South Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

How Florida Courts Decide Who Is Responsible in Premises Liability Cases

Published on: July 19, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

When you slip, trip, or fall on someone else’s property, the question of who is legally responsible is not always straightforward. A recent Florida appellate court decision helps clarify how courts assign responsibility between property owners, property managers, and retail tenants. This case involved a Miami-Dade commercial property and focused on whether the parties in control of the premises responded appropriately to known dangers. Although the ruling does not create new law, it sheds light on how evidence is weighed and what facts can shift the outcome of a claim.

What Evidence of Knowledge and Control Can Impact Your Injury Case

In any premises liability case, one of the first questions is whether the person or company responsible for the property knew or should have known about the danger that caused the injury. That knowledge might come from customer complaints, maintenance logs, previous accidents, or visible signs of wear and tear. The court in this decision placed a heavy emphasis on notice, specifically what the property managers and affiliated businesses knew about the hazard, how long the condition had existed, and whether any action had been taken to correct it.

Florida Appeals Court Rejects Emotional Injury Claim Tied to Workplace Assault

Published on: July 11, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

A restaurant worker in Florida sued her employer after an on-the-job assault caused severe psychological distress. The claim focused solely on mental health injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, with no physical harm alleged. The worker argued that management failed to protect her from a known threat and framed her lawsuit as a negligence claim. The trial court allowed the case to move forward. However, the appellate court reversed course, ruling that any remedy would need to come through Florida’s workers’ compensation system.

Mental Health Claims at Work Face High Legal Hurdles

Florida workers’ compensation law provides coverage for job-related injuries. While it generally addresses physical harm, it does allow claims based solely on psychological injury in minimal situations. The law requires either an accompanying physical injury or proof that the psychological harm resulted from a shock so extreme it would cause emotional damage to an average person.

Wrong-Way Crash on Palmetto Expressway Kills Passenger and Raises Legal Questions

Published on: July 4, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

When a vehicle enters a highway going the wrong direction, the outcome can be devastating. That is exactly what happened in Miami last week, when the Florida Highway Patrol reported a deadly crash involving a wrong-way driver on the Palmetto Expressway near NW 122nd Street. The collision claimed the life of a 36-year-old passenger in the front seat of one of the cars. Investigators say a 2018 Chevy sedan entered the northbound lanes while heading south, slamming head-on into a 2022 Hyundai.

If your loved one was hurt or killed in a similar crash, you may be wondering who can be held legally responsible and how Florida law applies. These are not easy questions, especially in high-speed collisions that result in sudden and permanent loss.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Crash in Miami?

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Published on: June 30, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Motorcycle accidents often result in devastating injuries because riders have little to protect them from the force of impact. A recent crash in Broward County serves as a tragic reminder of how severe these accidents can be. In that collision, one rider lost a leg and part of an arm. Another suffered significant shoulder trauma. These injuries are far from rare. When motorcycles and cars collide, the human body takes the brunt of the damage.

Why Motorcycle Crashes Are So Dangerous

When you ride a motorcycle, you are exposed. There is no metal frame, no airbag, and no seatbelt. Even a crash at moderate speed can cause serious injuries. High-speed collisions, rollovers, or being thrown from the bike can lead to life-altering trauma. Unlike car crashes, where seatbelts and airbags provide some protection, motorcycle accidents leave riders vulnerable to the road, nearby vehicles, and hard surfaces.

Deadly Head-On Crash on U.S. 98 Highlights Dangers of Lane Departures

Published on: June 22, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a tragic head-on crash on June 21 along U.S. 98 near Pensacola. Early reports indicate a red Honda SUV veered into oncoming lanes and collided with a grey Kia sedan. The Honda’s 26-year-old driver was airlifted to Baptist Hospital but died shortly after arrival. The Kia’s 34-year-old driver declined hospital care at the scene. U.S. 98 remained partially closed for hours as troopers conducted a traffic homicide investigation and cleared the crash site

Why Head-On Collisions Are So Often Fatal

When a vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic at highway speed, the combined force can equal or exceed a crash into a stationary object at twice that speed. This explains why head-on impacts frequently result in serious injuries or death. Maintaining lane discipline and avoiding distractions are essential for highway safety.

Determining Fault After a Major Turnpike Crash in Palm Beach County

Published on: June 15, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Earlier this month, a major collision involving two SUVs, a minivan, and a semi-truck hauling vehicles sent 14 people to the hospital and closed all southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike near the Atlantic Avenue exit. These types of incidents often involve a chain of impacts and overlapping insurance claims, which makes early legal action critical for protecting your rights.

Florida’s comparative fault system means that each party’s degree of responsibility directly affects their ability to recover compensation. When several drivers, vehicles, or even commercial carriers are involved, the outcome depends on who acted negligently and how those actions contributed to the resulting injuries and damage. A delay in securing legal representation can make it more challenging to access evidence, speak with witnesses, or defend against unfair accusations.

Untangling Fault in Multi-Vehicle Collisions on Florida’s Turnpike

When a crash involves multiple vehicles, such as the recent Turnpike collision near Atlantic Avenue, sorting out who is legally responsible is rarely straightforward. Florida law uses a comparative fault model, meaning each party’s share of the blame reduces what they can recover. That matters when drivers, passengers, and even commercial carriers suffer injury or property loss in the same event. Insurance companies will often move quickly to assign responsibility in a way that minimizes their liability, even if it means misrepresenting how the crash occurred.

Miami Pedestrian Hit and Run Highlights Challenges of Seeking Justice Without an Identified Driver

Published on: June 13, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Hit-and-run accidents involving pedestrians continue to pose serious challenges for victims and families throughout South Florida. A recent early morning crash in Northwest Miami-Dade left one man in critical condition after a driver struck him near the intersection of Northwest 32nd Avenue and 95th Street, then fled without stopping to help. According to reports, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene shortly after 5 a.m. and began emergency care, but the driver responsible was already gone.

Pedestrian crashes are often severe due to the vulnerable position of the person hit. When the driver flees, the trauma is compounded by delays in treatment, lack of immediate accountability, and difficulties recovering compensation. These cases involve the initial harm caused by the impact and the emotional and financial toll of unanswered questions.

What Makes Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents So Legally Complicated

When a driver hits someone and remains at the scene, investigators can gather insurance information, interview the person involved, and piece together fault. In a hit-and-run, none of that is possible in the early stages. Without the at-fault party’s name, contact information, or insurance policy, victims are left in limbo. The damage has been done, but the path forward is unclear.

Orlando Crash Raises Questions About Wrongful Death Liability in Florida

Published on: June 12, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Tragedy struck earlier this month when two lives were lost in a violent two-car collision on Colonial Drive in Orlando. According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, the collision occurred near Hiawassee Road and involved a vehicle attempting a left turn into a parking lot. That car entered the path of an oncoming vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. The resulting crash left both occupants of the turning vehicle fatally injured, and the other driver was hospitalized.

Accidents like this are sudden and devastating. For the surviving families, the grief often mixes with confusion, financial pressure, and unanswered questions. In Florida, families who lose loved ones under such circumstances may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim.

What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death in Florida?

Under Florida Statutes Section 768.19, a wrongful death occurs when a person’s death is caused by the “wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty” of another. This can include fatal car accidents resulting from careless driving, improper turns, failure to yield, distracted driving, or any violation of traffic safety laws.

The right to file a wrongful death lawsuit belongs to the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. This representative acts on behalf of surviving family members, such as a spouse, children, or parents, who suffer emotional and financial loss as a result of the death.

When Hit-and-Run Drivers Cause Fatal Injuries in Miami

Published on: May 29, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

A recent hit-and-run crash in Miami took the life of a woman who was simply crossing the street. While the details continue to unfold, this tragedy highlights an issue that affects far too many families in South Florida. Hit-and-run collisions leave victims and loved ones not only coping with physical and emotional trauma but also searching for answers when the responsible driver disappears.

Florida law requires drivers involved in a crash to stop and provide information and assistance. When someone flees the scene—especially in cases involving serious injury or death—they violate both legal obligations and moral decency. For families left behind, the impact can be devastating.

Pedestrians Face Greater Risk on Miami Roads

Miami’s traffic patterns create heightened danger for those on foot. Busy intersections, poor lighting, and aggressive driving habits all contribute to the elevated risk. Many hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians occur late at night or in the early morning hours, when visibility is low and traffic enforcement may be limited. Alcohol, distraction, and speeding are common contributing factors.

Even when a pedestrian follows the rules—using crosswalks and waiting for signals—the actions of a reckless driver can end lives in an instant. The absence of protective barriers between a person and a fast-moving vehicle means any contact can lead to catastrophic injury. If the driver fails to stop, the delay in emergency aid can be fatal.

Miami Motorcycle Accident Raises Questions About Crash Risks and Insurance Coverage

Published on: May 19, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

A deadly multi-vehicle collision shut down a significant stretch of I-95 in Miami-Dade during morning rush hour, once again drawing attention to the dangers motorcyclists face on Florida roads. According to news reports, the crash occurred earlier this month around 3:12 a.m. near Northwest 103rd Street and involved a motorcycle and at least two passenger vehicles. Traffic was diverted at 125th Street and did not fully resume until nearly 9:15 a.m. While investigators are still reviewing the cause of the crash, the involvement of a motorcycle raises essential issues for victims and families navigating serious injuries or wrongful death.

Motorcycle accidents tend to result in more severe injuries than standard vehicle collisions. Riders have limited protection and are more likely to be thrown from the bike, suffer blunt force trauma, or sustain lasting disability. In Florida, the law provides options for injury victims to pursue compensation, but motorcycle claims can come with added legal challenges, especially when multiple vehicles are involved.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Are So Often Catastrophic

Motorcycles offer less physical protection than enclosed vehicles, making nearly every crash a high-risk event. Riders often suffer head injuries, broken bones, spinal cord trauma, or internal bleeding. The impact force can be life-altering or fatal, even when helmets and protective gear are used. The scene on I-95, where debris was scattered across both express and main lanes, reflects the violent nature of many bike crashes.