FL Tag Archives — Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg

Published on: February 25, 2026

Two Infants Attacked by Dogs in Separate, Back-to-Back South Florida Incidents. What to Know.

Two 1-year-olds were taken to the hospital for treatment stemming from two separate dog attack incidents in South Florida over the weekend, according to local media reporting.

The first attack happened in Hollandale Beach and involved a child who was with at least one adult when the incident took place at the 400 block of Southeast Ninth Street, reporters with The Miami herald wrote. The child’s mother was “changing the baby” when they were attacked. The mother was able to get the child away from the dog.

The extent of that 1-year-old’s injuries were not immediately available Monday. It is unclear whether the mother suffered any injuries while rescuing her child. The animal is described in articles from local media as “the family dog.” The child was taken to the hospital by a Good Samaritan, according to reporting from NBC6 South Florida. The child’s father told reporters that the dog, an American Bully, “never showed signs of aggression” before this incident. The animal was surrendered to Broward County Animal Care and Control and was euthanized, NBC6 South Florida reported.

Published on: February 23, 2026

Pastor Accused of Sexually Abusing Minor at Miami Church. How Leesfield & Partners has Represented Victims and Survivors for 50 Years.

By Leesfield & Partners

A pastor at a church in Northwest Miami-Dade County is facing charges after police say he sexually abused a 15-year-old member of the congregation.

Elco Vallier, 50, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor.

At around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, the minor told police that Vallier sexually assaulted her on several occasions at the church, according to a Feb. 18 press release from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The girl’s mother told deputies that she found “inappropriate text messages” on her daughter’s phone that she alleges are from Vallier.

Published on: February 18, 2026

One Month of Self-Driving Taxis in Miami. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Just over a month after Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service was launched in Miami, the company is already facing dubious safety concerns.

Videos of one of the company’s autonomous vehicles stopped on the Venetian Causeway Bridge and causing a traffic backup went viral online last month. The incident sparked conversations online centered around safety.

Mykel Kochenderfer of the Stanford Intelligence Systems Laboratory told reporters with NBC 6 South Florida that companies like Waymo hoping to launch these programs “need to get it right.”

Published on: February 9, 2026

‘One Moment of Inattention’ Has Severe Consequences: Leesfield & Partners Files Lawsuit on Behalf of a Severely Injured Monroe County Bicyclist

By Leesfield & Partners

Leesfield & Partners filed a lawsuit this week on behalf of a man who was ejected from his bike following a crash on Stock Island with a commercial truck driver.

“This driver’s one moment of inattention has left my client with life-altering injuries,” said Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Attorney at the firm. “This frightening incident has left him in severe pain, causing a disruption to his daily life and happiness.”

The incident occurred just after 2 p.m. on Jan. 13 as our client was approaching the intersection of College Road, where he had the right-of-way to proceed. At the same time, another man behind the wheel of a commercial truck was approaching from the opposite direction and failed to yield, plowing through the intersection and making an illegal left turn. In doing so, this driver hit our client who was then ejected from his bicycle and sent into the air before eventually falling onto the hood of another vehicle. He was then thrown onto the road.

Published on: December 15, 2025

Miami Home Destroyed After This Common Appliance Exploded, officials say. What Happened?

By Leesfield & Partners

A fire broke out after an e-bike exploded, severely burning a home in Northwest Miami-Dade over the weekend, according to reporting from WSVN.

Josue Paz, the son of the homeowner, told reporters that he was asleep when an e-bike, which was given to him as a birthday gift, exploded around 10 :30 p.m. Saturday.

Paz said he jumped out of bed and rushed to get his family out of the house.

Published on: December 15, 2025

Car Driving Down Florida Highway Hit by Plane. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A woman was in for a shock this week when the vehicle she was in was hit by a plane attempting a crash landing.

The incident happened around 5:45 p.m. in Brevard County on Monday, Dec. 8, on I-95, according to reporting from WSVN. The 27-year-old pilot was attempting to make an emergency landing following an engine failure.

Miraculously, the 57-year-old driver was taken to the hospital with only minor injuries. Onlookers described the car, a 2023 Toyota Camry, as “crushed” except for the driver’s side.

Published on: December 9, 2025

Over a Dozen Confirmed Cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in Orange County, officials say.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least 14 suspected and confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease allegedly stemming from the same Orlando gym have been reported to the Florida Department of Health, according to local media.

While the Florida Department of Health has not released the name of the gym at the center of the outbreak, local media has identified the location as Crunch Fitness in Ocoee.

Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith told reporters that the gym’s spa was closed due to violations found following a regulatory inspection. The inspection included testing disinfectant levels, temperature and water pH levels, according to local media.

Published on: December 9, 2025

Police: Elderly Man in Wheelchair Dies Following Florida City Crash. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A man in a wheelchair died Thursday morning in Florida City after being hit by a tanker truck, according to reporting from Local 10 News.

The name of the man has not been released, but authorities told reporters that the pedestrian was an elderly man.

The incident happened around 4:37 a.m. when the driver of the tanker truck was headed down North Krome Avenue. The driver allegedly told police that he did not see the man.

Published on: December 9, 2025

Boy, 7, Hospitalized After Dog Attack in Fort Lauderdale. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A dog that attacked a 7-year-old boy playing with friends in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood has since been euthanized, according to local media.

The incident happened on Tuesday, Nov. 18, around 3:45 p.m. near 1812 Northwest 15^th Court. After he was bitten, the boy ran to a neighbor’s home for help where a Good Samaritan cleaned his wound and attempted to stanch the bleeding with gauze while another neighbor called 911.

The boy suffered a minor leg injury in the attack and was taken to Broward Medical Center.

Published on: October 30, 2025

Teen Hit and Killed Walking to Florida School Bus Stop. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A high schooler was on her way to her school’s bus stop when she was hit and killed by a 60-year-old driver this week in Ocala, Florida, according to police.

The Ocala Police Department announced the death of Forest High School Student Shannon Rushing via a news release Monday. She was 18.

“We are heartbroken with this news and are supporting the family and school community during this difficult time,” officials with the police department said.