Tag Archives: florida injury lawyer

Seat Belt Safety Florida

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Blick Law

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!

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

Halloween Safety Tips

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Blick Law

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and while preparing to celebrate with close friends and family it is always important to take extra precaution to ensure your safety, and the safety of others. Halloween can be a particularly dangerous holiday, and many times injuries can be prevented by taking simple precautions.

Statistically, Halloween contributes annually to an increased rate of accidental injury, especially to pedestrians and children. In an effort to reduce the risk of potential injury, everyone should be aware of helpful Costume Safety tips, including:

  • Make sure your costume is visible at night by including bright clothing or reflective tape.
  • Ensure that masks do not obstruct breathing or impair vision; and that the Costume allows you or your child to move around freely.
  • Ensure that the costume material is fire resistant; in the event the costume comes in contact with fire, you can reduce the risk of severe burn injury
  • Avoid costumes that include sharp objects; and for children especially, avoid accessories that are easily swallowed.

Remember, reducing the risk of injury does not always prevent accidents from happening, but it is always better to employ precautionary safety measures.

If you or a loved one is injured during the holidays and you have questions or concerns regarding your rights, call Blick Law Firm today at (813) 931-0840. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer. Think quick, call Blick!

Posted in Blog, Personal Injury | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Law Changes Florida

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Blick Law

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a mandatory coverage on Florida car insurance policies that covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. The original purpose of PIP coverage was to make sure that anyone injured in an auto accident would quickly receive money to treat their injuries. In Florida, all drivers are obligated to obtain a minimum of $10,000 PIP coverage for medical bills and lost wages following an auto accident.

Due to rampant fraud and misappropriation of PIP coverage in Florida, insurance companies have lobbied to pass PIP insurance reform to limit the types of treatment available to crash victims covered by PIP, and limit the amount of coverage in order to avoid abuse and fraud.

In 2012, the Florida legislature passed into law PIP reform that bans the use of PIP dollars to pay for massage or acupuncture treatments and will limit the payout for non-emergency treatment of accident-related injuries to $2,500.00. A widespread concern is that accident victims with serious injuries won’t be able to get the care they need if they sustain an injury such as a whiplash or herniated disc because these injuries may not qualify as an emergency.

Nonetheless, supporters of the bill insist that the reform will contribute to overall lower insurance premiums and provide much needed relief to Florida drivers.

If you or a loved one have been a victim of an auto accident and have questions concerning your rights, call Blick Law Firm today at 813-931-0840 to schedule a free 15 minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer. Think quick, call Blick! 813-931-0840.

Posted in Blog, Personal Injury | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Florida Boating Accidents

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Blick Law

Florida’s waterways are amenities of the state that bring family and friends together in a perennially sunny climate. However, the abundance of waterway use in Florida coupled with a variety of water recreational activities can lead to serious incidents of personal injury.

Boating accidents are extremely dangerous and can lead to severe injuries, and even death. With close to a million vessels registered in the state, Florida leads the nation in the number of vessels, and, as a negative consequence has the highest number of boating fatalities annually. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, there were 742 reportable boating accidents and 67 boating related fatalities in 2011. Many of these deaths were caused by victims falling overboard and drowning, and a large number of them could have been prevented if the victims had worn life jackets.

While utilizing Florida’s water resources, it is important to always employ safety measures to prevent injuries. However, in the event of an injury it is important to contact a Tampa personal injury attorney to determine your rights to recovery, and determine who may be liable for your injuries.

If you or a loved has been injured in a boating accident, call Blick Law Firm today. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer by calling 813-931-0840. Think quick, call Blick!

Posted in Blog, Boating, Personal Injury | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment