Articles Tagged with Florida personal injury attorney

jannes-glas-1074946-unsplash-copy-300x169There will always be motor vehicle accidents in Florida, but there are some ways you can reduce the chance that they will happen to you. Safe driving tips go above and beyond following the traffic laws stated in the Official Florida Driver License Handbook, and there is more to avoiding collisions than what you may have learned in driver’s ed. 

You can rely on a Miami car accidents lawyer to protect your rights if you are involved in a crash, but check out some recommendations in hopes that you will never be in such a position.

  • Do Not Drive Drunk or Stoned: Despite enormous public awareness campaigns regarding the dangers, some motorists still take the risk by getting behind the wheel after drinking or using drugs. Never drive after having even just a couple of alcoholic beverages. Call a friend, Uber, or Lyft to get you home safely.

jacek-dylag-PMxT0XtQ-A-unsplash-copy-300x200Many people commonly associate personal injury cases with car accidents, and it is true that many of these matters involve collisions. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Crash Dashboard for 2018, there were more than 646,000 crashes in Miami-Dade County alone.

However, there are many other types of accidents and incidents that lead to serious injuries for victims, many of which could have been avoided. Discuss your situation with a Miami personal injury attorney if you were hurt under any of the following circumstances.

Negligence-Based Claims

mitchell-hollander-282004-unsplash-copy-300x210If you are one of the 2.61 million people injured in motor vehicle accidents every year according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chances are you may still be feeling the physical effects. You are probably experiencing some pain and discomfort, and it could be rather severe depending on your injuries. It is common to endure aches and other symptoms, but you may eventually become frustrated with how long they last. 

While there is no easy answer, the good news is that you may qualify to recover compensation for your losses, including your lingering pain and suffering. Your Miami car accident attorney will handle the legal issues, but some guidelines may be helpful. 

Talk to Your Health Care Provider

jonathan-borba-1598686-unsplash-copy-300x200One minute, visitors to a Port Charlotte Harley-Davidson store were listening to a live concert; the next, they were running for their lives from a luxury sports car that an intoxicated woman plowed into the crowd. According to a June 12, 2019 article in the Miami Herald, none of the concertgoers were injured in the chaos that ensued. However, the local country music star who was headlining the event suffered injuries to his foot. Upon arriving at the scene, police detained the woman for questioning, and eventually arrested her for DUI, among other charges.

The penalties for DUI are harsh in Florida, including fines, jail time, and a driver’s license suspension. Unfortunately, these sanctions do nothing for victims who are injured as a result of a drunk driving collision. You do have rights if you are hurt in a DUI crash, and a Florida car accident attorney can assist with your claim. Some general information regarding these cases may also be helpful.

Comparing Criminal and Civil DUI Cases

Our Miami personal injury law firm found a very interesting report that was recently released. The study’s outcome was to determine whether ride-sharing services, such as Uber, have contributed to a decrease in accidents related to driving under the influence over a certain period of time. The implication here being that as people that may be too intoxicated to drive and then call sober ride-share drivers for their ride home, there are less drunk drivers on the road causing accidents. However, apparently the results of this study found that this was not necessarily the case in all American cities.

The study looked at the availability of the ride share service Uber (currently the largest among ride-sharing companies, which purportedly also include: Lyft, Sidecar, Wingz, Summon, Taxify, Haxi, Didi Chuxing, and Moovn) from 2013-2016 in four major cities in the United States. The study author is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Injury Science Center.

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Last September, an early morning boat crash claimed the life of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and his two companions, Eduardo Rivero and Emilio Jesus Macias. The crash happened when the pitching ace’s boat ran aground into a stone jetty between PortMiami and the open ocean. Families of the two men killed with Fernandez recently filed personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against his estate, claiming that the baseball player’s negligence led to the men’s deaths.

When careless or reckless behavior causes an injury or a death, whoever caused the accident or injury can be held responsible for paying damages in civil court—even if that person did not survive the same accident. If your loved one was killed because of someone else’s negligence, our experienced Miami wrongful death attorneys can help.

Mystery Surrounds Crash

For many people, the day doesn’t really start until they have had their morning coffee. Usually, the worst thing that happens while trying to get a caffeine fix is that the line at the coffee shop is too long. For one South Florida woman, her morning coffee stop ended in a trip to the hospital after she was accidentally shot by another patron’s firearm.

When a gun owner fails to follow proper gun safety protocols, he or she can be liable for any injuries that occur. If you have been injured by an act of negligence, a Miami personal injury attorney can help you get the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.

Gun Owner Negligence Can Lead to Civil Lawsuits

Pokémon Go has taken the gaming world by storm, with the app launching in over 30 countries within a matter of weeks. Players of this game are constantly focused on their phones, which may possibly increase the number of personal injury cases the become involved in. For example, some people who have played the game have caused car accidents, and it is only a matter of time before these accidents become more frequent and severe. Hopefully, developers of the game can find new ways of encouraging game players to become more cautious during live game play.

If you or a loved one have experienced a personal injury, regardless of the cause, it is imperative that you hire an attorney for your case. The Miami personal injury lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz, PA have the experience and skills needed for your case. For a FREE initial consultation, call (305) 371-6000 or toll free at (877) 475-2905. You can also contact us online at info@gslawusa.com.

Pokémon Go: All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Hurt

Self-driving cars are notably convenient and exciting, but the technology behind them has been increasingly associated with personal injury, one case having recently been fatal. According to reports, the family of a man who died while driving a car with its Autopilot function turned on is suing the manufacturer in an effort to not only receive damages but to also force the industry to make smarter decisions when designing and testing new automobile technology.

If you or a family member has suffered an injury while driving a car and are seeking damages, you will need an experienced attorney to assist you with your case. The Miami personal injury lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz, PA will work with you to help you achieve the reward you deserve. Call us at (877) 475-2905.

Self-Driving Cars and Fatalities

Fraud and related scams cost Americans around $1.6 billion dollars last year. In 2013, there were in excess of two millions reported cases of fraud. Fraud is also common in Florida. Per the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), Florida leads the nation with around 1,000 total complaints per 100,000 people.

Recently, detectives of the Economic Crimes Unit arrested a travel agent, Janet Bender, for seven counts of grand theft. She allegedly sold fraudulent cruise vouchers to customers. Said customers first reported the fraudulent activity in March of 2016. The customers bought their vouchers for a cruise with a stateroom. They paid between $200 and $500 for each voucher. Bender’s customers were requested to pay for the fraudulent vouchers with cash or checks. The customers would then attempt to use their vouchers only to discover that Bender never scheduled their vacations.  Bender was arrested at her home and charged with seven counts of grand theft. To date, detectives have identified more than nine victims.

If you, or a loved one, are a victim of a crime in Florida, or on a cruise ship, it is imperative that you hire an experienced attorney for your case. The Miami lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz, PA have the experience and skill needed for your case. Contact our attorneys today at 305-371-6000 or via email at info@gslawusa.com to schedule a FREE consultation.  

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