NOYES LEGAL NEWS

Capture Your Teenage Driver's Risky Driving on Video

Ever wonder how your teenage driver behaves while driving when you're not in the car? With DriveCam, there is a way to find out.

DriveCam is a video feedback program with a two-way camera in the car that records only a few seconds of what the driver is seeing, hearing and doing if the computer senses risky driving. When the DriveCam video feedback system senses risky driving, it records the driver for a few seconds, and the footage is sent to DriveCam, where it is analyzed by a safety professional. The short video clips include interior and exterior views of the critical seconds BEFORE and AFTER the erratic vehicle movement so you and your teen learn WHAT happened and WHY it happened. Once a week, parents are sent a report that includes the footage and advice on how to improve. Incentives could be given to teenage drivers for months that there is no footage because no footage means no risky driving detected.

It is one of the most effective monitoring systems, according to University of Iowa research, but also one of the more expensive. DriveCam costs $500 installed and an additional $30 per month for monitoring, but it is free if you are insured with American Family. The cost could prevent a more costly car accident or even serious injuries in a car crash.

This program is not restricted to teenage drivers. If you are concerned about your elderly parents driving, this could be helpful as well.

Drive safely and encourage your teenage drivers to do the same. A few seconds of risky driving could result in a lifetime of injury if involved in a car accident.

--------------------

Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes represents those injured in car accidents, motorcycle crashes, bus and bicycle accidents, and other personal injury matters. His Clearwater personal injury law firm - Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes -- has been caring for clients since 1955. Insurance companies have attorneys looking out for their best interest after your car accident, so should you. Click here to schedule a free case consultation with Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes today.

Woman With Beer Between Legs and 3-Year-Old in Backseat Drives the Wrong Way

Some car accidents are caused by simply careless and reckless drivers. An example of such a driver is the 26-year-old Clearwater woman who was driving her white Ford Mustang the wrong way down Florida Avenue N and weaving in and out of her lane, according to police and the Tampa Bay Times. When she was pulled over, she had an open beer can between her legs and a 3-year-old boy in the back seat. According to paper, she showed signs of impairment during a field sobriety test, police say, and refused to submit to a breath test. "I'm not doing sh--," she told police. This is her third arrest for driving under the influence and the third time she has refused to submit to a breath test, police say.

If this woman hit you or your family member, do you think that she would have adequate insurance coverage to protect you? I don't. That is why it is important that you check your policy for uninsured motorist coverage. If this woman or any person causes you or your family member injuries in a car accident, your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage will protect you. Once your uninsured motorist coverage is paid, your insurance company will go after the uninsured motorist for monies they paid out on your behalf.

Check your car insurance policy today and make sure you are protecting your family with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Get stacked coverage as well. This will provide further protection to you and your family.

------------------

Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes will help you fight for insurance benefits that you paid for after a car accident caused by an uninsured motorist or an underinsured motorist. After a car accident, don't talk with the insurance company who is only interested in protecting their rights; talk with someone who will protect your rights. Click here for a free case consultation with Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. His Clearwater personal injury law firm - Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes - has been caring for clients since 1955.

 

Listen to Attorney Matthew Noyes on Internet Radio

Recently, Attorney Matthew Noyes was a guest on LifeImprovementRadio.com talking about car accidents, motorcycle crashes, workers' compensation claims and other personal injury matters.  Click here to listen to the broadcast.

Herniated Disc Surgery - Is that the Answer?

What is the best treatment for a herniated disc? Do some people get better results from surgery for their herniated disc than others?

As reported on MedicalNewsToday.com, a recent study published in the January 15th issue of Spine concluded that three factors that were independently associated to improved treatment effect of surgery for a disc herniation: married patients, those without other joint problems (knee, hip, etc), as well as those whose back pain symptoms worsened at the time of treatment.

Apparently, it is better to be married if you are going to have surgery on your herniated disc. According to the study, married patients with worsening symptoms saw the greatest improvement from surgery--a 38-point improvement with surgery compared with a 20-point improvement with nonsurgical treatment. Although researchers are unsure why marital status affects response to disc herniation surgery, investigations have demonstrated improved outcomes for a wide variety of health problems among married patients.

For single patients with stable symptoms the treatment effect was approximately 8 points: 35 points with surgery in comparison with 27 points with nonsurgical treatment.

If you or a loved one is suffering from a disc herniation, you should consult with a doctor about your treatment options. The presence of a herniated disc alone does not warrant surgery, but pay close attention to the symptoms from the disc herniation. Ignoring these symptoms could result in irreversible damage.

------------

Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes represents those who suffer disc herniations and other injuries from car accidents, motorcycle crashes, workers' compensation claims and other personal injury matters. His Clearwater law firm -- Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes -- has been caring for clients since 1955. Click here for a free case consultation with Attorney Matthew Noyes.

Working While Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits – Is it Possible?

Earning Social Security Disability benefits while working--it is often asked, “Can I work and still receive SSD benefits?” The answer to that question depends on multiple factors but once you understand the guidelines, the answer is quite clear.

To be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, a person must be unable to engage in what is called substantial gainful activity or SGA because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. By Social Security’s definition, substantial gainful activity means work that (a) involves doing significant and productive physical or mental duties; and (b) is done (or intended) for pay or profit. Activities involving self-care, household tasks, unpaid training, hobbies, therapy, school attendance, clubs, social programs, etc., are not generally considered to be SGA.

The amount of monthly earnings considered as SGA for non-blind individuals for 2012 is $1,010.00 per month. In the case of a pending claim (disability application), you can work as long as your earnings do not exceed the earnings threshold for the SGA limit of $1,010.00 per month. If your gross monthly earnings exceed this amount, your claim will be denied because it is the Social Security Administration’s position that if you can make over $1,010.00 per month, you are not functionally limited enough to be considered disabled. The same applies to those who are already receiving Title II benefits or straight social security disability insurance; however, SSA also offers recipients the opportunity to try working for more money without necessarily giving up their benefits altogether.

The Social Security Administration has developed what is called a trial work period or TWP. The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for a full 9 months - those months do not need to be consecutive and can occur any time within a 36 month period. During your TWP, you will receive full SSDI benefits regardless of how high your earnings might be as long as you report your work activity and you have a disabling impairment. (Stay tuned for our next blog article regarding the TWP)
 
Now bear in mind that SSA manages two programs that provide benefits based on disability; SSDI (social security disability insurance) which is based on your earnings, and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) which is based on limited income and resources and not your work history. If you are receiving straight SSI benefits, what you receive in monthly benefits may be reduced by a certain amount based on how much you are earning. Therefore, if you are making close to the SGA amount of $1,010.00, your monthly benefit check will be significantly reduced. 

One of the most important things to remember when receiving or applying for social security disability benefits and attempting to work is to keep the social security office or your disability representative up to date on any work activity; whether it is substantial or not. Being surprised at the hearing is never good.

------------------

If you need help with your Social Security Disability claim, contact Attorney Matthew Noyes. Attorney Matthew Noyes and his staff have been able to secure SSD benefits for those who have been denied. Click here to schedule a free case consultation.

 

 

Is the End Coming for 1-800-ASK-GARY and Other Lawyer Referral Services?

We have all seen the commercials and heard the radio spots-after a car accident, call 1-800-ASK GARY or call 411-PAIN from the accident scene. If some get their way, soon you may not see them any longer.

According to a report on TBO.com, the Florida Bar, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, a state legislator from St. Petersburg are all taking aim at the 1-800-Ask-Gary hot line and similar lawyer and medical referral services.

A Florida Bar (the organization that governs lawyer conduct) committee is proposing new regulations to prevent abuses by lawyer referral services. For example, a new Bar regulation would ensure that accident victims initiate contact with lawyers. This recommendation and others will be presented to the Bar's governing board in the spring.

Florida CFO Atwater also wants to see changes. In November, he asked the Florida Bar to ban lawyer referral services. His letter to the Bar mentioned the "incestuous interactions" between lawyers and health care providers who belong to the referral services.

Thirdly, there may be State legislation on this issue. A bill by state Rep. Rick Kriseman, a St. Petersburg Democrat, would give accident hot line callers more choices in health care providers. Kriseman's bill would require such hot lines to refer patients to nonaffiliated clinics, as well. "They shouldn't be able to refer to themselves as a referral service if they're only sending you to one clinic," Kriseman said Friday. "That's just a marketing arm for your facility."

As a personal injury attorney who helps those legitimately injured in car accidents, I feel that too much advertising decreases the credibility of those who are actually injured. Potential jurors have the mistaken impression that the majority of the people are not hurt in car accidents. In my practice, that's not the case. Sure, some people are initially injured and treat for a period of time and do get better from their automobile accident. Those are the cases that are closed and don't get in front of a jury. However, many people are injured in varied severity and deserve protection in our judicial system. Will the elimination of doctor-based lawyer referral services eliminate the uphill battle an injured person has in the courtroom? I don't think so.

Education is the answer. Education of what your legal rights are after a car accident. Education of what your injuries, if any, are. Education of the true facts of how someone can be injured in a car accident notwithstanding the amount of property damage.

So, Florida CFO Atwater, the Florida Bar and the Florida Legislature do what you think politically you need to do. I will stay here and educate my clients and make sure their doctors do the same thing while at the same time, try to educate others on how a car accident can impact a person's life in so many ways.

_______________

Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes represents those injured in car accidents, motorcycle crashes, bicycle accidents and other personal injury matters. His Tampa Bay personal injury law firm--Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes--has been caring for clients since 1955. Click here to schedule a free case consultation with Attorney Matthew Noyes.