The state’s mental health parity act provides that insurers must provide the same coverage for a mental illness that they would for a physical illness says a three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

For decades mental health advocates have thought insurance companies to get equal treatment for mental disorders or brain illnesses that were covered under insurance policies. In 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act expanded the rules to include substance abuse treatment and barred employers who include mental health services in their insurance plans from covering them at a lower level than other medical conditions. As a result, an estimated 140 million Americans no longer face higher deductibles, steeper co-payments or other restrictions when they seek mental health and substance abuse treatment services.

All workers employed to perform work on any contracts with any U.S. government agency, including construction and service contracts and contracts approved and funded by the U.S. under the Foreign Assistance Act, if the contract is performed outside of the United States;

All employees engaged in such employment, regardless of nationality, including U.S. citizens and residents, host country nationals (local hires), and third country nationals (individuals hired from another country to work in the host country), are covered under the Act;

All workers employed by all levels of contract, including sub-contracts and subordinate contracts, are covered under the Act. A contractor that fails to ensure that the employees of its sub-contractor have appropriate coverage may be responsible for its sub-contractors’ employees.

If you need help getting compensation for injuries recieved while working oversees, contact Michael E. Seelie today.

Emergency vehicles always have the right of way when their sirens are turned on.

If there are traffic lights present, the intersection is considered a “controlled intersection” where the right of way is determined by the traffic light. If the traffic lights become inoperative, the intersection becomes an uncontrolled four-way stop. This means every vehicle must come to a complete stop before crossing the intersection.

When dealing with conflicting paths without a controlled intersection, certain vehicles have priority over others in certain situations. Vehicles already in the intersection have the right of way. If two cars reach an intersection at the same time, the one on the left yields to the one on the right. When faced with oncoming traffic, yield before making a left hand turn or in any way obstruct the flow of traffic.

In Florida, all state roads have the right of way when the intersection with other roads is unmarked. Paved roads always have right of way over unpaved ones.

When approaching a sidewalk to enter a state road, whether it is from an alley, private road, driveway, or building, always yield the right of way to approaching traffic and pedestrians. A violation of any the above stated usually costs $60 and 3 points on your license.

We understand that if you have been in a car accident, or are the family member of a victim, you may be overwhelmed by all that has happened – perhaps suffering from emotional, physical and financial injury and loss. While monetary compensation cannot change what happened, it can help with medical bills, employment, rehabilitation and your financially stability in your future.

If you have had an auto accident in Florida, contact a personal injury attorney.

The personal injury attorneys Michael E. Seelie, PA are committed to helping automobile accident victims in Florida receive all of the compensation they deserve under the law. We are dedicated to providing outstanding legal service to our clients. Client satisfaction is our number one goal.

We understand that if you have been in a car accident, or are the family member of a victim, you may be overwhelmed by all that has happened – perhaps suffering from emotional, physical and financial injury and loss. While monetary compensation cannot change what happened, it can help with medical bills, employment, rehabilitation and your financially stability in your future.

This is more important now than ever because the drug and oil industries, big insurance companies and other large corporations dominate our political process – and thus, people cannot depend on the political system to hold corporations accountable. When corporations and their CEOs act irresponsibly by delaying or refusing to pay fair and just insurance claims, producing unsafe products, polluting our environment or swindling their employees and shareholders, the last resort for Americans to hold them accountable is in our courts.

Because of the civil justice system, our cars are safer, environment is cleaner, and medicine is safer.
Read more at http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/15050.htm

“The Supreme Court has allowed major corporations to grant themselves immunity when they cheat consumers or employees. This decision leaves Americans with practically no recourse to challenge corporate wrongdoing and gives corporations a blueprint to draft forced arbitration clauses to avoid accountability for a wide range of unfair or illegal practices.

“This is a death blow to Americans’ chances for justice when faced with forced arbitration clauses. This devastating decision has the potential to result in virtually no consumer or employee cases involving small claims being heard anywhere. Corporations will now be allowed to get away with sweeping wrongdoing, particularly where the damages would be too small to justify pursuing individual claims.

“Many states have deemed provisions banning class actions unconscionable. This decision preempts state law and further highlights the need for a legislative fix that would end the use of forced arbitration. It is imperative that Congress pass the Arbitration Fairness Act to protect consumers and employees from these abusive practices.”

The Center for Constitutional Litigation filed an amicus brief on behalf of AAJ, which can be found here. If you would like to speak to an AAJ spokesperson further about the implications of this decision, please let me know
read more at www.justice.org

Traffic deaths in the United States have dropped to their lowest level since 1949, according to a report released this month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Remarkably, this drop occurred even as Americans drove 21 billion more miles in 2010 than they had the previous year.

The drop in fatalities is due in large part to the fact that cars are getting safer. Since the introduction of the Ford Pinto nearly four decades ago — a car synonymous with danger, destruction and executives putting profits ahead of consumer safety — amazing advancements have been made in auto safety. The technology is better, regulations are stronger and buyers have more information. Not surprisingly, consumers are drawn to cars with the latest safety features.

Yet these factors alone do not tell the whole story. History shows that litigation and the civil justice system have served as the most consistent and powerful forces in heightening safety standards, revealing previously concealed defects and regulatory weaknesses and deterring manufacturers from cutting corners on safety for the goal of greater profits.
read more at justice.org

The risk of rear-end collisions is particularly great in city traffic where traffic patterns create “stop and go” traveling. 75 percent of accidents recorded by the police occur at speeds below 30 mph.

Under Florida law “when the defendant produces evidence which fairly and reasonably tends to show that the rear fact is not presumed,” the driver may not be liable. If you have been a victim of a rear end collision, it is important that you hire an attorney immediately after a rear-end accident. The days after the car accident are crucial to investigate whether the at-fault driver will be raising one of the three fact patterns that could rebut their presumed negligence.

Common rear end collision injuries are whiplash, cervical or neck injuries, baqck injuries, cuts and abrasions. If the seat back in the car failed in the impact, injuries may be more severe. Michael E. Seelie, Personal Injury Attorney counsel clients in Jacksonville, Florida and the surrounding communities of Orange Park, St. Augustine, Green Cove Springs, Callahan, Palatka, Fernandina Beach, Gainesville, and Lake City in rear end collisions.