Ride a Motorcycle? Get a GoPro®!

Ride a Motorcycle? Get a GoPro® !
By Mark Wolfe, Attorney at Law

In my 35 years as a personal injury attorney I’ve represented thousands of motor vehicle crash victims. A number of my clients have been motorcyclists. Motorcycle vs car personal injury claims and cases tend to be more difficult than the typical car vs car matter. Why is that? I’ll tell you in just a second but first let me tell you about the law. Whenever you make a claim against someone (and their insurance company) for negligently hurting you, you carry the burden of proof. That means you have to prove they were at-fault with credible evidence. This burden of proof is what makes motorcycle vs car crash claims a little harder.

If you’ve ridden a motorcycle for any length of time, you know there is a stereotypical prejudice against motorcyclists. People believe motorcyclists “go too fast”, are “risk takers”, are “reckless”, are “disobedient to the rules of the road”, etc. Herein is the problem. It’s very common in a car crash scenario for the at-fault driver to either blame the other driver completely or deflect some degree of responsibility for the crash to the other driver. My experience tells me that this occurs at a higher level in a motorcycle vs car crash. The driver of the car is more likely to either try and blame the motorcyclist completely for the crash or say the motorcyclist contributed to the crash by some “unsafe” manner of operating the motorcycle. Usually, “the motorcyclist was speeding.” Because many law enforcement officers have the same stereotypical prejudices mentioned above, these allegations against the motorcyclist often find their way onto the accident report and can weigh heavily on the officers determination of fault for the accident. Insurance companies use the information in the accident report as the main part of their liability investigation. If an unfounded or false accusation against the motorcyclist is in the accident report, it could result in a legitimate claim being delayed or even denied.

So what can you do? Two things. First, consider using a GoPro® or similar video recording device while riding your motorcycle. If you do this and you are in a crash, DO NOT immediately tell the investigating officer you have a video of the crash or give the officer the recording card or chip. (Sometimes a crash video may reveal something that the other side can use to argue the motorcyclist contributed to the accident. Also, if the officer maintains the original card or chip it may not be available to you because it is now being held as “evidence.”) Rather save the video card or upload the video to a permanent hard drive and get a copy of the accident report as soon as the report is available. Then once you have a copy of the accident report immediately consult with an experienced motor vehicle crash attorney. (Do this even if you don’t have a video of the crash.) Most injury attorneys offer free consultation and he or she can review the accident report, and the video, and determine the best way to proceed. It may be everything is in order and you may not need to retain an attorney. But if the report needs to be amended or producing the video will be helpful with the other driver’s insurance company, the attorney will be able to effectively and efficiently help you do this and keep your claim moving forward. Read more about motorcycle crash statistics here. CLICK.

At Boteler Richardson Wolfe consultations about a motor vehicle crash situation are always free: call 251 410-7761 to speak directly with Mark Wolfe or send him an email: mark@brwlawyers.com (include “Motorcycle Crash” in the subject line). The law firm handles motor vehicle crash claims and cases in multiple states and has lawyers licensed to practice law in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Georgia.

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.

Life Insurance Claim Denied? What to Do Next.

Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Denied & What to do Next.

There are several reasons why life insurance claims can be denied. Knowing those reasons and how to appeal or challenge a denial of benefits can be critical for families in their time of need. The following information from Life Insurance Claims Specialist and Attorney, Mark Wolfe may be helpful to you or a family member. Mark’s Number One Rule: Do Not Try to Handle the Denial of Benefits on Your Own! (See the last section of this article for important information.) For a free consultation please email your life insurance benefit questions to Mark Wolfe at mark@brwlawyers.com Please put Life Insurance Question in the subject line. Or call him at 251 410-7761.
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denied life insurance

I have been helping families and clients for many years with legal issues related to life insurance benefits. Most specifically with contesting or challenging the denial of life insurance benefits. Some times a lawsuit is required to secure benefits and some times the benefits can be recovered through a pre-litigation request for reconsideration. If you’ve been the victim of denied life insurance benefits, I think the most important thing is for you to fully understand why the benefits were denied and how you may contest or challenge the denial of benefits. What follows are the most common reasons life insurance benefits are denied with some general legal information about the basis for the denial.

1. Death Occurs During the Contestability Period. Most life insurance policies have a contestability period. This is a period of time, usually two years, after the policy has been issued where the insurance company can take a look back at the application and conduct an investigation to make sure all “relevant and material information” was disclosed on the application. This is sometimes called “retroactive underwriting” and is most likely to apply to policies with no formal medical examination before the policy is issued. An example of this type of denial would be if the applicant says his or her weight is 200 lbs but then the insurance company finds medical records right before the application was submitted showing the applicant’s weight to have been 250 lbs. If this weight is higher than the underwriting guidelines for the policy, then the company may deny the claim and refund the premiums claiming had they known of the higher weight, they would not have issued the policy. Even a minor undisclosed medical condition on the application such as high blood pressure can be deemed a material misrepresentation and can be grounds for denial. In general, the undisclosed information does not have to be a contributing factor to the death to support a denial of benefits and it does not have to have been an intentional misrepresentation. Simply forgetting to disclose material information or even an inadvertent mistake can be enough to support the denial of benefits.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Insurance rules and regulations vary greatly from State to State and some life insurance policies are even governed or controlled by Federal law. The legal definition as to what is or is not “relevant and material information” on an application can be different from State to State. Before accepting the denial of benefits and cashing the premium refund check, consider consulting with a Life Insurance Claims Specialist or an experienced Attorney to have the denial of benefits reviewed. Also, even if you have cashed the premium refund check, some State laws will still allow you to contest the denial of benefits.

2. Deceit or Fraud. This covers a number of different situations and may extend past the contestability period. This basis for denial covers more than an inadvertent mistake on the application such as mistakenly putting the wrong weight. It would apply to situations were the intent of the applicant was intentionally misleading or deceitful. For example a person is diagnosed with terminal cancer and then buys a life insurance policy and intentionally and knowingly does not disclose the cancer diagnosis. Even if the death occurs outside the contestability period, the insurance company may deny the benefits claiming the policy was secured by the fraudulent suppression of material information. This can also apply to beneficiaries if they secure a policy for a loved one under fraudulent or unscrupulous circumstances.

3. The Cause of Death is Excluded or Not Covered Under the Policy. Most life insurance policies exclude coverage for suicide. However, some policies only exclude suicide during the contestability period. Some life insurance policies exclude benefits if the death occurs “related to or while engaged in a dangerous activity” such as scuba diving or sky diving. Accidental Death (AD) benefit policies often exclude coverage if the accidental death is contributed to by any number of conditions or even pre-existing conditions. A very common exclusion under AD policies or clauses is if the decedent was intoxicated at the time of death.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Exclusion clauses in life insurance policies can be legally and/or medically difficult for the insurance company to prove; however, they will often send the beneficiaries a denial of benefit letter referencing complex medical and/or legal terminology. Even if you think the exclusion sounds legitimate, you should have the denial of benefits reviewed by a Life Insurance Claims Specialist or an experienced Attorney.

4. Premium Payments Were Not Made. When premium payments are not made in accordance with the terms of the policy the policy lapses and no benefits are owed. Some policies have a short grace period for late payments. Some policies have reinstatement provisions that allow for past due premiums to be paid and the policy to be “reinstated;” however, the reinstatement provisions often require a new reinstatement application and establish a new contestability period. Some times the “reinstated” policy is basically a new policy with new exclusions and conditions. One of the most common causes for non-payment of premiums is when an automatic payment withdraw is not increased periodically as premiums increase. For example, person takes out a Universal or Whole Life policy that builds cash value over time. The policy has a 10 year level premium and for the first 10 years the premium is paid timely via an automatic withdraw from a bank account. After 10 years the premium for the policy increases but the automatic payment remains the same. The accumulated cash value is then used to make up the premium difference until it is used up. Once the cash value is depleted the policy will lapse for non-payment of premiums. Unfortunately, many Universal and Whole Life Insurance policies were sold with the representation that the cash value would accumulate at such a high rate that the premiums would always be covered or even diminish or go way at some point in the future. This has led many people, especially elderly people, to inadvertently disregard notices and information from the insurance company about premium increases and/or premium payments made via the accumulated cash value of their policy.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: There have been several class action lawsuits against insurance companies for misrepresenting or misleading consumers about the viability and achievability of “diminishing premiums” or “vanishing premiums.” You can Google those terms and the Company to see if you may be a class member or have any rights under a related class action settlement.

5. Dispute as to Beneficiaries. While not necessarily a denial of benefits, a life insurance company may delay the payment of benefits if there is a dispute as to the beneficiaries under a life insurance policy. In some cases, the life insurance company may require a legal determination as to who is entitled to the benefits. As a simple rule of thumb, life insurance benefits are paid to the named beneficiary of record. This could be the person or persons identified on the application or someone identified on a legitimate change of beneficiary form on record with the company. However, issues can arise if a former beneficiary challenges the legitimacy of a change of beneficiary form. Also, if there are no contingent beneficiaries listed and the primary beneficiary is deceased, then legal action may be required to determine who is entitled to the life insurance benefits. Finally, some States have provisions that automatically remove a named spouse as beneficiary upon divorce.

Do Not Try to Handle the Denial of Benefits on Your Own! Life insurance policies are complex legal documents that contain lots of defined terms and conditions. How those terms and conditions stand up against the laws and regulations of your State requires knowledge and expertise. Many policies have guidelines and rules for how to appeal the denial of benefits but those may or may not be binding or required. However, some life insurance policies are subject to Federal laws and regulations which require strict adherence to procedures for how appeals must be presented. In those situations, failure to properly file the appeal can prevent any further legal action to obtain benefits. Some times the denial of benefits is blatantly wrong and may entitle the victim to additional compensation over and above the policy benefit amount. If you are the victim of denied life insurance benefits, in the very least you should consult with a Life Insurance Claims Specialist or an experienced Attorney as soon as you are notified that the benefits are denied and before responding or appealing the denial of benefits. He or she should be able to give you an overview of your rights and explain the legal issues you are facing and provide you with a strategy to try and recover the benefits.

About the author: Mark Wolfe is a licensed and practicing attorney in the State of Alabama. Through his law firm he has handled denied life insurance cases in Alabama and Mississippi. He has also been a consultant on life insurance claims and cases in other States where he works with local attorneys to help secure life insurance benefits for clients and customers. He has helped families recover over one million dollars in denied life insurance benefits with the average policy value being $50,000.00. Mark provides free consultations for people who have questions about life insurance policies or benefits. Please email your life insurance benefit questions to Mark Wolfe at mark@brwlawyers.com for a free consultation. Please put Life Insurance Question in the subject line. Or call him at 251 410-7761.

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.

FDA links Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug XELJANZ® to Serious Medical Conditions

FDA links RA Drug XELJANZ® to Serious Medical Conditions

If you or a loved one took the drug Xeljanz® amd Xeljanz® XR for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ulcerative colitis and suffered blood clots, cardiovascular problems or cancer you may have a claim for compensation. FDA safety alerts in 2019 and 2021 warned that Xeljanz® may increase the risk of blood clots, heart problems, death and cancer. [Read more here] In response to these findings, the make of Xeljanz® has recently modified the warnings for users of this drug. If you believe you may have a claim because of blood clots, cardiovascular problems or cancer diagnosed after using the medication Xeljanz® or Xeljanz® XR, please give us a call as soon as possible so that we can review your claim! Call Mat Richardson, Esq. at 251 410-7762 or email, mat@brwlawyers.com or you can talk with any of the lawyers at our firm, Boteler Richardson Wolfe – Injury Lawyers 251 433-7766, to learn more about your potential claim. No charge for consultations and no legal fees unless money is recovered for the client. Lawyers licensed in Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2 requires the physical location of the firm be disclosed: 3290 Dauphin Street, Suite 505, Mobile, AL 36606. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.

Hyper link for [Read more here] https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requires-warnings-about-increased-risk-serious-heart-related-events-cancer-blood-clots-and-death

Life Insurance Beneficiary Dispute

Wolfe Wins Beneficiary Dispute in Life Insurance Case

Mark Wolfe of Boteler Richardson Wolfe recently won a life insurance case In the United States District Court of Alabama – Southern Division involving a dispute as to the rightful beneficiaries of the policy. Mark’s client was a contingent beneficiary under the policy. The heirs of the decedent tried to argue the changes made by the owner of the policy were not valid and therefore nullified Mark’s client as the contingent beneficiary. A contingent beneficiary is the person who receives the benefits if the primary beneficiary dies before the insured person dies. If a life insurance policy does not have a valid primary beneficiary or a valid contingent beneficiary, the life insurance proceeds go to the Estate of the deceased and the funds are distributed to the heirs of the Estate. In this case the heirs of the decedent attempted to overturn the contingent beneficiary designation of the policy so they could get the life insurance proceeds. Because their claim and the claim of Mark’s client were in conflict, the life insurance company paid the full life insurance proceeds into Court and asked the Court to determine who was legally entitled to the benefits. This is known as an Interpleader action. The heirs and their attorney failed to establish a legitimate basis for their allegations and the Court awarded the full benefits to Mark’s client.

If you believe your claim for life insurance benefits has been wrongfully denied or you have questions about life insurance benefits, please consider consulting with an experienced attorney who knows and understands this area of the law.  At Boteler Richardson Wolfe consultations are always free: call 251 410-7761 to speak directly with Mark Wolfe or send him an email: mark@brwlawyers.com (include “Life Insurance” in the subject line). The law firm handles life insurance claims in multi-states and has lawyers licensed to practice law in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Georgia.

 

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.

 

Slip & Fall FAQs

I slipped and fell on someone else’s property. What are my rights?          

man falling on wet floor

If the fall was caused by the actions of the property owner or premise manager you may be entitled to compensatory damages for your injury. Slip and fall claims are commonly known as “Premise Liability” claims. The owner’s liability (legal responsibility) for the injuries of someone on his or her property depends on the status of the person on the property.

When you are on someone’s property you are classified in one of three categories: 1) Invitee, 2) Licensee, or 3) Trespasser. The premise owner’s legal duty to protect you from injury while on his or her property varies depending on your status.

Invitees are owed the highest duty of care by the property owner or premise manager. Invitees includes business customers, visitors, guests and others who are present on the property for the financial benefit of the owner or occupier. Owners and occupiers of land or property have a legal duty  to maintain the property in a safe condition and provide reasonable warnings of possible dangerous or hazardous conditions. Property owners or premise managers can be held liable for injuries to an invitee because of a  dangerous conditions they should have known about and remedied.

Licensees are people who have received an invitation to be on the property of someone else but they are not there for business or financial purposes. This is often someone on property for social purposes. These visitors to the property are commonly referred to as “social guests”. Property owners or premise managers are responsible for correcting and warning against dangerous conditions and hazardous situations. However, owners can only be held responsible for dangers they actually knew about.

Trespasser: Owners and occupiers of a premise or property owe the lowest duty of care to a trespasser.  A a trespasser is on the property uninvited and without permission. Property owners are not responsible for keeping their property safe for trespassers. The only duty owed to trespassers is to refrain from engaging in intentional or reckless conduct that causes injuries and to warn the trespasser if you have actual knowledge they are in peril or danger. If the property owner has reasonable knowledge that children trespass onto the property, owners should post warnings of unsafe conditions and take reasonable steps to prevent the children from being exposed to such dangers.

 

What are the different types of Premise Liability Claims?

There are many different situations where a property owner or premise manager may be legally responsible (liable) for the injury or death of a guest. These include:

Slip and Falls

Trip and Falls

Property Maintenance Issues

Defective Steps

Defective Handrails

Defective Decks

Dangerous Carpets, Rugs or Mats

Falling Products

Wet or Slippery Floors

Elevator and Escalator Injuries

Swimming Pool Accidents and Drownings

Dog and Animal Bites

Defective or Dangerous Playground Equipment

Electrocution and Electric Shock Injuries

Lack of Adequate Security

 

The property owner’s insurance company says they are not responsible for my fall on their customer’s property. How can they not be responsible?

Generally under the law in order to hold a property owner or premise manager liable (legally responsible) for your injury on their property, you must prove they did something negligent to cause your fall. The law affords property owners or premise managers certain defenses to a claim of negligence and these defenses can block their liability or reduce the money damages they may owe. The two most common defenses raised are: 1) Open and Obvious and 2) Contributory Negligence.

Open and Obvious: The hazard or dangerous condition is such that it should have been seen and the danger appreciated by the premise guest.

Contributory Negligence: The premise guest failed to exercise reasonable care to see and appreciate the condition that caused the fall.

These two defenses may negate the liability claim or reduce the damages owed by the property owner or premise manager. These are often raised by the property owner’s insurance company to try and defeat or discourage an injured guest from pursuing a claim for damages. Trying to determine the validity of these defenses often requires the assistance of an attorney who can review the facts and legal standards to better assess the viability of the claim.

 

I fell and was hurt on someone’s property. What compensation am I entitled to?

If you can prove the property owner or premise manager was legally responsible (liable) for causing your fall AND there are no viable defenses to your claim, you may be entitled to collect the following types of compensatory damages from the property owner’s insurance company:

Medical bills for injuries caused by the fall,

Lost Wages for medically necessary time missed from work,

Pain & Suffering related to the injuries caused by the fall,

Mental Anguish (also known as worry and concern), and

Future Compensatory Damages that are reasonably certain to be incurred.

Injuries caused by the fall can include the aggravation or exacerbation of a pre-existing condition. Also, it is important to remember that the issue of medical causation will often require medical documentation. The compensatory damages are usually paid in one lump sum that includes all claimable damages and once the damages are paid, the claim is closed forever and no future claims will be considered.

 

How much will it cost to consult with a BRW lawyer about my slip and fall claim?

At Boteler Richardson Wolfe, our lawyers offer free consultations on all injury related claims and cases. The free consultation will include a review of the facts and related issues presented in your situation. It will also include an honest assessment about whether your claim or case warrants hiring an attorney. If you select a BRW lawyer to assist with your claim or case there are no fees charged up front and you only pay attorney fees if we win your claim or case! Call us today to speak with one of our lawyers: 251 433-7766.

 

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.

Wolfe Leads Seminar on Life Insurance Claims

 

Mark Wolfe of Boteler Richardson Wolfe recently led a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar for Gulf Coast attorneys on Life Insurance Claims. The program was sponsored by the Baldwin County Bar Association as part of their 2020 CLE series and was conducted via Zoom. The program covered a wide range of legal issues regarding life insurance claims including beneficiary disputes, common reasons for denial of benefits and the impact Federal laws and regulations have upon benefit dispute resolution. Wolfe’s presentation included common legal issues that arise in accidental death benefit claims and he also covered a section on the impact of Federal laws and regulations on disputed life insurance claims.   If you have questions about life insurance benefits or your claim for life insurance benefits has been denied, call mark today at 251 410-7761 for a free consultation or email him at mark@brwlawyers.com.  Mark has over 33 years of legal experience and over the last 20 years he has handled and resolved many life insurance claims and cases.  In his legal career Wolfe has taught over 30 CLE seminars for other lawyers and has had numerous law articles published in National and Regional law journals. Click here for a full list of Wolfe’s articles and seminars.

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.

TV Lawyer Ads

TV Lawyer Ads?  Read the Fine Print.

Recently there have been numerous TV commercials for lawyers where someone brags about how much money the lawyer recovered for them. as seen on tvThese people generally appear fine and gush about what a financial windfall the lawyer got them for their injury claim. The problem is the fine print disclaimers that accompany the commercials usually scroll across the screen so quickly, or are so small, you can’t read them. Many people don’t even see them, let alone read them. Here’s a compilation of some of these disclaimers from some recent TV lawyer ads in our area: – Dramatization: Not an actual case. – Not an actual client testimonial or based upon a specific case.  – Actor portrayal, not a real client or case. – The monetary result referenced is not from an actual case.  – The monetary recoveries referenced are not typical of most injury claims and [law firm name omitted] in no way guarantees or promises similar results for specific injury claims. – Not a typical injury case recovery. – Not a real client or case result. – Not an actual case result or recovery. [Law firm name omitted] processes claims and cases via a referral to an affiliate law firm. Referral law firms are solely responsible for claim and case presentation and remit a portion of the attorney fees to [law firm name omitted.] – Actor and/or spokesperson is compensated for services and any reference to financial recoveries are of non-typical personal injury matters. – Actual results may vary. Not licensed to practice law in Alabama. Legal? Maybe. But doesn’t this smell of deception? A commercial runs with a “client” boasting of a huge financial recovery but hidden in the commercial is one of the above fine print disclaimers stating the results are not true or not typical. Seems like the old bait and switch sales tactics used by shady salesmen of days gone by. Trust between an attorney and his or her client is critical to a good relationship. Clients must rely on and trust their attorney to help them through a difficult time. There is a better way to go about hiring a personal injury attorney. Here’s a link to an article about how to hire the right personal injury attorney for your claim or case.  Tips for Hiring the Right Personal Injury Lawyer

Homeowner Insurance Claims: Six Things You Need to Know

Homeowner Insurance Claims: Six Things You Need to Know
You’ve notified your insurance company, what’s next?

Mark Wolfe, Attorney

“Many homeowner and commercial property insurance policies have a dispute resolution provision for valuation disputes. However, these provisions vary from policy to policy and often have legally binding requirements that must be complied with in order to resolve the dispute.”

As thousands of us along the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast begin the recovery process after Hurricane Sally, many of us will be having to make insurance claims for damage to our homes and property. Here are some important things you need to know about your property damage and/or homeowner insurance claim. Keep in mind an insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company that details what each party must do related to a loss. Your failure to comply with these requirements can be grounds to void coverage! Also, when you are making an insurance claim it is your burden to prove the loss with proper documentation and credible evidence.

 

1. Notify Your Insurance Company Immediately. Most insurance policies require notification of a potential claim as soon as possible. A delay in notifying the insurance company of a potential claim could result in a denial of coverage.

2. Document & Mitigate Your Damages. There is no such thing as too many photographs or videos of your damage. Also, your policy requires you to undertake reasonable steps to help minimize the loss. This may mean putting a tarp over roof damage to prevent more damage or putting plywood over broken windows. Failure to mitigate your damages can result in the denial of benefits or reduced benefits. If you can not get to your property to assess and/or mitigate your damages because of government restrictions, make sure to print or screen shot the restriction.

3. Review Your Policy. There are several important things to know about your policy and the coverage it provides. While there is no “uniform” homeowner policy, most contain the following sections and parts. The starting point in your review is the Declarations Page. This tells you the amount of coverage available for the various losses and should document what real property is covered by the policy. It should also document the deductible for each claim. The Terms and Definition sections defines a “covered loss” and any exclusions as well as all the other relevant terms used in the policy. The Property Damage section of your policy outlines the what real property and personal property will be covered under the policy and it usually explains the loss of use coverage. The Personal Liability portion of the policy explains the personal protection afforded to you for liability claims made against you or a member of your household for negligence or careless actions. The Additional Terms & Conditions section of the policy may contain legal provisions such as assignment of benefits, subrogation and dispute resolution procedures.

4. Be Careful in Your Conversation with the Insurance Company. Always be truthful but only provide facts you know to be true. After a storm, insurance adjusters are working hard and moving quickly. Often when reporting your damage the insurance company will ask about other damage. If you assume you have no other reportable or claimable damages and say you have no other damage then the adjuster may not give your house a full inspection when he or she comes to adjust your loss and write an estimate. Always ask that the adjuster give your home or property a full and complete inspection. They are trained to identify damage and they may see storm damage that you did not realize.

5. What to do if  You and the Insurance Company Don’t Agree. Generally, there will be two potential areas for disagreement: coverage and valuation of the loss. If your insurance company is denying coverage for the damage then you have a right to have the denial in writing. Generally, you should ask for a written explanation of the denial and ask for a specific reference to the policy provision that supports the denial. E.g., A policy may exclude flood or rising water damage. Have the written denial letter and the policy reviewed by an experienced insurance claims attorney as soon as possible. If you disagree on the valuation of the loss, e.g., repair vs. replace, then you may want to consult with an experienced insurance attorney. Many homeowner and commercial property insurance policies have a dispute resolution provision for valuation disputes. This allows for a resolution without having to file a lawsuit! However, these provisions vary from policy to policy and often have legally binding requirements that must be complied with in order to resolve the dispute. Some States even allow for the recovery of attorney fees if you are successful

6. Consultations are Free! Almost all lawyers who represent people who have a dispute or disagreement with an insurance company provide free consultations. Many of these lawyers will represent a claimant under a contingency fee contract; that is, no money recovered for you, no fee owed. However, the percentage charged can vary greatly from law firm to law firm. Some may charge 15% of the total recovery while others may charge 25% of the amount in dispute. Also, some lawyers may advance the expenses related to the matter while others may require you to pay those expenses directly and as incurred. If you hire an attorney to assist you with your claim, you should know exactly how the fee will be calculated and how expenses will be handled. You should always get a copy of the representation agreement. If you don’t get a copy of the agreement at least send a written confirmation of your understanding as to how fees and expenses will be handled.

If you are an Alabama or Florida Gulf Coast resident and you have a question about your insurance claim, please contact Boteler Richardson Wolfe – Attorneys at 251 433-7766. We’ve been helping Gulf Coast residents with insurance claims since 1987. Offices in Mobile, AL  and Foley, AL

 

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.

 

Can Boat Owners Rely on an Act of God to Avoid Hurricane Sally Liability?

Can Boat Owners Rely on an “Act of God” to Avoid Hurricane Sally Liability?

With boats strewn all over the Alabama and Florida coastline from the unsuspecting ferocity of Hurricane Sally, many are asking the question: Is a boat owner liable to a landowner for damage caused by the unmoored boat in a hurricane? An unpublished 5th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion provides a well written analysis to answer this question. In Simmons v. Berglin, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 23499, a sailboat became unmoored from its dock during Hurricane Katrina, washed ashore, and damaged the Plaintiffs’ property. Finding for the sailboat owner, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals concluded the unmooring and resulting damage was an Act of God.

In reaching its conclusion, the Simmons Court, first, acknowledged a presumption that has existed in admiralty law for well over 150 years – there is a presumption that when a moving vessel causes damage to a stationary object, the moving vessel is at fault. This said, the Court, also, pointed out a drifting vessel may overcome this presumption with evidence that “the accident could not have been prevented by human skill and precaution and proper display of nautical skill.” In other words, if a boat owner undertook reasonable preparations in anticipation of an impending hurricane, the boat owner will be relieved from liability as the damage resulted from an Act of God.

The facts found in the Simmons case are analogous to the stories being shared following Hurricane Sally. As such, the factual analysis in Simmons can be readily applied to those seeking claims against boat owners in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally. In that case, the Court’s recognition of the high storm surge recordings in the area where the sailboat was docked was, undoubtedly, a significant factor in its decision. Too, an important factor in the Court’s rationale was its acknowledgment of the testimony from the two men who made hurricane preparations to the sailboat – both were found to be well experienced mariners. Finally, the Court assessed the devastation inflicted upon the docks and boats in the area where the sail boat was moored in finding the damage resulted from an Act of God.

In conclusion, for a landowner to present a claim against a boat owner for damage caused by his/her’s unmoored boat in a Hurricane Sally, it will, first, be necessary for the landowner to prove the boat owner failed to undertake reasonable preparations. For example, those boats that were poorly anchored resulting in damage to landowners may be liable for damages. However, know the court may balance a mariner’s inexperience with the fact Hurricane Sally brought a significant storm surge in Alabama and Florida causing devastation upon docks and boats throughout the area in finding for the boat owner, instead of the landowner. Simply put, the landowner will have to overcome an assumption that Hurricane Sally subjected all local mariners to an Act of God. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Knox Boteler
Boteler Richardson Wolfe
knox@brwlawyers.com
(251) 433-7766

 

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.

Personal Injury Claims: What Are “Value Drivers?”

Today most major automobile insurance companies use some form of Computer Assisted Claim Evaluation Program to help them establish a “value” for a personal injury claim. These programs evaluate data about the injury claim and then provide the adjuster with a value or compensation amount they should pay the victim. Depending on the company, adjusters may have to strictly follow the evaluation or they may be able to offer more than the program’s “evaluation.”  Desktop Computer Free vector in Adobe Illustrator ai ( .AI ), Encapsulated PostScript eps ( .EPS ) format for free download 3.28MB

Central to all of these programs are value-drivers. These are certain facts or factors that are input into the program. A value-driver can be either positive or negative. Meaning they can either increase the amount of compensation the victim receives or reduce the amount of compensation the victim receives. These programs can evaluate thousands of different value drivers. Even for a simple auto-crash injury claim there can be over 100 value drivers analyzed by these programs.

Obviously the diagnosis code for an injury is an important value driver but so are the treatment codes as well as the timing of the treatment. The “value” of a diagnosis code may also depend on what type of doctor made the diagnosis. A delay in care or a gap in treatment can be a negative value driver as well as inconsistent pain complaints in the medical records. Many times these negative value drivers can be limited or overridden by the adjuster but he or she has strict criteria or guidelines on what documents and/or facts must be presented to limit the negative value driver.

If you have a serious injury claim from a car crash, you need a law firm that understands Computer Assisted Claim Evaluation programs and knows how to properly document all of the positive value drivers and limit the negative value drivers. At Boteler Richardson Wolfe we’ve been helping car crash victims present and prosecute their insurance claims for over 30 years. We know and understand Computer Assisted Claim Evaluation Programs better than most attorneys. We can help you get the full compensation you deserve! Give us a call today: 251 433-7766 or email Mark Wolfe at mark@brwlawyers today for a free consultation.

REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS: Alabama Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the services provided by other lawyers. The Mississippi Supreme Court advises that a decision on legal services is important and should not be based solely on advertisements. Free background information is available upon request to a Mississippi attorney. The listing of any area of practice by a Mississippi attorney does not indicate any certification of expertise therein. See Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(d), Rule 7.4(a), Rule 7.6(a) (1997). Statement in compliance with Florida Bar Advertising Rules: “The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. [Florida Rule 4-7.2(d)]. General Disclaimer: This information is posted for general information purposes to help those interested parties or persons with potential civil claims better understand their rights and potential causes of action. If readers are currently represented by an attorney on the subject matter of this post then they are encouraged to continue with said representation. No attorney-client relationship is established by this post.