Pasco Law Blog

The week of February 22 through February 26 finds the attorneys at Lucas, Green & Magazine in trial.   The past several months have been very busy for our attorneys and support staff as they have been preparing for this trial week.  Our attorneys are currently  prepared to try five (5) cases in Pasco, Pinellas and Martin County.  With our Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial attorneys and our team approach to trying cases, our firm is prepared for this very busy trial week.  At Lucas, Green & Magazine our trial experienced attorneys work together by discussing and planning the best presentation of our client’s case for the courtroom.  Although they often find “great minds think alike,” sometimes round-tabling accident cases may bring a new perspective and fresh ideas.  At Lucas, Green & Magazine we know each client is different and each case is different.  The attorneys you meet at our firm, and the staff that handle your claims will always keep your best interest at heart.

Thanks to the persistence of our assistant office administrator, Andrea Mastracchio, our firm has been collecting aluminum soda tabs for Shriners Hospital.  The following is an email received in response to our contribution to their cause:

Dear Andrea,

A heartfelt thanks to you and the Pasco Law Group on behalf of Shriners Hospitals for Children for collecting tabs to benefit the kids receiving medical care and rehabilitation at our hospital in Tampa. Your extraordinary efforts will ensure that Shriners Hospitals for Children is able to continue Changing the World Through Caring for Kids at our 22 hospitals throughout North America.

 Alicia Argiz-Lyons
Corporate Director of Public Relations
Shriners International Headquarters
(813) 281-8161 Fax (813) 281-8496

In the spirit of the season, the Law Office of Lucas, Green & Magazine extends a heartfelt Thank You and sincerely wishes our friends, family, clients, and business associates a wonderful holiday season.

Please be safe. Where your seatbelt and designate a driver when necessary.

However, this accident scenario did bring some thoughts and office discussions about Florida laws and automobile insurance coverage. When our law firm handles motor vehicle accidents, most of the cases are the typical collisions that we all see on the news. In Tiger’s case, the accident involved his vehicle, a golf club, a fire hydrant, a tree and his wife.

Florida personal injury protection, under most auto insurance policies, will cover injuries sustained out of the use, ownership or maintenance of a covered motor vehicle. In Tiger’s accident, he will be covered under his PIP for injuries he sustained as a result of striking the tree and fire hydrant. Under most Florida personal injury protection policies, if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, regardless of fault, the medical costs for injuries sustained will be paid under your PIP. For example, if you are in a one-car accident, hit a tree, hit a deer or a cow, or if your wife jumps out in front of your car and you run your vehicle into the garage, PIP will cover your medical expenses. If you are changing your tire in your front yard, on the side of the road or other maintenance issues and you are injured while performing these maintenance tasks, PIP can cover your medical expenses for injuries sustained as a result of the injury provided that your injury is sustained out of the use, ownership or maintenance of the covered automobile.

Under most Florida uninsured/underinsured (UM) coverage, compensation for anything above and beyond medical bills and wage loss would not be covered. Under most UM policies, coverage only exists if you are involved in an accident where there is another vehicle involved. It is often very difficult to collect on a UM claim when there is a “phantom vehicle” involved that causes a collision. A “phantom” vehicle would be a vehicle that causes the driver to become involved in an accident, and the phantom leaves the scene or is unidentifiable. Unless you have some very good, unrelated witnesses that can attest that a specific vehicle forced you to have the accident, you would not likely have a UM claim. In most cases uninsured/underinsured coverage is only available when the claimants damages exceed the PIP available and the bodily injury coverage from the adverse party.

So I hope we have all learned from Tiger’s experience, because accidents can happen to any of us.

Staff of Lucas, Green & Magazine choose to wear Red, White and Blue in honor of Veteran’s Day 2009.

May we all remember that the freedoms we have in this country are in place due to our Veteran’s.  On this day may we remember those who are still with us, and those who lost their lives while serving others.

May we never take for granted the rights and freedoms that continue to be protected galantly by our  men and women in the armed forces.

The Law Offices of Lucas, Green & Magazine want to wish everyone a spooktacular and safe Halloween. Please watch for the children trick-or-treating this weekend.
Today we held our “sometimes annual” costume contest. The winning staff member’s costume was so awesome we just had to share a photo with you.

This weekend, October 9-10-11, 2009, Lucas, Green & Magazine is again excited to be sponsoring the Cotee River Bikefest in downtown New Port Richey.  Please join us for the festivities.  For details please see www.CoteeRiverBikefest.com.  The weekend will include Bike Shows, Sheriff’s Charity Ride, music, food, Daisy Duke Contest and just alot of fun.  Please see Cotee River Bikefest website for band times, events and location. Hope to see you there.

When you or a loved one are involved in an accident of any type, whether it be an automobile or a slip and fall, most people are shocked, startled and confused. It is very important to try to focus and think clearly when the incident happens. Although this can sometimes be difficult, if we are educated and prepared, hopefully we can try to calmly review the situation and be proactive.

When the accident is a Slip and Fall, it is important to inspect the area where you or your loved one fell, and try to determine what caused you or your loved one to fall.

Make sure to write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of anyone in the vicinity where the incident occurred - both those who saw the fall, and others who were there after the incident. The individuals will likely be needed as witnesses on the victim’s behalf. Even if someone did not see the fall, he or she could, if necessary, describe your pain and the conditions of the floor, lighting, or other hazard immediately after the fall.

If the incident occurred in a store or place of business, speak with the manager or supervisor on duty, and have them make a record of the incident, being sure to get a copy of anything prepared. If anyone (especially an employee, supervisor or manager) makes a comment suggesting that this has occurred before, or that they were aware of the condition before the fall, obtain this person’s name and job title. Make sure to get the name, address and phone number of anyone else who heard him or her make the statement.

Have someone take photographs of the area as soon as possible, so a record is made. Dangerous conditions have a way of changing if the property owner thinks that you might file a claim for injuries.

If you slip on any substance on the floor, obtain a sample of the substance if possible.

After receiving appropriate initial medical treatment, contact an attorney with experience in handling claims for personal injury resulting from slip and fall accidents.

If you’re a passenger who has sustained injuries in an automobile accident, you are entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. As a passenger, you may have a claim against both the driver of the vehicle in which you were riding as well as the drivers of any other vehicles (or any other negligent party) involved in the collision.

A passenger is generally not considered to be at fault or partially at fault in an auto accident unless he or she does something that specifically causes the accident such as distract the driver. If you have been injured as a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision, an attorney at Pasco LawGroup can help you file a claim and get monetary compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an automobile accident contact Pasco Law Group at 1-800-4-INJURY.