Articles Posted in Car Accidents

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you need to seek the help of a seasoned Miami car accident attorney who can help. At our Law Offices, we are dedicated to providing personalized attention throughout the entire legal process.

A new report released by a legal referral site, which analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), found that Saturday is most dangerous day of the week to drive. The safest day to be on the road, according to the report, is Tuesday. The analysis found that 6,802 people were killed on Saturday out of the 37,461 road deaths that took place in 2016. That was 53 percent higher than the 4,444 deaths that occurred on a Tuesday. The second and third deadliest days on the road were Friday with 5,826 deaths and Sunday with 5,809 deaths. The report also found that the afternoon rush hour period is actually more dangerous than the morning commute.

There could be a number of reasons for this trend. More people tend to be on the roads during the weekends, and drivers are also potentially more careless during these times. Drunk driving seems to be a major reason. NHTSA data reveal that 28 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2016 involved drivers with blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 percent or higher, the legal limit in Florida and throughout the country. More drunk driving deaths take place on the weekend and at night. Speeding was another major factor in car crash-related deaths.

When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel despite being extremely tired or sleepy, that driver puts everyone else on the road at risk. If you have been injured due to the negligence of a drowsy driver, you need to speak with an experienced Miami car accident attorney. At our Law Offices, we are committed to representing clients who have been hurt or have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by drowsy driving.A shocking surveillance video released by the Florida Highway Patrol shows an SUV speeding into a toll plaza, sending one of the passengers flying through the air and into a tollbooth. The man miraculously survived, although the full extent of his injuries is not known. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The accident took place near St. Cloud in Osceola County at around 7:15 am on June 3. The Cadillac shown in the video was approaching the tollbooth at full speed when it crashed into a barrier, causing a man to be ejected from the vehicle.

Police believe the accident took place because the driver of the car had fallen asleep. There were 5 passengers in the car, and all of them survived after being rushed to a nearby hospital for their injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol says it released the video to warn others about the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt as well as the risk of harm associated with drowsy driving.

Drowsy driving, also sometimes known as fatigued driving, is a deadly problem in Florida and throughout the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 846 fatalities involving drowsy driving in 2014. Furthermore, NHTSA data reveal that drowsy driving causes 56,000 automobile crashes on an annual basis. Earlier this year, a study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drowsy driving is a factor in almost 10 percent of crashes nationwide.

Single-vehicle accidents can lead to serious and lifelong injuries that can be extremely costly to treat. If you have been injured in a single-vehicle crash, you may be entitled to compensation. At our Law Offices, our Miami car accident lawyers can help you understand your options and figure out how to proceed in your case. While our goal is to settle every case in a timely manner, we are prepared to vigorously advocate for you at trial if necessary.

Last month, a Lake City woman died in a single-car crash when the car crossed over the road’s shoulder and hit a culvert. Upon impact, the car flipped a number of times and ultimately landed on its roof. The woman inside was ejected from the car and died at the scene of the crash. Three others in the car suffered serious injuries. Each of the passengers was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident except for the woman ejected from the car.

Unfortunately, single-car accidents are quite common. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, approximately 55 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2016 occurred in single-vehicle crashes. In Florida, there were 1,670 deaths caused in single-vehicle crashes in 2016, making up 53 percent of the total accident deaths in the state. A single-vehicle accident is a type of road accident in which only one vehicle is involved.

Continue Reading ›

Car accidents are the leading cause of death and serious injuries in Florida. Unfortunately, these accidents are commonplace and can happen to anyone at any time. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a car accident, you need to speak to a skilled Miami auto accident attorney who can analyze your case. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we can examine what happened at the time of your accident and figure out all of your options, including which insurance claims you may be able to make.

During the upcoming legislative session, the Florida senate will determine the merits of repealing Florida’s requirement for drivers to carry personal-injury-protection (PIP) insurance. For a long time, PIP has been mandatory for Florida drivers and is a facet of car insurance that covers medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Every driver is required to carry at least $10,000 in coverage. The policy is designed to limit lawsuits from auto accidents. Florida is one of 10 states to require drivers to carry PIP insurance.

When you get into a car accident in Florida, you have to file a claim with your own PIP insurance for your injuries resulting from the accident. However, if the injuries are severe and permanent, you can file a claim against the other driver and, in some cases, a lawsuit. Auto accident lawsuits are rooted in the theory of negligence. Negligence occurs when a person causes an accident and resulting injuries due to carelessness, recklessness, or misconduct behind the wheel. Put simply, when a driver causes an accident because he or she failed to act as a reasonably prudent driver would have acted in the same or similar circumstances, that driver will likely be liable.

Continue Reading ›

Drivers of motor vehicles have a legal obligation to drive safely, which includes following traffic laws. This obligation includes determining that a movement, such as changing lanes, can be made without endangering others. If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident caused by an improper lane departure, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami car crash attorneys can analyze the facts of your case and help you determine your legal rights and options.

Any time a car veers out of its designated lane, there is a significant risk that an accident will occur. Unfortunately, lane departure accidents are more common than you may think. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, approximately 25,000 fatalities are caused by lane departure crashes each year. In fact, the Federal Highway Administration found that over 18,000 individuals died in lane departure crashes in 2013 when a driver left his or her lane and either crossed the center line into oncoming traffic or went off the edge of the road altogether. A lane departure accident can happen for any number of reasons, including but not limited to:

  • Excessive speeding;

While they are not common, accidents caused by faulty brakes do happen in Florida and across the United States. When these accidents happen, they can lead to devastating accidents, seriously injuring and even killing those involved. Whether an accident occurred because your brakes failed or because the brakes failed on the vehicle that hit you, we can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami car accident attorneys can evaluate every available legal option to make sure you are fully compensated for the injuries that you suffered.

Brake failure is difficult to prove. Much of the time, evidence in these cases will be circumstantial, so it is important to document everything after a wreck. One of the most challenging aspects of a brake failure claim is identifying each potentially liable party. In some cases, the owner of the vehicle may be considered negligent if he or she knew a brake replacement was due but failed to get one. Negligence takes place when a person causes an accident and injuries by failing to act how a reasonably prudent person would have acted in the same or similar circumstances. For example, a reasonably prudent person would get the brakes changed if that person had been alerted to the fact that the brakes needed replacement. As a result, someone who causes an accident in this way would likely be responsible for any resulting harm.

In other cases, the auto shop could be liable for the negligent repair of the vehicle. Again, a lawsuit against an auto shop would be based on the theory of negligence. The relevant question would be:  would another auto shop using reasonable care have done the same thing as the defendant auto shop? If the answer is no, the defendant auto shop will likely be liable.

Medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage are just some of the damages that a personal injury plaintiff would typically be entitled to receive after an accident. Every accident is different, and the amount of damages a plaintiff will be entitled to receive will vary based on the specifics of the case. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, our skilled Miami car accident attorneys can help you determine the appropriate amount of damages in your case. With years of experience, we understand how to navigate these types of claims in an effective and efficient manner.

In a recent case, the plaintiff got into a car accident with the defendant. The defendant admitted that he caused the crash but disputed that the accident caused the plaintiff’s permanent injuries.

At trial, the plaintiff’s pain management physician testified that the plaintiff would require palliative care that would cost between $525,000 and $850,000. The plaintiff’s orthopedic surgeon testified that while the plaintiff’s condition was stable, cervical surgery would help increase the plaintiff’s functional capacity and quality of life. The cost of cervical surgery can be between $90,000 and $120,000. He also stated that if the surgery was not entirely successful, a follow-up lumbar surgery might be needed that would cost between $60,000 and $90,000. The plaintiff also sought lost wages, testifying that she was afraid of losing her job due to her injury.

Continue Reading ›

Car accidents are always scary, but imagine driving down the road only to realize that there is a vehicle driving toward you in the wrong direction. That situation could lead to a serious, even deadly head-on collision. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a wrong-way accident, you need to reach out to an experienced Miami car crash attorney who can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we are committed to helping our clients seek the compensation they deserve for their injuries.

Earlier this month, a 98-year-old man killed two teenagers as he drove his RV the wrong way on a Florida road and caused a head-on collision with a pick up truck. The two teenagers, who were both wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident, were pronounced dead at the scene. The man was rushed to the hospital and was last reported to be in critical condition. He had a passenger in the RV, a 75-year-old woman, who also suffered serious injuries. At the time of the tragic accident, the two girls who were killed were on their way to a BBQ dinner.

Wrong-way driving takes place when a person drives against the direction of traffic. This is a serious mistake and can lead to serious, even fatal accidents. Wrong way driving most often results in head-on collisions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that wrong way drivers are involved in 1.5 percent of overall deadly crashes. In addition, NHTSA data reveal that, on average, about 350 people are killed each year nationwide in wrong-way freeway accidents. In Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation reports that 280 wrong-way accidents killed 75 victims on Florida highways between 2009 and 2013.

Car accidents can be extremely serious, resulting in injuries and sometimes death. Electric cars are no exception. If you believe you have been injured due to a defective electric vehicle, you need to reach out to a Miami car accident attorney. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we understand how to investigate and establish auto defects. With years of experience, you can rest assured that we will provide detail-oriented and personalized representation at every step of the way.

A Tesla Model X recently crashed through two separate walls of a Florida gym. The vehicle almost hit a man who was just stepping off a treadmill, but fortunately he did not get hurt. No one, including the driver, was injured in the incident. The driver of the car told authorities that she hit the brakes, but the car kept accelerating on its own.

Unfortunately, this is not the first report of a Tesla accelerating on its own and resulting in a crash. In 2016, there were a series of similar claims. Almost all of those cases took place in parking lots as the driver pressed the brake to come to a complete stop, but the vehicle sped up and crashed instead. Tesla investigated those claims, and data logs revealed that the drivers had pressed the accelerator pedal in those cases.

Continue Reading ›

If you or a loved one has been injured in a chain reaction accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have legal options and should reach out to a knowledgeable Miami car crash attorney as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we understand that the legal process is stressful, but you don’t have to go through it alone. We are prepared to answer your questions and address your concerns in regard to your case.

Earlier this year, a Florida National Guard soldier died and five others were injured in a chain reaction crash involving military vehicles in Sebring. An initial investigation revealed that three Palletized Load System vehicles (similar to a semitrailer truck) collided in a chain reaction crash. The convoy was traveling north on the highway when the third vehicle failed to stop for a red light in time and hit the second vehicle. The driver of that vehicle sustained fatal injuries and had to be extricated from the damaged vehicles. No civilians were involved in the accident.

Chain reaction accidents, also commonly known as multi-vehicle accidents, take place when more than two cars hit each other in a chain of rear-end accidents. Unfortunately, chain reaction accidents are more common than you may think. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that more than 15,000 people are killed in chain reaction accidents every year, and about 57.2 percent of crashes involve two or more vehicles. In addition, a total of 12 percent of the measured crashes involved three or more vehicles. The NHTSA also reports that around 40 percent of all car accident fatalities arise from multi-vehicle crashes.

Contact Information