Personal Injury Blog

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 22, 2026 | Truck Accidents

Why Federal Drug and Alcohol Testing Rules Matter After a Lakeland Truck Wreck Key Takeaways: Post-accident drug and alcohol testing is federally mandated under 49 CFR §382.303, with collection procedures governed by 49 CFR Part 40. Testing is required when a crash involves a fatality, but for injury or tow-away crashes it’s generally required only… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 21, 2026 | Florida Law

The Notice That Must Come Before an Insurance Bad Faith Lawsuit in Florida Key Takeaways: A Civil Remedy Notice (CRN) is the formal written notice that must be filed with the Florida Department of Financial Services and the insurer before a statutory bad faith lawsuit can proceed under Fla. Stat. § 624.155. The notice must… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 19, 2026 | Car Accidents

The Insurance Exam That Can Make or Break Your Melbourne PIP Claim Key Takeaways: A compulsory medical examination (CME) is a medical exam requested and paid for by your insurer after a Melbourne car accident, authorized by Fla. Stat. § 627.736(7)(a) whenever your physical or mental condition is material to a PIP claim. The insurer… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 17, 2026 | Truck Accidents

When Freight Moves, Everything Changes: Building Proof After a Shifting Load Crash Key Takeaways: Proving a load shift caused your Orlando truck accident injuries requires connecting a statutory duty, breach, and reconstruction evidence. Florida’s FL Sec. 316.520 requires vehicles be loaded so cargo cannot shift, drop, or escape. Proof comes from bills of lading, securement… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 15, 2026 | Car Accidents

Understanding the Optional Coverage That Pays Medical Bills After a Crash Key Takeaways: MedPay is optional Florida auto insurance that pays medical expenses after accidents regardless of fault, covering you, family members, passengers, and sometimes pedestrians. It matters in Palm Bay because Florida PIP covers only 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses, subject to a… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 13, 2026 | Truck Accidents

The Federal Safety Data Behind Every Commercial Truck on I-4 Key Takeaways: CSA scores are FMCSA safety measurements from roadside inspections, crashes, and investigations that can reveal a carrier’s pattern of regulatory failures predating your collision. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, damages in negligence actions are apportioned by fault percentage and may be barred entirely… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 11, 2026 | Car Accidents

Why Medicare Wants Money Back From Your Cocoa Crash Settlement Key Takeaways: A "Medicare lien" in a Cocoa, FL car accident settlement is a federal conditional payment recovery claim under the Medicare Secondary Payer statute requiring repayment of accident-related benefits from your settlement. Liability and no-fault insurers are primary payers, and Medicare’s interest attaches to… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 9, 2026 | Personal Injury

What Every Central Florida Rider Should Understand Before Filtering Through Traffic Key Takeaways: Florida law bans lane splitting statewide under Fla. Stat. § 316.209(3), applying throughout Orlando, Winter Park, and Kissimmee, with a narrow exemption for on-duty police officers and firefighters. The statute protects riders by addressing full use of a traffic lane, barring passing… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 7, 2026 | Car Accidents

When the Belt That Saved You Also Hurt You Key Takeaways: Seat belt syndrome refers to chest, abdominal, and spinal injuries caused when a safety belt restrains the body during a crash, often leaving a visible "seat belt sign" bruise that may signal deeper harm such as bowel perforation, internal bleeding, lumbar Chance fractures, or… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 6, 2026 | Car Accidents

Why Insurance Companies Bring Up Your Seat Belt After a Crash Key Takeaways: Florida’s seat belt defense argues that an injured person’s failure to wear an available seat belt worsened their injuries. It operates through comparative fault under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, together with Fla. Stat. § 316.614(10) and Insurance Co. of North America v…. read more