Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

Published on:

A Fort Lauderdale firefighter was killed after he stopped on the side of the road to change a flat and was struck by an oncoming vehicle on Interstate 95. The case is a reminder to drivers not to text and drive and to avoid other distractions while driving to prevent similar accidents. Drivers who must pull over to change a flat, handle maintenance, or in the event of an emergency should also remember the danger of pulling onto the shoulder. According to media and accident reports, a 48-year-old driver struck the SUV in her Hyundai Sonata in the southbound lane just north of Yamoto Road in Boca Raton.

A 911 call detailing the scene of the accident was made available to the media. In the recording, it is clear that the driver was overwhelmed with grief and shock as she begged the dispatcher for help. Immediately, the driver recognized that she veered off the road and “hit a man.” When the emergency rescue team arrived, the driver was standing over the victim, who was still breathing but unresponsive. Throughout the six-minute 911 call, the driver begged the dispatchers for help while they tried to keep her calm.

Police stated that the driver tried to avoid hitting the victim by veering to the right, but drove into the victim who was next to his car. The driver went to aid the victim as she called 911 and though he tried to speak, she could not understand what he was saying. When other eyewitnesses pulled onto the scene, many called 911 to report the tragedy. All of these reports will be relevant in a criminal or civil matter. At least one eyewitness said the driver “panicked” and hit the victim. No charges have been filed, but the case remains under investigation.

Published on:

Wrong way accidents are one of the deadliest causes of collision on the nation’s highways. Many of these accidents occur near on-or off-ramps, where improper signage can mislead drivers; however, a substantial number of the accidents have also involved drunk drivers or drivers under the influence of narcotics or prescription medications. Among the most recent tragedies, 11 people died on a February Sunday in two separate highway collisions—both involving wrong way accidents. The accidents occurred on opposite sides of the country, but both have confounded law enforcement officials who are seeking to understand and prevent these fatal collisions.

Deadly car accidents involving wrong way accidents are making headlines nationwide. Law enforcement agencies and other safety advocates have continued to study the cause of wrong way collisions, because they pose such a significant risk to motorists. Our car accident attorneys in Fort Lauderdale are committed to providing sound counsel to victims and families of auto collisions. In addition to helping uncover the cause of any accident, we will also work aggressively to maximize compensation for victims and families.
Continue reading →

Published on:

A pair of deadly 15-passenger van accidents has the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issuing a warning to churches, schools, and other organizations that use them for transportation.

A church van overturned in Georgia earlier this month after blowing a tire; four passengers were killed and 15 were injured. Last month, six passengers were killed in a New York van accident. Our West Palm Beach injury lawyers understand the complexities of such accidents and have the experience necessary to represent accident victims in cases where there are competing injury or wrongful death claims. Whether a church, soup kitchen, nursing home facility or other group, an organization has an obligation to ensure the safe passage of its members, customers or guests.

Such vans are frequently used by schools, churches, nursing homes and other organizations and the fall and winter driving season increases the risk of an accident. The NHTSA reports that tire maintenance is critical to preventing tragedies like the recent fatal rollover crashes.

“Users of 15-passenger vans need to make sure the vehicles have appropriately-sized tires that are properly inflated before every trip,” the government reports. The government also discourages the use of spare tires to replace worn tires because tires degrade over time. A tire more than 10 years old should not be used at all.

The government is specifically addressing the advisory toward church groups, colleges and schools and other nonprofit organizations that use older 15-passenger vans. The agency says primary and secondary schools should not use the vans to transport children at all because they do not provide the same level of safety as school buses.

It is also against federal law to buy new 15-passenger vans for school transportation purposes.

Safety tips for 15-passenger vans include:

-Make sure the vehicles is properly maintained.

-Drivers need to be fully trained and experienced in operating a 15-passenger van.

-The 15-passenger vans are very sensitive to overloading and should not be overloaded under any circumstances. Overloading not only increases the risk of rollover, it also negatively impacts handling.

-Tire inflation and wear should be checked before every trip.

-Passengers should wear seat belts.

Here you can find additional safety information for 15-passenger vans.
Continue reading →

Contact Information