Car Crash Injury

Fort Lauderdale officials are saying that they will be reviewing Florida beach-driving policies after a lifeguard’s pickup truck rolled over a 49-year-old sunbather from North Carolina.

The woman was lying near a lifeguard station when she said she felt the weight of the Ocean Rescue truck rolling across her body. “All I can tell you is that suddenly I was a human speed bump,” she told the Sun Sentinel. “There were tires moving over my body. I could have easily died.”

She was extricated from under the vehicle and taken to Broward General Medical Center where she was treated and released. She sustained cuts and burns from the accident.

Critics contend that large lifeguard vehicles offer limited visibility for drivers and are too dangerous to be driven on the beach. They claim that using all-terrain vehicles makes much more sense on busy beaches. Proponents disagree, saying that the pickups are essential because they carry life-saving medical equipment.

According to the Sun Sentinel, a Fort Lauderdale city manual exhorts lifeguards to use “extreme caution at all times while driving on the beach.” The manual also later states, “Remember: 9 times out of 10, you are in the wrong if you have an accident.”

An attorney hired by the woman said that he finds it troubling that several beachgoers have been run over on Florida’s beaches by lifeguards, police, beach patrol, and other government vehicles, especially considering it is their job to “guard and protect lives, not to put and keep them in harm’s way.”

If you have been injured in an accident due to another motorist’s negligence or carelessness, you have a right to seek compensation. A Florida car crash lawyer at Farah & Farah can help you. Call us at (800) 533-3555 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

This auto accident in Melbourne underscores how important the state’s Move Over Law is to keep the public safe when there is police activity on the side of the road. In a collision that occurred in Melbourne on Tuesday morning, November 1, three people were hurt not only from the crash but from a light pole that fell on the first responders.

Around 5:37 a.m. a 27-year-old woman was traveling south on U.S. 1 when she drifted onto the median and ran off the north side of the road, hitting a pole. A 28-year-old witness came upon the area near Carolin Street to render aid as a Brevard County ambulance returning from a hospital drop-off arrived on the scene. As the first responders came to the aid of the driver, another vehicle, a southbound Mazda, failed to move over and headed toward the auto accident, failing to see the downed power lines. The vehicle became entangled and pulled a light pole down that hit the driver, the Good Samaritan, and the paramedic. All three were hospitalized with serious not life-threatening injuries.

Florida’s Move Over Law

State law says that a driver coming upon an accident scene should move over to the next lane and slow down. If it is not possible to move, the motorist should slow down to 20 miles under the posted speed limit. First responders have enough on their hands in an emergency and may not be able to watch out for traffic. The Brevard County auto accident attorneys at Farah & Farah suggest you take a deep breath and get to your destination 30 seconds later – you might save a life.

Source:http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111101/BREAKINGNEWS/111101013/Light-pole-falls-crash-scene-injuring-3

A 28-year-old woman was injured in a freak accident when she was ejected from a car in which she was a passenger after it hit a guardrail on a Heckscher Drive ramp in Jacksonville on Saturday, October 22.

According to a report in The Florida Times-Union, a 29-year-old female driver was heading eastbound and was entering Heckscher Drive from the Broward Road ramp at about 2:15 a.m. when she left the road and crashed into a guardrail shooting the car back across the ramp where it hit the south guardrail, ejecting the 28-year-old female passenger who was not wearing a seat belt. Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene and the woman was taken to Shands Jacksonville with serious injuries. There is no update on her condition in this most recent report.

Let’s pray that her injuries are not serious and she makes a full recovery.

Auto Accidents

We don’t yet know what contributed to this auto accident, however, whatever the cause, in order to file a claim in an auto accident case, the plaintiff must determine that someone caused the condition that led to the injury or fatality. Drunk driving might be one condition that would qualify for reckless behavior as well as a defective automobile or component, a roadway where a driver’s vision was obstructed in some way, or the poor condition of the road. It will take the investigative skills of an experienced Florida auto accident law firm to determine who the responsible party is in order to hold them responsible for this auto accident.

The Jacksonville car accident attorneys of Farah & Farah have been helping people injured in car collisions since 1979. Let us help you. Call (800) 533-3555 anytime and we will set up a complimentary appointment.

Source: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-10-23/story/jacksonville-woman-ejected-after-car-hits-guardrails-heckscher-drive

This tragic accident happened at dawn Friday morning, July 22. A pickup truck carting building materials lost some of its load on San Pablo Road in front of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. The southbound traveling truck stopped in the center lane and the driver tried to retrieve what he had dropped when a car swerved to avoid hitting him and a second fast-moving car, unable to see what was ahead, hit the man and his pickup. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) reports the man was taken to Shands and News4Jax reports his injuries are life-threatening. Rubberneckers in the northbound lane caused a separate wreck, according to police. Traffic had to be diverted through the Mayo Clinic parking lot. Even though San Pablo adjoins a residential area and a major hospital and research center, drivers tend to go very fast and tail each other on that road.

Our well-wishes go out to the friends and family of this unfortunate man for a swift recovery. His family says the prayers are appreciated and their loved one was just trying to pick debris up off the road so no one else would be involved in an car accident.

The driver of the car was not injured and there is no word in this article whether or not he will be cited. If there was any negligence on the part of the driver who struck this man, such as speeding, reckless driving, or using a cell phone, the family may be able to make a claim for compensation from the at-fault party. Compensation can include coverage for medical bills, surgery, and rehabilitation, lost wages, and more. If the injured man was on-the-job he may also be eligible for workers’ compensation.

With quite a few outstanding questions here, a complimentary consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer in Jacksonville would help explain a family’s legal options during this stressful time.

Source: http://www.news4jax.com/news/28631610/detail.html

A four-year-old child was ejected from a single-vehicle car crash in Jacksonville and hospitalized in critical condition Thursday, June 23. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reports there were six people in a Jeep westbound on Interstate 10 when the Jeep tried to enter the onramp to I-295 northbound just before 10p.m. For some reason, the 41-year-old driver lost control of his Jeep which began rotating before it hit a tree. The FHP tells First Coast News there were no other vehicles involved in the Florida car crash. After the Jeep hit the tree it rolled over several times and ended up on its roof. The driver was also seriously injured and taken to Shands while the other four passengers who range in age from 6 to 28 suffered minor injuries. Charges could be filed pending the outcome of the investigation.

We certainly hope and pray that this little girl survives her injuries. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

We don’t know from this story whether or not anyone was wearing a seat belt. If not, that might explain why the child was thrown from the vehicle. By law, children are supposed to wear a seat belt or be in a child restraint seat anywhere they sit in a motor vehicle. We have no idea what caused the driver to go off the road. A study released in January of last year found that nearly 28 percent of the 1.6 million car accidents every year were caused by a driver who was distracted by talking on a cell phone or texting while behind the wheel.

A new Department of Transportation standard will reduce the number of people who are completely or partially ejected from a vehicle. The safety standard will be phased into the design of new cars beginning in 2013. Vehicle ejection is a major cause of catastrophic injury particularly traumatic head injury.

Source: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/208661/3/Child-Ejected-in-Interstate-Crash-Critically-Injured?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p and http://www.usinsuranceonline.com/news/article/cell-phones-behind-14-of-all-car-accidents-says-study-19556569

Two young children were among seven family members who were hospitalized on Monday, May 9, after their Honda SUV rolled when a rear tire blew on Interstate 95 in Volusia County. The Orlando Sentinel reports two children were ejected out of the back window of the 2001 vehicle. The Florida SUV rollover accident happened just south of Maytown Road about 9:45 a.m.

The driver, a 28-year-old woman from Hallandale, was traveling southbound when the tire blew, causing her vehicle to go out of control. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers aren’t sure how many in the vehicle were wearing a seat belt. The children were taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. The children – both younger than six – were reported to be critical condition. The three adults – the female driver, her mother, and sister – were not serious injured. The crash closed two southbound lanes of I-95 for about two hours. There is no word from this article on the condition of the others in the Honda.

Let’s pray that these children pull through their critical injuries.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), every year about 1,800 children ages 14 and younger are killed in car accidents and more than 280,000 children are injured in these accidents. For children ages 2-12, car crashes are the leading cause of death. Most of these deaths occur because either the proper restraint was not used or the children were not restrained by a seat belt or a child/booster seat.

The Florida car accident lawyers at the Farah & Farah law firm reminds everyone that it is the law to keep children buckled in the appropriate child seat restraint in the back seat of the vehicle. And if you or a loved one suffers injuries from a car crash in Florida, our experienced attorneys can help you get your life back together by helping you obtain the compensation you need from a negligent motorist.

A Jacksonville police officer, who claimed he was responding to a burglary call at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20, was critically injured in a multi-vehicle crash that also injured several children. The Florida Times-Union reports the officer was driving west on West Beaver Street when a Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by a 30-year-old woman from Jacksonville, turned left from Line Street. She hit the patrol car, causing it to slide on the road where it was hit by an eastbound Pontiac Vibe that was carrying five children. School papers littered the street and the 34-year-old driver of the Vibe suffered serious injuries. Only one of the five children was wearing a seat belt but they all suffered only minor injuries. The Vibe was crushed by the collision and the front hood and trunk of the patrol car were torn open.

The officer was ejected from his patrol car. According to the FHP, he was not wearing a seat belt. He is recovering in Shands Jacksonville. The female driver of the Grand Prix and a child with her were not injured. They wore their seat belts. A witness said the officer was driving at least 60 mph and did not have on his lights and sirens. According to an FHP spokesman, other witnesses said the lights were on.

It’s estimated there are about 70,000 police chases each year that result in 400 to 500 deaths. Pursuit Watch is a nonprofit organization formed in Orlando by the family of a young woman killed in a police pursuit in 2001. The group estimates that 40% of all police chases end in a collision and 20 percent result in serious injury with 1 percent having a fatal outcome. The group has worked with the Orlando police department to encourage safer and smarter police pursuits.

No matter what type of collision leads to your injuries, the Jacksonville car accident lawyers at Farah & Farah are here to assist you. Call our law offices today to learn how we can help you obtain the compensation you need from negligent parties to go on with your life.

Channel 4 in Jacksonville reports that speed and alcohol may have contributed to a head-on collision at Atlantic and University Boulevards that tied-up traffic for six hours. The accident occurred at 4 a.m. on Monday, February 21, when a Saturn traveling eastbound on Atlantic in the westbound lane struck a Toyota Camry head-on. Paramedics had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the Camry driver who is in serious condition at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center. The Saturn driver is in critical condition and was also airlifted to Shands. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s office (JSO) called this a dramatic impact and from a look at the pictures on Channel 4’s web site it’s difficult to believe anyone survived. Traffic on Atlantic Boulevard was closed from 4 a.m. until after 8 a.m.

Head-on Car Collisions
According to federal statistics, head-on collisions are responsible for about 10 percent of fatal crashes in the U.S. even though they make up about 2 percent of collisions.

Our attorneys find that head-on collisions often occur when a driver leaves his lane and drifts into oncoming traffic. A head-on crash can also occur when someone enters the wrong-way entry point of a roadway by turning onto an off-ramp or turning into the wrong side of the road.

Since 1979, the Jacksonville car accident lawyers of Farah & Farah have been helping people injured in auto accidents receive what they deserve. If you are recovering from a head-on collision, the last thing you want to be involved in is a fight with the insurance company for the other side. Call the personal injury attorneys of Farah & Farah as soon as possible after your accident so we can begin the process of helping you.

Two women, one of them pregnant, were injured and hospitalized on Wednesday, February 16, in a crash in western Putnam County, according to The Gainesville Sun. According to the article, a 63-year-old driver of a 2004 Ford Freestar was eastbound on State Road 20, when she collided with a 2008 Dodge 1500 pickup which was southbound on SR 21. The driver of the Ford attempted to avoid the collision but the pickup struck the rear driver’s side of the Ford with enough force to roll the vehicle, which landed on its roof.

The driver was taken to Shands Gainesville suffering from critical head injuries. A passenger in the Ford, a 21-year-old woman from Palatka, pregnant with twins, was seriously injured. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reported there is concern about the safety of her twins. The driver of the pickup was not injured. FHP reported the pickup driver, a 75-year-old man from Orange Springs, drove into the direct path of the Ford at the intersection.

Let’s pray for the swift recovery of these two women.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the number of fatalities on Florida roadways decreased between 2008 and 2009 by 14 percent down to 2,563. That marks the fourth consecutive year traffic fatalities have decreased. However, our state still has high number of Florida intersection accidents. It’s been estimated that one-third of all accidents occur at an intersection by either failing to yield the right-of-way, driving through a stop sign, or ignoring a traffic light.

The Florida car crash lawyers at Farah & Farah would want to determine the condition of the roadway, the ability of the drivers, whether or not speeding or distracted driving was involved, and whether or not the roadway was clearly marked, to be able to determine what caused this tragic accident. The at-fault party could be held responsible for the medical expenses and lost wages of the injured. Call our office for a complimentary consultation on your accident case.

Two Wellborn teens were injured in an overturned vehicle accident on Wednesday, December 8 in Live Oak in Columbia County, according to this report in The Suwannee-Democrat. Quoting the Florida Highway Patrol, the paper reports that the teens were driving westbound on Troy Road in a 2007 Honda four-door at a high rate of speed about 9:50 p.m. when the car lost control near SR 247 and ran up an embankment, went airborne, then overturned on its roof. Neither of the teens, ages 16 and 18 with the same last name, was wearing a seat belt. One of the young men went to Shands Gainesville and is in critical condition, while the other was briefly hospitalized and treated for minor injuries.

These two teens are both lucky to be alive after a high-speed ride and no seat belts. Let’s hope they recover from their injuries.

Law enforcement no doubt will do a blood-alcohol screening on the young driver to determine if he was under the influence and charges could be filed. Fortunately there were no injuries of other bystanders that resulted from this crash.

The Florida auto accident attorneys at Farah & Farah have spent more than 25 years practicing law and have developed an excellent reputation for personal injury representation following an auto accident. With millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts in favor of our clients, you may rely on our track record, our experience, and excellent support staff to professionally handle your case. Call Farah & Farah today for a free case consultation.