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A woman with three times the legal blood alcohol limit in her system was arrested for a hit and run accident in Siesta Key which damaged another vehicle and injured a pedestrian.
Initially, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers had pulled over the blue Honda Accord the accused was driving because it had been swerving all over the road. But, troopers noticed that the front of the vehicle was smashed and put two and two together, linking the damage to her car with a hit-and-run crash in Florida that had been reported earlier.
In that accident, the alleged drunk motorist ran into a gold Honda at the intersection of Stickney Point and Midnight Pass Road, kept going, and then struck a pedestrian on the sidewalk as she turned onto Midnight Pass Road.
The pedestrian was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and later released.
Results of the breath tests taken at the stop revealed blood alcohol levels of .292 and .295. The legal limit for a person driving in Florida is .08. The woman was booked on several charges, including DUI, leaving the scene of an injury accident, and driving with a blood level alcohol level greater than .15.
This is the second DUI case in Siesta Key this year involving a pedestrian. In January of 2012, a driver who had been drinking at the beach struck and killed a jogger.
An Epidemic on Florida’s Roads
According to Florida’s Chapter of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Florida ranked 13th in the nation in DUI related fatalities in 2010. There were 108,853 3-time DUI offenders and 13,054 5-time offenders in the state at that time.
If you are injured in an accident in Florida involving an impaired, careless or negligent driver, you have the right to seek compensation for injuries and damages. Please call a Florida drunk driving accident lawyer at (800) 533-3555 for a free, no-obligation consultation concerning your accident today.
The wife of a Flagler County School Board member has been arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol and was later officially charged with failing to remain at the scene of a crash involving a death — which is a first-degree felony in Florida.
The woman is accused of hitting a 76-year-old pedestrian who was walking her dog along Columbia Lane in Palm Coast on November 10, 2011. It is alleged that she stopped and got out of her PT Cruiser, but refused to call 911 for the victim. According to the charging document, she then attempted to mislead medical personnel and bystanders by telling them that the woman had not been struck, but had fallen.
The pedestrian died two days later.
The State Attorney’s charging document stated that the accused willfully failed to remain at the scene of the accident; failed to give her name and vehicle registration to any person injured in the accident or to police officers at the scene; and failed to “forthwith” report the crash to the nearest authorized police authority.
It is unclear whom the accused could have given her information to since the pedestrian was in no shape to receive it and police never showed up at the scene. However, the woman did wait until 5:30 a.m. the next day to report the Florida fatal car accident.
The attorney for the woman claims that emergency services were contacted and that his client stayed at the scene until rescue personnel left.
It remains to be seen how this case plays out, but one thing is known for certain: an innocent pedestrian died. Complex cases like this are precisely the reason you should call the experienced Florida pedestrian injury attorneys at Farah & Farah. We will sort out the facts and determine who is liable for an injury or death on Florida’s roads. Call us at (800) 533-3555 for a free and confidential consultation.
Source: http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/flagler/2012/02/28/charges-official-against-flagler-school-board-members-wife-in-traffic-fatality.html
Details on this tragic accident are few, but the Florida Times-Union reports that a 46-year-old man was walking on Avenue B in Jacksonville Friday night, February 3, when he was struck by a vehicle. The man died at the scene. The newspaper reports another person was walking with the accident victim around 11:30 p.m. when a black Chevrolet hit the victim while he crossed the street near Brooklyn Road. When first responders arrived on the scene, the pedestrian had died. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported it had issued no citations at the time this story was published.
Our condolences go out to the friends and family members of this man for his tragic passing.
Pedestrian Death Statistics
According to the nonprofit group Transportation for America, Florida has some of the most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians. In fact, four Florida cities made the Top Ten in its survey – Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami. Nationwide, about a dozen pedestrians die in collisions with cars every day. Men in the 45 to 54-year-old age range had the most pedestrian fatalities.
Following a pedestrian crash, an investigation must be conducted to determine the negligent party. There may be a number of parties who share the blame, but an experienced Jacksonville pedestrian accident attorney can reconstruct the circumstances that led to the injury in order to establish the plaintiff’s personal injury case in court.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident in Florida, consider a complimentary consultation with one of our experienced accident attorneys and our network of experts and support staff who can seek a verdict and settlement in your favor. Call us at 1(800) 533-3555.
Source: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2012-02-04/story/pedestrian-killed-vehicle-friday-night-avenue-b-jacksonville
A serious pedestrian incident near Bradenton resulted in a man not only being hit by a vehicle, but having his legs run over three times by vehicles while laying in the road. The Sun-Sentinel newspaper, quoting the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), reports the 52-year-old man was crossing the Tamiami Trail on January 16. A 19-year-old driver was the first to hit and man and stopped his vehicle in an attempt to wave off oncoming drivers as the pedestrian lay in the road. But his efforts didn’t work as three cars drove around the teen and ran over the pedestrian’s legs.
The pedestrian remains in critical condition. The teen driver will not be charged as troopers said there was nothing he could have done to avoid the man. None of the other drivers stopped and the FHP would like to know who they are. Call the FHP if you have any information on this Florida pedestrian injury accident.
Florida Laws on Hit-and-Run
Florida law requires any driver involved in an accident that causes injuries to stop immediately, report the crash, and answer questions of law enforcement. A failure to do so is a felony of the third degree. In the event of a death, leaving the scene is a felony of the second degree and can result in up to 30 years in prison.
A reckless driving conviction can bring up to five years in a Florida state prison.
Even if there is just property damage, the law requires a driver to remain on the scene, otherwise he may face a fine of $500 and jail time up to 60 days.
For information on how the Manatee County auto accident attorneys at Farah & Farah can help you find compensation for your injuries caused by a negligent driver, call (800) 533-3555.
Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/fl-drivers-run-over-man-20120118,0,2861757.story?track=rss
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is trying to identify a man who was hit and killed while walking on the side of a Gadsden County road Sunday night, January 15. The pedestrian was wearing a black jacket and blue sweat shirt as he walked on U.S. Highway 90 at Ben Bostic Road. A 30-year-old pickup truck driver was heading eastbound on Highway 90 around 10 p.m. when he hit and killed the pedestrian who died at the scene. The driver was not found to be under the influence of alcohol. Tests are pending on the pedestrian.
The man who died is described as being Hispanic, about 110 pounds and five feet tall, and between the ages of 40 to 50. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) can be reached at (850) 410-3069 with any information that can help identify this accident victim.
There is no mention in this story from WTXL-TV as to the lighting conditions on the roadway at the accident scene, other than to say it occurred near the Gadsden West Shopping Center.
Pedestrian Deaths
The Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA) reports Florida, along with California, Texas, and New York, accounted for about 41 percent of pedestrian fatalities nationwide in 2009. In 2010, Florida saw 482 pedestrians killed, which is a slight drop in the number of fatalities from the year before.
There may be many causes of a fatal pedestrian accident, and an experienced Florida pedestrian accident lawyer understands how to investigate the many potential contributing causes. Any of these may cause a pedestrian fatality: an unsafe roadway, debris in the road, limited visibility and lighting, or negligence or recklessness on the part of the driver.
Farah & Farah will conduct an investigation and, in many cases, a claim of negligence and damages can be filed on behalf of the pedestrian accident victim.
Source: http://www.wtxl.com/content/localnews/story/UPDATE-FHP-looking-to-ID-pedestrian-hit-by-car/9F3rNliq2E6_SsuLPualRg.cspx
We too often report on pedestrian-auto collisions in Florida, one of the top states for this type of traffic accident fatality. In this case, a kayaker from Sarasota rescued a dog he found swimming off the Florida coast, after the dog’s owner was hit and killed, allegedly by a DUI driver. What is amazing about this story is that the rescue of the animal was caught on tape. The kayaker was fishing and just floating yards off Siesta Key with a camera mounted on the front of his yellow kayak. Off to the right of the screen and out of nowhere, a hound dog swims toward the kayak. The fisherman puts his pole aside and pulls the dog aboard. The dog, Barney, is shaking, bleeding, and injured.
Once onshore, the kayaker called his sister, who took the animal to the vet who found an embedded microchip. Barney’s family was contacted, however at the same time the family found their dog they learned the dog’s owner, a 56-year-old woman from Sarasota, had been the victim of an alleged drunk driver as she walked Barney. The Florida Highway Patrol reports the dog must have fled the scene of the car crash even though he was injured and in pain and jumped into the Gulf where he swam to the kayak.
The 22-year-old who is alleged to have hit and killed the woman is now facing charges including DUI manslaughter. According to the FHP, he was leaving the scene of another accident he’d been involved in when he hit and killed the woman. He is jailed with a bond set at $100,000.
Pedestrian Fatalities
Fatal pedestrian accidents in Florida are on the rise. Between 2009 and 2010, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports pedestrian traffic-related deaths increased by 3.5 percent from 482 to 499 deaths.
There is a growing recognition among Americans of the need to exercise along with the realization that Florida built its roadways over the last 50 years strictly with cars in mind. As a result, from 2000 to 2009, our state saw more than 47,000 pedestrian fatalities in traffic crashes with cars. Injuries include 688,000 individuals, which is equal to a major traffic-related pedestrian injury every seven minutes.
If you or a family member is the victim of a pedestrian accident, you have avenues to seek compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, the cost of rehabilitation, and your lost wages. Farah & Farah’s Sarasota personal injury attorneys can be reached at (800) 533-3555 for a complimentary consultation on your case.
Source: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/unusual/Kayaker-Saves-Injured-Dog-from-Sea-011112; http://t4america.org/resources/dangerousbydesign2011/
My Fox Tampa Bay reports that a female driver felt something hit the right side of her car Friday night, January 6, but no one knew that night she had collided with and killed a pedestrian until sometime the next morning. The St. Leo woman was driving her 2006 Honda Pilot south on County Road 577 in Dade City when she told the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) she looked down for a moment to check the time and hit something. She pulled over and a Pasco County deputy arrived on the scene. There are few lights in the rural area, so no one found the body of the unidentified man until about 9 a.m. Saturday, January 7.
The FHP has determined that alcohol was not a factor for the driver involved in this pedestrian fatality and no charges will be filed against her.
Pedestrian Hit by Deputy
In another pedestrian crash, this one in Lake County, a pedestrian was hit by a sheriff’s patrol car and is hospitalized at Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition. The 18-year-old was walking eastbound on State Road 40. WKMG-TV reports the man was near the shoulder of the road, but the deputy was not able to avoid striking him. There is no indication what time on Saturday, January 7, this pedestrian collision occurred.
Pedestrian deaths appear to be on the rise. While traffic fatalities are declining, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reported that from 2005 to 2009, there was an increase of about 200 pedestrian deaths a year nationwide. Florida is among eight states that experienced the highest number of pedestrian collisions by at least 10. Pedestrian fatalities amounted to 12 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2009.
Our condolences go out to anyone who is hit by a vehicle, and unfortunately there has been a noticeable increase around the holidays. The pedestrian accident lawyers in Jacksonville of Farah & Farah invites you or a loved one for a complimentary consultation if you have been injured in a traffic crash. You may be able to recover your damages, as well as compensation for lost wages and medical bills with an advocate by your side. Call us at 1(800) 533-3555.
Source: http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/nature_coast/dade_city_pedestrian_fatal010712
Investigators want to know just how fast a pickup truck driver was going when he hit and killed a couple on A1A in Ponte Vedra Thursday evening, December 15.
Traffic travels pretty fast on this beach road flanked by residential areas, but both the man, age 67, and his wife, 74, worked at the YMCA and had a very active lifestyle. Their neighbors and friends from the “Y” don’t understand what could have happened.
The Florida Times-Union reports the two walked in front of the truck at the Fairfield subdivision at West Sawgrass Drive around 6 p.m. The driver was not injured. It is not clear from this report in The Florida Times-Union who witnessed the couple walking in front of the truck. There were no drugs or alcohol involved in this crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
Our prayers and best wishes go out to the friends and family members of this couple who were well-loved in their community.
Speeding and Pedestrian Deaths
According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the travel speed of a vehicle is directly correlated to the death and injury rate in a collision with a pedestrian. Higher speeds are associated with the most serious injuries. At 20 mph, only 5 percent of pedestrians would die in a traffic accident, but at 30 mph that increases to 40 percent fatalities. At 40 mph, that translates to about 80 percent fatalities, and at a speed of 50 mph or higher, almost all pedestrians hit will be killed.
The Florida pedestrian accident lawyers at Farah & Farah hope that law enforcement does its job here and does not assume these athletes were “feeble old folks” who had trouble crossing the street. The family would be well-advised to encourage a thorough FHP investigation, and if that does not seem forthcoming, seek representation from an experienced Florida law firm so an investigator can immediately begin the process to seek answers as to what caused this tragic pedestrian crash that resulted in two lost lives.
Sources: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-12-15/story/highway-patrol-reports-a1a-fatalities-ponte-vedra-beach; http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/pub/hs809012.html
The Orlando Sentinel reports that an unidentified elderly pedestrian was killed December 6 by a sport utility vehicle (SUV) on University Boulevard. Quoting the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) report, the 54-year-old Ford SUV driver was heading east near Goldenrod Road at about 6:35 p.m. and hit the man. So far, no charges have been filed but an investigation by the FHP is underway.
FHP says the man was not in a crosswalk.
Though this story fails to say so, it is apparent that the driver stopped her car after the pedestrian collision. Otherwise to flee the scene after causing an injury turns a misdemeanor traffic violation into a felony, punishable by up to 30 years in state prison.
Farah & Farah suggests you never leave the scene of an accident. You will be caught if you do so because both Crime Stoppers and Farah & Farah through our Hit-and-Run Reward program offer to compensate anyone who turns in someone who is later convicted of the crime. Farah & Farah and other personal injury law firms around the country feel so strongly about this problem that we want to help remove reckless drivers from our roads. The reward is $1,000 and you can remain anonymous. The number for Hit-and-Run Reward (www.hitandrunreward.com) is (800) 644-8678.
Our sincere condolences are extended to the family of this man who lost his life in such a senseless way.
Pedestrian Deaths
Nine pedestrians die weekly in Florida after being hit by a vehicle and another 21 are injured. Florida has become the most dangerous state for pedestrians in the U.S. and a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report on pedestrian deaths in 2003 put five Florida cities in the Top Ten for most pedestrian deaths.
Florida Statute 316.130 gives pedestrians the right of way when there are no traffic control signals. Near a playground or school, the child will have the right of way. In any pedestrian death, an investigation will involve collecting evidence from the scene including a blood-alcohol reading. You should have someone watching out for your interests and collecting evidence while it is still available after a pedestrian crash. Call the Orlando pedestrian accident lawyers at Farah & Farah for an immediate and complimentary consultation on your pedestrian accident.
Source: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-12-06/news/os-pedestrian-killed-orange-county-20111206_1_university-boulevard-crosswalk-florida-highway-patrol; http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811379.pdf
According to a report by the Florida Highway Patrol, a jogger was hit and killed in Palm Coast by a driver distracted by passengers in his back seat on November 30, on Sesame Boulevard about 4:20 p.m. A 54-year-old female jogger was on the boulevard near Seven Wonders Trail when a 36-year-old man told troopers he turned about to address two children in the back seat. In just the time it took to turn around and scold the children, he collided with the jogger. The news report online by Channel 4 in Jacksonville doesn’t say when she died.
It’s a terribly sad story all around when a moment of carelessness wipes out the life of someone who was trying to stay healthy and presumably obeying the law. Our condolences go out to her friends and family for their loss.
Distracted Driving
You hear a lot of talk about distracted driving, usually in connection with cell phone use or texting. However, many different situations can distract a driver. An argument can be distracting, reaching for some gum or food, watching a video, changing a station, grooming, or trying to keep an animal still in the car.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are three types of distraction while behind the wheel – visual, cognitive, and manual.
In 2009, more than 5,000 roadway fatalities involved distracted driving. And according to NHTSA, the age group most distracted are the age-20 and under drivers. About 16 percent of fatal crashes involving young drivers involved some form of distraction while driving.
The 30-39 age group had the highest reported cell phone use while driving.
When you are facing many questions following an auto accident, a Florida pedestrian accident lawyer at Farah & Farah is just a phone call away at (800) 533-3555. We will offer you a complimentary consultation to provide some options to turn to for help.
Source: http://www.news4jax.com/news/FHP-Pedestrian-killed-by-distracted-driver/-/475880/4854898/-/xyx8cb/-/index.html; http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811379.pdf
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