GOLDLAW – West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyers, Car Accident, Slip & Fall – Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb

Tag: Auto Accident

  • How Do I Claim My Personal Injury Protection Benefits?

    How Do I Claim My Personal Injury Protection Benefits?

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is required in the state of Florida, and all drivers must carry this insurance coverage. We are often asked: How do I claim my personal injury protection benefits? And what exactly are my PIP benefits? We answer these questions and more below!

    Drivers in Florida Are Required to Have Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

    PIP insurance is necessary in Florida, and it covers $10,000 of qualifying medical costs (or more if you choose a greater level of coverage) associated with motor vehicle accidents. Drivers cannot choose to carry PIP; every registered vehicle in Florida must have PIP. Your children and any non-drivers injured in an accident are also covered by the insurance that’s in place for that vehicle.

    What is Covered by PIP?

    A successful PIP claim will cover medical bills and lost wages caused by the accident. Coverage isn’t linked to fault, so you’ll be covered no matter who was at fault for the accident.

    There’s a range of different costs that might be covered by your PIP insurance. That includes medical services, medication, surgery and other hospital costs, ambulance services, rehabilitation and diagnostics. In the event of death, things such as funeral costs will be covered by PIP. And 60% of lost wages up to $10,000 are covered, as well as the cost of completing tasks around the home that can’t be completed as a result of your injuries.

    Claiming PIP Benefits

    In order to claim PIP benefits, the treatment you received for the injuries sustained in the crashed must have happened within 14 days of the crash itself. When making a claim, it’s important to understand the coverage is capped at $2,500 for medical attention considered non-emergency.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1604527200331{margin-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column][templatera id=”5675092″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1604526215619{margin-top: 60px !important;}”][norebro_heading subtitle_type_layout=”bottom_subtitle” module_type_layout=”on_middle” title=”TW9yZSUyMEZyZXF1ZW50bHklMjBBc2tlZCUyMFF1ZXN0aW9ucyUyMEFib3V0JTIwUElQ” subtitle_typo=”weight~inherit” title_color=”brand”][vc_text_separator title=”Learn More From Our Articles and Blog” color=”custom” accent_color=”#c2903e” css=”.vc_custom_1604524201212{margin-top: 15px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][norebro_recent_posts post_category=”513″ card_layout=”simple” columns_in_row=”3-3-2-1″ posts_in_block=”12″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Motorcyclist Ryan Carter Killed After Being Repeatedly Run Over By Truck

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  • 17-Year-Old Bicyclist Dies After Being Struck by DUI BMW Driver

    [vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]A DUI manslaughter charge has been filed after 17-year-old Sophie Delott was killed while riding her bicycle Friday night, June 29.

    The tragic accident happened on the Indian Rocks Causeway Bridge, around 10:30 PM. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, 69-year-old Neil Singhal was headed west on the bridge when he suddenly veered into the bicycle lane, striking Delott. She was thrown from her bicycle and suffered life-threatening injuries. Emergency services personnel rushed her to a local hospital, where she later died.

    Singhal was uninjured, and troopers arrested him on DUI manslaughter charges.

    Delott was the only female football player at her high school, Seminole High School, and had recently enlisted in the Marine Corps.

    “Everything she did had nothing to do with wanting to be rewarded,” her football coach Chris Miller said. “It was always about everybody else with her.”

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  • FSU Student Natalie Nickchen Killed After Driver Runs Red Light

    Natalie Nickchen, a 19-year-old FSU student, died Thursday morning after being hit by a car in a pedestrian crosswalk.

    The accident happened on West Tennessee Street in Tallahassee. Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) officials say a driver, Ivey Green, 24, ran a red light and struck Nickchen, who was in the pedestrian crosswalk in the 1000 block of West Tennessee. Green will be issued “appropriate citations,” although the State Attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges.

    The FSU community was saddened by the news of Nickchen’s death.

    “The entire Florida State University family is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students, Natalie Nickchen, in a tragic accident on Tennessee Street earlier today,” said FSU President John Thrasher in a statement. “Any time we lose a young person at the beginning of a lifetime of promise, it is heartbreaking and profound. Our prayers are with Natalie’s family and friends. I encourage anyone in our community struggling with this loss to reach out for assistance.”

    The university’s statement went on to say that FSU’s University Counseling Center is available at 644-TALK (24 hours a day/7 days a week.) Students also can walk in to Counseling anytime between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. M-F without calling.

    Unfortunately, Florida is still the deadliest state for pedestrians, with 5,443 deaths in a ten-year span from 2008 to 2017. Orlando is the most dangerous city for pedestrians, with 656 deaths in that period. Older adults are more likely to be hit in a crosswalk or at an intersection than younger ones, although everyone is at risk.

  • Latoya Roundtree of St. Petersburg Killed By Impaired Driver Who Ran Red Light

    Latoya Roundtree of St. Petersburg Killed By Impaired Driver Who Ran Red Light

    On Monday, January 20, Latoya Roundtree died in St. Petersburg after an impaired driver ran a red light and crashed into her vehicle.

    According to St. Pete police, Arttonyo Lee Jr., 23, was under the influence and speeding when he ran a red light at the intersection of 18th Avenue South at 22nd Street South, about 9 PM.

    Speeding eastbound on 18th Avenue, Lee crashed into the passenger side of a vehicle driven by 38-year-old Latoya Roundtree. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

    Lee was treated for injuries then later arrested for vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, and violation of probation. According to police, he showed numerous signs of being impaired and results from blood tests are pending.

    Sadly, impaired driving is still the leading cause of fatal traffic crashes in Florida. In 2017, there were 5,125 alcohol-involved crashes in the state. Those included 350 fatalities.

    The highest number of drunk driving fatalities were in the 25-29 age group (31), followed by the 55-59 age group with 26 fatalities in 2017.

  • Jogger George Gage Struck and Killed By Impaired Pinch a Penny Delivery Driver in Tampa

    Jogger George Gage Struck and Killed By Impaired Pinch a Penny Delivery Driver in Tampa

    On Thursday, January 9, witnesses spotted a Pinch a Penny pool supply truck driving erratically and speeding down Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, shortly before it struck jogger George Gage, 70.

    Gage was thrown into the water, and bystanders jumped in to help, holding his head above water until rescuers arrived and were able to lift him out of the water. Gage was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

    “He was a faithful and active member of this church and he will be greatly missed,” Rev. Magrey deVega of Hyde Park United Methodist Church said in a statement. Friends remember Gage, a retired trust officer at Northern Trust, as a kind and generous person who often helped others in the community. He was married and had two children.

    Benjamin Douglas Ehas, 31, of Tampa, was identified as the driver of the Pinch a Penny truck. He was treated for injuries at a local hospital, then arrested on charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. Ehas admitted that he drank whiskey and smoked marijuana prior to the crash, according to the arrest report.

    According to investigators, Ehas had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.234, almost three times the level at which Florida law presumes impairment, 0.08.

    Witnesses told police that the Pinch a Penny truck appeared to be going 60 or 70 MPH in a 35 MPH zone, and was also swerving in and out of oncoming traffic right before the collision.

    Unfortunately, Florida leads the country in pedestrian traffic accident deaths, and many of those involve an intoxicated driver. According to the Florida Uniform Traffic Citation Statistics, there were 43,899 DUI charges filed in 2017. Although the numbers have dropped off since 2012, intoxicated drivers continue to pose a danger to others, including pedestrians.

    Commercial vehicles accidents that cause fatalities often involve large semi-trucks, but any commercial vehicle can cause an accident if the driver is impaired or distracted. One Large Truck Crash Causation Study found that about 3 percent of large truck accidents involve a driver’s use of alcohol or illegal drugs. Many companies that hire commercial vehicle drivers conduct background checks and pre-employment drug screenings.

  • Thomas Evans, Pedestrian, Killed by Motorist Trying to Avoid Site of Fatal Motorcycle-Truck Accident

    Two people are dead after a “chain reaction” crash on I-295 in Jacksonville, FL, Thursday night.

    State troopers say that around 10:40 PM, a motorcyclist, Emmanuel Luis Carmona, died after running into the back of a semi-truck. A second collision happened about two minutes later when Thomas Evans, 30, stopped his car and got out following the motorcycle accident. The driver of a Toyota Camry tried to avoid hitting the wrecked motorcycle and struck Evans. Both Evans and Carmona died at the scene. Neither driver was injured.

    If there was negligence on the part of one of the drivers or the auto manufacturer, Evans’ family may have grounds to move forward with a civil Wrongful Death case.

    The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. is dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and families that have suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. Our attorneys have more than 170 years of combined experience investigating and representing those who have suffered tragic loss or severe injuries.

    If you know a surviving family member of a person who was killed in an auto crash, please encourage them to give our firm a call immediately. The consultation is completely free, and there is no out-of-pocket cost to the family to hire us.

  • Two People Dead in Fiery Multi-Car Crash Caused by Semi Driver Rear-Ending Nissan

    A multi-car crash on US 27 in Lake County left two people dead on Friday afternoon, May 10.

    Florida Highway patrol says the driver of a semi truck failed to slow down and plowed into the back of a 2004 Nissan at US 27 and Lake Louisa Road. This led to a “domino effect,” when the Nissan was pushed into the back of a 2007 Ford pickup truck, which hit the back of a 2017 Ford SUV.

    The Nissan quickly caught on fire and was engulfed in flames when emergency services personnel arrived on the scene. Meanwhile, the semi overturn, sliding across the road and blocking the southbound lanes. The pickup truck and a 2019 Toyota both collided with the semi as well.

    The driver and passenger in the Nissan were both pronounced dead at the scene. People riding in the other vehicles were treated for minor injuries.

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  • Hit-and-Run Victim, Carlos Andres Gonzalez, Loses Leg After Mercedes Driver Hits Him, Leaves Scene of Accident

    Gonzalez was driving on the 9800 block of Northwest 116th Way when he had car trouble. He stopped and put his hazard lights on to warn other drivers, then got out of the car to see if he could fix the problem while waiting for assistance. According to authorities, he then saw a gray 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA coming toward him at a high rate of speed in the middle lane. He also told police it looked like the driver—later identified as Edward Vidal Paredes, 34—had his head down, as if he was texting or looking at his phone. Paredes looked up as he approached Gonzalez’ car and steered into another lane, hitting Gonzalez in the legs. He stopped and briefly walked toward Gonzalez, then quickly got back in his car and left the scene of the accident without offering any help to the injured man.

    Police later arrived to find Gonzalez lying in the street. First responders airlifted him to a nearby hospital, where they had to amputate one of his legs.

    Gonzalez’ sister told local media that Gonzalez lives in Columbia and is the father of twin sons. He is the sole provider for his family.

    Paredes turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday, May 22.

  • Local Champion Distance Runner Jose Laboy Fatally Struck by Car While Jogging

    Early on Monday morning, April 22, local champion distance runner Jose Laboy, 55, was out for his usual morning jog on Fair Green Road in West Palm Beach when a BMW M3 struck and killed him.

    The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) say that Laboy was jogging in the direction of the BMW around 5:35 AM. The BMW’s driver was 44-year-old Eric Banks, who later told officers that it was dark when he suddenly noticed Laboy jogging. According to the crash report, Banks also says he tried to swerve, but struck and killed the runner. After the crash, deputies say that Banks drove home, but later returned to the scene of the accident and called 911. At that point, deputies found Laboy dead in the grass.

    Laboy’s family members say he was in the habit of running in the area every morning.