Miami Personal Injury Attorney Blog

2 Possible Options Following an Accident with an Uninsured Motorist

October 6, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

Car accidents can be costly, particularly if you sustain serious injuries or property damage during the process. There are thousands of collisions in the United States each year, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that car wrecks in 2010 cost the country up to $1 trillion due to loss of life and lost productivity.

The personal costs of a car accident can be high, as well, and many people who sustain injuries will attempt to claim compensation from the negligent driver. If the driver has sufficient insurance, the claim process can be relatively straightforward, but it may get more complicated if he or she is uninsured or underinsured.

If you were in a crash with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, call Wolfson & Leon. We can handle the legal work so you can focus on your own recovery and get your life back on track.

2 Important Elements in Pedestrian Accidents

October 6, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

Thousands of people die on American roads each year, and pedestrians make up a significant percentage of these fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, up to 5,000 pedestrians die in car-related crashes each year, and many more sustain serious and often debilitating injuries. In 2012, more than 70,000 pedestrians sustained injuries in accidents with motor vehicles.

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What Damages Can I Seek in a Florida Wrongful Death Claim?

October 6, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

The death of a family member or loved one is always difficult, especially if it is the result of a preventable accident or someone else’s negligence. In addition to the emotional toll that a sudden and unexpected death can take on a family, there are often lasting financial impacts.

Under certain circumstances, family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover certain damages from the individual or organization responsible. While no amount of compensation can ease the pain of the loss of a family member, it may be beneficial to help cover costs and fill the financial void left by the deceased.

If you are considering filing a civil lawsuit for a wrongful death claim, contact Wolfson & Leon for advice. We have been practicing law for more than 60 combined years, and we are equipped to handle a wide range of personal-injury cases, including wrongful deaths, car accidents and motorcycle crashes.

5 Safety Tips for Cyclists

October 6, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

Cycling is quickly becoming a popular form of transportation across the United States. A 2011 study by National Household Travel Surveys indicates that biking in the United States makes up approximately 3 percent of all public transport trips.

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What to do after an automobile accident on Miami Beach

October 6, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

MIAMI BEACH – First, you should almost always get checked out at the scene by Fire Rescue if you’ve been injured even slightly. 　 Even if you have medical training, it is exceedingly difficult to assess your own medical condition. 　 Thus, strongly consider any offer from a fire rescue personnel on the scene to go in the ambulance to the hospital.

First responders like EMT (emergency medical technicians) know best when people need to go to the hospital. 　Listen to them. 　When they come to the scene, do what they tell you. 　If they say don’t move, don’t move. 　And do not forget to tell the EMT or Emergency Medical Technician on the scene every physical complaint that is bothering you after the accident. 　The reason this is important is because the insurance company or defendant will make a big deal out of anything that you may have forgotten to tell the Fire Rescue personnel. 　In fact, if you testify during your case that you had pain at the scene and you forgot to tell the EMT Fire Rescue person, the Defendant or Insurance Company may try to make it seem as though you are lying about your injuries. 　The same goes for any bruising striking the inside of the car during the accident. 　If you forgot to tell the EMT at the scene about hitting interior portions of the car with a body part like a knee and later remember it, the Defendant or insurance company will make it out as if you are being untruthful and lying. 　And this, even though you may have just innocently forgotten or you were trying to be strong.

Remember, everything you say is getting recorded so your medical professionals including emergency medical technicians, nurses, and doctors can treat you well. 　So be complete and consistent.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in Florida

October 6, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

The death of a family member or loved one can be a painful experience. This is particularly true in situations when the death was easily preventable and occurred because of negligence.

Each state has specific procedures regarding how the courts can handle such situations, and in many cases, a wrongful death claim is the best way to seek some form of compensation from the at-fault party. These wrongful death claims are civil lawsuits, and there are specific laws in Florida that govern this procedure.

If you believe a member of your family was the victim of wrongful death, contact a Miami personal-injury lawyer for advice. Filing a claim for wrongful death is a complicated process, and if you intend to sue the negligent party, a lawyer may be able to help.

The Head-on-Collision: What Types of Injuries Can Be Sustained? (Part 2 of 3)

September 28, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

Possible Safety Issues Regarding Protective Features Such as Airbags and Seatbelts You Should Be Aware Of

When a head-on collision occurs, the front seat occupants are rapidly propelled forward towards the windshield. In order to prevent someone from going through the windshield, most cars have two important safety features, the seatbelt, which must be buckled to be effective, and airbags, which react automatically to a crash and open by themselves. Seatbelts and airbags have made driving safer and do their part in protecting people well in most cases.

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However, you should note that these safety features can also cause injuries of their own. When an airbag deploys, it opens very quickly with a lot of impact. It is designed to do that to protect drivers and passengers as fast as possible to quickly “pillow” the occupants of the car from as much of the crash impact as they can. However, being struck by an airbag can feel like a major impact of its own, especially to a person who has never had an airbag open on them. Getting struck by an airbag in action mode may result in ancillary injuries, especially ears and eyes before the impact lessens and it goes into “pillow” mode. If small or petite individuals are struck by a deploying airbag, more serious injuries can occur. That’s why people are advised to have children ride in the back seat. Another problem with airbags is sometimes they are defective or installed incorrectly and fail to go off altogether and the driver and passenger in the front seats may hit the window, which can cause extremely serious “life or death” types of injuries.

The Head-on-Collision: Statistically More Likely Than Any Other Accident to Cause Death and Incapacitating Injuries (Part 1 of 3)

September 28, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

MIAMI, FLORIDA – Data from the Florida Department of Transportation lists 1,173 wrong-way crashes (also known as “head-on collisions”) on Florida’s freeways and toll roads from 2003 to 2012. In those, 164 people were killed and 1,322 hurt.

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Seaside attraction Miami, which is the largest metropolitan area in Florida, is no exception. Some factors noted in Miami that are not common in other areas which can cause a motorist to have a head-on collision include large streets that resemble highways where people tend to drive very fast; some large streets and highways with places that don’t have a shoulder to seek safety on when faced with an oncoming wrong-way motorist; a highway and toll system that can be very confusing for people who are not from Miami, sometimes causing them to panic when trying to make decisions and end up going the wrong way; very heavy downpours of rain that occur quickly and with no warning where the driver literally cannot see out of the windshield; and tourists (particularly international ones) driving who are not familiar with the area. Miami can be a challenging place to drive, especially for the uninitiated.

Miami can especially be a challenging place to have a serious automobile accident, whether you are a visitor or Florida resident. Attorneys at Wolfson & Leon have a combined 62 years of experience representing accident victims in Miami. If you contact Wolfson & Leon immediately after your accident, even before speaking to the car insurance companies involved, you will not be misled into making any statements by a car insurance company that will come back to haunt you and harm your case. Wolfson & Leon will make a thorough investigation of your personal situation and assist you when it comes to making statements to insurance companies.

Legal Representation Help – Filing a Lawsuit after a Head-on Collision in Florida (Part 3 of 3)

September 28, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

The minimum Personal Injury Protection coverage required by law in Florida is only $10,000. This amount is never enough to fully pay for damages, especially when it comes to a catastrophic accident like a head-on-collision. And that is your own insurance that covers your own damages. Unfortunately, many car owners skimp on their insurance to save money and just purchase the minimum amount of insurance. Another problem that may occur is the at-fault driver does not have any insurance at all, so remember it is always recommended to carry uninsured motorist coverage on your vehicles.

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Besides injuries and a destroyed automobile, head-on-collisions can wreak havoc financially. Medical care is costly and you may end up with a lot of debt because of it. The cost of the most advanced and intensive care, such as for injuries to the brain and spinal cord can easily end up in the six figures. You may need physical rehabilitation for a long time. You may be laid up and unable to go to work, which can hurt your budget even if it is for a short time. If you are unable to work because of your injuries for a long time, you could end up bankrupt.

The worst case scenario is death. If a relative died in an auto accident, you also may be able to file a wrongful death claim … to obtain justice for your loved one who has passed over, and to fight to provide the survivors of the deceased much deserved financial stability.

How the DMV Wants You to Act after a Crash in Florida

March 25, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

If you are in a Florida car crash, it is critical that you take certain steps following the accident. If you remain calm and rational at the scene, you will stay on the right side of the law, and you may improve your chances of success if you file a claim against any negligent drivers.

When to Call a Personal-Injury Lawyer

A Miami personal-injury lawyer can play an important role for any victims of a car accident. A qualified attorney can evaluate the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine if you have a valid claim against the negligent driver. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and lost wages.