January 8, 2023
Teen Street Race Causes Death Of Beloved Son
On October 22, 2022, Michael Hoerig was the victim in a car crash with another driver who left him brain-dead. The surviving family of Michael donated his organs, giving other people’s lives in need a second chance. The driver of the car that hit him, Charles Meininger, was 16 years old when the crash occurred. He is now 17 years of age and is being charged at the adult level. Police state that they arrived on scene to see a Camaro that had hit a truck. Through the investigation, they discovered that the driver of the Camaro, Meininger, was driving at a high speed up and down the street numerous times before impact.
Meininger is being charged with illegal racing due to exhibiting a repeated high rate of speed. A witness attests to seeing the driver go up and down the road while speeding several times before the accident occurred. The collision took place in Lutz on Lake Fern Road, where the speed limit is 45 MPH. Police state that the driver had hit Heorig in his truck going at least 80 MPH. The damage to the truck and Heorig was severe due to the high rate of speed.
Michael Heorig was 20 years old when he passed away. His mother expressed that she found comfort knowing that her son seemingly had done all the right things while on his way home. Heorig had the green light, was wearing his seatbelt, and was going a speed of 11 MPH when the Camaro struck him on the driver’s side. The intersection where the incident took place was less than a mile from Heorig’s home. The crash was so severe that the car door had to be removed in order to get Heorig out of the truck. The total speed at impact was 94 MPH, which caused a broken neck, broken spine, and multiple contusions, leading to brain death. The driver, Meininger, faces both felony and misdemeanor charges.
The family of Michael Heorig hopes that this incident raises awareness for the critical dangers of street racing. Parents must stay alert to their teen’s driving behaviors and frequently remind them of the impact that can devastate so many people through their unsafe choices. Ultimately, obtaining justice is what will provide closure for the family of Michael Heorig.
Victims of car accidents and surviving family members may turn to a lawyer from Tuttle Law, P.A. in the aftermath of a crash such as the one described here. Surviving loved ones are by law allowed to seek financial restitution from the at-fault driver on behalf of a beloved family member who was taken before their time. A Palm Bay, FL car accident lawyer has seen the way that victims and their relatives can suffer because someone else chose to drive recklessly that day. While seeking monetary compensation at the civil level from the at-fault driver cannot return a lost loved one, it can at least provide financial support and a sense of justice as the family grieves.
December 10, 2022
Man Arrested In Palm Bay Hit And Run
A man was arrested in connection to a hit and run that occurred in Palm Bay, Florida, according to the Palm Bay Police Department. Law enforcement officers arrested the man roughly one year following the date of the accident. The man fled the scene after striking a vehicle. He later called police and informed them that he might have struck something on the road. However, he fled the scene and was later found to have been high on fentanyl. The man, 54-year-old Emilio Martinez, claimed that the reason he fled the area was because he panicked.
Fleeing the scene of an accident after striking a person is illegal, and anyone found to have fled the scene of an accident can be fully prosecuted under the law. If you have been involved in a hit and run accident and would like to seek legal assistance regarding your case, you can receive help from a lawyer. A Palm Bay, FL car accident lawyer like one from Tuttle Law, P.A. has the tools, skills and resources necessary to help you navigate your case and determine what kind of compensation that you can recover. It can be incredibly challenging to handle a claim, especially one that concerns a hit and run, on your own. Your chances of securing full compensation is greatly boosted when you hire a competent lawyer who has experienced handling similar cases.
Legal Services Available
If you are trying to decide how a lawyer can help you with your accident claim, you can schedule a consultation to find out what legal services are available. With a skilled and experienced lawyer at your side to give you personalized and highly specific legal advice, you will not have to worry about whether you are making the right choices or whether your rights will be protected as a personal injury victim. You can have a lawyer evaluate your case and explain the laws, your legal rights and what your next steps should be.
What Can Happen When You Don’t Hire A Lawyer
There are serious risks of not hiring a lawyer when you are going through a difficult legal scenario such as a car accident case. Car accident cases can be challenging to understand, and you may not know what to do as you face different issues. For instance, you may have a hard time dealing with the insurance company because you are having difficulty giving them the evidence that you need, or they may be skeptical of your claim in the first place. Any of these and similar scenarios can be successfully resolved by a top-rated lawyer if you act quickly. Otherwise, you risk getting much lower compensation or you may have your case rejected if it is not handled appropriately.
Speak To An Experienced Lawyer
Find out how you can maximize your compensation if you have been in a hit and run accident like the one in Palm Bay, FL. A trusted lawyer can assist you with many different aspects of your case, and if you ever run into any type of issue you can count on them to handle the complex tasks for you.
December 4, 2022
Car Crashes Into Fireworks Store
A vehicle crashed into a retail store on Monday, Nov. 29, 2022, cursing fireworks to ignite and trigger a large explosion. The Phantom Fireworks store caught fire and was destroyed because of the crash. The Brevard County Fire Department responded to a call at about 4:30 p.m. concerning a fire at the location. Witnesses who saw the crash shared footage on social media, which featured a massive plume of smoke engulfing a large portion of the building.
The driver whose vehicle crashed in the store died at the scene. They had previously collided with a truck at an intersection near the fireworks store. The driver of the truck, a 39-year-old woman, was not injured and stayed at the scene to wait for first responders to arrive.
Car accidents can happen unexpectedly, as the incident in Melbourne, FL shows. If you have been injured in a car accident and are seeking ways that you can recover your losses, you can rely on a trusted Melbourne, FL car accident lawyer like one from Tuttle Law, P.A. There is a strong chance that you can recover the full compensation amount that you are owed when you hire a lawyer to advocate for your legal rights as a personal injury victim.
Hire a Skilled Lawyer
When you hire a lawyer who specializes in car accidents, you can rest assured that your legal rights will be protected. A lawyer knows how the laws work and what a car accident claim entails, so they can tell you everything that you need to know about your claim. They can explain to you anything that you are confused about as well, because claims often deal with sophisticated legal vocabulary that can be difficult for the average person to comprehend.
What To Do Following A Car Accident
After a car accident, call for help right away. Stay at the scene and follow the instructions of the first responders while you wait for them to arrive. Get medical treatment right away, then collect evidence such as photos and video of the accident. Speak to any witnesses at the scene, and get their firsthand account of the accident. Once you are able to, inform your insurance company that you were in an accident and talk to a lawyer so that you can assess your legal options.
Set Up A Consultation
If you have been in a car accident, such as the one in Melbourne, FL, talk to a lawyer right away. Whether or not you contributed to the accident, a lawyer will protect your rights. During a consultation, you can expect to get a lot of information regarding your case. The lawyer will explain their background and legal services that they can provide, then will do a full assessment of your case. If you have been in a car accident, you may be able to file a valid personal injury claim. For more information, request a consultation with a skilled car accident lawyer who can give you the legal counsel you deserve.
December 4, 2022
Pedestrian Killed In Florida Car Accident
A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle on November 17, 2022 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The fatal accident occurred in the early mornings at 1:40 a.m. The 29-year-old victim was walking along Southwest Savona Boulevard when a Chevrolet Malibu was traveling southbound. The victim was walking along the road when they were struck by the vehicle, and was pushing her groceries at the time of the accident, according to police who were investigating the incident. First responders took the victim, Courtney Jenkins, to a nearby hospital, where she later died of her injuries and was pronounced dead. The location of the car accident was near Interstate 95.
Car accidents such as the one on Savona Boulevard in Port St. Lucie, FL are tragic and frequently occur. It is always unfortunate when an accident happens and you are suddenly left with many expenses that can cause you to suffer financial hardships. If you have been in a car accident and suffered egregious injuries as a result, you should not hesitate to seek out legal assistance that you can count on. There are affordable and high-quality legal services that you can get from an experienced lawyer who has a meaningful record of helping car accident victims recover the compensation that they need.
What You Can Gain From Hiring A Lawyer
There are many reasons to hire a lawyer if you have been in a car accident and want to know how you can recover any of the losses that you have suffered. One of the biggest reasons to hire a lawyer whenever you have to file a claim is that you can get assistance and advice specific to your unique case. From legal paperwork to representation in the event of a trial, a car accident lawyer can offer you the essential services you need to arrive at a successful case outcome.
Damages You May Recover
Both economic and non-economic damages may be eligible for you to recover if you have been in a serious car accident as a skilled Port St. Lucie, FL car accident lawyer like one from Tuttle Law, P.A. can tell you. There are many types of cases that a lawyer has experience in handling, from cases that involve a few damages to more sophisticated ones that involve millions of dollars in damages. Whatever your needs are, you can rely on an experienced lawyer to do whatever it takes to get you the compensation that you deserve and are entitled to recover.
Schedule a Consultation
If you have been a pedestrian or driver who suffered injuries from a serious car accident similar to the one in Port St. Lucie, FL, you have legal rights as a personal injury victim. Find out what you can do to obtain accessible legal services that you can count on to help you navigate the often complicated claims process. For more information specific to your case, request a consultation with a top-rated car accident lawyer in your area now.
December 1, 2022
5 Questions About Personal Injury Claims
What damages that I can get from a personal injury claim?
Damages are financial compensation awarded to victims in a legal case. When you file a personal injury claim there are many different damages that you can recover to cover the types of losses that you have suffered. Knowing exactly what damages that you can get is critical if you hope to obtain the maximum compensation amount possible. If you do not look through your list of damages carefully and discover that you are missing certain expenses, it will be incredibly difficult for you to revise your list later. Once you accept a settlement amount, you cannot request more money later on.
What is a personal injury claim?
A personal injury accident is a type of accident that results in a victim suffering an injury or illness. Personal injury claims can also include wrongful death scenarios. Investigating a personal injury claim and what caused the accident can be highly complex and difficult to resolve. However, with the help offered by an exceptionally skilled personal injury lawyer, clients have a strong likelihood of getting the outcome that they want and deserve. If you have questions about whether your claim qualifies and is considered valid, visit a trusted lawyer right away so that you can talk about your case in detail.
What can I gain from hiring a lawyer?
A personal injury accident is often life-changing for many people who have survived them, as a trusted lawyer who represents accident victims knows very well. Accidents that result in a victim sustaining injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence. You could be eligible to recover damages if you obtain help from a Vero Beach, FL personal injury lawyer like one from Tuttle Law, P.A. A personal injury claim should be handled by a lawyer who understands the legal process, especially if your particular claim is complex or involves se If you need more information, contact a skilled and reputable lawyer right away.
How does the personal injury claims process work?
When you first begin a personal injury claim, there are several things that you should get started with. Gather your evidence like photos, videos, statements and medical records because you will need to present them later. You need to inform your insurance company that you have been involved in an accident and they will tell you what you need to do to start your claim. Having a consultation with a qualified personal injury lawyer can be a good step if you hope to file a claim and need detailed legal assistance. They can assist you through every part of the process so that you don’t make a mistake and put your case at risk of denial.
Why should I hire a lawyer early?
Surviving any kind of personal accident, regardless of whether your injuries were minor or severe, is a difficult experience to go through. You are affected in many ways, and your life may not return to normalcy for some time. A big mistake many accident victims make is waiting until the last minute to seek legal help. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until the last minute to obtain legal assistance. You can rely on a top-rated lawyer to give you legal assistance. Setting up a case evaluation early can help you get started on your case early so that you can begin gathering everything you need for your claim.
November 10, 2022
Who Is Liable If A Tenant Or Guest Is Injured In Their Apartment
Personal Injury Lawyer
Who is liable if a tenant or guest is injured in their apartment?
It seems like most people do not have a great relationship with their landlords. There is just something about the tenant having to rely on someone else to keep their home in working order that puts a strain on things. That can get even worse when the tenant or one of their guests is injured due to an unsafe condition at the apartment. Oftentimes, these sorts of injuries can prompt questions about who was responsible for the accident or whether the injured party can sue the landlord. It turns out that the answer to those questions depends upon the specifics of the injury.
What is the general rule regarding landlord liability?
As a personal injury lawyer can explain, in most states, cases show that generally, a landlord is not liable for injuries suffered by a tenant or his or her guests once he or she has turned over the property. While this may seem like a harsh rule, it is actually a natural consequence of legal policies designed to favor tenants. Once a landlord turns the land over and a tenant starts living there, the landlord loses the right to come and go on the land as he or she pleases, in order to promote the privacy of the tenant who lives there.
Consequently, a landlord cannot be there to inspect the private areas of the apartment and make sure those areas are being kept in a safe condition. If a landlord were to be held liable for such injuries, he or she would have to be constantly checking up on people’s apartments and invading their privacy. However, there are places where this rationale does not apply and landlords may still be held liable.
What about common areas of the property?
There are a variety of exceptions under which a landlord may still be held liable for injuries suffered at apartment buildings that he or she is renting out. First, landlords are liable for injuries in areas of the apartment building where they maintain control. These tend to be injuries occurring in common areas such as tripping on a loose board in a hallway or falling down a poorly lit stairwell.
Are there other exceptions?
The other common exception to the rule is when a landlord is actually aware of the danger on the premises. When this happens, the landlord may be held liable in a couple of cases. First, if he or she attempts to repair it or hires someone to repair it, and those repairs are done negligently, the landlord may be liable for tenant injuries. Second, if it is the sort of defect that the tenant would not be able to discover, the landlord may be liable for hiding the defect or failing to inform the tenant.
Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm
If you have been injured at your rental or while visiting someone, contact a Vero Beach, FL personal injury lawyer from Tuttle Law, P.A. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation.
November 10, 2022
Man Dies When SUV Plows Into Fireworks Store Following Crash
Car Accident Lawyer
A tragic accident in West Melbourne resulted in the death of a 53-year-old man. The horrific crash occurred on Monday, November 28 at the intersection of West New Haven Avenue and John Rodes Boulevard, just off Interstate 95. According to Floriday Highway Patrol, the victim was driving an SUV and plowed into the back of a pickup truck twice while going through the intersection. The pickup truck’s driver turned to pull over, but the SUV continued straight ahead, crashing into the front of a fireworks store. The impact caused a huge inferno. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fatal Car Crashes
According to national statistics, a victim is killed every 16 minutes in a vehicle crash. This means that more than 90 people die each day, and 90 families lose a loved one in a fatal car accident.
Many of these tragic crashes have common factors that had they been addressed could have avoided the accidents. Instead, thousands of families are left trying to pick up the pieces – both emotionally and financially – and struggle with the death of their loved one.
At Tuttle Law, each Melbourne car accident lawyer has worked on countless cases, helping families get the financial justice they deserve for the death of their family member. Some of the common factors we see in the wrongful death car crash cases we handle include the following causes.
One-Third of Fatal Car Accidents are Alcohol-Related
According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), there are more than 10,000 victims killed in car accidents that involved a driver who had a blood alcohol content that was more than the legal limit of .08 percent.
Most Fatal Car Crashes Occur Close to the Driver’s Home
Multiple studies show that most fatal crashes occur within a five to 15-mile radius of the driver’s home.
Distracted Driving Responsible for More Than 3,000 Fatalities Each Year
More than 3,000 people who die in crashes each year are killed in accidents caused by distracted drivers. The most common distraction that causes fatal crashes is texting and driving. These numbers continue to increase each year, despite the well-known dangerous risks.
The Deadliest Type of Crash Is a Rollover
Rollovers are the deadliest crash types and are responsible for the deaths of more victims than any other type of crash. Although rollover crashes account for less than 5 percent of crashes each year, they are responsible for 30 percent of the total number of fatalities. The reason for the high number of fatalities is that victims are more likely to be ejected from the vehicle in a rollover crash compared to other types of accidents. There are also a higher number of victims who suffer injuries to the head, which often results in the victim’s death.
Men Responsible for More Fatal Crashes
Multiple studies have provided conclusive evidence that men are responsible for more fatal crashes than women. In one study that was conducted over a two-year period, men were the at-fault drivers in 65 percent of the fatal crashes that occurred during the study period.
Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm
If you have been injured in a crash caused by another driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. Contact a skilled Melbourne, FL car accident lawyer from Tuttle Law, P.A. for a free consultation.
November 10, 2022
Multi-Vehicle Accident Results In Six Crashes
Car Accident Lawyer
One car accident in Jacksonville ended up resulting in five more accidents. The multi-vehicle crash, which took place on November 27th, on I-295 Southbound at Morse Avenue, involved more than 20 vehicles, including two commercial trucks, and resulted in multiple injuries. Flordia Highway Patrol, who is investigating the accident, reports that none of the injuries were life-threatening.
How Is Fault Determined?
If you have been injured in a car accident, it is critical to determine clear fault of the accident in order to collect the financial damages you may be entitled to. A car accident lawyer can assist you in pursuing those damages, either through a settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or through a personal injury lawsuit.
The majority of car accidents have factors that the insurance company may try to use against the victim in order to reduce the financial compensation of the claim or reject it entirely. Before settlement negotiations can really begin between your attorney and the insurance company, fault for the accident must be established.
Your lawyer will examine different aspects of the crash to prove that fault. One way is to see if any traffic laws were broken by the other party. If there is a police report on the accident that describes that violation, as well as any citation the at-fault driver received, that is very strong evidence of fault that will likely not be able to be disputed by the driver’s insurance company.
In some cases, there may even be an accident reconstruction to help bolster the victim’s case.
There may be accidents where both parties were guilty of some type of traffic violation, however, only one of the party’s actions actually caused the crash. For example, if the victim’s brake lights were not working, but the accident was a T-bone crash because the other driver ran a stop sign, then the brake light malfunction would not be an issue in the car accident claim.
However, if the brake lights were not working and the accident was a rear-end collision, an accident reconstruction could show mitigating circumstances. For example, if the other driver had been speeding when he or she rear-ended the victim’s car, then both parties may be at fault. In these types of cases, comparative negligence may apply.
Comparative negligence is a principle that many states use that says when there is an accident, the fault of each party is based on how much each party’s actions contributed to the accident. Whatever percentage of fault is assigned to the victim is the percentage that will be deducted from the final amount of settlement or award. For instance, a car accident victim is found to be 30 percent at fault for the crash. A jury awards them $100,000 for their injuries, but 30 percent – or $30,000 – would be deducted from that amount.
Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm
If you have been injured in a crash caused by another driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. Contact a skilled Palm Beach, FL car accident lawyer from Tuttle Law, P.A. for a free consultation.
November 10, 2022
Do Vehicle Safety Features Really Work?
Car Accident Lawyer
According to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 45,000 people per year are killed in automobile accidents each year, and another two million are injured. A car accident lawyer knows that approximately 20 percent of those accidents involve a distracted driver. To combat these issues, automobile manufacturers have added a number of safety features to their vehicles. Many of them – including automatic braking, adaptive headlights, and lane departure warning – have been evaluated by Consumer Reports.
Evaluated Safety Features
In total, Consumer Reports analyzed eight safety features, which included:
- Pedestrian detection and braking – Able to recognize a person in the vehicle’s path. Some can apply the automatic braking system, and some of the newer systems are also able to detect pedestrians.
- Forward-collision warning (FCW) and autobrake systems – Laser-, radar, or camera-based systems that warn drivers of a front-end collision. If the driver ignores the warning, the system will partially or fully brake. Some also pre-charge the brakes and take other steps that help prepare the car for impact;
- Rear cameras – Provides rear-visibility technology that enables the driver to see behind them.
- Blind-spot monitoring and assist – Uses radars or cameras to scan areas around and behind the car to look for objects in the vehicle’s blind spots. If one appears, an illuminated icon appears in the appropriate side-view mirror and many give auditory signals as well. Some come with features that send stronger alerts if the driver signals a turn and more advanced systems help keep drivers in the lane by applying the brakes on one side of the vehicle.
- Rear cross traffic – Radar sensors that scan for hazards approaching along the sides as the vehicle backs up. The best systems are even able to detect shoppers with carts and approaching bicyclists.
- Lane-departure warning (LDW) and steering assist – Cameras and processing software that can pick up lane markers and provide warning to the driver if they begin to stray from their lane. More advanced systems are designed to apply the brakes or gently nudge the steering wheel so that the car returns to its own lane.
- Adaptive headlights – Headlights that swivel to illuminate the road as the driver navigates turns.
- Drowsiness detection – A variety of technologies that are meant to determine when a driver is tired or falling asleep while driving.
The Verdict from Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports said they found value in all of the advanced safety features, but some added more value than others. In particular, they recommended that every new car buyer search for a car with FCW. There was, however, one feature that the reviewers were mixed on: adaptive headlights. They found that the feature did not always work as expected and that, at times, the swiveling motion was actually more distracting than helpful.
Cost a Hindering Factor to Improving Road Safety
Sadly, none of these features are currently mandatory, and most are an added bonus. Not all drivers can afford the added cost, which greatly hinders the general safety of America’s roads. So, until these features are more widely available, it is critical that drivers exercise the utmost care when they get behind the wheel. And, when accidents happen, it is important that they contact a skilled personal injury attorney to ensure they receive the compensation they may be due.
Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm
If you have been charged with a hate crime, make sure to contact a Port St. Lucie, FL car accident lawyer from Tuttle Law, P.A. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation.
October 21, 2022
Work-Related Motor Vehicle Accidents
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident and you were engaged in any kind of work-related activity at the time that you sustained harm, it’s time to speak with an experienced attorney about your legal options. While the process of gathering potentially critical evidence is a time-sensitive task as concerns any car accident, there is a particular urgency with which work-related accidents must be approached. When injured workers are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, waiting even a few days post-accident to speak with an attorney can lead to a loss of compensation to which they’d otherwise be entitled.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation benefits are generally made available to anyone who is eligible for workers’ compensation coverage and is injured as a result of work-related activity. Virtually all part-time and full-time employees are eligible for this coverage. While independent contractors generally aren’t eligible for this coverage, they may be if they’ve been incorrectly classified as independent contractors when – in reality – they do the work of employees.
Because workers’ comp isn’t a fault-based system, a workers’ comp claims adjuster will be largely unconcerned with what led to your accident. The only notable exceptions to this approach tend to come into play when workers are injured after initiating altercations or road rage incidents, when workers are injured as part of a scheme to defraud the system, or if workers are drunk or otherwise impaired at the time that they sustain harm.
Personal Injury Damages
As a knowledgeable car accident attorney – including those who practice at Glotzer & Leib, LLP – can confirm, many work-related accidents are actionable in a personal injury context. Meaning that regardless of whether you’re eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, you may be in a position to file a civil lawsuit against those whose negligence, recklessness, or intentionally dangerous conduct directly contributed to the cause(s) of your harm. Individual persons, businesses, and even government agencies may be held accountable for harmful conduct via a personal injury lawsuit.
The primary notable exception to this opportunity arises when employees who are eligible for workers’ compensation attempt to sue their employers directly. Employers who pay into the state’s workers’ compensation system on behalf of their eligible employees enjoy limited liability protection in the event that these workers suffer employment-related physical harm.
Insurance Settlement Negotiations
If you’re in a position to file an insurance claim related to your accident, strongly consider refraining from interacting with any insurance company representatives until after you’ve spoken with an attorney. Insurance companies operate on a for-profit basis. As a result, if they feel that they’re in a position to devalue or reject a claim in order to protect their own bottom line, they will likely do so. Enlisting the assistance of an experienced attorney will both save you the stress of needing to negotiate with insurers on your own and will place you in a stronger position to secure any and all compensation you’re rightfully owed.