May 6, 2013

If you’re the victim of an accident, every shred of evidence can be vital. Your immediate concerns at the scene are medical attention and calling the authorities, but long-term it’s important to have your legal bases covered so that you can get proper compensation for damages and injuries. For that, eye witnesses can make the crucial difference.

This is something that the family of Dick Stone knows all too well. Dick was sitting alone in his car near the ocean in Panama City Beach in March when a pickup truck plowed into him. He was critically injured by the impact.

However, Dick wasn’t alone. An unidentified stranger raced to his side, allegedly calling 911 and then administering first aid and working to stabilize Dick until paramedics arrived. Once they reached the scene he stepped aside, and vanished into the shadows as quickly as he had arrived.

Sadly, despite the best efforts of first responders and the unknown hero, Stone passed away from his injuries. But his family is now urgently seeking the man who helped him – because he may be able to shed some light on what happened that night.

Other eyewitnesses spoke to the man, who said the person driving the truck that struck Dick’s vehicle – James Colton – was driving erratically before the accident. As of May 6, Colton had not been charged with any crime, but with eyewitness testimony about his driving, he potentially could be. That would be a huge advantage in any potential lawsuit to recover damages from Colton.

Often, when advising people what to do if they’re in a car crash, the emphasis is on getting the other driver’s information and not admitting any wrongdoing. That is good advice, but it’s important to talk to witnesses at the scene as well. Many witnesses may not realize how crucial their testimony could be in improving the lives of accident victims or their family, and are afraid to come forward.

Here’s what you can do at an accident scene:

• Learn the names of anyone who helps or who says they saw what happened. Even with just a name, authorities can often find them later.
• If someone says they saw the accident, directly ask them if you can get their phone number or contact information. Don’t assume they will wait for police to arrive and ask.
• Try to be calm and ask people what they saw. It’s much easier for people to tell you their story if you are not panicked.

Of course, not every accident scene will involve witnesses, and sometimes they won’t be willing to come forward. No matter what, you have legal options. If you’ve been in a crash, call Steinger, Iscoe & Greene for a completely free evaluation of your case today. Talk to a car accident lawyer in Florida today.

April 29, 2013

“Lawsuit” isn’t a word most people want to hear, but if you’ve been involved in an accident it may be the only way to get the help you need. Injury attorneys can help you determine what compensation you are owed to help pay for medical bills, car damages, and lost work time – and we can help you fight an insurance company or an uninsured driver to help get it. But what happens if the person responsible is a friend or relative?

These situations are uncommon but they do come up. A recent example is the tragic story of two New York families who were on their way home from a trip to Florida. They had come to Florida for a wedding and had been on the highway driving all night when disaster struck.

For unknown reasons, their van veered into a clearly marked truck. There was no sign that the driver, Luis Arroyo, ever hit the brakes. The truck was a large dump truck assisting a road crew and it was traveling only a few miles per hour. The van hit it at high speed. The van was totaled, and the crash took the lives of three of the 10 people inside.

Police officers believe Arroyo may have been tired from driving too long and his sleep loss could have affected his driving. Arroyo was among those who died in the accident.

The two families were close: Arroyo, his girlfriend and their children, plus her sister and her sister’s children. They were members of the same church and had made the 2,000-mile round trip as a group. From a legal point of view, Arroyo is the one responsible for the accident – but blame may not be what the two families want to focus on as they grieve together.

While nothing can bring back the three people who died, appropriate legal action can help make sure that the survivors receive proper care. The accident hospitalized a number of children, and insurance companies seldom pay out enough on a claim like this to cover 100% of medical bills.

What would a good personal injury lawyer recommend in a case like this? It depends on what the families themselves want, but it may be best to present a unified front. Instead of suing Arroyo’s estate for compensation, which would almost certainly destroy the relationship between the families, both families could join forces to seek payment from his insurance company. Faced with a skilled injury lawyer and two families working together, many insurance companies will offer to settle immediately to avoid a costly court battle.

There are many ways to approach a personal injury case. No matter what the details of your accident, it’s always best to talk to a lawyer and see what your options are. If you were injured in an accident in Florida, we’re ready to evaluate your case for free today.

April 22, 2013

Drunk driving can be deadly.

It’s a lesson most of us already know, but there are still people who will get behind the wheel and drive while intoxicated. The problem is that they don’t just endanger themselves – they endanger all of us, even sober drivers.

This was made all too clear April 16 in West Pensacola. A drunk driver ran a stop sign and struck another car, leading to a fatal wreck. The drunk driver’s Jeep SUV ran through the intersection and collided with a Honda Civic. Inside the Civic was a father and son. Tragically, the father, Charles Snow, was pronounced dead at the scene. The son, Charles Junior, was rushed to the hospital. He was released two days later.

The Jeep literally vaulted over the Snows’ Civic and brushed tree branches overhead.

In a tragedy like this, the drunk driver will face serious repercussions – but it’s important to understand what the law will and will not do. The drunk driver in this incident was arrested for DUI manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter, and could easily spend much of the rest of his life behind bars.

But what does that mean for the victims?

Criminal consequences for driving drunk are aimed at punishing, containing, or rehabilitating the offender. But they don’t directly address the needs of the victims, who often have extensive injuries, a smashed car, and weeks or months of missed work time to deal with as they recover. In other words, their lives are irrevocably changed.

That’s why at the law firm of Steinger, Iscoe & Greene we focus on helping accident victims obtain compensation for their injuries. When another driver’s negligence – or drunk driving – causes a car accident, you are entitled to receive compensation for them to cover your injuries and expenses.

Obviously, this kind of monetary compensation can never make up for losses like a permanent injury or a lost loved one. However, when you are coping with the traumatic fallout of a major accident, there is no reason you should also be facing the financial panic of medical bills, lost work time and a wrecked car.

Have you been involved in a car accident? The money offered to you by the insurance company may not be enough, and you could be entitled to far more. After an accident it’s always best to talk to an attorney and review your legal options. A Fort Lauderdale auto accident lawyer at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene is ready to help you – call us today for a completely free consultation.

April 15, 2013

Your first priority after a car accident is making sure everyone’s safe. But once 911 has been called, it’s also important to think about your future.

Everyone knows that a car accident can lead to legal issues. How do you prepare? The usual advice is: stay calm, ask for the other driver’s contact information and insurance company, and don’t apologize or accept blame for the accident. This helps you avoid looking like the guilty party later on, but there is more you can do. You want to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

After an accident you’ll need money to pay for damages to your vehicle and medical bills. Often, the costs go far higher than what the insurance company is willing to pay, and that’s when it’s necessary to take legal action. When you do, you’ll need evidence of what happened.

That’s where a witness can be vital.

Witnesses give weight to your case because they’re unbiased sources. Of course, the police also provide a report of what they believe happened, but this report is based on what they saw when they arrived on the scene – after the accident occurred. Police can make mistakes or take sides even though they didn’t see what transpired.

Likewise, insurance companies will send investigators of their own to try to make you look like the guilty party. They will seek reasons to state that you were speeding or did something wrong. This is speculative, but without other evidence it can carry a case.

Having a witness on your side means having a firsthand account of what happened, from someone who saw it. To most juries, that will carry more weight than an insurance company’s guesswork or even a police officer’s statement.

If you are in an accident and do not need medical attention, consider talking to the people gathered around watching. Again, don’t accept blame – instead, ask them what they saw. If someone saw the accident and witnessed the other driver do something wrong, ask their permission to take down their name and phone number so they can act as a witness. You’d be surprised at how many bystanders are willing to do this.

Of course, if you have no witnesses at all, does it mean you don’t have a case? Not necessarily – a good Miami car accident lawyer can help you face down the insurance company in almost any circumstances. To get a completely free appraisal of how strong your case is, contact Steinger, Iscoe & Greene today.

April 8, 2013

Yet another motorcyclist was hurt in March by a run-in with a larger vehicle – this time with a school bus.

The crash happened on Northeast 23rd Avenue in Gainesville. A motorcyclist was heading east and collided with a school bus pulling out to turn onto the street. Authorities have not released many details – not even the biker’s name – and say that the cause of the accident is “under investigation.”

However, based on eyewitness accounts it’s possible to construct an educated guess at what exactly caused the crash. Locals who live in the neighborhood say the intersection where it happened is a blind intersection. Vehicles turning onto 23rd Avenue at the intersection have to pull out past the curb, nearly into the road itself. One person who saw the crash said the motorcyclist never had a chance to slow down and hit the school bus at full speed.

Based on these accounts, it’s possible that the driver of the school bus pulled too far out into the street to get a look at traffic, effectively cutting off the biker and giving him no chance to stop or swerve around.

There were 10 children on the school bus, but neither they nor the driver was injured, protected by the body of the large metal vehicle. The motorcyclist had no such protection and had to be rushed to the hospital. He was in “critical but stable” condition by the end of the day and survived the crash.

“Critical” condition can mean many different things and usually implies the victim has multiple injuries. Recovery can take months and may cause conditions that last for the rest of a lifetime.

The nature of this accident underscores the added risk that motorcyclists face. If larger vehicle had run into a bus as it pulled out, the driver would be protected by a metal cage, seat belt and air bags. In a motorcycle crash there is no such protection.

These are risks every biker faces. Someone else’s error in judgment can leave you injured or disabled for life. However, just because you face more danger than other drivers does not mean that you have to face such disasters alone.

When another driver’s mistake causes an accident, they have to pay. As the victim in an accident, there is no reason you should be left struggling with medical bills or missed work time. At Steinger, Iscoe & Greene, our West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyers focus on helping bikers receive fair compensation for their injuries. Call us today and talk to us about your case – for free.

April 3, 2013

Workplace accidents are never pretty, but some workers face worse chances than others. It turns out that temporary and migrant workers have greater risks in the workplace and are injured more often than other sorts of workers. This is true whether they are U.S. citizens or illegal immigrants.

According to research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Transnational Law Center, migrant and temporary workers are given more dangerous conditions with less safety training or equipment – and they face systemic obstacles that discourage them from reporting their injuries or seeking compensation. This includes using their migrant or illegal alien status against them.

But the issue is true for all temporary and migrant workers; many of the same conditions are shared by the lowest-paid native U.S. citizens. Safety standards can vary widely among large plants, slaughterhouses and assembly lines. Although OSHA exists to ensure compliance with safety requirements, the organization is not able to press criminal charges against employers and the fines it imposes are often less than the cost of upgrading working conditions.

Many temporary workers are also staffed through placement agencies, which further complicates safety issues. As part of their contract, placement companies may be charged with ensuring safety standards are met and giving workers the training they need. But since the placement company is not housed on-premises at the work site, it can be hard for them to live up to that agreement. This leads to extreme risk for workers and difficulty in determining who is responsible if accidents do occur.

Since temporary workers seldom receive health insurance, the aftermath of an accident can be harrowing. For many, it means never being able to return to work or earn an income again. That means that for many, the only way to pay for medical bills is to get the legal compensation they are owed.

While accidents can happen on any job, many accidents are preventable – and employers and supervisors have a duty to maintain high safety standards. If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident, you do not need to suffer in silence. Injured workers should not feel helpless, as medical bills pile up and week after week goes by with no work. You have options.

To learn more about how you can receive compensation for your workplace injury, contact a Miami workers’ compensation lawyer at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene today. We always offer a free consultation and you never pay us anything unless your case is won or settled in your favor.

You approach a traffic light. It turns yellow, and you slow down. By the time you stop, it’s full-on red. The person behind you was texting. They slam into your car at 31 miles per hour.

At first it doesn’t look bad. Your head is swimming, the back of your car is wrecked, but you’re on your feet. At least no one was seriously hurt. You give your statement to the police and, hours later, you’re back at home feeling shaken but grateful to be alive.

The other driver carried insurance and two weeks later you get an offer from their insurance company, complete with a check you can take to the bank that day.

Do you cash it, or call a lawyer?

If you’ve never been through this yourself, you might wonder why anyone would threaten a lawsuit in these circumstances. Why not just take the insurance check and be happy? But the truth is that accident victims face a lot of costs that most of us never think of – and that most insurance companies don’t even begin to offer to pay for.

The most obvious cost is medical bills. That faint soreness you walked away with on the day of the accident can signal the onset of debilitating whiplash days or weeks later. When your car stops suddenly – or is struck – your neck moves in ways it’s never supposed to move. Tissues are strained or torn and it could be months before you can move without pain or even lie down. In some cases, you will have neck damage for life.

Then there are car damages. While insurance companies are usually bound to pay for these, they also have an incentive to lowball you on their offer. On top of medical bills, you now have to replace your car on a budget.

Finally, there are costs we never think of. What if your injuries prevent you from working for two weeks? What if you need surgery and it takes eight weeks to recover? How much sick time you do have? Did you know that paid disability leave only offers you a portion of your normal salary?

After a tragedy, we hear certain refrains over and over again: “Money can’t replace everything we lost.” It’s true. At the same time, many victims make the mistake of cashing an insurance check – only to find out it doesn’t cover half of their costs, and they’ve signed away their right to more.

If you’re injured in an accident, it may not be in your interest to take the quick money. You should always consult with a lawyer before agreeing to anything or signing any forms an insurance company offers you.

The South Florida auto accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene offer a free consultation to accident victims of any kind. Find out what your options are today.

No parent wants to get that call – a call saying your teenager was in a car accident. Not surprisingly, teen car accidents are on the rise.

Accidents involving young drivers are increasing overall, and fatal car accidents with teen drivers are up 19% in the past year nationwide. This isn’t necessarily because teen drivers are unsafe; in part it reflects the growing number of teen drivers overall. But there’s no doubt that a young driver is an inexperienced driver, and may not know how to react under stressful road conditions or to another driver’s recklessness.

At Steinger, Iscoe & Greene we have helped numerous families receive compensation relating to an accident with a young driver. Just because your child is inexperienced at the wheel does not mean you are responsible for someone else’s loss of control, poor driving or consumption of alcohol. Not every accident involving a teen is the teen’s fault, and it’s important that you – and your child – know how to handle the unexpected.

What Your Teen Driver Needs to Know

The basics of what to do at an accident scene are the same for teens and adults. But teens are less experienced and often afraid of what will happen, meaning they are more likely to say or do something that could cost you later.

Of course, the first priority at any accident scene is medical attention for anyone who’s injured. Beyond that, it’s important to get the other driver’s information – but don’t give out more of your own than you have to. Never accept blame for the accident or apologize. This is a vital lesson for teenagers, especially if the other driver is older.

It’s natural to apologize when something goes wrong, but it’s also an admission of guilt. It’s important for your child to stay calm and level-headed. Let the police decide who caused an accident.

Making notes about the accident is also helpful. As soon afterward as possible, record the details of what happened, what you said, and what the other driver told you. These details will become foggy over time, and could be vital to getting fair compensation.

Know Your Rights

Above all, never assume you are without options. If your teen is involved in a car accident, talk to an attorney immediately. They can help you get what you’re entitled to – and that you don’t get stuck footing the bill for someone else’s mistake.

At Steinger, Iscoe & Greene, our West Palm Beach auto accident attorneys are always ready to help accident victims. Contact us today and see what we can do for you.

It can happen at any time. No one thinks they’re going to be hit by a car, but not a week goes by without another pedestrian being rushed to the hospital. Sometimes it’s a drunk driver, sometimes it’s a hit-and-run, sometimes it’s a vehicle malfunction, sometimes it’s a simple accident. But in every case, it will be a life-changing event for the person who was hit.

Often, the media will report that only “minor” injuries were sustained. What is a minor injury? If you’re released from the hospital the same day, it’s often considered minor – but that injured knee or bruised ribs could become a long-term, even lifelong issue. A seemingly small injury can cause recurring pain for years, can limit favorite activities like sports or jogging, and can lead to arthritis or other conditions that are even more devastating. What if you have difficulty working?

And not every injury is “minor.” Frequently, we work with clients who have had their lives irreversibly altered by a car accident. This can include major surgeries, loss of the use of a limb, a back injury or even brain damage. These tragic conditions don’t just require time and patience to recover from. In some cases, full recovery is never possible at all.

In November 2012, two people were walking along the shoulder of a road when they were struck by an elderly driver. Road conditions were normal and the accident was completely unexpected. But the injuries were severe, and one of the two was thrown down an embankment into the drainage ditch. Sadly, one of the two victims died and the other was left in critical condition.

You can’t plan for an incident like this, but that doesn’t mean you have no control. If you or someone you love is hit by a car, there are two very important things you should know:

• ● The driver is liable. In almost all cases, the accident could have been prevented if the driver had reacted better. That means the driver or their insurance company are liable for your medical bills and, potentially, for the wages you missed by being unable to work.
• ● You don’t have to face it alone. The legal system is complicated and insurance companies will try to intimidate you. But you do not need to navigate this system alone. A legal professional at your side will be able to guide you through the process and defend you from the intimidation tactics and lowball offers of the other side.

If you or someone you know was struck by a vehicle, why should the victim pay for it? Call Steinger, Iscoe & Greene for a completely free consultation with a South Florida pedestrian accident lawyer.

If you were in a car accident, you may want to hold the other driver responsible. But what if the other driver was a police officer?

Unfortunately, incidents of car crashes involving police officers and other first responders seem to be on the rise lately. In the past month, there have been three serious accidents in Florida involving law enforcement or EMT vehicles – and in every case, regular citizens ended up injured or worse.

The most recent case happened March 3. John and Marilyn Steffen had been snowbirding from Ohio to Fort Myers every year for 25 years. But that ended suddenly as they made a left turn and found themselves in the path of two Lee County Sheriff cars speeding to respond to a 911 call. The cars had their lights on but according to witnesses they did not use their sirens.

One of the cars, driven by a deputy, struck the Steffens. Both of them died.

While it may seem like a freak occurrence, such collisions are not uncommon. Two other such incidents resulted in serious injuries – and the deaths of unborn children. On Feb. 26 a Lee County ambulance was transporting a patient to the hospital and ran a stop sign, injuring six and killing one unborn baby. Earlier in February a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle hit a car on I-75, injuring three people and again killing an unborn child.

When a patrol car is speeding, rolling through stops, and passing other vehicles, there is always a chance that someone won’t see them and a tragedy will ensue. And worse, some officers and paramedics may actually be driving more recklessly than they need to. The state trooper who caused the I-75 accident was distracted and “driving in a careless or negligent manner” according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

This kind of accident poses special problems for the victims:

● Potential for bias on the scene of the accident. Law enforcement officers who take statements and write the accident report may not want to disgrace their fellow first responders.
● Intimidation. Many people are afraid to bring legal action against a law enforcement body.
● Public perception. It’s easy for people to assume the victims were at fault, for “getting in the way” of first response vehicles.

But the people who cause accidents need to be held accountable, even if they wear a badge.

The Fort Myers car accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene know how to get accident victims everything they deserve, no matter who’s on the other side of the case. If you have been injured in a car accident, contact us today and see what options you have.