Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Distracted Driving Bill Rejected by Florida Senate
A bill introduced in the Florida Legislature that would have increased penalties for distracted driving was recently rejected by the Senate. The bill in question, known as House Bill 33, was passed by the House with only two dissenting votes and was even endorsed by the governor. Despite the high number of the bill’s… Read More »
Hit-and-Run Accidents with Uninsured Motorists
Florida law requires drivers to carry liability insurance of at least $10,000 for personal injury protection and another $10,000 for property damage. Unfortunately, despite this requirement, many drivers fail to purchase such a policy. This puts anyone else who is on the road at risk of sustaining an uncompensated injury in the event of… Read More »
Car Accidents Caused by Medical Conditions
When people think about car accidents, they often imagine a driver losing control of his or her vehicle as a result of speeding or otherwise violating a traffic law. While it is true that this type of negligent and reckless conduct does lead to thousands of car accidents every year, a surprising number of… Read More »
Dram Shop Liability
Those who are injured in accidents caused by a drunk driver can collect compensation from the at-fault party to cover past and future medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. While many people are aware of this option, few know that the injured party may also be able to hold third… Read More »
Dog Bite Liability in Florida
While animal attacks may not seem to occur that often, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) actually estimates that as many as 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. These statistics are alarming, as dog bites come with a series of specific dangers, including disease and infection, the treatment of… Read More »
Proving that Your Crash was the Result of Distracted Driving
Although most people know that distracted driving causes a significant number of car accidents every year, few are aware of how often they actually occur. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), distracted driving causes around one in five car crashes. This is also true for Florida, where the… Read More »
Intersection Accident Causes
Although car accidents can pretty much happen anywhere and at any time, some of the most serious crashes occur in intersections. Commonly referred to as T-bone accidents, these types of collisions can have devastating consequences for the parties involved, as injuries tend to be particularly severe. Demonstrating fault in these types of cases can… Read More »
Assumption of Risk Claims
Defendants can raise a number of different legal defenses on their behalf when they are accused of negligently causing someone else’s injuries. One of the most commonly asserted defenses, especially in cases involving sports injuries is the assumption of risk doctrine. Under this doctrine, plaintiffs cannot collect damages from the at-fault party if they… Read More »
PIP Law Reexamined by Florida Legislature
A recently introduced statute that would repeal Florida’s longstanding no-fault insurance system has cleared another legislative hurdle, as the House’s version of the bill was recently approved and sent to the Senate. However, both the House and the Senate are sponsoring two different versions of the bill, which could complicate the issue, as the… Read More »
The Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine
Thousands of car accidents occur on Florida’s roads and highways every year. In many of these cases, the driver’s insurer will cover all injuries and financial losses caused by the accident. However, this coverage may not apply if the vehicle isn’t owned by the person who was driving at the time of the crash…. Read More »
