Personal Injury Law Blogs

Slip and Fall – How to Prove Negligence and Win Your Case

(US personal injury law and generally) The number of slip and fall incidents appears to be on the rise. The National Floor Safety Institute recently advised that the restaurant and food service industry spends more than $2billion as a result of this type of injury. We look at how to prove negligence and win your case when you make a claim.

The Case For A Claim

Many consider that slip and fall cases are straightforward and easy to prove but in reality that is not how it is. The hard truth is that a good number of claims are simply not viable either due to problems in proving negligence or lack of damages. That is the key to success, providing strong evidence of the defendants negligence will be the gauge to a successful claim, the stronger the evidence the stronger the claim.

What the Law Says

The Laws that we are governed by basically state that everyone has a duty of care to watch where they are walking. This is the doctrine of comparative negligence and will be the rule that is applied to most slip and fall cases. For example, if someone falls or trips as a result of pre-existing defective condition the injured person will probably be found to have contributed to their own injury.

The vital factor in a successful claim is if the plaintiff’s negligence exceeds the defendants own level of negligence then there is cause for a claim.

Causes Of Slip And Fall Claims

The aforementioned defense is very often raised in almost every legal claim so the attorney acting for the plaintiff has to overcome this obstacle with strong evidence, and the stronger the better. Here are some of the common causes of slip and fall claims –

*Holes or gaps not properly signed or cordoned off

*Broken concrete or paving slabs

*Food or liquid spillage left unattended

*Debris left in dangerous position

*Lack of proper slip resistance material in vulnerable areas

Proving Negligence

There are many places that a serious injury can occur from shopping malls to construction sites and every case is of course different and the level of claim is dictated by the severity of the injury sustained. In general there are a number of key points that have to be proved if a claim is to be successful. They are –

*The owner of the property owed the plaintiff a duty of care but the owner breached that duty of care by committing some sort of act of negligence that can be proven.

*The plaintiff has to prove that the act of negligence was the actual cause of their injury and that suffered damage as a result of this.

These cases can be proven and successfully won if you can demonstrate that the defendant failed to take reasonable steps in order to protect their employees of customers. Areas to concentrate on when making a claim are a lack of suitable warning notices, a lack of documentation showing a regular cleaning or maintenance schedule and any related evidence that clearly suggests that the defendant failed to take reasonable steps to deal with a potentially dangerous or hazardous situation.

Making a successful claim for a slip and fall injury is all about being fully prepared with supporting documentation and evidence such as photographic details, so that a positive outcome can be achieved as swiftly as possible for the plaintiff.

Guest post contributed by Max Cooper on behalf of the Injury-Settlement-Guide.com – read more about parental liability.  Max is a freelance writer who has worked extensively as an attorney in the insurance industry. His articles appear on legal blogs.

 

 

 

 

 

New Car Technologies That Save Lives

Car manufacturers are using new technologies designed to detect driver behavior, road and weather conditions and more in order to promote safety on our roadways. The following is a list of new gadgets and features that save lives:

  • Intelligent Airbag Systems: All manufacturers were required to implement air bags in all cars produced after April 1, 1989, however the airbags proved to be dangerous due to their size and pressure. New technologies have been able to detect differences in driver and passenger weight, height and width in order to deploy airbags in a way that won’t pose a threat during an accident.
  • Rollover Prevention: Dynamic sensors are used to read information about the vehicle’s lateral and radial movement as well as balance. The computer system takes appropriate action if uncontrollable movement is sensed, to ensure that the vehicle does not roll.
  • Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Systems (FCS): These are new technologies that force a car to slow down if it gets too close to a vehicle or object in front of it.
  • Electronic Stability Control: This software is required in all new vehicles. It works with a hydraulic control unit, steering angle sensors, wheel speed sensors and other monitoring systems to determine if a car is over-steering or under-steering. If the software determines that the vehicle is experiencing one of those conditions it will apply brake pressure at the necessary wheels to correct the behavior.
  • Nodding Off Alarms: Also known as the Attention Assist System introduced in 2009, these alarms analyze driving behavior and go off if drowsiness is sensed. Another technology used for this purpose is the lane departure warning system. As a driver begins to drift out of their lane the system will either sound an alarm or flash a light to make the driver aware of their positioning.
  • Blind Spot Detection: This warns drivers when a car or other object is in their blind spot while driving or parking. Volvo and Ford models currently use this new technology.
  • Night Vision: Thermal-imaging is used to help drivers see further in order to spot objects or curves in the road.
  • Adaptive Headlights: These are currently being utilized to adjust with the vehicles’ position, steering wheel movement, speed and the lighting. Adaptive headlights have caused a 10% drop in overall accidents.
  • Rear-view Cameras: Cameras allow drivers to see what is behind them, assisting with reversing and parallel parking.
  • Accident Notification Systems and Emergency Response Systems: These systems detect accidents and perform actions to help the driver and any passengers to safety, such as turning on interior lights, unlocking doors, shutting off fuel and sometimes even alerting emergency services.
It is very important to contact an experienced and knowledgeable automobile accident attorney in the area that you live in if you or someone you love have suffered an injury in an automobile accident that was caused by the negligent actions of someone else. If you are looking for used cars in Ottawa, Ontario, Vincent Auto used car offers the best car parts also offer auto body repair and car painting.

Personal Injury Claims in UK

In many accidents, another person or entity may be responsible for causing injury to the victim, who has the right to claim compensation. Every year, numerous people suffer injuries in accidents due to the negligence of others, whether at home, on the road, at work, or in public spaces.

Most individuals pursue personal injury claims to help them rebuild their lives and receive compensation for the unnecessary pain and suffering they have endured. Filing a personal injury claim can also help prevent similar accidents from happening to others.

There are various types of personal injury claims that people could raise in the UK and UK personal injury lawyers could help you.

Personal injury claims are not only limited to accidents. Official statistics show a significant rise in the number of claims related to dangerous dog attacks, with approximately 4,000 claims being filed each year due to such incidents. The unexpected behaviour of animals, particularly dogs, horses, or exotic pets, poses a risk to vulnerable groups such as young children and the elderly. According to NHS reports, about 40% of people receiving treatment for dog bites and other injuries are victims of dog attacks.

Most personal injury claims in Scotland are handled by the Court of Session, which costly and time-consuming. In response to concerns about the efficiency of the process, the government has proposed new laws to limit the amount that law firms can earn from ‘no win, no fee’ cases. A new court, specialising solely in personal injury claims, is being established in Edinburgh. The aim is to transfer these cases to the sheriff court, where lawyers would no longer be able to claim success fees from the losing side, but instead be compensated for damages alone.

This specialist court is part of the Scottish Government’s legislative agenda and is expected to be operational next year. Staffed by expert sheriffs, the court will handle cases from across Scotland, providing faster and more cost-effective compensation for victims of workplace accidents, road traffic incidents, or other injuries. Experts believe this initiative will ensure fairer judgments with potentially broad societal impact.

Recent developments in the US indicate that many women who have used the Mirena intrauterine device (IUD), a birth control method, are filing product liability claims against the manufacturer. Some women have reported complications, including ectopic pregnancies, and the manufacturer has already paid out more than $400 million in compensation. UK personal injury solicitors advise any women who have suffered illness or injury due to the Mirena IUD to seek immediate legal advice to claim compensation.

In another case involving personal injury, a British couple has filed a compensation claim after their home in Spain was illegally demolished by the Andalusian government in 2008, despite them having the correct planning paperwork. Spain’s Constitutional Court later ruled the demolition unlawful, and the couple, who have since lived in a shed, are pursuing damages.

In a recent business acquisition, Quindell has announced its purchase of Pinto Potts Solicitors, a firm specialising in high-value personal injury claims, pending approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Financial Services Authority.

Additionally, schools in Lancashire have paid out over £1.2 million in compensation to pupils injured on school grounds over the past six years.

Data suggests that younger individuals are more likely to be eligible for personal injury claims than older people, although eligibility depends on the nature and severity of the injury.

Arizona Crash Data and Safer Streets

Of the top 10 most dangerous intersections in Maricopa County, all but two fall in two cities – Glendale and Phoenix. The study, performed by Arizona Republic, took into consideration all accidents in Arizona that resulted in an injury or at least $1,000 in vehicle damages.

Arizona Republic found that Glendale’s 59th and Olive Avenues intersection has seen the most crashes at nearly two collisions per week. The second-highest collision area is at Dunlap and 35th Avenue in Phoenix, where drivers see a direct correlation between traffic volume and crash rates.

Road infrastructure, surrounding land use, traffic volume and driver error all contribute to the danger of the intersections. Maricopa County has been shifting away from the wide streets and arterial roads that invite loads of commuters and attract fast-moving traffic, however the Phoenix metro area continues to use outdated street-planning techniques. Because freeways are a relatively recent development in Maricopa County, about 60% of Valley drivers use arterial streets rather than the more open and traffic-conducive freeways. Commuters are still congesting main roads with traffic that could be diverted elsewhere.

Editor’s note – there’s a new list of some of the Best Car Accident Lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona here that could be helpful.

Cities that are seeing budget cuts and have less spending money will find the issue of dangerous intersections more difficult to overcome. Although sometimes inexpensive quick fixes exist, like changing the timing of traffic lights can, most of the time it is more pricy. More lanes need to be built, on-ramps need to be widened to avoid rear-end collisions and more police presence and enforcement needs to be seen on the roads.

The city of Glendale is now taking the lead on improving infrastructure to reduce crash rates. “When we go back and look at it, we fully expect the rear-end accidents to be down, the left-turn accidents at the driveways to be down — in fact, (they will) be non-existent,” said Glendale principal traffic engineer Chris Lemka.

If you or someone you love is involved in an accident in Arizona, contact your injury lawyer in Tucson, AZ for a free legal consultation.  An experienced accident and injury attorney in your Arizona city will fight for the maximum compensation for your full recovery.

Right Ways to Victory in Your Motorcycle Accident Case

Filing a compensation claim is commonly the instant recourse of the victims who have been involved in a motorcycle accident, and this seems to be the initial word on their legal vocabulary. But this is just the first step and before the end comes, the claimant still has a lot to suffer aside from his physical pain or agony – it’s the complicated litigation that makes the entire process worst. It’s just like an aggravating circumstance which the victim should likewise overcome before the victorious verdict can be given.

But how? This is the prime concern in every personal injury case in which money is the most valuable thing that is at stake. It’s the shout for justice supposedly, but then no one can ever blame a victim whose entire life has almost been changed by a single traumatic event. The compensation in such case is one hope that drives the victims to recover what they have lost, and use it to live a new life amidst the tides of time. Nevertheless, if you’re a claimant who wants to ensure that everything will fall into their proper places after your accident, here are the following ways that you should consider:

  • Hire the Right Attorney – immediately after you have been brought to the hospital due to serious physical injury, you should hire a personal injury attorney who is the right one to settle your case. You should ask your counsel about the amicable steps which you might possibly take to negotiate with the offender or file the claim in court depending on the circumstance of your case.

  • Gather Evidences – it’s your help and cooperation with your lawyer that can bring you to the glory of success in your case. Your lawyer, for certain, needs relevant documentary and physical evidences, and testimonies from eyewitnesses so he can properly pursue your claim in court and evaluate the status or value of your personal injury claim. The reason why your simple assistance and cooperation really matters to increase the possibility of winning your claim.

  • Settle with the Offender or File Your Claim in Court – some minor cases don’t actually require complicated litigation by the court, and the compensation is just settled by the parties with the presence of a counsel. Thus, this is one option which your lawyer might advice if he finds it appropriate considering the circumstances involved in your case. However, if you have incurred a serious injury which you believe can hardly be settled in a bare negotiation, then you really have to file the claim in court for the proper disposition of the matter.

  • Prove the Offender’s Negligence and his Civil Liability – if you have already filed the claim in court, then it’s really your burden to prove the guilt of the offender and his liability for your injury. How? In civil case, it’s the preponderance or weight of the evidence that matters or can convince the juries to grant your prayer. But note that in some cases, the judgment of the court in criminal case is a factor in the civil one; thus, you should really prove the negligence or fault of the offender to be confident about the outcome of your case.

It’s really not easy to win a case like that of a personal injury claim, but if you are properly guided with the safe and efficient legal steps to do, nothing will complicate your fight for justice and in winning your motorcycle accident case!

About the Author:

Atty. Emery Brett Ledger is a nationally recognized Personal Injury Lawyer and the founder of The Law Offices of Ledger & Associates, one of California’s Leading Injury & Wrongful Death Law Firms. Atty. Emery Brett Ledger and his team are always ready to provide legal services to the victims of personal injuries such as truck accidents, aviation accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, train accidents, construction accidents and fatal accidents.

How to Identify Meningitis

By definition, meningitis is when the lining around the spinal cord and brain becomes inflamed as a result of the spread of infection. The swelling that occurs with this inflammation is the trigger for the notable signs and symptoms of meningitis. Early diagnosis and treatment of meningitis can avoid the onset of serious and lasting complications.

Symptoms of Meningitis

Because the initial symptoms for a meningitis infection can mimic cold or flu symptoms, it is easily mistaken for a mild infection rather than the serious one that it actually is. Symptoms of the infection can be rapid onset, such as within a matter of hours, or they may take one or two days to develop and become obvious.

Often included in the symptoms for meningitis are:

*high fever

*severe headache unlike a typical headache that has been experienced before

*nausea or vomiting with the severe headache

*stiff neck

*light sensitivity

*skin rash in some cases

*confusion (this can manifest as a lack of eye contact in very young babies)

*seizures

In very young children, from newborn to about 2 years of age, meningitis symptoms often include:

*constant crying and may cry even harder when picked up rather than being comforted

*excessive sleeping

*high fever

*bulging soft spot on the top of baby’s head

*stiffness in body and/or neck

*poor eating

*seizures

 

If you or someone you care about experiences a combination of any of the above symptoms or feel like you may have been exposed to meningitis in some way, it is important to seek medical attention. Any form meningitis requires immediate medical intervention in order to begin appropriate treatment quickly.

Identifying Meningitis

The doctor can determine if you or someone you love has a meningitis infection by taking a complete medical history, conducting a thorough physical exam and performing specific tests. These tests and procedures can include spinal tap to examine the spinal fluid, blood cultures and CT imaging of the head, sinuses and chest. If it is determined that meningitis is indeed present, a treatment plan that involves heavy duty medication typically given via IV in the hospital will be set up and administered. The exact treatment plan will depend upon the type of meningitis infection and how it has thus far affected the patient’s immune system. Most cases of the infection can be survived and recovered from if the medical treatment is prompt and correct to address the type of meningitis infection that is present.

The recent outbreak of meningitis in the United States has been discovered to be a fungal meningitis infection. This particular type of infection is not spread from person to person, but caused by the introduction of a fungus directly into the body via the blood stream. Contaminated steroid medications that were delivered via epidural injection are the current outbreak’s culprit, according to the Center for Disease Control. This means if you have not been given any steroid medications via epidural injection, then you are not at risk during this fungal meningitis outbreak. If epidural steroid injections are part of your medical treatment, contact your medical professional immediately for instructions, if you have not already been contacted.

 

This article was written by Megan Black on behalf of the S & S Legal Group. If you believe you have been affected by the meningitis outbreak, seek advice on your legal rights from a certified medical malpractice lawyer.

Two Homeless People Killed in Los Angeles by DUI Driver

October 29, 2012—Los Angeles, California—According to ABC News sources, two homeless people sleeping on a sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles were killed by a driver who is suspected to have been under the influence at the time of the accident.

Carmen Elena Chavez, 19, was driving a Mercedes-Benz east on Fourth Street just after midnight on Sunday when she ran off the roadway, hit a curb, and traveled onto the sidewalk. On the sidewalk, she struck two transient people and dragged them about 50 feet.  Both victims were pronounced dead by first responders to the scene.

At first, four people exited the car and ran from the scene.  However, Chavez and two other passengers returned and were arrested.  Chavez was charged with vehicular manslaughter and DUI and is being held on a $100,000 bond.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these two unfortunate victims.

Pedestrian Deaths are High in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has the highest rate of pedestrian accidents of any city in California.  According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Report, there were 195 pedestrian fatalities and 4,535 pedestrian injuries in Los Angeles County in 2010.  100 of those fatalities and 2,512 of the injuries took place in the city limits of Los Angeles.  Obviously, pedestrian injury and fatality in Los Angeles remains an issue that deserves consideration by officials and measured designed to protect the safety of walkers and bikers.

What Happened In This Accident

According to police sources, this driver was drunk at the time of the accident.  That means that she may face criminal charges for manslaughter for her role in the accident.  Further, since she initially fled the scene, she may face hit-and-run charges as well.  On the other hand, since she returned to the scene, a judge may be more lenient about the hit-and-run aspect of the case.

Liability Issues

If the initial assumption that the driver was drunk is true, then the driver will face liability for two wrongful deaths if the families of the victims decide to file a personal injury lawsuit.  This means that the driver may be liable for medical attention if any was given to the victims, funeral expenses, and payments for pain and suffering as well as punitive damages.  A Los Angeles wrongful death attorney can assess the case and help the families decide if a wrongful death suit is in order.

Why it is Important to Vaccinate Against Meningitis

Meningitis is a deadly disease that kills around eleven percent of those that contracts it.  Certain groups, mainly college students staying in dorm rooms, are at higher risk to contract meningitis than other groups, partially because of the close living conditions.  Thus, to prevent needless deaths and discomfort, it is very important to get meningitis vaccinations.

What Is Meningitis?

Surrounding the brain and spinal cord are membranes, called the meninges. If these membranes become inflamed, the condition is known as meningitis. There are two different types of meningitis; viral and bacterial.

Of the two types of meningitis, viral meningitis is much less severe, and those with normal immune systems often recover completely from it.  Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, is much more severe, and could possibly lead to the death of the individual.  Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine initially whether a person has been infected with the viral or bacterial form of the disease, as they display similar symptoms.

The general symptoms of meningitis include:

  • High fever
  • Extremely bad headaches
  • Stiff neck
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Seizures
  • Difficulty waking up
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Loss of appetite
  • Skin rash, usually in the case of viral meningitis

Of those that survive bacterial meningitis, around twenty percent have aftereffects. The aftereffects are permanent and sometimes debilitating, and can include such conditions as brain damage, the need for limb amputation, or hearing loss.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Ideally, everyone should get vaccinated against meningitis. In the United States, initial vaccinations against meningitis are included in a child’s routine shots. However, these vaccinations do not completely protect the child throughout their entire lives.

The Center for Disease Control, or CDC, recommends that all children between the ages of 11 and 16 receive two booster shots to help combat the disease.

Certain people and groups are more at risk of contracting meningitis than others.  These groups include:

  • Infants
  • College students living in dorms
  • Lab personnel
  • US Military Recruits
  • World travelers, especially those travelling to countries with a high incidence of meningitis
  • Those with a damaged spleen
  • Those with immune disorders
  • Those exposed to others with meningitis

Individuals in one of the aforementioned risk groups should definitely consider getting vaccinated for meningitis, and should make sure that they are up to date on their boosters.  The CDC has been concentrating efforts of late to spread the word to college students that they should get vaccinated.  Part of the reason for this is that, after the required rounds of vaccinations when a child is younger, parents rarely think to have their children 11 or older vaccinated.

Who Shouldn’t Get Vaccinated?

Despite the fact that vaccination is a good idea, there are certain individuals who should either wait to receive their vaccinations, or who shouldn’t get vaccinated at all.  In most cases, the vaccinations can be given at the same time as other vaccinations, though this is not true of children with sickle cell disease or without a working spleen.

Those who have had severe allergic reactions in the past to the vaccine should not get vaccinated. Pregnant women also shouldn’t be vaccinated.  If you are currently ill, you should likely wait for vaccination.

 

Katie Wilkes is a medical blogger with a keen interest in current medical cases. If you believe that you have been affected by the meningitis outbreak, seek advice from a certified personal injury lawyer on your legal rights.

GPS Truck Collisions

Trucking accidents involving commercial trucks and a bridge or overpass have been increasing in number within the last few years with many commercial truck drivers and commercial trucking companies blaming the increase on faulty commercial GPS systems.   Many of these accidents result in serious personal injuries or death.  In the New York City area alone over the last two years, there have been more than 200 incidents of trucks or buses colliding with low bridges or overpasses, many of which are blamed on faulty GPS directions.  In addition, according to the National Transportation Department, there were over 15,000 bridge strikes nationwide in 2010 alone, resulting in over 200 deaths and 3000 injuries, many resulting in personal injuries and wrongful death lawsuits.  Since over 80% of these occurred on roads that restricted or prohibited large commercial vehicle traffic, the issue of whether a faulty GPS reading was involved becomes even more relevant

Whose Is More At Fault?

Determining fault in personal injury cases caused by trucks colliding with bridges or overpasses due to faulty GPS instructions is tricky.  In most states, the majority of the blame still rests with the driver of the truck rather than the GPS manufacturer.  States such as New York are seeking legislation that will require GPS units used in commercial trucks be equipped with truck route information.  However, even in such states, the legislation would not require GPS units be installed in commercial trucks, only that they carry appropriate information if they are in use. In addition, the premise for blaming the driver more than the GPS manufacturer is that the driver is believed to be the ultimate authority on where and how the truck is driven.  While a GPS unit may tell a driver to follow a particular route, it is ultimately up to the driver to also take note of road conditions and street signs that warn of bridge and overpass heights and whether or not a particular road is a valid truck route. Another factor that is considered is whether the GPS unit is a generic consumer system or a commercial GPS made specifically for large trucks and other commercial vehicles.  Most commercial truck GPS devices contain and relay more complex information than other consumer GPS systems, information such as bridge clearances and what roads trucks should or should not be traveling on, information that a general consumer GPS system would not need to include.   However, even if the commercial GPS system that is supposed to relay accurate information about bridge heights and road restrictions did not provide accurate or updated information, the majority of the blame still lands on the driver of the truck.

What About the Trucking Companies?

In some scenarios, the trucking company may also have some liability in these collisions, depending on the employment relationship with the truck driver and how much influence the company has in deciding which GPS units to place in the trucks.  As the commercial GPS systems are more expensive to purchase, companies will sometimes try to cut costs by installing the more generic but less effective for trucks consumer GPS systems. Another factor in determining the trucking company’s liability in a personal injury case of this nature is whether the truck driver is a full employee of the company or an independent contractor and whether the truck is owned by the company or the driver.

Kat Williams is a personal injury law blogger. She knows that driving on the roads in any form of transportation is extremely dangerous, especially when biking in traffic. When injured in an accident due to other drivers or faulty equipment as a biker, seek legal help .

Street Racing is Cause of Deadliest U.S. Vehicular Accidents

(U.S. Law and generally) Speeding is the number two cause of U.S. traffic fatalities, second only to DUIs, and over 725,000 people will be injured each year as a result of a speeding driver. Street racing, sometimes referred to as drag racing, might not be the cause of a lot of these fatalities, but it has been the cause of some of the deadliest speeding related accidents in U.S. history.

Why is Street Racing so Deadly?

Most drivers who are involved in a street race will accelerate past the 100 mph mark, and this makes it extremely difficult for them to control their vehicles. Another very dangerous aspect of street racing is that it often takes places in areas that are heavily populated. Instead of going to a more rural area where the risk of injuring someone who is not involved in the race would be minimized, most street races are intentionally held in urban areas. Regardless of whether it is the thrill of getting caught or the addition of several obstacles, such as other cars, that causes this to happen, each willing participant in an urban street race is knowingly putting the lives of other people in danger.

The Deadly Consequences of Street Racing

There are countless examples of street racing gone wrong; one recent tragic accident took place in Miami, where one of the participants of a three car drag race lost control of his Toyota Scion after exceeding 100 mph. Alejandro Hernandez, the driver of the Scion, was thrown from his vehicle as a result of crashing into a Ford Expedition. Hernandez and two of the passengers in the Expedition were rushed to the hospital and listed in critical condition. The tragic accident also claimed the lives of two of the four family members who were in the Expedition, including a 15-year-old, and the 19-year-old passenger of the Scion.

This accident is a prime example of how quickly things can go wrong when drivers decide to participate in a street race. There is no amount of thrill seeking that can justify killing three people and seriously injuring two others, and Hernandez will have to deal with  the legal ramifications of all of these issues if he is able to recover from his own serious injuries. The fact that he was participating in a street race when he crashed his car is going to definitely be a major issue during his trial, and he will be charged with reckless driving in addition to a long list of other charges.

The Annual Death Toll

Although it is estimated that only 135 people die each year as a result of street racing, these are all deaths that are completely avoidable. According to our Miami car accident attorney, it is extremely common for the drivers to end up dying as a result of their participation in an illegal street race, but incidents such as the one in Miami also occur every year. It is tragic to consider that another driver can be completely following the rules of the road and have their life ended by the actions of an irresponsible street racer, but that is exactly what happens several times a year.

If you are tempted to participate in a street race, you should very carefully consider all of the potential consequences. After all, a couple of minutes of fun are never worth the risk of either dying or spending the rest of your life in jail.

Anthony Joseph is a freelance writer, and a contributing author for the Miami car accident attorney firm of Steinger, Iscoe & Greene. After you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you likely have a lot of questions—and you shouldn’t always count on the insurance company to tell you the entire truth about what you’re owed.  It’s always better to let an attorney explain your rights and options to you.