Spring 2022 Newsletter

PERRY-YOUNG.COM

PERRY-YOUNG.COM

(850) 215-7777

SPRING 2022 NEWSLETTER

THE LEGAL BRIEF

“Raising the bar in civil justice and community service throughout Northwest Florida.”

200 HARRISON AVENUE, PANAMA CITY, FL, 32401

Mission Statement:

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“We believe that dignity, trust, compassion, and community are the

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LAWYER SPOTLIGHT: LANCE BERRY

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CASE HIGHLIGHTS

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WHAT TO DO AFTER A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT

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TIRE “RUN-OFF” CASES

Who We Are

fundamental values that guide us in providing civil justice and healing to victims of undeserved hardship.”

PERRY & YOUNG

A LETTER FROM PERRY & YOUNG

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Perry & Young is a personal injury law firm licensed in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. With nine experienced and compassionate personal injury lawyers, we fight for victims who have been wrongfully injured and seek maximum compensation for cases related to auto accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, DUI accidents, texting and driving accidents, hit-and-runs, pedstrian accidents, boating accidents, and more. We have have offices throughout Northwest Florida in Panama City, Panama City Beach, Marianna, and Tallahassee. Our attorneys are always available for free consultations virtually and in-person. We are here for you 24/7 365.

A Letter From Perry & Young Senior Partners

Larry Perry & Chris Young

The Perry & Young trial team prepare for court in Marianna,

Senior Partner, Larry Perry, greeting Panama City Commissioner, Josh Street

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erry & Young was founded in 2008 with humble beginnings. As we look back on the years passed, we reflect on the ride it has been in the neverending quest to provide justice for the injured in our community. No matter what the struggle is, our clients continue to be our top priority in all of our pursuits. To our business and community partners, thank you for allowing us to be present in your moments of victory and trusting in us when you need legal assistance. ear after year, we have continued to grow into one of the largest personal injury practices in Northwest Florida. As we continue to grow, however, our pursuit of achieving the highest standards grows along with it. We are proud to have had our efforts recognized. One of our senior partners, Larry Perry, was included on the 2022 Super Lawyers list in the state of Florida. This recognition is unique in that only the top 5% of attorneys in the state of Florida are included. This distinct recognition in not the first honor Larry has won. In 2021, Larry was recognized in the Nation’s Top 1% by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of excellence in the legal field. Fellow senior partner, Chris Young, had the honor of hosting Florida Governor, Ron Desantis, and community leaders in his home for a fundraiser to benefit Desantis’ efforts to keep Florida free. Les Mcfatter was recently selected to serve on the Board of Directors for Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. Ted Howell was elected Director of the Tyndall Federal Credit Union Board of Directors. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.

PERRY & YOUNG SPRING NEWSLETTER 2022

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Lawyer Spotlight Lance E. Berry

LICENSED IN FLORIDA Professional Associations

Florida Justice Association St. Andrews Bay Inns of Court Bay County Bar Association

Education

University of Florida Levin College of Law Gainesville, Florida

Office Location 4431 Lafayette Street Marianna, FL 32446

Contact

AT T O R N E Y, L A N C E E . B E R R Y AREAS OF PRACTICE Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

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Office Phone: (850) 482-7777 Fax Number: (850) 215-4777

ance E. Berry is a lifelong resident of the Florida Panhandle. Lance born and raised in Chipley, Florida. He attended law school at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he received honors based on his academic performance, including membership in the Florida Law Review. Lance received his Juris Doctor with magna cum laude (with highest honors) in May 2009 and was inducted into the University of Florida’s chapter of the Order of the Coif.

Lance’s practice is focused almost exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death claims.

He is a member of the Florida Justice Association and is licensed to practice law in all of the state courts of Florida. Lance can be found mainly at our Marianna, Florida office. Lance and his beautiful wife, Sarah, have two children and attend St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Church in Chipley, Florida.

Case Highlights Sexual Assault Case Settled For Insurance Limits

A fire department negligently hired an EMT who had previously been fired for similar conduct. The defendant sexually assaulted an elderly victim while in an ambulance. The perpetrator is now behind bars and the victim has received full civil and criminal justice.

Source: Yahoo!, 16 July 2021, https://www.yahoo.com/now/perry-young-law-firm-resolves-140500994.html

Dog Bite Case Resolved Post Judgment

A dog bite case was successfully won this past year. The victim was violently attacked by a dog on the property of the defendant. The defendant failed to respond for multiple appearances, but ended up paying more than $600,000 in damages to our client.

Sexual Abuse Case Settled For Policy Limits

After a two year legal battle, attorneys Larry Perry and Ted Howell fought to recover policy limits in a sexual abuse case. The case had extrodinary legal hurdles. The incident occured nearly ten years ago when the victim was a minor. The case was settled for full policy limits for the victim.

Source: PR Newswire, 1 Mar. 2021,https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/perry--young-law-firm-resolves-sexual-abuse casefor-policy-limits-301237017.html.

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Perry & Young Foundation Scholarship

n 2021, over $20,000 in scholarships were awarded to deserving high school students in the Panhandle as part of the Perry & Young Foundation scholarship.

The scholarships were awarded to high performing students at 24 high schools throughout the area. Each scholarship recipient was chosen based on their academic performance and exemplary character in and out of the classroom. In addition, the firm sponsors local scholarship programs such as, The Promise Scholarship (FSU-Panama City), Scholar-Athlete of the Year (WMBB News 13), and The Foundation Scholarship (Gulf Coast State College). We are excited to create more ways to give our local youth more opportunities to be successful their endeavors.

PERRY & YOUNG SPRING NEWSLETTER 2022

S C H O L A R - AT H L E T E AWA R D K A I D E N H AT C H E T T BLOUNTSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL 5

5 Things To Do After A Hit-and-Run Accident

1) Call 911

If you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident, it is important to call the police right away. A police report will help if you need medical care or documentation you need that will benefit your case or medical needs down the road.

2) Take Care of Yourself

No matter how badly your property is damaged, your health must always come first. It is always better to be safe than sorry. If you are in need of emergency assistance or are severely injured, call 911 right away if you are able.

It is important to note that if your injuries are not severe, you have 14 days to seek medical care after an accicent in pursuing to keep your full no-fault benefits.

3) Move Your Car

It is important to immediately move your car to a safer location if at all possible. the only thing worse than being involved in a hit-and-run is putting yourself in more jeaopardy for further damage or injury.

4) Gain Evidence

It is always a good idea to gain as many pictures as possible of the incident. In the event that you are not seriously injured, providing pictures will help your insurance or attorney in gathering information for your claim. The more pictures you have, the better. Take pictures of the hit-andrun accident, your injuries, the location of the accident, and the negligent parties’ license plate if possible. Even a short video up to 15 seconds could greatly impact your case.

5) Get Statements

Obtain as many conversations as possible with key eyewitnesses. If possible, get their names, phone numbers, and immediate contact information. You made need to utilize this information in the event that the negligent party attempts to deny fault to your damages.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, our attorneys are highly experienced and ready to serve you.

Call our office at (850) 215-7777 or visit perry-young.com.

From The Archives of Perry & Young Tire “Run-off” Cases

Through the years, the firm has handled numerous cases where a truck or car tire has “run off” of a vehicle while the vehicle is in operation.

The list of potential people responsible is expansive and the personal injuries can be life altering. In one case, it was determined that the wheel hub was improperly manufactured – carbon remained in the metal allowing the hub to weaken over time causing the tire and the lug hub to “run-off”. In another case, a flat tire had been changed and the replacement wheel was not secured – the tires wobbled suddenly and violently until one of the tire’s “ran off.” In yet another case, the lug studs themselves broke because of improper tightening causing the “run-off.” Tires weigh from approximately 40 pounds to over 100 pounds for truck tire assemblages. These types of tire defects are dangerous. When they “run-off” at highway speeds the damages can be catastrophic.

Wheel Hubs: Spot The Difference

Normal

See sample photos where a tire was changed, but the lugs were not tightened correctly. Notice the elongation in holes 2, 3, 4 and 5.

PERRY & YOUNG SPRING NEWSLETTER 2022

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Watch Top 5 Examples of Runaway Wheels

Source: Top 5 Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=bbnHkEbxbW8

Office Locations:

Panama City

Panama City Beach

Marianna

Tallahassee

(850) 215-7777 200 Harrison Avenue Panama City, Florida 32401

PRACTICE AREAS

*Auto Accidents www.perry-young.com *18 Wheeler-Heavy Truck Accidents *Personal Injury & Wrongful Death *Medical Malpractice *Security Negligence *Nursing Home Abuse *Dog Bites *Slip & Fall

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@PerryYoungPA @perryandyounglaw @PerryYoungPA https://bit.ly/PerryYoungPA News13 LawCall™ is a live, thirty minute call-in show featuring Perry & Young personal injury attorneys.

The show features guest attorneys from across North Florida, who answer your questions on a different legal topic.

The show airs on WMBB News 13 with a simulcast in Dothan, Alabama on WDHN Channel 18.

For more information, call (850) 215-7777, email intakes@perry-young,com, or visit perry-young.com.

LIVE every Sunday at 10:35pm CST.