Tampa Bay Personal Injury Lawyer - Accident

Texting While Driving-A New Study Shows How Dangerous it is

Joe Saunders — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:27:16 GMT

A new study demonstrating the extreme danger of texting while driving appeared on the front page of the NY Times today. The study involved installing video equipment in the cabs of long haul truckers for 18 months. The results showed that the risk of an accident while texting was 23 times greater than when not texting. This is significantly higher than earlier estimates reported. Of course, this should be a no-brainer for all of us. However, for some drivers the temptation to text while drive or read email messages while behind the wheel is often too great too avoid. Yet the consequences can be devastating. The study estimated that in the time it took a trucker to read a text, the big rig could cover the length of an entire football field. In other words, during this entire time, the driver's attention and eyes are not focused on the road but on the electronic device.

I've personally witnessed this phenomenon. While driving in Florida the other day, the car in front of me suddenly swerved up onto the sidewalk before swerving back into her lane of traffic. As I approached the upcoming red light, I saw that the driver had a cell phone in hand and was texting!

It's high time to ban texting while driving. Fourteen states do have such a ban. While it's difficult to enforce at times, the ban would send a message to drivers (as if they need more warning) that such behavior is dangerous and may cost someone a life.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Saunders

Local Hispanic Activist Killed in Miami Car Crash

Joe Saunders — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:55:12 GMT

The local Tampa Bay community is mourning the loss of dearly beloved Hispanic activist Maria Carillo. Carillo had been a member of Tampa mayor Pam Iorio's Hispanic Leadership Council.

Tragically, Maria Carillo was walking along a sidewalk on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami when two cars crashed at the intersection. One of the vehicles involved in the crash, a Toyota Tundra spun out of control and struck Carillo and her daughter. Just prior to being struck, Maria Carillo pushed her daughter out of the way. Unfortunately, she was struck as well but local officials expect her to make a full recovery.

What makes the story even more tragic is the circumstances of the Carillo women's visit to Miami. They were attending a gala during which Carillo's daughter was awarded a college scholarship.

No words or expressions of support can assuage the pain and grief experienced in the Tampa Bay area over this tragedy. This young, talented daughter lost a devoted mother and we lost a great woman who inspired us all.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Saunders

Tampa Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident

Shannon Weidemann — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:33:31 GMT

A motorcycle accident killed a man in Tampa early Saturday morning. The 44-year-old victim was a resident of Tampa.

The victim

was traveling west on Hillsborough Ave. on his 2005 Yamaha at approximately 1:35 a.m. when he came up on the Veteran's Expressway intersection. Dean was about to turn left when a 1995 Ford Escort station wagon ran a red light and hit the motorcycle.

He was not wearing a helmet and was killed instantly. The driver of the car was believed to be driving under the influence of alcohol. She suffered minor injuries. She has been charged with DUI Manslaughter.

If you would like to learn more about motorcycle accidents, please visit InjuryBoard's Motorcycle Accident information page.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Hit and Run Driver Kills Tampa Man in Wheelchair

Shannon Weidemann — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:45:43 GMT

A man in a wheelchair was killed by a hit and run driver in Tampa on Sunday. The pedestrian accident happened at Main Street and Rome Avenue. He was hit by an unidentified pickup truck.

The victim

was hit by a brown Ford pickup truck that ran a red light, and they say the driver was trying to avoid another car when they hit the wheelchair. After the crash, they say the driver never stopped.
Police are asking the driver responsible to come forward, and anyone who has information about the accident is asked to call the Tampa Police Department.

The victim lived in the neighborhood and was going to a local store at the time of the accident. The police are actively investigating the accident and could use the help of anyone that witnessed it.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Brooksville Man Dies in Hit and Run Accident

Shannon Weidemann — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:15:36 GMT

A man was killed in a hit and run accident after being struck by a car in Brooksville. The pedestrian accident happened early Monday morning. The victim was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa where he later died. The driver of the car that hit the victim left the scene of the accident.

The driver of the car, Jason Morgan Blair, 29, of Brooksville, faces a felony charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death or personal injury. Blair was quickly tracked down by police and arrested shortly after the accident, according to police. He was booked into the Hernando County Jail and released after posting $500 bail.

The man was hit on State Road 50 in Brooksville. An autopsy is being performed to see if the car accident was the reason the victim died. The police are still investigating the accident. Drug or alcohol use is not believed to have been a factor in the crash.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Plant City Train Accident Injures Pedestrian

Shannon Weidemann — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:24:10 GMT

Two pedestrians were injured in two seperated incidents about 15 hours apart from each other in Plant City. Both men were hit by trains. The pedestrian accidents happened on Thursday.

In the first acciden two men

were walking west on the CSX tracks west of Waller Street, not far from Wheeler Street, when a train hauling chemicals approached, police said. Raymond was able to get out of the way but the engine clipped Nelson, police said.

The victim in that incident was taken to the hospital for observation and later released. The second accident happened near Calhoun and Palmer Streets. A man was hit by a train and his right foot was injured. He is currently at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Both train accidents are being investigated by the police.

If you would like to read more about train accidents, please visit InjuryBoard's Train Accident information page.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Hillsborough County to Get Red Light Cameras at Major Intersections

Joe Saunders — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:08:17 GMT

The Hillsborough County Commission voted unanimously last evening to obtaining cameras at major intersections throughout the county. Advocates of the red light cameras say that the cameras save lives and deter would be red-light runners. The statistics show there's a problem in Tampa Bay with motorists running red lights. Hillsborough County Sheriff's issued 3,784 red light citations last year. The Sheriff's office blamed 439 car crashes on red light runners, one of them being a fatality. Those who run red lights tend to be moving through intersections at a high rate of speed in order to beat a light. This inevitably results in serious auto crashes with severe injuries and motorist deaths. If the cameras serve as a deterrent and save lives, I say go ahead and install them not only in Hillsborough County but in Pinellas as well.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Saunders

Deputy Carlton Turner is a Hero in I-4 Auto Pileup

Joe Saunders — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:03:48 GMT

Deputy Sheriff Carlton Turner is a hero. He was the first to respond to the horrific multiple vehicle crash on I-4. His vehicle was rear ended before he had a chance to get out of his patrol car yet he tried to save others in the midst of chaos and confusion. He found himself in the midst of a situation that was life threatening and he thought of others. He tried to save other motorists caught in the hell of the I-4 multiple car crash collision. He experineced things for which he was not trained yet he aceted as a true public servant. We need more people like him in public service.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Saunders

Motorcycle and SUV Collision Kills 2 on Deadly U.S. 19

Jenny Albano — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:23:29 GMT

A motorcycle and a SVU collided on the morning of January 7, killing the driver of both vehicles. The motorcycle ran into the SUV on U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor and then burst into flames. Witnesses said the motorcycle was going over 100 mph when it hit the 1994 Chevrolet Suburban that was turning in front of it.

Since both of the vehicles went up inflames the bodies of the drivers are un-identifiable. The Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office will be left to verify the men's identities.

Elizabeth Monforti, spokeswoman for Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, said the motorcyclist may have gone through one of the Suburban's passenger side windows in the 11 a.m. wreck, but the patrol could not confirm that. The driver of the sport utility vehicle was still inside his vehicle when it stopped moving; the motorcyclist was nearby but outside, said Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Larry Coggins.

Because of the extreme damage to the SUV, investigators were able to conclude that the motorcyclist was driving at an extremely high rate of speed.

This is just one of the many fatal accidents that have occurred on U.S. 19.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our sections on Automobile Accidents and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

I-4 Car Crash Involves More Than 50 Vehicles

Joe Saunders — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:39:55 GMT

An early morning car crash on I-4 in Polk County involved more 50 vehicles and at this point, an undetermined number of crash fatalities. The crash occurred as a result of heavy fog combined with a controlled burn that got out of control. The hazardous combination of fog and smoke from the fire reduced visibility to zero. I wonder why Interstate 4 wasn't closed down prior to the crash. Authorities knew about the controlled burn and should have been aware of the potential for fog. Perhaps, if the highway had been closed, this tragedy could have been avoided.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Saunders