Law Offices of David Rich

04/10/2019

Uninsured /Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This is the only coverage that protects you and your family in the event that you’re in an accident and the at-fault driver doesn’t carry insurance or adequate insurance. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you’re involved in a “hit and run” accident as the phantom vehicle is treated as an uninsured vehicle.

If you're in an accident, there's always a chance that the other person involved doesn't have enough—or any—insurance. The next time you're on the freeway, think about this: Approximately one of every eight U.S. drivers on the road has no car insurance, according to the most recent estimate from the Insurance Research Council. Florida is currently ranked #1 in the nation for uninsured motorists at 26.7 percent.

If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver and you don’t have UM coverage, you lose your ability to recover future medical expenses, lost wages, and damages such as lifelong disability and pain and suffering. Your health insurance and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) only pay the medical bills you have received for the extent of your injuries today, not for any future losses attributed to this accident.

Do you need help understanding your policy and coverage? Or if you or someone you care about has been in a car accident, please contact our office any time to speak with one of our attorneys or schedule an appointment for a no-obligation consultation.

03/18/2019

Do you know enough about car insurance?

The next time you're on the freeway, think about this: Approximately one of every eight U.S. drivers on the road has no car insurance, according to the most recent estimate from the Insurance Research Council. Florida is ranked #1 in the nation for uninsured motorists at 26.7 percent.

With that many people driving without coverage, it's more important than ever for you to be insured. But how much car insurance do you need?

Your inclination might be to get the minimum insurance coverage required by law, but that might not fully protect you or your assets if you're at fault in an accident.

Over the next few weeks, we will be posting about the different aspects of your car insurance and what they cover if you’re involved in an accident including bodily injury, property damage, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and med pay.

Do you need help understanding your policy and coverage? Or if you or someone you care about has been in a car accident, please contact our office any time to speak with one of our attorneys or schedule an appointment for a no-obligation consultation.

03/04/2019

Today, society is being bombarded by legal advertisements across all platforms of media from radio and television to billboards and social media. It’s become a constant barrage of bold claims attached to large dollar signs under a spotlight with glitter and glitz.

We are a small, family owned firm with a history of successfully serving clients in the South Florida area for over 30 years. We have worked diligently to build our client base by word of mouth - solely based on referrals of our satisfied clients. As our client, you know what it’s like to work with a firm where you always meet face-to-face with the attorneys that directly handle your case from day one as well as a staff that is never more than a phone call away.

The highest praise we can receive is your referral. We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with you, or anyone else you may know, to discuss how we can help you with your personal injury case. This includes all types of claims from medical malpractice, car accidents, slip and fall, products liability, and more.

As a valued client, we would like to also offer to review your current auto insurance policy, at no charge, to ensure that you are carrying the necessary coverage to protect yourself if you were to be involved in an automobile accident.

Please feel free to contact our office to set up an appointment to discuss any potential legal matters you may wish to discuss. We look forward to hearing from you.

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12/26/2017

Are you ready for 2018?

The holidays are full of fun! So, this New Year’s Eve, whether you’re planning to raise a glass with friends or spend a quiet evening at home with family – be sure to stay safe!

Remember:
• Absolutely no drinking and driving!! Use a designated driver, Uber or Lyft if you plan to drink.
• New Year's Day is the second most active holiday for car thefts. If you must leave your car somewhere overnight, be sure it's locked and try to pick it up as early as possible the next day.
• Take appropriate safety precautions when handling fireworks.
• If you’re attending a public event, stay with friends – don’t wander off alone.

Your friends at the Law Office of David L. Rich, PA wish you and your family a safe, happy, and healthy new year!

11/29/2017

With the holiday season in full swing, it's very easy to get caught up in the fun of holiday cheer that surrounds us between now and the end of the year. However, it's important that you still take into consideration certain safety precautions as you enjoy shopping, parties, and the joy of family all around. Accidents and injuries are never convenient, but a serious incident can severely wreck a jolly spirit.

Before getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we strongly encourage you to take a moment to review these safety tips and reminders with your friends and family.

HOME SAFETY

Decorations make for a festive environment at home, but they can also be dangerous.

• Be sure that you hang all breakable ornaments and decorations in high places away from where children can reach and break them, potentially causing injury to themselves or others.
• Carefully inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders, or loose connections. When replacing bulbs, unplug the light string and be sure to match voltage and wattage to the original bulb.
• Watch where you position candles in the house. Make sure they are not close to any flammable materials. Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure they work, and be sure to install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home -- especially near sleeping areas.
• Prevent packages and special deliveries from being stolen by requiring signature upon delivery, having your items delivered to a workplace, or even enlist the added security of doorbell cameras or similar to keep an eye on things when you aren’t home.

TRAVEL SAFETY

• Be sure to keep your travel plans off your social media networks. Never post where you are going, when you are leaving, or when you will be back. This is prime information for a thief because he will know when your house will be empty.
• If you are driving, make sure everyone in your car is safely buckled up. Practice alert driving, and do not text or allow yourself to be distracted.
• Check your car insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for incidents if you choose to rent a car at your destination.

SHOPPING SAFETY

• Do not leave packages visible inside your car.
• Park in well-lit areas in designated parking for the shopping center.
• Do not try to carry more than you can back to your car, especially at night.
• Be aware of where your credit card is located, and pay attention to websites where you purchase items. Ensure that they are secured and that you are only using your credit card on reputable shopping sites.

The holidays can be a lot of fun, but they are also a time for many distractions. Make sure you are paying attention to your surroundings and responsibilities during this time of year. We wish you a very happy and safe holiday season!

09/22/2017

We don’t know if you’ve heard of the recent charges that were brought against five South Florida personal injury attorneys in Broward &Palm Beach Counties. They’re accused of paying runners from tow yards & body shops to solicit car crash victims for them; the attorneys then referred the victims for chiropractic medical treatment and the medical facilities would pay the attorneys cash for the referral of the victims.

It is apparent that these attorneys are more interested in the financial relationship between their law firm and the chiropractic medical providers, not the clients. At David L. Rich, PA the primary concern of our attorneys is the welfare of our clients.

Please be sure to share this information with your friends and family. We appreciate the confidence you have placed in our law firm and look forward to representing you and your family in the future.

Detectives arrested five South Florida personal injury attorneys accused of participating in an insurance fraud with lucrative kickbacks.

09/07/2017

ARE YOU IRMA READY?

Before disaster strikes, collect and keep one set of important documents in a waterproof lock box or container to grab and go. The documents should include:

Personal: Birth & marriage certificates, divorce decrees, passports, military documents, Social Security card, and photocopies of your driver's license and the front and back of all credit cards as well as important. Also include phone numbers of friends and relatives, because numbers stored on your cell phone may be inaccessible if its battery dies and you can't recharge.

Estate: Your will, executor and estate planning paperwork, including names and phone numbers.

Medical: Medicare or health insurance cards, prescription records (especially for medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma), and contact information for your doctors.

Home and property: Home deed, mortgage and closing statements; car titles; insurance policies or at the minimum, policy number and contact information for your agent and insurer; appraisal documents for jewelry and other valuables.

Financial: Stock and bond certificates; IRA or 401(k) account numbers; bank statements; and tax records, including W2s and important receipts.

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS

To minimize possible insurance claim hassles, document everything! Pictures, videos, and saving damaged items can only help your claim later on. TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS or VIDEO of the contents of each room — including the garage — as proof that you own possessions that might be lost or damaged. Be sure to take photographs of the outside of your home as well.

If flooding and heavy rain are the danger, get locking plastic storage bins or garbage bags to store heirlooms, photo albums and clothing high and dry. Should you need to wade through water, zipper-type sandwich or gallon-sized plastic bags can keep papers, medications and cash dry.

HOW DO I HANDLE DAMAGE AFTER THE LOSS?

Safety is most important - do not attempt to go outside until you are certain the storm has passed.

After the storm passes, conditions outside will be daunting. Be careful when driving, as many roads will be covered with obstructions. Use caution when inspecting your home for damage.

Call your insurance company immediately to report damage. You do not have to be specific - you are not an expert. Simply relay your home was affected by the hurricane.

Contact a water restoration company to perform dry out services and ensure your home does not become subject to mold damage.

Contact the attorneys at the Law Offices of David L. Rich, PA to help you with the claims process and ensure you are being treated fairly by the insurance company.

08/26/2016

Summer is over and kids are back in school. Thousands of families are sending their most precious cargo off to school on buses. Drivers in our community can help keep these children safe by paying special attention to buses displaying the flashing STOP signs as students enter and exit the school bus.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 24 kids die in school transportation-related crashes each year, 11 occupants and 13 pedestrians.

Florida has strict and clear school bus safety rules. Under Florida Statute 316.172, when approaching a school bus that has its stop lights blinking and stop signs showing, you must stop as well.

You should ALWAYS STOP FOR A SCHOOL BUS WITH ITS LIGHT FLASHING; except if you are driving on a divided highway in the opposite direction of a bus and there is at least five feet of unpaved space, a raised median, or a physical barrier (concrete abutment) separating the roadway on which you are traveling from the roadway where a bus stopped. Only then you can continue to drive at a legal speed, but should still drive with an increased awareness that children might be around.

In all other situations, you must stop when you see a school bus that has its stop lights blinking and stop signs showing, regardless of whether you are behind a bus or facing a bus, driving in the opposite direction.

Not only are there penalties and fines for failure to stop for buses with flashing lights but keep in mind the biggest penalty is not the price of the ticket, but the potential heart-breaking consequences if you should injure or kill a child because you failed to stop or were distracted by a cell phone and failed to stop.

Parents with concerns about school bus safety can visit http://www.schoolbussafety.com/, where forums are available for comments and concerns about issues involving safety on the roads.

08/23/2016

What is GAP insurance? You might have heard the term before, but do you know what it is and what it actually covers? GAP stands for Guaranteed Auto Protection. A GAP policy covers the difference between what you owe on your vehicle loan or what a new vehicle would cost and what the insurance company says the vehicle is worth.

Here’s how it works: when you get into an accident and total your vehicle, meaning the insurance company feels it is too damaged to warrant repairs, your insurer will determine how much they think the car was worth before the crash. Often times, this amount can be many thousands less than you still owe on the car because vehicles normally depreciate quicker than they are paid off. Gap insurance covers the “gap” between what you’ve paid off on the car, and what the insurance company will pay you. For instance, if you still owe $15,000 on your car and the insurance company values it at $11,000, the gap insurance would pay you $4,000. Without this insurance, you’ll be left to make up the difference on your own, and there may be little we can do to help.
Most insurers offer GAP coverage. This insurance coverage usually costs a few extra dollars a month, but rates can vary. Alternatively, you can purchase gap insurance at your dealership, though this is likely to cost you significantly more.

You should consult your insurance company about current coverage as well as potential changes to your policy to ensure you’re carrying the appropriate coverage on any newly purchased vehicle.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your insurance coverage, including questions about GAP coverage, please don’t hesitate to contact our office to speak with one of our attorneys.

06/24/2016

When you’re ready to make a purchase, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry. If you have any questions, or aren’t 100% certain about the contract the seller is asking you to sign – call us! We’re here to answer your questions and help you to make a purchase. We want to save you from having to call us AFTER you’ve already been burned by a shady dealership.

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Used Car Buyers Beware…

Are you thinking of buying a used car? Whether you buy from a large dealer, small dealer, or a private individual - there a few things to be aware of before you sign on the dotted line.

• Always try to inspect and test drive the car during the daylight.

• Use a checklist to ensure you’ve closely inspected everything. You can download a simple checklist online.

• Ask for maintenance records.

• Hire a mechanic to inspect the car fully. Cars that are sold ‘as-is’, truly means that you will get everything exactly the way it is – without responsibility for any repair.

• Verify the vehicle information with your insurance company. They can use the VIN to verify that make and model of the vehicle that’s being represented.

• Determine the vehicle’s true value before you negotiate a purchase price. Check NADA, Edmunds, and Kelley Blue Book.

• Check whether there are any unrepaired recalls. You can do this by entering the car’s VIN at safercar.gov or by calling 1-888-327-4236.

• Get an independent review of the vehicle’s history. Check a trusted database (e.g. CarFax) for a complete report.

Closing the deal

You’ll have to sign a purchase agreement or contract. This protects you and the dealer. DO NOT hurry through or skip this step. Don’t sign anything until you’ve understood everything. Do not sign if any spaces have been left blank. Ensure that everything that is written into the contract is what you agreed upon with the salesperson verbally. In the State of Florida, there is NO cooling off period – once you’ve signed, you’re 100% liable to uphold your end of the contract.

• If you’re financing, make sure that you understand how much you’ll pay and how often; how many payments you’ll make in total; what the annual interest rate is. Remember, the lowest monthly payment is not always the best deal. If you’re interest rate is high and the length of the loan is long – you could end up spending a great deal more money in the end. Don’t assume that you’re going to finance through the dealer. Check with your bank or credit union to see what they can offer you.

• Verify the coverage of any additional warranty if you decide to purchase one through the dealer.

• DO NOT leave with your new car before the contract has been finalized completely and signed by both parties. This goes double if you are financing through the dealer and/or leaving a trade-in vehicle behind. It has been known to happen: the consumer leaves the old car as a trade-in and drives away in the new car with only a verbal agreement about the amount of the monthly payment. The contract just needs final approval by a manager who is not immediately available. What happens? The buyer's credit is not approved, the monthly payment will be significantly higher and the trade-in has already been sold. The buyer is stuck with the new car at the higher payment.

04/27/2016

Heading off to college is an exciting time! For many teens, it means living on their own, making new friends, and—of course—dealing with adult situations. One such situation is making sure your car insurance needs are met.

Many young adult drivers and their parents are unsure how long children can stay on their parent’s policies. The answers are not always clear and can depend on a number of circumstances, as well as the car insurance company’s policies. Be sure to discuss your options with your insurance company.

Unfortunately, statistics show that for drivers under the age of 25, there’s a significantly higher risk for accidents. As a result, the age group of 16 – 25 year-olds will face the highest insurance rates in the country.

The great news is that many car insurance companies offer discounts for students including ‘good student’, driver’s education, resident student, and occasional driver discounts – just to name a few. Ask your insurance company about discounts that your student driver may be eligible for. And, if you’re buying a new vehicle, check vehicle ratings and consider which ones offer better insurance rates -- different insurance companies offer discounts for a variety of different safety features.

Remember, lots of discounts doesn’t necessarily mean having the lowest premium – so shop around and make sure you’re finding a good deal that won’t break the bank.

Last, but not least, we know college students like to lend their cars to their friends or roommates, but think carefully before they do. You see, car insurance follows the car—not the driver. This means, depending on the severity of the accident, you could be held responsible for injuries and property damage. So, limit how often your kids let friends use their vehicle (if at all).

It is vitally important that you discuss and understand your policy, coverage, and deductibles with your agent. If you’ve got questions, would like to review your current policy, or need recommendations on how to best protect yourself in case of an automobile accident – please contact our office to make an appointment. We’re happy to assist you! 954-972-1800.

12/30/2015

Are you ready for 2016?

The holidays are full of fun! So, this New Year’s Eve, whether you’re planning to raise a glass with friends or spend a quiet evening at home with family – be sure to stay safe!

Remember:

• Absolutely no drinking and driving!! Use a designated driver if you plan to drink.

• Take appropriate safety precautions when handling fireworks.

• If you’re attending a public event, stay with friends – don’t wander off alone.

Your friends at the Law Office of David L. Rich, PA wish you and your family a safe, happy, and healthy new year!