Monthly Archive for June, 2010

Hallandale Beach Bicyclist Run Over, Killed By City Bus

Published on June 23, 2010 in Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents. 0 Comments

June 22, 2010 – Hallandale Beach, FL – A male bicyclist sustained fatal injuries while exiting a Wal-Mart parking lot in Hallandale Beach on the evening of June 17. 

The bicyclist, whose name is being withheld pending notification of family, was exiting the Wal-Mart parking lot around 8:30 p.m. when he struck the Broward County Transit bus near its rear door. The man, described in his 60s or 70s, fell underneath the bus as it was moving and was crushed following the collision. 

Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue was on the scene immediately and transported the bicyclist to Memorial Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Responding Hallandale Beach Police Captain Thomas Honan said it appeared that the bicyclist was responsible for the collision. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2008 Florida Crash Statistics, there were 2,978 fatalities as a result of car accidents in Florida. 

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities. 

Common accidents include, but are not limited to: 

  • Single-car accidents;
  • Accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • Accidents caused by aggressive driving or distracted drivers. 

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

Estimating the Value of Your Personal Injury Case

Published on June 22, 2010 in General Personal Injury. 0 Comments

The final value settlement of a Florida personal injury case cannot be truly determined until the final decision at trial. In the meantime, a Palm Beach injury lawyer can help you collect all the evidence for your Florida personal injury case and help estimate the amount of damages you should be seeking. 

There are various aspects of your personal injury case and your personal life that come into consideration when estimating the value of your case. While this is by no means a final list, these are some of the more common things your Palm Beach injury lawyer will help you estimate: 

  • Medical bills incurred from the accident, including estimated future expenses;
  • Lost wages resulting from the accident, and predicted future lost wages;
  • Impact of potential disability or permanent loss of work;
  • Emotional distress upon you and your family;
  • Property damage and repair costs; and
  • Potential legal costs. 

Using these estimates, you and your attorney can construct a solid case that seeks an appropriate figure for the damages you have currently suffered and the potential future damages you face because of disability or ongoing recovery. A proper Florida personal injury case settlement should not only cover the bare minimum of tangible damages such as medical bills and lost wages, but also provide for a comfortable overage to help your family in the future. 

A serious Florida personal injury can result in years of recovery and suffering, and even permanent disability. Our article about the value of your personal injury case explains how important it is to your future well-being as well as that of your family to have a substantial settlement. 

With unanticipated medical needs and chances of lost work as a result of disability, you should consult a trusted Palm Beach injury attorney from 24/7 Injury Law to help you obtain an adequate settlement. Call today to set up a consultation – 1-888-984-4878.

Florida 2009 Statistics Show All-time Low in Traffic Deaths

Published on June 18, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments

June 14, 2010 – Florida – The trend of declining numbers for fatal traffic accidents reached an all-time low in 2009 according to a recently released report. 

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation reported that in 2009 2,563 people were killed in traffic accidents, compared with 2,978 in 2008. 

These numbers continue a positive decline which began in 2005. In the 4-year span, the number of Florida traffic fatalities is down by nearly 1,000 from the 3,533 deaths reported in ’05. 

The report focuses on Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties with area-specific numbers to be released later this summer. Officials credit the decline to the primary seat belt law which went into effect during the summer of 2009. The law allows officers to pull vehicles over when adults in the front seat or children under 18 are not wearing seatbelts. 

Better laws, new enforcement mechanisms, better roads and more educational opportunities are also credited for the 4-year declining trend. State, county and volunteer organizations have also been contributing largely to the education of drivers to prevent fatal crashes. 

Enforcement enhancements also play a large role. More traffic offense sting operations, unmarked police vehicles, harsher penalties for traffic violations, stronger guard rails and other safety barriers on the Turnpike and other highways, better road lighting, and wider highways are all positive additions to Florida driving safety programs.

Boat Captain Charged with BUI Manslaughter in May Accident

Published on June 17, 2010 in Wrongful Death Lawsuits. 0 Comments

June 14, 2010 – Delray Beach, FL – The captain of a 35-foot speedboat involved in a fatal crash that ejected 31-year old Christopher Smith into the water has been charged with Boating Under the Influence (BUI) manslaughter.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, 42-year-old Mandy Romeu was driving the boat in the Intracoastal Waterway near Atlantic Avenue at about 2:30 a.m. on May 8th when it struck a navigation marker. The boat was traveling at about 30 mph at the time of impact which threw Smith into the water. He was found dead about an hour later.

Smith’s sister, Alexandra, was also a passenger and neither she nor Romeu were injured. None of the 3 passengers were wearing life jackets during the time of the boating accident.

During an interview with police, Romeu admitted to drinking 4 glasses of rum and coke between 7 p.m. and midnight the night of the accident. When tested, he was found to have nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.

Romeu was arrested following the fatal boating accident and released on $25,000 bond. He was also charged with reckless operation of a vehicle and violating navigational rules. He has no prior boating violations or citations in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local boating accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of watercraft and marine accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • Single-vessel accidents;
  • Accidents caused by hazardous water conditions; and
  • Accidents caused by intoxication or misuse of vessel.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

How Degree of Fault Impacts your Florida Injury Claim

Published on June 16, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments

Florida follows a comparative negligence system which means the degree of fault can be up to 99% before the case is invalid. When your Florida personal injury claim is in the discovery phase, a judge or jury will be assessing the evidence presented to determine the degree of fault for all parties involved. 

For your claim to receive the best settlement amount, your degree of fault needs to be as low as possible. The higher your degree of fault, the more your final settlement amount will be reduced. A 20% degree of fault will make a $100,000 settlement only pay out $80,000 in damages to you and your family. 

The degree of fault is determined by the judge or jury after they have reviewed the evidence presented by both sides of the case. The more evidence you have in support of your innocence, the better your chances are of having a lower degree of fault. 

You will want to have the police reports, witness testimony, and your medical reports available to help build your claim. Remember that anything you say to the insurance companies may be admitted as evidence in court, so be careful not to admit to anything during your conversations with insurance adjustors and never let them record your conversation. 

There’s more information on the impact degree of fault has on comparative and contributory negligence rules in our article library. Knowing how to best prove a low degree of fault is important to your settlement amount, and a trusted Palm Beach injury lawyer from 24/7 Injury Law can help. Call today to set up a consultation – 888-984-4878.

Miami Driver Left Elderly Pedestrian to Die

Published on June 16, 2010 in Car Accidents and Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents. 0 Comments

June 14, 2010 – Miami, FL – While standing on the corner of SW 24th Avenue, 73-year-old Ramon DeMola was unaware his life was about to tragically end. 

Sources at CBS4 Miami have released information regarding this fatal hit-and-run accident. DeMola was standing on the corner or 24th and 8th street when an SUV jumped the sidewalk and struck him with the passenger side of the vehicle. He was dragged for several yards until shaken loose from the SUV. The driver reportedly stopped momentarily before fleeing the scene, neglecting to offer help. 

DeMola was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Trauma Center where he later died from his injuries. 

Witnesses said the driver appeared to be on her cell phone as she approached the intersection. There was no reason determined as to why she drove up on the sidewalk where she hit DeMola. The vehicle was a white or light gray, possibly late-model Kia driven by a Hispanic woman in her mid to late 50’s with straight, black hair. The vehicle will most likely have damage to the passenger side near the windshield. 

Miami police are asking anyone with information to call the department at 305-603-6525 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2008 Florida Crash Statistics, there were 2,978 fatalities as a result of car accidents in Florida. 

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities. 

Common accidents include, but are not limited to: 

  • Single-car accidents;
  • Accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • Accidents caused by aggressive driving or distracted drivers. 

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

How is fault determined in Florida car accidents?

Published on June 10, 2010 in Car Accidents. 0 Comments

If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be wondering how fault is determined and if you are entitled to any compensation. Determining fault will make a difference in the amount of damages that an injured party can receive in a settlement. Each state follows a particular negligence system. Visit our article library to learn more about Florida’s negligence laws.

If you have been involved in a car accident in Florida, the damages you can receive will depend on how much at fault you were. Even if you were 99% at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages. However, that amount will be reduced by 99%.

If you were only 5% at fault, then your damages would be reduced just 5%. Determining who is at fault and how much percentage at fault they are is important in determining the compensation that you may be entitled to.

As an example, if you were injured in a car accident in Florida and found to be 80% at fault, you would receive 80% less in damages. So if the amount of damages was $10,000, then you would receive $8,000 less, bringing the final amount of recovered damages to $2,000.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact a Florida personal injury lawyer who can help you recover the damages for which you may be eligible.

24/7 Injury Law, a law firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, takes time when speaking with you about your Florida personal injury claim and works with you on a contingent fee basis so there are NO FEES unless a trained Palm Beach car accident lawyer wins your case. Call now to schedule a FREE evaluation of your case – 1-888-984-4878.

Interstate 95 in Florida Is Deadliest Highway in Nation

Published on June 10, 2010 in General Personal Injury. 0 Comments

June 10, 2010 – Florida – The Daily Beast, using statistics gleaned from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has released a story that lists Interstate 95 in Florida as the deadliest highway in the nation. Interstate 95, which stretches for 382 miles, has the highest number of fatal accidents per mile in the country.

According to a 5-year period from 2004 until 2008, there were 1.73 fatal accidents per mile on Interstate 95. A Florida Highway Patrolman cites driver distraction as a cause for many of the accidents that occur on that stretch of highway.

Some of the driver distractions include using cell phones, along with drivers who fidget with satellite navigation systems and video players.

Because I-95 is such a busy highway, the risk of getting into an accident when there are driver distractions greatly increases. In addition, there are more and more aggressive drivers who are adding to the risk.

Among the other 10 deadliest highways in the nation, I-4 in Florida was cited as being No. 3.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2008 Florida Crash Statistics, there were 2,978 fatalities as a result of car accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • Single-car accidents;
  • Accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • Accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have suffered the loss of a loved one from a South Florida car accident, 24/7 Injury Law, a law firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, will take time when speaking with you about your wrongful death claim. Contact us to schedule a FREE evaluation of your case – 1-888-984-4878.

Bus Driver Killed in Hit-and-Run in West Miami

Published on June 10, 2010 in General Personal Injury. 0 Comments

June 10, 2010 – West Miami, Fl – The Sun Sentinel reports that a school bus driver was killed in a hit-and-run accident involving her own car on Tuesday morning.

The woman, who has not yet been named, was not driving her school bus at the time of the accident. The victim was attempting to make a turn into the bus depot where she worked on 137th Avenue and Northeast 6th Street, when another vehicle traveling on 137th Avenue crashed into her car.

The driver of the car that slammed into her vehicle left the scene of the accident, but was located a short time later. Charges against the driver are being filed for leaving the scene of an accident involving a casualty.

The woman who was tragically killed is the mother of 4 children. She worked as a school bus driver for the Miami-Dade school district. The hit-and-run car accident is still under investigation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2008 Florida Crash Statistics, there were 2,978 fatalities as a result of car accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • Single-car accidents;
  • Accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • Accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

Woman Dies After Hitting Back of a Truck on Florida’s Turnpike

Published on June 10, 2010 in General Personal Injury. 0 Comments

June 10, 2010 – Palm City, FL – The Palm Beach Post News reports that a woman died late Monday night after she hit the back of a tractor trailer on Florida’s Turnpike, near the city of Stuart.

The 59-year-old victim, who was from Palm City, was driving north on the Florida Turnpike when she struck the back of a large commercial truck.

The truck crash victim was driving a Toyota Echo which spun out of control after hitting the back of the truck and then crashed into a guardrail. Florida Highway Patrol stated that the driver of the Toyota was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Within the hour of being taken to Martin Memorial Medical Center, she died from her injuries.

The tractor trailer she hit continued to travel north on the Florida Turnpike. It is possible that the driver of the truck wasn’t aware that he had been struck. Investigators are trying to find the truck as they continue to investigate this fatal Florida truck crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2008 Florida Crash Statistics, there were 2,978 fatalities as a result of car accidents in Florida.

As a service to the residents of South Florida, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in South Florida that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • Single-car accidents;
  • Accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • Accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim’s family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.