Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Miami train accidents can cause serious brain injuries, broken bones, and even fatal injuries. There are hundreds of train-related deaths and thousands of train accident-related injuries each year across the country. When we speak of train accidents, however, we usually mean one of several different types of accidents:

1) Grade crossing accidents. Train crossings are the most dangerous areas for train accidents, with the majority of fatal accidents occurring at crossings. In many cases, these accidents are Miami car accidents, when a car tries to cross a train crossing before it is safe to do so. In other cases, the train strikes someone who is trying to cross on foot with a train coming. Trains take much longer than cars or even commercial trucks to come to a full stop, which is why trains often cannot stop in time, even if they see a car or a person in the crossing. Railroads are required to have sufficient signage to ensure that cars and pedestrians are aware of the dangers of train tracks. In some cases, railroads use gates and other safety devices to keep pedestrians and motorists safe.

2) Derailments. When a train leaves the tracks, it sometimes flips over on its side or rolls over, causing injuries to any person on board. In the cases of a freight train accident, a derailment can also cause a spill of toxic or even flammable materials.

3) Collisions. When two trains collide on the tracks, the force is often enough to cause a fire, derailment and fatalities. In many cases, collisions are caused by human error and are preventable.

4) Passenger train accidents. Fortunately, accidents involving passenger trains are not common. When they do occur, however, they can cause serious injuries and fatalities. Since trains carry far more people at a time than most forms of public transportation, there are more passengers who may be injured in this type of accident. In addition, passengers may be injured when traveling on board a train. For example, passengers may be in a Miami slip and fall accident on a train or may fall and hurt themselves when boarding a train or trying to leave a train.

5) Train accidents caused by mechanical failure. In some cases, train accidents occur due to brake failure or problems with other important systems. In these types of accidents, investigators often focus on the maintenance schedule of the train.

6) Freight train accidents. Freight train accidents cause catastrophic injuries, often because freight trains travel at high speeds while carrying large amounts of cargo. The force of any impact involving a freight train can cause explosions, derailment, and catastrophic accidents. Freight trains often carry several times the cargo of a fully-loaded commercial truck. In addition, freight trains are often used to transport flammable and hazardous materials, making freight train collisions even more dangerous.

If you have been injured in any Miami train accident, it is important to consult with a qualified Miami personal injury attorney. Train accidents often involve multiple liable parties, and determining liability in these cases can be challenging, since the cargo, trains, and railroads involved in the accident may be owned by different parties.

Continue reading "Miami Train Accidents Can Mean Many Things" »

Miami is one of the biggest ports of call for many cruise ship companies. While Miami personal injuries and deaths on board cruise ships are not as common as Miami car accidents and other types of injuries, the recent tragedy in Italy aboard the Costa Concordia has created some concerns among cruise ship passengers. According to experts there are a few things that cruise ship passengers can do to stay safer on board:

1) Do not bring valuables on board. You cannot be sure that your room is secure at all times and valuable items may be left behind if you need to leave the ship suddenly. In some cases, valuables can make you a target of on-board crime, so travel with only those things you need and keep more expensive valuables at home.

2) Wear sturdy shoes on board, especially when embarking and disembarking the ship. This can help prevent Miami slip and fall accidents. Look for shoes with lower heels and good treads. This can be important when on board and when touring ports of call.

3) Have insurance. Check to see what travel insurance will protect you on your vacation and check with your homeowners insurance and health insurance to see whether you have any coverage with those carriers when you are on board a cruise ship.

4) Read the fine print on any agreement you sign related to your cruise ship vacation. Be especially careful to read about disclaimers and limitations on liability, jurisdiction, and time limit for settling claims. This will help you determine whether there are some damages you cannot recover for and can help you understand whether you will have the benefit of US law if you do decide to pursue your claim in court. Many cruise ship passengers do not read the fine print and find themselves unable to get compensation for injuries sustained during their cruise.

If you do sustain an injury on board a cruise ship, report the injury to the appropriate personnel on board. Get a copy of any injury claim you submit and get the names and contact information of any witnesses. However, be cautious about signing anything on board the ship. Read all documents carefully, to make sure that you do not sign away your rights.

Document your injuries as far as possible with photos and through other means. As soon as you get home, contact a qualified Miami personal injury attorney to help you with your case. In many cases, there will be a statute of limitations as to how long you have to file a claim. Therefore, you will want to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure that you can file a claim within this window of time.

Continue reading "Miami Cruise Ship Injuries and Personal Injuries: How Passengers Can Protect Themselves " »

When you are in a Miami Lakes car accident or sustain an injury through any incident, your first instinct is likely to seek medical attention and then to call an insurance company. However, there are times when you will want to contact a Miami Lakes personal injury attorney:

1) If you have sustained any injuries that require medical care. If you have sustained a broken bone, a spinal cord injury, a facial injury, a head injury, or any injury that will require repeated trips to the doctor, you may want to consult with an attorney. These injuries usually mean lost income, property damage, and medical bills, so seeking the advice of a personal injury attorney can help ensure that you have the information you need to protect yourself financially.

2) If you are offered a claim amount and contract by your insurance company but are not sure if the claim amount will cover all the damages. Insurance companies themselves admit that they try to settle claims as economically and as quickly as they can. This can mean that you end up signing away your rights for money that does not cover all your damages, meaning that you will need to pay some or even most of the costs of your accident out of your own pocket. A qualified Miami Lakes personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and can help you understand the possible total costs of your injuries. An attorney can also negotiate with your insurance company for a better recovery.

3) It is not clear who is at fault in the accident. Personal injury attorneys can investigate an accident and can help you get the answers you need. As well, if there is any doubt about fault in an accident, this can affect your insurance claim. Getting a personal injury attorney to help you ensures that you will not be blamed for an accident that was not your fault and ensures that you have a chance at the fairest recovery possible.

4) You have been seriously injured, but not in a car accident. If you have sustained any internal injuries, broken bones, or other serious injuries in a Miami Lakes car accident, there are a variety of car insurance processes in place. However, if you have been injured in a Miami Lakes slip and fall accident or another accident that does not involve a traffic accident, recovery for your injuries may be more complicated. Consulting with a personal injury attorney can help you understand the process and your options.

5) You are injured in a Miami Lakes truck accident or any accident involving a commercial vehicle or commercial property. Businesses usually have extensive insurance with powerful insurance carriers. They are also usually represented by teams of attorneys. Another thing that complicates these kinds of cases is that in many cases there are multiple liable parties. For example, in a Miami Lakes truck accident involving a commercial truck, the driver and the truck carrier may be liable. The company taking care of truck maintenance and loading can also be held partly liable. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you negotiate the complexities of these types of cases.

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If you have been injured in a Hallandale Beach car accident, at a business, or in someone`s home, you should consult with a Hallandale Beach personal injury attorney before you make any final decisions about your case. You may have insurance that covers your expenses in the accident, but in many cases insurance will not cover all the long-term and secondary costs of your accident. For example, if you have been in a Hallandale Beach traffic accident, your insurance carrier may cover damage to your car and some of your medical costs. However, long-term medical costs and lost income may not be covered. The gap between what your insurance provider is willing to pay you and the total, actual costs of your injuries may amount to many thousands of dollars – or more. That is why it is important to contact an attorney. After an accident, a Hallandale Beach personal injury attorney can do many things:

1) A personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights. Unless you have years of legal experience or a law degree, you may not be familiar with all the Florida laws that govern your particular situation. You may not know about the statutes of limitations that limit your ability to pursue legal action after a certain amount of time, and you may not realize that you may be signing away part of your right to pursue legal action when you sign some insurance papers. An experienced attorney can help you understand all the laws which pertain to your case, so that you can make an informed decision.

2) A personal injury attorney can help you understand your options. Many people assume that they can either sue or accept an insurance offer. However, there may be other options. There may be multiple liable parties in your case, and negotiating with your insurance provider can help you get a fairer claim amount. A qualified Hallandale Beach personal injury attorney can help you understand all your options so that you can make the right decision for you.

3) A qualified attorney can help investigate the accident. A good Hallandale Beach personal injury lawyer can get answers about an accident or injury so that you can enjoy some closure and peace of mind. Most attorneys work with private investigators, and these professionals can help you understand the causes for your injury and accident. Investigations may also reveal additional liable parties in your case.

4) A good attorney can give you advice. Attorneys can offer not only legal advice, but can also help you find a specialist, medical professional, car mechanic, and other professionals who may be able to help you as you try to recover from your injuries.

5) A qualified Hallandale Beach personal injury attorney can represent you in court or in negotiations. If you retain a Hallandale Beach personal injury attorney, he or she can negotiate on your behalf with your insurance carrier or can represent you if you decide to pursue legal action against the liable parties in your case.

Continue reading "What a Personal Injury Hallandale Beach Attorney Can Do For You " »

A week ago, the cruise ship Costa Concordia hit a reef and capsized near a Tuscan island in Italy. Investigations into the accident are ongoing, as are searches for possible survivors. Eleven deaths have been confirmed and more are expected. The serious accident has shone a spotlight on cruise ship safety, something which is sure to affect Miami, which is currently one of the biggest ports of call and one of the most popular cruise ship departure points in the US.

A congressional committee, the House Transportation Committee’s Coast Guard subcommittee, will consider cruise ship crew training regulations, cruise ship standards, and other issues in order to potentially prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future. Early review of the cruise ship incident by the committee suggests that the tragedy in Italy was preventable, according to a spokesperson for the committee.

Miami personal injuries aboard cruise lines are not too common, but each year serious accidents and deaths do occur on cruise lines. Each year, Miami slip and fall injuries, assaults, brain injuries, fatalities, and other serious incidents do occur on cruise ships. To address these issues, a law was passed in the US in 2010 to increase security and reporting requirements on cruise passenger ships. Ships currently undergo inspections twice a year and according to the US Coast Guard operate safely.

One issue which may be considered is whether larger cruise ships pose a greater danger to passengers. Some experts argue that the increasing size of ships puts them at greater risk of accidents and therefore puts passengers at greater risk of Miami brain injuries, fatalities, and other types of injuries. However, other experts, including experts from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, claim that safety standards and technologies have improved as cruise ships have increased in size, keeping the passenger ships safe. Concordia, for example, has carried more than 120 million passengers and crew on its ships in the past ten years and during that time has only reported 50 cruise-ship related deaths. Certainly, cruise ship accidents are less common than Miami car accidents, but they are nevertheless preventable accidents that cause devastation to many lives, as the stories out of Italy this past week have shown.

The incident in Italy has also prompted some concern among those who enjoy cruise ship vacations and among the cruise ship industry. According to experts, there are several things that cruise ship passengers can do to improve their own safety on cruise ship vacations. For example, travelers can research cruise ship safety standards and cruise ship safety concerns before traveling. This will not always prevent an incident – Concordia had a very good safety record before last week’s high-profile accident – but ensuring that a cruise ship line does not have a history of safety problems is a wise step to take. Once on board, it is a good idea to listen carefully to safety demonstrations and to find out about safety devices and procedures. In the event of an accident, you will know where to go and what needs to be done to avoid injury as much as possible.

Continue reading "A New Focus on Miami Cruise Ship Safety After Horrific Accident Overseas " »

According to The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk pedestrians in 2008 were four times as likely to be in a fatal accident as those who were not intoxicated. In Florida, almost one third of fatal and serious pedestrian accidents in 2010 involved an intoxicated pedestrian. Drinking increases the risk of Coconut Creek pedestrian accidents in a number of ways:

1) Pedestrians who have been drinking cannot evaluate a car's speed and distance as accurately as someone who is sober. Drinking can make it harder for pedestrians to accurately evaluate risks, including car distance and speed. This can make it harder for intoxicated pedestrians to evaluate when it is safe to cross the street.

2) Pedestrians who are drinking are more likely to make poor choices and judgements. Intoxicated pedestrians may sit down on a curb or even in the road, may fall asleep on road areas, or may step out in between parked cars, increasing the risk of Coconut Creek car accidents. In some cases, intoxicated pedestrians may try to cross the street on a red light or may take other risks which can lead to a Coconut Creek pedestrian accident. Just as drivers are discouraged from drinking and driving, pedestrians should be discouraged from drinking and walking, as some of the same poor choices that affect drivers can affect pedestrians as well.

3) Pedestrians who have been drinking may have poor motor skills. Pedestrians who have been drinking are more likely to fall over or to stumble when attempting to cross roadways. This can cause Coconut Creek slip and fall and trip and fall accidents, and can cause pedestrians to fall in the path of an oncoming car.

4) Pedestrians who have been drinking may have a harder time getting out of a dangerous situation. Intoxicated pedestrians may have a hard time getting out of the way of an oncoming car or generally getting out of the way of hazards in time.

Transportation for America reports that Florida is among the worst states for pedestrian fatalities. Unfortunately, drinking and walking can exacerbate the problem. While getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking can easily lead to Coconut Creek drunk driving accidents, walking home after drinking may not necessarily be a safer option. This is important for people to remember, since to many motorists walking home after drinking can seem like a better idea. Relying on public transportation, friends who can get you home safely, or a taxi may be a safer way to avoid Coconut Creek drunk driving accidents as well as Coconut Creek pedestrian accidents.

Continue reading "Coconut Creek Pedestrian Accidents May Be Linked in Some Cases to Intoxication " »

Do you work in Carver Ranches? If so, you may already be aware that workplace safety is of utmost importance. Employers are expected to provide a safe environment for their employees, but each year people file Carver Ranches workers compensation claims and Florida workers compensation claims after being injured in the workplace.

Carver Ranches slip and fall accidents are among the most common Carver Ranches workplace injuries. Carver Ranches slip and falls or trip and falls can occur in just about any workplace, from construction sites to office environments. These accidents, although perhaps not as dramatic as Carver Ranches car accidents, still can cause serious injury. Each year, people sustain fractures, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries in workplace slip and fall accidents. These types of accidents can cause lost income as well as thousands of dollars in medical bills.

In the workplace, Carver Ranches slip and fall accidents can occur due to occasional spills, wet surfaces, weather hazards, loose carpeting or mats, poor floor traction, and trip hazards.
Poor lighting, clutter, poor visibility, uneven walking surfaces, and other issues can also contribute to slips and trips in the workplace. There are many things that employers can do to help prevent workplace Carver Ranches slip and fall accidents:

1) Practice good housekeeping. Employers should check the safety and the cleanliness of the workplace often. Tripping hazards, clutter, and spills should be removed promptly to ensure that no Carver Ranches personal injuries can occur in the workplace.

2) Provide good quality walking surfaces. Resurfacing older floors, checking carpeting and rugs often, and providing no slip treads can all make walking surfaces safer for everyone. Areas where moisture is likely should especially be coated with special anti-slip protection or should be surfaced with flooring that provides good traction, even when wet. For example, outdoor spaces that can get wet in the rain should still provide good grip even when wet.

3) Inform employees of hazards. In some cases, hazards cannot easily be removed. For example, stairs can pose a fall hazard no matter how many steps are taken in order to make them safer. In cases where hazards cannot be completely removed, employers should post signs that clearly indicate the dangers, so that employees know to be extra cautious.

4) Encourage safe footwear. If the workplace has a uniform, that uniform should include safe shoes. If no uniform is required, employees should nevertheless be encouraged to wear safe, sturdy shoes that reduce the risk of slip and fall injuries.

5) Educate employees about workplace safety. Many Carver Ranches workplace accidents can be reduced or eliminated with proper employee caution. Employers should take care to educate their employees about dangers and about proper safety practices in order to make the workplace the safe as possible.

6) Ensuring good lighting and visibility. Good lighting can help ensure that employees can see where they are going, which can help reduce trips and falls as well as Carver Ranches slip and fall accidents. Replacing light bulbs as needed and ensuring that light bulbs are sufficiently bright and well placed can help make the workplace safer for everyone.

Continue reading "Carver Ranches Slip and Fall Accidents in the Workplace" »

Each year, Florida residents celebrate the New Year with fireworks. However, a number of Florida and Carver Heights personal injuries occur each year due to fireworks and other types of New Year’s Eve celebrations. This past New Year ’s Eve, for example, 12-year-old Diego Duran was at home watching fireworks with his family when a stray bullet hit him. Police believe that the bullet was fired as part of a New Year’s Eve celebration and could have come from miles away. While police continue to investigate, Duran is still undergoing treatment for severe head injuries.

While fireworks can be fun to watch, they can also be quite dangerous. They can cause Carver Heights burn injuries, eye injuries, broken bones, facial injuries, hand injuries, and more. Fireworks can explode unexpectedly, causing injury, and they can also cause burn injuries to those who stand too close. Even now that New Year’s Eve is over, the threat of fireworks remains. Many homes have left-over fireworks from the New Year, and some retailers are selling their supply of fireworks at discount prices. Children and teens are especially fascinated by fireworks and may be curious to try them. The supply of fireworks at this time of year makes them a risk for Carver Heights injuries to children and minors. To keep your children safe, make sure that you:

1) Talk to your teens and children about fireworks and especially illegal fireworks. Teens can easily buy fireworks online and some retailers are simply not cautious about selling fireworks to minors and children. Make sure your children understand the risks and very real dangers of fireworks so that they are not tempted.

2) Do not keep fireworks in your home. This makes it easier for your children to access them. As well, as fireworks deteriorate, they can pose a greater danger as they become more unstable.

3) If you have fireworks left over from New Year’s, dispose of them safely. Call your local city waste management office to find out how to safely dispose of unused fireworks. Do not simply place them in the garbage, where they can go off and cause a fire.

4) If you must store fireworks, do so as safely as possible. If you do decide to store fireworks in your home, carefully read the manufacturer’s suggestions about storage. You should keep fireworks in a cool, dry environment, far from any flammable materials. You should also keep your fireworks in a locked area, where your children cannot access the fireworks on their own.
Make sure that the key for the area is not available to your children. Before using the fireworks at a later date, check the condition of the fireworks carefully before use. Older fireworks can deteriorate, making them more unstable and therefore more likely to cause injury.

Continue reading "Many Carver Heights Personal Injury Accidents Caused by Fireworks Accidents at This Time of Year " »

Statistics show that over twelve million Americans take cruses annually, and while in many cases these vacations are fun-filled and sun-drenched days of fun, for some passengers these cruises become a real cause for concern. Although cruise lines do not release statistics about on-board deaths and injuries, families have been coming forward with tales of missing persons, accidental deaths, and serious injury onboard.

Florida is one of the most popular states for cruises, with many cruise ships leaving and visiting the Port of Everglades, the Port of Palm Beach, the Port of Miami, the Port of Tampa, and the Port of Canaveral each year. As a result, there is natural concern in the state about the safety of cruise ships and cruise vacations. The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office reported 97 cruise ship deaths between 1999 and 2007 while the Miami Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office has reported 33 such fatalities between 2004 and 2007.

Part of the reason for deaths on board cruise ships is the older age of passengers. According to some cruise line industry sources, the average age on cruise ships is 49 and on some ships, the average age is much higher. Therefore, the majority of cruise ship deaths are due to natural causes. According to the medical investigators who investigate all cruise ship deaths in the US, the majority of deaths are caused by heart attacks, strokes, and other medical reasons.

However, some Miami cruise ship injuries and deaths are due to preventable causes. Miami slip and fall accidents, for example, can be common on cruises, as the ships are in motion and since water can get on board the decks in some cases. Some cruise ships have narrow stairs, which can also pose a fall hazard.

In the past few years, a number of legal actions have been initiated after cruise ship passengers have drowned, sustained pool accidents, and have sustained other accidents. Some lawsuits have also been launched due to Miami accidental deaths on board cruise ships. Cruise lines have a responsibility to keep passengers safe and when sliding doors or bunk beds do not function, when hatches are left open, and when mooring lines are not secured correctly, passengers do have legal remedies for any injuries they suffer as a result.

Passengers can seek to reclaim the costs of transportation to medical facilities, the costs of medical care, and any related expenses caused by an accident. Even with travel insurance, the costs of being injured aboard a cruise ship can be substantial.

If you have sustained a personal injury while on board a cruise ship, it is important to speak to a qualified Miami personal injury attorney right away. There is a one year statute of limitations on many cruise ship accident and injury claims, so delaying legal action could mean that you lose the ability to seek legal redress. Cruise ship lawsuits are also complex because cruise ship companies can choose which jurisdiction any legal cases will take place. Filing in the wrong jurisdiction could have a negative impact on your case.

Continue reading "Miami Accidental Death and Injuries on Cruise Ships: What You Need to Know Before You Set Sail" »

It is unfortunate that Aventura personal injuries cause many legal claims and many hospital visits each year. The good news is that there are many things that you can do to help prevent accidents and injuries throughout the year:

1) Sign a no-texting pledge and a no-DUI pledge. Although Florida does not currently have a texting ban in place, it is still important to drive undistracted. Driving distracted increases your risk for an Aventura traffic accident or pedestrian accident. Turning your mobile device off each time you get in the car and keeping your full focus on driving helps you drive defensively and helps you avoid accidents. Of course, never drinking and driving also helps you to avoid Aventura car collisions.

2) Resolve to get healthy. Visit your doctor and your eye doctor at least once a year for a check up. Unresolved medical issues are a major cause of Aventura slip and fall accidents. Taking good care of yourself and getting check ups to resolve any issues which may not have obvious symptoms help keep you safe and can improve your life expectancy.

3) Get exercising – safely. Exercising is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions that people set. However, if you want to get in shape, you should also resolve to do so safely. That means visiting your doctor before embarking on any exercise program and starting slowly so that you can avoid Aventura sports injuries.

4) Make your home pleasant and safe. Renovating your home to make it pleasant can be one of your goals for 2012. However, make sure that you also take steps to make your home safe. Create an emergency kit and a written emergency plan. Buy smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers for your home. Check your wiring and any cords in your home to replace any electrical devices or wiring that are worn or frayed. A few affordable safety precautions could help prevent a tragedy at your home.

5) Resolve to drive safely. Aventura car accidents are one of the major causes of personal injury in the city, and most drivers will be in at least one accident over the course of their driving years. The good news is that there are many things you can do to help prevent Aventura traffic accidents. Maintain your car correctly so that it responds properly in an emergency. Consider taking refresher courses, defensive driving courses, or racing classes to improve your driving skills; the skills you learn could help you save your life.

6) Take a CPR course. Knowing what to do in an emergency can help you help yourself or a loved one in an accident or emergency.

Continue reading "New Year’s Resolutions That Could Help You To Prevent Aventura Personal Injury and Accidents" »

Helicopters are increasingly used in everything from firefighting to medical emergencies. There are more helipads than ever before and some affluent individuals even used helicopters to travel. Recently, a tragic helicopter accident in Florida claimed the lives of three people. The incident involved a Mayo Clinic helicopter and after the accident a number of questions have been raised about the safety of emergency helicopter use. In addition to the accident, there has been some media attention concerning the safety of medical helicopters.

In 2010, Popular Mechanics published an article claiming that pilots who man medical helicopters have among the most dangerous jobs in the US and fly some of the most dangerous missions. According to the article, in some cases helicopters are used even when other alternatives are available. The article also suggested that medical helicopters require less strict protocols and fewer safety mandates than most other kinds of aircraft. For example, medical helicopters do not need to comply with the strict weather and pedestrian checks that other aircraft need to consider. Potentially, this could mean that helicopter accidents are even more of a concern than Miami airplane accidents.

According to some sources, for medical helicopters the fatal accident rate is 1.18 for every 100 000 flight hours. This compares to 1.13 per 100 000 hours for air taxis and general aviation flights. In 2011, The National Transportation Safety Board announced that accident rates for medical emergency helicopters are not acceptable.

Medical helicopters are used for many purposes. They fly patients into hospitals in emergencies, for example, and they fly donated organs to airports for transport. They are also fly a number of other missions. Medical helicopters range from top-of-the-line twin-engine autopilot air ambulance to more economical single-engine models. There is no definitive data about differences in medical ambulance accidents between different models.

For patients, the results of medical helicopter crashes can be devastating. At a time when patients already need to be aware of Miami misdiagnosis and other problems that can lead to a Miami medical malpractice lawsuit, helicopter accidents are one more additional worry. A patient who is being transported to a hospital for emergency treatment via helicopter is unlikely to survive the crash. Medical helicopter crashes can also destroy the donated organs which can be a patient’s only hope of survival.

Proving liability in a medical helicopter crash can also be challenging. Private investigators may be dealing with a site that is heavily damaged by the crash itself. They can check the equipment made available for the pilots, the condition of the helicopter, and the training of the pilots and crew. Proving liability, however, can be challenging, especially since in many cases the helicopters are owned by third parties and are in use for hospitals.

Continue reading "How Much of a Concern are Personal Injuries in Miami Helicopter Accidents?" »

While experts continue to voice concerns about the number of Miami traffic accidents overall, at least one report suggests that train crossing accidents, at least, are fewer in Florida. According to information gathered by the Federal Railroad Administration, the number of crashes involving trains and vehicles declined in Florida during the first nine months of the year. The number of injuries also declined when compared with statistics from last year. Across the country, the number of injuries caused by train-vehicle collisions increased 14% while the number of collisions declined slightly nationwide. This means that Florida is ahead of the curve when reducing the number of train-car accidents.

Between January and September of this year, there have been forty accidents at railway crossings across the state and six fatalities. Miami-Dade County has not had any such accidents, while Broward County has had two fatalities and five accidents and Palm Beach County has had five accidents and one fatality.

Last year, the Federal Railroad Administration ordered ten states, including Florida, to devise five-year plans to reduce the number of accidents at railway crossings. Florida has stated that most South Florida railway crossings have devices which prevent motorists from colliding with trains. However, Florida has stated that it will improve education programs to help people understand how to cross railway tracks safely.

As part of Operation Lifesaver, authorities hope to instill three main rules with motorists:

1) It is important to always anticipate a train when approaching a rail crossing. Trains move quickly and may approach from either direction. In many cases, motorists enter the rail crossing because they assume that a train is not coming, but this can be a deadly mistake.

2) Do not drive distracted. It is important to avoid using a mobile device in cars and to turn down the car stereo as well. Talking on the phone (even with a hands-free device) or listening to music can cause you to miss important audio alarms that can alert you of an oncoming train. It is also important for pedestrians walking near tracks to avoid listening to music or talking on a mobile device. Again, distractions can cause tragic Miami pedestrian accidents in this type of situation because pedestrians may not hear an oncoming train.

3) Only cross a rail crossing if you can completely get by the rail without stopping. If there is traffic, wait until the traffic ahead of you moves forward enough to give you adequate room to clear the train tracks. Otherwise, you may get stuck in the middle of the tracks. In this situation, you could be in a serious Miami car accident if a train suddenly approaches. Trains travel very fast and even if a conductor sees you on the tracks, he or she may not be able to stop in time since trains require a much larger stopping distance than cars or even trucks.

Continue reading "Are Miami Train Accidents Involving Cars Becoming Rarer?" »