Have an Accident? No thanks, already had one BUT, what do I do now?
Call Attorney Ricky Gordon at (954) 753-0200
By Ricky D. Gordon, Attorney at Law
If you are involved in any type of accident, it is essential that you secure as much evidence as possible at the early stages. Examples in motor vehicle, and accidents on someone’s property are:
Motor Vehicle Accidents:
(1) Call the police immediately. Don’t let the at-fault person suggest handling it without the police or insurance getting involved.
(2) Take photographs of the accident scene, visible injuries, vehicle damages, the at-fault person’s license tag, driver’s license, insurance information, etc.
(3) Get the Drivers Exchange of Information or a business card with the case number from the investigating officer.
(4) Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
(5) Write down any statements made by anyone, and be careful what you say.
(6) Seek necessary emergency medical care and follow-up treatment.
(7) Call Ricky Gordon at (954) 753-0200 before giving any statements to anyone!
(8) Report the accident to your insurance company and get a claim number to provide to your medical providers.
Slip and Fall Accidents:
(1) Photographs of hazardous conditions are most important. Take close-ups of the hazard and shots with the background, address, etc. to identify the precise location. Also photographs of visible injuries.
(2) Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
(3) Report the accident at the scene of the incident. Get the person’s name, business card, etc. to whom you report the accident, and a copy of the incident report.
(4) Write down any statements made by anyone.
(5) Seek necessary emergency medical care and follow-up care.
On March 24, 2023, the Governor signed a new law that has significantly restricted injured persons’ rights to present a claim and obtain competent, experienced representation. To preserve clients’ rights under the old law, 280,000+ lawsuits were filed in Florida in March prior to the passage of the new law. Some of the crucial changes are:
(1) Time Limitations. There are time limitations associated with presenting a claim known as the statute of limitations. The new law reduces the time from 4 years to 2 years within which to settle your case or file a lawsuit to preserve your interests. We anticipate that more lawsuits will be filed because it can take more than 2 years for severe injuries to heal.
(2) Comparative Fault. In a negligence action, the new law states that any party found to be greater than 50% at fault for his/her own harm, may not recover any damages. Example in a motor vehicle accident: Under the old law, if both parties claim they had a green light and there are no independent witnesses, that would have traditionally been a 50/50 liability situation where both parties could recover 50% of their damages from the other. However, under the new law, no one would recover anything in this scenario.
(3) Multi-Family Residential Property Safety, Security and Presumption Against Liability. The new law states that a presumption against liability is created if a multi-residential property owner provides security and crime prevention measures. If property owners take even bare minimum measures, they are presumed not responsible if someone is a victim of a crime on their premises.
Ricky and his family have lived in Parkland since 1989 where he dedicated 13 years of his life as a City Commissioner and Vice Mayor.
If you are in accident, Call Ricky Gordon, your hometown attorney. (954) 753-0200
Website: www.RickyDGordon.com Email: rdg@RickyDGordon.com
