Florida law requires a person involved in an accident to stop at the scene. When the collision involves an unattended vehicle or a small amount of property damage, the charge is a misdemeanor. If the crash involves another vehicle with a driver or passengers inside, where only property damage is involved, it is pretty much…
Car accidents are the most common reason for people to see a personal injury attorney. Most people will be in 3-4 accidents in their lifetime. Not all of these will result in an injury, of course, but getting hit is a matter of when, not if.
Accidents are often in the news and we’ve curated some of these stories from around Florida here on this section of our website. All stories link back to the original news source.
If you are in a car accident, the first thing to do is to seek medical attention. For insurance to pay you what you deserve for your injuries, you need to prove that you are injured. If the cost of your car repairs and medical bills is under $10,000, or $20,000 if the crash wasn’t your fault, insurance will likely cover the costs because this is the minimum coverage required by law in Florida.
However, injuries can cost far more than this. That’s when you need the help of a personal injury attorney to fight for your needs. We can negotiate with the insurance companies to get you what you deserve and protect you from sneaky tricks. And should they refuse to budge, we will fight on your behalf in the courtroom.
Thousands of people enter courtrooms every day to fight for their due compensation after an injury accident. The ones with the best chances come with a lawyer on their side like one from the team of Chalik Law. We represent the interests of the unjustly injured.
Third Self-Driving Death in Tesla Vehicles
Self-driving cars have been the dream of many an auto manufacturer. While we’re not quite there yet, one automaker has made great strides in automation when it comes to driving. Tesla, who touts that its “autopilot” feature can take some of the driving responsibility out of human hands, has come under scrutiny recently. Many drivers…
Trooper Hit By Another Vehicle While Assisting at Scene Due to Hydroplaning
The term hydroplaning is usually used to describe when a car slides or skids across a wet surface. This happens when the tires of a vehicle encounter more water than it can scatter. Water is pressed under the tire, separating it from the road surface. The result is a loss of steering, braking, and power…
Teen Hit and Killed While Skateboarding to Work
When it comes to bicycle and pedestrian safety on roadways, both motorists and the bicyclists/pedestrians need to play their respected roles. Motorists can play their part by keeping an active eye out for pedestrians and bicyclists. Giving plenty of room and obeying traffic laws can keep accidents from happening. On the part of the bicyclists…
Woman Facing Multiple Heavy Charges After Stealing a Vehicle With People Inside
If you are involved in a car accident in Florida, there are certain steps that you should immediately take to preserve evidence. The first step may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people miss it. Call the police. Having an officer determine who was at fault can go a long way with insurance…
Man Killed After Running Stop Sign
Accidents involving the failure to stop at a stop sign are fairly common in Florida. Many times, these kinds of accidents are rear-end collisions. However, there are also instances of cars being T-boned, where one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. They often occur with distracted driving or drivers in a hurry and…
23 Year Old Falls Out of Moving Car Window, Hit By Another Car
New drivers typically make mistakes that veteran drivers would not make. Driving experience only comes with practice and let’s be honest, we’ve all taken risks as new drivers. Some of the most common driving mistakes include those made, not necessarily limited to inexperienced drivers, by younger drivers who commit them more often. Speeding, following too closely,…
Stolen SUV Crashes Into Police Car
Florida law requires that any driver involved in an accident involving property damage, injuries, or death stop at the scene. If possible, they should render aid and contact the appropriate authorities by dialing 911. Florida law changed in 2014 when the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act went into effect. This law now provides for a…
Rollover Hit-and-Run Leaves Teen Injured
Rollover crashes account for a small percentage of overall auto accidents but cause a high number of fatalities. As many as 35% of rollover crashes result in a fatality. In many cases, the fatalities that result from rollover crashes are usually due to drivers and passengers in the crash failing to wear safety belts. The…
Safety Agencies Investigate Tesla Crash
Tesla, Inc., a company founded by Elon Musk which manufactures electric cars, has come under fire recently. Advocacy groups are concerned that misleading marketing may lead owners to believe that the company’s autopilot system can serve in place of a driver being in control of the vehicle. The autopilot system can adjust speed, keep the…
Man Charged Over a Year Later For Fatal Florida Crash
Florida is a “no-fault” insurance state as it pertains to auto insurance liability. What this means is that every driver in Florida is required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) that they must turn to in case of personal injury in an accident. There are exceptions to this law; such…
Tesla Autopilot Drives Off Road, Car Bursts Into Flames
Tesla cars are electric, safe, and their “autopilot” feature is leading more and more buyers to pick up their cars. Tesla’s website even points to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test that found that the Tesla Model S, Model X, and Model 3 to have the lowest or second-lowest probability of injury of all…
Fire-Fighter Killed in Collision While Assisting at Accident Scene
One-third of all accidents that occur in the United States are alcohol-related. When involved in such an accident, there are things to consider. While almost every state has a law in place regarding auto insurance coverage, not everyone is in compliance with those laws. It is also important to consider that while the insurance company…
Deputy Pleads Guilty to Traffic Citations, Family to Sue for Damages
Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to auto insurance. Basically, this means that all drivers are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury coverage in case of an accident. Unfortunately, this also means that because personal injury litigation is also the most common civil litigation. In order to move forward…
Alleged Drunk Driver Tells Others Not to Call Police
Florida law does not require that the police be notified if a traffic accident was minor. However, if the accident involved injuries, fatalities, or serious property damage, the law states that the police must be called to the scene before those involved can leave. If you believe that the other driver is intoxicated or otherwise…
Tesla Crashes Into SUV At 128 MPH
Automobiles today come with a wide range of safety features, going far beyond seat belts and airbags. Many vehicles have automatic emergency braking, warnings if you stray from your lane, and backup cameras. While these safety features have undoubtedly kept many an accident from happening, we haven’t quite reached the realm of self-driving cars just…
Unfamiliar Roads, Six-Lane U-Turn Blamed for Fatal Accident of Foreign Family
Unfamiliarity with an area can be a major cause for auto accidents, particularly wrong way crashes. Merging onto an interstate using the off-ramp instead of the on-ramp and going the wrong way on unfamiliar wrong way streets can often be attributed with being unfamiliar with the roads in an area. Other conditions can also contribute…
Speeding Officer Says His Life Is Over After Crash
Police officers and other law enforcement officials are often expected to be held to the same standards, if not higher standards, than the general public. They are expected to obey the same laws that all other citizens are expected to abide by. While this may be the expectation, law enforcement officers are humans, and like…
Firefighter Accused of Crashing Into Five Cars While Drunk
Florida is like many other states when it comes to having an implied consent law. This law basically states that by having a state of Florida driver’s license, you agree, should you be suspected of DUI, to take a chemical test to determine your blood-alcohol level. While you legally have the right to refuse the…
Elderly Driver Crashes Into Restaurant, Six Injured
There are many reasons a person may lose control of their vehicle. One of the most common reasons is due to overcorrecting. This occurs when a vehicle veers in one direction or begins to skid and the driver turns the wheel in the opposite direction, which causes loss of traction. Road conditions may also be…