Gainza Law Group Blog and Legal News

Dealing With Your Insurance Company After A Car Accident In Florida

July 27, 2020 | Gainza Law Group

Insurance Claim Form If you have been in a car accident in Florida, you know that the process to follow can be an absolute whirlwind. Dealing with medical treatment, going back to work, and getting your vehicle fixed are just a few of many things a car accident victim has to deal with. And, of course, the part that everyone dreads the most is dealing with insurance companies.

After you have been in a car accident, one of the first people to call is your insurance company to make a claim. However, we encourage you to call an experienced personal injury attorney like our legal team at the Gainza Law Group before you do so.

There are numerous reasons why you should call your personal injury lawyer first, but here are just a few pointers to keep in mind when dealing with your insurance company and any third party companies after a car accident:

What To Do After A Hit and Run Accident

July 20, 2020 | Gainza Law Group

Being involved in a car accident is stressful enough, but it can be especially frustrating when it involves a hit and run driver. Unfortunately, hit and run accidents are more common than you’d expect. There are nearly 100,000 hit and run accidents in Florida each year. While the driver is eventually identified in a significant amount of these cases, there are still thousands of unsolved car accidents.

It is very important that you carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Florida on your auto insurance policy. The at-fault driver should be held accountable for property damage and medical bills, but this cannot always happen if they cannot be identified. Victims of hit and run car accidents can recover damages through their uninsured motorist coverage policy. Uninsured Motorist Coverage can be used to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, future loss of earning potential, and more.

There are many reasons why a driver may not stop after being involved in an accident. Some of the most common reasons include the driver being intoxicated, not having a valid license or insurance, or simply just not wanting to face the penalty for their actions. Thankfully, most accidents tend to occur in more heavily populated areas. Therefore, the hit and run driver is more likely to be identified through the help of local surveillance cameras and witnesses.

Why Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

July 13, 2020 | Gainza Law Group

Uninsured Coverage Car insurance is one of the most common purchases for American drivers – or is it? According to the latest data available, roughly 13 percent of drivers in the United States do not carry insurance. This number is quite high considering that car insurance is a fundamental requirement for vehicle registration purposes in almost every state – including Florida.

Yet it should be no surprise that Florida leads the nation with over 25 percent of drivers on the road lacking insurance. Therefore, Florida insurance companies sell additional auto insurance coverage which can protect you and your family should you be a victim in a car accident caused by an uninsured driver – this is known as Uninsured Motorists (UM) and Underinsured Motorists Coverage (UIM).

In a perfect world, everyone driving in Florida would carry enough coverage, known as Bodily Injury Liability (BI), to compensate for any medical bills. Unfortunately, that’s not our reality. In fact, Florida does not mandate drivers to carry any BI at all. Additionally, we find that most drivers who do have BI, do not carry sufficient coverage to fully compensate our clients’ injuries.

Florida’s New Texting While Driving Law

July 6, 2020 | Gainza Law Group

Man Texting While Driving Texting and driving has been illegal in Florida for years, but police officers could not use that as a reason to pull over drivers since it was a secondary offense. However, if a Florida driver was pulled over for another reason, such as speeding, then a citation could be issued for the texting while driving as well.

As of July 1, 2019, Florida became the 45th state to make texting while driving a primary offense. The new law allows Florida law enforcement officers to pull over drivers because of texting and driving – without any other traffic violation. It can be used as grounds to be stopped by a police officer.

While the new law has been in effect for over six months, law enforcement agencies agreed to give drivers a grace period through December 31, 2019. Verbal warnings were issued in lieu of a citation. Still, within those six months, Florida Highway Patrol states it issued 1,087 warnings with at least 1,220 citations issued statewide by all law enforcement agencies for texting and driving – staggering high numbers that truly substantiate the need for the new texting while driving law.

What To Do After A Truck Accident?

June 30, 2020 | Gainza Law Group

Red Truck Accident Personal injury attorneys handle a plethora of different types of legal cases from dog bites to auto accidents and slip and falls. But when it comes to a car accident involving a commercial truck, you need an experienced personal injury attorney who knows exactly how to maneuver through the complex insurance and liability issues ahead.

Injuries resulting from auto accidents involving commercial trucks are usually far worse than the common fender bender. Just the sheer size of most commercial trucks is enough to do significant injury to both the vehicle and person.

The attorneys at the Gainza Law Group will work tirelessly on your behalf to get the justice you deserve. While our team will help you with obtaining evidence to help support your case such as driver logs, truck maintenance records, computer and GPS records, we will need some help from you as well.

What Should I Do If I Am Hit By A Car As A Pedestrian?

June 23, 2020 | Gainza Law Group

Pedestrian Accident We live in a tropical paradise that allows us the ability to walk to many places almost every day of the year! Especially here in Fort Lauderdale, many of us work and live in the city. However, research shows while walking in general may do you good, walking in Florida could be hazardous to your health.

Florida leads the nation with the number of pedestrian accidents each year. In 2019, a report from Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition stated that nine of the 20 deadliest U.S. cities for pedestrians are in Florida, with the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolis ranking #14.

Fortunately, most pedestrian accidents leave minor injuries, but some of them can be devastating and even deadly. When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, the person’s complete lack of protection ultimately allows for many common injuries such as broken bones, road rash and bruising. It is important that you hire a personal injury attorney who will make sure you receive compensation for your current and future medical bills.