The 39-year-old driver, a well-known golf director at a local club, was accused of causing the car accident that claimed the life of a 3-year-old from Tavares in March. His recent arrest was for drug possession and reckless driving charges for a subsequent incident occurring in the first week of May. Deputy sheriffs claimed that the driver weaved in and out of various lanes in an effort to pass other vehicles at a speed in excess of 100 miles per hour. The incident occurred in the northbound lanes of State Road 46A.
]]> Officers claimed to have discovered marijuana on the driver's person, as well as hydrocodone and amphetamine in his vehicle. The man, a resident of Sanford, was released on bond. The arresting officers also asserted that he tried to bribe one of them with a wad of cash at the crash scene.Officers from the Florida Highway Patrol suspect that the driver may have been impaired by drugs during the earlier accident in which the child was killed. In that crash, he was traveling north on County Road 437 in close proximity to State Road 44. He first veered into the southbound lane of the road where he collided with a jeep before moving on to hit a PT Cruiser. The child was riding as a passenger in that vehicle and died of injuries she suffered during the accident.
The investigation into that crash is continuing, with the results of toxicology tests still not available. He has not yet been charged with anything in connection with that accident, but that could change, especially in light of what just happened.
Source: Orlando Sentintel, "Golf director involved in deadly crash arrested for reckless driving, drug possession," Eloisa Ruano Gonzalez, May 8, 2012
]]>Summer is a particularly deadly time for deadly car accidents involving teenagers, and it kicks off with prom and graduation. Drinking and driving can be a concern, but distracted driving is actually one of the biggest worries.
]]> AAA and Volvo call the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day the "100 Deadliest Days" for teenage drivers. July and August are typically the deadliest months for 16 and 17-year-old drivers. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2010 the four deadliest months were, in order: August, July, May and June. On an average day in this country, more than 11 teens die in car crashes.That's why safety advocates say it's important for parents to initiate "the conversation" earlier rather than later. A prevention specialist says that it perhaps should be a series of conversations and should involve the parent addressing issues such as distracted driving, speeding, driver error and drunk driving.
One parent, for instance, says he talked to his 16-year-old son the day he got his learner's permit. They talked about general rules and what was expected. It was structured, and not casual. It's also possible to refer to states' graduated licensing laws, noting it's against the law to do certain things. Such laws can be labeled as the "bad guy," some parents say.
Not saying anything, or waiting to say something, can prove costly. The pain of losing a child can last a lifetime.
Source: USA Today, "Parents urged to talk, make contact with their teen drivers," Larry Copeland, May 13, 2012
]]>An unusual truck accident in Polk County caused injuries to a 41-year-old motorcyclist from Deltona last week. A semi trailer traveling alongside him apparently had a sudden left rear tire blow out. The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Interstate 4 in between County Road 557 and State Road 559.
]]> The tire blowout caused the motorcyclist to lose control of his bike while traveling west on the highway. He applied his brakes and the 2004 Kawasaki motorcycle then rolled over on its left side, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The motorcyclist's injuries were characterized as serious by medical personnel.The truck driver did not stop to assist the injured man, apparently unaware that the accident had occurred. State troopers subsequently contacted the 37-year-old truck driver, who is from Lakeland, through his employer after witnesses told investigators about the truck they'd seen.
Law enforcement investigators are continuing to look into the details of the bizarre accident. The motorcyclist appears to have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The impact of serious truck crashes in Florida can often be even more severe. Many victims of truck accidents suffer catastrophic injuries that require expensive and long-term medical care. People injured in serious truck accidents can help make sure their rights are protected by contacting a qualified attorney.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Freak accident in Polk County seriously injuries Deltona man," Gary Taylor, May 1, 2012
]]>When you're walking on a sidewalk, you have every right to expect that you won't be hit by a vehicle. But when drivers become careless, accidents can occur unexpectedly A recent car accident left a pedestrian in critical condition. Her child was also injured, but less severely.
The woman and her child were walking on a sidewalk outside a home on Floridian Drive in Kissimmee. A woman driving a vehicle on Floridian Drive apparently lost control of her vehicle, went off the road, hit the woman and her child and then crashed into the house.
]]> The pedestrian was injured critically, while her child was also hurt. The woman was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center and was listed in serious condition after being upgraded from critical. The child was said to be doing fine.Luckily, no one in the house was hurt, but people were home at the time. A man who was asleep in a bedroom says he was awoken by what sounded like a bomb going off. He says he opened the door to the living room and saw the car resting there. The 50-year-old driver sat inside and was acting "hysterical," according to My Fox Orlando. The house, meanwhile, was condemned since it was not structurally sound.
The woman was not injured in the crash. It's not clear what caused her to lose control of her vehicle, but she was cited by the Florida Highway Patrol for careless driving.
Source: My Fox Orlando, "Woman, child struck by car," April 30, 2012
]]>In 2010, an Orange County jury initially ruled against the man's lawsuit, yet his lawyers appealed it. They claimed that the judge in the trial should have allowed the jury to consider a general-negligence claim instead of a premises liability claim only. His attorneys also argued that the judge failed to allow them to introduce several key pieces of evidence including similar injuries involving the Tower of Terror, according to an article in the Orlando Sentinel.
]]> Recently, lawyers for Disney and the plaintiff spent time in front of the Fifth District Court of Appeals and presented arguments from both sides. The lawyers for the man, who is now in his 80s, want the appellate court to decide whether Disney should be considered a "common carrier" since it operates rides. Common carriers are held to higher safety standards than other businesses.It's unknown at this time when the courts will issue a ruling in the case. Lawsuits related to injuries on amusement park rides are not unusual. However, proving that such a ride caused a medical issue can be harder to prove, particularly since there were no proven technical glitches with the Tower of Terror ride in this case.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Appeals court hears Disney thrill-ride suit," Jason Garcia and Sara K. Clarke, April 22, 2012
]]>Two people were injured on the premises of one such facility earlier this month. An 11-year-old girl and a man sustained injuries after a portion of a go-cart track collapsed at the Magical Midway Thrill Park in the tourist district of Orlando. The facility came under fire less than a year ago when a worker fell to his death while attempting to fix the tallest ride in the park. The park was fined more than $11,000 for that incident. In addition, the Department of Labor found that the facility exposed its employees to unnecessary dangers and did not properly train them.
]]> As for the most recent incident, the go-cart collapse apparently happened when two wooden planks on the tracks collapsed. The girl reportedly sustained a variety of injuries, including a possible broken arm and several deep cuts or gashes. She was treated at Arnold Palmer Hospital and was expected to make a full recovery.It's unclear what sort of injuries the man sustained, but he apparently was having chest pains after the collapse. He was taken to a different local hospital and was also expected to recover, according to WDBO.
The cause of the collapse wasn't clear. While a portion of the go-cart track was shut down, most of it remained open after the collapse.
Source: WDBO, "Two hurt after go-cart track collapses on I-Drive," April 18, 2012
]]>According to research released in a report conducted by a children's hospital and State Farm Insurance, 30 percent of 55,000 teenagers injured in car accidents in 2009 and 2010 suffered acute head injuries. Those apparently included traumatic brain injuries, concussions and skull fractures.
]]> According to Forbes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that car accidents are the leading cause of TBI deaths for 15 to 19-year-olds. That's despite the fact that teen deaths in car crashes have declined over the last six years.Unfortunately, the brain has a hard time healing compared to much of the body, says the lead author of the research. That means treatment after an injury can only go so far. Therefore, preventing injuries in the first place is key.
A director of technology research at State Farm says that seat belt laws are extremely important in preventing teen crash injuries and deaths. Even more initiatives that are teen-focused may help the problem, he says.
Data also shows that states with graduated licensing programs are keeping down the number of crash-related injuries and deaths among teens. Six states with the most comprehensive programs saw teen fatality rates at less than 10 per 100,000 teenagers. That's the lowest rate in the nation, so there is something to that.
Source: Forbes, "Car crashes are the leading cause of fatal head trauma among teens," Jim Gorzelany, April 2, 2012
]]>And, according to Trucking Info, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released data last week that shows that speed limiters used on some commercial trucks have indeed reduced the number of truck accidents.
]]> Researchers at the American Transportation Research Institute, among other institutions, collected data from 20 carriers in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The crash rate for trucks with speed limiters installed was lower, with 11 accidents per 100 trucks per year. That compares to 16.4 crashes per 100 vehicles for trucks without the limiters.As a result of the data, the study team says the findings indicate that the speed limiters provide a "profound safety benefit," according to Trucking Info. They also say that if there is a downside of speed variations between interacting trucks, those with and without the speed limiters, it is outweighed by the significant safety benefits.
The ATA had apparently asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to mandate the use of speed limiters in commercial trucks several years ago. While that still has not happened, they may be one step closer, with the ATA saying the new data bolsters its argument.
What do you think? Should it be mandated that commercial trucks be equipped with speed limiters?
Source: Trucking Info, "New study finds safety benefits of limiting truck speeds," March 29, 2012
]]>Researchers took a look at data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 1980 to 2009. Over the 30-year period, there was a total of 6,783 fatal car crashes on Tax Day. That's an average of 226 per day, compared to 213 on a day the week before Tax Day and on a day the week after.
]]> It might be impossible to draw a solid conclusion from this information, but it does seem to show that something is happening on Tax Day. Are drivers stressed out and not paying attention to the roads? What's going on?The researchers offer a number of possibilities. One is that drivers are anxious and speeding to the post office to mail their returns. However, it should be noted that the spike of traffic deaths on Tax Day holds up even now, when about 75 percent of people are filing electronically.
For those who still drive to the post office at the last minute, it's possible that drivers are not familiar with where they are going. Data has shown that drivers get into accidents less when they are in a routine, such as commuting to work or dropping their child off at school. The more they drive to unfamiliar places, the more the risk increases.
It's also possible, researchers say, that alcohol could be a factor such as on holidays like the 4th of July or on Election Day, according to the Huffington Post. In any case, it's important to drive carefully, not just on Tax Day, but every day.
Source: Huffington Post, "Deadly car crashes spike by 6 percent on Tax Day: Study," Lindsey Tanner, April 10, 2012
]]>Three customers in a Deland grocery store suffered personal injuries after an airplane crashed into the Publix store last week. One of the injured was a 20-year-old Stetson University student, according to reports. In addition to those injured in the store, two people aboard the plane also sustained injuries.
]]> The plane that crashed into the store was described as a small experimental vehicle. Law enforcement investigators and firefighters were planning to examine the damage. A thorough investigation of the causes of the crash is planned as well. They believe the plane entered the building through the roof of the meat section of the store, sending both customers and staff scattering.Reports attributed the plane crash to mechanical problems. The people aboard the plane were sent to a hospital in Orlando. Two other injured customers were treated for their injuries at Florida Hospital Deland, but were to be released shortly thereafter.
The injured student's injuries, however, were more serious. When he felt the fire singe the hairs on his arms, he saw that his leg was on fire. The explosion ultimately caused serious burns to the man's legs. His father told reporters that his son literally said, "I am on fire, somebody help me." Emergency personnel did what they could for him at the scene, and then rushed him by air to a hospital in Orlando. He's expected to be okay in the long run.
Source: Tampa Bay Times, "20-year-old Tampa man injured when plane hits DeLand Publix," April 4, 2012
]]>That's what happened when the Amway Arena was demolished late last month. But what spectators weren't expecting was flying debris. One man was reportedly injured by flying metal, and now the demolition company could be facing a personal injury lawsuit.
]]> After the implosion late last month, only the four corners of the building, which housed staircases, were left standing. That was by design so they could protect nearby buildings and spectators from debris. But as the rest of the building came down, a flying piece of steel rebar flew into a crowd about a block away, striking a man in the leg, according to Orlando Police.The material, typically used in construction to enforce concrete, was about eight inches long. The CEO of the company managing the demolition, ZMG Construction, says that they are unsure how it happened.
The injured man, who was standing in a crowd at Parramore Avenue and Amelia Street about a block away, was taken to the hospital for treatment. His injures were considered to be minor. The demolition firm, Dykon Explosive Demolition Corporation, was paying the 33-year-old man's medical bills, but it was still possible he would file a lawsuit.
Clearing out the leveled building could take several weeks. The injured man's memory of the bizarre incident is likely to linger long after the building is gone.
Source: Bay News 9, "Flying debris from Amway Arena implosion could spark lawsuit," Mark Jenkins, March 26, 2012
]]>A multiple-vehicle crash that occurred last week involved a total of five vehicles and resulted in injuries being suffered by 11 people. The crash happened around 9 a.m. near Park Street on West Colonial Drive in Orlando.
]]> A van involved in the accident was transporting special needs adults with disabilities, according to authorities. Six of the passengers had to be extracted by rescue workers from the Orange County Fire Department. The special needs van was flipped on its side following the accident.The accident occurred, according to WESH TV, when the driver apparently failed to maintain control of the van, resulting in it rolling over another vehicle that was stopped at a traffic light. A chain reaction ensued with other vehicles. The van driver, who stated that he had been feeling ill at the time of the accident, was given a citation for careless driving.
The special needs adults were not able to communicate with rescue workers about their injuries, requiring them to perform emergency medical services on the basis of visible injuries alone. A total of seven people with the most serious injuries were rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment. Four others with less serious injuries were transported to Health Central located in Ocoee, where they were treated and released.
The company involved in the care of the special needs patients issued a statement, noting it was grateful that the injuries weren't worse.
Source: WESH TV, "Special needs van involved in multi-vehicle accident," March 28, 2012
]]>According to the Orlando Sentinel, the grand jury determined last month that the man died after suffering two blows to the head. It's possible that one was caused by officers while a search was being conducted. After he apparently started hallucinating in his jail cell, guards let him out and he fell, striking his head on a table.
]]> Even though he complained that his head hurt, guards apparently did not give him medical attention. At one point he fell asleep but soon vomited. The Sentinel reports that staff seemed more concerned about cleaning up around him than helping him out. After several hours, he died.A supervisor apparently had said that he did not want to call 911 because he thought the man was "faking" and that it would require extra paperwork. Eventually, nine guards who worked at the detention center were fired for their roles in the incident.
The grand jury determined that criminal charges could not be filed since there was no Florida statute applying to death by neglect at juvenile jail. That's something the grand jury wants changed, and it urged lawmakers to create legislation that would criminalize such an act.
The move would come too late for the victim, but could save others' lives.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Man died of brain injuries after 6 hours of neglect in juvenile jail, Palm Beach County grand jury says," Peter Franceschina, March 9, 2012
]]>According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 32,885 people died on U.S. roads in 2010. It averages out to about 1.1 fatalities for every 100 million miles traveled. That's the lowest number ever.
]]> Still, when you look at why these accidents are happening, the numbers aren't so encouraging. Motorists' driving habits aren't what's changed so much. Better technology and safety features can take credit for saving a lot of lives.According to a report published by the Governors Highway Safety Association, about a third of fatal traffic crashes, or 10,530, can be attributed to speeding. Data shows that the proportion of crashes caused by speeding hasn't changed much.
In addition, few states have offered to increase fines for speeders. And seven states have actually increased interstate highway speed limits in the last several years, some to as high as 85 mph.
Part of the problem may be the public indifference to speeding. Many don't consider it a problem like they would aggressive driving. Some government officials are suggesting that states should tackle aggressive driving to get the numbers down.
What do you think? What else could be done to reduce fatalities?
Source: The Car Connection, "Speeding, aggressive driving still cause 1/3 of fatal accidents," Richard Read, March 9, 2012
]]>The investigation, conducted under the auspices of a Florida newspaper, concluded that almost 800 officers from a dozen Florida police agencies drove their vehicles at speeds ranging from 90 to 130 miles per hour on Florida highways in one year alone. In some instances, the newspaper claimed, officers traveling at such speeds were not responding to a dire emergency, but merely going to or from work.
]]> In the six years the investigation was done, ending in 2010, no fewer than 230 speeding officers were involved in car accidents. These crashes resulted in 21 individuals being either hurt or killed, with a number of them being officers. According to CBS News, a national report by the Department of Transportation issued last year indicated that there had been a 44 percent hike in the death of police officers in vehicle crashes since the beginning of the century. It was not clear how many of those deaths were attributable to police speeding.An ordinary motorist involved in a high speed vehicle crash has a 55 percent likelihood of being written a speeding citation. Police officers who are responsible for such high speed accidents are treated far more leniently, according to statistics, which show that only 12 percent of them receive speeding tickets.
In a 2008 accident close to Orlando, a police officer driving over 100 miles per hour rear-ended a car so hard that it was thrown forward 250 feet. The impact rendered a 23-year-old man in that vehicle paralyzed and brain dead from his injuries, and led to a $2 million settlement.
Source: CBS News, "Extreme police speeding investigated in Florida," Mark Strassman, March 20, 2012
]]>