Throwback Interview with Karen Mertes on Bay News 9

Karen Mertes, Founder and President, Fulfill Your Destiny, a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving on behalf of the Traumatically Brain Injured in Tampa Bay honored as a Bay News 9 Everyday Hero in 2012.

“As my life hung in the balance after a tragic car accident caused by a drunk driver, I promised to spend the rest of my life helping others if I were to survive.”

Visit http://fulfillyourdestiny.org/ to make a donation and to learn more about this Tampa non-profit.

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Karen Mertes, a Drunk Driving Victim herself and creator of “PLAINTIFF 101” shares her story with us of an unfortunate circumstance. She takes an in-depth look inside the courtroom at the coverage of the legal and technical issues that arise in a drunk driving case. Karen wrote “Plaintiff 101” to serve as a guide to assist both client and lawyer through civil litigation during a personal injury lawsuit.

For those who are interested in owning Amazon’s Best Seller, “Plaintiff 101” as a valuable resource:

Click here to >>ORDER<< your copy TODAY!

Practice Safe Driving this Memorial Day Weekend

With a three-day weekend in store for most, day drinking is prominent. Feeling invincible behind the wheel while intoxicated puts everyone at risk – those in the vehicle and others on the road. There’s no harm in drinking while celebrating but once you start to put other’s lives in danger, it becomes a serious problem. Even if you’ll be one of the designated drivers, it is detrimental to be aware of drunk drivers on the road with you. Here’s what to look for —

Law enforcement officials say there are several signs associated with drunk driving:

• Making wide turns
• Weaving, swerving, drifting, or straddling the center line
• Almost striking an object or vehicle
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Driving at a very slow speed
• Stopping without cause
• Braking erratically
• Responding slowly to traffic signals
• Turning abruptly or illegally
• Driving after dark with headlights off

Keeping these things in mind can help you avoid a dangerous situation. If you spot what you think is an impaired driver, keep a safe distance and call 9-1-1. Do not attempt to stop the vehicle yourself.

Video That Hits Close to Home – Texting and Driving Can Be a Fatal Mix

With college students returning home from school and more drivers out on the road this summer, it is important to have a copy of “Plaintiff 101,” just in case.  The Amazon Best Seller is the go-to little black book full of tips, checklists and advice from Karen Mertes’ personal injury litigation that occurred after her car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury.

Though it always feels like summer in Florida, it is important to remind drivers, parents of new drivers and all of you new drivers that texting and driving has the potential to be a fatal mix. Here is an AT&T “It Can Wait” commercial that hit really close to home. Car accidents can happen to anyone at anytime and you may or may not be the one at fault. Sometimes being a defensive driver just isn’t enough. Texting and driving can be prevented.

 

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Get the #1 Amazon Best Seller, “Plaintiff 101” today!

 

Law Students! Make Amazon Best Seller, “Plaintiff 101,” Your Summer Read!

Interested in law and what goes on in the courtroom during a personal injury litigation?! “Plaintiff 101” by Karen Mertes tells the story as her life hung in the balance after a tragic car accident caused by a drunk driver. Despite sustaining a traumatic brain injury, she is the founder and president of Fulfill Your Destiny, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to helping people whose careers have been altered by injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

This book is to help other personal injury survivors contemplating litigation, or already involved in litigation. You should be able to navigate these troubled waters ever so slightly easier because of our experience and advice. We’re hopeful that plaintiffs’ attorneys will see the benefit of providing this book as a teaching tool to their clients so as a team you can win your case!

Grab this Amazon Best Seller to add to your summer read collection!

Sobering Truth about Alcohol-Related Traffic Deaths this Cinco de Mayo

Any time alcohol is involved in a celebration, there’s the potential for a high number of alcohol-related traffic deaths. Being that Cinco de Mayo is on a Saturday this year, drinking violations jump more than 75% if it falls on the weekend, compared to 17% on a weekday.

If you are planning on going out and celebrating, be sure to have a designated driver or utilize a ca, Uber or Lyft. Karen Mertes has had her life dramatically affected by a drunk driver – don’t put some else’s life in danger because of negligence.

“As my life hung in the balance after a tragic car accident caused by a drunk driver, I promised to spend the rest of my life helping others if I were to survive. After my four year long litigation battle, my attorney husband and I  decided to write, “Plaintiff 101” to help other personal injury victims. Being involved in a life-changing car accident is devastating. You deserve to get your life back to normal, yet the justice system is not an easy one to navigate.  That’s what this book is for. To give you inside information and what your lawyer will want you to know in order to have a wining case.

Despite sustaining a traumatic brain injury from my accident, I am the founder and president of Fulfill Your Destiny, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to helping people whose careers have been altered by injury or other unforeseen circumstances. Inspiring stories of people who have been helped can be found at www.fulfillyourdestiny.org under the Who We’ve Helped tab.

The  proceeds from the sale of this book are directly donated to Fulfill Your Destiny.  We hope you find the information contained within these pages of our book very insightful.  Please know that your donation for this book is used to help others through Fulfill Your Destiny.”

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To get your copy of Plaintiff 101, click here!

Woman Picked Up By Drunk Uber Driver | Know Who is Behind the Wheel

When you call a cab, or request an Uber, you are expecting a designated sober driver to pick you up and safely transport you to your destination. However, what happens if your driver arrives and suddenly you feel unsafe? You notice that they are swerving, seem to be nodding off or even get into a car accident due to intoxication?

About a year ago, Buzzfeed interviewed a woman that was picked up by a drunk Uber driver, “[..]the car crossed over a grass median, coming precariously close to the oncoming traffic lane[..].”

“Gallion’s Uber driver was arrested for driving while impaired [..], he had a blood alcohol level of 0.15 — nearly four times the .04 legal limit for commercial drivers.”

Make sure to be aware and on alert for any suspicious behavior. As the driver to pullover and drop you off in the nearest safe location. Text a friend to call the police or call them yourself if you feel unsafe. Although it should be a guarantee that your driver should arrive sober and fulfill their duties, you can never be too careful.

Read the entire article here.

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To get your copy of Plaintiff 101, click here!

 

Steps to Take After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver

 

Getting hit by a drunk driver can be one of the scariest moments of your life, but it is important to remember the steps to take after an accident has happened. If you are conscious and able to get yourself to a safe place after the accident, proceed to take these steps—

1. Call the Police so that the accident is documented.

Check on all the other parties involved, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, to make sure no one is hurt. Call 911 if anyone may be injured.

 

2. Cooperate with the Responding Officers.

3. Collect as much Information and Evidence from the scene as possible.

If you have a smartphone with a camera, snap some photos of the accident scene. They’ll come in handy during the claim process. Try to write down as much info as possible in the accident aftermath, including:

• Driver and passenger names
• License plate numbers
• Insurance info
• Makes and models of all vehicles involved
• Contact info for any eyewitnesses
• Location of the accident
• The name and badge number of any responding police officers

4. Seek Medical treatment as soon as possible.

5. Grab a Copy of Plaintiff 101

Wanting to read on the go, on your phone, computer or tablet? You can grab a copy of Plaintiff 101 on Kindle today! 

#1 Amazon Best Seller! As seen on Daytime TV, ABC & Bay News 9.
As my life hung in the balance after a tragic car accident caused by a drunk driver, I promised to spend the rest of my life helping others if I were to survive. Despite sustaining a traumatic brain injury, I am the founder and president of Fulfill Your Destiny, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to helping people whose careers have been altered by injury or other unforeseen circumstances. This book is to help other personal injury survivors contemplating litigation, or already involved in litigation. You should be able to navigate these troubled waters ever so slightly easier because of our experience and advice. We’re hopeful that plaintiffs’ attorneys will see the benefit of providing this book as a teaching tool to their clients so as a team you can win your case!

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1. Grab your copy of the Amazon Best Seller here!

The Amazon Best Seller, “Plaintiff 101,” can be Checked Out Through the Tampa Public Library System!

Looking for a resource to help guide you through your personal injury litigation but short on cash? No problem! Karen Mertes’ “Plaintiff 101” is now available in the Tampa Public Library System!

Karen Mertes on That Business Show!

Interested in law and what goes on in the courtroom during a personal injury litigation?! “Plaintiff 101” by Karen Mertes tells the story as her life hung in the balance after a tragic car accident caused by a drunk driver. Despite sustaining a traumatic brain injury, she is the founder and president of Fulfill Your Destiny, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to helping people whose careers have been altered by injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

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For those who are interested in owning Amazon’s Best Seller, “Plaintiff 101” as a valuable resource:

Click here to >>ORDER<< your copy TODAY

Karen Mertes’ Amazing Story, How She Gives Back.. and How You Can Too

Thinking about joining Karen Mertes for the 2018 Fulfill You Destiny Chari-Tea event? Check out this interview to find out her reason WHY —

That Business Show welcomed Karen Mertes, an honorably retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with Fulfill Your Destiny. Karen has an amazing story. She suffered a massive car accident involving a drunk driver. Near death and with a massive brain injury, she vowed to help others if she survived, and that’s how Fulfill Your Destiny was created.

Fulfill Your Destiny is dedicated to helping others in our community become successful, or helping them out in order to give them the tools to live a better and happier life. Whether its helping a young child with school or giving a foster child their own car, Fulfill Your Destiny does some real good for the Tampa Bay community.

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More about Karen and Fulfill Your Destiny at http://www.fulfillyourdestiny.org, or email her at karen@fulfillyourdestiny.org!

 

 

Karen Mertes’ Story of Triumph Shared by MADD

Every day in America, another 29 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. That’s one person every 50 minutes. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) picked up Karen Mertes’ story of triumph late last year and shared it with the world.

Here is an excerpt from the MADD write-up on Karen Mertes:

“In every situation we have a choice, to stay a victim or become victorious despite all odds. I chose to be better, not bitter.” The driver that made the choice to drink and drive and injured Karen, continued to make choices that harmed him. Before the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) results came back, he fled the state. The news was heart breaking. As she continued to face new challenges head-on and find ways to embrace her TBI, the person that caused so much pain and suffering chose to flee his problems and not be accountable for his actions.”

For the entire article, click here: https://www.madd.org/blog/karen-mertes/