Pedestrian Accident

10News in Tampa reports that a 14-year-old Lakeland High School student was killed Tuesday afternoon, January 17, after she was hit by a school bus as she crossed the street after school was let out. A substitute driver was behind the wheel of the bus, which had 28 students from Southwest Elementary School. The young teen was heading across West Beacon Road when the bus driver made a left turn and hit her. The teen was taken to Tampa General Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 4:37 p.m.

Our sincere condolences go out to the friends and family of this young girl. Please keep the family in your prayers. Her school was devastated upon hearing the news, and counselors were made available to students.

Dangerous Intersection?

Parents claim the intersection of West Beacon Road, just south of Camphor Drive, is a dangerous intersection because of the speed of traffic and the lack of crossing guards. Lakeland Police are investigating what condition led to this tragic death.

None of the school children on the bus were injured.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that school buses are one of the safest forms of transportation, but that accidents usually involve pedestrians near a school bus. The state reports that between 1998 and 2002, there were four children killed while preparing to get on or depart a school bus.

Oftentimes, it is the carelessness of motorists who fail to stop when in the vicinity of a school bus that leads to the fatalities of school children. If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, the Lakeland pedestrian accident attorneys with Farah & Farah can help you obtain compensation for your injuries. Call 1(800) 533-3555 for a free consultation.

Source: http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/232774/8/13-year-old-Katlyn-Rickman-killed-after-Lakeland-school-bus-crash

You see this situation all the time: a tow truck arrives on the scene of a stranded car along the interstate. This time, the tow truck driver was hit and killed by a passing car on Interstate 95. The Palm Beach Post reports the accident happened Monday, January 2, as the 46-year-old employee of Emerald Towing pulled alongside a disabled vehicle on Interstate 95 south of Woolbright Road. The car’s owner was nowhere to be found as he had been arrested earlier in the day. Besides removing the car, the worker had to pick up traffic cones on I-95 that had alerted drivers to the stranded car. Unfortunately, there was a traffic slowdown on northbound I-95 and a Toyota Camry driver swerved to miss the car in front of him. Instead, he went into the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane and hit the tow truck driver; he was then taken to Delray Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Farah & Farah extend its sincere condolences to the friends and family of this man who was just doing his job.

Florida Pedestrian Fatalities

Florida is one of four states with the highest rate of pedestrian-traffic fatalities. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found Florida, California, Texas, and New York together accounted for 41% of all pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. in 2009. These states all have one thing in common: they have large urban centers with few pedestrian accommodations.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a pedestrian fatality or injury, the pedestrian accident lawyers in Jacksonville of Farah & Farah would like to offer you a complimentary consultation to discuss your options to seek compensation and recovery. Call us at 1(800) 533-3555.

Source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/boynton-beach-tow-truck-driver-dies-after-being-2075173.html

Channel 4 in Jacksonville reports that Sunday night, November 13, a pedestrian died on a Clay County road after he was hit by an SUV. The collision happened before 7 pm on U.S. 17 and Radar Road in Fleming Island. Investigators believe this is a tragic accident and that the 61-year-old woman did not see the man she struck until it was too late due to the area being very dark and without street lights where the collision occurred.

The woman did stop her SUV and cooperate with law enforcement. Channel 4 says charges could be pending, though there is no information whether she was too far over to the right or if the pedestrian was walking in the bicycle lane or in the road.

Our condolences go out to the friends and family of this unidentified man.
Traffic was backed up for about three hours as the northbound U.S. 17 lanes were closed.

Florida Pedestrian Deaths

The Governors Highway Safety Association reports that Florida was one of eight states that experienced an increase by at least 10 pedestrian deaths in 2010, and in 2009 Florida trailed only California in the highest number of pedestrian fatalities.

There were 482 pedestrian deaths in the state in 2010, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The Florida pedestrian accident attorneys at Farah & Farah suggest wearing light clothing with reflector material and carrying a flashlight when walking alongside a busy road at night or early in the morning.

Source: http://www.news4jax.com/news/Pedestrian-dead-after-Fleming-Island-crash/-/475880/4740550/-/11vjtoy/-/index.html

“It’s a tragedy in the making.”

That’s what one parent of a high school student says in an Orlando Sentinel story about the fact that students who live within two miles of their Central Florida school are not eligible for school bus services. Now, 15-year-old Tabitha Freeman has to don a reflective vest and carry a flashlight as she walks against 6 a.m. traffic on County Road 565A in Clermont with no sidewalks and no street lights.

Thousands of school kids are in the same boat due to cutbacks; however, elementary school children are offered a bus on the same routes. And with more students being added to school enrollments, kids are facing danger admits the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

Pedestrian Dangers

So far, almost one dozen Central Florida school kids have been hit by cars this year near a school or school bus stop. In Lake County alone five people have been killed by vehicles. In a recent study, Central Florida was the most hazardous area in the country for pedestrians.

The problem continues to be the cost, with one bus route costing about $42,000 a year.

It’s a heartbreaking scenario that is likely to lead to more pedestrian deaths and there is no immediate solution in sight.

If you or a loved one has become a victim in a pedestrian accident, an experienced Florida pedestrian accident lawyer may be able to file a claim of negligence so you can be compensated for your damages, including (but not limited to) medical treatment, lost wages, and future care. Our investigation can uncover all responsible parties and reconstruct the accident scene. But in the case of any pedestrian-car crash, it would be far better if we could put preventive measures in place so it doesn’t happen at all, especially when we can clearly see the potential for danger.

Source: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-10-29/health/os-long-walk-to-school-20111029_1_central-florida-students-school-districts-bus

A Mount Dora police officer is reported to be distraught after striking and killing a pedestrian Saturday night, October 8. The officer was traveling north on Royal Trails Road in Eustis, according to a report in The Orlando Sentinel. That is where he encountered a 31-year-old man in the center of the road.

Troopers suspect that the pedestrian was intoxicated and are awaiting toxicology reports. Another motorist reportedly almost hit the man before the officer’s Florida car accident. The officer is now on paid administrative leave after having only been on the job for 14 months. Mount Dora officers are allowed to take their cars home, in this case the car involved was a Ford Expedition. The next step for this officer is to undergo an internal review which is typically done when a death is involved.

Pedestrian Deaths

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2001 Florida had five cities in the Top 10 for fatal pedestrian car accidents nationwide. They include Fort Lauderdale (12 pedestrian deaths), Miami (22), Tampa (18), Clearwater (5), and Orlando (9).

Although we do not know if alcohol led to this pedestrian tragedy, the NHTSA finds that 18 percent of accidents involve drivers who are intoxicated and in 32% of collisions, pedestrians are impaired.

Our condolences go out to the friends and family members of this man for his sudden passing.

Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-mount-dora-cop-fatal-crash-20111010,0,6746815.story; http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/809-456.pdf

The beautiful young woman was just 21-year-old and last February was crossing Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville at the wrong time. She was hit just before 8 p.m. on February 15 and passed away that evening. The 20-year-old who left the scene and left the young woman to die pleaded guilty on Monday, July 25 to leaving the victim at the scene of the fatal Jacksonville pedestrian accident. One never knows if a life could have been saved if someone had called for medical attention immediately or just stayed by her side.

Her parents are planning their victim impact statements that they will present when he is sentenced in August.

Under Florida law, the young man was in violation of Florida Statute Section 316.192 and could have received up to 30 years behind bars for his cowardly act, which is a first degree felony. No matter whether you are intoxicated, driving without a license or whatever the situation, leaving the scene of an accident where there are injuries automatically turns a misdemeanor or no charge into a felony. Not only that, but it is a gross violation of human decency. It is possible that the man pled guilty to a second degree felony in exchange for a limit of 15 years in prison. This article by Channel 4 is not clear why it mentions a 15-year imprisonment.

Our condolences go out to her family for their tremendous loss. The young woman had her whole life ahead of her. If this man has any prior reckless driving charges they, no doubt, will be taken into consideration during his sentencing hearing. Reckless driving is a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

The Jacksonville injury lawyers at the Farah & Farah law firm are members of Hit-and-Run Reward, 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. This program is offered in addition to the Crime Stoppers reward program, so doing the right thing could yield you $2,000. The number for Hit-and-Run Reward is 1-800-644-8678.

Sources: http://www.news4jax.com/news/28657944/detail.html and http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/Statutes/FS09/CH0316/Section_0316.192.HTM

A Sorrento, Florida hit-and-run accident from last December appeared to be over. No one had been charged in the death of a 68-year-old pedestrian out walking his dog, who was also killed. But on Wednesday, June 15, a 26-year-old Lake County man was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. He faces up to 30 years in prison for the felony offense of leaving the scene of a deadly collision after stopping for a moment, backing up, and then fleeing.

The Florida Highway Patrol identified the hit-and-run driver and his truck the next day but it took six months to investigate the case and issue the arrest warrant. The man was taken into custody by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and jailed on $85,000 bail, according to a report in The Orlando Sentinel.

Florida Statute 316.027 makes it very clear that everyone involved in a motor vehicle accident where there are injuries and possibly a fatality has an obligation to stop and render aid. To fail to do so could turn a misdemeanor into a first degree felony with mandatory jail time of at least 15 years.

With nearly 700,000 hit-and-run reports each year in the nation, Florida ranks third in the nation in the number of hit-and-run incidents. Because this is such a problem in our state, the Florida pedestrian accident lawyers at Farah & Farah law firm is a member of Hit-and-Run Reward, 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. This program is offered in addition to the Crime Stoppers reward program, so doing the right thing could yield you $2,000. The number for Hit-and-Run Reward is 1-800-644-8678.

Source: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-06-15/news/os-lake-man-arrested-in-2010-hit-and-20110615_1_fatal-crash-lake-man-fhp

An 83-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed on Monday, June 13, by a Kia Sedona as he reportedly walked in its path while in a crosswalk on County Road 54 near the intersection of U.S. 301. According to witnesses, the oncoming traffic had the green light, reports TBO.com. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

Our condolences are extended to the friends and family members of this traffic victim.

According to traffic accident statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, 59,000 pedestrians were injured and 4,092 were killed in a traffic-related crash. Those numbers represent 3 percent of all injuries resulting from traffic accidents and 12 percent of all traffic fatalities. While overall traffic deaths appear to be on the decline, at their lowest level in five years, the number of pedestrian traffic deaths seems to be creeping upward. Nationally, a pedestrian is killed every 128 minutes in a collision with a motor vehicle and a pedestrian is injured every 9 minutes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports the top four states for pedestrian fatalities are California, Florida, Texas, and New York, which make up 42 percent of all pedestrian fatalities that occur in the nation.

At the Farah & Farah law firm, our pedestrian accident lawyers in Jacksonville understand there can be many causes of a pedestrian injury or fatality in a traffic-related crash. It seems that few drivers are actually paying attention to the serious business of driving and as a result, we see a variety of avoidable traffic crashes.

The state reminds us that it is each driver’s responsibility to Share the Road with all other forms of transportation including those on foot, bicyclists, motorcycles, and other passenger vehicles and trucks. If you or a loved one have been in an accident where the at-fault party failed to see you, their negligence may make them responsible for your medical costs and lost wages. We can discuss your options in a complimentary consultation.

Sources: http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/jun/13/zephyrhills-man-83-dies-after-being-struck-by-vehi-ar-237205/, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811392.pdf and http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2008/pedestrians.html

A six-year-old girl was just trying to cross a busy Jacksonville road with her mother and brother in December 2009 when the driver of an SUV reportedly revved his car and took off into the intersection, where he hit and killed the little girl and injured her mother. According to a report by Channel 4, her mother is now suing the city of Jacksonville, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority for an improperly designed traffic control device that did not allow the family time to cross San Jose Boulevard.

The three attempted to cross at Kori Road because the traffic sign said it was safe to do so. Kaitlyn’s mother said waited until the light was red and then left the curb after buying Christmas presents at a nearby K-Mart. She didn’t hit the crossing button but assumed they would have enough time to get across the intersection. The negligence lawsuit does not name the SUV driver who was never charged in this fatal Florida pedestrian accident.

A properly designed pedestrian crosswalk signal should allow even slow moving pedestrians to cross at an intersection. Had she hit the crossing button, the family would have had 45 seconds, but without pushing the button a pedestrian has 30 seconds to cross the street. That shouldn’t matter. Most people would make a reasonable assumption that a pedestrian crosswalk is safe for pedestrians and that the lights are timed correctly to allow even the slowest among us to cross. This is a prime example of why Jacksonville was named in the report, Dangerous by Design 2011, by the nonprofit group, Transportation for America, as the third most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians in the nation.

The Farah & Farah law firm offers its condolences to this mother over this totally preventable traffic collision. An automobile should never have the benefit of the doubt over an innocent pedestrian. Our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers represents those injured in traffic accidents through no fault of their own and we always offer complimentary consultations.

Source: http://www.news4jax.com/news/28050408/detail.html

News 4 Jax reports that one pedestrian was killed and another was injured when they were hit by a pickup truck while walking on U.S. Highway 1 in St. Johns County on Wednesday night, May 11. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the 35-year-old man and the 32-year-old woman, both from Hastings, were walking northbound just past North Boulevard around 10 p.m. when a 20-year-old behind the wheel of an Isuzu pickup truck hit them. The right front of the pickup hit the man, who then hit the windshield. He was taken to Flagler Hospital where he later died. The woman suffered minor injuries. According to the FHP report, the pickup truck driver was distracted for a moment and the Isuzu drifted onto the shoulder where it hit the pedestrians. Charges against the driver are pending, according to the FHP.

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of this man for this tragic accident. Please keep him in your prayers.

Pedestrian Dangers in Florida
Unfortunately, Florida had the second highest number of pedestrian fatalities in 2009, behind California, with 466 pedestrian deaths, according to a report released in January by the Governors Highway Safety Association. While there are many reasons behind pedestrian deaths, we do know that distracted driving was blamed for 5,474 fatal crashes in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Distracted driving was blamed for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2009.

If you or a loved one have been the victim of a distracted driver, whether as a pedestrian or a motorist, the Florida personal injury attorneys at Farah & Farah understand that lives can change in a split second. Let us help investigate your accident in order to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions in order for you to receive the compensation you need and deserve.