Resources
Understanding Auto Accident Wrongful Death Claims
Car Accidents Caused by Reckless Drivers
Injured in an Auto Accident? The Other Driver May Not Be the Only One Responsible
In Florida, there are approximately 400,000 auto accidents every year. This translates to nearly 1,100 accidents every single day. While the vast majority of these accidents are due to driver negligence (such as speeding, running red lights, and texting behind the wheel), various other non-driver-related factors can potentially cause and contribute to auto accidents as well.
Hit-and-Run Auto Accidents in Florida
Update on Florida’s Texting While Driving Bill
Can I File a PIP Claim if I Was Injured in a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?
Florida Ranks 44th in Road Safety, 40th Overall in NSC’s State of Safety Report
Seeking Financial Compensation After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Florida
What is Different About an Auto Accident Claim Involving a Commercial Vehicle?
Stacking Your Auto Insurance Can Increase Your Financial Recovery After an Accident
Holiday Season Vehicle Collisions: Accident Risks, Accident Rates and Your Right to Compensation
When is Someone Too Tired to Drive?
What are My Rights if I Was Hit by Someone in a Rental Car in Florida?
Florida’s roads are filled with rental cars. Destin and other beach destinations along the panhandle’s coast host out-of-state visitors during all months of the year, and many of these visitors arrive by rental car via I-10 or US-98.
Are You Entitled to Compensation? 10 Common Causes of Premises-Related Accidents
Motorcycle Crash Statistics from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Determining Liability in a Multi-Vehicle Accident
Are You Thinking about Accepting an Auto Insurance Settlement? Read This First
Report: Auto Accidents “Typical of Texting and Driving” are On the Rise in Florida
7 Facts About Your Personal Injury Claim After a Car Accident in Florida
3 Types of Insurance Coverage for Auto Accident Victims in Florida
Do You Need to Pay Taxes on Your Personal Injury Settlement?
What Does Florida’s “No Fault” Insurance Law Mean for Your Car Accident Claim?
Auto Accidents Increase During the Holiday Season
Proposed Texting-While-Driving Bans Die in Florida Legislature
Seeking Compensation for Bone Fractures from Motorcycle Accidents
Seeking Financial Compensation After a Weather-Related Auto Accident in the Florida Panhandle
New Florida Law Enhances Insurance Requirements for Uber and Lyft Drivers
On May 9, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a new law that requires ridesharing drivers to carry insurance above and beyond the state’s standard minimum requirements, and that requires ridesharing companies to perform background checks on drivers operating in the state. Known as the “Uber / Lyft Bill,” the law also requires ridesharing companies to adopt “zero-tolerance” policies on drug and alcohol use, and to promptly suspend any drivers suspected of driving under the influence pending an investigation.
Summer Driving Risks and Accident Liability in the Florida Panhandle
5 Important Considerations for Settling an Auto Accident Claim
Spring Break Means Increased Risk for Auto Accidents
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
What Types of Evidence are Available in Car Accident Injury Claims?
Third-Party Liability in Single-Vehicle Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents: What if the Driver Who Hit You Was Uninsured?
Florida Legislators Seeking to Crack Down on Texting-and-Driving
In Florida, texting behind the wheel is what is known as a “secondary offense.” This means that the police cannot pull a driver over because he or she is texting. If a driver is committing another offense (such as speeding) while texting, then the police can issue tickets for both offenses. However, texting alone currently is not enough to get a dangerous driver to the side of the road.
Can I Seek Compensation if I Was Speeding When My Accident Occurred?
When you are injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to seek financial compensation for your losses. This is the general rule in Florida and other states around the country. Drinking and driving, texting behind the wheel, weaving in and out of traffic, speeding – these are all examples of negligent driving that can support claims for just compensation.
Auto Accident Trends in Okaloosa County, FL
Each year, there are hundreds of thousands of auto accidents in Florida. These accidents lead to hundreds of thousands of injuries, and they kill thousands of drivers, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Florida Ranks Highest in Nation in Motorcycle Fatalities
2016 Florida Vehicle, Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Statistics
Florida sees more than its fair share of auto accidents. For many years, the Sunshine State has held the distinction of having one of the highest car crash rates in the nation, and since 2014 Florida has seen the steepest increase in accident-related fatalities of any state nationwide. While the National Safety Council estimates that fatal accident rates have increased 18 percent nationwide over the last two years, Florida’s rate has increased by an almost unbelievable 43 percent.
Common Types of Car Accidents Involving Driver Negligence
Most car accidents involving multiple vehicles are the result of driver negligence. From texting and driving to being drunk behind the wheel, all types of mistakes can lead to all types of dangerous collisions.
Florida Police Use Cellphone Data to Track Hit-and-Run Driver
Motorcycle Safety Can Reduce (But Not Eliminate) Risk of Injury
Florida Car Accident FAQs
Following a car accident, you need to make smart decisions about protecting your legal rights. To help you get started, our attorneys have provided answers to a number of frequently-asked questions (FAQs). For legal advice about your situation, we encourage you to contact us promptly for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Driver Fatigue is a Common Cause of Truck Accidents
Federal regulations permit commercial truck drivers to spend up to 11 consecutive hours behind the wheel and up to 70 hours driving over the course of an 8-day period. That is a lot of driving, much of which is done at night and on long, monotonous stretches of highway. Furthermore, research has shown that many truck drivers exceed the federal “hours of service” limitations, spending even more time behind the wheel.
The Dangers of Texting Behind the Wheel
Texting behind the wheel is a major problem in Florida and around the country. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), on average, distracted drivers injure more than 1,000 people every single day, and texting is widely recognized as one of the most prevalent forms of distracted driving.
Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident in Florida
When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, in many ways, the odds are stacked against you. As a result, to make sure you are able to collect the compensation you deserve, you need to protect yourself as much as possible.
Three Reasons Not to Deal with the Insurance Companies on Your Own
If you have been injured in a car accident, you are not alone in wondering, “Should I hire an attorney to represent me?” or “Should I just try to deal with the insurance companies on my own?”
Will We Soon Be Seeing Driverless 18-Wheelers?
As recently reported in the Wall Street Journal, a new Silicon Valley startup led by one of the founders of Google’s self-driving car program is aiming to retrofit existing 18-wheelers with autonomous driving technology. Other companies are already in the process of developing the technology to role new self-driving heavy trucks off of the assembly line.
Your Rights as the Victim of a Drunk Driver
Each year, drunk drivers kill hundreds of innocent drivers and passengers in Florida and they leave thousands more victims suffering from serious, and often life-changing, injuries. As someone who has been injured in a drunk driving accident or who has lost a loved one to the negligence of a drunk driver, you have rights, and it is important for both you and the community as a whole that you stand up for those rights in court.
Victims’ Rights in Collisions Involving Commercial Vehicles
In most car accidents, victims recover their losses through the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The at-fault driver’s auto insurance coverage will often be sufficient to provide full compensation (provided that the insurance company agrees to pay what the victim is owed); but, in some cases, a victim’s losses will exceed the amount covered by the at-fault driver’s policy.
What Are My Rights if I Was Partially at Fault in a Collision
When you are injured in an accident that is clearly 100 percent someone else’s fault, as long as you don’t delay or make other mistakes that could jeopardize your claim, the law entitles you to recover financial compensation for your accident-related losses. But, what if you were 10 percent at fault, or 50 percent, or even 90 percent? How do you even know how much blame to assign to each person involved in the accident?
Can You Seek Financial Compensation for Whiplash?
Whiplash is a serious and potentially long-term injury that is common in car accidents and other types of vehicle collisions. If you have experienced symptoms of whiplash after an accident in which someone else was to blame, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Were You Injured in an Accident During Bike Week?
Are You Entitled to Compensation? 10 Common Car Accident Claims
If you have been injured in a car accident, it can be difficult to know whether you are entitled to compensation for your losses. In many cases, figuring out exactly what happened can be a challenge, and getting a clear picture of your legal rights may require a thorough investigation.
What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Florida
Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents are a persistent problem in Florida. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that there were more than 92,000 hit-and-run crashes in Florida in 2015, with 186 of these accidents resulting in fatalities. This means that hit-and-run drivers in Florida killed someone roughly every other day.
Research Finds Increased Risk of Accidents After “Springing Forward” for Daylight Saving Time
For many people, the start of Daylight Saving Time signals the unofficial start of Spring. This year, Daylight Saving Time started on March 13, 2016, and here in the Florida Panhandle we experienced Spring-like temperatures in the 60s and 70s.
I Was Injured in an Accident. What Now?
It happened. You were injured in an accident. Maybe someone rear-ended you, you fell on a slippery floor, or your neighbor’s dog attacked you. Whatever happened, it happened, and now you are left to deal with the consequences. So, what do you do? How do you recover your medical expenses (and other losses) and protect your legal rights?
Distracted Driving May Be Just as Dangerous as Drunk Driving
We all know that distracted driving is extremely dangerous. In the time that it takes the average person to read a text message or dial a phone number, a vehicle traveling at highway speeds can more than cover the distance of an entire football field. With researchers estimating that roughly 660,000 drivers are using their phones while behind the wheel at any given moment in time during the day, this means that distracted drivers are covering thousands upon thousands of miles without paying attention to the road.
Getting Your Bike Back: Property Damage in Motorcycle Accidents
If your motorcycle was damaged in an accident, it is important to understand the options that are available for recovering the costs to repair or replace your bike. As with claims for personal injuries, most property damage claims are resolved through insurance. However, different rules apply to property claims, and will you need to know which insurance company (or companies) to work with in order to secure maximum compensation.
2016 is Off to a Rough Start for Florida Drivers
By many accounts, 2015 is expected to have been one of the deadliest years in recent memory for drivers and passengers in Florida and throughout the country. By the middle of the year, the number of traffic-related fatalities was on pace to set the highest annual mark since 2007. While we are still awaiting the final national data, we now know that there were 2,604 fatal accidents in Florida in 2015. This is higher than the number each year from 2011 through 2014.
Product Liability: Can Your Car Cause an Accident?
In most cases, car accidents result from driver negligence. Whether speeding, drinking and driving, or texting behind the wheel, failure to meet the standard of care that all motorists owe to one another can have serious consequences – including life-changing and sometimes fatal injuries. When this happens, injured drivers and passengers can seek compensation for their losses by filing a lawsuit for personal injury or wrongful death.
Bad Faith: When Your Insurer Won’t Pay for Your Personal Injury
If you have suffered injuries that are covered under your insurance policy, your insurance company has a legal duty to pay you according to the terms of your policy. Your policy is a legally-binding contract, and under Florida law, your insurance company must meet its contractual obligations in good faith.
Non-Economic Damages: Pain and Suffering After a Motorcycle Accident
When you suffer serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, your financial losses will typically include property damage, medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages and maybe even the cost of paying someone to do things (like mow your lawn) that you would ordinarily be able to do on your own. However, in addition to these financial losses, you may also suffer what is known in legal terms as “pain and suffering.”
When Big Trucks Cause Car Accidents: Going Up Against Commercial Lawyers
In a typical car accident case, if the other driver was negligent in causing your injuries, your attorney will file a claim against his or her insurance company. There are other possibilities – such as when a vehicle defect contributes to the accident – but in most cases auto accident claims are resolved through a settlement or litigation with the negligent driver’s insurer.
Overcoming Bias: Standing Up for Motorcycle Accident Victims
The Owner’s Fault: Strict Rules About Florida Dog Bites
If you are injured in a dog attack, do you know your legal rights? Florida’s dog bite law is more favorable to victims than similar laws in other states, and as a result dog bite victims were able to recover $5.6 million in financial compensation in 2014 alone.
Hurt on The Job: Your Employer’s Responsibilities
Determining the Costs Associated With Car Accident Injuries
Slip and Fall: Who Is Responsible for Your Injury?
Auto Accidents: When The Other Driver Claims You Contributed
Distracted Driving: When Texting Causes a Car Accident
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident: Tips for Your Claim
Motorcyclists face serious harm when involved in an accident. Exposure to the road and other vehicles, combined with a smaller profile than cars, can lead to serious injuries and property damage. If you or a loved one is in a wreck, contact a Niceville motorcycle accident lawyer at Powell, Powell & Powell for help with your claim.
Going After Drunk Drivers: How Car Accident Lawyers Help
Drinking and driving is never an acceptable situation, but the truth is it happens all over Florida every day. Many of these drunk drivers cause accidents that are not just costly in terms of property damages, but are also costly — or deadly — in terms of physical injuries.
Strict Liability: How Florida Personal Injury Law Protects Victims
Florida law provides a variety of rules for how the courts approach personal injuries. However, certain injuries are considered "cut-and-dried." The responsibility for such injuries is placed solely on one party under the doctrine of strict liability. These cases usually include injuries incurred from a dog bite or product defect.
Wrongful Death Claims: When a Motorcycle Accident Kills a Loved One
If your loved one was involved in a motorcycle crash that resulted in his or her death, you may find yourself on the verge of collapse. The shock, grief and other emotions may cause you to shut down mentally, but it’s crucial to begin working with an attorney immediately. At Powell, Powell & Powell, we offer our condolences for your loss and invite you to contact a Destin motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm.
Catastrophic Injury: Why You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
No one rides a motorcycle expecting the worst to happen, but even with the most vigilant of precautions, accidents can — and do — occur. Unfortunately, the stakes can be a lot higher in motorcycle accidents than car accidents. Catastrophic injuries are distressingly common in motorcycle wrecks. Contact a Fort Walton motorcycle accident lawyer from Powell, Powell & Powell to help you recover compensation for losses related to catastrophic injuries.
Damage Caps for Car Accidents: How Much Money Can You Receive?
After a car accident, you may soon realize that your expenses and bills are piling up. Maybe you’re not sure how everything will get paid or how you’ll ever get back the money you’ve already spent, particularly if you have been unable to work. The Destin car accident lawyers at Powell, Powell & Powell can help you recover damages against the other driver's insurance company or your own insurer, depending on the circumstances of the accident and your situation.
Personal Injury Protection: What You Can and Can’t Claim
When you’ve been injured in a car accident in Florida, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance benefits help cover the expenses and losses resulting from the accident. In recent years, however, the state made sweeping changes to personal injury protection — and these changes didn’t favor people who carry insurance.
No Fault Auto Accident Laws: When Your Insurer Has to Pay
Florida is a no-fault state, which means that when you get in an auto accident, your insurer is responsible for paying the costs associated with the wreck, including medical expenses and lost income while you heal.
Comparative Negligence: When Fault Matters in Florida Car Accidents
After a car accident in Florida, you may try to bring a lawsuit against the other driver for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering or other damages.
Compensation for Motorcycle Injuries
Motorcycle accidents often cause serious, life-changing injuries or result in the death of the motorcyclist. When you are hurt or a loved one is killed, you can make a claim for compensation if someone else is responsible – even if they are in part responsible – for your accident. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you understand your options and take legal steps designed to maximize the compensation you receive.
Staying Safe on Two Wheels
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of motorcyclists killed in collisions has increased almost annually for more than a decade. While motorcycle riders represent just three percent of vehicles on U.S. roads, motorcycle riders comprise 14 percent of victims killed in collisions.
What Martindale-Hubbell AV Ratings Mean in the Legal Profession
Martindale-Hubbell, the largest and most comprehensive source of lawyer ratings in the world, awarded Powell, Powell & Powell and both of its partners the highest possible rating, which is an “AV Preeminent” rating.