Have you or a loved one been seriously injured in a motorcycle crash?

Colette Heck Law has helped many Daytona Beach, Florida bikers that have been injured due to the negligence of another driver, an unsafe roadway or a defective motorcycle. There's little doubt that motorcycles are a lot of fun to ride and, in today's economy, they can save you money when it comes to gas. However, people riding motorcycles have very little protection and are always at a much greater risk of serious injury when involved in a motor vehicle accident. Head injuries or even a fatality can occur even though the motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet and the proper riding gear. In most road accidents, the motorcyclist is almost always thrown from their motorcycle into the street or into other vehicles involved in the crash.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a motorcycle crash, Colette Heck Law can help you get your life back on track. The Heck Law Firm truly understands the legal nuances involved with a motorcycle crash and how to use the legal system when dealing with your insurance company and the insurance companies of the other drivers involved. Colette Heck Law will work diligently to ensure that you receive the settlement you need for compensation, including property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term health care. Unfortunately, they can't change what happened, but they can help you get on the road to recovery. Call today.

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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 laws in your state that might affect your case.

Contact Colette Heck Law today.

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Auto accident lawyer

No car collision or accident is a good thing, but head-on collisions are very violent. Head-on collisions occur when the front end of one car collides with the front end of another car while the two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions. These types of car accidents are especially dangerous because head-on collisions generate a massive amount of force on impact.  Some of this force may be absorbed by the front bumpers of the cars involved, if an oncoming vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed, or if the road is not well-lit, the other driver may have little time to react and steer out of harm’s way, essentially driving into the path of the accident.

Colette Heck is an auto accident lawyer and has found that the most common cause of head-on collisions is driver distraction. Drivers may be distracted by many things including texting or talking on a cell phone.  Teenage drivers are often distracted by other teens in the car. Examples of head-on collisions include a driver who negligently crosses the median into oncoming traffic, a driver who fails to read the “wrong way” sign on a highway entrance ramp, a driver who drifts into oncoming traffic when negotiating a curve, or a driver who is under the influence.

Despite the use of airbags and seat belts, most head-on collisions still result in catastrophic injuries including brain damage, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, fractures and death.

Victims of head-on collisions may file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in order to obtain compensation for their injuries. Compensation may be recovered for past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages as provided by Florida law.

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Motorcycle Accident? Call Colette Heck Law

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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Educating her clients in obtaining adequate insurance coverage

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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Check Twice for Motorcycles!

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 New Smyrna Beach auto injury attorney.

www.colettehecklaw.com | (386) 253-3033 | plus.google.com/112342627763158578314/posts?hl=en | twitter.com/colettehecklaw | colettehecklaw.tumblr.com | www.linkedin.com/pub/colette-heck/107/612/852

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.

www.colettehecklaw.com | (386) 253-3033 | plus.google.com/112342627763158578314/posts?hl=en | twitter.com/colettehecklaw | colettehecklaw.tumblr.com | www.linkedin.com/pub/colette-heck/107/612/852

The Steps After An Accident

If you’re the victim of a car accident, you need to take immediate steps to make sure you can be compensated for any physical injuries. Even if you think you haven’t been injured, take these steps. Serious injuries can show up days or even weeks later. If you can’t act immediately, call a friend or family member to take these steps for you or ask for help from someone at the scene.

--Call 911

Immediately report the accident. Let the 911 dispatcher know if anyone has been hurt.

When the police arrive, be completely honest and cooperative. Remember that what you tell the police about your injuries will be recorded and can be used as evidence when you file an insurance claim or a lawsuit. If you are hurt, get this information into the police report. Do not discuss the accident or “fault” for the accident with anyone other than the police.

--Record the Scene

Use your cell phone to take pictures of the accident scene from all angles. Take pictures of the inside of the vehicle you were in. Photograph your injuries. Get the contact information, insurance, license plate and drivers’ license information of anyone else involved in the accident. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Make note of weather conditions, construction activity or any other contributing factors.

Record your version of exactly what happened, in the order it happened. If you are not able, ask someone else to do these things.

--Seek Medical Attention

Even if you think that your injuries are not serious, immediately seek medical attention. Closed-head injuries, for example, rarely show up at once. Do this because EMT, emergency room and doctor’s records will be required by insurance companies and needed in lawsuits. It is important to be completely honest. Disclose any previous injuries that might be seen as contributing to your current injuries. Be sure to follow up on any discharge advice you are given. Failure to do so can jeopardize your case. Save all receipts and bills.

--Notify Your Insurance Company

Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Often, insurers have notification deadlines. If you fail to meet these deadlines, you might not be compensated. Cooperate with the adjuster. You may be compensated for your medical expenses, future medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, loss of earning capacity and loss of consortium. An insurance carrier will first look to the types and amounts of damages suffered, and then to fault or percentage of fault.

--Don’t Sign Anything Yet

In the hours, days and weeks following an auto accident, insurance companies – both your own and others – often try to “settle” for a specific amount of money if you agree to give up your rights to make a claim or sue in the future. The money can be tempting, but it is much better to wait and see what the actual extent and cost of your injuries will be.

--Call a Personal Injury Lawyer

The laws on personal injuries caused by auto accidents can be complicated. You need to call a reliable and trusted Daytona Beach auto injury attorney. Contact Colette Heck Law today.

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Auto Accidents Can Be a Blur

People talk about accidents occurring in slow motion, but the immediate aftermath of an auto accident is likely to be a blur. Following that, as you deal with the other driver, police, possibly emergency medical personnel, and then the insurance company, it is a time of pain and stress. If a death has occurred, the pain and stress of survivors increases immeasurably.

Being in a collision or another type of car accident is a common occurrence, but it is usually a unique experience for those involved. Shock, stress, confusion and even anger can cloud an accident victim’s judgment about what to do or say. This is why it is appropriate and necessary to obtain legal help as soon as possible from an experienced New Smyrna Beach automobile accident attorney.

If you or a loved one has been injured, or you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident in New Smyrna Beach Florida, you may have a right to compensation for your losses and injuries. Colette Heck will stand up for those rights in negotiations with insurance companies and, when necessary, in a court of law.

Call Colette Heck Law today!

www.colettehecklaw.com | (386) 253-3033 | plus.google.com/112342627763158578314/posts?hl=en | twitter.com/colettehecklaw | colettehecklaw.tumblr.com | www.linkedin.com/pub/colette-heck/107/612/852