During any personal injury trial, each party can request a directed verdict in their respective favor after the completion of the presentation of evidence. The moving party asserts that no reasonable jury could reach a different conclusion based on the evidence presented. A directed verdict was the focus of a recent First District Court of Appeal decision, Haney v. Sloan (Case No. 1D15-3905). This case originated from a car accident. The injured party ... [Read More]

In any personal injury lawsuit, several actors can be liable for the injuries suffered by one person. Each defendant can potentially be liable under differing legal theories in separate jurisdictions. In Gables v. Doctors Same Day Surgery Center (Case No. 2D15-2495), the Second District Court of Appeal looked at whether or not the medical center performing the procedure at issue destroyed would-be evidence, preventing the injured patient from successfully pursuing legal ... [Read More]

In a personal injury case, it is not always straightforward who is responsible for damages to the insured. In a recent case (Case No. 1D16-0807), the First District Court of Appeal reviewed whether or not an estate could be vicariously liable to injured parties after a car accident. The daughter of the deceased was driving her father’s car at the time of the accident. The father died a month before, but ... [Read More]

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits are designed to help people injured in a car accident receive prompt payments. Section 627.736 of the Florida Statutes addresses which types of medical services are paid using PIP, and it grants insurance companies the right to request information related to payment to help ensure costs are reasonable and not inflated.  A recent Florida Supreme Court case (No. SC15-1257) addresses the extent of permissible discovery under section 627.736(6)(c), Florida ... [Read More]

In most Florida car accident cases, courts look at the insurance policy and apply contract law to determine whether or not an insured has a claim to a benefit within the plan. In rare circumstances, injured parties have been able to claim they have insurance coverage by estoppel. This only occurs if the insurance company made a representation of material fact, the injured party reasonably relied on this representation, and the ... [Read More]

Personal injury litigation presents challenges at every turn. After a lawsuit is filed, parties often submit motions before trials are scheduled, seeking various types of relief from default judgment to dismissal. In a recent case (No. 2D15-0834), the Third District Court of Appeal reviewed a summary judgment for the defendants in a slip and fall lawsuit. The court agreed with the defendants that there was no genuine issue of material fact ... [Read More]

Under section 766.102(3)(b) Florida Statutes (2011), any foreign body, such as a sponge, clamp, forceps, surgical needle, or other paraphernalia commonly used in surgical, examination, or diagnostic procedures, is prima facie evidence of negligence by the medical health care provider. Typically, in any type of personal injury lawsuit, the injured person must show that the preponderance of the evidence shows the at-fault party is liable for the injury. In a ... [Read More]

After caring for an injured car accident patient, hospitals look for the most expedient, maximized reimbursement available to them for payment. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) was created by the legislature, as part of the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, to help ensure quick care for the injured person and prompt payment to the medical provider. Over the last two years, state district courts have been split over whether or not ... [Read More]

Florida car accident trials can become intricate, complicated lawsuits to litigate. This can be seen in a recent appellate case (No. 3D13-2005) that addresses whether or not it was improper for the trial court to allow evidence of the at-fault driver’s intoxication during the compensatory damages phase of the trial. The case stems from a serious car accident in which the injured party was struck head-on by an intoxicated, uninsured motorist. ... [Read More]

Obtaining the damages available in a personal injury lawsuit often goes beyond holding the at-fault party accountable. In car accident cases, the insurers to the parties in the accident must abide by certain duties while handling the case. If an insurer does not attempt to settle in good faith, the insured may file an action against the insurer.  Often, if the insured is the at-fault party in the original car accident, ... [Read More]