Wrongful Death Lawyer Blog

Three people were injured and taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a collision between a fishing boat and a speed boat last Friday in Miami Beach. No facts have yet been released because the accident is still under investigation.

All Sorts of Watercraft Accidents Common in Florida

Florida, with it's almost year round warm climate and beautiful beaches, is a hot spot for many different kinds of water activities: boat and jet ski riding, water skiing, tubing, kayaking, parasailing, etc. Unfortunately, very often these activities are carried out negligently and instead of fun, the result is injury, pain, suffering and even death. Referring to the frequency of these accidents, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Agency spokesman recently said: "We're the boating capital of the world so we're also the boating accident capital"...

And he's right: one of the cases mentioned in the article involved a husband and wife (with kids as passengers), who crashed into each other while operating a pair of jet skis...As a result, the wife was airlifted with bone fractures and a major hand injury to a Miami hospital.

Continue reading "Two Boats Collide in Miami" »

Fifteen passengers of a tour bus died when it crashed in New York a week ago. According to an article on FairWarning.org, the accident has renewed concerns over drivers of buses and tractor -trailers working more hours than they should and falling asleep at the wheel.

Bus Driver Told Police a Large Truck Sideswiped Bus

The bus was on it's way back to New York City from Connecticut. It was transporting a group of people that had visited a casino in the neighboring state when it crashed. The bus driver alleged that a large truck had hit the bus, making him lose control. Yet, a driver that had been following the bus prior to the accident told police that he had seen the bus weaving in and out of it's lane. This make police think that the bus driver, Mr. Ophanel Williams, may have fallen a sleep while driving. Additionally, some of the passengers stated that they saw Mr. Williams fall asleep a few times prior to the accident. According to an article in AllMediaNY, the investigation is under way and police is analyzing the data from the "black box" of the bus, which was recovered after the accident.

Continue reading "Bus Crash In New York Brings Back Worries Regarding Driver Fatigue " »

The Associated Press has reported that four people died as a result of a car accident on I-95 in Miami last Saturday morning.

Another Car Struck Them as They Were Checking on Others

According to a report by NBC, there was an earlier accident on I-95. Subsequently, five of the people involved in that accident went to check on the occupants of the other vehicle. As they walked on the express lane of I-95, they were struck by another car. The report states that four of them died at the scene, while the fifth was transported to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

Continue reading "Car Accident on I-95 in Miami Kills Four People" »

According to the Associated Press, four people, who had previously been involved in an accident, were killed by a car early Saturday morning on I-95.

Hit by Another Vehicle While Trying to Check on Others

NBC reports that five of the people involved in the earlier accident were walking on the express lane of I-95, trying to check on the condition of those in the other vehicle, when they were struck by a passing vehicle. Unfortunately, four died at the scene and one was transported to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Continue reading "Four Pedestrians Killed by Car on I-95 in Miami" »

The tragedy that befell U.S. Representative Gabriel Giffords and her family is regretful. Thankfully, she is responding to the intensive rehabilitation program she has been placed on and seems to be recovering. Good for her! She was exercising one of the most sacred freedoms we enjoy in this country and deserves all the care we can give her. Sadly, not every American that suffers a brain injury gets the kind of rehabilitation benefits she is getting. She is among the lucky few that will get the benefit of a full rehabilitation program because as a federal employee injured on the job, the Federal Employee's Compensation Act covers her rehab for as long as needed.

However, according to a USA Today article, insurance companies rarely cover the kind of rehabilitation necessary to recover from brain injuries similar to those recently suffered by Mrs. Giffords.

Scott Hamilton, a motorcycle rider that was involved in a accident a few years ago in San Francisco was another "lucky" case. However, coverage for his full rehabilitation was not automatic...He was covered only after his wife got a VIP family friend to ask another VIP he knew at Scott's insurance company to look into the case. Good for her, their VIP family friend and specially, for Scott.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans that suffer a traumatic brain injury will not be federal employees covered by the Federal Employee's Compensation Act or have a VIP friend that can intercede with a VIP at the insurance company (if they're lucky enough to have medical insurance)...

Unbelievable Numbers

1.7 million Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries each year. These are usually the result of motor vehicle accidents, strokes, assaults, falls, gunshot wounds and sports activities. The total cost of rehabilitation per patient is on average $162,194.00 for initial brain trauma care and $59,862.00 for two weeks of inpatient rehab. This is about as much as is covered by insurance and other medical programs like Medicare and Medicaid, when anything is covered. However, if successful, the medical procedures covered to this point only assure the patient's survival. If we want the patient to have a chance at enjoying any kind of meaningful recovery, the necessary rehabilitation can last for weeks, months or years at a cost between $600.00 and $1,000.00 a day...And that is not covered by most insurance programs.

Continue reading "Insurance Companies Usually Don't Cover Expensive Rehab for Brain Injuries" »