Miami Personal Injury Attorney Blog

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.

Accident Kills One and Injures Two

August 29, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

One person was killed and another injured when a Smart Car and a truck collided at Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 15th Street. The accident took place at 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to Miami Police, the Smart Car, which was rented from Car 2 Go, caused the accident by running a red light and t-boning the Chevy Silverado truck.

According to CBS Miami, the driver of the Smart Car was rushed to the hospital and is in critical condition. The driver of the truck was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital and was released. He suffered a spinal injury and a concussion. The Smart Car passenger died on the scene.

Boy Injured on Cruise-Ship

August 29, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

A relaxing family cruise turned into a nightmare when a 9-year-old was seriously injured on a Royal Caribbean ship. The child’s family is now suing the cruise line.

According to NBC Miami, the boy was injured while playing a game in the ship’s entertainment zone for kids. The game involved two staff members throwing balls and children running to avoid them. One boy collided with another child, and his head struck a hard surface.

The ship, Monarch of the Seas, sailed out of Port Miami. Following the incident, the boy was rushed to a hospital in Nassau for emergency brain surgery.

Classes Resume After Deadly Car Crash

August 29, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

Classes at Miami Dade College’s Liberty City Campus resumed after a fiery car crash killed one person and injured three.

The four-door, silver Lincoln sedan was speeding on Northwest Seventh Avenue before it clipped a light post and crashed into a building. The car was reported stolen on Aug. 18. According to the Miami Police Department, the vehicle exploded immediately after impacting the wall.

The driver of the Lincoln ran away from the accident and left four passengers inside the burning car. One passenger died when the officers arrived.

Driver Arrested Almost 2 Months Later

August 29, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

After originating a multi-car accident almost two months ago Isis Cesar, 36, was arrested August 5, 2013 and now faces DUI and manslaughter charges. According to reports, she takes several medications, was under the influence of alcohol at the time and smoked marijuana the day before.

According to police, on May 9, 2013 Cesar was traveling more than 70 mph in an area where the speed limit was 40 mph around 2pm in Northwest Miami-Dade, when her car hit another vehicle turning left at 47th and NW 7th avenue. This caused the other driver’s car to crash into the car of Juan Liriano, age 71. Liriano’s car flew into the air and was hit yet again, ending his life.

Florida DUI and Manslaughter Penalties.