Blog

Florida has no-fault insurance laws that can make it both easier and at the same time more difficult to bring an accident claim. Contact a personal injury attorney in Fort Myers, FL right away to learn more about your claim. What's "No Fault?" The idea of "no-fault" is that it doesn't matter who was responsible for an accident. Everyone's own insurance is required to cover them, regardless of fault. This is known as "personal injury protection" insurance or PIP. more This also restricts your right to sue the at-fault driver for injuries, though it doesn't apply to claims brought for property damage. The purpose of these laws is to help reduce the time and frustration that it can take to get the coverage you need for your medical bills. Getting a Personal Injury Attorney It's always a good idea to contact a personal injury lawyer as quickly as possible after an accident just to get a review of the situation and where you stand. For one thing, these laws are constantly being amended by the government because they have not really had the effect that was intended (to reduce litigation and costs for insurance), and only an experienced attorney can help you make sense of them all. A personal injury lawyer will also be able to help you evaluate whether your circumstances might allow you to bring a personal injury claim against the other driver. An attorney will also help you bring claims against whatever insurance company is appropriate, including your own because getting properly compensated after an accident is rarely a given. Dealing With Medical Bills Something that your lawyer can help you with is identifying all possible avenues for compensation. Most PIP policies only provide $10,000 of coverage, and even then, you must be diagnosed with an "emergency medical condition" within two weeks to be eligible. Otherwise, your compensation is capped at $2500. Unfortunately, just one hospital visit can easily go far beyond these limits. If you have also bought Medpay, which extends PIP, it continues paying your bills. But if you don't have that, you will need to bring a claim against the at-fault driver. Damage to Vehicle and Property PIP does not provide any coverage for property damage. You will need to talk to your lawyer about bringing a claim for this separately. Non-Economic Damages "Non-economic damages" are things like pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life. PIP insurance does not cover this. The only way to recover non-economic damages is with a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, and your damages must meet a certain threshold for you to do this. In the end, a judge will make the final decision, but a lawyer can tell you if there's a good chance your injuries meet this threshold. Generally you must have suffered significant or permanent injury or serious and permanent scarring or disfigurement. Florida's system makes bringing claims complicated, but a lawyer can help. Contact us now at the Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz (GBC) Law Office in Fort Myers, FL for help here in Southwest Florida.

Workplace Accidents, Fatigue and Injuries Fatigue is generally defined as the feeling of extreme tiredness, sleepiness or exhaustion resulting from prolonged physical or mental work, illness or lack of sleep. To some people, fatigue may not seem like a big concern, but when fatigue is experienced in the workplace, on the job fatigue can compromise worker safety. During National Safety Month, the National Safety Council’s theme for week 2 is Recharge to Be in Charge – Focusing on Fatigue. Southwest Florida Workplace Accidents According to the National Safety Council or NSC, every day approximately 13,000 American workers are injured in the workplace. While there may be a multitude of reasons or causes for these injuries, fatigue is a factor which can contribute to workplace accidents resulting in injuries. Since levels of fatigue vary from person to person, it is hard to pinpoint the actual effect fatigue has on workplace accidents and injuries. However, studies have shown that when workers have had an insufficient amount of sleep and become fatigued, there is a greater chance of making mistakes which could lead to accidents and injuries. Lack of sleep is not the only component which influences on the job fatigue. Workplace conditions can amplify fatigue during the work day. These conditions include things such as: Repetitive, monotonous or boring tasks Difficult or challenging tasks Hot or cold room temperatures, sitting near air or heating vent Insufficient lighting, dim lighting or light glare Constant noise or loud noise Reactions to particles in the air such as dust, chemicals or printer toner No breaks, performing a task for a long period of time Work shifts or over time hours If your job has duties which make you feel fatigued or your working environment leads to extreme tiredness or exhaustion, there are a few things you can do to try and fight fatigue such as: Ergonomic equipment to help reduce physical strains Anti-glare computer screens Drinking water or eating a healthy snack to boost energy levels Taking frequent breaks or taking a nap when working long shifts if possible Southwest Florida Workplace Accident Attorneys Workplace accidents can be complex. If you or someone you know has suffered from a fatigue-related workplace injury, it is important to contact an attorney experienced with personal injury. The attorneys at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman Rice and Purtz have over 5 decades of experience with personal injury cases. We have six offices in Southwest Florida. Our offices are located in Fort Myers (two offices to serve you), Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres, and Port Charlotte for your convenience. Contact us today to set up your appointment for a free case evaluation.