Car Accident Information and Articles

All auto accidents are dangerous. However, if such accidents involve a truck, then the risk of serious injuries and even death increases significantly.   The cost of injuries and damages rise in accidents involving trucks. 

A victim of a truck accident enters into a legal battle with the driver, the trucking company, and the insurance company to receive full compensation for Injuries, which is impossible without the able guidance of a competent and experienced truck accident lawyer. 

If you have been the victim of a truck accident, then the actions you take soon after a truck accident can have a major impact on your case.  Our truck accident lawyers recommend that you do the following:- 

• STAY AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. 

After an accident, do not leave the scene of the accident.  Stay in the vicinity of the accident scene and remove yourself, your passengers and the vehicle from being exposed to further harm. 

• REPORT THE ACCIDENT. 
  
  It is important to call emergency services and the Police to report the accident. 
  
   
• ASSESS INJURIES. 
  
  Check on the people involved in the accident .  Assess their injuries and your own injuries as well.  If necessary go to the emergency room as soon as possible to check for potential injuries. 
  
   
• TAKE PHOTOS AND CAPTURE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE WRECK. 
  
  If possible, use your cellphone to capture images of the entire scene and also of vehicles involved in the accident from various angles.  It is important to take photos of road signs, road conditions (such as slickness from rain).  Check for skid marks left on the road by the vehicles involved in the accident. The truck accident company will likely have their safety investigator on the scene. Accordingly, you should either call a lawyer right away or you should photograph the scene.
  
   
• AVOID MAKING STATEMENTS OR GIVING DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. 
  
  Posts on social media right after an accident can be used against you in an injury lawsuit with regard to severity of injuries sustained.  While speaking to representatives of other parties involved in the accident, refrain from blaming anyone or accepting blame for the accident. 
• GET YOURSELF ASSESSED FOR SERIOUS INJURIES. 

Concussions and internal bleeding do not show obvious symptoms right away. Medical records of injuries sustained can be vital in recovering adequate compensation. 

COMMON CAUSES OF TRUCK ACCIDENTS. 

 Government agencies and truck manufacturers work together to ensure road, vehicle and driver safety,  yet truck accident numbers continue to rise.  Some major factors that contribute to truck accidents are:- 

1.   Driver errors. 

The most common errors of truck drivers that lead to accidents are as follows: 

• Speeding. 
• Distraction/ Inattention. 
• Failure to yield right of way. 
• Impairments (alcohol, illness, fatigue). 
• Reckless driving. 
• Failure to keep in proper lane. 

2.   Trucking companies hiring unfit drivers who lack the required commercial driving license (CDL). 

3.   Failure of trucking companies to train and supervise their drivers. 

4.   Failure of trucking companies to inspect and maintain vehicles regularly. 

5.   Improperly loading cargo. 

6.   Allowing or encouraging truck drivers to work excessive driving hours. 

7.   Defective parts such as tires, wheels, brakes or axles. 

8.   Failure of state to properly maintain roads. 

TYPES OF TRUCK ACCIDENTS. 

The most common types of truck accidents are:- 

• Head on trucking accidents. 
• Rear end trucking accidents. 
• Rollover trucking accidents. 
•  Jack knife trucking accidents. 
• Tire blowouts. 
• Trailer load spills. 

TYPES OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN TRUCK ACCIDENTS. 

 Most common truck accident injuries are :- 

• Broken bones and Fractures.
• Facial damage.
• Spinal injuries/ paralysis.
• Concussions.
• Internal bleeding.
• Scarring.
• Lacerations.
• Traumatic brain injuries.
• Permanent disability.
• death.
  
   

STATUTE OF LIMITATION FOR FILING A TRUCK ACCIDENT CASE IN FLORIDA 

There are specific time limits, restrictions and rules for filing an accident claim.  An experienced Miami truck accident lawyer ensures that you fully understand the Federal, State and Local laws that might apply to your case.  Florida statute of Limitations for truck accidents is four years after the accident occurred. In general terms, residents of Florida have four years from the date of the accident to initiate a civil lawsuit.  

It is in the best interests of the plaintiff to enlist the services of an experienced truck accident lawyer.  Sufficient time is necessary to collect evidence to establish the defendant’s liability. Various witnesses have to be traced and interviewed.  Numerous records have to be collected and opinion of experts has to be sought.  

COMPENSATION FOR VICTIM OF A TRUCK ACCIDENT IN  MIAMI. 

 Miami truck accident lawyers seek to get maximum compensation for the victim of a truck accident and help him or her explore other options and alternative ways to seek additional compensation for injuries sustained. 

Florida laws provide compensation to truck accident victims for injuries and damages caused by the negligence of truck drivers.  Given below are the types of damages that a victim of a truck accident may be able to recover:- 

ECONOMIC DAMAGES. 

• Past and current medical costs. 

In most of the truck accident cases, the medical bills are the largest single expense incurred by the victim.  Adequate medical care and treatment is required by the victim for his injuries. 

• Future medical costs. 
  
  After initial treatment and rehabilitation, victims of truck accidents often require further medical care in the future.  Expert testimony from doctors and therapists can establish that the victim requires further extensive treatment. 
  
   
•  Lost wages and business income. 
  
  A victim, whether employed, self employed or a business owner, is entitled to recover compensation for the time spent away from work or business. 
  
   
• Loss of future earning capacity. 
  
  Some injuries harm the victims in such a manner that they are no longer able to do the job that they were doing before the accident. In many instances, a victim may have to change from a full time job to a part time job or move from a highly paid job to a lower paying job.  In such cases, additional compensation maybe awarded. 
  
   
• Permanent injury and disability. 
  
  Some injuries have life long implications on the health of a victim of a truck accident. 

A victim never recovers fully from his injuries. 

NON ECONOMIC DAMAGES. 

• Pain and suffering. 

Injuries cause pain which can be extreme and debilitating.  Such pain is accompanied by emotional suffering and stress.  Florida law allows victims to collect compensation for such suffering. 

• Emotional distress. 
  
  Additional mental and emotional illnesses can arise from injuries sustained in a truck accident.  Emotional distress, if proven by experts can support a victim’s claim for compensation. 
  
   
• Loss of consortium. 
  
  Injuries sustained in truck accidents can limit and restrict a victim’s basic life functions resulting in loss of love, affection and companionship.  Under loss of consortium, a victim can claim damages for physical isolation suffered due to injuries sustained in truck accident. 
  
   
• Loss of enjoyment of life. 
  
  A victim of a truck accident is entitled to receive compensation if he or she is unable to perform physical, social and recreational activities which he or she enjoyed performing before sustaining injuries in the truck accident. 
  
   

WHY HIRE KAIRE & HEFFERNAN ? 

Our qualified and experienced Miami truck accident attorneys possess in depth knowledge and experience to assist a victim and his family to navigate through complex accident laws.   Our team relentlessly fights to secure maximum compensation through verdicts and settlements for victims of truck accidents in Miami and all across Florida. 

 Accident cases involve complex and intricate legal concepts.   If you hire our Miami truck accident lawyers, you can expect the following:- 

1.   THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT. 

Our truck accident lawyers compile and analyze evidence such as: 

• Accident scene evidence. 
• Eyewitness statements. 
• Damage to all vehicles involved. 
• Cellphone records. 
•  Driver’s toxicology test results. 
• Police accident reports. 
• Driver’s criminal and traffic background. 
• The trucking company’s history of violating safety rules. 
• Logbook and other company records. 
• Electronic data recorder “Black Box” data. 

2.   CONSULT EXPERTS FROM VARIOUS FIELDS. 

Thanks to our vast experience in auto accident cases, we have built a network of experts which includes: 

• Accident reconstruction experts. 
• Rules compliance/ safety experts. 
• Driver training (trucking school) experts. 
• Mechanics and Engineers. 
• Experts from various areas of medicine. 
• Life care planners. 
• Toxicology experts.  

3.   PROTECTING AND PRESERVING EVIDENCE. 

Our Miami truck accident lawyers seek Court Orders to force trucking companies to provide and preserve any evidence that is important in the case. Our team of experienced truck accident lawyers collect, review and document medical records of victims which are essential in determining adequate compensation that he or she is entitled to.  

 

4.   SEEK A TIMELY SETTLEMENT. 

Our team of Miami truck accident lawyers know how to effectively deal with Attorneys and Insurers of the Defendant who try to deny the plaintiff’s claim or reduce the claim value significantly.   

Our Florida truck accident lawyers present a strong and solid case to insurance companies and demand full and adequate compensation for our clients. 

 

5.   TAKE YOUR CASE TO COURT. 

If the need arises, our team of truck accident lawyers in Miami are prepared to take the case to court for trial. 

CONTACT A MIAMI TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER. 

If you or your loved one has been injured due to the carelessness or negligence of a truck driver, you deserve to be duly compensated for the injuries suffered and other damages.  Call an experienced truck Accident lawyer at our firm for a free case evaluation right away. 

In recent decades, riding a bicycle has evolved into more than just a recreational activity for Miami residents. Many choose to use a bike as their primary mode of transportation, especially over reasonably short distances. For example, biking to work or school is now commonplace in many Florida communities.

Even though all who use roads and sidewalks share in the responsibility to keep each other safe, motor vehicle accidents affecting cyclists occur all too often. Seeking a legal remedy is your right after suffering injuries in a crash caused by someone’s negligence. However, most residents agree that avoiding a crash altogether is the best approach to remain injury-free. The tips below can help you stay safe from collisions while biking in Miami.

• Slow down and look in all directions for traffic when crossing streets and intersections
• Always ride your bike in the same direction as traffic
• Avoid using devices like phones and music players while biking
• Make sure people in vehicles can see you by waving or making eye contact
• Obey all traffic laws to increase your safety and clear you of blame if a crash occurs
• Improve your visibility while biking at night by wearing bright and reflective clothing
  
   
  
  If you suffer severe injuries from a motor vehicle accident while riding your bicycle, consider reaching out for legal guidance. This step helps you acquire significant financial compensation to manage your injuries properly and get back to your way of life as quickly as possible. Calling out another party’s negligent actions by filing an injury claim can also help others like you avoid suffering a similar fate.
  
   
  
  For More Information and a Free Consultation if you have been injured in a Miami Bicycle Accident please don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced Miami Bicycle Accident Lawyers today!

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most severe personal injuries we can experience. These injuries can cause paralysis and loss of sensation below the site of the injury.

There are a variety of causes of spinal injuries, including bullet or stab wounds, traumatic injury, diving accidents, electric shocks, extreme twisting, sports injuries, and slip and fall accidents. A serious spinal injury can be a radically life-changing event in an individual’s life.

If you or a loved one has experienced a serious injury to your spinal cord as the result of another person’s negligence it is important that you contact a Miami Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer as soon as possible.

There are many ways the spinal cord can be injured, including paralysis injuries, but spinal cord injuries are broadly divided into two categories: complete and incomplete.

• Incomplete spinal cord injuries: These account for more than 60 percent of spinal cord injuries. With incomplete injuries, the spinal cord is only partially severed. Some function is retained below the site of the injury.
• Complete spinal cord injuries: As you’d expect, complete injuries are those that completely sever the spinal cord. These injuries eliminate all function below the site of the injury.
  These are only the broadest categories of spinal cord injuries. These injuries are also differentiated by where the spine was injured (front, back, middle) and the patterns the paralysis takes quadriplegia, paraplegia, etc.
  
  Spinal cord injuries are also categorized in terms of their level. The level of a spinal cord injury measures which of the vertebrae has been injured. The injury level specifies which portion of the cord (cervical, thoracic, or lumbosacral) has been injured, as well as which particular vertebra has suffered the injury.
  
  In this naming and numbering system, the higher the number of the vertebra, the lower down the back it is located. The C1 (first cervical vertebra) is the first vertebra of the neck, for example. If you have suffered an injury, your doctor will give you more detailed information about which specific vertebrae are damaged. Be sure to ask questions, or have a patient advocate present to ask questions on your behalf. You will want to understand details of your injury to understand it, and to understand how you will live with your injury after your initial trauma heals.
  
  Treatment for spinal cord injuries will vary significantly depending on the nature of the injury, but you can be sure it will involve at least a few of the following:

• Physical therapy to strengthen the area that has been injured
• Surgery, whether to remove an object or body part that penetrated the spinal cord or to limit movement in the spinal column
• Steroid injections, to reduce inflammation
• Short-term use of a ventilator or feeding tube if the injury prevents easy breathing or eating
• Lifestyle changes (quitting smoking, switching to a healthier diet, etc.)
• Family and individual counseling.
  
  
  A severe spinal cord injury is a major change in the life of the person who receives the injury, but it is also a serious shift in the lives of an individual’s family and close friends. A free-spirited individual may suddenly find himself needing help from others to do even the most basic things. Family members may suddenly find themselves in the role of caretaker for an injured family member.
  
  These sudden changes are one of the reasons why many families seek counseling after one of their members experiences a severe spinal injury. In some cases, this counseling may go on indefinitely.
  
  Treatment for spinal cord injuries is involved and extensive. Even in the most treatable injuries, an individual is likely to need treatment for the rest of his or her life. This fact alone is partially responsible for the high medical costs involved in spinal injuries.
  
  The financial costs of spinal cord injuries are more than most people can afford. A partially paralyzed person can expect to incur more than $100,000 in medical expenses during the first year. A fully paralyzed person may incur more than $400,000 in expenses during that first year.
  
  Those are medical expenses alone. They do not include regular costs of living or lost wages due to being unable to work. Most individuals who suffer from spinal cord injuries are not able to work as much or as effectively as they did before… if they are able to work at all.
  
  It is important to note that these costs are the estimated expenses for the first year alone. A spinal cord injury is a lifelong injury that will require care and attention for the rest of the individual’s life. This means medical billings will be frequent, and it is not impossible that the costs will rise over time. With lowered income and increased costs, many individuals who experience spinal cord injuries are unable to afford to cover their new expenses. This means legal action is often a necessity.
  
   
  Financial compensation is meant to make up for such costs as hospitalization, medical care, at-home caregivers, rehabilitation, psychiatric care, home modifications, special vehicles, lost wages, expenses not covered by insurance, travel expenses for medical care, family support services, and funeral expenses.
  
  If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you will need legal help to get the funds to help you move forward with your life after the injury. We understand what you are going through in this time, and we will do all we can to make the process easier for you.
  
   
  If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. In addition, in the case of a severe and expensive injury like this, you are likely to need it.
  
  One of the first ways an injury lawyer can help you is by finding the negligent party. In a car crash where the other driver was not paying attention, it is obvious who the negligent party is. But in other cases, you may need to speak to a spinal cord injury lawyer before you can find the party responsible for your accident.
  
  Many personal injury cases settle out of court. Of course, it’s always up to you whether you will accept a settlement offer or not, but an experienced attorney can offer you valuable guidance and let you know whether you’re getting a good offer from the insurance company (or whoever the negligent party might be). Many individuals who suffer a spinal cord injury are unable to work the way they did before the accident. That means it is crucial to get as much as your claim is worth. The right attorney can help you do that.
  
  Let us help you determine if a spinal injury you or a loved one suffered in an accident may qualify for compensation under a personal injury claim. We know all too well the upheaval serious injuries cause to daily life, and to prospects for the future. If you have suffered injury or lost a loved one, we can help.