an “emergency medical condition.” Chiropractors will not be permitted to make the decision.

As a result of the new rules, car accident victims in the state will need to seek medical treatment within 14 days of their initial injury and accident. If they fail to do so, they will not qualify for PIP benefits at all. In addition, the new changes will mean that treatments such as massage and acupuncture will not be covered by PIP.

Experts have criticized the new rules, saying that it may be harder for some Miami motorcycle accident and car accident victims to get treatment for their injuries. For example, some victims may not notice symptoms until after the initial 14 days have passed. In addition, soft tissue injuries – which can be painful and expensive to treat – do not qualify as emergency medical conditions. Even some doctors have questioned the new rules, pointing out that the $2500 cap for non-emergency conditions is troubling since some tests – including MRIs – can cost more than $1000 alone.

It can be challenging to recover after a Miami car accident – and even more so if your insurance does not cover the full cost of your injuries. The new rules are confusing for many accident victims and may not allow for enough compensation to pay for medical care. It is more important than ever before to be aware of all your options before you make any decisions in your case. If you are seriously injured in a Miami traffic accident, contact a Miami personal injury attorney to at least review your options and your possible costs.

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How Will New Insurance Reforms Affect Miami Car Accident Lawsuits?

Published on: April 17, 2012 | By Flaxman Law Group

A number of new reforms have been made recently to Florida car insurance laws. Some of those changes will affect Personal Insurance Protection (PIP), changing which medical professionals can offer medical care and diagnosis for car accident victims and potentially changing how much PIP money car accident victims can receive. The changes have been made to reduce insurance fraud in the state, which is currently very high.

Another important change to Florida’s insurance laws has to do with the lawsuits filed after a Miami car accident or any Florida car accident. In many cases, these lawsuits are filed because medical practitioners and insurance carriers cannot agree on the amount of money doctors are owed for a patient’s care.

The changes to the law consider the Medicare fee schedule when outlining how some medical costs should be tabulated. In addition, the new law allows insurance carriers investigate possible insurance fraud to examine victims under oath. The changes also no longer allows judges to dramatically raise the fees awarded to attorneys representing plaintiffs.

Legislators claim that the changes address some of the disagreements which cause lawsuits and claim that the changes could prevent lawsuits. However, other experts claim that the changes will only create new issues of disagreement and may actually lead to more legal action. The Florida Justice Association predicts that the changes to PIP will actually increase the number of lawsuits after car accidents. The agency notes that the new “emergency medical condition” definition is especially likely to cause disputes. That change allows only certain medical practitioners to determine whether a traffic accident victim’s injuries are an “emergency medical condition” or not. Those patients with an “emergency medical condition” will qualify for the full $10 000 in medical benefits while others will get only $2500 in PIP benefits. According to the Florida Justice Association and some Miami personal injury attorneys, the disparity between benefits as well as the new definition will likely lead to legal disagreements in cases where a victim may have been misdiagnosed. Currently, there is no list of injuries deemed emergency medical conditions, and it is likely that Florida judges will eventually determine this over the course of many cases.

Legislators claim that they need to reduce the number of lawsuits related to PIP because these legal actions increased insurance costs and also slow down the claims process. Lawmakers also hope that the changes will reduce insurance fraud in the state.

The new laws will mean that victims who are injured in Miami car accidents may get less in PIP benefits than they might have received a few years ago. This may make contacting a personal injury attorney after a Miami traffic accident more important than ever before. Car accident victims who have sustained an injury due to someone’s recklessness or negligence will still be able to pursue legal action, and this action may be more important than ever before to ensure that victims are compensated for medical costs, lost income, and other expenses related to their injuries.

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What New Insurance Rules Mean for Future Miami Car Collisions

Published on: April 12, 2012 | By Flaxman Law Group

According to Governor Rick Scott and legislators, reducing the amount of car insurance fraud in the state is a top policy for this year. Florida is the nation’s leader when it comes to many insurance scams, and a recent report suggests that a few food truck vendors have been taking part in the scam. Earlier in April, the Division of Insurance Fraud reported that 15 vendors have been using food trucks to stage fake car accidents in order to collect insurance money.

As a result of the insurance fraud problem, new rules have been instituted in Florida to make insurance rates more affordable while also reducing lawsuits and changing how insurance works in the state. So far, experts are divided about whether the insurance changes will help or hurt victims in Miami car accidents.

Many of the changes will be implemented this summer, but it may take until 2013 for the full impact to be seen. The new law, HB 119, will require insurance carriers to slash car insurance personal injury premiums by at least 10% by later this year and by 25% by the year 2014. However, insurance carriers will be able to request exemption from the cuts in some cases. In addition, the law will not allow acupuncturists and massage therapists to treat patients through personal injury protection (PIP). In addition to these changes, a new anti-fraud task force will be put into effect this summer and medical clinics treating car accident patients will face stricter licensing mandates. Long-form accident reports will be used more often and penalties for insurance fraud will be tougher as well.

Starting in 2013, those injured in Miami traffic accidents – or in any Florida car accident – will have 14 days to get initial medical treatment. If those people are found to have an “emergency medical condition” by a dentist, medical doctor, osteopathic physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or doctor assistant, they will be eligible for the full $10,000 PIP offers. Those who are not diagnosed with emergency medical conditions will be eligible for only $2,500 under the new PIP rules. Unfortunately, this means that those who suffer soft-tissue injuries will only be able to claim this amount, even though soft-tissue injuries can be long-term and can cause severe pain as well as considerable missed work.
Some medical experts are worried about the new rules, noting that medical professionals will be expected to perform needed medical treatment for $2500 or less. With current medical costs, where an MRI alone costs up to $1400, this can be a problem. Some medical experts are also concerned about the new limit on how quickly car accident victims can seek help, noting that serious symptoms may not develop until after the initial 14 week window. Legislators point out that PIP is only intended to cover initial, emergency care. They note that accident victims will still be able to turn to other insurance, such as at-fault insurance, for coverage.

Currently, it is not known exactly how the new changes will actually impact Miami truck accident and traffic accident victims. Even Miami personal injury attorneys do not necessarily agree about the full implications of the changes. While some legislators are hopeful that the PIP reforms will reduce insurance fraud, some experts worry whether the changes will make it even harder for victims to get the support they need, especially as medical costs increase.

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