Bicycle Accident

An Orange City teen was injured when he rode his bicycle into an SUV Wednesday afternoon, September 21, and has been cited by the Florida Highway Patrol for violating the right of way of the SUV and for not wearing his helmet. A helmet is a requirement for any bicyclist under the age of 16. The 13-year-old hit the vehicle at the corner of Sparkman Avenue and West Blue Springs when the SUV, driven by a 67-year-old man, pulled into the intersection and was hit in the right rear section of the vehicle. The teen was taken to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.

Orange City was the scene of another collision this week involving a 14-year-old pedestrian on his way to school who was hit by a teacher driving to University High School. He is listed in stable condition but the teacher received a citation for violating the teen’s right of way.

Bicycle Crashes in Florida
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recently released its traffic statistics for the state for 2010. We find that there were 99 bicyclists killed in 2010 a decline of 16% over 2009. Last year 4,376 bicyclists were injured (roughly the same number as the year before) and there were 4,774 crashes involving bicycles. Generally the bicyclist is not seen by the motorist even though an automobile is supposed to Share the Road with all forms of transportation.

The Florida Bicycle Association is a great resource to let bikers know what the rules of the road are to stay safe.

Sources: http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/west-volusia/2011/09/22/orange-city-boy-cited-after-bike-collides-with-suv.html; http://www.flhsmv.gov/hsmvdocs/CS2010.pdf

In Lakeland, Florida, a 68-year old man from Vermilion, Ohio was riding his bicycle when he was struck and killed by a vehicle that left the scene of the fatal accident, according to The Morning Journal.

A 54-year-old woman was driving southbound on US 98 North, and reportedly drifted off the road and into the man. The article reports she was seen driving erratically before the deadly Florida bike collision. The driver then made the mistake of fleeing the scene after which she reportedly struck a Chrysler van, and then a Kia Sorento whose drivers were trying to apprehend her. A short time later the woman was taken into custody, treated for minor injuries, and then charged with leaving the scene of a Florida bike crash with death and property damage. Toxicity tests were taken and further charges are pending.

Our condolences are extended to the friends and family of this man who was tragically killed through no fault of his own.

If the details of this report are accurate, the female driver is facing serious charges. Under Florida law, “the driver of a vehicle involved in a crash [. . .] that results in the death of any person must immediately stop the vehicle [. . .] and remain at the scene…” If a driver fails to stop at the scene of an accident that results in a fatality, they can be charged with a first degree felony (Fl Statutes Title XXII 316.027). The maximum sentence for a first degree felony is a $10,000 fine and as much as 30 years in prison.

Hit-and-Run Reward is a national program financed exclusively by American personal injury attorneys who believe if you report a hit-and-run driver you will not only feel good by keeping a dangerous driver off the road, but you could receive a financial reward of $1,000 for anyone you turn in who is later convicted of the hit-and-run.

The number for Hit-and-Run Reward is 1-800-644-8678. The Florida motorcycle crash lawyers at Farah & Farah law firm believe fewer offenders will leave the scene of a car accident if they know they can be turned in by witnesses. If you are involved in an accident, whatever you do, do not leave the scene.

Two Avon Park teens were injured Thursday night, October 21, when they were riding on a single bicycle on the shoulder of northbound U.S. 27 and for some unknown reason, they pulled in front of a motor vehicle, causing the bicycle and car to collide. Deyven Lee Bottner Scott, 16, and Jim Allan Bass, Jr., 17, and were listed in critical and serious condition respectively following the 9 p.m. crash with the 2010 Chevy 4-door being driven by William Edgar Futch of Sebring.

The story in The News Sun says nothing about the condition of Futch following the Florida bicycle accident, but Bottner Scott and Chevy were thrown from the bike onto the road and the bicycle was lodged under the bumper of the Chevy. A medical helicopter was called to the scene to pick up the teens to take them to area hospitals.

The Florida Highway Patrol reports that alcohol was not a factor in the Florida bike accident.

Florida Bicycle Accident Statistics
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that in 2009, bicyclist and passenger fatalities declined 15% from 118 the previous year to 100 fatalities.

However, Florida remains one of the top states for accidents involving both bicyclists and pedestrians and has 9 out of the 10 most dangerous metropolitan areas including Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Jacksonville, according to the nonprofit group Transportation for America. The group concludes that southern roadways are dangerous by design and that streets were geared for speeding cars and not for alternative transportation.

The Florida auto accident attorneys at Farah & Farah warn motorists that the roadways are increasingly being shared with bicycles and pedestrians. That’s why the state has a Share the Road campaign to bring awareness and appreciation for all modes of transportation.

If a loved one has been injured by a speeding automobile, our experienced Florida car crash attorneys may be able to determine the at-fault party who is responsible for compensating bicycle and pedestrian victims for their injuries.

Roger Grooters, 66, of Gulf Breeze, Florida wanted to help the victims of this year’s BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, so he decided a cross-country bike ride would raise awareness and funds. On Wednesday morning, October, 6, he was struck by a truck being driven by Eddie Hogg, 41 of Molino, just outside of Panama City according to News4Jax.com. Grooters began his mission on September 10 in Oceanside, California, and was just days short of completing his 3,200-mile trip.

In lieu of flowers, his family is asking people to support Roger’s mission by making a donation to assist victims of the Gulf Coast oil spill.

Our sincere condolences are extended to the family and friends of this man who was trying to make a difference.

Mr. Grooters’ family would be well-advised to be assisted in the investigation into this tragic Florida bicycle accident by an experienced Florida personal injury attorney. A team of investigators will need to reconstruct the scene and take measurements to try and calculate the speed of the truck involved. If the vehicle was a big-rig, the black box data recorder will need to be included in the investigation to determine whether Mr. Hogg complied with rules regarding the limit on hours behind the wheel. Only when the outstanding questions are answered in this fatal bicycle accident can the at-fault party be held responsible for the wrongful death of this bicyclist.

It was just the second day of school and a teacher was turning into Lakeside Junior High School in Orange Park, Tuesday, August 24. Unfortunately, the teacher struck bicyclist, Joshua Gallettan, 33, who was heading south on the sidewalk. The accident happened at about 8:20 a.m. along Moody Avenue, according to an article on News4Jax.com. The bicyclist was taken to Orange Park Medical Center, and then airlifted to Shands Jacksonville in critical condition. The teacher was identified as Marilyn Duke, 61, who was not injured in the accident. Mr. Gallettan had no connection to the school. Since the accident happened about an hour before the start of school, it is not believed that any students witnessed the collision.

Our prayers go out to the family of Mr. Gallettan for his swift and complete recovery.

Pedestrian & Bicyclist Collisions
Share the Road is the name of a Florida campaign to make drivers aware they are not the only ones who use our roadways. Jacksonville has a noticeable lack of bike lanes and sidewalks. Unlike other major eastern cities, Florida planners have not always thought about any form of transportation other than the automobile. That has not only frustrated bikers, but led to fatality and serious bicycle injury accidents in Florida.

According to statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 604 pedestrians and bicyclists were involved in accidents with automobiles and 29 were killed in 2009. That number has increased from 566 injuries in 2008.

Nationally, a dozen people are killed every day when they opt to walk or take a bicycle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The family of Mr. Gallettan and other bicyclers who are injured would be well-advised to contact a Florida bicycle accident attorney to make sure their rights are preserved following an accident with an automobile.

The 75-year-old son of former Florida Governor LeRoy Collins was killed Thursday July 29, while riding his bicycle in South Tampa according to a News4Jax article. LeRoy Collins Jr. was crossing South Hyde Park Avenue at Brorein Street when he was hit by an SUV just before 7 a.m. Collins lived on nearby Davis Island and was known to be an active cyclist and rower.

Collins considered himself a fortunate man.

He had recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary, had all four children living within four miles along with eight grandchildren, was able to row 10 miles in an outing and swim 1,000 yards, along with cycling. He got up every morning at 5:30 a.m. to bike to the University of Tampa rowing club.

Police have already ruled the death an accident. No charges will be filed against Margaux Manual, 27, who was behind the wheel of the SUV heading west on Brorein Street. When she made a left turn, she failed to see Collins in the cross walk.

Our sympathies go out to the family of Collins, who was well loved. He was also a retired admiral and still currently employed as the executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.

Staying at the Scene
Many drivers will leave the scene of a Floria bicycle accident but Manual and a witness, who was from her work, stayed and performed CPR on Collins before EMS arrived. Manuel reported to police that Collins appeared to have a scrape on his knee. It turns out she is an obstetrician/gynecologist resident at the University of South Florida and was on her way to work.

Jacksonville bike accident attorneys want to remind all Floridians that to leave the scene and not render aid can bring a vehicular homicide charge and up to 30 years in prison.

Accolades are coming in for Collins as an outstanding individual and role model. In his blog he recently wrote:

“Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not.

“Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.”

Three bicyclists were hospitalized after they were injured by a hit-and-run driver on U.S. 1 in St. Augustine Monday afternoon, according to an article in The Florida Times-Union. Two cyclists were taken to Shands in Jacksonville and one was transported to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine. The driver who hit the cyclists has been identified as Michael Nally, 42, who was behind the wheel of a PT Cruiser heading northbound on Ponce De Leon Boulevard when he swerved into the three cyclists just before 1 p.m., hit them, but then kept driving. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan followed Nally and then called police and told them he pulled into a bar on North Ponce De Leon. The witness also told police that he saw a beer can thrown from the car. Police tracked down Nally to Arnold’s Bar where he was arrested and charged with three counts of leaving the scene of an accident with bodily injury.

As we’ve said here before, leaving the scene of an accident where there is an injury or possible death is the worst thing you can possibly do. The first degree felony criminal charge will be added that can bring 30 years in state prison.

Despite being seventh in population, Jacksonville is third in the state in the number of hit-and runs.

The state reports there were 349 hit –and-run driving prosecutions in 2006 in our area. By 2007 and 2008 there were 2,000. That is such a sad statement about how we fail to care.

DUI charges are possible pending the result of a blood test.

Fortunately, the bicyclists were wearing helmets and those taken to Shands had the most serious injuries. We now know the identities of the three. They all worked for the St. Johns County technology department and were out for a lunchtime ride.

They are identified as Robert Jolley and Daniel Phillips who went to Shands and were in fair condition. Derick Tillman went to Flagler Hospital as a precaution. How many more accidents of this kind do we need before we dedicate bike paths for riders? After all, the roads are there to be shared by everyone, not just those with the biggest vehicle.

If you have been hit by a drunk driver or a hit-and-run accident, a dedicated and experienced Florida hit and run accident attorney can help you get the resources you need to begin the road to recovery.

NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, issued new rules this week that will improve the nation’s 474,000 school buses. Seat and shoulder belts will be required on small school buses. The requirement will also change seat backs making them four inches higher to 24 inches in all new buses.

Seats must also come equipped with safety latches that can be flipped up or removed without resorting to special tools. That’s the good news.

But there is a huge gap here. What about the large school buses that most children ride in? NHTSA has not resolved that question, despite the fact that all of the research shows that children would be made safer.

Instead NHTSA sets standards for seat belts on large school buses. Five major studies over the past decade have shown seat belts are needed on large school buses. But the Secretary of Transportation, Mary E. Peters said that putting seat belts on larger buses can limit capacity and force more students to walk or ride in cars.

“The last thing we want to do is force parents to choose other, less safe ways of getting their children to school,” she said.

Putting seat belts where people sit will make them less safe? NHTSA says more kids are actually hurt around school buses than inside them, but seat belts on school buses would impact about 1,900 crash injuries each year.

Public Citizen doesn’t like the omission of seat belts from large buses and Joan Claybrook, who was the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 1977-81, says Public Citizen objects to NHTSAs plans to immunize manufacturers from personal injury liability. Read the rest »

It is just a fact.

As the price of gasoline continues to rise, more people are going to try and get around on a bicycle. That means people behind the wheel of a car better keep their eyes opened for those on the road on two wheels.  

Unfortunately that didn’t happen on Thursday afternoon.

A bicyclist died when a tow-truck backed over him. The cyclist was cutting through a Shell station on the Westside of Jacksonville. That’s when the tow-truck, obviously blinded, backed out of a diesel fueling area.  He struck the cyclist even though bystanders were yelling at the driver to stop.   When he did, he pulled forward and then ran over the cyclist for a second time.

A cyclist just trying to do the right thing. His name has not been immediately released.  Charges could be pending against the driver of the tow truck.

According to national statistics, the most serious injuries, resulting when a bicycle and car collide, are traumatic brain injury to the cyclist.

A helmet helps reduce head injury risk by 85 percent, but unfortunately in 2006, the vast majority of bicyclists killed  were not wearing helmets.   

Even a skilled rider is facing danger on the roads as motorists fail to see the cyclist or refuse to share the road responsibly.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – 770 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2006. 

A bicyclist may have right to recover fair compensation if a motorist was negligent or failed to exercise a reasonable amount of caution on the road. 

Talk to our experienced accident attorneys and we will be able to advise you of your rights and help you to maneuver sometimes difficult insurance companies. #

No one can figure out why a 42-year-old St. Augustine man was riding his bicycle in the dark and in the rain on U.S. 17 in Putnam County, Florida Friday night.

Thomas Mattox did not have a helmet on and his bike did not have any lights. And he was wearing dark clothing on a night with poor visibility.

Read the rest »