Thursday, April 26, 2018

What Not to Say When Talking to an Insurance Company About a Car Crash

In Florida, auto crash claims are handled a little differently than in other states. Here, we use a no-fault system when filing insurance claims. With minor collisions, your no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) insurance will cover your damages, regardless of who caused the crash. But what do you do if you sustain serious injuries? When […]

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Friday, March 9, 2018

How to Tell It's Time to Bring a Personal Injury Claim

It’s not always possible to bring a personal injury claim for every injury, and not every injury you suffer will enable you to file a successful personal injury claim. The two major benchmarks that can help you understand how to tell it’s time to bring a personal injury claim are detailed below. Did You Suffer […]

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Thursday, February 15, 2018

Five Tips to Help Your Car Accident Claim Succeed

Car accidents are scary, confusing, and chaotic. When you’ve been in a serious accident, it can be difficult to adjust without some guidance. Fortunately, our firm is ready to help. At Lavent Law, we understand how difficult it can be to recover. If you are struggling with your case, follow these five tips to help […]

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Monday, January 15, 2018

Defensive Driving Tips

No matter what you do, dangerous drivers are out there. You’ve seen them—speeding through yellow lights, weaving between cars, tailgating, and engaging in countless other reckless driving behaviors. You can’t avoid all the dangers on the road, but driving defensively can help keep you from being seriously injured in a wreck. What Are the Top […]

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Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Boris Lavent Joins the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40

Lavent Law is pleased to announce that our very own Boris Lavent has been invited to join the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40! This is a highly prestigious honor that recognizes leadership in the legal profession and success in the courtroom. Recipients are nominated by their peers for their stellar reputation, ethical conduct, and dedication to justice. Boris ...

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Monday, April 3, 2017

Teen Left for Dead by Hit-and-Run Driver

A Pompano Beach family is still hoping they will see justice done a week after a seventeen-year-old was mowed down on a local street by a hit-and-run driver. The teen, who suffered severe injuries including crushed ribs, a crushed pelvis, and traumatic head injuries, remains in the hospital after spending time in an intensive care unit. A $3,000 reward has ...

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Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Millennials Admit to Poor Driving Habits

Millennials are often characterized as tech-savvy multitaskers who want instant gratification. Those traits translate directly to their driving—in a bad way—according to a new AAA study. They are the top offenders of all age groups in texting, running red lights, and speeding when behind the wheel.   Eighty-eight percent of the 2,511 licensed drivers surveyed admitted to doing these bad ...

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Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Six-Car Crash Kills One in Miami Gardens

A recent major car wreck involving six vehicles put eight people in the hospital and left one driver dead at the scene. The crash, which was reported around 6:30 p.m. on the night of February 16, happened on Northwest 37th Avenue near the intersection with Northwest 194th Street. News coverage from the scene the morning after showed that in addition ...

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Monday, February 20, 2017

Reckless ATV and Dirt Bike Riders Threaten Safety

The mega dirt-bike and ATV highway joyride “Wheels Up, Guns Down” is celebrated to bring fractious communities together, but the event tragically claimed lives again this year. Video footage shows these MLK-weekend riders seemingly overjoyed, popping wheelies and weaving through traffic in Miami Dade and Hialeah Counties, causing a wild spectacle and chaos on the roads. A Weekend of Many ...

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Five Most Dangerous Intersections in the Miami-Dade Area

A Slate report in 2013 judged Miami to have the worst drivers in the nation. More recent national statistics for pedestrians said that Miami-Dade was the nation’s fifth most dangerous metropolis with fatalities at a ten-year high.

Miami-Dade also ranked number seven for traffic congestion, making commuting frustrating as well as hazardous. Red-light running is a huge problem, with American Traffic Solutions singling the county out in online accident videos. So, how to avoid being a victim? You can start by being extra vigilant at the following highly dangerous corners and intersections:

 

Dade Boulevard and Alton Road: South Beach

Alton Road has been historically plagued by flooding and has been subject to various improvement projects over the years. Dade’s latest project was to raise up the roadway to be in line with other roads. Where the two streets meet, the wide, hectic crossroad is prone to accidents and heavy traffic that can back all the way up into South Beach and the Julia Tuttle Causeway. Careless pedestrians can add to the chaos.

 

36th Street and NW 87th: Doral

At this corner, 36th Street widens to six lanes of traffic and NW 87th to eight. Maybe we can just stop there as you can imagine trying to gauge the intentions of that many drivers all at once. These Doral roadways can be jam-packed from morning to night.

 

The Brickell Avenue Bridge: Brickell

This Brickell drawbridge road is at the mercy of passing boats, which can halt traffic for about twenty minutes so that they can pass through on their pleasure cruise—even in the middle of rush hour. This stretch also links to I-95, causing many vehicles to make last minute moves to get onto the highway. Incidentally, the Florida stretch of I-95 was ranked the most dangerous road in America in 2010, so take care there as well.

 

NE First Avenue and NE Sixth Street: Miami

This intersection was labeled the most dangerous in Miami-Dade due to its high number of accidents and how catastrophic they were. NE Sixth Street is also a feeder for I-95, and American Airlines Arena brings crushing traffic during Heat games and other stadium events. Tourists and other visitors add to the crowding of these well-used roads.

 

Pines Boulevard and South Flamingo Road: Pembroke Pines

A 2001 Allstate study ranked this intersection as the nation’s most dangerous. Within five years, one hundred pedestrians have died here. Safety measures such as red-light cameras and steep fines have improved things somewhat, but drivers still need to be extra cautious. With six lanes for Flamingo and eight for Pines (including turn lanes), chaos is a given and stress levels run high.

 

Miami-Dade Car Accident Lawyer

Lavent Law has extensive experience in personal injury traffic accident cases. Boris Lavent puts his knowledge of the South Florida legal system and insurance industries to work to seek maximum compensation for the injuries and damages suffered by accident victims. Contact our office to schedule a free, no-pressure case evaluation by calling 305-440-0450 or by completing the form below.

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Thursday, January 26, 2017

Reckless ATV and Dirt Bike Riders Threaten Safety

The mega dirt-bike and ATV highway joyride “Wheels Up, Guns Down” is celebrated to bring fractious communities together, but the event tragically claimed lives again this year. Video footage shows these MLK-weekend riders seemingly overjoyed, popping wheelies and weaving through traffic in Miami Dade and Hialeah Counties, causing a wild spectacle and chaos on the roads.

 

A Weekend of Many Accidents

Many riders forgo helmets and get airborne on their back wheels, courting danger and sometimes finding it. In 2016, one rider’s accident had him flying fifty feet and miraculously surviving to take selfies of himself with rescue workers. This year, two men tragically lost their lives and many others were injured. A twenty-year-old ATV rider was doing tricks when he crashed on the Palmetto Expressway in Hialeah. Another man, age twenty-five, was riding a borrowed dirt bike near Fort Lauderdale, crashed, and did not survive cardiac arrest in his own terrible crash.

Other incidents included a car and four dirt bikes that ran afoul of each other, as did another car and a motorcycle. This all highlights the danger of both stunt-riding on four-wheel vehicles and taking unauthorized vehicles on major roadways. The “Bikes Up, Guns Down” movement is said to have begun in Baltimore, and the Florida ride’s name is supposed to be shorthand for the Maryland city’s riding culture and “Pick Up a Bike, Put Down a Gun” motto.

 

Good Intentions, but Dangerous to Other Motorists

So what happens if a ride meant to be a celebration and a peaceful protest gets hairy for other drivers and law enforcement? While the sentiment of the riders for attending is good, the risky behaviors could be characterized under the law as reckless riding and driving. Police have the challenge of keeping the peace, but one officer suggested that they did not want to make the roads more unsafe by giving chase in an already chaotic environment.

There was a concerted effort this year before the event, however, with police statements meant to try to discourage dangerous showboating. Another official said that while they may not be in hot pursuit via car, the police choppers could outpace anyone who failed to stop when ordered. The official said that Broward County citations ranged from $116 to $1,165 for doing wheelies or driving recklessly. Also, ATVs and dirt bikes are not supposed to be on major highways, and their riders can be penalized accordingly. Drivers on four-wheelers without helmets can also be ticketed.

 

Help from a Miami Personal Injury Attorney

If you encounter a joy rider or other reckless person behind a wheel—or on a bike—and he or she causes you to crash, damage your vehicle, or get injured, you can seek damages through a personal injury lawsuit if your damages meet the required minimum criteria. A skilled attorney can build a case to get you the largest settlement available under Florida law.

If someone thought that he or she was in control while cutting loose and you were the victim, it’s time to look into getting your expenses, injuries, and trouble covered. Call Lavent Law to find out why Florida drivers choose us for their reckless driving and highway cases. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, call us at 305-440-0450 or complete the form on this page.

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Monday, January 16, 2017

Fatal Pharmacy Medical Malpractice Case Goes to Trial

The term medical malpractice can evoke images of sketchy doctors and poorly run clinics. But hospitals and doctors are not the only sources of these cases. Millions of people put their lives into the hands of pharmacists every day. These healthcare professionals are tasked with dosing potentially fatal medicines and in some cases, producing them. Carelessness and willful neglect on the part of a pharmacist can easily destroy lives.

 

2012 Fungal Meningitis Case Heading to Trial

The owner and head pharmacist of a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy, NECC, is facing twenty-five counts of second-degree murder due to the alleged dangerous practices of his business. His facility is widely blamed for creating contaminated injectable steroids (preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate) in 2012 that are believed to have sickened 751 people across twenty states and caused sixty-one deaths from fungal meningitis and other diseases.

That meningitis outbreak was the largest recorded in US history. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) writes that this type of meningitis does not to pass from person to person, but rather from things like the spinal injections that the affected patients received. The pharmacist’s other charges include conspiracy, racketeering, and aiding and abetting mail fraud. Jury selection for his medical malpractice case began last week.

A second pharmacist, a supervisor, is also due to stand trial on similar charges. He apparently found his situation so serious that he took it on the lam in 2014 and was apprehended in an airport while trying to escape on a flight to Hong Kong.

 

Poor Practices at Fault

Some of the causes of the contamination in this case were said to have come from producing medicine using expired or expiring ingredients in substandard conditions and failing to clean the facility and sterilize things properly—with multiple staff members falsifying sterilization records and lying about it.

Some of the vials containing the steroid had visible filaments, indicating contamination, as did sterilization equipment with “greenish-yellow residue,” according to The New York Times. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said NECC put the health of the public at risk because of “serious deficiencies and significant violations of pharmacy law and regulations.”

One report says that while compounding pharmacies are meant to create individualized prescriptions, this one had turned itself into a major drug supplier to big names like Mayo Clinic and Harvard Medical School. A large-scale operation would have been subject to tight regulation.

 

Bankruptcy and Attempted Blame

The accused pharmacist’s defense lawyer said that his client did acknowledge that the steroids were tainted. However, he also said, “No one has a good understanding of the source of the contamination . . .” and that his client “. . . feels horrible about the consequences of this.”

The business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013 and a year later set up a $100 million fund for victims. NECC also tried to spread blame to their cleaning company in a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission, but the cleaning company said that the filing was without merit and that they were only hired to clean once a month.

 

Miami Medical Malpractice Attorney

Cavalier attitudes about rules that were put into place to protect the public can easily result in death, injury, and tragedy. Lavent Law has substantial experience in medical malpractice cases and personal injury law. We help our clients work through the aftermath of someone else’s wrongdoing, be it willful or accidental. In many cases, it’s possible to seek financial compensation.

If this has happened to you, please contact us for a free consultation to discuss any concerns you have about your treatment from a medical provider or any other person or business that has caused you harm. To get started, simply call 305-440-0450 or enter the form below.

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Monday, January 2, 2017

Accident Totals Quadriplegic Woman’s Van Beyond Insurance Payout

A Florida woman who relied on a customized minivan to help her drive despite her quadriplegia is seeking help replacing the vehicle that was deemed irreparable after she was rear-ended at an intersection. Although insurance offered her $25,000, that total falls two-thirds short of what she needs to replace her specially modified model, which allows her to board with a wheelchair ramp and operate the vehicle with special hand controls and an onboard computer.
A gofundme page has been set up to try to make up the difference, and it lists that the insurance compensation was based on the age and mileage of her van and obviously does not take into account the replacement value of a specialized vehicle. Nor have they factored in how her quality of life has been radically altered. According to the driver’s friend, being able to drive is central to the woman’s ability to be self-reliant, and her vehicle was totaled at no fault of her own.

Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Laws

Which brings us to Florida insurance laws and the concept of no-fault car insurance, also known as personal injury protection (PIP). Florida ascribes to this type of auto insurance along with twelve other states. The concept was meant to speed the medical insurance compensation process by taking out the often lengthy and contentious step of proving who is responsible for an accident. It has a person’s own insurance pay for any injuries up to the limits of their policy.
In Florida, PIP coverage is mandatory, and the minimum allowable PIP coverage is $10,000, which takes care of medical bills up to the policy limits. After that, any additional compensation would need to be sought from the at-fault party through a personal injury lawsuit. With PIP, in order to seek additional damages or sue the other party for your medical costs, there are some restrictive conditions that can make navigating the process more tricky than in other states, such as proving that you were severely injured or disfigured.
Also mandatory is at least $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL). This insurance is there to cover someone else’s property, such as their vehicle or real estate when you are at fault for an accident. So in these cases, fault will need to be proven.

Get More with Help from a Miami Car Crash Attorney

The above story is referenced as an example of someone suffering more financial hardship after an accident than insurance is willing to pay. Whether things could’ve been handled differently is unknown, as limited details of the case are given. All too often, however, insurance companies offer settlements that are inadequate. Many people don’t realize that just because an insurance company makes an offer, you don’t have to accept it.
Lavent Law is a Miami-based law firm with experience in car accidents and personal injury law. We know all the ins and outs of Florida insurance laws and how to get our clients the settlements and payouts that they deserve, whether it be complications with PIP cases or proving fault to get you the most property damage compensation. We work on a contingency basis, which means that you don’t need to pay us unless your case is won. You can call now to arrange a free, no-pressure consultation at 305-440-0450 or reach us through the contact form below.
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Monday, December 26, 2016

Broward County Sheriff’s Department Helps Victim of Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident

It’s not every day that accidents have a happy ending, but in the case of Collette Nichols, one did. Working at a casino to make ends meet, she was riding her bicycle home one night when she was struck from behind by a vehicle.
Due to the size difference between a car and a bike, the cyclist generally doesn’t fare well. In some cases, this type of accident can even lead to paralysis and death. In Collette’s case, she has been in pain but will recover.

A Long, Expensive Recovery

For three months, Collette was in terrible pain after suffering from neck, head, and leg injuries. Wearing a neck brace and taking it easy, she still needed to go back to work. Unfortunately, the casino wouldn’t let her come back without first visiting a doctor for a CAT scan and a note to clear her for return to duty.
As someone unable to work, she simply didn’t have the $275 needed to pay for the CAT scan.

The Sheriff’s Department Comes Through

The Broward County Sheriff’s Department had investigated Collette’s hit-and-run and was aware of her situation. That’s when the Broward Sheriff’s Office Victim Services Unit stepped in.
To ensure that Collette could return to work, they paid her doctor’s bill. While it is going to take time for her to fully recover, they also wanted to enable her to have transportation again. The Sheriff’s Department bought her a brand-new bike and helmet so that she can continue to bike to work once she has recovered enough to do so.
The Sheriff’s Department really stepped in to help Collette when she needed it. At Lavent Law, PA, this is the same type of advocacy that we provide to clients who have been injured in an accident. The difference is that we provide help through the legal system and work to recover full settlements for accident victims.

Your Options After a Hit-and-Run

If you or someone you know has been injured in a hit-and-run accident, you have an uphill battle to face. Like Collette, you will probably be injured, in pain, and facing mounting medical bills. The challenge lies in knowing who to sue when the other driver fled the scene.
The police can be a strong advocate and resource, working to help identify and locate the other driver. Sometimes there are witnesses, traffic cameras, and other forms of evidence available to aid the police in locating the at-fault driver. If found, you then have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries and property damage.
Fortunately, in Florida, drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This is a good thing, because it means that if you are hurt in a hit-and-run, you can recover financial damages through your own insurance policy. How much you are awarded will depend on your particular policy, but having an attorney represent you can help you get the most compensation possible for your injuries, regardless of the situation.

Help from a Miami Bicycle and Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney

If you’ve been hurt in a bicycle or car accident, you deserve a settlement that covers all of your injuries and expenses. Get the help you need by working with Lavent Law, PA. We seek compensation for the injured and will aggressively pursue the settlement you need to enable your recovery. Give us a call at 305-440-0450 or reach us through the contact form below.
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Monday, December 19, 2016

Street Racing Suspected in Fatal Thanksgiving Crash

A horrific crash on Thanksgiving Day that killed a father and his daughter and put a mother in the hospital in critical condition may have been the result of a street race gone bad. Police are still investigating the November 24 crash, which happened on NW North River Drive in Miami. A fourth individual, the driver of the second car involved in the crash, escaped serious injury.

 

High Speed, Possibly Stuck Together

Business surveillance video located after the crash shows the two cars speeding down the street at a speed estimated to be between 50 and 60 mph. When the cars first show up on camera, they are already sliding out of control, and some interpretations of the video suggest that the cars might have made contact earlier and somehow become stuck together.

At the least, it appears that one car struck the other, and both of them lost control. On the videos, they’re seen crossing both lanes of the street and crashing into a metal fence. At that point, at least one of the cars burst into flames in an explosion one witness described as like a bomb going off.

Based on witness accounts and video, police suspect that the drivers were street racing. The driver of one of the cars and his two-year-old daughter died at the scene, either from the impact or the fire that followed. The mother of the two-year-old was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, including burns. The driver of the second car was pulled free by a bystander at the scene and was not harmed.

 

Street Racing Dangerous and Too Common

If it turns out that this crash was caused by street racing, it will be yet another preventable tragedy that happened because of bad decisions and careless actions. Hard statistics are difficult to come by, but we know that there are many incidents of injury and death that wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for drivers behaving recklessly.

By some estimates, street racing kills around 130 people every year. But speeding of one kind or another is a huge problem, one that is responsible for around 30 percent of all fatal crashes in the United States. That adds up to around 10,000 deaths annually. In some places, racing is nearly an epidemic.

It might not have reached quite that level in Florida, but racing—and street racing crashes—occur regularly enough that sometimes it’s newsworthy when a crash isn’t the result of racing. The Thanksgiving fatalities in Miami are far from the first ones in our state this year. In September, racing led to a fatal crash in Delray Beach and was suspected to be behind another fatal crash in Pensacola.

 

Miami Car Accident Lawyer

The victims of all accidents need protection after the fact. Their medical bills and other expenses need to be paid for, and frequently the only way to do this is to sue those who caused the crash for financial and other damages. At Lavent Law, we have years of experience helping the victims of auto accidents receive the compensation they’re entitled to. Our attorneys understand automobile accident law, and we’ll put that knowledge to work for you.

Call us today at 305-440-0450, or contact us through the form below to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and determine what your next steps might be.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Exploding Washing Machines Force Recall

Our home appliances do a lot of things. Without them, we’d have a much harder time brewing coffee, heating up leftovers, washing the dishes, and doing the laundry. We rely on our coffee makers, microwave ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers, and many other devices to make each day better and more productive.

With all the things appliances do for us, one thing they’re not supposed to do is explode while we’re using them. Unfortunately, if you own one of nearly three dozen models of Samsung top-loading washing machines, you might face exactly that risk. There have been more than 700 reports of problems with these machines, with the most severe ending in the machine self-destructing and causing injury to a user. The company has now issued a recall order affecting approximately 2.8 million machines.

 

Shaking Themselves to Pieces

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the agency which tracks problems with consumer products and coordinates recalls with manufacturers, has received at least 733 reports of these Samsung machines experiencing excessive vibration. Nine of those reports include injuries that resulted when a machine shook itself loose, fell over, or—in the most dramatic cases—exploded from the problem vibrations. The most severe injury reported to date was a broken jaw, and at least one person was injured in a fire blamed on one of the Samsung machines.

 

Problem Brewing for Some Time

Trouble with this product line has been on the CPSC’s radar for at least several months. One of the more dramatic failures took place in April when a Georgia woman and her four-year-old son barely escaped injury when their washer exploded during the final spin cycle. Another woman was not so lucky and was injured when the lid of an exploding machine struck her in the back.

In September, Samsung and the CPSC issued a preliminary warning while the problem was under investigation. At that time, users of the machines were cautioned to use only the delicate cycle when spinning heavy items to reduce the risk of harm. That might have been prudent advice at the time, but when a consumer buys a product, they expect to be able to use it as advertised and to be able to make use of all its features. Asking these owners to restrict the way that they use the device, while necessary for safety, in effect serves as proof that the product is defective and can’t be used as intended.

This situation is not as extreme, but it’s effectively the same as a car manufacturer telling its customers that they can’t drive down hills because the brakes aren’t strong enough, or a refrigerator maker telling those who buy its product that they can’t use the freezer compartment to store ice cream because it doesn’t stay cold enough.

 

Many Products Affected

If you own a Samsung washing machine you can learn if your item is included in the recall by checking the model and serial number on the Samsung website.

The recall, which covers thirty-four models sold between March 2011 and November 2016, offers owners of the defective machines three remedies. For the first option, consumers can contact Samsung to receive a free in-home repair kit to reinforce the washer’s top. That option includes a one-year extension to the machine’s warranty.

The second remedy offers owners a rebate toward a new washing machine, even if it’s not made by Samsung, and will include free installation as well as removal of the old machine.

The third remedy is only available to those who purchased their washing machine within thirty days of the recall announcement: Those consumers will receive a full refund.

 

Contact a Florida Defective Product Lawyer

Not all owners of these machines will take Samsung up on their repair or replacement offer, especially those consumers who were already injured. When consumers are harmed because of a defective product, they have the right to recover damages from the manufacturer of that product. This is true when the harm is personal, such as an injury due to being struck by an exploding washer part, or when the harm comes in the form of property damage, as in the case of the machine that started a house fire.

At Lavent Law, PA, we have experience helping clients navigate their product liability claims through the turbulent waters of the legal system. If you need help building your case and moving it forward, give us a call to find out how we can help. The consultation is free, and you owe us nothing unless your case reaches a successful settlement. Call us today at 305-440-0450 or complete the contact form on this page to schedule an appointment.

The post Exploding Washing Machines Force Recall appeared first on Attorney Boris Lavent.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Officers Hurt in Hit-and-Run Accidents

Two police officers were tragically hurt in separate hit-and-run car accidents last month. Both were outside of their vehicles when a driver hit them and then sped off. Hit-and-run accidents are always tragic, but in this case, the officers were injured in the line of duty while trying to help others.

 

Police Officer Injured in Florida

In Polk County, south of Orlando, a thirty-three-year-old woman called for help after driving off the road and hitting a tree. She was waiting for an officer to arrive while standing in the grass median off highway SR 60. When Deputy Sheriff Adam Pennell arrived, he got out of his cruiser to assist her after calling emergency medical services. Suddenly, another vehicle heading westbound drove onto the median and hit them both.

The woman, Jessica Enchautegui-Otero, was killed and the officer sustained significant injuries. Instead of stopping, the driver sped off with no regard for the well-being of the victims.

 

Fatal Hit-and-Run in Michigan

The story in Michigan was just as tragic, and a Detroit police officer was struck down during a traffic investigation late at night on a Friday. The forty-year-old officer, Myron Jarrett, was hit by a Dodge truck that was traveling at a high speed. Although he was quickly transported to the hospital, the trip was not quick enough to prevent his death because of the serious nature of his injuries.

In this case, the driver, Steven Patrick Guzina, was caught and arrested and will be standing trial for the murder of officer Jarrett. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen in hit-and-run accidents.

 

Identifying the Guilty Driver

Many drivers speed off because they are drunk or high and have no idea what happened, while others drive off to avoid arrest. It is rare for a driver to come forward and admit guilt later on, leaving many accident victims to pick up the pieces without the much-needed closure or compensation.

Certain things can help track down drivers at fault for a hit-and-run. Eyewitness testimony can be incredibly helpful because they may have seen the make, model, and even partial plate number of the vehicle. This is typically all the police need to track down the driver.

The biggest challenge is when no one saw the vehicle or can provide an accurate description of it. However, sometimes traffic cameras capture enough footage so that an officer can locate the vehicle. Paint scrapes on your vehicle may also help to identify the guilty driver. Finally, putting out a call for help on social media can also be useful since you never know who may have seen something but not realized what they saw or didn’t think to report it.

 

Right to Sue

Once the driver of a hit-and-run has been identified, you can file a civil lawsuit against them. It is within your best interests to do so because a civil lawsuit is your only way to receive compensation to pay for injuries you sustained in the wreck if the total cost of damages exceeds your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.

Also, if someone you love was killed in a hit-and-run, you could pursue financial compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. In both cases, you can seek compensation for things like lost wages and medical bills.

 

Miami Auto Wreck Attorney

If you or a family member has been the victim of a hit-and-run, you may not know where to start. To have your questions answered, call Lavent Law, PA at 305-440-0450 or use the contact form below to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

The post Officers Hurt in Hit-and-Run Accidents appeared first on Attorney Boris Lavent.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Rideshare Companies Complicating Car Accident Liability

Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft have become increasingly popular. In some cities, they’re even overtaking taxis. Since you can hire a vehicle to pick you up by using a cell phone app, ridesharing is now prevalent throughout the country, including here in Florida.
Unlike traditional taxi companies, the drivers do not actually work for Uber or Lyft. They are not technically employees but are instead considered to be contractors.
As a passenger, this impacts you because of the confusion it creates surrounding liability in the event of a crash. If you were to get into an accident in a taxi, your case would be more clear-cut than if you were to get into an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver.

A Difficult Issue to Untangle

This issue is actually incredibly complex and made even more so by the way that Uber and Lyft have structured their companies and insurance policies. For example, if someone drives for Uber and is not actively using the app at the time of a wreck, that driver is essentially on their own personal time and any accident is his or her personal responsibility.
This means that if you were hit by an Uber driver who was not actually using the app or driving a passenger at the time, you could not sue Uber. You could, however, file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver.
Now, if you got into an accident with an Uber driver who was actively using the Uber app, then you could sue the company. It’s possible that Uber’s insurance wouldn’t cover all of your damages, however; so you might need to sue the driver directly, as well.

When Does a Rideshare Company’s Insurance Apply?

The average rideshare company’s insurance policy really doesn’t kick in until there is either a passenger in the vehicle or the app is in use. This means that if you are hurt in an accident caused by an Uber or Lyft driver, you could potentially sue the rideshare company for damages as long as the app was in use. These companies have insurance policies in place intended to cover these circumstances.
Sound good?
Not really. Even with these insurance policies in place, there are ways that ridesharing companies can get out of liability. Since anyone driving for them is not an employee, they do not claim responsibility for the actions of their drivers.
This means that you can expect them to avoid accepting responsibility for an accident—even if one of their drivers was clearly “on the clock” at the time of the crash. This may make filing a personal injury lawsuit against the rideshare company, the driver, and anyone else who was partially responsible your best course of action.

Contact a Miami Rideshare Car Accident Lawyer

If you have been harmed in a car accident involving the driver of a rideshare company, you aren’t going to want to attempt sorting out who was liable without experienced legal counsel. Contact Lavent Law, PA, and let us help you determine how to proceed with your case.
Just give us a call at 305-440-0450 or submit the contact form at the bottom of this page.
The post Rideshare Companies Complicating Car Accident Liability appeared first on Attorney Boris Lavent.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Drunk Driving Causes Another Wrongful Death

Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of accidental death in America. Sadly, accidents caused by drunk drivers not only make up a significant portion of these, but are also some of the most overwhelming because of how completely unnecessary and avoidable they are.

Just a few weeks ago, a young couple coming home from a date night were critically injured when a drunk driver ran a red light and T-boned them. The unfortunate young woman driving the couple’s vehicle soon died in the hospital as her boyfriend survived but remained struggling for life in critical condition with a broken back.

As already mentioned, the thirty-eight-year-old driver that caused this Pinellas Park car crash was driving drunk—and not for the first time. Now facing a charge of DUI manslaughter, this repeat offender may finally be off the streets for a while.

However, he’s far from the only drunk driver on our roads and highways. There were 685 Florida traffic fatalities involving drunk drivers in 2014, which accounted for 27.5 percent of all traffic deaths in the state. It’s clear that drunk driving is a serious—and dangerous—problem.

 

The Sobering Statistics of Drunk Driving

The statistics show that during the summer months, the frequency of drunk driving crashes increases, and the number of fatal car accidents increases along with them. In part, this is due to the elevated number of vacationing drivers, but also because more people are drinking and driving during this time. Students, out of school for the summer and inexperienced at both drinking and driving, often think they can handle both together, which also adds to the overall number of crashes, fatal and otherwise.

Because drunk drivers have impaired reaction times, they tend to be slower to apply their brakes and react to traffic and road conditions too late, thereby causing more accidents. What many people don’t realize is that because of these delayed responses, these impacts also tend to cause more severe damages, injuries, and even fatalities.

 

Wrongful Deaths Have Deep Repercussions

Drunk drivers are responsible for any injuries and damages they cause, whether simple property damage or someone’s death. If a drunk driver’s negligence critically injures or kills your family member, it leaves you dealing with one of the deepest injuries possible, both emotionally and financially. Your family may struggle to maintain its standard of living, while everything you and your loved one worked toward is put at risk due to the poor judgment of a drunk driver.

 

Free Consultation with an Experienced Miami Wrongful Death Lawyer

Finding your way through the legal and procedural hurdles insurance companies and opposing attorneys will place before you is hard enough without having to simultaneously process the wrongful death of a family member. The legal system can be challenging, and no victim should be expected to deal with all of this alone.

If you have been hurt or your loved one has been killed in a DUI accident, please let an experienced associate from Lavent Law, PA help you find your way through the legal system and to a successful conclusion for your case. Call us today at 305-440-0450 or complete the form below to arrange your free case evaluation.

The post Drunk Driving Causes Another Wrongful Death appeared first on Attorney Boris Lavent.

Friday, August 5, 2016

“Pokémon Go”—Real Risks from a Virtual World

The new augmented reality game “Pokémon Go” has received tremendous attention. The digital monster-catching game broke all download records at Apple’s App Store: by some estimates, 75 million users now have it.

Concerns over the potential risks to players of the game—and to those around them—followed immediately on the heels of its release. There were worries about players walking into objects or people, stepping in front of moving cars, and trespassing. All of these things have happened, as has the greatest worry expressed over the game: people contributing to distracted driving crashes by playing “Pokémon Go” behind the wheel.

 

Don’t Know About It? Have You Been Trapped in a Pokéball?

The “Pokémon Go” craze has been sweeping the country, and it’s difficult not to have noticed: A survey performed only twelve days after the game’s release found that 83 percent of Americans had seen something about the game in the news, while a surprising 93 percent had at least heard the name.

Those are phenomenal numbers, especially considering that the game, in which players use their smartphone cameras to view a version of the world with digital game components added, was only just released on July 6. Awareness isn’t necessarily knowledge, though. Only 16 percent of those surveyed claimed “a good deal of knowledge” about the game, while slightly more (18 percent) incorrectly identified the Incan city of Machu Picchu with the Pokémon character Pikachu.

To give these numbers some context, a political poll done around the same time found that only 59 percent of American voters had heard of 2016 Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson. Johnson also ran in 2012 and served two terms as Governor of New Mexico beginning in 1995—the same year the original Pokémon game was created.

 

Worrisome Incidents Accumulating

The majority of the game’s players have caused no problems. We’ve seen a few reports of trouble in Florida, but so far most incidents have been minor. In Bradenton, a large group of players was trespassing in a city park after hours, but most left when asked by police. One man, however, allegedly refused, scuffled with police, and was eventually subdued using a Taser.

In some cases, Florida “Pokémon Go” players have been the victims, as when a nervous Palm Coast home owner shot at two players after confronting them in the street outside his home, fearing they were planning or had just committed a burglary. The only things they were trying to collect were Pokémon, however. Other parts of the country have experienced similar incidents, where players have been mistaken for criminals or even targeted by them.

 

Crashes the Biggest Worry

The greatest fear, however, is over car crashes. We haven’t heard of any in Florida . . . yet. But one distracted driver who was playing “Pokémon Go” crashed into a tree in New York. Two more did the same in Wisconsin. A driver in Vermont walked away from a single-vehicle crash, while a Washington man had the dubious honor of causing the first multiple-vehicle crash; fortunately, no one was injured.

That was also true in Baltimore when a player crashed into a parked police car. That incident was caught on video, and should scare anyone who watches it because the outcome could have been far worse.

 

Car Crash Attorneys in Miami

Distracted driving is a major factor in auto accidents today, accounting for nearly 40,000 injuries and over 200 deaths in Florida last year. Miami-Dade had the unhappy distinction of leading the state in fatalities. That’s not something any of us were happy to see, and the chance that an app like “Pokémon Go” might push those numbers higher isn’t something to look forward to.

If you find yourself the victim of a distracted driving crash, whatever the cause, get in touch with Lavent Law to find out what we can do to help. We understand the law as it relates to distracted drivers, and we offer a free consultation. Call us at 305-440-0450 or contact us online today to discuss your case.

The post “Pokémon Go”—Real Risks from a Virtual World appeared first on Attorney Boris Lavent.