Wrongful Death

It took just one aggressive move by a driver to end the lives of a husband and wife — and to leave their 13 children without a mother or father.

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigators are still looking for the driver of a dark-colored compact whose aggressive lane changing on Interstate 4 in Plant City led to a string of events that caused the GMC Envoy the victims were traveling in to overturn.

According to the FHP, the compact aggressively cut-off the couple’s SUV, causing the 36-year-old husband to lose control of the vehicle and collide with a box truck. The SUV then rolled over and the couple was ejected. Neither was wearing a seat belt in the SUV rollover in Florida.

The driver who caused the accident fled the scene.

The 32-year-old wife was flown to Tampa General Hospital, where she died from her injuries. Her husband was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City, where he also died.

The couple had been married about six years. She had four children. He had nine.

FHP is still looking for the driver who left the scene.

Aggressive Drivers in Florida

In Florida, if a driver commits two or more specific violations at the same time — such as speeding and improperly changing lanes — he or she is considered to be driving aggressively. Aggressive driving knows no age and no demographic.

In 2003, Florida law enforcement officers wrote 3,815 traffic tickets indicating the driver was driving aggressively. In 2010, they wrote 23,180. The number of Florida drivers considered to be driving aggressively rose 88 percent between 2008 and 2010 alone.

Seeking Justice for those Harmed by Negligence

If you’ve been injured in an automobile accident caused by an aggressive or negligent driver, call a Florida car crash lawyer at Farah & Farah. Our experienced team will see that you get compensated for medical bills and other damages. We can be contacted online or at (800) 533-3555.

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice inspector general has just released a report that determined there were six policy violations connected to a juvenile justice youth camp SUV that crashed in Eastern Collier County and killed one teen occupant and the driver of the vehicle.

On December 8, 2011, the driver of the SUV — a cook who worked for the Cypress Wilderness Institute — was driving the vehicle full of teens back to the camp from Daytona Beach, when he lost control; the vehicle then hit a traffic sign and overturned into Ochapee Creek. The driver of the SUV and the teen both drowned. Seven other youths in the van were hospitalized and then released.

Investigators looking into the accident determined that the driver should not have been behind the wheel in the first place because his driving privileges had been revoked in February of 2011. Further investigation revealed that he had lied about his driving record and that he had been talking on his cell phone at the time of the SUV crash in Florida.

Investigators also found that the van had been overcrowded and that one of the administrators had asked at least one juvenile to lie about the number of people who were in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

The inspector general’s report laid the blame for three of the violations directly on two top administrators of the camp at the time. One of the administrators was fired after the incident, while another was demoted and eventually resigned.

The parents of the teen killed in the crash have filed a lawsuit alleging negligence.

If a loved one has died in an automobile accident due to the negligence of another, you have the right to hold the responsible parties accountable. The Florida wrongful death car accident attorneys will work with you to see that justice is done for your family. Call us at (800) 533-3555.

The driver of the car that struck and killed a pregnant woman and her unborn child in Fort Lauderdale on March 18 apparently told a police officer that she had an argument with her husband at a restaurant and sped off in her car just before the collision.

As reported in a previous blog, the pregnant woman and her husband had traveled from Massachusetts and were at the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale attending a two-day marriage conference. She was waiting for her husband in one of the hotel’s pool cabanas when an out of control 2006 Audi smashed into the cabana and killed her.

According to a Fort Lauderdale police search warrant, the driver of the Audi said she and her husband were at the Mangos Restaurant and Lounge on 904 E. Las Olas Blvd., where she had ordered a martini and appetizers. Allegedly, they got into a heated argument and she left the restaurant, speeding out of the parking lot in her car.

A witness who saw the woman driving west on Southeast Fourth Street said that her vehicle was going “at a much greater speed” than the posted 25-mile-hour speed limit. For unknown reasons, she lost control of her car, careened across the eastbound lane, and hit the pool cabana at the hotel. She claims she didn’t remember hitting the building until she was pulled out of the car.

Pending the results of the investigation and blood alcohol tests, the driver of the Audi may be charged with DUI manslaughter.

Anger can cloud perceptions — if you are not in control, your vehicle is not in control.
If you have lost a loved one because of another driver’s negligence, contact the Fort Lauderdale wrongful death attorneys at Farah & Farah. Call us at (800) 533-3555 to discuss your legal plan of action today.

A 72-year-old man who was badly injured when his car was rear-ended by another driver who had gone on a driving rampage in February has died.

A Florida Highway Patrol spokesman said that the Weeki Wachee resident was one of many who was struck by the driver of a minivan who caused at least three accidents in Pasco and Hernando Counties. The family of the man who went on the driving accident spree claims he suffers from bipolar disorder.

The victim’s pickup truck was struck from behind by the minivan on U.S. 19 and flipped six times. The accused suffered minor injuries and was charged in the Florida car crash.

Allegedly, the night before the rampage, a Pasco Sheriff’s deputy had been called to the mentally ill man’s house because he had been acting erratically. The man’s wife, who had called the sheriff’s office, told the deputy that her husband was bipolar and that he needed help. The deputy told her that he couldn’t violate her husband’s civil rights, but that she could get a court order the next day to have him involuntarily committed to a mental facility.

He also advised her to leave for the night, which she did.

After filing the papers at the Pasco County courthouse the following morning, she went to check on her husband, only to find out that the accidents had already occurred.

A Tragedy All Around

The Pasco County car accident attorneys at Farah & Farah offer condolences to the family of the man killed in this tragic accident — an outcome that might have been avoided entirely had circumstances played out differently. If your loved one has been killed in a Florida automobile accident that was caused by another’s negligence, call us at (800) 533-3555 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigators are trying to determine whether a driver who was trying to pass a slow-moving van on the curve of a road was responsible for a horrendous crash that resulted in the death of one passenger and injuries to himself and a six-year-old child. The accident occurred on Stonecrest Court and Cypress Springs Parkway in eastern Orange County.

Witnesses told WFTV News that they saw the speeding Acura TL trying to pass the van when it lost control, skidded off the curb, flipped over, and then crashed into a house. A 39-year-old woman sitting in the front passenger seat was thrown out of the vehicle and killed when the car landed on top of her. The driver was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center in serious condition. Bystanders helped to cut the seat belt off of the injured child to free her from the back seat of the car. She was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital, where she is listed in stable condition.

The FHP says that the people inside the home were unhurt. They are still investigating to see if any charges will be filed against the driver in the fatal Florida car crash.

According to 2009 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics, 61 percent of fatal crashes in the United Stated involved only one vehicle — and while collisions with fixed objects (such as a house) accounted for only 19 percent of all crashes, they did account for 46 percent of fatal crashes.

Given the large amount of single vehicle crashes in America, we can assume that many of them were the result of speeding and other negligent driving behavior. If you have been injured or your property has been damaged because of another’s driver’s carelessness, call the Orange County automobile accident attorneys at Farah & Farah at (800) 533-3555 for a consultation.

Sources: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811402.pdf; http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/fire-rescue-2-trapped-vehicle-after-crashing-home/nLTGB/

It has been six months, but an arrest was finally made in connection with a deadly FL car accident that killed an 88-year-old man.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the crash happened in September of 2011 when a police officer tried to stop a Ford Mustang that had been weaving erratically on 35th Street North. Instead of stopping, the driver turned the vehicle’s headlights off and sped away. He then ran a stop sign at 22nd Avenue and collided with the victim’s Toyota Camry. Police claim that the officer was not in pursuit when this happened.

The Toyota was knocked into a nearby home’s porch and the driver was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with serious injuries. The Mustang’s driver fled from the scene.

Sadly, the accident occurred on the birthday of the 88-year-old man, who had been returning home from his job as a security guard at Bayway Isles on the Pinellas Bayway. Family members said that he had been adamant about working on his birthday.

The victim finally died as a result of his injuries on January 18. By then, the Mustang’s driver had been identified as a transient living in the area. No reason was cited as to why it took until March for St. Petersburg police to finally arrest him.

He has been charged with numerous offenses and is being held without bail.

If an injury or death has resulted because of the negligence of another motorist, you have the right to seek compensation for medical bills and other damages. A wrongful death attorney in Florida at Farah & Farah will see that all of your legal options are explored. A call to (800) 533-3555 can get the process going today.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/man-charged-in-fatal-crash-that-killed-88-year-old-security-guard/1219699

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers are still trying to piece together why a woman collided with a front-end loader that was parked on the shoulder of U.S. 1. An FHP spokesman said the Palm Bay resident was attempting to exit U.S. 1 on to the Pineda Causeway or was already in the exit lane when she attempted to swerve back onto U.S. 1 and struck the front-end loader.

The impact of the collision knocked the heavy construction vehicle into three workers who were standing in front of it. None of them were seriously injured in this Florida freeway auto accident, but two were taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center and treated for non-life threatening injuries. The woman who struck the front-end loader was pronounced dead at the same medical facility.

The front-end loader was on U.S. 1 as part of an ongoing 4.6-mile road-paving project.

Driving Near Roadway Construction Zones

Roadway work zones can be dangerous for workers and motorists. In 2009, the Federal Highway Administration reported that Florida ranked in the top three states for construction zone fatalities. According to Florida Department of Transportation statistics, drivers and their passengers accounted for most of the deaths in Florida construction zone crashes.

Take it slow to avoid injuries on Florida’s roads

When driving through a roadway construction zone, the smart thing to do is slow down — especially given the possible presence of construction-related road debris and the unpredictable nature of worker and construction vehicle movement. The Florida fatal car accident lawyers at Farah & Farah urge that everybody, motorists and construction zone workers alike, look out for each other to avoid injuries and death on Florida’s highways and roads.

Sources: http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120216/NEWS01/120216021/Woman-killed-U-S-1-Pineda-after-colliding-front-end-loader?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome; http://www.chipleypaper.com/articles/work-5901-everyone-zone.html

Rather than being handed a long stint behind bars, a young man charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving in a car-surfing accident was given five years probation by a circuit judge in Florida. The man, now 19-years-old, plead no-contest to the charges and was sentenced as a youthful offender by the court. The accident occurred in February of 2011.

The accused was driving a Nissan Pathfinder at a high rate of speed on a Florida dirt road as two of his friends were hanging from the roof rack of the SUV. He lost control of the vehicle, which spun out and flipped over. One of the friends on the roof was thrown into a ditch and died. Another was killed when he was trapped in the back seat as the car burst into flames. The driver and two other passengers suffered injuries.

The driver must serve one year of house arrest and complete 120 hours of community service — including giving talks about the dangers of car surfing.

A Bizarre Craze

According to research done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car surfing — where a person rides on the exterior of a vehicle while another drives — killed at least 99 people between 1999 and 2008. Injuries from the activity have been reported in 31 states.

Preventing Injuries and Accidents

It is obvious from this terrible accident that not only those participating in the actual dangerous act of car surfing can be hurt, but innocent passengers as well. If you have suffered the loss of a loved one due to another driver’s recklessness, the Florida fatal car accident attorneys at Farah & Farah would like to hear from you. Call us at (800) 533-3555 for more information.

Sources: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-car-surfing-deaths-joshua-ritter-20120203,0,1812959.story; http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/west-volusia/2012/02/04/driver-in-debary-car-surfing-deaths-gets-probation.html

A 16-year-old Jacksonville teen without a driver’s license was fleeing police early Wednesday morning, November 23, when he rammed into another driver, killing him in the crash. It was around 3 a.m. on Beach Boulevard when the teen in a Toyota Tundra pickup truck was reportedly driving erratically and at a high rate of speed with police in pursuit. He drove through a red light, according to a report by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), and struck a 22-year old in a Hyundai Sedan, killing him at the intersection of Beach and San Pablo Road.

Police were chasing the young driver in response to calls of reckless driving they were receiving, according to FHP. Blood alcohol tests are pending on the teen driver who was taken to Shands Jacksonville with minor injuries.

The driver is facing charges of fleeing, attempting to elude law enforcement, driving without a license, and vehicular homicide. The teen driver was last known to be living at a halfway house for teen boys in foster care. Reportedly, the truck did not belong to him and the young man killed was returning home from his job at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
Our sincerest condolences go out to the family for their loss of this young man who had his whole life ahead of him.

Police Pursuits

The topic of police pursuits is usually a very emotional one. While some people believe law enforcement should have the green light to do whatever is needed, citizens have unfortunately found that any pursuit has the potential to lead to fatal auto accidents.

A Florida Times-Union commenter says the teen had turned off his lights to elude police and that there were two cars in pursuit. An officer responding to the newspaper story suggests that no police pursuit should last any longer than three minutes.

In any high traffic area, a police pursuit is not recommended because of the casualties of innocent bystanders that have resulted.

According to the citizen group, Pursuit Safety, at least 4,500 innocent bystanders have died as a result of police pursuits since 1982. The actual numbers are likely higher since the reporting process may be very subjective.

There is no mandatory reporting system of casualties that result from police pursuits.

Contact a Jacksonville car accident injury lawyer at Farah & Farah today if you have suffered injuries from another driver’s negligent actions. Call (800) 533-5555 for a complimentary consultation.

Source: http://www.news4jax.com/news/Teen-charged-with-homicide-after-fatal-crash/-/475880/4811854/-/lsm3o4z/-/index.html

A 32-year-old Jacksonville man was killed in an auto accident Saturday, September 17, after he was partially ejected from a vehicle that was hit by another on Interstate 10. The Florida Highway Patrol says the man was not wearing a seat belt. The 26-year-old female driver, with the same last name according to the Florida Times-Union, was eastbound on the interstate when their vehicle was struck by another being driven by a 22-year-old female from Middleburg who apparently lost control of her vehicle. That caused the first car to overturn several times and partially eject the man. Both drivers were wearing seat belts and did not receive any injuries. The collision happened on I-10 one mile east of Chaffee Road.

Our condolences go out to the friends and family of this man who lost his life so suddenly.

Vehicle Rollovers and Ejection
Clearly, one of the most dangerous types of auto accidents is the vehicle rollover. Not only can the failure to wear a seat belt cause the occupant to be ejected, but there can be defective auto components such as airbags and seat belts, that fail to keep motorists inside the car. In order to minimize the number of people being partially ejected from motor vehicles, the U.S. Department of Transportation will phase in a new standard which prevents someone from moving any more than four inches beyond the window. The new standard will involve strengthening the glass and should prevent 373 fatalities and 476 serious injuries every year, according to the DOT.

It will also make it more difficult to break window glass in order to escape from a vehicle which is submerged in water.

Sources: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-09-18/story/1-dead-i-10-crash-saturday-jacksonville#ixzz1YcKUPOAz; http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-09-18/story/1-dead-i-10-crash-saturday-jacksonville