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Depending on the severity, car crashes can be devastating. If you have been injured in a car wreck, you could potentially recover a variety of damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage and more. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our highly skilled Miami car accident attorneys are committed to fighting for the rights of South Florida clients. When you hire us, you can rest assured that we will handle the legal details so you can focus on healing.

The Case

In Seminole Lakes Homeowner’s Association (HOA) v. Esnard, the court held that a HOA that creates conditions that lead to an accident does not necessarily mean the HOA will be liable for the accident when the condition created by the HOA did not directly lead to the accident.

In the case at hand, when facing a serious parking problem, the HOA allowed on-street parking, even though restrictive covenants required otherwise. The municipal code prohibited on-street parking that could interfere with the flow of traffic. Permitting on-street parking prevented two cars from traveling between vehicles parked on either side of the street.

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If highways and freeways are part of your daily commute, as is the case for many Americans, your chances of getting into a car accident are significant. If you or a loved one was injured in a highway accident, you are probably overwhelmed and may even be unsure of your next steps. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our knowledgeable Miami highway accident attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of South Florida clients by vigorously seeking the compensation they rightfully deserve for their injuries.

A serious accident on I-75 in Marion County sent a driver and passenger to the hospital after a semi truck landed on top of a car in a multi vehicle collision. The 18-wheeler, packed full of produce, had to be cut through to reach the car, which was trapped underneath.  Ultimately, the car door was cut through and the driver and passenger were rushed to the hospital with traumatic injuries. A crane was also brought to the scene so firefighters could search underneath the big rig to make sure no one else was trapped. The collision involved two tractor-trailers and three vehicles. The exact cause of the accident is still unknown.

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Bridges and overpasses are an essential part of Florida’s infrastructure as they connect different places and allow people to easily travel to various parts of the state. However, bridges are also often the sites of motor vehicle accidents. If you have been hurt in a car accident that took place on a bridge, you may be entitled to recoup damages for your injuries. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our highly reputable Miami car accident attorneys understand how to handle complicated auto accident claims and can apply our knowledge to building a strong case on your behalf.

Women Dies in a Single Car Accident on Buckman Bridge

A 27-year-old Middleburg woman recently died after a single-vehicle crash on the Buckman Bridge last week. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the woman was driving south on the bridge early in the morning when she lost control of her SUV, crossed all four lanes of the bridge and slammed into the inside barrier wall head on. She was rushed to the hospital where she died. FHP revealed that the woman was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The left and center lanes of the highway were blocked for several hours as law enforcement tended to the scene.

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Sadly, pedestrian accidents are far too common. If you have sustained an injury in a pedestrian accident, it is vital to contact a reputable Miami injury attorney who can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we know how a pedestrian accident can turn your life upside down in an instant. You can rest assured that we will examine the details surrounding your injury and create a custom legal strategy for your case.

Earlier this month, two people died in a fatal motorcycle accident that took place in Lee County. A 49-year-old man was operating the motorcycle when he hit a 70-year-old pedestrian who was trying to cross the street at the time. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), both the motorcyclist and pedestrian were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger on the motorcycle was transported to a local hospital to be treated for serious injuries. The FHP is currently investigating the accident.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 5,987 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2016. Data from Governors Highway Safety Association found that, in 2016, Florida ranked 2nd highest in terms of pedestrian fatalities at 3.22 per 100k population, right behind New Mexico, which had 3.45 deaths per 100k population. That same year, Miami-Dade had 83 pedestrian fatalities, putting it in the top ten counties with the largest number of pedestrian deaths in the country for 2016. Broward County also made the list with 67 pedestrian fatalities that year.

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When you open a bottle of wine or any other beverage, the last thing you expect to find inside is glass. Unfortunately, pebbles, glass, and other random objects in food and beverage products are more common than you may think. If you or someone close to you was injured by a foreign object in your food, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm. At our Law Offices, our Miami product liability attorneys can examine the facts of your case and help you understand your legal rights and options.

Last month, certain bottles of Florida wine were recalled for containing glass bits.

Seavin, Inc. announced a voluntary partial recall of select 750 milliliter glass bottles of its Lakeridge and San Sebastian wines because small grains or bits of glass were found in the bottles. The recall comes after testing related to the wine company’s production methods. The testing focused on a manufacturing defect affecting glass bottles used by Seavin in certain production runs. It is important to note that the affected bottles come from only one glass packaging manufacturer that supplies Seavin with its wine bottles. It is claimed that the risk to the public is extremely small because the number of bottles potentially containing pieces of glass is numerically insignificant.

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If you or your loved one has been injured by the negligence of a medical professional, we can help you pursue compensation for your injury. Medical malpractice cases are tough but you can take comfort in knowing that the highly skilled Miami medical malpractice attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you determine what happened and who is responsible.

The Case

In a recent opinion, the Supreme Court of Florida discussed the element of causation in Florida medical malpractice cases. The facts of the case are as follows. A woman went to the doctor after she noticed a large mass on the back of her head. The primary care physician told her it was a tumor and sent her to a surgeon. Instead of ordering a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, the neurosurgeon simply advised the patient that having surgery to remove the “tumor’ would be the best option. During surgery, the woman went into cardiac arrest and died. As it turns out, she had undiagnosed cardiac risk factors.

Her husband, the plaintiff, then filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital for damages alleging that the negligence of several doctors, including the anesthesiologist, was the direct cause of his wife’s death. Specifically, the plaintiff claimed that the anesthesiologist failed to identify abnormal test results during pre-operative clearance, which would have led to surgery being cancelled and the decedent would not have died.

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If you have been injured on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries through a premises liability lawsuit. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our highly skilled Miami injury attorneys have extensive experience handling premises liability cases and are prepared to vigorously advocate for your rights to get you the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Florida property owners have a legal obligation to make sure their property is in reasonably safe conditions so individuals who enter the premises are not injured. If the property owner fails to ensure the property is safe, he or she could be liable for any injuries that result from a property defect.

Under Florida law, property owners must exercise “ordinary care” to keep the property in a reasonably safe condition. Secondly, a property is required to warn guests of known dangers that may not be immediately apparent to the visitor. There is, however, one exception to this rule. Property owners have no duty to warn visitors of a danger that is “open and obvious.” In fact, this is a defense that can be used by the property owner in situations where a person claims the property owner’s failure to warn was the cause of injury.

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Unfortunately, motor vehicle accidents happen every day in Florida and across the United States. Many of these accidents take place because motorists fail to obey the rules of the road. If you’ve sustained an injury or lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we may be able to help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our reputable Miami auto accident attorneys are committed to getting South Florida clients the compensation and justice they deserve for their harm.

A Hardee County police officer was rushed to the hospital when a semi-truck sideswiped two police cruisers. The two police vehicles were pulled over looking into another accident when the truck crashed into the drivers’ sides of the cars. The door of one of the police officer’s cars was twisted all the way toward the hood. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is now trying to figure out the cause of the accident. It is unclear at this time whether the collision is a violation of Florida’s Move Over Law.

Florida Move Over Laws

Under Florida Statute 316.126, motorists are required to move over for stopped police cars, first responders, sanitation vehicles, utility service vehicles and tow trucks. If you cannot move over because you are on a one-lane highway, for example, you should reduce your speed down to 20 mph less than the posted speed limit. You should slow down to 5 mph when the posted speed limit is 20 mph or less. The Move Over Law was created because many police officers have been struck and killed while pulled over on the side of the road.

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If you have lost a loved one in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to sue the at-fault party. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we will examine the facts of your case and provide you with an honest evaluation of your claim. While no amount of money in the world can fill the void of losing your loved one, it can help cover some of your bills so you can focus on healing.

The Case

In Domino’s Pizza v. Wiederhold, the Fifth District Court of Appeal ruled that a surviving spouse who had married the decedent after the date of injury, which ultimately led to his death, was still eligible to recover damages as a statutory survivor under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act.

In this case, a couple was engaged when they got into a life-changing car accident in which the vehicle overturned several times before landing in a ditch. The man suffered such serious injuries that he was rendered a quadriplegic. The woman did not suffer any serious injuries. The man filed a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver as well as Domino’s and the franchisee owner.

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If you have been injured and you believe you cannot sue the at-fault party because you signed a liability waiver, you need to speak to a seasoned Miami injury attorney about your legal rights and options. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we understand that waivers are not always enforceable and will do our best to make sure you get the justice and compensation you deserve for your harm.

Many businesses require people to sign a liability waiver before allowing them to partake in certain activities. A liability waiver is a type of form that releases a party from liability for harm or damage that might take place under contract. In other words, the individual signing the contact “waives” his or her right to hold the other party liable for injury or losses. These agreements are common in a wide range of activities, from go karting to white water rafting. It is important to note that just because you signed a waiver does not necessarily mean you will be barred from suing in the event of an accident or injury. The general rule is that while waivers of liability can insulate businesses from liability of acts for negligence, they cannot insulate from gross negligence. A waiver may be unenforceable for a number of other reasons as well.

A Recent Florida Case Involving a Liability Release Waiver

A Florida appeals court recently discussed the parameters of a liability release waiver and if such an agreement could preclude a plaintiff from pursing a claim of gross negligence against the at-fault party. In this case, a woman signed a release and waiver of liability and assumption of risk agreement to access a restricted area of a speedway. During the race, she was killed when a tow truck backed over her. The plaintiff filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the speedway. The trial court found that the release agreement barred the lawsuit, finding that it only applied to gross negligence and pointed out that no gross negligence took place in this case.

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