South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg

Bathtub/Shower Falls in Miami, Florida

Published on: August 29, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

If you have been injured in a shower or bathtub at a hotel, you need to reach out to a seasoned Miami injury attorney who can assess the merits of your case. You may assume that you do not have a case, but this is not always true. Every situation is different and we will meticulously assess the circumstances surrounding your fall to determine the full extent of your legal rights and options. At our Law Offices, we are committed to helping clients resolve their Florida personal injury claims in an efficient and effective manner.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports in that an estimated 235,000 people over the age of 15 visit emergency rooms because of injuries they suffered in the bathroom. Of those, approximately two thirds occurred during bathing or showering. In addition, about 81 percent occur because of slip and falls. The CDC also found that injuries increase with age. In other words, the older a person is, the more likely that person is to sustain serious injuries.

Florida law requires property and business owners to maintain their premises in order to ensure the safety of their customers. This means taking the appropriate steps to prevent foreseeable harm. A property owner that fails to do this could be liable for any resulting harm. For example, if the owner of a hotel knew that there was an unsafe hazard in the bathroom and did nothing to fix it, they can be held liable.

Multiple Injuries Reported in Florida School Bus Crash

Published on: August 23, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

We trust school buses to safely transport our children to and from their destinations. If your child has been injured while riding on a school bus, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. Establishing liability in school bus accidents can be complicated, and having the right attorney on your side can make a difference in your case. At our Law Offices, our Miami school bus accident attorneys can analyze the facts of your case and help you understand your legal rights and options.Last week, more than a dozen children were injured in an accident involving a school bus on Interstate 595 in Davie. Specifically, 18 people were sent to the hospital, including 14 minors. Thankfully, no one suffered any serious injuries. The bus crashed with three other cars in the eastbound lane just before the University Drive exit. There is no word from officials as to what caused the crash. The bus was one of seven carrying hundreds of South Florida middle and high school students on an annual mission trip with West Pines Community Church.

More than 450,000 school buses transport children to and from school each day across the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school bus-related accidents send 17,000 children to emergency rooms each year. While Florida is one of a handful of states that have implemented safety belt requirements for school buses, injuries continue to take place when school buses crash with other vehicles on the road. Some common causes of school bus accidents include but are not limited to driver negligence, dangerous roads, adverse weather, defective parts, and improper maintenance.

Filing a bus accident case can be complex because there may be a number of liable parties. If a third party caused the school bus accident, you may be able to recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver. However, if the bus driver caused the crash, the process can become a little trickier. In these cases, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the bus company that employs the driver. In many cases, the government operates the bus, and any lawsuits against the government are more difficult and have a shorter statute of limitations. In other cases, the bus accident may have been a result of a mechanical failure, such as a brake or steering defect. In these instances, you may be able to recover compensation through a product liability claim against a manufacturer.

1 Killed in Florida Dump Truck Accident

Published on: August 23, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

Strict deadlines placed on dump truck drivers often cause drivers to speed and engage in other dangerous behaviors. If you or your loved one has been injured or killed in a dump truck accident that was not your fault, you need to reach out to a skilled Miami truck accident attorney who can help. At our Law Offices, we are committed to helping South Florida clients obtain the compensation they need to move on with their lives.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly accident that occurred in Southwest Miami-Dade last week. Troopers say a dump truck was attempting to make a left turn into a concrete plant when it collided with a rental car, which burst into flames. Sadly, the 30-year-old driver was burned to death and died at the scene of the accident. He was driving a Dodge Charger at the time. The collision is being investigated to determine if speed was a factor.

A dump truck refers to a truck with a body that tilts or opens at the back for unloading. These trucks are typically used for transporting loose material such as sand, gravel or demolition waste for construction. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, dump and cement truck accidents caused the second most injuries and deaths among all large commercial vehicle crashes in 2015. Given the weight and ungainly distribution of mass, dump trucks can be prone to rollovers, which may lead to serious accidents and injuries. Other causes of dump truck accidents include, but are not limited to:

Teen Dies in Fiery Crash After Driving 116mph in Florida

Published on: August 23, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

Every single year, millions of Americans are involved in deadly car accidents, many of which are caused by excessive speeding. If you or someone close to you was killed due to an accident caused by another driver speeding, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. While no amount of money can bring back your loved one, the compensation can help you deal with your emotional and financial injuries. At our law offices, our seasoned Miami car accident attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and options every step of the way.

In May, just two months after being ticketed for driving 112 mph in a 50 mph zone, B.R. drove his Tesla Model S at 116 mph three seconds before he crashed into a wall and his vehicle went up in flames. The accident ended up killing B.R. and his friend on Fort Lauderdale’s Seabreeze Boulevard.

The information regarding B.R.’s speed is from an initial investigation from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The report also revealed that the two 18-year-olds in the car were wearing seat belts as the Tesla smashed into a wall two times, caught on fire, then careened across the street into a light pole. The NTSB is also looking into the flammability of lithium-ion battery backs for electric vehicles. It is important to note that the battery reignited after the accident and was quickly extinguished. After the wreck, Tesla issued a statement expressing sadness for the lives lost but stating that high-speed collisions can lead to a fire irrespective of the type of the car.

Stairway/Staircase Accidents in Florida

Published on: August 23, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

Stairs present a number of unique dangers; some are obvious and some can be hidden. If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip or trip and fall accident on another’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. Our highly skilled Miami premises liability attorneys will analyze the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim.

Slip and falls are one of the most common accidents that result in injuries and deaths in the United States. Unfortunately, some of these falls happen in stairways. According to the National Safety Council, over 1 million injuries take place every year as the result of stairway falls. In fact, staircase and stairway accidents comprise the second leading cause of accidental injury, behind only automobile accidents.

Property owners have a duty to keep staircases that are under their control safe and free from hazards. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Staircases can often pose dangers when they fall into disrepair. In some cases, stairs are dangerous from the moment they get built due to a defective design. Staircase fall accidents can have a variety of causes including, but not limited to:

Miami Attorney Handling In-Flight Injuries

Published on: August 23, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

While in-flight injuries are relatively rare, they can and do happen. If you or a loved one has been injured in an air flight injury, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm. Our hard-working Miami airplane accident attorneys have the skill and knowledge required to vigorously protect your rights. Airplane accident cases are very complicated, which is why choosing an experienced lawyer is of the utmost importance.

Air travel is one of the most common and efficient ways to get around. It is becoming even more popular as budget airlines offer less expensive alternatives to traditional airlines. A report by the Air & Space Magazine indicates that there were 3.5 billion airline passengers in 2015, a number that was only predicted to increase, and it did. According to the International Air Transport Association’s industry performance statistics for 2016 – airlines carried 3.8 billion passengers that year.

In-flight injuries can range in severity from minor and easily forgotten about to extremely serious and necessitating long-term medical care. There are a number of ways a person can be injured on a flight including, but not limited to:

Bicycle Commuter Accidents in Florida

Published on: August 23, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

Many people in Florida and across the United States use their bike to get to work. In addition, there are many children and teenagers who ride their bikes to school. Unfortunately, these bicyclists are often overlooked by motorists and others on the road. If you or someone close to you has suffered harm in a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At our Law Offices, our Miami bike accident attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and options.

The number of people commuting to work on a bike has significantly increased over the last decade. People are choosing to bike to work due to a number of reasons: it is a good way to exercise, it is cost-effective, and it is an environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Despite the fact that commuters have surged more than 60 percent from 2000 to 2013, nationally, less than one percent of commuters bike to work at least once a week. By comparison, 86 percent of commuters drive to work. According to data from the 2014 American Community Survey, approximately 4.4 percent of people in Gainesville, Florida use their bicycles to commute to work, making it one of the cities in the country with the most bicycle commuters.

Bicyclists are extremely vulnerable to injuries when struck by a car. Many times, bicycle crashes are caused by a motorist’s negligence or inattentiveness while operating his or her vehicle. This at-fault driver – the driver who caused the accident – is likely responsible for compensating you for your injuries. You will be able to recover compensation for your harm if you establish negligence. Negligence occurs when a person’s failure to use reasonable care causes injuries to someone else. Reasonable care refers to the level of care that a prudent person would use in the same or similar circumstances. In order to establish negligence, you must show that the defendant failed to use reasonable care and that the defendant’s failure was a direct cause of the bicycle accident and your resulting harm.

Florida Teen Dies After Being Injured in a Skateboard Accident

Published on: August 23, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

Skateboarding is an entertaining action sport that many young people enjoy both in Florida and across the United States. In other cases, people often use skateboards as a mode of transportation to get around. If you have been injured in a skateboard accident, you need to reach out to a skilled Miami accident attorney who can help. At our Law Offices, we are committed to getting injured victims the compensation they deserve for their harm.

A Florida teenager has died after being injured in a skateboard accident. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) announced at the end of May that 17-year-old Kenneth Moss, Jr. had died from his injuries after a skateboard accident. The FHP revealed that the young man was skateboarding when he grabbed the back of a car to gain speed to push himself down a hill. After traveling about 400 feet down the hill, Moss lost control and fell from the skateboard onto the pavement. He was not wearing a helmet or any protective gear at the time. According to the accident report, Moss was rushed to the hospital and was listed in critical condition with life-threatening injuries from the fall. Some time later, Moss died from the injuries.

In Florida, there are certain laws skateboarders must follow. Under state law, anyone under the age of 16 must wear a helmet when riding on a motorcycle, bicycle, skateboard, or rollerblades. Florida law also states that government and private property owners are not liable for any injuries or damages that take place while an individual is skateboarding without permission. This is because skateboarding carries inherent risks and dangers that should be assumed by those participating in such activities.

Diaphragm Injuries Resulting from Florida Auto Accidents

Published on: August 23, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

Car accidents can lead to a number of serious and long-term injuries, such as chest injuries. If you have suffered a serious diaphragm injury in a Florida car accident, it is critical to attain the immediate assistance of an experienced Miami car accident attorney. At our Law Offices, our team understands what you are going through and can help you in the aftermath of a serious car accident.

The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the chest (thoracic) cavity from the abdomen. It is the main muscle of respiration and plays a major role in breathing, since its contraction increases the volume of the thorax and thus inflates the lungs. Diaphragmatic trauma typically results from penetrating or blunt trauma, with about 80 or 90 percent of blunt diaphragmatic ruptures being due to car accidents. These injuries often require surgical repair. Symptoms of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries may include the following: abdominal pain and discomfort, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain over the sternum or upper abdomen, rapid heart rate, and shallow breathing.

If you or someone close to you has suffered a diaphragm injury in an accident that was not your fault, you may be able to recover damages through a negligence claim. Negligence is a legal concept used to determine fault in personal injury claims. Under Florida law, negligence occurs when a person fails to exercise reasonable care, thereby causing an injury, death, or property damage to another individual. Reasonable care denotes the level of care that a prudent person would have used in the same or similar circumstances. In other words, using reasonable care means engaging in conduct that does not create an excessive risk of harm to others.

Florida Sees Increase in Boating Accidents

Published on: August 23, 2018 | by Law Offices of Robert Dixon

The state of Florida is known for many things, one of the most notable being the oceans and beaches it offers. Boating is a popular activity in the state. And while it can be great fun, boating accidents can lead to devastating, even deadly injuries. If you have been injured in a boating accident, you need to reach out to a seasoned Miami boat accident attorney who can help you pursue the level of compensation you need to move on with your life.

Statistically, Florida ranks No. 1 nationally for the number of boating accidents and fatalities, numbers that have consistently increased since 2000, and this past year was no exception. According to a recent report by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida recorded 766 boating accidents in 2017, a 7.3 percent increase from the prior year. In addition, the 67 boating-related deaths matched the total from 2016. The report notes that people falling overboard has been the most common type of deadly accident for the past 15 years. In addition, more than one-third of the 2017 accidents involved collisions between boats, of which 37 percent were caused by inattentiveness or the operator failing to maintain a proper lookout.

As mentioned above, inattentiveness and operator error can cause or contribute to a boat accident. Other causes of boat accidents may include operator inexperience, operating at an unsafe speed, careless or reckless operation of a boat, or operating the vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In many boat accident cases, the boat operator has not completed a boating safety education course.