Miami Resort Injury Lawyer Blog

Dog Bites are on the Rise

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:42:51 -0500

Dogs are man's best friend. But dog bites cost insurance companies millions of dollars every year.

State Farm Insurance paid $109 million dollars on dog bit claims last year. Approximately 3,800 dog bite claims were reported to State Farm Insurance last year nationwide. Those figures are up from the 2010 figures. In 2010, State Farm paid about $90 million dollars for about 3,500 reported claims.

Some estimates suggest that nearly $479 million dollars in dog bite claims were paid by all insurance companies in 2011. It 2010, insurance companies paid $413 million in dog bite claims.

The average cost per claim nationally was $28,799.

It should come as no surprise that the most populated stated in the county - California - also had the most dog bite claims in 2011.

In Florida, there were 146 dog bite claims reported to State Farm Insurance in 2010 for a total of $5.6 million. The average cost per dog bite claim was $38,400.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year. More than half of those bitten by dogs yearly are children.

As we approach the National Dog Bite Prevention Week, here are some tips to avoid getting bitten by a dog:

• Never tease, pull the tail or ears, poke the eyes, throw things at, try to ride, climb over or step on a dog.
• Never touch or play with a dog while he is eating or sleeping.
• Never take a dog's toy or bone away when he is playing with it.
• Never approach a strange or stray dog -- EVER.
• Never stare directly into a dog's eyes.
• Always ask the owner first before petting a dog.
• Always let a dog sniff your hand first, then pet him under his chin or on his chest rather than on top of his head
• Always go tell an adult if you see a stray dog walking on the street.

Turbulence in the Sky Can Cause Significant Injuries

Sun, 06 May 2012 13:42:05 -0500

Air travel is regarded to be among the safest ways a person can get from point A to point B. In fact, it is less likely that you will be injured or killed on a flight than you are from traveling via other forms of transportation. However, there are exceptions to every rule. And simply being 30,000 plus feet up in the air does not eliminate the possibility of serious and sometimes severe injuries.

In October 2011, a flight originating from Puerto Rico experienced "extreme" turbulence as it crossed the Atlantic on its way to Boston. Specifically, the turbulence lasted approximately 5 minutes "with one serious up- and downdraft causing altitude deviations of about 200 feet . . . ." The turbulence was so significant that it caused severe emotional distress to some passengers and physical injuries to others.

Out of the ten passengers who reported injuries, three refused treatment while the other seven suffered injuries ranging from coffee burns to neck, back, and head injuries. As for the emotional distress, that was a product of the turbulence taking place only an hour after take off, which left several passengers uneasy for the remainder of the flight.

To illustrate, one passenger, Tracie Spooner of Exeter, R.I., stated that she thought the plane was going down. "I felt like that was it."

In a separate, but similar incident, a Lufthansa flight heading to Munich from Charlotte had to make an emergency landing in Boston after also experiencing severe turbulence. Several injuries were reported on this flight, two of which had to be treated at hospitals in the Boston area. The plane, according to the flight crew, changed its course heading as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of those on board.

Injuries Often Occur During Spring Break

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:02:40 -0500

Traveling for spring break has become increasingly popular over the years. As winter lessens its chill, and thoughts turned to regeneration, rejuvenation, and new birth, many college aged students became particularly frolicsome during spring break. As a result, spring break has become a popular time of the year for many to vent their ingrained urges.

However, spring break is not without incident and its share of problems. Here are some tips for those planning on traveling during spring break:

1. Driving. If you're driving make sure your car, and tires, are in good condition. Also, while driving make sure to stay alert at all times and avoid all distractions like sending text messages, or speaking on the cell phone. And above all else, never drink and drive.

2. Hotel Rooms. If possible, reserve a room on a floor above the 1st floor because those rooms are harder to break into. Never give a stranger your room key. Also, be mindful of bed bugs in your room and use these tips to combat bed bugs. Also, make a note of where your exits are located.

3. Drinking. Be careful when drinking and never accept drinks from strangers. Be responsible and always pace yourself and avoid binge drinking. And be mindful that those who are heavily intoxicated become easy targets for criminals to prey on.

4. Swimming. Make sure to always swim while a life guard is on duty. Be careful of ocean currents and rip tides. Always swim within the designated area, and always swim with a buddy.

5. Stay with your friends. Always avoid being alone, or with a group of people you don't know or trust. To best avoid that issue, always stick with your friends. In crowded situations, you and your friends should designate certain times and places where everyone should physically present themselves.

6. Have fun. And above all else, please make sure to have fun during spring break, and please make sure to stay safe.

However, should you, or a loved one, be injured during spring break then please call our office to discuss your case and your rights. Such common claims involve sexual assaults at resorts due to the resort's lack of adequate security, auto accidents, parasailing accidents, slip and fall incidents and a host of other such claims.

If you're making way to Florida, for spring break, or you're a local planning a "staycation" be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for dangers. However, if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of getting injured, make sure to call Alvarez & Barbara.

Cruise Ship Claims - Know Your Rights and Be Aware of the Shorten Statute of Limitations to Bring forward a Valid Claim Against the Cruise Company

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:46:25 -0500

Every year, thousands of travelers plan their dream cruise vacation. From the young honey mooners, to those that retired, to young families with children, they all share one common objective - to have fun during the cruise.

Many of those taking that dream cruise often leave from Port Everglades, or Fort Lauderdale, or the Port of Miami, or even the Port of Palm Beach.

While the objective of the cruise vacation is often fun in the sun, it is unfortunately all too common for many individuals on board of a cruise ship to be injured or fall victim to a violent crime.

An estimated 12 million people take cruises each and every year, with the great majority of those cruises leaving from South Florida ports.

If a loved one has been injured while on a cruise, you may have a legal right to compensation for those injuries, and you should consult a lawyer immediately. Contact our office for a free consultation at 1-866-518-2913 for experienced and knowledgeable legal assistance.

The tricky part about these claims is that often times the claim must not only be filed in Miami, but it must be filed within 1 year of the incident. Therefore, if you have been injured while traveling aboard a Carnival Cruise, Celebrity Cruise, Costa Cruise Line, Disney Cruise, Norwegian Cruise, Regent-Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruise, or Silversea Cruise, it is imperative that you contact a Florida licensed attorney familiar with the courts in Miami-Dade County, including the Federal Courts in Miami.

Stay Safe Riding Your Bicycle in South Florida

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:19:27 -0500

Many travel to Florida to enjoy our excellent year round climate. And riding a bike is just one of many great activities people engage in every day to enjoy our excellent year round weather.

However, a recent tragedy in Key Biscayne underscores the importance of being vigilant while going for a bike ride, as well as when driving a car in areas where bike riders often ride.

Key Biscayne is one of the most popular cycling route in Miami. Cyclists are supposed to feel safe in this area.

Yet tragedies occur far too often.

A bicyclist was struck and killed by a car in a hit-and-run on the Rickenbacker Causeway near the entrance to Key Biscayne -- after which the motorist dragged the crushed bike four miles down Crandon Boulevard with at least one other car, cyclists and police in pursuit. Rumors are swirling that the driver of the car that killed this cyclist was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

This is very unfortunate and sad. The problem concerning motorists driving while intoxicated, texting, talking on the phone and speeding needs to be better addressed.

As a result of this horrible incident, here is a list of tips for drivers to follow so they can prevent endangering pedestrians.

1. Always watch for pedestrians. Pedestrians can be encountered anytime and anywhere, even where there shouldn't be.

2. Pedestrians are hard to see. Especially in bad weather or at night, keep a lookout for pedestrians. Slow down if you can't see.

3. Stop at crosswalks. Make sure to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks - even when they are unmarked. When stopping, stop far enough so that other drivers in other lanes can see the pedestrians as well.

4. Take extra care for pedestrians when turning. We often wait for a gap in traffic when making turns. Beware that while waiting for that gap a pedestrian may have moved into your intended path.

5. Pay extra attention in areas known for foot-traffic. These areas included schools, churches, playgrounds, and city centers with noted density.

Cruise Safety is Back in the Spotlight Following the Recent Ship Wreck

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:13:41 -0500

The Titanic sank 100 years ago this April. Many lessons were learned from that fatal sinking. As a result of the lessons learned from the Titanic, the International Maritime Organization passed the Safety of Life at Sea Covenants (SOLA). All commercial vessels, no matter where the owner of the ship is based, must follow SOLA and the rules imposed by the International Maritime Organization.

SOLA has been amended and revised over the years. Specifically, the regulations have been overhauled five times since the original document was drafted shortly after the sinking of the Titanic almost 100 years ago.

One of the most critical components of SOLA is that all passengers shall be assembled within 24 hours after embarkation of the vessel to be instructed on the use of life jackets and the actions to take in the event of an emergency. It is not uncommon for passengers to be requested to bring with them their life jackets.

One of the apparent failures of the Costa Concordia shipwreck is that the vessel was only at sea for a short period of time when disaster struck. In other words, the passengers had not yet had an opportunity to engage in safety drills.

The lesson to take from that episode is to be proactive. Become an informed consumer. Learn about the ship's safety record. One can check the vessel's history by checking the U.S. Coast Guard's Maritime Information Exchange. If the vessel has a history of problems at sea, then you may wish to consider traveling on another vessels with a better safety record.

Once you have decided to book your trip, another important step may be to consider purchasing travel insurance. As with any insurance policy, there are many options and coverages to consider purchasing. For instance, once could travel insurance that only covers lost luggage and the contents in said luggage. Or, you could also purchase insurance coverage that would cover the entire cost of the cruise including flight to/from the port city if the cruise did not occur.

Another step to take that once you actually board the vessel is you should familiarize yourself with the rules associated with life jackets and life boats on your own, and during the initial moments of boarding the vessel. Don't leave anything to chance.

Another tip, especially if you're traveling out of the country, is to email yourself a photo of your passport's photo page. This way you could access your passport even if it was left on board of the vessel during a hasty abandon ship.

More Motorcycle Riders are Wearing Helmets More Frequently Leading to Less Fatalities on the Road

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:47:46 -0500

Florida began a major motorcycle initiative in 2008 as it became aware of this startling fact:

Motorcycles make up about 6 percent of all Florida traffic accidents, but those dying in motorcycle crashes made up 18 percent of all traffic deaths. Compare that with 1997, when deaths involving motorcycles were 5 percent of traffic fatalities.

Consequently, our Florida motorcycle accident lawyers continue to be concerned about the high numbers of serious and fatal pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents that are occurring on Florida roads.

The reason being is that head injuries remain the second-most common injury requiring hospitalization for bikers, with 29 percent of Florida's motorcycle crash deaths attributed to traumatic brain injuries.

Credit state officials for making a concerted effort to increase motorcycle safety which has resulted in an increase in helmet use amount motorcycle enthusiasts.

Lawmakers approved a 2008 law that requires all bikers to take training courses before receiving a motorcycle endorsement on their driver's licenses. FDOT's decision to raise awareness of motorcycle safety among other motorists was also a smart approach in dealing with a much larger issue.

This sensible approach to motorcycle safety is also vastly different than the approach taken by lawmakers back in 2000. At that time, riding helmetless was portrayed as an American right. Personal freedom, not actuarial sense, carried the day when state lawmakers passed a bill that was later signed into law that gave motorcycle enthusiasts aged 21 and older who carried at least $10,000 in personal injury insurance the right to ride bareheaded.

While the personal injury coverage requirement helps, the median hospital charge is five times the state's minimum $10,000 mandate.

Worse yet, almost half -- 49 percent -- of those biker emergency room visits and hospital stays in 2009 weren't covered by insurance, a cost shift that fell to other Floridians (many of whom don't own motorcycles), either in the form of higher taxes or increased insurance premiums.

However, the good news is that biker fatalities in Florida have dropped, although Florida remains one of the worst states when it comes to motorcycle crash deaths. Part of the reason why the number of biker fatalities have dropped is that more motorcycle enthusiasts are wearing helmets when riding their motorcycles. Indeed, numbers tracked by the State of Florida show a noticeable uptick in helmet use among South Florida bikers, particularly in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Last year, 55 percent of the surveyed bikers in Broward said they used their helmets, up from 49 percent eight years ago. In Palm Beach County, the figure was 47 percent, an increase of three percentage points from 2002.

As more motorcycle enthusiasts embrace the idea of wearing helmets, the hope is that the Legislature will entertain the idea of restoring the universal helmet law.

Snore Monitors? Noisy Ice Makers? Bed Bugs? Top Nuisances for Hotel Guests.

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:22:50 -0500

Have you ever walked into a hotel after a long day traveling only to hear a loud raucous party down the hall. Or, you hear the broken ice maker making that annoying clanking noise that is echoing through the hall.

For corporate jet-setters who need a good night's rest to propel them through on-the-road meetings and presentations, noisy hotel rooms can be the bane of their business trips.

Noise was the top hotel complaint cited by respondents in a 2011 survey of hotel guest satisfaction. It beat out smelly rooms, sluggish Web connections and rude staff.

Some hotels have taken a pro-active approach to combat the noisy room problem by having snore monitors patrol the hallways and also trying out snore absorption rooms.

Other irritants include slamming doors, chattering hotel staff, amorous couples next door, revving truck engines in the parking lot and leaking toilets.

Then there are bed bugs. Recently, we have seen an explosion of bed bug attacks on planes, in New York city, and in other hotels. Florida hotels have been cited for 81 infestations. This number includes 11 in Broward County and four in Palm Beach County. According to www.bedbugregistry.com Florida has 319 bug reports.

How about room service? Food poisoning at hotels is also on the rise.

Costa Crociere Spa Makes Settlement Offer to Passengers on the Cruise Ship that Ran Aground and Capsized off Tuscany

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:13:21 -0500

Costa Crociere SpA, a unit of the world's largest cruise ship operator, the Miami based Carnival Corp., is offering all uninjured passengers $14,460 apiece to compensate them for the lost baggage and psychological trauma after the shipwreck tragedy off Tuscany.

The cruise ship operator is also planning on reimbursing the passengers the full costs of their cruise, their travel expenses and any medical expenses sustained after the shipwreck when the cruise ship ran aground in the Mediterranean.

There were over 4,000 passengers on that ill fated cruise ship, from over 61 nations. This deal, however, does not apply to the crew on board of the ship. Nor does it apply to the people that were in fact injured, or to the families who lost loved ones.

The cruise ship gashed its hull on reefs off the island of Giglio after the captain improperly navigated the large cruise ship off its approve route in an effort to bring it closer to the Giglio coast line. Some 4,200 passengers and crew were hastily evacuated after the Concordia ran aground and capsized a few kilometers away near the port of Giglio.

Sixteen bodies have been recovered while another 16 remain missing. Passengers have said that the evacuation was chaotic. Adding to the chaos is the fact that the captain did not remain on board during the chaotic evacuation.

While this incident was certainly the exception, and not the norm, it is still an example of the type of horrifying and frightening tragedy that could happen while on a cruise.

Duty of Care Toward Children in Day Cares

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:08:24 -0500

We often leave our little bundles of joy at day cares and pre-schools.

What duty do those day cares and schools have to look after our children?

Florida Law provides that teachers and schools have an obligation to supervise the activity of children when the child is entrusted to their care. Benton v. The School Board of Broward County, 386 So. 2d 831 (Fla. 4th DCA 1980); Barrera v. Dade County School Board, 366 So. 2d 531 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979); Rupp v. Dade County School Board, 417 So. 2d 658, 666 (Fla. 1982); Concepcion v. Archdiocese of Miami, 693 So. 2d 1103 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997).

A private day-care center owes its children in attendance a high degree of care, and the relationship between a child and his or her day-care center includes both an implied agreement and a duty to render reasonable care to a child in its custody who becomes imperiled. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 314.

Put simply, day-care centers have a duty to render aid to children in their custody.

A day care, for instance, is operated for profit and they typically holds themselves out as a professional provider of day-care services. This service is the primary and basic service for which that day care charges parents and it is also undeniably its main function.

In fact, Florida Law also provides that all persons or entities chargeable with a duty of care to children are chargeable with a higher degree of care for the safety of the children than of adults. Bagdad Land & Lumber Co., 140 So. 798 (Fla. 1932) (Children are expected to act upon childish instincts and impulses. Accordingly, it must be presumed that children have less ability to take care of themselves than adults have. Therefore, in cases where a child's safety is involved, more care is demanded than towards adults.); Burdine's Inc. v. McConnel, 1 So. 2d 462 (Fla. 1941) (Those who invite children who have not arrived at the age of discretion, to go upon their premises are required to exercise a relatively higher degree of care for their safety than for the safety of adult invitees).

Therefore, day cares in particular are required to exercise the highest degree of care toward children.

Jury Awards $8.8 Million to the Family of a Mother killed in a Car Accident Caused by a Distracted Teenage Driver - The Time has Come to Ban Texting and Driving

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:55:48 -0500

Texting and driving has become all too familiar in South Florida, and around the country. Indeed, the National Transportation Safety Board recently voted to recommend a ban on the use of all mobile devices by drivers while driving. It did so because of the risk of too many distracted drivers on the road. The proposed ban applies to hands free devices, and is a recommendation that goes further than any state or federal law issued to date.

The dangers of a distracted driver doing too much texting while driving was highlighted in a recent jury trial in Miami-Dade County. In that case, a jury awarded $8.8 million dollars to the family of a mother killed in a collision with a teenage driver back in 2008. The teenage driver is believed to have been texting while speeding.

The deceased mother was a passenger in a car driven by her husband, traveling eastbound on Bird Road. The teenage driver, age 17 at the time of the car accident, was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic in his father's car. He was traveling at rates of speed as high as 69 MPH in a 40 MPH zone.

There was also marijuana and cocaine in the vehicle being driven by the teenager, and a partially consumed bottle of Delsym cough syrup.

The teenage slammed into the Mother's vehicle. She died on the scene. Her husband, who was driving, suffered internal injuries - including substantial abdominal bleeding, and a large cut from his chest to his stomach from the impact. The couple had two young children, who were not in the car at the time. But they lost their mother in the car accident.

This case coupled with the National Transportation Safety Board's proposed recent ban on texting and driving highlight the dangers of being distracted while driving.

Cosmetic Surgery Can Be Very Expensive and Dangerous yet Miami has become the Nation's Capital of Black Market Beauty Treatment

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:48:03 -0500

People from all over the world travel to Miami in an effort to get the latest and best in cosmetic surgery. But not all of the cosmetic care being provided is legal or healthy. Indeed, South Florida has become the nation's capital of black-market beauty treatments.

People are getting everything from silicone shots, Botox, and in some cases plastic surgery, at parties, or during private appointments in houses, hotel rooms, beauty salons and makeshift offices.

The unlicensed practitioners, who include doctors trained in other countries, nurses, medical aides and even beauticians, or worse, untrained amateurs simply looking to defraud a willing public for an extra buck, attract patients with low fees, a willingness to use illegal permanent wrinkle fillers, a congenial atmosphere or the convenience of not needing to make an appointment weeks in advance.

It's an epidemic, and it is growing. Take, for instance, the cruel case of a plastic surgeon patient who had her butt implants filled with cement and sealed with super glue by a transgender woman who had been accuse of unlawfully practicing medicine. This tale serves as a cautionary reminder to do your homework on the health care professional that you have selected to perform your cosmetic procedure.

According to news reports, the transgender woman posed in Miami as a plastic surgeon and filled her victims' implants with a miscellany of materials, mineral oil and "Fix a Flat" sealant among them.

In this case, the victim was hospitalized and the transgender woman was arrested and held on $7,500 bond, but police believe she probably had other patients who have suffered from her amateur procedures.

The transgender woman's patients are not the first to be injected with unsafe materials in the name of beauty.

Indeed, Miami offers perfect-storm conditions for cosmetic crime. Miami's proximity to Central America and South America, along with a huge immigrant population and a party scene that caters to sculptured models and bodybuilders make it an ideal hothouse for bootleg procedures.

Dog Bite Attacks

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:23:05 -0500

An eight-year old boy was recently viciously attacked outside his home by a pitbull that had escaped from its owner. The young boy suffered serious facial injuries and had to be airlifted to Broward General Medical Center after being treated on sight by paramedics. The dangerous pitbull was later caught by law enforcement, but not before dramatically changing the life of this young boy and his family.

It is important to point out that not every dog-bite case is the same. As a dog-bite victim, you should be aware of several factors that might play a role on whether a recovery of damages is possible, including, but not limited to:

• A dog owner who denies (or in fact) has no insurance;
• Witnesses who are children, family members, or incapacitated;
• Jurisdictional statutes that include unique legal concepts that determine who can and cannot be held liable for a dog bite; and,
• Determining whether the victim was contributorily negligent, through provocation or lack of adequate parental supervision in incidents where the victim is a child.

Only an experienced dog bite attorney can tell you exactly what remedies you can
pursue against a defendant dog owner. This is determined after making a thorough evaluation of your case, which includes an investigation of the accident scene, collection of evidence and insurance information, tracking down the dog owner and witnesses, and securing an expert witness to testify as to the dangerous propensity of the animal.

Remember, not every owner is insured, which might preclude a recovery of damages. For those who are, it is important to find an attorney who understands the different types of policies that cover dog bites. In 2010, insurers paid out an estimated $410 million dollars to dog bite victims. In Florida, the average amount paid out to victims was $38,356.

To stress the point further, an inexperienced attorney might not discover that a dog owner's auto insurance policy might also include umbrella coverage. The attorney might drop the case and the statute of limitations might run, which will preclude any recovery for the victim. However, an experienced dog bite attorney will know that an umbrella policy provides an opportunity for a victim to recover damages for his or her injuries.

At Alvarez & Barbara, LLP, we are experienced personal injury attorneys who represent victims of dog bite and other animal attacks. We work hard to help our clients obtain medical care, counseling services and compensation for their pain and emotional suffering.

Women are 40% More Likely to Be Injured in an Accident When Driving Older Cars

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:28:06 -0500

Women who drive a car built between 1998 and 2008 and who wear seatbelts are 40% more likely to be injured in a car accident compared with men who wear seatbelts in the same car built in those same years.

The dramatic difference has to do with the way car safety systems are designed.

On average, women are shorter and lighter than men, so the likelihood of injury from airbags increases.

One size fits all safety systems on older vehicles also plays a significant role.

But the data, however, only involves cars built between 1998 and 2008. These types of injuries for women, and the marked difference between injuries to men and women, do not occur with newer vehicles that are equipped with newer safety system.

As such, if you are operating a vehicle without advanced airbags, it's important to take into account the heightened risk of injury if you are a female driver.

What Should You Do If You Are Involved in a Car Accident.

Being involved in a car accident is a nerve racking experience. Most car accident victims are often left disoriented and badly bruised and injured. Consequently, too often car accident victims do not take the time to secure important documents, and gather critical information.

If you are involved in a car accident in Miami, Miami Beach, South Florida and beyond, these are but a few tips that may help strengthen your case:

• Seek immediate medical attention.
• Call the authorities to report the accident.
• Obtain the names and addresses of the driver and passenger of the other vehicle or vehicles.
• Obtain the name and address of any and all witnesses to the accident.
• Obtain all insurance information, including the name of the insurance company and policy number, of the other driver or drivers.
• Document how and where the accident occurred.
• Photograph the property damage to all vehicles and the accident scene.
• Do not admit fault for the accident.

Car accident victims should also speak with one of our experienced attorneys.

We represented the insurance companies for years so we know all of their tricks.

Therefore, call us today to discuss your case in greater detail.

Injured in a Bike Accident? You May be able to Make a Claim for Damages.

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:04:48 -0500

Our Florida bike accident lawyers continue to be concerned about the high numbers of serious and fatal pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents that are occurring on Florida roads. In 2009, the number of fatal Florida bicycle accidents declined from 119 to 100, while fatal pedestrian accidents declined from 502 to 482.

However, Florida is among the most dangerous states in the nation for serious and fatal bicycle or pedestrian accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 125 cyclists were killed in Florida in 2005 -- the most of any state in the nation. Florida pedestrian accidents killed 490 people, second only to California, which was the nation's most dangerous state for walkers.

Pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents frequently lead to very serious or fatal injuries. Both also have a high number of cases in which an at-fault motorist does not stop. When a motorist fails to stop, or when an at-fault driver does not have adequate insurance to compensate a victim for his or her injuries, victims of a Florida bicycle or pedestrian accident are often able to file a claim against their own insurance company.

Our Miami bike accident lawyers urge motorists who have been injured in a bicycle or pedestrian accident to consult an experienced attorney right away. We recommend that you not sign any documents -- either from your insurance company or the company of the at-fault driver -- and do not accept any payments until speaking to an experienced attorney.

Bicycle and pedestrian accidents frequently involve serious head injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, joint injuries and other medical conditions that require extensive care and often lead to additional medical complications. Hiring an attorney capable of protecting your rights in a dispute with an insurance company in Miami is critical to protecting the long-term financial well-being of you and your family.