Miami Personal Injury Attorney Blog

Two Pedestrian Accident Victims

November 15, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

Auto accidents occur all the time in Florida, but none are as deadly as those between a car and a pedestrian. Negligent driving is generally to blame, and accidents that involve pedestrians often turn into hit and runs. This week, NBC News reports that two separate accidents killed two pedestrians in Miami.

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The first accident claimed the life of 78-year-old Fannie Ash who was struck as she walked across the street. The driver that hit her left the scene of the accident, but he was quickly found and arrested by Miami police.

Everything You Need To Know

November 5, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

One of the most often tried types of personal injury cases involves negligent driving. Negligent driving spans a wide variety of situations. Any action that increases the likelihood of an accident but could have been reasonably prevented is considered negligent. These actions include talking or texting on a cell phone, putting on make up, eating or drinking, among others.

Other forms of negligence revolve around the way a vehicle is driven. Driving at an excessive speed or making abrupt lane changes are also considered forms of negligent driving. Negligent driving also pertains to driving while impaired. Impairment can include intoxication or drowsiness.

If a negligent driver caused an accident, and you were injured as a result, it is important to stand up for yourself to ensure that you are fairly compensated. Your first step should be to call a personal injury attorney who can review your claim and build a strong case around it. At Wolfson & Leon, we have more than six decades of combined experience in the Miami area. Let us put that experience to work for you. Call Us At 305-285-1115 Today!

Miami Plastic Surgeon May

October 29, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

Last month, radio personality Betty Pino died from complications during a cosmetic procedure. Her family was left in shock and is considering bringing a medical malpractice suit against her cosmetic surgeon. Miami New Times reported that the city’s medical examiner has spoken out, criticizing the medical treatment of Pino.

After finding a cosmetic surgeon to remove silicone implants from her buttocks, her wounds became infected. Her infection spread, and she slipped into a coma.

Doctors took extraordinary measures in an attempt to save her life, but she passed away. Her family told reporters that they were deciding whether or not to file a personal injury suit against plastic surgeon Constantino Mendieta, who performed the operation.

Personal Injury Suit Likely

October 21, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

A truck struck a taxi cab carrying two passengers in a high-speed collision, killing the driver of the taxi. According to CBS Miami, passengers in both vehicles sustained serious injuries.

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The force of the crash forced both vehicles off of the road and into a closed gas station. There currently are no indicators of what caused the wreck.

Bedrails Might Cause More Incidents

October 14, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

A recent study shows that bedrails might cause more deaths and injuries than they prevent. According to a Miami Herald article, the problem is that bedrail designs are not regulated whatsoever.

After elderly or mentally impaired people fall out of their beds, care facilities and doctors advise that their families install bedrails to prevent future falls. Unfortunately, thousands of elderly citizens are injured by becoming trapped by those rails.

Federal agencies have known that bedrails can be hazardous but have done little to inform the public or regulate the manufacturers. Without warnings or regulations, consumers purchase rails expecting to provide safety for their loved ones, only to find out that the bedrails might lead to injury or even death.

Deaf Cyclist Injured

October 8, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

A deaf bicyclist was injured when he was clipped by a semi-truck. The incident occurred near the end of his 10,000-mile ride to raise awareness for the hearing impaired.

Six months ago, Jacob Landis and his cousin set out on their long ride, which was scheduled to end in Miami. According to First Coast News, they were only 200 miles from their destination when Jacob Landis was clipped by a semi-truck trailer and fell off his bike.

When emergency responders arrived, Landis was lying on the shoulder of the roadway, disoriented and bleeding. His hearing apparatus had been knocked loose during the collision, keeping him from communicating effectively with responders.

Boating Accident Leaves Two Dead

September 30, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, boating accidents are on the rise. They can cause the same types of injuries as car accidents. Those involved may endure severe burns, broken bones and brain damage. The rate of fatal accidents is also, sadly, on the rise. Boating accidents bring their own set of dangers, including lacerations caused by propellers and hyperthermia suffered while in the water.

Just like car accidents, boating accidents that result from negligence can turn into criminal proceedings for the person at fault. A boater named John Deselms was recently charged with first-degree manslaughter for a May boating accident that left two people dead. He has since posted bond and been released.

Deselms has nearly 1,000 hours of boat driving experience. With so much time on the water, what could have caused him to drive 25 mph into the lower deck of a docked houseboat? According to News On 6, preliminary reports indicate that Deselms’ blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. He admitted to police that he drank 10 beers, had a shot of liquor and took prescription pills.

Innocent Dies after Crash

September 20, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

Police chases have been made strangely popular by reality T.V. shows that depict cops chasing down criminals. A crash that occurred on Wednesday morning served as a reminder of just how deadly those high-speed chases can be. NBC News reported that the chase began after police discovered that a South Miami Heights woman and her daughter had been shot and killed. When the police tracked down the woman’s ex-boyfriend, he fled, leading police on a chase through multiple counties.

He began to speed excessively and started weaving in and out of traffic before eventually colliding with another car. The driver of the car, Maritza Medina, was ejected by the impact. Police officers rushed in to drag Medina to safety but found that she had already died from her injuries. Both vehicles were extremely damaged by the crash.

SWAT teams surrounded the shooter’s vehicle, which led to a standoff that ended when police officers heard shots from within the vehicle and approached, finding the shooter had died from self-inflicted gun shot wounds.

The Dangers of Drag Racing

September 16, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

Any car crash that results in death or injury is tragic, but fatal car crashes that are caused by irresponsible driving are particularly saddening. Many such accidents are the result of illegal drag races, also known as street races. Street racers don’t just put their own lives on the line for a thrill; they also endanger the lives of pedestrians and other motorists.

The tragic affects of street racing can be seen in a recent crash in Miami. According to a CBS Miami report last Saturday, a driver who witnesses say was street racing ran a red light and collided with a Nissan and a county bus. The driver of the Nissan, Humberto Perez, had dropped his wife off at work only moments before. The force of the collision ejected Perez from his vehicle. He died at the scene.

One of the passengers on the bus was taken to the hospital for treatment. The bus driver suffered minor injuries and received treatment at the scene. The accused street racer and his passenger were severely injured and were taken to the hospital after they were extricated from their vehicle.

Miami’s Motorists Rank Among Worst

September 16, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

Recently, The Huffington Post crowned Miami home to the worst drivers in America. In the Miami-Dade County area, distracted drivers continue to contribute to the overwhelming number of traffic accidents that occur daily. Brian Palmer, a writer for Slate.com, “crunched the numbers” and found in 2012 Miami topped the national list for the highest amount of automobile fatalities and hit-and-run accidents involving pedestrians—on average 35 hit-and-run violations a day.

Statistics showed Miami experienced more distracted driver accidents than any other city in America, with Philadelphia a distant runner-up. South Florida’s increasing problem of distracted drivers and texting sparked Governor Rick Scott to sign a texting ban in May, which will take effect October 1, 2013.

The Florida Department of Transportation plans to sponsor a Distracted Driver Awareness Campaign. The awareness campaign will target teenagers. Governor Scott also emphasized the importance of The National Safety Council’s report that 3,000 teenagers end up receiving hospital treatment due to accidents involving texting. Distracted drivers and texting have become a national public dilemma.