Under Florida law, there are two ways that a person can be charged if the police or prosecutors believe that they were driving in a manner that put other people’s lives, health, or property in danger. The first charge is simply a traffic violation. It is a citation for careless driving. Being found guilty of…
The South Florida Reporter Offers Some Invaluable Driving Tips
Motor vehicle accidents fell in Florida in 2018 compared to the number that occurred in 2017. However, it was a small decrease amounting to just a little over one percent. Agencies statewide reported that there were 397,812 total accidents. In those accidents, there were 251,970 injuries and 3,004 fatalities. The great majority of these accidents…
Three Motorcyclists Were Killed During Bike Week This Year
Motorcyclists often take their hobby or their vehicles very seriously. For many, it is a lifestyle, and there are clubs–both legal and not so legal–and many bike rallies held across the nation. One of the most famous bike rallies is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota. Another is the Daytona Beach…
Legislation That Would Reform Florida’s Auto Insurance Laws Is Stalled
Florida is one of the few states that does not require drivers to carry liability insurance that would force at-fault drivers to pay for serious injuries or death. Instead, Florida is currently a no-fault state. This means that a driver must carry a type of insurance called personal injury protection. They must turn to this…
Three People Died in a Run-Off-Road, Single-Car Accident. Two Passengers Survived.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, run-off-road (ROR) collisions account for as much as 70% of all fatal single-vehicle collisions. There are many factors that can contribute to ROR traffic collisions. One such factor is the alignment of the road. For example, 90.2% of fatal single-vehicle collisions that occurred on curved roads were…
The CDC Cite Falls, Motor Vehicle Accidents and Brain Injuries As the Most Common Causes of Injuries In the Elderly
When it comes to percentages, the state of Florida has the second-highest percentage population of senior citizens, coming in behind Maine. In terms of sheer numbers, California has the greatest number of senior citizens. Because the elderly are more prone to injury, places like these often see a number of senior citizens who are injured….
One Driver Dies In Wrong-Way Crash and the Victim Suffered Significant Injuries But Is Expected to Survive
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, although wrong-way collisions are rare, especially when compared to other accidents, including head-on crashes, they tend to be fatal. Wrong-way collisions occur most often at night, on weekends, and in the lanes closest to the median. The fatality rate in wrong-way collisions has remained unchanged for several years….
Multiple People Killed And Injured As a Tire Was Being Changed on a Highway
Experiencing a flat tire is a frustrating problem and can become problematic when on a busy roadway, interstate, or a highway. According to the National Safety Council, a person should do certain things to remain safe when they encounter a tire problem on a highway. If at all possible, you should work your vehicle towards…
Uber Driver Accused Of Killing Passenger in DUI Crash
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have independent drivers who work as contractors for the service. However, the drivers are required to pass a background and driving record check, which may differ slightly between the two companies. Uber drivers, for example, cannot have had a DUI conviction within the previous seven years. In Florida, Uber…
Interstate 95 Northbound Was Closed Due to an Oil Spill From a Truck Accident
The drivers of big-rig trucks or tractor-trailers possess a commercial driver’s license, and they attend specialized driving schools to learn the skills necessary to drive such massive vehicles safely. That said, accidents do occur, and accidents involving tractor-trailers can be some of the deadliest. According to 2017 data, there were 4,889 large trucks and buses…
Florida Laws and Limits on Economic and Non-Economic Damages
In personal injury cases, there are two types of financial compensation typically awarded: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover expenses such as medical bills, damage to personal property, and lost wages. Non-economic damages on the other hand cannot be measured like a medical bill or a repair estimate. Some examples include mental anguish, loss…
A Sudden Medical Emergency While Driving Resulted in Three Pedestrians Being Injured at a Shopping Plaza
In most accident cases, fault is clearly established because one of the drivers failed to obey a traffic law or rear-ended the other vehicle. However, when the driver has suffered a medical emergency, liability is not so simple. Most states recognize the “sudden medical emergency” defense in a car accident. The thought is that the…
Jury’s Verdict Awards the Victim $100,000 Pain and Suffering for Injuries Incurred in a 2010 Car Wreck
Because Florida is currently a no-fault state, each driver must carry insurance called personal injury protection. This insurance covers an individual’s injuries and property damage up to the policy amount. Only if the medical bills and other factors such as pain and suffering exceed the amount of the PIP policy may someone then sue the…
Driver in a Deadly DUI Crash Arrested After 10 Months
Florida statute defines the crime of DUI manslaughter as a charge that occurs when a person driving a vehicle, or found to be in actual physical control of a vehicle, and is under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance. For a driver to face DUI manslaughter chargers, the muster must have a blood-alcohol…
Two Women Injured After A Hit-And-Run Accident. Driver Still At Large.
Florida has laws that govern what a person should do in the event of an accident. Even if there is just minor property damage, they are required to stop and exchange information with the other driver. Deciding to flee the scene may be something that happens when a person is scared or acting on instinct,…
Coach Retires After Crashing Into A Truck At An Intersection, Resulting In 13 Injuries And 1 Death
All drivers have a responsibility to obey the laws of the roadway. This includes yielding the right of way to other drivers when warranted. Not only can failing to yield the right of way lead to traffic citations, but it can also lead to liability in the case of an accident. When failure to yield…
A Fatal Crash Involving A Motorcycle Results In The Death Of An 84-Year-Old Woman
Motorcycles can be an exhilarating and practical way to travel, but they are obviously much less crashproof than other motor vehicles. According to the NHTSA, there were 5,172 motorcyclists killed in 2017. This number is down 3% from 5,337 in 2016. Per mile traveled during 2017, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely to die than…
Struck SUV Pushed Into Construction Zone, Kills Worker
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the state had the second-highest number of fatal traffic accidents in work zones in 2016. Workers were present in 35% of those fatal crashes and 44% of the crashes that resulted in serious injuries. To combat the number of crashes that occur in work zones, the agency concentrates…
Bicycle Accidents And Deaths On The Rise In Florida
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Florida roadways are a killing field for cyclists. On a per-capita scale, cyclist deaths in Florida are almost 60 percent higher than the next closes state. Between 2007-2016, Florida saw 6.2 deaths per 100,000 people. The next closest state, Louisiana, had 3.9 deaths per 100,000. According to…
Rear-End Collision Kills Tree And Leaves One In Critical Condition
A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that rear-end collisions are the most frequently occurring kind of collision in the United States. Each year, of all collisions, 1.7 million, or 29%, are rear-end collisions, causing injury to 500,000 people and 1700 deaths. The National Transportation Safety Board report found that 87% of…