You are here: Home / Archives for Personal Injury

Watch for Florida PIP auto insurance reform in 2012

January 3, 2012 By 3 Comments

Watch for Florida PIP auto insurance reform in 2012

Florida insurers have been struggling with Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance fraud and this type of fraud has been growing in recent years. In 2011, PIP reform measures failed to pass in Florida, but expect for this issue to come up again in 2012 in the Florida legislature.

Florida state law requires drivers to carry auto insurance and a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage in the event that they or any of the passengers in their car are injured in an automobile crash.  PIP auto insurance covers 80% of medical expenses and/or 60% of lost wages.

Auto insurance providers have cited the growing problems with insurance fraud as a primary cause of increasing PIP insurance costs in Florida, costs which are being passed on to the consumer who is required by Florida law to carry the insurance.

Healthcare providers, auto insurers and consumers all have strong beliefs about what a “reformed” PIP law might look like, so this is sure to be a debate to watch as 2012 unfolds.

(Photo credit: Graphic  from ABCNews.com)

Read more about accident fraud online at: http://i-issues.com/fraud-uncovered/news or at the Division of Insurance Fraud: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/fraud/Newsletters/PIPSource/PIPSourceDec11.pdf

John Pangallo Law Office

2201 Ringling Blvd # 205

Sarasota, FL 34237

Phone: (941) 954-3611

John Pangallo on Facebook

Bus: Fruitville Rd @ Lime N Ave

Filed Under: Personal Injury Tagged With: , , , , , ,

New laws go into effect January 2012 for tattoo and body piercing shops in Florida

January 3, 2012 By 14 Comments

New laws go into effect January 2012 for tattoo and body piercing shops in Florida

In order to protect consumers, new Florida laws require tattoo and body piercing shops to change the way they do business. Due to concerns about the handling of blood-born pathogens which can transmit diseases such as HIV, these shops must now register and maintain a license with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH). The FDOH will require tattoo artists to complete classes concerning blood-borne pathogens. These licensees must be renewed annually.

All tattooing must take place in a facility licensed for tattoo artistry by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH)- meaning tattoos are not allowed to be done at the tattoo artists home or a setting outside of the licensed facility.

The new Florida law stipulated that no individual under age 16 may be tattooed, except for medical reasons by a doctor or dentist. There are also stricter rules in place for minors between age 16 and 18 who are accompanied by their parent or guardian.

In these cases, the minor and their parent or legal guardian must each submit proof of identification; the parent or legal guardian must provide written and notarized consent; and the parent or legal guardian also must submit proof of being the parent or legal guardian to the minor.

For more information on the new law, visit the Florida Department of Health website at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/tattoo/index.html

Check out this additional article:

http://www.sharpsmd.net/fdoh/tattoo-artist-fdoh-regulations-needle-disposal.html

John Pangallo Law Office

2201 Ringling Blvd # 205

Sarasota, FL 34237

Phone: (941) 954-3611

John Pangallo on Facebook

Bus: Fruitville Rd @ Lime N Ave

Filed Under: Personal Injury Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Cell phones, texting and cars: a recipe for disaster?

January 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Cell phones, texting and cars: a recipe for disaster?

In December 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the results from a recent phone survey of over 6000 adult drivers (http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/traffic_tech/tt407.pdf). The National Distracted Driving Telephone Survey found that most drivers are still talking on the phone in the car (66% admitted to driving as they talked), regardless of whether or not there was a law against it. 25% of those drivers who admitted to talking on the phone in the car, also admitted to texting while driving. Of those age 21-24, almost half admitted that they had e-mailed or texted while driving.

It is interesting to note that most reported that they didn’t like it when other drivers were seen texting and driving, but they they felt safe when they were the ones texting and driving. 14% of the respondents who admitted to texting and driving also admitted to drifting out of their lane while doing it.

 

John Pangallo Law Office

2201 Ringling Blvd # 205

Sarasota, FL 34237

Phone: (941) 954-3611

John Pangallo on Facebook

Bus: Fruitville Rd @ Lime N Ave

Filed Under: Personal Injury Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Will Florida be the next to ban texting while driving?

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Will Florida be the next to ban texting while driving?

As of January 2012, text messaging is banned for all drivers in 35 states and the District of Columbia. In 7 addidtional states there are laws against “novice” or “youth” drivers texting. These states include: Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offers a map of states in the United States that have enacted laws concerning texting and cell phone use in vehicles (Graphic: http://www.iihs.org/laws/maptextingbans.aspx).

The Florida Legislature has recently announced plans to hold discussions in 2012 to enact a ban on texting in vehicles for the state of Florida. The National Safety Council feels that cell phone use or texting in a vehicle is a serious threat to public safety that must be taken seriously by lawmakers. They have launched a campaign against “distracted driving” which includes both cell phone use (including using hands-free devices) and texting while in a vehicle. For more information, checkout their “Texting While Driving” brochure online at: http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Employer%20Traffic%20Safety/Pages/TextingWhileDrivingBrochureNational.aspx.

 

Filed Under: Personal Injury Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The end of drop side cribs and a new era of safety

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The end of drop side cribs and a new era of safety

 drop_side_crib_image

After 32 confirmed infant deaths and dozens more suspected from broken parts on drop side cribs, tough new laws have been put into place by the federal government to protect parents, children and consumers.

 

In June 2011, the federal government issued new safety rules changing the requirements that crib manufacturers must adhere to when testing cribs. At the same time, it became illegal to sell, trade or buy any drop side crib though it has been noted that some websites like eBay and Craigslist have been slow to stop listings of drop side cribs from being advertised on their sites.

 

In December 2011, the federal government added additional requirements that daycare’s and hotels must replace drop side cribs and must purchase only cribs that adhere to the new, stricter safety standards.

 

For more information you can read additional articles about drop side crib dangers at:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10225.html

 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2010-12-15-cpsc-drop-side-cribs-outlawed_N.htm

 

(Photo: http://consumerist.com/2010/05/drop-side-cribs-have-killed-at-least-32-kids.html)

 

 

John Pangallo Law Office

2201 Ringling Blvd # 205

Sarasota, FL 34237

Phone: (941) 954-3611

John Pangallo on Facebook

Bus: Fruitville Rd @ Lime N Ave

Filed Under: Personal Injury Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Online Consultation

August 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

If you have questions, please use our online consultation form.

 

John Pangallo Law Office

2201 Ringling Blvd # 205

Sarasota, FL 34237

Phone: (941) 954-3611

John Pangallo on Facebook

Bus: Fruitville Rd @ Lime N Ave

Filed Under: Criminal Defense, Family Law, Immigration Law, Online consultation, Personal Injury Tagged With: , ,

Personal Injury

April 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Click it or Ticket in Florida

Did you know that in Florida you can be pulled over and ticketed for failing to wear your seatbelt? The popular belief is that you must also have committed another traffic infraction in order to be pulled over and ticketed for failure to wear a safety belt; however, this is not actually true. Since 2009, the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law has been in effect allowing officers to pull over and ticket motorists for failing to wear a seatbelt without any other infraction present. Fines in most counties are over $100 for this infraction, so failing to wear your seat belt is not only dangerous, but it is also expensive!

You can read more about the law for free online at: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=39880

If you have been in an accident and are in pain, whether or not you were wearing your seat belt at the time, you may wish to consult with attorney at law, John Pagallo about your situation. John handles Personal Injury and Criminal Law cases so he may be able to assist you will all aspects of dealing with a car, bike, or pedestrian accident. He may be reached for a consultation at (941) 954-3611.

 

Do you have proof that you have been exposed to a sick building or asbestos?

Whether you or a family member has been sickened by Mesothelioma or if you can prove that a relative died from Mesothelioma you may have a personal injury claim. Mesothelioma can show up between 10 to 40 years after the exposure, but it is important to seek out legal advice as soon as possible in these cases in order to PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.

Different states have different statues of limitations (this limits the amount of time after an incident, accident, or exposure that you have to pursue a claim and file for damages). Some states allow as little as one year to file a claim after a diagnosis of Mesothelioma.

In cases of asbestos poisoning (which can lead to Mesothelioma) a case could be made to ask for damages to be paid by the manufacturer of the asbestos, the insurance company, or a special victims’ trust fund. You can read about the laws and dangers of asbestos online for free at: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/ and http://asbestos.laws.com/

Attorney John Pangallo cares about you and your family, if you feel like your or a loved one’s health has been damaged by harmful exposure to asbestos or someone you know if suffering from Mesothelioma contact John today for a free consultation. The John Pangallo Law Offices can be reached at (941) 954-3611.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Personal Injury Tagged With: , , , , , ,