Bagen Law Blog

Millions of accidents occur every year. No one expects to get into a car accident, so when an accident happens to you, it is all too easy to forget what you should do in the moments and days afterward⁠—especially if you were seriously injured in the accident.

If you have been involved in a car accident, you need to know about PIP insurance. PIP, or Personal Injury Protection, is the generic phrase used in Florida to describe the medical and wage coverage available for the policyholder and others to pay medical bills and lost wages after you have had a car accident.

One very important thing to consider when in the market for a new vehicle is its safety rating. Crash tests are done on most of the vehicles sold in America each year; these tests are what the safety ratings are based upon. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), is a nonprofit research organization that performs several types of crash tests on vehicles.

A car accident can upset your life, and an accident involving a fatality is especially tragic.

Fatal Crash Totals

DUI’s are never pleasant to experience, but that holds even more true when fatalities are involved. The impacts of a DUI can be very far-reaching and Jeffrey Lee Ertle, 41, learned that the hard way.

Getting behind the wheel is always a gamble. Even perfect drivers can get seriously injured in an accident through no fault of your own. A recent crash on I-75 in Gainesville demonstrates just how dangerous driving can be, even under safe conditions.

Operating a motor vehicle is a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. Motor vehicles are a normal part of our everyday life, but when operated in a reckless manner, they can be as dangerous as any weapon. Recently in the news, a Canadian jury in Montreal found a motorist guilty on two counts of criminal negligence causing death. In Canada, this conviction can carry up to a maximum life sentence in jail.

Early Saturday morning, a single vehicle accident resulted in the death of a 20 year old woman from Silver Springs Shores.  Kendall Sidle’s vehicle veered off the road and onto the shoulder as she was traveling east on Southeast 110th Road.  After veering off the road for unknown reasons, Kendall overcorrected in an attempt to get back onto the road, and as her tires dug into the ground, her vehicle overturned and ejected her from the vehicle.  Kendall was not wearing her seatbelt.

It is always important to be very conscientious when driving in inclement weather. An issue that may ordinarily be small can cause a big disaster. Good driving habits in harsh weather are necessary to avoidaccidents for short or long trips. Whether you're a driver of a motorcycle, big rig or anything in between, reviewing safety information is a good idea for drivers of all ages. Inclement weather should not be taken lightly.

As we drive up and down I-75 on our daily commutes, we see far too many accidents happening. Unfortunately, many of those accidents are ending in fatalities. In 2010, Florida’s stretch of the national interstate was voted as the 15th deadliest highway in the country. Gainesville and other central Florida drivers have been demanding for modifications to be made to I-75 and sadly, it has taken a countless amount of accident victims to really steer attention towards the issue. The imperative question on the minds of all of Florida’s I-75 drivers is … what is being done to solve the problems with I-75?