Articles Posted in Car Accident

A devastating crash in Pembroke Pines has left a family searching for answers. A scooter rider lost his life after colliding with a car while completing a food delivery. Video from the scene showed the scooter trapped beneath the front of the vehicle, illustrating the severity of the impact. Family members now hope for justice as law enforcement investigates.

When a traffic accident results in death, Florida law allows surviving relatives to pursue compensation if another party’s negligence played a role. Fatal crashes involving delivery workers raise unique legal questions. Determining liability is essential, especially when corporate insurance policies, driver negligence, or hazardous road conditions contribute to a collision. Families left behind may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim to seek financial recovery for funeral costs, lost income, and emotional suffering.

Delivery Drivers Face Greater Risks on the Road

Scooter riders and cyclists delivering food or packages must navigate congested streets while competing for space with larger vehicles. Unlike those in cars, they have no physical protection when a crash occurs. Many work long hours in unpredictable traffic conditions, increasing their exposure to reckless drivers. Some accidents happen when motorists fail to check for scooters while making turns or changing lanes. Others occur when distracted driving, speeding, or failing to yield leads to a preventable collision.

While food delivery companies provide app-based platforms for workers, they typically classify drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. This distinction limits their legal responsibility when accidents happen, often shifting the burden onto individual drivers and their insurance coverage. However, certain circumstances may allow families to hold additional parties responsible for a fatal crash.

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Accidents involving rideshare drivers often leave victims and their families facing uncertainty about who is responsible. A recent fatal collision in Florida involving a rideshare contractor highlights the challenges of determining liability in such cases. The decision to clear the rideshare company of responsibility sheds light on the factors that influence accountability under Florida law.

Rideshare Contractor’s Status at the Time of the Accident

According to the judicial opinion, the tragic accident involved a rideshare contractor who had been disengaged from the platform for several months. Driving a personal vehicle after completing a private errand, the individual entered a roadway where the fatal collision occurred. Evidence showed the driver was not logged into the rideshare app and was not performing any tasks for the company at the time.

In court, the rideshare company successfully argued that it could not be held liable under these circumstances. Florida law requires a clear connection between drivers’ activities and rideshare duties to establish corporate responsibility. Since the contractor was on personal business, the court ruled in favor of the company.

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A recent ruling by Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal emphasizes the critical role causation plays in personal injury claims following car accidents. In this case, a victim sought damages for injuries allegedly sustained in a 2019 rear-end collision. While the jury ultimately awarded over $1.6 million, the defense argued on appeal that causation remained a contested issue, and the trial court erred by removing it from jury consideration.

The appellate court’s decision to reverse the directed verdict on causation underscores the importance of proving the direct connection between the at-fault party’s negligence and the injuries claimed. In Florida car accident cases, demonstrating causation is often among the most challenging and hotly debated aspects.

What is Causation in Florida Personal Injury Cases?

Causation refers to the legal requirement that a victim must prove their injuries directly resulted from the at-fault party’s negligence. In car accident cases, this means showing that the at-fault party’s actions, such as failing to stop in time, caused the injuries for which the victim seeks compensation.

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A recent multi-vehicle crash in Miami left five people hospitalized, highlighting the serious risks of accidents involving multiple cars. According to reports, the collision occurred near Northwest 103rd Street and Northwest 17th Avenue, resulting in a chaotic scene of damaged vehicles, blocked traffic, and emergency responders working to assist the injured. While authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, incidents like these raise important questions about liability, safety, and the legal options available to accident victims.

At Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, we understand how overwhelming the aftermath of a car accident can be. From navigating medical treatments to dealing with insurance claims, the road to recovery is often complicated. If you or a loved one has been injured in a similar accident, knowing your rights and legal remedies is crucial to securing the compensation you need.

Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Crashes

Multi-vehicle crashes often result from a chain reaction of events. Speeding, distracted driving, poor weather conditions, or driver inexperience can all contribute to collisions that involve multiple cars. In some cases, a single negligent driver may set off a series of events that lead to widespread damage and injury. In Miami, where high traffic density and aggressive driving habits are common, these risks are amplified.

Determining fault in multi-vehicle accidents can be challenging, as multiple parties may share responsibility. For example, one driver may be at fault for following too closely, while another could be speeding or failing to maintain proper lane discipline. These complex scenarios make it essential to have an experienced attorney evaluate your case and gather evidence to establish liability.

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A tragic crash in Miami Gardens earlier this week involving a Publix tractor-trailer and a pickup truck has raised questions about liability in accidents with commercial vehicles. The collision occurred near a Publix distribution center when the tractor-trailer was making a left turn, and a speeding pickup truck slammed into its trailer. Sadly, the pickup truck driver did not survive, and the incident highlights the complexities of determining responsibility in such cases under Florida law.

Can Employers Be Held Accountable for Their Drivers’ Actions?

In Florida, trucking companies like Publix may be held accountable for accidents involving their drivers through vicarious liability under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. This principle means an employer can be held responsible for the negligent actions of its employees if those actions occur within the scope of employment.

Florida law allows injured individuals to seek punitive damages in certain auto accident cases where a driver’s behavior is deemed reckless or grossly negligent. A recent case involving an alleged texting-and-driving collision sheds light on what qualifies for punitive damages and the challenges plaintiffs face in proving such claims.

Texting While Driving and Gross Negligence

The case arose from a crash between a truck and a golf cart at a busy intersection. The victims alleged that the truck driver was texting while driving, which caused the accident. During his deposition, the truck driver admitted to briefly looking at his phone to check a text from his wife. He acknowledged that texting while driving is reckless and unreasonable.

A tragic car accident outside a Miami pharmacy has left a 7-year-old girl in critical condition after she was struck by a vehicle driven by an elderly woman. The child was walking with her mother when the accident occurred, and she was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital with severe head injuries where she fought for her life. However, sadly, the young girl recently passed away from her injuries. Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada represent the girl’s family and are looking into all potentially liable defendants. Aside from the most obvious defendant, being the driver, Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada is also considering a property negligence claim agains the owner of the property where the accident occurred.

Holding Older Drivers Accountable Under Florida Law

In the wake of this accident, increased attention has been paid to the role of elderly drivers and the risks they may pose on the road. Florida law does not impose an upper age limit on driving, but older drivers must renew their licenses more frequently and pass vision tests after age 80. Despite these regulations, age-related cognitive and physical declines can still contribute to dangerous driving situations, leading to tragic outcomes like this one.

When an elderly driver causes an accident, victims may pursue a personal injury claim to hold them accountable for their actions. In Florida, personal injury claims require proof of negligence. To establish negligence, the victim (or their family) must demonstrate that the driver owed a duty of care to others on the road, breached that duty through careless or reckless actions, and that this breach directly caused the victim’s injuries.

In this case, the driver reportedly mistook the accelerator for the brake, resulting in the collision. This type of error, particularly when a pedestrian is involved, could likely be seen as a breach of the driver’s duty to operate the vehicle safely. If negligence can be proven, the family may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.

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A recent tragic accident involved a hit-and-run crash in which a driver fled the scene, leaving one person dead and another injured. The collision occurred after a driver ran a red light, causing significant damage to multiple vehicles and surrounding property. This kind of reckless behavior, coupled with the failure to render aid, leaves families devastated and victims without immediate help. In such situations, seeking legal assistance becomes vital for ensuring justice and securing compensation for the victims and their families.

In Florida, hit-and-run accidents carry severe legal and personal consequences. Understanding how these cases are handled under Florida law and the long-term impact on the victims can help you take appropriate legal action if you are in a similar situation.

Why Hit-and-Run Accidents Occur

Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents are all too common. These accidents leave victims devastated, but they also raise an important question: Why do drivers flee the scene in the first place? The reasons behind these actions are varied, and understanding them can shed light on the following legal and personal challenges.

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