It’s no surprise that being in a car accident can be stressful. In the aftermath of the accident, you may have to deal with a damaged vehicle, intimidating conversations with law enforcement, confusing calls with insurance companies, and the limitations and pain of physical injuries.

You have a lot to deal with after a car accident, which is why you must get support.

While you can manage the aftermath of an auto accident on your own, there are multiple benefits to working with someone who has experience navigating your situation. An experienced personal injury attorney knows what you are going through and what you need to do to manage the process and lead to the best possible outcome.

5 Reasons To Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney After a Car Accident

You don’t have to navigate the time after a car accident on your own. In fact, you don’t want to.

A personal injury attorney can be a partner by your side during this difficult time to help relieve you of some of your stress and concern. They can be a partner by your side who will fight for your best interests and help you get the fair outcome you deserve. Here are five reasons why you should talk to a personal injury attorney after a car accident.

#1) An attorney will tell you if you have a case.

Don’t waste time wondering if you need an attorney or if you have a case. If you or a close loved one have been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, talk to an attorney right away.

An attorney can look at the details of your situation and advise you if you have a case worth fighting for. They can tell you if you have an opportunity to collect damages and receive compensation as a result of the accident.

Related: 5 Reasons to Contact a Car Accident Lawyer After a Crash   

#2) An attorney will conduct an investigation and fight to prove fault.

An important part of winning a personal injury case and collecting financial compensation is proving fault. You must be able to show the accident was caused by the negligence of another party.

An attorney can conduct an investigation to gather evidence that supports your side of the case. They can contact and interview witnesses, review police reports, and collect photos and videos to resolve any disputes about what happened and prove who was at fault for the accident.

Related: Injured in a Car Accident? Here’s What You Need to Do Right Away.   

#3) An attorney can help you collect more money.

Insurance companies will try to pay out as little as possible after an auto accident. An experienced personal injury attorney knows the tactics insurance companies use to limit the amount of money they must pay, and they can employ strategies to force insurance companies to pay what is legally owed to injured parties.

An attorney can calculate and clearly show the full value of damages owed. They can collect personal injury compensation to pay for damaged vehicles as well as other monetary and non-monetary damages such as:

• Immediate medical bills (hospital expenses, surgeries, prescriptions, etc.)
• Future medical bills (physical therapy, massage therapy, prescriptions, chiropractor sessions, pain management treatment, mental health treatment, etc.)
• Cost of home-care and domestic services
• Lost income
• Loss of future earnings
• Property damage
• Costs of altered plans (canceling a vacation, wedding, etc.)
• Debilitating long-term physical impairments
• Physical disfigurement or deformities
• Emotional trauma (stress and anxiety)
• Loss of consortium or companionship
• Damage to lifestyle because of the injury

Related: What To Do After a Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault   

#4) An attorney will help you prepare for a deposition.

If you sue a party after a car accident, you may need to sit for a deposition. A deposition is part of the legal process where you must testify under oath and answer questions from both parties in the case.

A deposition can be nerve-racking and stressful. A personal injury attorney can not only guide you through the process, but they can also prepare you so you feel confident and comfortable during questioning. They can ensure that you approach the deposition in a way that will lead to the best possible outcome for your case.

Related: How to Prepare for a Personal Injury Deposition   

#5) You pay nothing until you win your case.

The number one reason why you should talk to a personal injury attorney after a car accident is because it is free. Most personal injury attorneys do not charge for consultations. You can review your story and determine if you have a case free of charge.

If you decide to pursue your case, most personal injury cases also do not require any upfront payment. Attorneys typically do not collect payment until you win your case and are awarded financial compensation.

TJ Grimaldi offers free consultants on all personal injury cases. You also pay nothing until we win your case. Don’t worry about adding additional expenses to your auto accident. You pay nothing until we win and you collect financial compensation.

Related: Want to Sue for Personal Injury? Take These 4 Steps   

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney About Your Car Accident

If you have been in a car accident, you can navigate the aftermath on your own, but we highly recommend that you talk to a trusted partner to help you with your case. An experienced personal injury attorney can ensure you get the highest possible payout after an auto accident.

Don’t leave your case up to chance and the goodwill of insurance companies. Work with an auto accident attorney who will fight for you to get everything you deserve. Request your free consultation or call 813-226-1023 to schedule with attorney TJ Grimaldi today.

Almost 100 people have died from overdoses in Pinellas County from February 2018 to June 2023. U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg is fighting to hold people accountable for these deaths. Most recently, a man was sentenced to life in prison for his actions that led to two overdose deaths.

What happened in the recent case, and what kind of charges do criminals face when they sell drugs that lead to an overdose death?

A Drug Deal Leads to Two Deaths

In May 2020, police were called to two overdose emergencies that took place within one mile of each other. A 34-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, whose names have not been released, suffered from fatal overdoses from fentanyl, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.

It is believed that both individuals thought they were purchasing and taking heroin, not fentanyl, which can be deadly in even extremely small doses.

Police found no connection between the two individuals, but they noticed similarities in their stories. An investigation found that both individuals had obtained the fentanyl from the same person, Bobby Peterson. The woman purchased the drugs directly from Peterson, and the man was given the drugs from a friend, Jacqueline Schneider, who had purchased the drugs from Peterson.

Related: If You’re Arrested for a Crime, Immediately Take These 6 Steps

An Arrest and Charges Filed

Schneider aided police in their efforts to find and charge the man responsible for the drug sale that led to the two deaths. A year after the overdose deaths, she arranged a sale between Peterson and an undercover detective.

Peterson was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl leading to death, distribution of fentanyl leading to death, and distribution of fentanyl.

Schneider later testified against Peterson, helping to tie him to the sales that led to the two deaths in 2020. In April, Peterson was convicted on all counts after a jury trial, and he was recently sentenced.

Related: What You Should Expect from Your Attorney in Every Case

Serious Sentencing for a Serious Crime

Months after being found guilty, Peterson was sentenced by a federal judge. The judge is said to have considered Peterson’s past in the sentencing. Peterson had previously served four years in state prison for trafficking the opioid hydromorphone and selling cocaine.

On July 23, 2024, Peterson was sentenced to two life terms and 30 years in prison.

Schneider was also charged in the case. She pleaded guilty to criminal charges of fentanyl distribution and was sentenced to 5 years of probation.

Related: Facing Florida Drug Possession Charges: 6 Things You Need to Know

Not the First Case Centered Around Fatal Overdoses

This case is not the first time a person has faced serious consequences for selling drugs that led to an overdose death.

This blog has covered two stores of drug deals leading to criminal charges. One man was charged with first-degree murder after selling drugs that led to the death of a 27-year-old woman. In another case, a man was also charged with first-degree murder when the drugs he sold to a woman led to her death.

Fentanyl is extremely dangerous and can even cause harm to those who accidentally encounter it. Our blog covered a story of a toddler who died from fentanyl after coming into contact with it in an Airbnb. While no criminal charges were filed in the case, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Airbnb, the owner and manager of the property, and the man who rented the Airbnb before them.

Part of the uptick in criminal cases against individuals who sell fatal doses of illegal drugs has been fueled by the efforts of U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Since his appointment in 2022, Handberg has made fentanyl prosecutions a priority. He has doubled the number of cases brought in the last two years.

Under Florida Statute 782.04(1)(a)(3), any person supplying drugs to another person can be charged with homicide if the person dies after using the substance. Handberg has been putting Florida laws to work in charging and prosecuting drug dealers.

Those accused of causing a death as a result of a drug deal face first-degree murder charges, which can be punishable by life in prison with no parole and carry the consequence of the death penalty. Peterson is the latest individual to face the consequences of the crime of distributing a lethal dose of illegal substances.

Talk to an Attorney Today

Drug offenses, whether small possession charges or more serious distribution charges, are serious. If you have been charged with any drug-related charges, talk to a criminal defense attorney right away.

Make a plan for your case. Schedule a free call with attorney TJ Grimaldi. All consultations are free and confidential. Contact us to schedule or call 813-226-1023 now.

When a person is charged with a crime, it is a relatively straightforward process. If the person is found guilty, they may have to pay fines or serve jail time. But what happens when it’s a company that’s charged with a crime?

Specifically, what does it mean when a huge corporation like Boeing is accused of engaging in criminal activity?

It Started with Two Planes Crashes

Boeing’s legal troubles started in 2018 when one of their planes, a 737 Max 8 operating under Lion Air, crashed in Jakarta, Indonesia, and killed all 189 passengers and crew onboard. The trouble continued in 2019 when another Boeing 727 Max 8 crashed in 2019. The plane operating under Ethiopia Airlines crashed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and killed all 157 people onboard.

The second crash of the same plane model led Boeing to ground all 737 Max 8 planes across the world.

At that time, Boeing said they were issuing updates to the planes before they were allowed to go back in the air, and Boeing and the United States government began conducting investigations into why the crashes occurred. The results of the investigations led to the United States Justice Department getting involved.

The Justice Department found that Boeing defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by withholding information, and they considered filing criminal charges against Boeing.

Related: What’s the Difference Between a Civil and Criminal Case? 

A Deal Helps Boeing Avoid Criminal Charges

Rather than filing criminal charges against Boeing in 2021, the Justice Department worked out a deal with them.

Boeing would defer the case and avoid criminal charges if they did not commit any other wrongdoing within three years. They would also have to:

• Pay more than $2.5 billion in a legal settlement related to the two crashes
• Establish a $500 million fund to compensate the families of those who died
• Pay a fine of nearly $244 million
• Pay $1.77 billion in compensation to airline customers who had travel disruptions due to the grounding of planes

Deferred prosecution agreements are often used by the government in criminal cases against corporations. If Boeing abided by the guidelines, the charges against them would be dropped, but Boeing did not meet the terms outlined in the agreement.

Two days before the expiration of the deferred prosecution agreement, a Boeing plane had another major malfunction. A door plug panel in the fuselage of a Boeing plane operated by Alaska Airlines blew out just a few minutes into a flight out of Portland, Oregon.

Related: What You Should Expect from Your Attorney in Every Case

A Violation and Another Deal

In May 2024, the Justice Department issued a letter to the judge stating that Boeing violated the terms of their 2021 settlement, per reporting by The New York Times.

In the letter, the Justice Department said Boeing failed to “design, implement and enforce” a compliance and ethics program to prevent and detect violations of US fraud laws in the company’s operations.

Rather than fight the charges against them, Boeing agreed to a plea deal. In July 2024, Boeing plead guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to defraud the federal government, per The New York Times.

If Boeing did not plead guilty, it is likely that the case would have gone to trial. By agreeing to the plea deal, Boeing avoided a more lengthy court case.

As part of the deal:

• Boeing agreed to pay a $487.2 million fine, the maximum allowed by law.
• They agreed to invest $455 million over the next three years on strengthening compliance and safety programs.
• Boeing will be put on probation and supervised by the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas for three years. The Justice Department will appoint an independent compliance monitor to make sure safety measures are in place and followed.
• The company’s board of directors must meet with the crash victims’ families.
• The company will face additional penalties if any of the terms are violated.

Boeing’s decision to plead guilty does not provide immunity to any employees or corporate executives.

Related: The Best Criminal Defense Attorneys Have These 7 Qualities

Will Individuals Be Criminally Charged?

Whether or not individuals will be criminally charged in the case is unknown at this time. Two Boeing employees have been accused of withholding information from the Federal Aviation Administration, per The New York Times.

It is rare for top executives to be held accountable for crimes committed by large corporations, but it can happen. In this case, the consequences have fallen on the organization as a whole and not on any particular individuals.

Talk to An Attorney Today

The legal system is complicated. Whether you are a large corporation or an individual charged with a crime, you need a trusted attorney by your side. If you have been charged with a crime, talk to a criminal defense attorney today.

All consultations with attorney TJ Grimaldi are free, so call today. Request your consultation or call 813-226-1023 now.

Multiple law enforcement departments joined forces to target an on-going problem in the Tampa Bay area: street racing.

How did six agencies join forces to issue 32 arrests and 165 traffic citations? And what new laws led to higher fines and consequences for those charged?

457 Traffic Stops on First Day of New Street Racing Laws

On July 1, 2024, Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Pinellas Park police departments and the Hillsborough and Pinellas County sheriff’s offices launched Operation Keep Our Streets.

Operation Keep Our Streets aimed to crackdown on the amount of street racing taking place around the Tampa Bay area. The initiative focused on two areas where street racing commonly takes place, the Gandy Bridge and the Courtney Campbell Causeway. In the past, drivers have been arrested on both of these roadways for racing at speeds over 100 mph, per reporting by the Tampa Bay Times.

During the first day of the crackdown, police conducted 457 traffic stops for unsafe driving behaviors and issued over one hundred citations and charges. The day resulted in:

• 32 Arrests (which included fleeing to elude police, street racing, and DUI charges)
• 18 Criminal Citations
• 162 Traffic Citations
• 295 Traffic Warnings

The 457 traffic stop took place on the same day that new laws on street racing, known as Senate Bill 1764, went into place.

Senate Bill 1764 was signed into law in May and went into effect on July 1, 2024. The bill aims to make streets safer by issuing stricter penalties for illegal racing, stunt driving, and street takeovers.

Penalties Under New Street Racing Laws

The new street racing laws increased fines and charges and issued new consequences. The new laws:

• Increased the maximum fine from $1,000 to $2,000 for people who participate in street racing.
• Increased the charge from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony charge for second offenses for people who participate in street racing. The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and fines ranging from $2,500 to $4,000.
• Makes it a second-degree felony for multiple street racing charges within five years and allows for a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
• Increased the fine of being a spectator at a street racing event from $65 to $400.

Individuals involved with street racing may also be subject to license suspensions that go up to four years, depending on the number of offenses.

Related: Misdemeanor vs Felony: What’s the Difference? 

Penalties Under New Street Takeover Laws

The new bill also aims to curb street takeover incidents.

A street takeover is defined by Florida Statute 316.191 as the “taking over of a portion of a highway, roadway, or parking lot by blocking or impeding the regular flow of traffic to perform a race, drag race, burnout, doughnut, drifting, wheelie, or other stunt driving.”

The new laws target coordinated events where ten or more vehicles are involved. The laws include:

• Fines of up to $2,000 for people who participate in a street takeover.
• A third-degree felony charge for second offenses for people who participate in a street takeover. The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and fines ranging from $2,500 to $4,000.
• A third-degree felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison and a $4,000 fine for person to knowingly block emergency vehicles during a street takeover.

Street Racing Stories from Around the Bay

Roadway incidents can lead to both criminal charges and potential personal injury lawsuits. While new laws have increased the fines and punishment for street racing and takeovers, the acts have already led to serious consequences in the past.

Just a few weeks ago, in June 2024, we covered a story about a woman who died during a street race in Tampa. The driver who struck the vehicle the woman was riding in has been charged with vehicular homicide and unlawful racing on a highway. The man faces up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation, and a $10,000 fine.

In 2023, we covered a story about a boy killed during a street racing incident in St. Petersburg. The boy’s father brought him to watch a street race that involved motorcycles. The boy attempted to cross the street during one of the races and was hit by an oncoming motorcycle.

In that case, the driver was charged with vehicular homicide, culpable negligence manslaughter, and reckless driving causing serious bodily harm. The motorcycle owner was charged with culpable negligence manslaughter and given a citation for participating in a street race as a spectator, and the father was charged with child neglect and cited for being a spectator at a street race.

Related: If You’re Arrested for a Crime, Immediately Take These 6 Steps

Get Trusted Legal Advice

Street racing and street takeovers are illegal and can lead to serious criminal charges and consequences. If you have been arrested or charged with highway crimes, take it seriously. Talk to a criminal defense attorney with experience in motor vehicle charges right away.

Discuss the details of your case. Schedule a consultation with criminal defense attorney TJ Grimaldi today. All consultations are free. Get insights about your case and charges. Request your consultation or call 813-226-1023 now.

Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” is one of the network’s most watched series of all time, but it has also pulled them into a $170 million lawsuit.

Why is the woman the show is based on suing the network?

What’s Baby Reindeer?

“Baby Reindeer” is a seven-part drama series that premiered on Netflix on April 11, 2024. Since its release, the series has had roughly 60 million views, according to Deadline. It’s become one of the most-watched shows on Netflix of all time.

The show follows a bartender and struggling comedian, Donny Dunn, who is played by Richard Gadd. The show depicts the relationship between Dunn and Martha, a lawyer who visits Donny’s bar and then becomes obsessed with him.

The movie begins with the text, “This is a true story,” and is meant to be a depiction of Gadd’s real-life experience. Gadd is the writer and creator of the show and the alleged victim of the crimes depicted in the series.

While names have been changed in the show, it didn’t take long for internet sleuths to uncover the person Martha’s character is based on. Once audiences discovered that Fiona Harvey was the inspiration for Martha, it opened up questions as to whether the story was actually all true.

Related: Dealing With the Media During a High-Profile Case: What to Expect

Is It a True Story?

Harvey is allegedly the inspiration behind Martha. Martha resembles Harvey’s appearance and also mimics her mannerisms and personal details. In both the show and real life, the women are attorneys.

Audiences were able to make a connection between Martha and Harvey, which Harvey says led to an onslaught of online harassment and reputational damage.

In a lawsuit, she says, “Netflix and Gadd destroyed her reputation, her character, and her life.”

Harvey says the show encourages viewers to believe all details are true even though there are major inaccuracies. Harvey says the inaccuracies include details that she is a twice-convicted stalker, sexually assaulted Gadd’s character, and served five years in prison.

The Defamation Lawsuit

Harvey filed a defamation lawsuit that is seeking $170 million in actual, compensatory, and punitive damages, plus profits earned from the series.

Gadd is not listed as a defendant in the case, but Netflix is. It accuses defendants of alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence.

Harvey says she has experienced anxiety, nightmares, panic attacks, shame, depression, nervousness, stomach pains, loss of appetite, extreme stress, and sickness since the harassment after the release of the show, as reported by Page Six.

A rep for Netflix told Page Six, “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”

In an interview with Variety before the lawsuit, Gadd said the story was, “all borrowed from instances that happened to me and real people that I met. But of course, you can’t do the exact truth, for both legal and artistic reasons.”

Since the lawsuit, Netflix has moved a disclaimer stating characters may be altered for dramatic purposes to the beginning of each episode. The disclaimer was originally placed in the closing credits.

Related: What’s the Difference Between a Civil and Criminal Case? 

Other Netflix Defamation Lawsuits

This incident isn’t the first time Netflix has been sued over the fictional portrayal of real people.

The company was sued by Rachel DeLoache Williams in 2022 after the release of the series “Inventing Anna.” Netflix filed a motion to dismiss the case which was denied, and the case is ongoing and currently in the discovery phase, according to Variety.

Netflix also sought to dismiss a case filed against them by OneTaste, a now-defunct San Francisco company. The company was depicted in the show “Orgasm Inc.” In that case, Netflix won the dismissal, but OneTaste is appealing the decision.

Related: What You Should Expect from Your Attorney in Every Case

What Are the Possible Outcomes?

It is likely that Netflix will also try to dismiss the defamation lawsuit related to “Baby Reindeer.” It will be up to the judge to deny or agree to their motion.

If the case is not dismissed, it could be settled outside of court. Cases involving large corporations are frequently settled outside of court with a lower value of damages.

If the case proceeds with no dismissal or settlement, it could end up in front of a jury that will decide whether or not the show falsely depicted and injured Harvey.

Related: Get Good Legal Representation by Asking This One Question

Talk to an Attorney You Can Trust

If your life is disrupted by the actions of another party, you may be eligible for financial damages to cover the costs of your injury. Talk to a personal injury attorney if you have experienced loss due to the negligence of another party.

Have a potential case to discuss? See if your case is worth fighting for. Schedule a free consultation with TJ Grimaldi today. Request your consultation or call 813-226-1023 now.