CGWC Orlando Injury Attorney Blog

Orlando, Florida

Archive for the ‘Auto Accidents’ Category

DOT Rules Would Restrict Use of Car Info Systems

Monday, February 20th, 2012

New Department of Transportation guidelines for car information systems, like navigation and hands free telephone systems, are aimed at preventing distracted driving. The new guidelines would restrict the driver’s ability to use navigation and other information systems while the car is in motion. The new rules would limit car features that distract drivers. The rules would be aimed at reducing the time it takes to perform certain tasks on the systems, reduce the complexity of performing the tasks, limit the driver to using one hand to perform the tasks, limit off road glances in performing information system tasks to 2 seconds or less, limit the amount of input information required to perform tasks, and reduce unnecessary visual information in the driver’s field of view. These proposed rules are a good start by the National Highway & Traffic Safety Administration, which oversees the Department of Transportation, in attempts to eliminate distracted driving caused by drivers fumbling with automobile information systems. The DOT says that distracted driving is a national epidemic with over 3,000 people dead in 2010 alone as a result of distracted driving.

Injured in an automobile accident? Contact CGWC for a free consultation about your legal rights.

Posted in Auto Accidents | No Comments »

Insurance Company Giving You The Runaround?

Saturday, February 18th, 2012

Is an insurance company giving you the runaround? Insurance companies are in the business of giving customers and legitimate claimants the runaround on valid claims…denying claims, delaying payment, lowballing with settlement offers, etc. You may have a claim against the insurance company for another driver who was at fault in an automobile accident; you may have a life insurance company refusing to pay benefits of a recently deceased relative; or you may have a homeowners or business insurance policy denying a property damage or business loss claim. Whatever the reason an insurance company is giving you the runaround, there is only one answer to your problem. You need an attorney experienced in insurance law and insurance claims. Insurance companies employ legions of professional claims analysts and claims adjusters, as well as teams of insurance defense attorneys to make sure you don’t get what you deserve because that’s how they make larger profits…denying claims and lowballing settlement offers.

Insurance company giving you the run-around? Call CGWC for a free consultation about your personal injury, death or property insurance claim.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Choosing the Right Lawyer, Insurance and Consumer Rights, Wrongful Death | No Comments »

New Trucking Regulations But Same Old Problem

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

New trucking regulations implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have been released, but there’s a problem. Just like the old regulations, the new ones permit an 11 hour daily driving limit. Consumer groups had pushed for a 10 hour per day driving limit. More than 4,000 people a year are killed in big truck accidents. Thirty to forty percent of these accidents can be attributed, at least in part, to fatigued trucks drivers. Some research suggests the likelihood of an accident doubles after 8 hours of driving. Yet, the FMCSA persists on permitting an 11 hour a day driving limit. So, you can expect more of the same on U.S. highways: trucker fatigue and catastrophic collisions resulting in severe injuries and needless deaths.

If you or a loved one is involved in a truck accident, you need an experienced truck accident attorney. CGWC’s attorneys are experienced and knowledgeable about all motor vehicle accidents, and especially truck accidents. Call us for a free consultation.

Posted in Auto Accidents | Comments Off

Texting While Driving Ban Recommended

Monday, December 19th, 2011

If you glance around while you are in traffic these days, it can sometimes seem like half the drivers on the road are talking on a cellphone or sending text messages. It has become disturbingly common, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recommended a nationwide ban on texting while driving. Texting, emailing, or dialing a telephone are extremely distracting and dangerous behaviors to engage in while driving. However, recent studies have shown that the number of folks who are doing it keeps rising. A national survey conducted by the NHTSA showed that more than half of their respondents between 21 and 24 had texted or emailed while driving. The Denver Post reported that many people feel they are driving safely while checking or sending texts and driving, but say that other drivers doing so are extremely dangerous. Feeling that you are an above-average driver does not minimize the dangers of distraction, though. Looking down at a screen for even a second while driving can easily result in disaster.

The NewYork Times has been reporting on this issue since 2009, in an ongoing series called “Driven to Distraction”.You can read the entire series here. The Times series cites a Harvard study that found 2,600 traffic deaths are caused annually by cell-phone distractions. The same study revealed that 570,000 accidents resulting in injuries occur each year as the result of such distractions. Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter urge you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Choosing the Right Lawyer, Pedestrian Rights, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Your Medical Records Are Important

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

When we try cases for clients who are injured in automobile and other accidents, we invariably watch them questioned incessantly and throughout their jury trial about what their medical records say and don’t say. Often, in their own hand, questions are answered on physician office intake forms in a way that makes the clients look dishonest. We know these misstatements and errors are most often completely innocent, but explaining it to a jury is virtually impossible when the client is before them asking for money for injuries.

Remember that your medical records are important. Not only does your doctor rely upon them in giving you medical advice and recommending treatment options, but if you are involved in an insurance claim, a disability claim, or litigation arising from an injury of any kind, lawyers will use them against you whenever and wherever they can. Be careful about how you answer the dozens of questions on the clipboard when visiting a new doctor. Think about someone questioning your about what you write in those forms, and even imagine if you are one of the unlucky ones who is later involved in an accident that is no fault of your own: could this be used against me? Mainly, you want to be sure you are painstakingly honest and precise as possible. Otherwise, you may find yourself hoisted on the petard of your own medical records when making an insurance or injury claim.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Insurance and Consumer Rights, Personal Injury | Comments Off

Pedestrian Accidents All Too Common In Orlando Area

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

For years, pedestrian accidents have been all too common in the Orlando area. Many times, these accidents are fatal and leave permanently and tragically changed families in their wake. Two accidents just in the last few hours remind us of the dangers pedestrians face on Central Florida roads. A pedestrian was killed in Kissimmee Friday evening when a woman ran off the road killing a man who was just walking with his wife. In another instance, a trucker was killed when he tried to help others who had been in an accident. He was even walking on the shoulder of the road and wearing a reflective vest.

Studies and statistics over and over affirm that Central Florida roads are among the most dangerous in the country for pedestrians. If you or a family member are involved in a pedestrian accident, an automobile accident, an accident another’s property, an on the job accident, or in any other way, know your legal rights. Contact CGWC for a free consultation.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Pedestrian Rights | Comments Off

New Trucking Regulations To Prevent Driver Fatigue

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

New regulations proposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are designed to prevent a common cause of fatal trucking accidents, driver fatigue. The FMCSA proposes to reduce the number of hours a trucker can drive during every fourteen (14) hour shift from eleven (11) to ten (10) hours of driving. The new regulations would also require truckers to take a one hour break during long work shifts that include loading and unloading their cargo and to take more time off between seven (7) day stretches of road work.

Last year, the agency approved a rule that would require truckers who have a history of repeat violations of the driving hours limits to install electronic devices that would replace easily doctored paper log books. Another rule being proposed would require all truckers to have electronic recorders, whether or not they had a history of driving excessive hours or falsifying their log books.

If you have been involved in an accident with an interstate trucker, you need a law firm that is experience and knowledgeable about the applicable trucking regulations, trucking standards, and the trucking industry. CGWC has attorneys who are experienced in handling interstate trucking accident cases.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Choosing the Right Lawyer | Comments Off

Share The Road

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

It’s summertime. Remember to share the road with bicyclists. About 7000 people die each year in bicycle accidents and another 350,000 are injured. About 1/3 of the injured bicyclists suffer brain injuries. Around 1/4 of the people who die are between 5 and 17 years old. Most bicycle deaths involve collisions with motor vehicles. If you’re a bicyclist, stay safe by wearing bright reflective clothing, a helmet, ride with the flow of traffic, obey all traffic laws, and use appropriate hand signals. For more information on how to stay safe when cycling, visit the AAA Bicycle Safety Site.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Pedestrian Rights, Wrongful Death | Comments Off

Woman Injured In Rear-end Accident Awarded 4.4 Million Dollars

Friday, June 17th, 2011

A woman in Pennsylvania was injured in a rear-end automobile accident and sustained severe injuries including herniated discs in her neck and low back, shoulder impingement and reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a traumatic disorder of the sympathetic nervous system. After a long battle in litigation culminating in a jury trial, she was recently awarded $ 4.4 million. She had undergone discectomy and fusion surgery, as well as other care and treatment, some in Florida, for her conditions. Rear-end accidents can cause very, very serious and disabling injuries and require a law firm with experience and the resources and ability to tell the client’s story. Call CGWC for a free consultation if you are involved in an automobile accident.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Choosing the Right Lawyer | Comments Off

Buy Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Uninsured motorist coverage, which insures you and your family for injuries when the motorist at fault is uninsured or underinsured, is more important in Florida than in most states. A study by the Insurance Research Council in 2009 found Florida to have more uninsured drivers than most states and that the problem was likely to get worse with the recession. That has certainly been our experience at CGWC The Florida Firm over the last 3 to 5 years. The incidence of uninsured and underinsured motorists seems more frequent than ever. That means many people who neglected to buy uninsured motorist coverage when they renewed their automobile insurance policies are unprotected. Many of them have come to our office for help that just isn’t there because of a lack of liability insurance and uninsured motorist insurance. Many have been the victims of tragedies as serious as fatal auto and motorcycle accidents. Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish when you renew your automobile insurance and don’t assume that “full coverage” means what it says. Ask your agent about uninsured motorist coverage, and make sure you buy it for your family.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Insurance and Consumer Rights, Motorcycle Accidents | Comments Off

• « Older Entries

Entries (RSS) | Comments (RSS).