Personal Injury

With the arrival of winter, more and more people will be taking advantage of Florida’s fabulous weather, and many of them will be hitting the streets and sidewalks to run or just take a leisurely walk. Unfortunately, pedestrians are one of the few groups of road users to experience an increase in fatalities in the United States in recent years. According to a report by the Governors Highway Safety Administration, more than 47,000 pedestrians died in traffic accidents nationwide during the ten year period studied, and pedestrians now comprise the largest proportion of traffic fatalities (15 percent) recorded in the […]

As a triathlete, I’m an ardent advocate of bicycling. It’s good for your health, good for the environment, and tons of fun but there are risks. The good news is that those risks have been mitigated in recent years for younger riders, as more of them are wearing helmets and taking other precautions. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, deaths among bicyclists younger than 20 have declined 88 percent since 1975. The bad news is that deaths among bicyclists 20 and older have nearly tripled. In 2014, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, […]

Most people involved in auto accidents believe they have full insurance coverage, but all too often we find that they do not. All that Florida law actually requires a driver to have is personal injury protection (PIP) which pays for your medical bills if you are injured in an accident, and property damage coverage, which pays for damage to the other person’s vehicle or property if you are at fault. Truly full coverage includes what is called uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM), along with several other items. But UM is additional coverage that you must purchase for an additional […]

Nobody wants to think about getting injured in a car accident, but it can come out of nowhere and make you feel like your world has been turned upside down. Knowing what to do if this situation arises and following these simple steps can make everything less stressful. After an accident, pull over into a safe location and call 911. This will provide you with any needed medical attention and also create a report of the crash. If you need to be taken to the hospital, GO! While you are waiting for authorities to arrive on the scene, if your […]

Florida’s mild winter weather brings higher numbers of people outside to enjoy our refreshing, cooler temperatures. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in pedestrian fatalities across the United States in recent years, and a recent study found that Florida has the dubious distinction of being the least safe state for pedestrians. The greater Orlando area, for example, has been named the deadliest urban center for pedestrians. More than 550 pedestrians were killed in the last 10 years alone. The greater Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami areas rounded out the top four most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians. Here are some other […]

As an avid cyclist and personal injury attorney who is familiar with the law, I was especially saddened by the tragic hit and run incident that occurred in February in Ft. Pierce where a bicyclist was killed. Whenever I ride my bike, in the back of my mind there is always the fear that I could be run off the road or hit by a vehicle and, along with most cyclists you will speak to, I have had my share of close calls. I never head out on my bike without carefully planning my route in advance, always attempting to […]

In 1972, Personal Injury Protection was selected for the state of Florida in order to provide the residents of Florida with an efficient and timely way of receiving benefits from their insurers to treat their injuries. The legislation that was adopted stated a driver’s insurance company would pay up to $10,000.00, despite who was at fault. Beginning January 1, 2013, changes to this legislation were put into effect. The legislation now requires that the victim of the accident wishing to receive benefits must seek treatment within fourteen days of the accident. A lack of treatment or treatment after the fourteen […]

Most of our clients involved in auto accidents tell us that they have full coverage. However, in many instances, they do not. Full coverage includes what is called uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. This type of coverage is additional coverage you must purchase. Florida law requires that, in order to reject such coverage or obtain coverage in an amount less than your bodily injury limits, you must sign a specific form. Uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance provides you with an additional layer of coverage in two instances: (1) when the at-fault driver has limited insurance or (2) when the at-fault […]

In the first three months of 2012, highway traffic fatalities increased 13.5%. According to an analysis conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 7,500 people were killed in traffic accidents, up from 6,720 in the same time period in 2011. Experts blame this steep rise in highway fatalities on two things: (1) warmer weather and (2) distracted drivers. Normally, the winter months see a decrease in the number of vehicles on the roadways due to unfavorable, and at times, extremely dangerous driving conditions; however, due to the unseasonably warm winter, more vehicles were on the road in early […]