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MARCH/APRIL 2023
DeWittLaw.com
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This is the best piece of advice I can give to anyone shopping for auto insurance: Make sure you include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in your policy. As a personal injury attorney, I often come across clients who have been involved in car accidents and are unable to recover full compensation for their damages because the at-fault driver is either uninsured or underinsured. Recent research estimates that roughly 20%–25% of drivers in Florida do not have auto insurance, which makes these types of insurance coverage so crucial in our state. Uninsured motorist (UM) insurance coverage protects you if you are in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or if you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident. Underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance coverage provides protection if the at-fault driver has insurance, but the policy limits are not enough to cover the full extent of your damages. If you have UM coverage, your insurance company will step in to cover your damages up to the limits of your policy. This can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. UIM coverage works similarly, but in this case, your insurance company will only provide additional coverage after the at-fault driver’s policy limits have been exhausted. For example, if you have $100,000 in damages and the at-fault driver has insurance with a limit of $50,000, your UIM coverage would step in and cover the remaining $50,000. The minimum liability insurance requirement in Florida is $10,000 for property damage and $10,000 for personal injury protection. However, this amount may not be enough to fully compensate you for your damages if you suffered severe injuries or have substantial damage IT WILL GIVE YOU PEACE OF MIND Do I Need Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
to your vehicle. Most insurance companies offer higher limits, so you should consider purchasing a higher limit if you can afford it. UM and UIM coverage is optional in Florida, so you must opt in to have this coverage on your policy. If you don’t have this coverage, you may not be able to recover full compensation for your damages if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. Having UM and UIM coverage can also make the claims process smoother and less stressful. Without this coverage, you may have to pay for your damages out of pocket or seek compensation through other means, such as a lawsuit. With UM and UIM coverage, you can file a claim with your own insurance company, and they will handle the process for you. With so many drivers without insurance sharing the roads, it’s not worth it to push your luck. Update your policy to include UM and UIM coverage, and you’ll quickly gain peace of mind whenever you hit the road. – Moe DeWitt
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PERSONAL INJURY - AUTO ACCIDENT - DIVORCE
One-Eared Rescue Dog Becomes Master Painter VAN GOGH REINCARNATED?
When a one-eared shelter dog in Connecticut struggled to find a new family last year, one of his caretakers had a wild idea: Why not teach him to paint? With help from TikTok and peanut butter, the aptly named Van Gogh became a social media star. “I’d seen TikTok videos of other dogs creating paintings, so why not Van Gogh?” Jaclyn Gartner, the founder of Happily Furever After Rescue, told The Washington Post. “He certainly had the name and the ear for it.” To leverage what she calls Van Gogh’s “fast and creative tongue,” Gartner covered small canvases in dollops of paint, wrapped them in plastic wrap, and slathered them in peanut butter. Then, she presented the treats to the boxer-pit bull mix. He quickly licked the canvases clean, creating his “art” along the way. According to the Post, Van Gogh’s first few paintings flopped — just like the work of
the human artist Vincent Van Gogh, who didn’t become famous until after he died in 1890. This star rose thanks to Jo Van Gogh, the wife of his brother Theo, who advocated for his work after both Theo and Vincent passed away. You could say that Gartner was dog Van Gogh’s Jo because, like the original painter’s, the pup’s art staged a comeback! After his first “art show” drew just two guests, Gartner started auctioning off his paintings online. His abstract work like “Peacock Swirl” and a rendition of human Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” quickly raised more than $3,000 for Happily Furever After Rescue. As his reputation soared on social media, Van Gogh also found his forever home with shelter volunteer Jessica Starowitz. He now spends his days painting and lounging on the couch. You can follow his exploits on Instagram under the handle @officialvgdog.
THERE’S A PROBLEM WITH THE INSURANCE REFORMS IN FLORIDA
On Dec. 16, Senate Bill 2A was signed into law and repealed one-way attorney fees and
The Governor and Legislature are painting these reforms as a win for the average Floridian. They claim this will help bring down insurance costs, as Florida has been ranked the most expensive state for property and automobile insurance over the last two years. In truth, these reforms will make things more difficult for regular citizens. These changes will likely reduce the amount of insurance claims reported, which could potentially lower everyone’s insurance premiums, but there’s no guarantee of that. What is guaranteed is that fewer people will be able to sue their insurance companies if they fail to pay on a claim because they can’t afford to do so. Furthermore, cases with a lower projected payout will be less appealing for many lawyers, and they may become more selective about which cases they choose. It will take years to understand the full scope of how these changes will affect the average Floridian, but early estimates don’t look promising.
assignment-of-benefits agreements in property insurance claims. The one-way attorney fee law made it so that an insurance company would have to pay the legal bills of the policyholder if the policyholder successfully sued the insurance company who refused to pay a claim. Insurance companies claimed that this law encouraged individuals to sue their insurance companies for unnecessary reasons. In early 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis announced further comprehensive reforms that the government hopes will “decrease frivolous lawsuits and prevent predatory practices of trial attorneys that prey on hardworking Floridians.” DeSantis even went so far to say the legal system benefitted lawyers more than those injured. On March 24, DeSantis signed House Bill 837, which will make it more difficult, and more expensive, to sue insurance companies.
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Here Are 3 Theories Why DIVORCE RATES SPIKE IN SPRING While you might think that the holiday season leads to a higher rate of divorce filings, divorce rates actually increase in March. But why? Everyone’s situation is different, so there is no answer that fits every scenario, but here are three theories. THE WINTER HOLIDAYS ARE OVER. Stress and financial pressure after the holidays can put a strain on the relationship, leading to conflicts and disagreements. Many will push through Christmas, New Year’s, and even Valentine’s Day with the hope that the holidays will improve the situation, but that’s rarely the case. It’s more likely that the holidays will cause an even greater divide. By the time everything has calmed down a few months later, the couple is ready to go their separate ways. SPRING IS A TIME TO START FRESH. Most of us are familiar with the concept of spring-cleaning: out with the old, in with the new. While this certainly applies to cleaning our homes, it also applies to our mental and emotional well-being. Many people start to evaluate their thoughts and emotions in the days leading up to spring so they can start fresh with the season. They may find that their current relationship is keeping them from the success and happiness they want, leading them to divorce.
A COUPLE MADE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS. New Year’s resolutions are a time-honored tradition, and some couples who have had a rough go in the months leading up to the new year may create a resolution to work through their problems. But this resolution usually comes with a deadline. Once March rolls around, these couples are often ready to take the next step and meet with a divorce lawyer if they haven’t fixed their problems.
CLASSIC CABBAGE ROLLS
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
•
1 medium head cabbage
1. In a Dutch oven, cook cabbage in boiling water for 10 minutes; drain. Rinse in cold water; drain. Remove 8 large outer leaves; set aside. 2. In a large saucepan, sauté 1 cup onion in butter. Add tomatoes, garlic, brown sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt. Simmer sauce for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. In a large bowl, combine rice, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and remaining onion and salt. Crumble beef and sausage over mixture and mix. 4. Remove thick vein from cabbage leaves for easier rolling. Place 1/2 cup meat mixture on each leaf; fold in sides. Starting at an unfolded edge, roll leaf to completely enclose filling. Place rolls seam side down in a skillet. Top with sauce. 5. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low; cook 20 minutes longer or until a thermometer inserted reads 160 F.
•
1 1/2 cups chopped onion, divided
• • • • • •
1 tbsp butter
2 14.5-oz cans Italian stewed tomatoes 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 tbsp brown sugar 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
1 cup cooked rice
• 1/4 cup ketchup • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1 lb lean (90%) ground beef • 1/4 lb Italian sausage
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PHONE AVAILABLE 24/7 (OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY–FRIDAY, 9 A.M.–5 P.M.)
The Importance of UM/UIM Coverage
1
Meet Van Gogh, the Painting Dog
2
House Bill 837 Isn’t As Helpful As You Might Think
2
3 Reasons Why Divorce Rates Spike in Spring
3
Classic Cabbage Rolls
3
Want a Vitamin Boost?
4
Soak Up the Sunshine Vitamin HEALTH BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D
IT REDUCES THE RISKS OF DEPRESSION. Studies have shown that those who are deficient in vitamin D become more prone to mood disorders and depression. To ensure that you support your mental health, step outside and get some happy, feel-good rays! IT’S POSSIBLY LINKED TO WEIGHT LOSS. While it’s not fully proven that vitamin D helps with weight loss, many studies have found links between vitamin D supplements and shedding a few pounds. In one study, one group of people taking vitamin D and calcium supplements lost more weight than another group taking placebos. IT PREVENTS AND HELPS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. Not only is vitamin D proven to lower a person’s chances of getting this horrible disease, but for those who already have it, it can also reduce symptoms or slow down the disease’s progression. This spring, be sure to get outdoors and soak up some vitamin D; however, don’t forget to protect your skin, too! To avoid overexposure, only about 10–15 minutes a day of unprotected sun is recommended.
With spring on the horizon, we all will be able to get outdoors a little more and
soak up some sun — and extra vitamin D! Bring on the picnics, pool days, hiking, sports activities, and leisurely walks through the park!
Let’s take a look at the many benefits this vitamin
provides for our bodies.
IT BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. Vitamin D helps your body fight off sickness. In fact, it’s been proven that deficiencies in vitamin D are connected to an increased possibility of developing infections and autoimmune diseases such as the flu, heart disease, and diabetes. IT COUNTERS OSTEOPOROSIS. Osteoporosis, a loss in bone mass, is common as we get older. However, vitamin D is one of the key players in helping to slow down bone loss and prevent or treat osteoporosis so we can maintain a healthy skeletal system.
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PERSONAL INJURY - AUTO ACCIDENT - DIVORCE
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