Florida Accident Attorney Blog

A Fort Lauderdale, Florida man in a wheelchair following a hit-and-run pedestrian accident has spoken out to the media about the traffic crash that's left him with leg and hip fractures.

According to a South Florida media outlet, 29-year-old Jay Wiegmann was initially involved in a minor rear-end traffic accident at a Fort Lauderdale intersection. Wiegmann reports that when he exited his vehicle to check on the damage of the car he'd rear-ended, he was struck by a pickup truck that sped off.

This hit and run traffic accident occurred in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. near East Las Olas Boulevard and Fiesta Way. Wiegmann told the media he was shocked to be struck by the pickup truck shortly before he lost consciousness in this pedestrian accident with injury. The young man's family is asking the driver to come forward, and Broward County Crime Stoppers are offering a reward for any tips that come in through their anonymous tip line at 954-493-TIPS.

Fort Lauderdale pedestrian traffic accident lawyers may consult to families who seek guidance on whether they should pursue a lawsuit against a negligent or reckless driver who caused death or injury. Pedestrian traffic accidents can happen with no warning and can leave the victims with serious, debilitating injuries and their families in financially challenging situations.

A Broward County, Florida injury attorney with experience advocating for people hurt or killed in pedestrian accidents and other car accident cases can advise families on their legal rights and next steps. Pedestrian accidents claim the lives of roughly 500 Floridians every year and can cause pain, suffering, and disability in those who survive being struck by a car or truck.

Hit and Run Victim Speaks
WSVN.TV April 23, 2011

Broward Crime Stoppers of Broward County, Florida

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If you live in Florida and drive a Ford F-150 pickup truck, be aware that a recent safety recall regarding the vehicle air bags has been expanded.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and news reports, the safety recall has been expanded to some 1.2 million vehicles. NHTSA reports that wiring problems can cause a short circuit, which in turn may cause the pickup truck's air bags to deploy without the Ford F-150 being in a traffic accident. The recall affects Ford F-150 trucks from model years 2004 to 2006, as well as the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT.

Fort Lauderdale truck accident injury lawyers follow automotive safety recalls such as this one -- where defective products can lead to serious accidents, injury, or death. Injuries reported from inadvertent airbag deployment in the Ford F-150 pickup truck include abrasions and cuts to the arms, hands, face and upper body; broken teeth; and loss of consciousness.

The Ford F-150 is one of the most popular pickup trucks in the U.S. -- a favorite driven by contractors and construction workers, outdoors enthusiasts, and other Florida residents who enjoy the experience of driving and hauling gear in a pickup truck. Info from NHTSA on the Ford F-150 recall is listed under NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID number 11V107000 (see link to government website below). The recall is expected to begin in early May 2011.

South Florida residents who think they may have been hurt due to defective automotive products should contact an experienced Ft Lauderdale accident injury attorney.

Ford F-150 Recall expands to 1.2 million
Fox 4 Florida April 14, 2011

SaferCar.gov (NHTSA recall database)
Search for automotive product safety recalls or look up your vehicle by make, model, and year

Ford Motor Company: Recall information

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Florida Cadillac Driver Recall Alert : GM Recalls Luxury Cars for Heating / Cooling and Rear Suspension Problems

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A Lee County jury has awarded a Fort Myers, Florida area man $3 million in a lawsuit surrounding a 2008 auto accident case where the insurance company refused to pay full coverage.

According to Florida news sources, a Collier County school teacher sued State Farm Insurance following a two car crash that left him with serious personal injuries, including a neck fracture and wrist injury.

The other driver involved in the traffic accident, which occurred in Lehigh Acres, Florida, was reportedly only insured for $25,000. The school teacher injured in the motor vehicle accident had $2 million in uninsured motorist coverage; he filed a lawsuit claiming that State Farm refused to adequately pay for his damages and medical costs. A Lee County, Florida jury agreed, awarding him $3 million for medical expenses and pain and suffering.

When a car accident occurs causing injury or death, families may seek advice from a Fort Myers accident injury attorney. Lawyers with knowledge of traffic laws and experience working with insurance companies and the Florida judicial system can guide families on what to do following an accident causing injuries or fatalities.

Florida Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Requirements
The trial in this motor vehicle accident injury case lasted for four days. The other driver's amount of insurance coverage came into question. According to the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, auto insurance is mandatory, and the minimum amounts are as follows: $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) for drivers with a valid Florida license plate. However as experienced Fort Myers traffic accident attorneys know, sometimes those amounts of coverage are insufficient, if serious injury to other motorists occurs.

See link below to official Florida state website for more on auto accident insurance requirements.

Sources:

Florida Man Wins $3 Million in Lawsuit Against State Farm Insurance Over 2008 Car Crash
AVVO.com April 12, 2011

Buckingham man awarded $3 million in State Farm lawsuit
News-Press.com April 12, 2011

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Vehicle Insurance Questions and Answers

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Insurance Companies: Greed and Dirty Tricks Rule the Day

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Florida Injury Lawyer Videos: What to Do If You're Hurt in a Florida Accident

The driver who survived a fatal two-car crash in West Palm Beach, Florida in April has been charged with criminal driving offenses.

According to The Palm Beach Post News, the suburban West Palm Beach car accident occurred on Military Trail. A 27-year-old man from North Carolina driving a Ford Mustang reportedly ran a red light, crashing into a Mitsubishi Gallant.

The driver of the Mitsubishi was killed in the traffic accident and the passenger in the Mustang was seriously injured, according to media reports. The driver of the Mustang has reportedly been charged with one count of driving without a license and causing death and one count of driving without a license and causing injury.

When Florida law enforcement levels criminal charges against the offending driver in a motor vehicle accident, a West Palm Beach car accident injury attorney may advise families on bringing a civil lawsuit. Families may be entitled to compensation for lost wages and medical bills, as well as damages for pain and suffering.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 2,558 traffic accident deaths in Florida in 2009. That's down from more than 3,500 in 2005. But we still have a long way to go to make Florida roads and highways safer, and to curb reckless and negligent driving behavior. Even if an auto accident case ends up in a Florida criminal courtroom, families who've been hurt should consult an experienced Palm Beach County accident injury lawyer to learn more about filing a lawsuit for compensation and/or damages in the Florida courts system.

Surviving driver in fatal suburban West Palm Beach crash charged
The Palm Beach Post News April 12, 2011

Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney article:

What Damages Mean to You in Your Florida Personal Injury Lawsuit

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Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

A former U.S. Air Force airman was killed in an alleged drunk driving accident late last month in Lee County, Florida.

According to news reports, the victim, age 29, lived in Chicago and was in Lee County, Fla., visiting a friend. The fatal car accident reportedly occurred in late March in the early hours of the morning when the vehicle's driver failed to make a turn and crashed into a tree inside a gated community near Estero, which is south of Fort Myers, Florida.

The victim was killed in the single vehicle accident and another young person in the car sustained serious injuries, according to news reports. A Lee County Sheriff's Deputy reportedly stated that the driver of the car, a 25-year-old woman from Ohio now living in Estero, Fla., had a blood alcohol level of twice the legal Florida limit. The driver was being held without bond in Lee County Jail and is charged with three counts, including DUI manslaughter.

Fort Myers drunk driving accident injury lawyers may be consulted by families who lose a loved one or suffer injury in an alcohol-related car crash in Lee County, Florida. Everyone mourns the loss of a young life cut short, as in this case. The news media reported that the four friends had been at a bar prior to the fatal car accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that April is alcohol awareness month. NHTSA has several public information campaigns planned to raise awareness and avoid tragic alcohol related accidents like this one. NHTSA reports that one-third of all traffic fatalities are due to drunk driving, and that 11,000 people are killed on the road every year because of drunk drivers.

Northmont Grads In Fatal Drunk Driving Crash
WHIOTV.com March 25, 2011

Northmont grad charged in Florida crash that killed Clayton native
Dayton Daily News March 25, 2011

NHTSA: April Is Alcohol Awareness Month

Have you ever approached a busy intersection in Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Miami or other Florida city -- only to see another Fla. driver run the red light? Have you slammed on your brakes and said to yourself or your passenger, "Wow, that was a close one?" Unfortunately, traffic accidents at intersections are all too common in the Sunshine State and around the country.

Some states have implemented traffic monitoring systems whereby cameras are placed at intersections to catch drivers who blow through red lights and cause serious car accidents. Florida lawmakers, however, are rethinking Fla.'s use of red light cameras as traffic law enforcement monitoring devices.

According to Florida news reports, the Florida State Senate Transportation Committee voted 4 to 2 last week to prohibit the use of red light cameras -- just one year after passing a law allowing the use of red light traffic cameras. Senate Bill 674 aims to repeal last year's law, which legalized the use of traffic cameras on state roads and mandated a $158 citation for violators. Bill sponsor Florida State Sen. Rene Garcia (R-Hialeah) wants to repeal all traffic cameras, telling a Naples, Fla. news source that that he "believe[s] in the liberties of individuals." The senator told the press that constituents in his district, Dade County Florida, had complained about the traffic cameras.

If you've been in a motor vehicle accident that occurred at an intersection or as a result of another car or truck driver running a red light or otherwise driving recklessly in Florida, Fort Myers car accident injury attorneys may be able to advise you on your case.

Experienced Ft. Myers, Fla. auto accident injury lawyers have knowledge regarding traffic laws designed to keep Florida drivers and pedestrians safe and avoid accidents. Senate Bill 672 to ban the use of traffic cameras must now clear the Senate Community Affairs Committee before being considered by the full Senate.

One year after approving them, Florida legislators rethink red-light cameras
Naples Daily News March 29, 2011

Proposed bill repeals red light camera law
MSNBC.com March 30, 2011

Legislative Update: Four States Advance Traffic Camera Modification Bills
Florida and South Carolina traffic camera bans advance, Tennessee and Iowa consider tinkering with law
theNewspaper.com April 1, 2011

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Florida's 511 Traveler Information Systems
Map and Links to Florida Traffic Cameras