Car Accidents

Man and Toddler Killed in Two Separate Florida Bicycle Accidents

March 5, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

Bicyclists face a multitude of risks every day. Even with the use of safety gear and helmets, cyclists may suffer serious injuries, particularly when they ride on busy roadways. According to Alert Today Florida, Florida had the highest pedestrian fatality rate among all states in 2011, as well as a significant number of bicycle fatalities. The study claims that Florida accounted for 17.4 percent of all bicycle fatalities in the United States in 2011.

The injuries that result from bicycle accidents may leave victims with high medical bills. Often, these injuries prevent victims from returning to work, which puts their financial security at risk. For this reason, it is important to contact a personal-injury lawyer immediately after a bicycle accident.

Wolfson & Leon, LLP is a respected Miami personal-injury law firm, and we have the necessary experience to evaluate all aspects of your accident and advise you on possible litigation and compensation. Call us today at 305-285-1115 for a free case evaluation from a Miami personal-injury lawyer.

Multiple Injuries Result From Terrifying Florida Crashes

March 5, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

Car accidents are common occurrences across the United States, and Florida is no exception. In fact, the large number of vehicles on Florida roads leads to alarmingly high accident rates. The most recent statistics indicate that approximately 2,400 car accident fatalities occur in Florida every year, along with more than 200,000 crash scene investigations.

If you have been a victim in a recent car accident, then an experienced car accident lawyer may be able to help. The attorneys at Wolfson & Leon, LLP in Miami understand how traumatic accident injuries can be, and we have been representing accident and injury victims for more than 50 years. Call us today at 305-285-1115 to arrange for a free case evaluation.

State Trooper Injured, Woman Critical in Interstate Crash

Family Upset by Dropped Charges Against Hit-and-Run Driver

March 5, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

Hit-and-run cases are notoriously difficult to prosecute. This is because by the time that police are able to find the driver, they are generally only able to charge them with leaving the scene of an accident. Even if they were intoxicated at the time of the wreck, they will have time to sober before facing police. Another problem is that it’s difficult to prove that the driver knew he or she was in an accident.

The Miami Herald reports that prosecutors were forced to drop a hit-and-run case against Joy Clayton after they weren’t able to furnish enough evidence to convict her. The charges stem from an accident that led to the death of a pedestrian. Adriana Mares, a cancer survivor, had just finished having dinner and was crossing the road to her vehicle when she was struck by a car. She rolled onto the windshield and fell to the ground. Police say that Clayton was driving at the time and failed to stop.

Clayton Argues That She Had No Idea She’d Hit a Person

Florida Car-Accident News Roundup

August 24, 2014 | Wolfson & Leon

That’s a harsh reality that many Miami tourists overlook: Car accidents are common in the Magic City. According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 48,537 car accidents in the area in 2005. That’s an incredible 130 accidents per day. CBS News reports that a group of shoppers were confronted with the dangers of Florida roadways firsthand last week.

Authorities say that a driver lost control of a vehicle and crashed into the front of a souvenir shop. Bystanders said the crash sounded like an explosion and sent glass flying everywhere.

Emergency crews arrived to find that two people were injured in the accident. They interviewed the driver who claimed that another driver cut her off, forcing her to swerve into the store. Police remain skeptical and are attempting to recover video of the crash to determine if the driver is lying. They are also investigating other factors that may have caused the crash.

Accident Lawyer News: 2 Reckless Drivers Crash Into Buildings

July 16, 2014 | Wolfson & Leon

Different age groups tend to have their own set of problems when it comes to negligent driving. For instance, statistics show that teens are prone to texting behind the wheel. It seems that many elderly accidents have a common theme as well: mistaking the gas pedal for the brake pedal.

The latter often happens in parking lots, leading to many collisions with pedestrians and businesses. Earlier this year, Florida experienced a particularly tragic example of this type of accident when an elderly woman accidentally reversed into a group of churchgoers and killed three people. During the past month, we’ve had two similar accidents in Miami.

WSVN News reports that the first incident occurred early in the morning when a man accidentally accelerated through a parking spot and into a barber shop. Fortunately, an astute barber saw the car coming and warned customers. No one suffered any injuries in that auto accident, but victims of a different collision weren’t so lucky.

Accident-Lawyer News: Distracted Driving Roundup for July 2014

July 7, 2014 | Wolfson & Leon

Distracted driving causes many of the preventable car accidents in the United States, and state governments across the country are looking for ways to curb the behavior. Most believe that texting while driving is only an epidemic because drivers aren’t educated about the dangers associated with distracted driving, but a new poll proves that isn’t the case.

The Car Connection reports that a new Harris poll demonstrates that U.S. drivers know texting is dangerous yet choose to do it anyway. According to the research, 94 percent of drivers agree that sending text messages can cause an accident. When those same drivers were asked if they send texts, 37 percent admit to texting while driving.

The statistics for reading text messages tell a similar story. Harris reports that 91 percent of adult drivers say that reading a text message while driving is dangerous, but 45 percent admit to doing it.

Accident-Lawyer News: Driver Flees After Killing Two People in Crash

July 2, 2014 | Wolfson & Leon

Hit-and-runs are terrifying trends in the United States, especially because many victims may not have died if the driver had remained to provide aid or call for help. However, most drivers are prompted to leave the scene, either because they are breaking a law by driving without insurance or they are driving without a license.

Nowadays, it’s difficult to imagine that many of these drivers actually get away with killing another person and just leaving them after a car accident. The sad truth is, many hit-and-run drivers do escape justice. Statistics for these sorts of trends are scarce, but the Chron reports that in at least one area of the country, approximately 50 percent of hit-and-run drivers are never found.

Florida police are avidly trying to find a driver after a particularly violent hit-and-run crash last week. WTSP News reports that the accident occurred at 3 a.m. and left two young women dead and third in the hospital.

Car Drives Into Restaurant, and Other Personal-Injury Lawyer News

June 19, 2014 | Wolfson & Leon

Negligent driving takes many forms. Distracted driving is the most recognizable form today, because of the media attention it receives, but there are other types that are just as deadly. Reckless driving, which includes speeding, can also lead to serious accidents.

Oftentimes, it’s apparent that negligence played a role in an accident, but it’s unclear exactly what type of negligence contributed. These cases lead to lengthy police investigations to determine what caused the crash.

This may be the case in a recent accident in Fort Lauderdale. WSVN News reports that the driver of a Honda Accord lost control of his vehicle and crashed through the front wall of a sushi restaurant.

Police Arrest Truck Driver After Crash, and Other Accident-Lawyer News

June 12, 2014 | Wolfson & Leon

In the world of car accidents, tractor-trailer accidents are the most destructive. These large trucks can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average weight of a car is 4,079 pounds.

The disparity between these two numbers should give you some idea of the destruction that occurs in a tractor-trailer collision. In many cases, these accidents resemble crashes between cars and trains more than the typical traffic accident.

Oftentimes, the accidents occur because of negligent driving. Tractor-trailer drivers are usually on very tight schedules, requiring them to drive for long hours at a time. It’s not unusual for drivers to exceed the federal rest guidelines in order to make a delivery on time.

Accident-Lawyer News: Hit-and-Run Roundup

May 29, 2014 | Wolfson & Leon

CBS News reports that South Florida pedestrians are more likely to be involved in hit-and-run accidents than pedestrians anywhere else in the nation. According to a recent report, part of the blame rests on dangerous road design that makes it more difficult for pedestrians to safely cross the streets.

The problem is only growing worse, and many Floridians are calling on city officials to redesign roads. According to Smart Growth America, 5,189 pedestrians died in car accidents during the nine years between 2003 and 2012.

Pedestrians in Florida also account for more of the overall traffic deaths than the national average. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that pedestrians make up 14 percent of traffic deaths in the country, whereas Florida’s pedestrians represent 17.7 percent of fatalities.