GOLDLAW – West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyers, Car Accident, Slip & Fall – Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb

Category: Auto Accidents

what to do if you are involved in a major auto accident

  • Construction Worker Killed After Being Hit by Car on I-95

    Construction Worker Killed After Being Hit by Car on I-95

    An early morning accident on Interstate 95 in Miami led to the death of a worker doing construction nearby on Sunday, February 16.

    Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officials say the accident happened around 2 AM on Sunday, in the southbound lanes near 62nd Street. They report that a black SUV crashed into a white Toyota sedan. The collision sent the SUV flying into the nearby construction zone, where it struck a worker. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

    Sadly, construction site injuries and deaths are not uncommon. The Bureau of Labor statistics reports there are about 150,000 construction site injuries every year in the US. Annually, more than 300 people die in work-related accidents in the state of Florida alone. The most common causes of construction site deaths and injuries are falls and interactions with equipment, but failing to secure a work site can lead to all sorts of accidents.

    Companies that set up construction close to a major highway like I-95 need to be careful to protect workers from accidents involving vehicles. This may include things like putting up the proper signage, diverting traffic when crews need to work on the road itself or very close to it, and making sure workers are kept a safe distance from moving traffic in all situations.

    Drivers should also be especially careful driving in or near highway work zones. In some areas, fines for traffic violations increase in these areas in order to ensure drivers continue at a slow and safe speed.

  • Woman Hospitalized After Being Struck by Fort Lauderdale Transit Bus

    Woman Hospitalized After Being Struck by Fort Lauderdale Transit Bus

    On Thursday evening, February 13, rescue crews transported a woman to a local hospital after she was struck by a Broward County Transit bus in Fort Lauderdale.

    Officials say the accident happened on the overpass with Interstate 95, around 9:20 PM. According to their report, the woman was crossing the overpass when the bus hit her. She was then taken to the hospital as a trauma alert, and her condition is unknown.

    Large vehicles like buses can cause serious injury when they hit other vehicles, or pedestrians. Florida has “common carrier” laws that bus owners and operators are required to follow to ensure the safety of passengers and pedestrians alike. In some situations, public transit drivers have to follow slower speeds. They are required to focus on driving and minimize conversation with riders. In some cases, there are on-duty hourly limits to prevent drivers from operating a public transit vehicle while overly tired.

    In Florida, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) usually doesn’t apply to situations involving injuries caused by public transit vehicles. As these large vehicles may cause serious injury, the victims may find themselves with piles of medical bills for their injuries.

  • 2-year-old Killed When Driver Crashes Into Vendor Tent near Homestead

    2-year-old Killed When Driver Crashes Into Vendor Tent near Homestead

    On Friday, February 14, 2-year-old Anthony De Leon died after being pinned under a car that crashed into a vendor tent.

    Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) say the boy was with his mother, who was selling Valentine’s Day gifts in a parking lot vendor tent. A 2019 Dodge Charger, driven by 42-year-old Hanskabell Amargos, was heading north on U.S. 1 near Southwest 296th Street a little before 1 PM. For unknown reasons, the car veered into the parking lot and crashed into the tent. Sadly, De Leon was pinned under the car. Bystanders rushed to help, including the owner of a nearby auto body shop, who ran over with a jack and tried to get the car off the little boy. First responders arrived and took De Leon to a local medical center, where he later died.

    Sadly, Florida leads the nation in deaths of pedestrians being hit by cars. These accidents typically happen on or near roadways, but as we see in this case, people in parking lots may be killed if a car veers off the road for any reason.

    Annually, the US averages nearly 400 children a year killed from being hit by a car. Most are not in tents when this happens, but their short stature makes them difficult to see. Drivers are always advised to look carefully, especially in parking lots where young children may dart out from between a row of cars unexpectedly.

  • Two Teenagers Die in Alcohol-Related Wreck on I-75

    Two Teenagers Die in Alcohol-Related Wreck on I-75

    A Saturday morning crash led to the deaths of two teenagers after an impaired underage driver hit another vehicle then crashed into two trees.

    Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) responded to the accident scene near milepost 24 of I-275 on Saturday, February 8. They say a Toyota Camry driven by 18-year-old Erinasha Jones was attempting to change lanes when it crashed into a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 38-year-old Ernesto Leon. The Camry spun across the interstate, went off the road, and crashed into two trees. Leon and a passenger in the Silverado were unhurt.

    Jones and two passengers, Jiana Minaya, 16, and Keeoshia Edwards, 17, were taken to a local hospital. Sadly, Minaya and Edwards were later pronounced dead. Jones is in her serious condition. FHP troopers say she was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

    Edwards, whose family includes thirteen siblings, was a student at Lakewood High School. The school says grief counselors are available for students struggling to deal with the sudden loss.

    “The young lady that was driving, there’s not bitterness in our heart against her,” said Edwards’ grandfather, Robert Benjamin. “This driving and drinking at that age and texting on the phone and stuff, we’re having a lot of tragic accidents with those people.”

    Because drinking and driving is a serious risk for teenagers, under Florida law, providing alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 is illegal. In some situations, people may be liable for alcohol-related crashes if they knowingly provided alcohol to a minor, or were aware of alcohol being served to minors on their property and didn’t act to stop it.

  • Shawna Smith of Wimauma Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash, Driver Arrested

    Shawna Smith of Wimauma Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash, Driver Arrested

    On Sunday, February 9, 37-year-old Shawna Smith’s vehicle was rear-ended and overturned on I-75. and the other driver took off.

    Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officials say the crash happened just north of Big Bend Road, around 7 AM. 32-year-old Alberto Vigo of Bradenton was also heading north on I-75, and was attempting to pass Smith’s Jeep. He hit the back of her vehicle, which then overturned into the grass. Smith was ejected from the Jeep and died at the scene.

    After the crash, Vigo kept driving until his Ford shut down about three miles down the road. He quickly abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers later found him near a corporate building in Riverview and arrested him on charges of DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash involving death and driving with a suspended license involving a death. FHP is investigating whether alcohol was involved in the accident.

    In 2016, there were 5,223 alcohol-related car accidents in Florida, 417 of which involved fatalities. Another 617 accidents were caused by drugged driving, 291 of which were fatal.

    Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to avoid impaired or reckless drivers. However, sometimes vehicle safety can also be an issue. Jeep Wranglers have a poor safety record, with a 27.9% chance of rolling over in an accident like this one. They also have poor ratings in side crash tests.

  • Dwyer High School Honor Student Aden Williams, 14, Killed After Being Struck by SUV While Walking to Bus Stop

    Dwyer High School Honor Student Aden Williams, 14, Killed After Being Struck by SUV While Walking to Bus Stop

    On Wednesday morning, January 29, Dwyer High School student Aden Williams was walking to the bus stop when an SUV struck him, leaving the teen with serious injuries.

    Williams, 14, was an honor student and aspiring engineer. Courtney Newell, a family friend who helped organize a vigil held in his honor on Wednesday, February 5, said that he was loved by many.

    Police have not identified the driver, but say that a Ford Explorer struck Williams while he was walking to the bus stop, around 6:30 AM. The accident took place on the 3600 block of Congress Avenue, about a half-mile north of Blue Heron Boulevard. Williams was taken as a trauma patient to a West Palm Beach hospital, where he died several days later from his injuries.

    The Palm Beach County school district says grief counselors are always available to help students after a death that affects the school. Mental health professionals will continue to provide support for students and faculty as long as necessary.

    A GoFundMe has been set up to help Williams’ family with expenses.

    Unfortunately, Florida leads the nation in pedestrian deaths, and Williams is not the first child killed walking to a bus stop or waiting for a bus. Kids often wait for buses in the early morning hours, when there is less light and it’s more difficult for drivers to see. People driving to work at this time should be extra vigilant, particularly if they are driving through school zones or near bus stops. Driving slowly and paying attention to your surroundings helps reduce the risk of accidents.

  • FSU Student Natalie Nickchen Killed After Driver Runs Red Light

    Natalie Nickchen, a 19-year-old FSU student, died Thursday morning after being hit by a car in a pedestrian crosswalk.

    The accident happened on West Tennessee Street in Tallahassee. Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) officials say a driver, Ivey Green, 24, ran a red light and struck Nickchen, who was in the pedestrian crosswalk in the 1000 block of West Tennessee. Green will be issued “appropriate citations,” although the State Attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges.

    The FSU community was saddened by the news of Nickchen’s death.

    “The entire Florida State University family is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students, Natalie Nickchen, in a tragic accident on Tennessee Street earlier today,” said FSU President John Thrasher in a statement. “Any time we lose a young person at the beginning of a lifetime of promise, it is heartbreaking and profound. Our prayers are with Natalie’s family and friends. I encourage anyone in our community struggling with this loss to reach out for assistance.”

    The university’s statement went on to say that FSU’s University Counseling Center is available at 644-TALK (24 hours a day/7 days a week.) Students also can walk in to Counseling anytime between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. M-F without calling.

    Unfortunately, Florida is still the deadliest state for pedestrians, with 5,443 deaths in a ten-year span from 2008 to 2017. Orlando is the most dangerous city for pedestrians, with 656 deaths in that period. Older adults are more likely to be hit in a crosswalk or at an intersection than younger ones, although everyone is at risk.

  • Latoya Roundtree of St. Petersburg Killed By Impaired Driver Who Ran Red Light

    Latoya Roundtree of St. Petersburg Killed By Impaired Driver Who Ran Red Light

    On Monday, January 20, Latoya Roundtree died in St. Petersburg after an impaired driver ran a red light and crashed into her vehicle.

    According to St. Pete police, Arttonyo Lee Jr., 23, was under the influence and speeding when he ran a red light at the intersection of 18th Avenue South at 22nd Street South, about 9 PM.

    Speeding eastbound on 18th Avenue, Lee crashed into the passenger side of a vehicle driven by 38-year-old Latoya Roundtree. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

    Lee was treated for injuries then later arrested for vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, and violation of probation. According to police, he showed numerous signs of being impaired and results from blood tests are pending.

    Sadly, impaired driving is still the leading cause of fatal traffic crashes in Florida. In 2017, there were 5,125 alcohol-involved crashes in the state. Those included 350 fatalities.

    The highest number of drunk driving fatalities were in the 25-29 age group (31), followed by the 55-59 age group with 26 fatalities in 2017.

  • Two Arrested After Child Struck by Car and Dragged in Hit-and-Run Crash in Umatilla

    Two Arrested After Child Struck by Car and Dragged in Hit-and-Run Crash in Umatilla

    A 12-year-old child was seriously injured on Monday morning, January 21, while waiting for a school bus, and the hit-and-run driver is now in custody.

    Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officials say that Lake County sheriff’s deputies responded to Thomas Boat Landing Road in Umatilla around 7:40 AM following reports of the hit-and-run crash. A witness told police that a 12-year-old child had been hit by a silver 2015 Chevrolet Malibu, after the car’s driver ran a stop sign and went off the road. The car crashed into the child, who “became lodged under (the vehicle) and was dragged a short distance.” Ultimately he was freed from the car and left to suffer with his injuries while the driver sped off.

    Fortunately, the driver of the bus the child was waiting for arrived in time to see the car and get a description of the driver. The bus driver also called for medical aid and stayed with the boy until help arrived. The child was then airlifted to a local hospital with serious injuries.

    Authorities later determined the car was driven by 19-year-old Christian Ames Messick of Leesburg. After an extensive land and air search, a K9 unit tracked Messick and 24-year-old Mariano Keano Taclay to an RV parked on private property near County Road 42. The property owner told authorities the RV should have been unoccupied. Eventually three people exited the RV, one of whom was a woman Messick and Taclay had been holding against her will. She told authorities they also dumped a bag of firearms into a nearby body of water, which they later recovered.

    Messick was charged with leaving the scene of a crash causing a serious injury and driving without a license. He and Taclay are also currently being charged with burglary and false imprisonment, with additional charges to follow regarding the firearms.

    Florida has one of the highest rates of hit-and-run crashes, and not every driver is caught. One study found that 2016 was the year with the highest number of fatal hit-and-run crashes with 2,049 deaths — a 60 percent increase since 2009. New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida have the highest rates of deaths in these types of accidents. Drivers who do get arrested following a hit-and-run may also be liable for the victim’s injuries.

  • Harvey Bruner of Jacksonville Struck and Killed by Car on Blanding Boulevard

    Harvey Bruner of Jacksonville Struck and Killed by Car on Blanding Boulevard

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Harvey Bruner, 54, of Jacksonville, was struck and killed in Clay County on Friday, January 17, while trying to cross a busy boulevard.

    Officials with Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), say Bruner was attempting to cross Blanding Boulevard in Clay County from the west to the east side. He was walking eastbound in the southbound lanes when a black Chevrolet HHR SUV driving southbound hit him. The front of the Chevrolet then came to a rest facing the southbound area, partly in the left and center lanes.

    Bruner was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Chevrolet driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

    The top cities for pedestrian deaths in Florida

    Sadly, this is a common scenario in Florida, which leads the nation in pedestrian deaths. People in vehicles that hit pedestrians often suffer minor or no injuries at all, while the impact of a large, fast vehicle like an SUV can cause serious injury or death to a pedestrian.

    Nine of the 20 deadliest US cities for pedestrians are in Florida, with Orlando ranked as the least safe, and the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolis ranked No. 14 in the 2019 “Dangerous By Design” report.

    Between 2008 and 2017, the state saw 5,433 pedestrian deaths, for an annual average of 2.73 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people, or a Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) calculated as 182.0.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]