Today, September 27, 2011, The Buffalo News published an article regarding a Buffalo man “charged with running a red light and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle following a T-bone crash.”   There are critical deadlines to be aware of in the case of all motor vehicle accidents. You have only 30 days from the date of the accident to file a No-Fault Application (NF-2) Form with your insurance company – even if the accident was the other driver’s fault.

No-fault insurance covers many expenses, including things like household help, medical expenses and mileage to and from medical appointments.

In a situation where the other driver is at fault and issued citations related to the accident, it is helpful for the prosecutor to know if there were injuries associated with the person’s actions. This can be done by letter or a telephone call.

HoganWillig is a full-service law firm with offices in Amherst, Buffalo, Lancaster, and Lockport. As the largest suburban full-service law firm in Western New York, HoganWillig has a skilled team of 100+ professionals, including approximately 50 attorneys.

Tags: auto accident, motor vehicle accient, MVA, nf-2 form, no-fault application, no-fault insurance, personal injury

Earlier this summer a Buffalo-area physician was charged with drunken driving in the hit-and-run death of a young woman who was struck while skateboarding home in a suburban neighborhood from her job.

On a late Friday night 18-year-old Alexandria Rice was skateboarding on the road when a BMW allegedly driven by an area doctor struck her. Shortly after, Rice was pronounced dead at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2009, 4,091 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, and another 59,000 pedestrians were injured. More than half of these fatalities occurred at nighttime. Alcohol-impairment—either for the driver or for the pedestrian—was reported in 48 percent of the traffic crashes that resulted in pedestrian deaths. (more…)

Tags: auto insurance, hit and run, insurance, pedestrian accidents, personal injury protection, PIP limit

This month, Corey J. Hogan and the personal injury team at HoganWillig obtained a significant settlement on behalf of our clients who lost four family members in a 2003 aviation accident in Florida. While this settlement cannot replace the lives of their loved ones, we hope that they can now begin to find peace and enjoy greater financial security. As stated by our client, “It has been a long road, but we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is important that we never gave up that we would be able to obtain justice. Without the team at HoganWillig, these results would not have been possible.”

Our clients also found comfort through a grief counseling program called ACCESS (AirCraft Casualty Emotional Support Services). Given the recent aviation accident in Clarence, NY, it is important to know that many support services, such as ACCESS, are available.

Tags: aviation accident attorney, aviation accident settlement, personal injury law firm

Airplane crashes cause a substantial amount of pain and suffering for all those involved—families, friends and the surrounding community. Dealing with that pain and suffering can at times be unbearable, especially given the suddenness of a loved one being taken away. At the beginning, it is hard to imagine how one will press on and be able to continue supporting (financially and emotionally) the survivors of the victim. It is a rare occurrence when family or friends don’t question “why did this happen” and wonder if the accident was fate or if it could have been prevented.
I’m sure we’ve all heard in recent news about the many plane crashes occurring both inside and outside the United States.  (more…)

Tags: ACCESS, AirCraft Casualty Emotional Support Services, airplance crash, aviation accident, GARA, General Aviation Revitalization Act, Montreal Agreement, plance accident, plane crash, statute of limitations

Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and Warren Buffett have at least one characteristic in common besides their fame and fortune. All three of these men were among the best in their respective professions at anticipating what was about to happen, rather than reacting to conditions or circumstances. This is the same approach everyone should take when evaluating their insurance needs. After one sustains a loss or damage from storm damage, a collision or a liability claim, it is then too late to obtain sufficient coverage to ease the financial blow. (more…)

Tags: Additional Personal Injury Protection, APIP, insurance, insurance premium, insurance primer, liability claim, OBEL, Optional Basic Economic Loss, SUM, Supplemental Uninsured Motorist coverage

Many of us recognize the benefits of receiving vaccinations, since we’ve been indoctrinated with the process throughout our lives. At a very early age we begin a series of childhood vaccines (e.g. DTP, MMR, etc.), up until the present where the influenza vaccine seems to be more age appropriate. We all know the benefits of being healthy and our fear of (more…)

Tags: National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, vaccination, vaccine, vaccine caused illness, vaccine compensation, vaccine lawsuit

When the time comes to settle a personal injury suit, litigants should be aware that Medicare may have a potential lien against the settlement proceeds in instances where Medicare has made past, conditional payments for medical expenses. This is due a federal law which deems Medicare to be a so-called “secondary payor” with regard to payments (more…)

Tags: medicare, personal injury, settlement