Salvatore Anello was charged by Puerto Rican authorities in the July death of his granddaughter, 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand. Chloe fell from an open window that Salvatore thought was closed on the 11th story of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in Puerto Rico on July 7. The accident occurred while the ship was docked in San Juan.  Puerto Rico’s Justice Department arrested Salvatore on the charge of negligent homicide.

There was no joy for recent passengers aboard the Norwegian Joy. Authorities say 19 people on this Norwegian Cruise Line ship reported flu-like illnesses in Nov. as they reached a Southern California port. The Los Angeles Fire Department says authorities were called to evaluate patients after they fell ill on the ship. It was the same ship that paramedics responded to a week earlier after four passengers became ill. 

Two Americans were killed and five others were injured during a bus crash in Belize, as they traveled in the country as part of a Carnival Cruise Line shore excursion. The seven Carnival guests who were involved in the bus accident were traveling on a seven-day voyage on the Carnival Vista ship. The ship departed Galveston, Texas, on Nov. 23.

Cruise ship accidents are more commonplace than you might think. If you or a loved one has been the victim of injury or harm while onboard a cruise ship or during a shore excursion, you may be entitled to compensation for damages. Call Florida-based Corless Barfield Trial Group today at 813-258-4998. Our experienced injury attorneys represent those whose lives were impacted by the negligence of cruise lines. 

All cruise lines must ensure that their passengers and employees are safe from the risk of serious injuries. If you suffered injuries while aboard a ship, and you believe that a cruise line failed in their duty to protect you from harm, you may be entitled to a recovery for your damages. 

If you experienced a slip and fall, sexual assault, shore excursion injury, food poisoning or contaminated food, unsafe conditions (such as defective handrails), tender boat accidents, cruise ship medical malpractice, or onboard fires, call Corless Barfield Trial Group at 813-258-4998.

Whether your personal injury claim is subject to Florida state, federal, or international law, our knowledgeable and experienced accident attorneys are ready to handle even the most complex cases. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

At Corless Barfield Trial Group, we don’t recommend settlement unless it’s in our client’s best interests. We offer our clients this unique, tactical benefit: Corless Barfield Trial Group thoroughly and painstakingly prepares cases with the view that they are going to trial. It’s all in the name – we are a personal injury law firm prepared and focused on trial. Corless Barfield Trial Group is committed to creating winning strategies for trial.

If you’ve been seriously injured or lost a loved one due to another’s negligent or reckless behavior, we will assess your case and provide you with an honest opinion on your case at no cost to you. For a free consultation, call us today at 813-258-4998.

Corless Barfield Trial Group is a law firm serving the Carrollwood and Westchase communities. If you are wondering if you have a personal injury case, the best thing to do is get a professional opinion from Corless Barfield as soon as possible. There are time limits on filing a case and delaying could jeopardize your right to compensation.

Our attorneys have extensive experience representing seriously injured people and their families in motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, motorcycle accidents, premises liability accidents, and other catastrophic event cases. We provide the highest quality of service to our clients. Our lawyers handle accident and personal injury claims including:

• Car Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Commercial Vehicle Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Slip, Trip, and Falls
• Premises Liability
• Wrongful Death

Our group of top-rated, experienced, and knowledgeable personal injury attorneys have substantial resources to develop and present comprehensive and convincing evidence in court.

Corless Barfield Trial Group maintains strong relationships with internationally known experts in the fields of medicine, engineering, accident reconstruction, law enforcement, technology specialists, and economists to provide evidentiary support for our client’s claims.

We spare no resource in the investigation and preparation of each case for trial. We incorporate cutting-edge courtroom technology into our litigation strategy to help support expert testimony and assist jurors in fully understanding the various and complex aspects of a case.

All personal injury cases are carefully developed so that our courtroom presentations are powerful and successful. We aim to out-prepare and out-perform opposing counsels, insurance companies, and other third party entities so that our client’s message resonates with judges and jurors. We have the resources necessary to go up against the largest adversaries.

Our personal injury lawyers know the lengths insurance companies will go to limit the amount of money they have to pay to injury victims and we’re ready to fight for your rights. Our talented litigators understand how insurance companies operate and are prepared to stand up to them at trial. Contact us today at 813-258-4998 to schedule your free case evaluation with a personal injury trial attorney. We are your community law firm.

If you’re thinking of suing an insurance company for bad faith, it’s important that you understand what that means. You need to understand what services an insurance company is responsible for providing and how to know if they’re failing the expectations set. It’s understandable – we pay these companies hundreds of dollars a month and trust that when the going gets rough, they’ll be there for us. So what is a bad faith lawsuit, and how do you know if you should pursue one?

What does bad faith mean?

A bad faith lawsuit occurs after another attempted lawsuit. For example, say you’re involved in a major car accident, and file a claim with your insurance company. Once you’ve filed the claim, provided them with all the information they ask for, and essentially wait your turn in the queue, your insurance company is responsible for two things:

1. Offering and providing a reasonable settlement
2. Doing so in a timely manner

Essentially, the theory is that insurance companies have a duty to negotiate in good faith, and should settle claims in a timely manner for appropriate amounts.  If the insurance company does not settle when it should have settled, and the injured person goes to trial and the jury awards an amount greater than the insurance policy limits, the law might look to the insurance company and question why the insurance company made the person go to trial and failed to settle the case earlier.

What is a bad faith lawsuit?

A bad faith lawsuit is a separate lawsuit against an insurance company for not settling cases when they should settle them, and these bad faith lawsuits can often result in verdicts that are much higher than the underlying personal injury lawsuits.  This area of the law is intended to encourage insurance companies to “do the right thing” during settlement negotiations.  Specifically, once the insurance company has sufficient information to know it should pay the policy limits, the insurance company is required to pay the insurance limits to the injured person.  If the insurance company does not pay the insurance limits when it should have paid the limits, then the insurance company is said to have acted in bad faith, and is subject to a separate “bad faith” lawsuit for failing to pay a claim in a timely fashion.

Of course, the question then becomes, when and under what circumstances does an insurance company have enough information to pay the insurance limits on a claim?  And moreover, what constitutes a timely payment?  This is what an insured brings to the court to decide when suing an insurance company for bad faith, and hopefully force the insurance company’s hand in making a timely, reasonable decision.

If you find yourself in a position where you’re questioning the dependability of your insurance company, contact Corless Barfield for a free consultation.

Getting into an automobile accident can be terrifying for those involved. When you are in that position, you’re not thinking about how your behavior might affect your insurance claim, or whether you need to contact your personal injury attorney. You’re thinking about the event that just happened, how to make sure everyone gets home safely, and what you’re going to do about your immediate future.

This is a natural response, but not handling the scene of an automobile accident properly can put you in a vulnerable position. If you’re not educated on the value of getting an attorney after being involved in an accident, you can be put in an even more difficult position, and easily be taken advantage of by the insurance company.

Should I get an attorney after a car accident? Absolutely. Read on to find out your first steps after a car accident, and how hiring an attorney can make your case.

Your first step

First, never leave the scene of an automobile accident. Even if no one was hurt, stay at the scene until all of the steps are taken to ensure your safety, the safety of the other party, and the protection of your interests. If you are in the road, you may move to the safest near location, but stay as close to the scene as possible. While it’s understandable to wish to leave the scene out of fear, anxiety, or even confusion, your presence is absolutely necessary.

The blame game

Next, call the police immediately.  You will want an unbiased report of the accident. Answer the police officer’s questions, but do not say it was your fault. Use truthful facts, not personal opinion, which means not discussing which driver caused the accident. It is the insurance company’s job to “place blame”, and they will use the police report. Therefore, if you state that it was your fault, your insurance company can take advantage of you by raising your premium, refusing to pay for the accident, or even dropping you.

Unless you are an expert, there is no way you could know that an automobile accident was your fault, even if you feel like it was. However, saying outright that it was your responsibility can put you in a bad position later. Speak only to the police officer about the accident. You can, of course, find out if the other party is alright, but do not discuss the accident with any party other than the officer at the scene.  

Stay calm

Try to remain calm when speaking to the officer, so that there is no unintentional bias on their part. While it is reasonable that being involved in a traumatic situation can leave you unstable, keep in mind that emotional people can sometimes seem irrational. Do your best to keep yourself together and take care of business. The first moments after an accident are crucial, so remain unbiased and unemotional – state the facts only.

Anyone who was driving during the automobile accident should ideally write down their name, address, phone number, e-mail, insurance company, and policy number. You’ll want to provide your insurance company with all the information possible; while they will be contacting any other drivers to get the full story, you may help the process along by collecting their information.

Take pictures

If you are able, take photos of both cars. Take pictures of the inside and outside if possible, and try to get a very clear view of the damage. Again, this may help your insurance company to come to a speedy and accurate decision. It is best if you are able to do this in the position that the cars were when they crashed. However, if you have had to move them, or couldn’t take the pictures at the scene, just try to take them as soon as possible, either at the side of the road or at the garage they are towed to.  

Should I get an attorney after a car accident? Yes.

Filing a claim with your car insurance company can be a nasty business. Insurance companies are in the business to make money and generally are not on your side. While some situations may end well, with insureds getting the coverage that they deserve, some have victims running in circles with unpaid insurance bills, unpaid time out of work, and medical bills that they cannot keep up with. Should I get an attorney after a car accident? Yes, this is where an attorney comes in.

An attorney knows what coverage you’re obligated to, and when your insurance company is trying to take advantage of you. If that is the case, an attorney knows how to force their hand, and treat you like you should be treated. Having an attorney on your side tells your insurance company that you are serious about getting what you deserve, that you will not hesitate to sue.

Don’t let your insurance company take advantage of you. Call Corless Barfield Trial Group if you have incurred any injury in the accident, no matter how minor it may seem.  Meeting with a personal injury attorney will help you to assess your rights, navigate the process ahead, and find out what you are entitled to.

You may also be interested in:

Reverse Camera Safety
10 Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
How to Choose Car Insurance Options