Our firm has a Facebook page up and running. Please check out our page and become a fan. We will be updating our page with events our firm is involved in and other newsworthy items. We have posted several photo albums of the functions and events our firm and our staff have volunteered for. Thanks in advance for visiting our page.
Press Release: April 8, 2010
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is pleased to announce that attorney Jeff Lucas of New Port Richey, Florida has been certified as a member. Attorney Lucas joins his partner James L. Magazine who is also a member.
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is recognized as one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts, awards and settlements. The organization was founded in 1993 and there are approximately 3000 members located throughout the country. Fewer than 1 percent of U.S. lawyers are members. Forum membership acknowledges excellence in advocacy, and provides members with a national network of experienced colleagues for professional referral and information exchange in major cases. Members must have acted as principal counsel in at least one case in which their client has received a verdict, award or settlement in the amount of one million dollars or more. Please see their website www.milliondollaradvocates.com for further details concerning membership qualifications.
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.
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.
Can't Get to Our Office - We Will Come to You
The Law Office of Lucas, Green & Magazine is assisting the Joshua House in the collection of back to school supplies for foster children in need. Items that can be donated include: notebooks, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, scissors, highlighters, notebook paper (college rule), scientific calculators, 5-subject notebooks, mechanical pencils, pocket dictionaries, erasers, glue/glue sticks and backpacks. Donations need to be dropped by our office by Wednesday, August 5, 2009. Monetary Donations are accepted. Please make your checks payable to “Friends of Joshua House Foundation” write “School Supplies” on the memo line and mail to: Friends of Joshua House Foundation, Inc., PO Box 26333, Tampa, FL 33623.
On July 1, 2009, the seatbelt law in the State of Florida changed. Floridalaw has required drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seatbelts, however on July 1, 2009 the law changed so that you can be stopped just for not wearing your seatbelt. The law used to be that if you were stopped for another traffic violation, you could also be sited with a “no seatbelt” violation on top of the original charge.
The Florida Primary Seat Belt Law makes it a primary charge not to be wearing a seat belt while driving. Drivers not wearing their seat belts may know that it’s not the safest of practices. They may even be aware that not wearing a seatbelt is against the law.
However, now law enforcement officers can pull over drivers and their passengers for not being buckled up. With this change, there real is no excuse not to wear your seat belt. Drivers who get caught face a $30 statewide fine, plus an added county penalty.
Since 2005, law enforcement officers have been able to pull over a vehicle if any occupant under the age of 18 was not wearing a seat belt. The change now is that the law applies to the driver of the car and the front-seat passenger regardless of age, and still applies to passengers in the back seat under 18. There are no warnings.”
Quick Contact
8606 Government Drive
New Port Richey, FL 34654
Phone: (727) 849-5353.
