Auto Accidents
Overview of PIP Benefits You Can Access in a Jacksonville Car Accident
In Florida, every car owner is required to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. PIP benefits help cover certain expenses related to injuries sustained in auto accidents, regardless of who was at fault. Like other states with PIP, Florida also has its unique laws regulating PIP benefits. What Does PIP Cover? PIP benefits in… Read More »
Lawmakers Revive PIP Repeal Efforts
Efforts to repeal Florida’s no-fault car insurance system are once again under way. State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, recently filed a bill that would replace the state’s personal injury protection (PIP) system with a requirement that motorists carry bodily injury coverage and medical payment coverage. This legislation is similar to the recent repeal-and-replace effort… Read More »
Pedestrian Injuries and Fatalities Caused by Vehicles Backing Up
Motorists are not the only people at risk of injuries in car accidents; pedestrians should also be wary of reckless and negligent drivers, especially when a nearby vehicle is backing up. Sometimes drivers back up without looking or don’t notice someone in their blind spot. In June 2017, a 2-year-old boy died when his… Read More »
Understanding the Accident Report Privilege
In 2009, a 17-year-old girl and her attorney allegedly told a Tampa police detective that she was driving the car that struck and killed a homeless woman in a hit-and-run accident. The detective issued her a ticket for careless driving, which was later dismissed in court. The detective said he had trouble building a… Read More »
Car Crashes Leading Cause of Death Among U.S. Teens
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. In 2015, 2,333 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 died in car accidents and more than 220,000 others were injured. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that means six teens died every… Read More »
Preventing Drowsy Driving
In April 2016, a Miami dump truck driver fell asleep behind the wheel. He was traveling over 60 miles per hour when he crashed into a stopped taxicab, killing one person and instigating an 11-car crash near Marlins Park. The driver did not face criminal charges, but he was fired from his job. In… Read More »
Driving in the Rain
This might come as a surprise, but snow and ice are not the most hazardous driving conditions — it turns out that rain causes more fatal accidents than wintery weather in a majority of states. While certain states don’t see much snow, rain still causes more accidents in some places that do experience a… Read More »
New State Law Regulates Rideshare Companies
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft provide West Palm Beach residents and tourists with a convenient transportation option. But such services also raised interesting legal questions about who is responsible in case of a car accident, especially for passengers injured while traveling in rideshare vehicles. While Florida is a no-fault state and insurance pays… Read More »
Can Businesses be Held Liable for Drunk Driving Incidents?
More than 30 states have laws making businesses criminally or civilly liable for serving alcohol to “visibly intoxicated” customers. So in many cases, people who are injured by drunk drivers can sue the alcohol vendor for damages. Florida, however, is not one of those 32 states, unless the patron falls into a certain category…. Read More »
When Can You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Under the PIP Insurance System?
Under Florida law, not every car accident victim is entitled to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Florida is a no-fault state, which means that your auto insurance company will provide coverage for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other related expenses up to the limit of your policy (the minimum coverage is $10,000 under… Read More »
