Monthly Archives: July 2012

What do I do if I am in an accident?

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Blick Law

We don’t like to think about automobile accidents, but they are part of reality, and everyone will probably be involved in at least one, maybe more, in their lifetime.  When you are involved in an auto accident, there are steps that need to be taken to properly file a report and avoid penalties for not following Florida law.

First when involved in an auto accident move your vehicle in such a manner that it doesn’t obstruct traffic.  Ask all parties involved if there are any injuries and call the police to file a report.

Many may ask:  “Must I call the police?”  Accidents involving an injury or death, a hit-and-run or intoxicated driver or property damage that appears to be over $500 need to be reported immediately to law enforcement.

*Make sure you have your driver’s license, registration and insurance information available when the officer arrives on the scene.

After the police arrive at the scene exchange information with all drivers of vehicles involved and take pictures of the property damages for future evidence, possibly in court.

* However, if a crash report hasn’t been filed by law enforcement, then you’ll need to do so within 10 days of the accident.

Suppose you are the only party involved in an accident.  Should you hit an unoccupied vehicle, a light pole or some other type of property, you are required to notify the owner.  If you cannot locate the owner, then attach a note to the damaged vehicle or property, including your name, address and license plate number.  Again, take photos and report the accident to law enforcement right away.

The state of Florida is serious about behavior following an accident.  Failure to follow proper procedures could result in license suspension, criminal charges or other penalties.

If you have recently been involved in accident, you will want an experienced and very knowledgeable personal injury attorney as your advocate.  Attorney, Michael C. Blickensderfer has more than 25 years legal experience and will be happy to offer a free case evaluation regarding your potential personal injury claim. Call Blick Law Firm today at 813-931-0840.

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How long will a bankruptcy remain on my credit report?

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Blick Law

According to The Fair Credit Reporting Act, 6 U.S.C. Section 605, law states that credit reporting agencies may not report a bankruptcy case on a person’s credit report after ten years from the date the bankruptcy case is filed.  The larger credit reporting agencies belong to an organization called the Associated Credit Bureaus. The policy of the Associated Credit Bureau tries to remove Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 cases from the credit report after seven years to encourage debtors to file under these chapters. The bankruptcy court has no influence over these reporting policies.

Bankruptcy filers who would like to rebuild their credit are justifiably concerned about how long a bankruptcy can appear on their credit report. It is still possible to build a positive credit report even with a bankruptcy on your record, so long as you act responsibly. If you’ve ever received credit card offers before, you are likely to receive them again after your bankruptcy.  If your goal is to build good credit, it’s worth your while to consider the post-bankruptcy card offers that you receive with an eye toward building a record of consistently and fully repaying an open line of credit each month.

The Federal Trade Commission has a website that allows consumers a free credit report from the three major credit reporting companies:  https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp.  Attorney, Michael Blickensderfer encourages all consumers to check their reports on a regular basis to ensure they do not contain any false information.  Should you find anything questionable, report it to the credit agency immediately.  If they are not willing to help you resolve this issue, call a Tampa bankruptcy attorney today at 813-931-0840.

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