Car Accident

How Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Really Works When You Need Treatment Now

Published on: January 2, 2026 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

After a car accident in Miami, you may expect the at-fault driver’s insurance company to start paying your medical bills right away. In Florida, that is not usually how it works. Florida follows a “no-fault” system for many motor vehicle accidents, which means your first source of coverage is often your own insurance, even when someone else clearly caused the crash. This rule surprises a lot of people, especially when the pain hits later that day and you realize you need care now, not weeks from now.

If you are searching for a Miami motor vehicle accident lawyer or a Miami personal injury lawyer to help you sort this out, it helps to understand what no-fault actually means, what Personal Injury Protection covers, and where people run into problems when they try to get treatment.

What “No-Fault” Means in Florida

Workers’ Compensation Denials in Florida and the Fastest Ways to Fight Back

Published on: December 14, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Getting hurt at work can turn your life upside down fast. You are trying to manage pain, keep your job, and figure out how you are supposed to pay bills while you heal. When you report the injury and then receive a denial from the insurance carrier, it can feel like the system is telling you that your injury does not count. In Florida, denials happen more often than workers expect, and they are not always a sign that your claim is weak. If you are looking for a Miami workers’ compensation lawyer to help you respond, understanding why denials happen and what steps come next can help you regain control.

What a Workers’ Compensation Denial Really Means

A denial usually means the insurance carrier is refusing to pay some part of your claim. That can include medical care, lost wage benefits, mileage reimbursement, or authorization for a specific specialist or procedure. Sometimes the carrier denies the entire claim. In other cases, benefits start and then stop after an appointment, a change in work status, or a new medical report. The important point is this: a denial is not the final word. Florida’s workers’ compensation system gives you options to challenge the decision, but you need to act with purpose.

Why “Minor” Rear-End Accidents Can Still Cause Serious Injuries

Published on: December 9, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Rear-end collisions are often brushed off as minor inconveniences, especially when the vehicles involved show limited visible damage. You might hear comments like “it was just a tap” or “the cars barely look damaged.” In reality, rear-end accidents regularly cause injuries that linger for months or even years. If you were hit from behind in Miami traffic, it is important to understand why these crashes are taken seriously in personal injury claims and why your symptoms deserve medical and legal attention.

Why Rear-End Crashes Are So Common in Miami

Miami’s roads are crowded, fast-paced, and unpredictable. Sudden stops, aggressive driving, distracted drivers checking phones, and stop-and-go traffic all increase the risk of rear-end collisions. Even attentive drivers can be struck without warning when the vehicle behind them fails to slow down in time. Because these crashes happen so frequently, insurance companies often treat them as routine, even when the injuries are anything but.

What Happens When a Crash Involves a Rental Car in Florida

Published on: December 3, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Rental car accidents create confusion even for people who have been through a crash before. In Miami, where tourism, business travel, and temporary vehicle use are constant, rental car collisions are especially common. If you are injured in one of these crashes, figuring out who pays for medical care, vehicle damage, and lost income can feel overwhelming from the start.

Why Rental Car Accidents Are More Complicated Than They Appear

A rental car accident often involves more than one insurance policy. The driver may have personal auto insurance. The rental company may offer optional liability coverage. A credit card may provide limited protection. Each of these policies has different rules, exclusions, and limits, and insurance companies frequently argue over which policy applies first.

Wrong-Way Car Crash in Florida Highlights Legal Questions After Fatal Collisions

Published on: October 31, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

A tragic head-on crash in Florida drew national attention this month after an 18-year-old driver traveling the wrong way struck another vehicle, killing herself and leaving a 21-year-old father with severe injuries. The collision, reported by People.com on October 23, 2025, occurred on a divided highway late at night, underscoring the continuing danger of wrong-way driving across the state. Every year, dozens of Florida families face similar loss or catastrophic injury when a driver crosses into oncoming lanes.

When wrong-way crashes occur, victims and surviving families often face complex liability questions. Determining responsibility involves more than showing which car entered the opposing lane. Investigators must evaluate roadway design, signage visibility, lighting, and whether alcohol, fatigue, or distraction played a role. For those left behind, understanding the civil remedies available under Florida law is an essential first step toward recovery.

Legal Responsibility in Wrong-Way Collisions

Florida Rental Car Accidents And Your Rights With A Skilled Injury Attorney

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

Tourists and business travelers drive Florida roads every day, which means rental cars show up in a high number of crashes. If a rented vehicle hits you, you likely wonder who pays and how to hold the right party accountable. Florida law handles vehicle ownership in a distinctive way, so you should act quickly and speak with an attorney who understands these cases. You can call Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada to discuss your options and protect your claim.

Why Rental Car Crashes Create Unique Legal Questions

Florida follows the dangerous instrumentality doctrine, which generally holds vehicle owners responsible for harm caused by someone they allow to drive. That rule sounds straightforward until a rental company enters the picture. A federal law known as the Graves Amendment shields rental companies from vicarious liability when a renter causes a crash. That protection does not cover every situation, though, which opens important paths for injured people to pursue recovery.

When A Rental Company Can Still Be Held Accountable

The Graves Amendment does not block claims for a company’s own negligence. If a rental agency knowingly rented a car with faulty brakes, ignored a tire recall, skipped required maintenance, or failed to remove a vehicle with open safety defects, that conduct may form the basis of a direct negligence claim. Claims may also arise from negligent entrustment, such as handing keys to someone who lacked a valid license or showed obvious signs of impairment at the counter. Each of these theories depends on proof, so preserving records and securing witness statements matters from day one.

Pedestrian Killed On Bee Ridge Road

Published on: October 17, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

A deadly car vs pedestrian crash shut down Bee Ridge Road near Beneva Road on the morning of September 26, 2025. Reports indicate a 19-year-old driver traveling east struck a 76-year-old man who was crossing the eastbound lanes. Emergency responders pronounced the pedestrian deceased at the scene, and the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit opened an investigation. If you walk in Florida, this loss underscores the risks you face and the rights you can exercise after a serious collision. This guide explains liability, insurance, and the steps you should take to protect against a claim.

Florida Pedestrian Accident Liability And How Fault Is Decided

Florida law requires drivers to use reasonable care, remain alert for pedestrians, and yield to pedestrians lawfully occupying a crosswalk. Investigators evaluate key facts to determine fault, including lane position, signal phases, driver speed, lighting and weather, visibility of signage, and whether either party violated traffic rules. You should know that Florida applies modified comparative negligence to most negligence claims. If a jury finds you 50 percent or less at fault, you can still recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, recovery for pain and suffering is barred. Careful investigation often changes early assumptions about who bears responsibility.

Miami I-95 Crash Near Ives Dairy Road Highlights Dangers Of Highway Collisions

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

On Monday morning, a serious accident brought traffic to a standstill on I-95 near Ives Dairy Road. According to reports, multiple vehicles were involved in the crash, which caused significant delays for drivers in Miami-Dade County. Emergency crews worked to clear the scene, but the collision raised concerns for motorists who travel one of South Florida’s busiest stretches of highway.

For you and your family, this incident is a reminder of how quickly an ordinary commute can turn into a life-changing event. Multi-vehicle crashes often result in serious injuries, complicated insurance claims, and disputes over fault. Understanding your rights after a collision like this one is essential to protecting your health and your financial stability.

Why Highway Accidents Create Severe Risks

Highways like I-95 carry thousands of cars, trucks, and motorcycles every day at high speeds. When one driver makes a mistake, the results can be devastating. Collisions on these roads often involve multiple vehicles, chain-reaction impacts, and rollovers. The force of impact can cause traumatic injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord damage, and internal bleeding.

Florida Jury Finds Tesla Liable in First Autopilot Fatality Case

Published on: September 10, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

A federal jury in Miami recently held Tesla responsible for a portion of a fatal 2019 crash involving its Autopilot driver-assist system. The driver crossed a T-intersection at approximately 60 mph and struck a parked SUV, killing a pedestrian and seriously injuring her companion. Though the driver admitted negligence, the court found that Tesla’s Autopilot design and failure to warn contributed significantly to the outcome. The jury awarded more than $240 million in damages, including $200 million in punitive damages and over $43 million in compensatory damages. Tesla plans to challenge the verdict on appeal.

This case marks the first time a U.S. jury has held Tesla accountable in a deadly crash where its automated system played a role. The decision raises weighty questions for vehicle manufacturers about design responsibility and user warnings in driver-assistance technologies.

Why This Verdict Matters to Anyone Injured by Technology

Tesla’s liability in this case shows that corporations may be held accountable for technology failures, not just driver error. If you were hurt in a crash involving semi-autonomous or driver-assist systems, you may be entitled to compensation. Courts may weigh whether manufacturers provided adequate safeguards, warnings, and constrained system use to appropriate road types.

Your claim may involve product liability, wrongful death, or negligence. Gathering evidence about device limitations, internal company communications, driver alerts, and regulatory warnings becomes crucial. Expert analysis of the system’s decision-making and failure points can support arguments that the company acted with reckless disregard for user safety.

What Types of Evidence May Strengthen a Claim Involving Driver-Assist Features

When a crash involves advanced systems like adaptive cruise control or lane-keeping assistance, the investigation must go beyond traditional accident reports. Police findings remain useful, but deeper insight comes from accessing diagnostic logs, Autopilot metadata, and sensor activity at the time of the incident. For example, internal data may show whether the system detected the hazard and failed to act, or whether it disengaged properly. In some recent cases, forensic engineers retrieved video evidence that contradicted earlier statements by the vehicle manufacturer, revealing system awareness of risk before impact occurred.

Miami Hit-and-Run Incident Highlights Rights of Pedestrian Victims

Published on: September 3, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

If someone you love was struck and killed by a driver who then fled the scene, you may feel overwhelmed by grief and uncertainty. Florida law offers clear paths to civil remedies even when authorities have yet to identify the suspect.

Recent reporting on a fatal hit-and-run in northwest Miami-Dade underscores the legal risks and possibilities for families in similar situations. Passersby discovered the victim near Seventh Avenue and 115th Street in the early morning hours. The driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Authorities continue searching for the suspect, while surviving family members now face the long process of pursuing civil justice.

How Florida Law Protects Families After Fatalities Involving Fleeing Drivers

Florida negligence laws allow wrongful death claims when unintended harm results from another party’s dangerous behavior. In hit-and-run cases, the driver’s decision to flee rather than render aid can reinforce the severity of civil liability. You can seek compensation for funeral costs, lost income, emotional trauma, and loss of companionship, even if no criminal charges are currently pending.