When you get into the driver’s seat of your friend’s car, you’re probably not thinking about the risk of getting into a crash. But, unfortunately, with over 400,000 traffic crashes in Florida occurring per year, it’s possible that you could wind up in an accident.

Getting into a car crash when you’re driving someone else’s car complicates matters, especially when it comes to insurance. Here, we’ll discuss what to expect after an accident in a friend’s car and how an experienced auto accident attorney may be able to help you through the process. 

Permissive Use

Some auto insurance policies include a permissive use provision. Permissive use means that the driver gives someone else (who’s not a household member or included by name in the policy) permission to operate their vehicle. 

Not all auto insurance policies offer coverage for permissive use. Additionally, some policies that do cover it don’t offer full coverage to permissive users. Higher deductibles may also apply if you file a permissive use auto insurance claim.

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Here in Florida, more car accidents occur than in most other areas of the United States. This unfortunate fact means that hundreds of thousands of Floridians will have to deal with the aftermath of a car crash in any given year.

Medical care is often required for injuries after a road accident, which raises the question of who will cover the medical bills. In Florida, PIP insurance is generally used to pay for medical care following an auto accident, although there are cases in which other parties may be liable for your medical costs. 

PIP Insurance in Florida

As a no-fault state, Florida requires that all drivers have at least $10,000 in PIP (Personal Injury Protection) insurance coverage. This type of insurance is designed to cover your medical expenses after a car accident, regardless of whether you were the victim of the crash or a negligent driver. 

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There are laws in place to keep employees safe against not only harassment and discrimination but also retaliation. These laws protect employees’ rights by making it illegal for employers to punish their workers for engaging in legally protected actions. These actions may include speaking out against harassment or discrimination, taking part in investigations relating to the workplace, and other related activities. 

Employment retaliation may include firing, demoting, reassigning jobs or shifts, or reducing an employee’s salary for being involved in a protected activity. Retaliation can have a major negative impact on employees’ lives, making it important for all workers to understand their rights. 

Defining Employment Retaliation

It’s illegal for employers to retaliate against employees or applicants for the following actions:

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It goes without saying that death is the largest burden that people may experience after a car accident. However, if you sustain an injury in a car crash, the cost of the accident can reach a staggering total.

Unfortunately, between medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repairs, the financial cost of a car accident can be difficult to manage. Considering that a car accident is alone a stressful event, the resulting financial strain can be detrimental to car accident victims. 

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Discriminating against employees for disabilities or medical conditions is illegal. Unfortunately, some employers still exhibit prejudice based on health and disability. This infringes upon employees’ legal rights and is grounds for a lawsuit. 

Understanding Disability Discrimination

Employees are protected against disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the ADA. if an employer treats an employee or applicant adversely due to a disability, the employee has legal grounds for a lawsuit. The ADA also provides legal protection for employees in cases of discrimination due to the following:

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After many different kinds of accidents, from auto accidents to slip-and-fall and more, insurance companies take the brunt of the financial burden. However, insurance policies have limits, and the insurance company will typically only cover the expenses associated with the accident to the policy limit. But what happens when your insurance claim exceeds the policy limit? Read on to learn more. 

Understanding Insurance Policy Limits

Whenever you purchase a liability insurance policy, a policy limit will be set. The limit is the highest dollar amount of the losses that the insurance company will take responsibility for in a covered accident.  

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Sexual harassment is a prominent issue in work environments around the globe. Courts recognize sexual harassment as unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal or physical sexual behaviors that create a hostile workplace. Victims of sexual harassment may experience significant mental and physical health problems as a result of the harassment and have the right to seek legal action. 

Understanding the types of sexual harassment in Florida can help victims recognize their legal rights and is the first step toward promoting a safe, professional work environment. 

The Main Types of Sexual Harassment

The main types of sexual harassment in Florida workplaces include:

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A whistleblower is an individual who reports a person or entity to the government for taking part in illegal activity. If you’re a whistleblower in a case of a legal violation or any threat to the safety of the public, you may be concerned about your own reputation, career, or wellness. In this situation, it’s important to understand the laws and reward system put in place specifically to protect whistleblowers. 

Whistleblowers: The False Claims Act

The False Claims Act, or FCA, is the first whistleblower law ever established in the United States. In 1863, it was signed into law in an effort to prevent fraud in contracting with the government. The FCA has become stronger over time as revisions have been made. Amidst these revisions, however, the whistleblower (qui tam) provision has remained. 

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Florida boating accidents are more common than you may think. The Coast Guard’s 2019 Recreational Boating Statistics Report showed that boating accidents resulted in 613 deaths in 2019. Alcohol is the leading cause of fatal boating accidents in Florida, making it essential for anyone involved in boating to understand the risks associated with alcohol and boating. 

Alcohol’s Impact on Boating Accidents

Alcohol consumption leads to a loss of ability to make fast decisions, which are often needed to avoid a boating accident. Stopping alcohol consumption while boating could lead to hundreds of fewer deaths in the state of Florida every year. After all, alcohol consumption exponentially increases the risk of a boating accident, as well as the odds of fatalities in the event of an accident.

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If you’ve been working as an independent contractor, you could be missing out on some important legal protections. As a contractor, companies are allowed to treat you like any other company or business owner. That means that none of these protections apply to you. This is detrimental to those who are misclassified employees. 

Here are just some of the protections you could be missing out on as a contractor:

Minimum wage

There is both a federal and state minimum wage requirement, although Florida is both much higher and set to steadily increase through 2026 up to $15 per hour. As a contractor, you could be paid a per project or per unit rate that, when compared to number of hours spent on the task, averages out to far below even the federal mandate.

Continue reading “Protections Afforded to Employees But Not Contractors” →