If you have been in an accident call Colette Heck Law today!

Orange City motor vehicle accidents cause the loss of time, property, health and even life. Such accidents occur because of elements including driver error, negligence, manufacturing defects and dangerous weather. No matter what the specific cause or result, a crash can turn a normal day into a prolonged struggle. Speaking with an Orange City personal injury lawyer can help you sort out your rights, your options and your future.

When you have been in an auto accident, you may have a sense of who caused it. Issues of fault, however, can be complicated by who acted when and which laws governed the situation. If the other driver was negligent, you may have to prove that the driver breached a duty of care to you and that the breach caused your damages. The assistance of an attorney can be immensely valuable at this time, whether you are battling an insurance company, seeking compensation for your injuries or defending yourself in court.

Sometimes the at-fault driver is more than merely negligent; he or she may have acted recklessly or even intentionally. A reckless driver acts with conscious disregard for the probable consequences of his or her actions. Road rage incidents often involve reckless behavior, and they can escalate into intentional behavior. Road rage in particular can be extremely dangerous, leading to injuries and criminal charges. Generally, aggressive drivers are a serious threat to safety. Speeding and taking other risks contributes significantly to highway and other driving fatalities.

Call Colette Heck Law today!

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Accidents Involving Alcohol

It is incredibly frustrating for victims and their family members to know that Florida drunk driving crashes are preventable.  For example, the driver could have asked a friend to drive, taken a taxi or public transportation, spent the night at a hotel or at the home of a friend.  Drunk drivers choose to drive drunk and are therefore negligent when they get behind the wheel.  Drunk drivers also break the law when they operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

The injuries resulting from drunk driving accidents can be catastrophic and are often fatal. Colette Heck is a car accident lawyer have successfully litigated catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida and have the experience necessary to maximize the amount of compensation our clients receive.

Drunk or intoxicated drivers have slower response times, fall asleep more easily while driving and often lose control of their vehicles, weaving between lanes and crossing into oncoming traffic.  Too often they drive their vehicle off the roadway and strike pedestrians on adjacent sidewalks or bike paths. Drunk driving accidents also tend to occur at night when visibility is low and involve high speeds, so that victims may not be able to see the drunk driver coming, or have little time to react.

Victims of drunk-driving accidents and their family members may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the drunk driver and sometimes others in order to receive compensation for their injuries.  They can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability or for the emotional and financial loss suffered when an accident results in the death of a family member.  In certain situations, punitive damages may also be recovered.

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No matter where you ride, there are risks every time

Most bikers are especially concerned about their bike and getting it fixed; or, having it declared as a total loss, for quick resolution to getting back on the road as soon as possible. Other questions might be related to obtaining a rental car, or finding a doctor who takes motorcycle accident cases, or finding a lawyer experienced in motorcycle cases, injuries, and settlements.

With its year-round sunshine and warm weather, there are few places better suited for motorcyclists than Port Orange, Florida. But no matter where you ride, there are risks every time you head out on the open road. Even minor accidents may lead to serious injuries causing permanent pain, disability, and life-threatening complications.

If you have a motorcycle accident, you may be out of work for a long time and struggling to pay for your medical treatment. Contact Colette Heck Law.

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Contact an experienced motorcycle injury attorney

Motorcycle accidents will often result in a very serious injury or death, and it is therefore extremely important for those involved in a motorcycle accident to contact an experienced motorcycle injury attorney in order to properly recover costs for injuries, medical bills, distress, loss of wages, medical expenses, and other damages caused as a result of the motorcycle accident.

You should also make sure to do the following:
-Report the accident to local law enforcement and insist upon an accident crash report
-Seek immediate medical attention, even if you think you are not injured. Being involved in a motorcycle accident can result in severe shock, so any injuries may not be immediately apparent.
-Get the license number, personal and insurance details, and name of the other driver involved.
-Ask for the details and names of any witnesses present at the accident scene.
-Take pictures to document your injuries and damages as soon as possible.

Contact Colette Heck Law today.
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Wear Your Seat Belt!!!

It is a dangerous myth that today’s modern cars with functioning airbags have eliminated the need to wear seatbelts. Airbags are specifically designed to be used in accordance with a belted occupant. In fact, an airbag can become dangerous if it goes off against an unrestrained occupant. Additionally, airbags offer little to no help to those involved in rear-end, side or rollover crashes. Colette Heck will battle on behalf of the injured. Often the greatest challenge in litigating car and truck cases in Florida is not always who caused the accident, but rather if the injured qualifies for any recovery under Florida’s motor vehicle law.

It can be a critical mistake to think people do not need to wear a seatbelt if they are just driving around the corner. Studies have proven that a person has a 400% greater chance of surviving an accident if they are properly seat belted. Florida Statute S316.614 details the rules regarding the use of safety belts. Florida law requires that anyone driving a car, pickup truck, truck or van on a Florida road must wear a seatbelt. This law applies to front seat passengers too. Failure to wear a seatbelt is considered a non-moving violation and is punishable by a $30.00 fine plus $6.00 in court costs. If the driver is under 18 years of age, each passenger must wear a seatbelt as long as the car, truck, pickup truck or van is moving.

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The few minutes after a car crash

Colette Heck feels it is important to educate her clients in obtaining adequate insurance coverage if they are involved in another accident. In Florida, for example, the law does not mandate bodily injury coverage. Therefore, many people injured by Florida drivers are never compensated for their loss because of inadequate insurance coverage.

Florida’s Statute S627.737 requires that in order to obtain any compensation for pain, suffering, mental anguish, and inconvenience because of bodily injury, sickness, or disease arising out of either the ownership, maintenance, operation, or use of a motor vehicle the injury or disease must result in a significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, or a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability or a significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement or death. The few minutes after a car crash can literally make the difference between winning or losing your case, even when the accident is not your fault.

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Alcohol & Accidents

Not all alcohol-related car accidents involve a driver who is legally drunk. Alcohol has a measurable impact on a driver's reflexes and decision-making at levels below .08 blood alcohol content (BAC). We have extensive experience in car accident cases. We know how to investigate an accident and prepare your case to demonstrate why you are entitled to full compensation. We have an excellent record of verdicts and settlements for victims of all types of motor vehicle accidents, including those where alcohol was a factor.

There are many ways to show that the driver who caused your accident was behaving negligently. A driver who is speeding or checking a cellphone is driving negligently. A driver who is impaired by alcohol is driving negligently. If the driver who caused your accident is convicted of DUI/DWI, that is certainly evidence of negligent driving. With or without a criminal conviction, Colette Heck can help you present the strongest possible case to get you the compensation you deserve.

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Your Port Orange auto injury attorney.

Motorcycle accidents are almost always serious, especially when they involve high speeds, unyielding stationary objects or other moving vehicles. With no seatbelts to keep you from being thrown, no airbags to cushion the impact and no metal to protect you, a motorcycle accident can result in severe injuries or death.

Despite preventive actions and safety features (helmets), motorcycle accidents will and do occur. Serious bodily harm and even death are often the result of such tragic occurrences. The lack of a protective barrier between the driver and the road ultimately leaves motorcyclists in a very vulnerable position.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents:

-Motorcycle-Car/Truck Collision: Sometimes car and truck drivers pull out in front of the biker at the last minute, cut off the motorcyclist, make a U-turn in front of the biker, or otherwise violate the motorcyclist’s right of way. The car/truck often does not see the biker due to blind spots, driving conditions (hard to detect at night or in poor weather), or they are distracted (texting, talking on cell phone).
-Sudden-Stop Collision: Rear-end collisions where the driver of the motor vehicle stops for some unknown reason and the motorcyclist crashes into the back of their vehicle.
-Open Door Accidents: Parked cars and vehicles that open the door directly into the biker’s path.
-Road Conditions: Debris on the road, trash thrown out the window, groves, gravel, or lose pavement can cause a bike to skid out from under the rider. Road construction and railroad crossings can also put bikers at risk.

Call Colette Heck Law today, your Port Orange auto injury attorney.

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Colette Heck is a Trusted Attorney

Being involved in a serious car accident can be among the most trying times in a person’s life. Some will be left dealing with medical bills and lost wages. Others will face months or years of rehabilitation, disability, long-term care and pain and suffering.

At Colette Heck Law, we will work with investigators and other professionals to determine the causes of your accident and who is responsible. We will then assemble the team best able to fight for the maximum compensation your case deserves under the law.

If you are dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, your choice of law firms can have a dramatic impact on the outcome of your case and the long-term financial well-being of you and your family. Colette Heck has been a member of the Florida bar since 1998 and has earned the reputation of being a trusted attorney.

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Personal Injury Statue of Limitations

Deadlines for Filing an Injury Lawsuit in Florida

Like every other state, Florida has a statute on the books that sets a deadline for the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit in civil court against the person or business that might be legally at fault for your injury. This law is called a statute of limitations.

Under Florida's statute of limitations for personal injury cases, you have four years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in Florida's civil courts (this law can be found in Florida Statutes Annotated section 95.11). If you don't file your case within this time window, the court will very likely refuse to hear it at all. In rare cases, you may not “discover” that you actually suffered harm for some amount of time after the incident that caused the injury, and in those instances the lawsuit-filing window will be extended.

For injury claims against a city, county or state government, the time limit is three years.

If you're filing an insurance claim or lawsuit over an accident or injury, you'll need to be familiar with the laws that might affect your case.

Contact Colette Heck Law today.

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Trucking Accidents: Colette Heck Law

Although trucking companies say they set high driving standards for their employees, truck drivers contribute to thousands of accidents each year. If you've been injured by a semi-truck or commercial vehicle, you need accurate representation from a qualified lawyer who will help you seek just compensation. When you need a truck accident lawyer in Port Orange, FL, let Colette Heck help. She will fight for your rights.

How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
Federal regulations require truck drivers to work no more than 70 hours a week and drive no more than 11 hours per day. However, many semi-truck drivers drive more hours than they should. Some companies keep fraudulent log books, and others fail to maintain their trucks so they can save money on maintenance and repair costs.

As a result, trucking companies scramble to protect their driver even when he or she was fully or partially responsible for the accident. This means that when you're seeking compensation after a truck accident, you need a lawyer who will begin the liability investigation immediately.

Colette Heck will work to accurately investigate liability in truck accident cases. Colette Heck will investigate the role of the truck driver in the crash, as well as the truck's maintenance and the trucking company's liability. Colette Heck will pursue every avenue as they explore what caused the crash and who should be held responsible.

Contact Colette Heck Law today!

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