Klausman Law

Klausman Law Helping people with their injury claims, insurance claims, and legal claims for 30 years. Free consultation. No recovery no fee or costs for most cases.

My father and mother taught me to always treat people the way you would want them you treat you. To put yourself in the other person’s shoes to understand the way they see things. To try to do your best at everything you do. To make as many friends as you can, because you never have too many. My first job after law school was with the Public Defender’s office in Sanford and then in Orlando. I was

in court every week the five years I was an assistant Public Defender. Some of the best trial lawyers get their start as assistant Public Defenders. You learn trial skills, effective communicating, and you develop your reputation in the legal community. The downside is as you become better and better as a Public Defender, you are called upon to represent those accused of more serious and heinous crimes. As a Public Defender I was in the courthouse with an hour break between hearings and I went into a courtroom across the hall where a trial was taking place. When I walked in I saw a young woman walking with a limp and with cane to the witness box. I learned she had been injured in a car crash. I watched the insurance company’s lawyer cross-examining her. In criminal court, I had never seen a victim being treated so poorly by a lawyer. I watched as long as I could until I had to return to the courtroom across the hall for my scheduled hearing. When that was finished I went back to watch more of the injured woman’s trial. I watched as the insurance lawyer called a doctor hired by the insurance company to testify that in his opinion the injured woman was exaggerating her symptoms. I then watched the injured woman’s attorney cross-examine that doctor and expose him as a hired gun who made his living testifying for insurance companies. I knew at that point I wanted to spend my legal career representing injured accident victims. A month or so later, I started with the Jacobs & Goodman law firm, in January, 1982. At that time, I was the only attorney in the firm other than Harry Jacobs and Lauren Goodman. The firm focused on injury law and was the first to advertise in Central Florida offering free consultations and no attorney fees unless the client obtained a recovery. The firm soon grew to be the largest law firm in the county and I was the chief trial attorney. At Jacobs & Goodman I learned injury law and insurance law. I learned more anatomy and medicine related to injuries than I ever imagined I would know. For every client’s injuries I needed to know everything I could about the client and their injuries. I read medical texts and journals to try to become an expert on the nature of my client’s injuries and how those injuries would affect their everyday life and their future. I studied what happens to our bodies when we are in a car collision—what experts call “the mechanism of the injury.”

As I began representing clients with injury claims I also needed to become an expert on Florida insurance law, because almost all injury claims are brought against the insurance company for whoever caused my client’s injuries. I learned how insurance companies deny claims and the arguments they use to try and minimize an accident victim’s claim. I made it my goal to become an expert in this area of the law so I can best represent my clients against insurance companies. I have now being handling injury claims and wrongful death claims for over 30 years and believe I have an excellent reputation in the legal community. Many of my cases are referrals from other attorneys, from doctors, and I’ve even had local judges refer clients to me. Word of mouth is the best advertising. Clients who are thrilled with the results in their cases are every attorney’s best advertising. My goal has been to represent every client the way I would want to be treated. To put myself in my client’s shoes. To do the best I can for each client. After three decades with Jacobs & Goodman, I started my own law firm in 2015. I wanted to provide more personal service to each client. Each client has my cell phone number. I want each client to call me whenever they have a problem or a question, even if it’s after hours or on the weekend. My goal is to help. I am fortunate to have former clients as friends who still call me after their cases are over whenever they need legal advice. As my parents taught me, You can never have too many friends.

08/06/2020

Happy Thursday,which means I'm on episode of Colbert Court on Real Radio 104.1 on the Jim Colbert Show. It's on at 4:35PM on Thursdays. Listen or watch live on Facebook on "The Jim Colbert Show" page. It's a fun segment that also provides folks with information and knowledge concerning injury claims and insurance claims. Check it out.

More people are now enjoying bicycling, and here are some helpful tips on Florida laws specific to bicyclists. Even if y...
06/04/2020

More people are now enjoying bicycling, and here are some helpful tips on Florida laws specific to bicyclists. Even if you are not a bicyclist, you should know these laws and safely share the road with bicyclists.
Florida law considers bicyclists riding on roads as vehicles, just like a car, and bicyclists are required by law to follow many of the same rules as motorized traffic, including riding with the flow of traffic rather than against it. Bicyclists must follow all traffic control devices, including traffic signal lights, stop signs, and roadway signs.
If a bike lane exists on a road, a bicyclist must use the bike lane if going less than the speed of other traffic. If no bike lane exists, the bicyclist should stay as close as practical to the right except when passing another bicyclist or vehicle, preparing to make a left turn, avoiding a hazard, or when the lane is too narrow for both a bike and a car. Left turns can be handled a number of ways for cyclists under Florida law. Bicycles are entitled to use a left turn lane — but please check to make sure crossing to the turn lane is safe from oncoming traffic and please signal the intent to turn.
Cyclists cannot ride more than two abreast except on paths or on parts of roads set aside for bicyclists. Bicyclists riding two abreast cannot impede traffic when going at less than the normal speed of traffic. The number of people on a bike cannot exceed the number of seats on the bike.
Some cities have local laws or ordinances concerning riding on sidewalks, especially in downtown areas, and when there is a safe alternative to riding on a sidewalk the bicyclist should choose the safe alternative. Sidewalks are not designed for the speed of bicycle riders in relation to walkers. Bicyclists are required to yield to pedestrians and to always give an audible warning when approaching and encountering a pedestrian.
Required bicycle equipment includes front and back lights that must illuminate for all riding between sunset and sunrise. More than half of Florida’s bike fatalities occur at night. Bicyclists cannot wear headsets, headphones, or listening devices, other than hearing aids. It is critical that bicyclists hear traffic sounds, including traffic horns and emergency vehicle sirens.
Riders under the age of 16 are required to wear a properly fitted helmet. Helmets are also strongly recommended for adults. Helmets can prevent brain injuries that can cause a lifetime of devastating issues for the bicyclist and for his or her family.
The cases we’ve handled for injured bicyclists often occur when cars are exiting driveways, businesses, and side streets. There may be an obstruction such as a row of bushes that prevents the motorist from seeing oncoming traffic, so the motorist pulls across the path of the oncoming bicyclist that is often approaching on a sidewalk. When bicyclists travel against the flow of oncoming traffic, the motorist exiting a driveway or business to turn right may look only to the left for oncoming traffic and never see the oncoming bicyclist resulting in another bad collision between the bicyclist and the motor vehicle. When these impacts occur, the bicyclist always loses.
For more information, see https://floridabicycle.org/bicycle-traffic-law/ and here is a thorough guide for bicyclists and for all of us sharing the road with bicyclists: https://jsteelelaw.com/…/a…/assets/pdfs/fl-bikelaws_2012.pdf. Here is the link to the City of Orlando bicycle ordinance that prohibits bicycle riding on sidewalks in areas “where prohibited by clearly visible signs or markings”: fil:///C:/Users/Glenn/AppData/Local/Packages/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe/TempState/Downloads/Bike_Ordinance_Final_9-10-2018_(1)%20(1).pdf Check the city ordinances where you ride concerning bicycling on sidewalks.
Be safe.

The real "Insurance Crisis" is insurance companies getting more aggressive in denying claims and chiseling on claims to ...
03/07/2019

The real "Insurance Crisis" is insurance companies getting more aggressive in denying claims and chiseling on claims to increase their profits. The more they profit the more their top dogs get paid. The link below is the industry report of State Farm's 2018 profit of $6,300,000,000.00. The report notes for 2018, the State Farm CEO received $6,600,000.00. Many companies bonus claims department staff based on profitability, which encourages staff to deny and chisel on claims so staff can get bigger bonuses...

BLOOMINGTON — State Farm property-casualty companies reported a pre-tax operating gain of $6.3 billion for 2018 after two consecutive years of operating losses.

Please share this with everyone you know who has a baby, toddler, or plans on having one in the future
03/07/2019

Please share this with everyone you know who has a baby, toddler, or plans on having one in the future

Tide Pods have become one of P&G’s biggest blockbusters. There’s only one problem—too many kids are getting poisoned by them.

11/03/2018

Another victory against a major car insurance company this week.
Client left her business to take the business money and checks to be deposited in her bank when a car accident occurred.
The client had collision coverage insurance to pay for her car damage.
Her insurance company refused to pay.
Her insurance company said her car insurance EXCLUDED insurance for her trip because her insurance policy excluded coverage when an accident occurs "while transporting persons or property for compensation or a fee."
That's something people do every day and they would never expect that their insurance coverage excludes those trips.
And insurance companies should not try and take advantage of people by denying coverage under that exclusion unless someone is actually in the business of using their vehicle for hire.
We filed a lawsuit asking the judge to declare that the insurance exclusion of "transporting persons or property for compensation or a fee" does NOT apply to an employee making a trip to the bank to make a business deposit.
What Happened?
Rather than allowing us to get to the point where a judge would rule the insurance policy exclusion does NOT apply to those types of trips, the insurance company waved the white flag and paid the claim.
Will the insurance company do the same thing to others? Absolutely. They know that when they tell their policyholders that the insurance policy language EXCLUDES a claim, most people will believe them and not challenge the insurance company.
Most people do not realize that in Florida, when you have to file a lawsuit against your own insurance company for denying a collision coverage claim, if you win the insurance company must pay all your attorney fees and court costs.
I enjoy handling those cases and agree to pursue those cases with the agreement if we win the insurance company pays my attorney fees and if we lose the client owes me no attorney fees.

Motorcyclists at risk for head injuries, road rash
12/05/2017

Motorcyclists at risk for head injuries, road rash

For many Florida riders, motorcycles are a fast, fuel-efficient way to get where they need to go. However, motorcycles ... motorcycle accidents

12/01/2017

AAA studies benefits of truck safety technology

Many drivers in Florida and throughout the U.S. feel uncomfortable when sharing the road with commercial trucks. As trucking ... trucking accidents

Getting your medical bills covered after an auto accident
11/21/2017

Getting your medical bills covered after an auto accident

Getting your medical bills covered after an auto accident - blog - Klausman Law

Address

1201 Louisiana Avenue, Suite A
Winter Park, FL
32789

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Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 1pm

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+14079171718

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Attorneys helping people with injury and death claims and insurance disputes. Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents and other claims for injuries and wrongful death. Recognized by Super Lawyers and Florida Trend magazine "Legal Elite"" recognition.