Category Archives: Motorcycle Tips and Tricks

Auto Accidents| What to Do| Negligence and Insurance

Written By: Louie Talacay

Banner3Remember in grade school when you used to play point the finger and say “it’s their fault!”? Auto-accidents can have you playing the same exact game. Everyone is pointing fingers and refusing to accept blame. You’ve seen the auto accident commercials. They are always insisting that you call this or you call that leaving many people confused. To make things more confusing, every state has their own procedure and protocols for auto accident. For example, did you know that Florida is a no-fault state? This means that you may need to go to your insurance for coverage of damage even if the accident was of no fault of yours. So, what should you actually do if you get into a car accident? Below is a comprehensive recommended step by step procedure for anyone who gets involved in an auto accident.

1. The very first step every driver should do is check for safety. Is everyone “ok” and assess if anyone may be injured or severely hurt.

2. The second step is to call 911. Calling 911 will take care of two issues. One, anyone who is seriously injured can get medical treatment and an ambulance. Secondly, an officer can be dispatched and document the scene. Many insurance claims will not be considered without a documented police report so it is imperative that this item be furnished.

**Notes**

A. Do not move the car until the officer arrives, unless there is real danger to you or other vehicles on the road.

B. When the officer arrives, take pictures of the scene including the damage sustained on your vehicle, the damage sustained on anyone else’s vehicle and injuries that were sustained in the accident.

C. Stay in the car! There is often no need to speak to the other parties involved, unless someone is injured, until the officer arrives

3. Lastly, it is recommended that you call an auto accident attorney. Accidents can result in a very difficult and tiresome situation. Your insurance may have you running around without a clear resolution. You may be left without a mode of transportation and unable to go to work, which can be a major opportunity cost. Furthermore, if you are injured, you may have piling medical bills that need to be paid by the insurance company. An auto accident attorney can help guide you through the process of receiving the proper compensation from your insurance claim.

To speak with an auto accident attorney go to our website (link found below) and schedule a consultation. Blick Law Firm has represented many people that have been involved in auto accidents. We can assist in expediting the process and ease the inconvenience for auto accident victims.call

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Personal Injury Cases| Match the Following Suits| PI Interactive Module

Written By: Louie Talacay

Accidents resulting in personal injury can be a traumatizing and stressful experience. Often times, the offender is reluctant to accept blame and immediate action and treatment may be delayed as a result. In times such as these, it is important to have an experienced and professional team to guide you through the process of handling your claim as a united front. The following is a list of common personal injury cases along with a few scenarios –can you match up the scenarios with their respective case type??

HIT-AND-RUN, LAW-ENFORCEMENT, CAR-ACCIDENT-LAWYER, CAR-ACCIDENT-ARTICLES, BLICK-LAW-FIRM.3A. Automobile Accidents |B. Motorcycle Accidents | C. Slip and Falls| D. Premises Liability|E. Dog Bite| F. Marine & Boating Accidents| G. Wrongful Deaths| H. Medical Malpractice

__ Scenario A:

A car runs a red light on a turning lane and sidelines a motorcyclist turning right at the intersection. Fortunately for the motorcyclist, they are able to act quickly and bail from the motorcycle sustaining only a broken arm and some road rash, but their bike is wrecked in the ensuing crash. As is common, the motorcyclist does not carry insurance for his vehicle.

__ Scenario B:

The summer rain season is in full swing and every day after 4pm a downpour occurs. Heather, a mom, is picking up her daughter from gymnastics. The front lobby is slippery from previous persons walking in and out of the building and no sign is put in place to make people aware of the danger. Heather slips as she goes to the counter to sign her daughter out. The fall causes Heather to land on her tailbone and break her lower lumbar.

__Scenario C:

A pharmacist misreads the prescription drug Celebrex (used to treat arthritis) for Celexa an antidepressant. The antidepressant causes severe manic depression for the patient and three days after being prescribed the medication, the patient dies of an apparent suicide.

Scenario A is a Motorcycle claim. The uninsured motorcyclist may be able to recover for motorcycle damage and injuries sustained from the car that ran the red light.

Scenario B is a combination of a slip and fall as well as a premise liability case. The company may be held liable for not making persons aware of a slippery/wet floor.

Scenario C is also a combination of two types of PI cases. It is not only a wrongful death case but could be encapsulated within a medical malpractice case. The pharmacist that dispensed the wrong medication could be held culpable for the wrongful death.

Think you have a case? Go online and schedule a consultation with an attorney from our office today!call

Posted in Blog, DUI, Motorcycle Tips and Tricks, Personal Injury | Leave a comment

Automobile and Motorcycle Safety

safety-tips, injuries-from-car-accidents, dog-safety, whiplash-injuryEach year, automobile and motorcycle accidents are a major cause of fatalities nationwide. As a result, it is important to employ all necessary safety measures available to avoid or reduce the risk of serious injury while operating an automobile or motorcycle.

 

Studies indicate that the use of a safety belt greatly reduces the chance of harm or serious injury when involved in an auto accident, especially when an automobile operator is thrown from the vehicle as a result of impact. In an effort to combat this risk and encourage the use of safety belts, Florida has mandatory safety belt requirements. In Florida:

  • Seat belt laws apply to all cars, pickup trucks, and vans operated on Florida roads.
  • All passengers in the front seat must wear a seat belt.
  • All passengers under 18 must wear a seat belt.

Florida also has mandatory child restraint laws that hold drivers responsible for buckling up children. Specifically, Florida law requires that children 3 years old and younger must be secured in a federally approved child-restraint seat; and children 4 through 5 years old must be secured by either a federally approved child restraint seat or safety belt.

Motorcyclists have even more safety concerns as motorcycle accidents tend to involve more serious injuries and incur a higher rate of fatalities. Additionally, with the rising costs of health care, insurance companies have begun to include exclusion clauses to insurance policies that can deny coverage for risky behavior such as motorcycling. While Florida law does not require the use of motorcycle helmets, research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that motorcyclists without a helmet are three times more likely to suffer brain injuries, and that helmets reduce the risk of death by nearly 30 percent when involved in a motorcycle accident.

If you or a loved have been injured in an accident and you have questions or concerns about your rights to recovery, call Blick Law Firm today at (888) 973-2776. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer. Think quick, call Blick!call

 

 

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Seat Belt Safety Florida

Each year, automobile and motorcycle accidents are a major cause of fatalities nationwide. As a result, it is important to employ all necessary safety measures available to avoid or reduce the risk of serious injury while operating an automobile or motorcycle.

Studies indicate that the use of a safety belt greatly reduces the chance of harm or serious injury when involved in an auto accident, especially when an automobile operator is thrown from the vehicle as a result of impact. In an effort to combat this risk and encourage the use of safety belts, Florida has mandatory safety belt requirements. In Florida:

  • Seat belt laws apply to all cars, pickup trucks, and vans operated on Florida roads.
  • All passengers in the front seat must wear a seat belt.
  • All passengers under 18 must wear a seat belt.

Florida also has mandatory child restraint laws that hold drivers responsible for buckling up children. Specifically, Florida law requires that children 3 years old and younger must be secured in a federally approved child-restraint seat; and children 4 through 5 years old must be secured by either a federally approved child restraint seat or safety belt.

Motorcyclists have even more safety concerns as motorcycle accidents tend to involve more serious injuries and incur a higher rate of fatalities. Additionally, with the rising costs of health care, insurance companies have begun to include exclusion clauses to insurance policies that can deny coverage for risky behavior such as motorcycling. While Florida law does not require the use of motorcycle helmets, research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that motorcyclists without a helmet are three times more likely to suffer brain injuries, and that helmets reduce the risk of death by nearly 30 percent when involved in a motorcycle accident.

If you or a loved have been injured in an accident and you have questions or concerns about your rights to recovery, call Blick Law Firm today at (813) 931-0840. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer. Think quick, call Blick!

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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May means school is out and flowers are in bloom. But May also welcomes more motorcycles on the road as a result of Florida’s sunshine weather.

On May 1, 2012 many on two wheels began a very important awareness. Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

Due to the increase in the amount of motorcycles on the road, this causes a new set of safety concerns, which launched this nation-wide campaign.

This national awareness month aims to bring attention for motorists to be mindful and cautious of motorcycles on the road. Not only does this month hope to bring a general awareness but it also sends a message of comradery for all to “share the road” with one another, safely.

This national initiative lasts the whole month of May and is being promoted from state to state.

As a motorist remember:

-       Be mindful on the road
-       Look twice before changing lanes
-       Remember to look for the one-eyed headlight on a motorcycle
-       Drive defensively
-       Blow your horn

As a motorcycle rider remember:

-       Be mindful on the road
-       Drive defensively
-       Wear your helmet for further protection
-       If you are riding in a group, stay close with one another –no gaps for motorists to intrude

At Blick Law Firm we encourage Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, celebrated the month of May. As a Tampa personal injury law firm, we see serious injuries or even lives taken all too often due to serious motorcycle accidents.

How to prevent this? It starts with awareness.  Take time to share with others this month and what it represents for your safety and those you ride with.

Look Twice. Save a life. Call 813-931-0840 for more information regarding motorcycle safety tips and how to stay safe on the road. If you find yourself in an unfortunate motorcycle accident, call Attorney Michael Blickensderfer today to assist you with your claim due to others’ negligence.

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Daytona Bike Week Recap 2012

Congratulations to 3 runner ups from Florida of the Official Bike Week Motorcycle:

Donnie Helms placed 3rd, Margaret Smith 5th & Melissa Penland placed 10th

The first weekend was sprinkled with showers, keeping Main Street quieter than usual.   However, shops and bars were still big business as bikers sought shelter from the rain.  The Bike Week parade reappeared after a 6 year hiatus.   This year, bikes led by the Daytona Beach Police Department Motorcycle Unit, strung nearly 5.25 miles.

It seemed that Spring Break coinciding with Bike Week may have been a factor in the attendance being slightly higher.  While most businesses did well, some did not quite earn their yearly income on which they thrive.

Seven motorcyclists lost their lives at Bike Week this year.   While many would argue the helmet law as being at fault, it bears no weight at all.  Some were wearing helmets, some were not.  Attorney Michael Blickensderfer wishes to express his sincerest sympathy to these families as they pick up the pieces, cope and move on with their lives.  He encourages those of us who still have the privilege of riding to be aware of others on the road that may not be paying attention.  For those who drive automobiles, drive cautiously.  Your second of unintentional carelessness could cost a life and change a family forever.

Legal counsel is not something we think about every day.   Crisis comes without any warning. Blick Law Firm is here to help, whether it is personal injury, traffic ticket, facing foreclosure or bankruptcy.  Attorney Michael Blickensderfer is a trustworthy attorney who will advocate for your rights.

Call us today, if we can be of assistance to you in your time of need. Blick Law Firm, helping the hurting. 813-931-0840.

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