Disclaimer: Blick Blog discusses topics regarding general legal information for the purposes of educating readers only and should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Submitting a legal question or receipt of information on this forum does not create an attorney client relationship with attorney Michael C. Blickensderfer or Blick Law Firm. Attorney Michael C. Blickensderfer cannot guarantee a specific result in any legal matter. Also, this website and blog is not intended to solicit clients outside the State of Florida.

Personal Injury Attorney | Attorney Fees | Tampa Law Firm

Personal Injury Claims are typically handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning the attorney fees are paid out at the end of a settlement. In other words no fees to the attorney, unless your case prevails. In Florida, standard attorney contingency fee is 33.33% of the recovery.

A personal injury matter may be more complex and require litigation. In this instance, a lawsuit is filed and the case goes before the court and will ultimately be determined by a jury. The fee associated with cases that reach litigation is higher due to the complexity of legal services. In the state of Florida, the appropriate attorney fee in this instance is 40% of the recovery.

Whether the injury is caused from an auto accident, slip and fall, or exposure to a defective product you should seek a personal injury attorney to assist with your claim.

Blick Law Firm offers a wide range of personal injury services including representation for:

  • Automobile/Motorcycle Accidents
  • Slip and Fall Injuries
  • Premises Liability, Including Mold Exposure
  • Products Liability
  • Dog Bites
  • Marine and Boating Accidents
  • Wrongful Deaths

Blick Law Firm can help to make sure you get the proper medical assistance and legal representation for your claim.

Injured parties should also always contact an attorney for legal consultation and general information on how to proceed following an accident. In the event an insurance company contacts you regarding your injury claim, do not offer any recorded statements without first consulting with an attorney.

If you or a loved one have been in an accident and need legal advice, call Blick Law Firm today at (813) 931-0840. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer.

 

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What Is Personal Injury | Personal Injury | Personal Injury Attorney

firefighter-at-car-accidentPersonal Injury Claims result from the negligence of one party causing injury to another. Whether the injury is caused from an auto accident, slip and fall, or exposure to a defective product you should seek a personal injury attorney to assist with your claim.

Blick Law Firm offers a wide range of personal injury services including representation for:

 

 

  • Automobile/Motorcycle Accidents
  • Slip and Fall Injuries
  • Premises Liability, Including Mold Exposure
  • Products Liability
  • Dog Bites
  • Marine and Boating Accidents
  • Wrongful Deaths

Blick Law Firm can help to make sure you get the proper medical assistance and legal representation for your claim.

Auto accidents can be devastating, and injuries sustained in an accident can begin a timeline of treatment and therapy that can take months to complete. If you are involved in an auto accident, it is always important to know what steps to undertake to protect yourself and your potential personal injury case.

Injured parties should also always contact an attorney for legal consultation and general information on how to proceed following an accident. In the event an insurance company contacts you regarding your injury claim, do not offer any recorded statements without first consulting with an attorney.

If you or a loved one have been in an accident and need legal advice, call Blick Law Firm today at (813) 931-0840. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer.

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Pedestrian | Personal Injury | Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

pedestrian accident lawyer, pedestrian deaths, pedestrian, personal injury, personal injury attorneySome personal injury cases involve drivers not yielding to pedestrian crossings, causing serious injury or death.

Florida leads the country in pedestrian deaths each year, and this statistic has become a major concern for the Florida Department of Transportation. According to an annual study by nonprofit organization Transportation for America, Florida includes four of the five most dangerous metropolitan areas in the country for pedestrians and bikers…. and the Tampa area is listed as number two.

If you are a victim in a pedestrian personal injury, you have legal rights to make a claim against the defendant driver.

Under Florida Law, drivers are required to come to a complete STOP when approaching a pedestrian cross-walk. However, many cross-walk signs do not notify motorists of their obligation to stop, and most drivers interpret cross-walk signs as a notice to YIELD to pedestrians. This misinformation creates a dangerous miscommunication between driver and pedestrian, and has led to many fatal and life-altering personal injury accidents.

While laws are in place to protect pedestrians from motorists, Florida law also maintains that pedestrians have an obligation to be responsible and cognizant of their surroundings when utilizing the roadways. Among the factors contributing to the increased pedestrian death in Florida is a lack of awareness by both motorists and pedestrians. As a result, it is important to stay educated about the potential safety hazards while walking, biking, and driving on Florida roadways. Unfortunately for many people, roadway safety concerns are not fully appreciated until disaster hits close to home.

If you, or your family have been a victim of a pedestrian accident call Blick Law firm at (813) 931-0840 to learn about your rights. Schedule an appointment today for a free case evaluation with Attorney Michael Blickensderfer.

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DUI | DUI Conviction | Criminal Attorneys Tampa

DUI-Attorney-Drinking-and-DrivingIn Florida, Law Enforcement Officers pull over drivers for numerous reasons, driving under the influence (DUI) being a common arrest. Many Florida drivers are unaware of the definition of a DUI, the consequences that result from such actions, as well as what to do if pulled over for suspicion of DUI.

DUI

DUI, or Driving Under the Influence, generally refers to a person who has physical control of a vehicle while that person’s normal faculties are impaired by:

  • Any type of drug
  •  Alcohol
  •  Illicit drugs
  • Prescription medication

Therefore, if you are under the influence of drugs other than alcohol and are in actual physical control of a vehicle, you can still potentially be charged with a DUI.

In Florida, a blood alcohol level of .08 or more constitutes alcohol impairment beyond the legal limit. However, a police officer may still arrest you for a lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) if they suspect that your normal faculties are impaired while operating a motor vehicle. Having a BAC under a .08 will increase your chances of overcoming the DUI conviction, but you may still be arrested and endure several hassles that go along with combating a DUI charge.

Police officers look for many physical signs of impairment once pulled over. Initially the driver may only be pulled over for a traffic offense, even minor ones; and then an officer will initiate immediate conversation to determine the potential impairment of the driver, which may result in a DUI conviction.

What to do when pulled over? cop.preview

Common signs that police will be looking for to suspect an impaired driver: the ability to maintain eye contact, slurred speech, the smell of alcohol on a driver’s breath, or bloodshot eyes.

While it is your right to not answer any questions without a lawyer present, not doing so will certainly raise the officer’s suspicion and they will likely investigate further. It is wise to answer questions vaguely and avoid delving into specifics, including any amount of alcohol you have consumed, or that you just left a party, bar, or football game.

If the Police are suspicious, they will tell you to exit the vehicle, and you must. However, you may refuse to submit to any sobriety tests conducted. Even if you think you can pass the sobriety exercises, it is likely in your best interest to politely refuse because the officer determines whether you passed based solely on their own judgment. Know that you always have the right to contact an attorney before you submit to any test.

DUI Conviction

Florida drivers that are pulled over as a result of driving under the influences whether by alcohol or from a substance may result in the following consequences:

  • License Suspension
  • Drastic Insurance Increases; especially when required to obtain FR-44 insurance coverage
  • Complications with Employment; both present and future
  • Driving Restrictions that require additional costs such as an Interlock Device installed in your vehicle for a period of 6 months, 1 year, or even 2 years, depending on your situation
  • Probation
  • Legal Fees and Court Costs

These consequences contribute to a multitude of difficulties that one faces when battling a DUI charge. It is important to fully understand and appreciate the severity of possible consequences associated with DUI, and always take all possible steps to avoid Driving Under the Influence.

Criminal Attorneys Tampa

If you are charged with DUI, it is important to seek legal counsel immediately from a criminal Tampa attorney! Call Blick Law Firm today at 813-931-0840. Make an appointment for a free 15 minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer to determine what your options are moving forward.

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Bankruptcy Attorneys Tampa | Discharge Debt | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy AttorneysGet a start today and eliminate debt! The main advantage to filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy is the discharge of most debt in order to pay the things that are important to you, and begin rebuilding your credit again!

Bankruptcy is a complex area of law and involves many considerations, including whether to file, determining which type of Bankruptcy to file, the use of exemptions, understanding the protections of the Bankruptcy Code and using them to your advantage.

What does it mean to discharge your debt?
When you are in the process of filing for bankruptcy, the entire process is usually completed within four months, and the debtor then receives a discharge of all dischargeable debts. The advantage to filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is that your unsecured debt is completely eliminated, the process is fairly quick, and the automatic stay that takes place after filing prohibits creditors from making collection efforts.

What are you able to discharge when filing for bankruptcy?bankruptcy chapter 7
The discharge totally eliminates the obligation to pay many types of debt including: credit card debt, old medical bills, utilities bills, unsecured loans, pay day loans, and most other types of unsecured debt.

Are all types of debt dischargeable?
Certain types of debt cannot be avoided by filing for bankruptcy including: student loans, child support and alimony payments, court fines, DUI judgments against the debtor, and debts incurred by fraud.

AVOID CREDITOR HARASSMENT: Once a debtor files for bankruptcy, there is an automatic stay on the collection of debt and most creditors must terminate their collection efforts immediately. The stay is an automatic court order that prohibits all sorts of collection attempts by creditors, and postpones most actions against the debtor, including repossessions, garnishments or attachments, utility shutoffs, foreclosures, and evictions.

filing for bankruptcy tampaWhy hire a bankruptcy attorney?

It is important to be aware that while Chapter 7 Bankruptcy may ultimately relieve a debtor of the burden of insurmountable unsecured debt, it is a process that requires the production of several documents and tedious preparation. The more prepared the debtor is, the more seamless the process becomes that is why a trusted bankruptcy attorney may be beneficial in walking you through the process.

No matter what your situation is, obtaining quality legal consultation from an experienced bankruptcy attorney is beneficial. Contact Blick Law Firm today at (813) 931-0840. Schedule a free 15 minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer to assess what option is best for you. Think quick, call Blick!

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Hire a Real Estate Attorney | Home Buying | Title Insurance

slide_6Buying a home is a complex process and in order to ensure your future investment is a secure and legal, hiring a real estate attorney to handle the purchase of your home should be considered.

Many times a home buyer may seek counsel from a title agency or realtor. In fact, Florida does not require you to hire an attorney for a title closing like many states. While that may be the case in Florida, those using a real estate or title agent alone need to be aware of the risks involved.

The Law

A title company or realtor may not advise you legally regarding any matters related to your home purchase. The process of purchasing a home is complex and a company that you hire should be able to provide you with legal direction and abide by state ethical standards; these qualities cannot be upheld simply by a real estate agent.

What is Title Insurance?  

Title insurance is a rarely understood protection necessary when purchasing a new home or property. Contrary to other forms of insurance that protect against future loss or damage, Title Insurance protects against past events that may cause loss or damage after the purchase of new property due to a failure or defect of the title.

For instance, when purchasing Title Insurance, the title company will conduct a search of public land records to discover potential matters affecting the title of the property. Common issues include: improperly prepared deeds, open mortgages, wills, probate proceedings, outstanding judgments or tax liens against the property or individuals, covenants and restrictions, and easements. After the records search, the buyer is then issued the Title Insurance.

While the records search conducted by the title company is generally exhaustive, many problems can still exist and affect the validity of the title. Disputes can still arise due to mistakes in the public record, previously undisclosed heirs claiming to own the property, and fraud…. These hidden hazards do exist, and Title Insurance will protect you against these potential problems and pay for any legal fees involved in defending a claim.

Real Estate Agents

Real estate lawyers are obligated by law to fully disclose legal options for the home buyer, unlike realtors or title companies that are prohibited from giving legal advice without a license to practice law. The comfort of knowing your best legal options when purchasing a home may be a big factor for overall security and peace of mind.

An experienced real estate attorney can provide professional legal advice, and interpret the very complicated language involved in most Closing documents. The attorney is also capable of identifying potential problems with your purchase documentation, and can save you the hassle of dealing with unexpected complications that may arise during the Real Estate purchase process.TAMPA-LAW-FIRM, CHRISTIAN-LAWYERS, CHRISTIAN-ATTORNEY, BLICK-LAW-FIRM

It is important to not only seek a title company for protection when purchasing a new home, but also making sure that the title company has an experienced and competent real estate attorney.

A real estate lawyer that handles and serves clients in title services is able to take legal action as needed to protect clients from any future problems that may arise. An attorney can properly analyze your housing situation to handle any issues, insuring you and your loved ones a secure real estate closing for your new home.

Educate Yourself

A Real Estate Closing is the final step of the home purchase process, whereby the buyer and seller sign the papers to transfer the ownership of the home. In order to complete this final phase of the purchase process, it is important to understand the timeline of requirements that take place leading up to the Closing.

imagesFirst, a buyer must open an escrow account with a neutral third party, whereby the buyer provides earnest money to be held in consideration of the purchase in order to demonstrate good-faith that the buyer fully intends on completing the sale.

Following the opening of an escrow account, the buyer then needs to take 5 necessary steps to protect their interest in the home. These 5 steps are as follows:

  • Completing a Title search
  • Purchasing Title Insurance
  • Completing a Home inspection and Pest inspection
  • Negotiating the Closing costs; and
  • Locking the interest rate of the mortgage.

These steps are important in the completion of any Real Estate transaction, and many times it is important for the buyer to seek legal counsel prior to moving forward with the purchase process.

At Blick Law Firm we provide title insurance and escrow services to clients throughout the entire State of Florida. Call us today at 813-931-0840. Make an appointment for a free 15 minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer. Blick Law Firm seeks to help the hurting and those in need. Think quick, call Blick!

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