Wrongful Death Lawyer Blog

A new, more comprehensive, "Black Box" system for motor vehicles will be available later this year.

In-Vehicle Event Management System (IVEMS)

This technology is not new. Event data recorders that keep records of things like the speed a vehicle was traveling at a certain time; failures of a number of mechanical or electronic systems, etc. have been around for a while.

Not Popular Among Common Car Owners

However, while the system's tracking capabilities have been popular among fleet operators (cab companies, trucking companies, etc.) because it allows them, among other things, to control their driver's movements, these systems are not popular among regular car owners because of privacy concerns...And such concerns may only be heightened by the ability of this new In-Vehicle Event Management System (IVEMS) to store not only electronic data related to system's failures, but digital video surveillance data as well.

Continue reading "Technology Aids in Event of Accident" »

Most people do not understand the concept of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This is perhaps the most important insurance coverage you could purchase to protect yourself and your family.

In Florida, all that is required of a driver to register a car is insurance coverage of $10,000.00 in property damage coverage and no-fault coverage. The $10,000.00 in property damage coverage, pays up to $10,000.00 to anyone else for the their property (including a car, tree, fence, etc.) that is damaged by an accident that you or the driver of your car causes. The no-fault benefit or PIP (Personal Injury Protection Benefit), as it is also known, pays 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your loss wages or a family members loss wages, up to an aggregate of $10,000.00 minus any applicable deductible.

Florida does not require mandatory bodily injury coverage. In other words, if someone else causes an accident, and you are injured, they are not required to have coverage to pay you for your injuries. This is very important. The only way to protect yourself and members of your family, is for you to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).

What is UM/UIM Coverage?

What this means is that you are buying coverage through your own automobile insurance carrier to take the place of or be in addition to the coverage provided by the person who was at fault for the accident. Under Florida law, your own automobile insurance company must offer you UM/UIM coverage up to the limits of the BI (Bodily Injury) coverage that you elect. In other words, if you purchase bodily injury coverage for your car of 25/50 ($25,000 per person/$50,000.00 per occurrence) you are automatically allowed to purchase up to $25,000/$50,0000 in UM/UIM benefits. In addition, if you have more than one car, you can purchase "stackable coverage" which means, that you would have $25,000 in coverage for each car in your household that is covered under the policy. This could dramatically increase the insurance for you and your loved ones at a very reasonable rate. It is an inexpensive way to protect your family.

Continue reading "Uninsured//Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)" »

Car accidents occur daily. They are unexpected. People are often left injured and in shock. It is important to know what to do after a car accident to protect your rights and preserve the evidence. After being involved in a car accident you or someone close to you should do the following:

1. Turn off your car and unlock your doors.

2. Check on the condition of everyone in the car. If anyone is injured, tell them not to move and if possible, ensure that they are immobilized.

3. If anyone is bleeding, make sure that either a tourniquet is applied or bleed is compressed to stop.

4. Either you or have someone for you should call 911 and be specific in requesting rescue as well as the police.

5. Stay calm and oriented. Respond clearly to the questions that you are being asked by emergency rescuers.

Don't Move Around

Often times after an accident, a person isn't immediately incapacitated or in pain. This could be due to adrenaline and other factors. If that is the case, please be careful moving about but, if you can do the following:

a. Exchange information with the other driver or give information to the police officer who is responding.

b. Get the name, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses.

c. If possible photograph or videotape the scene either using a camera or a cell phone camera.

d. If you are at all not feeling well, request transport to a hospital or emergency room.

e. When you see a physician or emergency room doctor, nurse or paramedic, tell them what hurts from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes, even if you don't think it's anything serious. Let the medical personnel decide what if any injuries you have.

f. Follow doctor's orders. Remember they are the professionals.

Continue reading "What To Do If You Are In A Car Accident?" »

Apparently, as they walked home from school, four teenagers were hit by a driver who seems to have passed out at the wheel and lost control of his SUV.

One of the teens lost his life, two remain in critical condition and one is stable at Jackson Memorial Hospital. It is unknown at this time whether the driver, who was also airlifted to the same hospital, will face charges.

Criminal Charges And Liability Unknown

The unfortunate circumstances of this accident may shield the driver from criminal charges and civil liability. If the events were caused by a medical condition over which the driver had no control and had no knowledge or warning of, the likelihood of him facing either is slim. However, while the State Attorneys Office will decide whether he should face criminal charges, they will not make a determination on whether the driver has incurred civil liability. These victims or their loved ones can only make an educated decision as to whether they can pursue a civil action against the driver and his insurance company after they consult a personal injury attorney. They should not accept a determination made by the driver's insurance carrier in this regard, as insurance companies are not there to help innocent victims, but rather, to limit their exposure. Consulting with a personal injury attorney will not cost them money but only a little of their time, since personal injury attorneys in Florida will not charge them unless they win the case.

Continue reading "Four Teenage Pedestrians Struck by SUV in Hialeah" »

Unfortunately, as a recent CBS News article shows, we have had another incident where a local pedestrian has been hit by a motor vehicle, this time while boarding a public bus.

Elderly Pedestrian was Struck When Trying to Board the Bus

Apparently this time the offender could not drive away in his vehicle. That, however, did not stop him from simply walking away while the driver of the bus was calling 911 and commuters got off the bus to help the victim. The pedestrian, a 91 year old man was at the bus stop trying to board the bus when the offender's SUV swerved out of control, jumped the curve and run him over. He remains in critical condition at Jackson Memorial's Ryder Trauma Center.

Continue reading "Another Pedestrian Accident in Miami" »