Articles Posted in Car Accident

Earlier this month, a major collision involving two SUVs, a minivan, and a semi-truck hauling vehicles sent 14 people to the hospital and closed all southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike near the Atlantic Avenue exit. These types of incidents often involve a chain of impacts and overlapping insurance claims, which makes early legal action critical for protecting your rights.

Florida’s comparative fault system means that each party’s degree of responsibility directly affects their ability to recover compensation. When several drivers, vehicles, or even commercial carriers are involved, the outcome depends on who acted negligently and how those actions contributed to the resulting injuries and damage. A delay in securing legal representation can make it more challenging to access evidence, speak with witnesses, or defend against unfair accusations.

Untangling Fault in Multi-Vehicle Collisions on Florida’s Turnpike

When a crash involves multiple vehicles, such as the recent Turnpike collision near Atlantic Avenue, sorting out who is legally responsible is rarely straightforward. Florida law uses a comparative fault model, meaning each party’s share of the blame reduces what they can recover. That matters when drivers, passengers, and even commercial carriers suffer injury or property loss in the same event. Insurance companies will often move quickly to assign responsibility in a way that minimizes their liability, even if it means misrepresenting how the crash occurred.

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Hit-and-run accidents involving pedestrians continue to pose serious challenges for victims and families throughout South Florida. A recent early morning crash in Northwest Miami-Dade left one man in critical condition after a driver struck him near the intersection of Northwest 32nd Avenue and 95th Street, then fled without stopping to help. According to reports, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene shortly after 5 a.m. and began emergency care, but the driver responsible was already gone.

Pedestrian crashes are often severe due to the vulnerable position of the person hit. When the driver flees, the trauma is compounded by delays in treatment, lack of immediate accountability, and difficulties recovering compensation. These cases involve the initial harm caused by the impact and the emotional and financial toll of unanswered questions.

What Makes Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents So Legally Complicated

When a driver hits someone and remains at the scene, investigators can gather insurance information, interview the person involved, and piece together fault. In a hit-and-run, none of that is possible in the early stages. Without the at-fault party’s name, contact information, or insurance policy, victims are left in limbo. The damage has been done, but the path forward is unclear.

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Tragedy struck earlier this month when two lives were lost in a violent two-car collision on Colonial Drive in Orlando. According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, the collision occurred near Hiawassee Road and involved a vehicle attempting a left turn into a parking lot. That car entered the path of an oncoming vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. The resulting crash left both occupants of the turning vehicle fatally injured, and the other driver was hospitalized.

Accidents like this are sudden and devastating. For the surviving families, the grief often mixes with confusion, financial pressure, and unanswered questions. In Florida, families who lose loved ones under such circumstances may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim.

What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death in Florida?

Under Florida Statutes Section 768.19, a wrongful death occurs when a person’s death is caused by the “wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty” of another. This can include fatal car accidents resulting from careless driving, improper turns, failure to yield, distracted driving, or any violation of traffic safety laws.

The right to file a wrongful death lawsuit belongs to the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. This representative acts on behalf of surviving family members, such as a spouse, children, or parents, who suffer emotional and financial loss as a result of the death.

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A recent hit-and-run crash in Miami took the life of a woman who was simply crossing the street. While the details continue to unfold, this tragedy highlights an issue that affects far too many families in South Florida. Hit-and-run collisions leave victims and loved ones not only coping with physical and emotional trauma but also searching for answers when the responsible driver disappears.

Florida law requires drivers involved in a crash to stop and provide information and assistance. When someone flees the scene—especially in cases involving serious injury or death—they violate both legal obligations and moral decency. For families left behind, the impact can be devastating.

Pedestrians Face Greater Risk on Miami Roads

Miami’s traffic patterns create heightened danger for those on foot. Busy intersections, poor lighting, and aggressive driving habits all contribute to the elevated risk. Many hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians occur late at night or in the early morning hours, when visibility is low and traffic enforcement may be limited. Alcohol, distraction, and speeding are common contributing factors.

Even when a pedestrian follows the rules—using crosswalks and waiting for signals—the actions of a reckless driver can end lives in an instant. The absence of protective barriers between a person and a fast-moving vehicle means any contact can lead to catastrophic injury. If the driver fails to stop, the delay in emergency aid can be fatal.

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If you were hit by a car while walking in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Whether you were using a crosswalk or simply standing near the road, drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles safely around pedestrians. Florida law recognizes your right to recover damages if a driver fails to meet that duty and causes harm.

A recent crash in Miami highlights the seriousness of pedestrian accidents. Two women were hospitalized after a collision involving a police vehicle and another car near Northwest 47th Avenue and 7th Street. One of the women was listed in critical condition. Video from the scene showed a chaotic response, with police tape stretched around the intersection and heavy damage to both vehicles. Although full details are still under investigation, the victims face a long road to recovery, and their right to pursue legal action may depend on how quickly they act.

Drivers Must Yield to Pedestrians in Florida

Under Florida Statutes Section 316.130, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and exercise proper care to avoid hitting anyone who is walking on or near a roadway. Failing to do so may lead to civil liability if someone is injured as a result.

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Florida law allows policyholders to pursue bad faith claims against the insurer when an insurance company refuses to honor its policy obligations. However, before filing such a lawsuit, the policyholder must submit a Civil Remedy Notice (CRN) outlining the alleged violations and allowing the insurer to correct its conduct. A recent appellate decision overturned a lower court’s ruling that dismissed a bad faith lawsuit against Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, finding that the insurer had waived any objections to the adequacy of the CRN.

Florida Court Reverses Dismissal of Bad Faith Claim

A Florida driver sustained injuries in a 2011 rear-end collision caused by another motorist with a $10,000 insurance policy through GEICO. The driver had underinsured motorist (UM) coverage with Travelers and sought additional compensation under that policy. Travelers refused to provide benefits, prompting the insured to file a CRN in 2012, a necessary step in pursuing a bad faith claim under Florida Statutes § 624.155.

Under Florida law, a policyholder must submit a detailed CRN to both the insurance company and the Department of Insurance before filing a bad faith lawsuit. The insurer then has 60 days to correct the issue or pay the claim, thereby avoiding litigation. After Travelers did not resolve the dispute, the insured filed suit in 2013, leading to years of litigation over the insurer’s handling of the claim.

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A Miami-Dade Schools Police officer and a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy were hospitalized after their vehicles collided outside Northwestern Senior High School. The crash occurred at the intersection of Northwest 67th Street and 10th Avenue around 4:50 p.m. Emergency responders transported both individuals to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. Authorities expect both to recover, but investigating the circumstances remains ongoing.

What Happens When a Government Vehicle Causes a Crash?

Collisions involving government vehicles raise unique legal questions. When a law enforcement car, fire truck, or other public service vehicle crashes into a civilian car, pursuing compensation requires different steps than a standard auto accident claim. The government has legal protections that do not apply to private citizens, and these protections can limit liability or set strict requirements for filing claims.

Holding a government agency accountable differs from filing a claim against a private driver. Florida’s sovereign immunity laws restrict lawsuits against state and local agencies but allow claims under certain conditions. Victims of government-related crashes must follow specific procedures, including filing a formal notice of claim within a set deadline. Failure to meet these requirements may prevent recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

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