Miami Accident Lawyer Blog
A tragic car crash occurred in Miami resulting in the death of one person and serious injuries to seven others. News reports indicate that a vehicle was traveling east on Northwest Seventh Street when a collision occurred at the intersection with 35th Avenue. Two elderly individuals (one of whom passed away later on at the hospital) and six teenagers were involved in this awful wreck. Our team of Miami car accident lawyers are deeply saddened to hear about another preventable car crash in which live were forever changed.
This terrible crash is an example of just how precious life is and the fact that, in the blink of an eye, everything can be turned upside down. Just think, the elderly couple involved in this wreck was simply going about their day. Now, a spouse is dead and the other is left to pick up the pieces.
The six teenagers involved in the crash ranged in age from 17 to 19. Two of the teenagers had to be transported to Jackson Trauma Center due to the severity of their injuries. The students just finished with class at Green Springs High School when the crash occurred, according to 7 News.
Potentially Life-Changing Injuries
The extent of the injuries suffered by the victims, beyond the tragic passing of one of the elderly individuals, remains unknown (as of the date of this posting). Given the severity of the collision and the fact that one of the vehicles wound up flipped over, there is a good chance the injuries are quite serious including broken bones, nerve damage, lacerations, and so forth. These injuries may takes weeks, months, or even years to fully recover from.
Assessing the Civil Liability
When a horrific car accident occurs, an analysis needs to be done to assess the civil liability. This is necessary since the injured parties in this type of collision will likely have extensive medical bills that their PIP benefits may not fully cover.
Under Florida law, all drivers are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. This form of insurance will cover approximately 80 percent of medical bills associated with your injuries and 60 percent of any claimed lost wages when a car accident occurs, regardless of fault. The no-fault provision is important since it means that the driver who may have caused the wreck can still access benefits and get his or her bills covered.
PIP was passed by the Florida legislature in an effort to reduce the number of auto accident-related personal injury lawsuits. The logic was that no-fault coverage in the amount of $10,000 will satisfy numerous potential claimants and deter them from seeking additional restitution with the help of a Miami car accident injury lawyer. However, for many injured drivers and passengers, the $10,000 in PIP coverage is not enough to cover the full cost of their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. In the horrific accident described above, there is a good chance that the amount of medical bills for each injured party will far exceed $10,000.
Speak to a Miami Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one is seriously hurt in a car wreck, take the time to speak to an experienced Miami car accident attorney. As the above-described car crash illustrates, lives can be turned upside down in the blink of an eye and you could suddenly be staring at thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost income. Do not let this happen to you. Speak to an attorney with Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. today.