Car Accidents

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

The Small Computer Inside Your Car That Can Prove What Really Happened Key Takeaways: An event data recorder, or "black box," captures technical data around a crash, including speed, braking, steering, seat belt status, and airbag deployment. In an Orlando car accident case, that objective record may corroborate your account when memories conflict. Because Florida… 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 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 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 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

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | August 13, 2026 | Car Accidents

Understanding When a Car’s Owner Answers for Another Driver’s Mistake Key Takeaways: Under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine, a vehicle owner can be held vicariously liable for a permissive driver’s negligence even if the owner was not present. Rooted in the 1920 case Southern Cotton Oil Co. v. Anderson, the doctrine protects injured victims by ensuring… read more

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | July 23, 2026 | Car Accidents

Understanding Who Covers Your Injuries After a Crash Key Takeaways: After an Orlando car accident, Florida’s no-fault system means your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays medical bills first, regardless of fault, covering you, passengers, and household relatives up to $10,000 after your deductible. When injuries exceed PIP limits, you may pursue the at-fault driver’s… read more

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

Understanding Who Pays After a Hit-and-Run in Titusville Key Takeaways: In a Titusville hit-and-run, liability can rest with the fleeing driver, the registered vehicle owner under permissive-use rules, or be addressed through your own PIP and uninsured motorist coverage. Florida law requires drivers to stop and remain at the scene, with fleeing a crash involving… read more

zleacox@nordenleacox.com | July 13, 2026 | Car Accidents

Why Severe Orlando Crashes Often Lead to Six-Figure Recoveries Key Takeaways: Catastrophic crash settlements in Orlando frequently exceed $250,000 because Florida law permits recovery across economic, non-economic, and punitive damages, with severity of injury, evidence strength, and available insurance driving final value. While the state’s no-fault PIP system controls initial claims, seriously injured victims who… read more