| lazaruslaw-2 | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized

Pregnant Woman Killed in Fort Lauderdale Poolside Cabana Accident

1197277_by_the_pool%20sxchu.jpgLast week, a pregnant Massachusetts woman was killed when a car drove into a Fort Lauderdale hotel’s poolside cabana while she was inside. 27-year-old Alanna DeMella died after 35-year-old Rosa Rivera Kim of Plantation lost control of the car she was driving, drove over a curb, and hit a cabana at the Riverside Hotel. DeMella’s 31-year-old husband was inside a nearby men’s room at the time of the accident. He was taken to Broward General Medical Center for minor injuries. The couple’s unborn son also died in the accident.

Kim was also taken to Broward General Medical Center for her injuries. Police did not perform a breathalyzer test or draw Kim’s blood immediately following the accident due to her injuries. The accident is currently under investigation and police are still determining whether to file charges against Kim.

The Massachusetts couple was reportedly in town for a marriage conference paid for by their church. They apparently chose to extend their vacation by one day after the conference. Just hours after the couple checked into the Riverside hotel, DeMella, a teaching assistant for third-grade special education students, was killed.

Although most are not as bizarre as this one, unexpected automobile accidents are one of the main causes of wrongful death in the State of Florida. Because of Florida’s many beaches, seaports, and amusement parks, our state often has a great number of tourists on both sidewalks and the road. Every day, tourists, commuters, students, pedestrians, and others risk being injured by a motor vehicle. Common causes of Florida pedestrian accidents include impaired driving, speeding, driver inattention, failure to yield, and drivers who are distracted by cell phones, email, or text messaging.

Pedestrian accident injuries are often catastrophic and the expenses associated with recovering from such an injury can be high. In Florida, injured pedestrians may recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and pain and suffering. If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a pedestrian or car accident, it is highly recommended that you speak with a qualified Florida personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident.
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| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized, WRONGFUL DEATH

Palm Beach County Polo Magnate Convicted of DUI-Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide

1334670_stop_sign%20sxchu.jpgOn Friday, a South Florida jury convicted polo magnate John Goodman of vehicular homicide and DUI-manslaughter in connection with a fatal February 2010 automobile accident that killed 23-year-old Scott Wilson. The six member jury deliberated for less than six hours before handing down a guilty verdict. Following the jury’s decision, 48-year-old Goodman was immediately taken into custody and now faces up to 30 years in prison. Although he plans to appeal the conviction, Goodman will likely remain in custody until he is sentenced on April 30th.

The high profile case made international headlines after Goodman, heir to a $1.4 billion fortune, adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend, Heather Hutchins. At trial, Goodman was accused of driving his Bentley while impaired, speeding, running a stop sign, crashing into Wilson’s vehicle, and leaving the scene of the accident despite that Wilson’s vehicle was upside down in a canal. Goodman also allegedly called his girlfriend following the accident and reportedly waited more than one hour before calling authorities. Wilson drowned as a result of the Wellington car accident.

Goodman testified at trial that he suffered a concussion in the crash and did not see Wilson’s vehicle in the canal. He also testified he tried to stop, but his Bentley instead surged forward out of control. The defense provided expert testimony that the throttle on Goodman’s car was somehow stuck open immediately prior to the collision. According to jurors, the expert’s testimony was not convincing.

When authorities tested Goodman’s blood alcohol level, it measured .177 percent, more than twice the State of Florida’s legal limit. Goodman’s defense team claimed although he drank over the course of the evening, he was not driving while impaired. According to Goodman, he instead drank most of the alcohol in his system following the crash at a nearby barn owned by a fellow polo player. Part of Goodman’s defense was that he drank in a so-called “man cave” in his friend’s barn in an effort to alleviate the pain of a broken wrist. Still, it reportedly did not sit well with jurors when Goodman admitted to running the stop sign and having a few drinks prior to getting behind the wheel.

In addition to the criminal trial, Goodman is also facing a $100 million wrongful death civil lawsuit brought by Wilson’s parents in connection with the accident.
Read more “Palm Beach County Polo Magnate Convicted of DUI-Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide”

| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized

Debate Continues Over Elderly Driver Testing in Florida

1101435_highway%20%20sxchu.jpgThe debate over driver testing for seniors in Florida has recently resurfaced. One out of every five drivers in the state is over the age of 65 and that number is expected to increase as the nation’s population ages. Currently, elderly Florida drivers are not required to take a driving test when renewing their license. Due to a high elderly driver collision rate, some believe this should be changed.

Approximately 15 percent of the fatal motor vehicle accidents that occurred in Florida in 2010 involved a driver over the age of 65. Last weekend, a woman was killed in Delray by an 89-year-old driver who backed into her in a parking lot. Another woman died in Deerfield Beach after she was hit while walking on a sidewalk and dragged across a church property by an 88-year-old-driver. Tragic accidents such as these often inspire a public call for additional senior driver testing.

The State of Illinois requires seniors to submit to a road test when renewing their driver’s license. In Texas, drivers over the age of 79 are required to renew their license in person. Eight other states also require elderly drivers to renew in person beginning anywhere between age 69 to 75. As the baby boomer generation ages the debate over elderly driver certification will likely continue. Florida is one of 40 states which require vision testing for senior drivers. Driving tests, however, are not required.

According to Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there is no concrete proof elderly driver regulations reduce accident rates. She said although a recently conducted study suggested in person driver’s license renewal requirements for seniors may lower collision rates, other evidence was decidedly mixed. McCartt also stated Florida drivers over the age of 80 had a lower accident rate than those in the 15 to 34 age range in 2010.

The AARP has publicly opposed any age-based driver testing standard. The lobbying organization has instead advocated for promotion of Florida’s medical-review program. The program allows citizens, police officers, and doctors to report dangerous drivers as well as drivers who were diagnosed with an illness which may impair their ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Once a driver is reported, state licensing agents determine whether to administer a road test. The organization also expressed support for in person license renewal requirements for all drivers.

Some, such as Representative Irv Slosberg of Boca Raton, believe the safety focus should be on teenaged drivers rather than seniors as elderly drivers rarely speed or text behind the wheel of a car. Still, reliable crash rates can be difficult to obtain since senior citizens tend to drive fewer miles per year than younger drivers. Most agree, however, a bright lane driving age cut-off is unnecessary.
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| lazaruslaw-2 | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, INSURANCE COVERAGE, Uncategorized

Florida Lawmakers Reform Personal Injury Protection Insurance

1334532_ambulance.jpgLast week, the Florida Legislature passed reforms to the state’s mandatory no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) insurance requirement. House Bill 119 was passed after a 22-17 vote in the Senate just prior to midnight and immediately before state lawmakers adjourned. The reforms are designed to rein in insurance prices by making it more difficult for individuals to commit fraud or abuse PIP insurance.

PIP was adopted in Florida in 1972. The law allows those injured in a motor vehicle accident to receive up to $10,000 for medical expenses and lost earnings regardless of fault. The costs associated with PIP insurance have purportedly increased by approximately $1.4 billion over the last four years. Some believe the increase is due in large part to fraud and staged accidents. The State of Florida reportedly has the most staged accidents nationwide, and the problem is particularly pronounced in the Tampa and Miami metropolitan areas.

The measure passed by lawmakers requires anyone who is injured in a Florida car accident to seek treatment within 14 days from a hospital, ambulance, physician, dentist, or chiropractor. An accident victim will only be allowed to receive the full PIP insurance benefit of $10,000 if a treating medical provider determines he or she suffers from an emergency medical condition. If not, the victim’s PIP benefit will be limited to $2,500. Additionally, the new law requires an accident victim to receive a referral from a health care provider prior to obtaining any follow-up medical services and eliminates payment for massage or acupuncture treatment.

The new law almost didn’t make it to a vote. Florida Senators narrowly accepted House changes to the measure by a 21-19 vote. According to Senator Joe Negron, who sponsored a similar bill in the Senate and negotiated the compromise legislation, the new law will have a large impact on PIP insurance fraud. Senate President Mike Haridopolos admitted to collecting on IOUs in order to get the legislation approved.

Governor Rick Scott was in favor of the legislation, but some Florida lawmakers believe the new law will only serve to create larger profits for insurance companies. Although the initial bill would have guaranteed a PIP rate reduction of 25 percent, the bill that was passed only requires a 10 percent rate reduction with no guarantees. If insurance companies fail to reduce PIP rates by 10 percent, they must provide a detailed explanation regarding why the reduction was impossible. If PIP rates are not reduced by 25 percent by January 1, 2014, another explanation is required.

Representative Scott Randolph of Orlando expressed concern regarding whether lawmakers should take insurance companies at their word. A spokesperson for the Florida Consumer Action Network, Bill Newton, doesn’t believe the legislation will have an impact on PIP insurance fraud. Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla of Miami also expressed his concerns over the new measure and stated insurance companies were already in control the PIP formula.
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| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized, WRONGFUL DEATH

Two Killed, Five Injured in Automobile Collision Near Boca Raton

570770_metal%20sxchu%20website.jpgA mother and her adult daughter were killed and five other people were injured in a two car accident west of Boca Raton Friday night. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, 85-year-old Angelina Ferrarella and 54-year-old Donna D’Angelo died after the car Ferrarella was driving was broadsided in an intersection by a 2003 BMW that allegedly ran a red light. Ferrarella’s husband, son-in-law, and grandson were also seriously injured in the crash. At the time of the accident, Ferrarella and her family were about one block away from their destination.

The driver of the BMW, 19-year-old Joanne Luu, and her passenger suffered only minor injuries. Although a toxicology report is currently pending, police believe alcohol or drugs may have been a factor in the crash. Police stated Luu’s passenger was also believed to be under the influence at the time of the accident. No arrests were made in connection with the accident.

Since the accident, Luu took to posting photos of her injuries and her own account of the accident on social media website Twitter. According to Luu, Ferrarella ran a red light and broadsided her vehicle. Twitter has since deactivated Luu’s account.

Drugs and alcohol can have a dramatic effect on a driver’s perception, judgment, and reaction time. A drunk or impaired driver is not only a hazard themselves, but also a danger to everyone they encounter on the road. Drunk or impaired driving is one of the leading causes of deadly automobile accidents in the nation. You and those you love are put at risk each time someone chooses to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you or a loved one was hurt by an intoxicated or impaired driver, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, disability, pain, suffering, lost wages, and other damages. By filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the driver who hurt you or your family, you have the opportunity to send a message to other drivers that operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or on drugs is not acceptable behavior.
Read more “Two Killed, Five Injured in Automobile Collision Near Boca Raton”

| lazaruslaw-2 | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized

Florida Highway Patrol on the Lookout for Aggressive Drivers

232051_semi-truck_1%20sxchu.jpgThe Florida Highway Patrol will be on the lookout for aggressive drivers this week. According to state law, an aggressive driver is someone who commits two violations such as following too closely, speeding, making unsafe lane changes, failing to yield, passing improperly, and running stop lights or signs at the same time. Additional State Troopers will be dispatched to major state roads such as Florida’s Turnpike and interstates 75, 95, and 595 this week to combat aggressive driving.

By stepping up enforcement, the Highway Patrol seeks to reduce or eliminate the number of collisions between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks such as 18-wheelers. According to the law enforcement agency, 88 percent of such crashes result from driver choices and behavior. Meanwhile, only 12 percent are caused by road conditions and motor vehicle defects. In 2010, Florida law enforcement officers ticketed 23,180 aggressive drivers. That number was almost 20,000 more tickets than were issued in 2003.

The Florida Highway Patrol is also seeking to reduce accidents by using educational tools such as roadside billboards and radio spots. Drivers are also being warned to take safety precautions such as ensuring they stay out of a commercial truck’s blind spots. In 2010, approximately 10 percent of all traffic deaths in Florida resulted from crashes between semi-trucks and passenger cars.

Florida Trucking Association Road Team driver Frank Silio believes most drivers are not trying to be unsafe, but do not fully realize the amount of time it takes for an 18-wheeler to stop when traveling at interstate speeds. He stated at 50 miles per hour it can take more than 100 yards to stop due to the truck’s weight. Silio and 22 other Road Team drivers work with the Florida Highway Patrol to educate drivers about safe driving near 18-wheelers. He believes drivers ought to be more cognizant of a commercial truck’s large blind spots and allows individuals to sit in his cab during educational events in order to see the road from a truck driver’s perspective.

Folks in Florida spend a great deal of time in their automobiles each year. Unsafe or distracted drivers are a hazard to everyone on the road. Aggressive driving can lead to major injuries and death. An individual who is hurt in an automobile accident due to someone else’s negligence may be eligible to receive compensation for medical bills, disability, pain, suffering, lost earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life and other damages. If you or a loved one was hurt in a motor vehicle collision, a qualified car accident attorney can help you evaluate your case.
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| lazaruslaw-2 | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, CELL PHONE USE, Uncategorized

Florida Lawmakers Consider Statewide Driver Texting Ban

1307593_mobile_phone_in_hand%20sxchu%20website.jpgFlorida’s Budget Committee is considering a bill which would ban texting while driving throughout the state. Senate Bill 416 would prohibit drivers in Florida from sending or reading non-voice communications using a wireless device. If approved, the ban would go into effect on October 1st of this year.

Senate Bill 416 was introduced by Senators Margolis, Sachs, Sobel, Lynn, and Altman. If the law is passed, a driver caught texting while driving would be subject to a $30 fine and gain 6 points on their driver’s license. A driver cited twice within 5 years would be subject to a $60 fine and receive an additional 6 points. In Florida, once a driver has received 12 or more points the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may suspend their operator’s license for 30 days.

If passed, the law would not apply to police or emergency personnel engaged in their official duties. It would also provide an exception for those reporting an emergency or crime. Emergency alerts, messages concerning weather or traffic, and navigation systems would also be exempted under the proposed law. As written, the bill would make texting behind the wheel violations a secondary enforcement offense. This means a driver could only be cited for violating the law if initially pulled over for another violation.

According to Captain Mark Brown, Chief of Public Affairs for the Florida Highway Patrol, nearly 2,600 motor vehicle collisions in Florida in 2011 involved an “electronic distraction.” He also stated all use of cellular telephones in Florida Highway Patrol cars is banned unless a hands free device is being used. The Highway Patrol instituted this policy in an effort to set a good example for Florida residents.

Senate Bill 416 is modeled after a 2009 Executive Order which prohibits federal employees driving a government vehicle from texting behind the wheel. At present, 35 states and the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving. Previous attempts to prohibit texting while driving never made it out of the Florida Legislature. The current Senate bill has seen support as it traveled through several committees, but it has not been scheduled for a full chamber vote. House Bill 299, the House counterpart to Senate Bill 416, has not moved forward.

Florida citizens spend countless hours in their automobiles every year. Drivers distracted by cellular telephones, text messages, and email can be a hazard to everyone on the road. Serious injuries and even death may result from their inattention. If you were injured in a car accident due to another person’s negligence, you may be eligible to receive monetary damages for lost wages, lost earning capacity, medical bills, suffering, pain, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life. Since no two injuries are alike, it is a good idea to contact an experienced automobile accident lawyer to help you assess your damages.
Read more “Florida Lawmakers Consider Statewide Driver Texting Ban”

| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized, WRONGFUL DEATH

Civil and Criminal Trials Against Polo Magnate Who Adopted 42-year-old Girlfriend Begin Soon

658107_polo_player%20sxchu.jpg
On February 11, 2010, 23-year-old Scott Wilson drowned in his car when it flipped and landed upside down in a Wellington canal after an early morning auto accident. The other driver, polo mogul John Goodman, is accused of driving while drunk and impaired, speeding, running a stop sign, colliding with Wilson’s vehicle, leaving the scene of the accident, and waiting about an hour before calling 911. Goodman also allegedly called his girlfriend prior to alerting authorities to the accident.

A criminal trial against Goodman is scheduled to begin in South Florida on March 6th. He is charged with D.U.I. manslaughter and motor vehicular homicide. According to Goodman, now 48, his cell phone was not working at the time of the accident and he left the scene to get help. After the accident, Goodman’s blood alcohol content was purportedly more than twice Florida’s legal limit of .08 percent.

Wilson’s parents have also filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against Goodman. The lawsuit, also scheduled to begin in March, made international headlines after Goodman adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend, Heather Hutchins. Although attorneys for Goodman’s minor biological children have asked a Miami-Dade judge to toss out the adoption, it makes Hutchins the current beneficiary of a $300 million trust established for his children.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Glenn Kelley is presiding over the Wilsons’ civil case. He has expressed disbelief over the adoption and called it a “legal twilight zone.” In September, Judge Kelley refused to allow the Wilsons to introduce evidence in the civil case regarding the contents of the trust because Goodman’s children, not Goodman, were the beneficiaries. On January 26th, Judge Kelley reversed his decision and stated information about the trust may now be presented to jurors.

Goodman is an heir to a $1.4 billion fortune. According to Goodman’s civil attorney, the adoption was merely an estate planning tool designed to protect the contents of the trust. Litigation concerning the adoption is currently taking place in Florida, Texas, and Delaware.

Losing someone you love is always devastating, but it can be especially difficult when your loved one died as a result of a preventable accident. Unfortunately, tragic deaths such as this are increasingly common. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation to close relatives of someone killed due to another person’s carelessness, negligence or wrongful act. Your ability to file a wrongful death case will depend on your relationship to the deceased person. In Florida, a family member has up to two years to file a claim for wrongful death. Because of the limited time period in which to file your case, it is important to speak with a qualified wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible after a fatal accident.
Read more “Civil and Criminal Trials Against Polo Magnate Who Adopted 42-year-old Girlfriend Begin Soon”

| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized

Eleven Dead in Gainesville Interstate Pileup

285433_car_accident%20sxchu%20website.jpgEarly Sunday morning, 11 people were killed and 21 injured in a massive vehicle pileup on Interstate 75 south of Gainesville. The accident, which involved seven 18-wheelers and 12 passenger vehicles, left behind fiery wreckage which spanned more than one mile of roadway. Poor visibility from a mixture of heavy smoke and fog is being blamed for the crash. Rescuers on the scene stated it was nearly impossible to find victims in the dark cloud.

According to crash survivor Steven Camps of Gainesville, it was a horrific scene. Camps said he hard vehicles crashing into one another, explosions, and people screaming. He also stated it looked like the “end of the world,” had arrived. Camps said while he was headed home traffic on the northbound interstate stopped. While stopped, Camps’ vehicle was purportedly struck twice. He also claims he witnessed the car stopped next to his own smashed into and forced underneath a stopped semi-truck trailer. After that, Camps and his passenger exited his vehicle and ran to a grassy bank nearby.

Accidents occurred on both sides of the interstate and all six lanes of I-75 were closed throughout most of the day on Sunday as fire crews extinguished the last of the flames. According to a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol, portions of the northbound lanes actually melted from the various fires.

Ludie Bond, spokeswoman for the Florida Forest Service, stated roadside fires began along I-75 sometime on Saturday. Previously during the weekend, the interstate was closed for a short time due to poor visibility. It was later reopened prior to the deadly crash. Because no controlled burns were scheduled in the area, investigators are currently examining whether the roadside blaze may been the result of arson.

Sadly, automobile accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injury and death in Florida each year. Injuries sustained in a car accident may be very minor or quite disastrous as was the case on Sunday. Although the causes of a vehicle crash can vary, hazardous road conditions, driver inattention, driver impairment, and driver fatigue are commonly to blame. Other factors include defective vehicles, road debris, driving too fast for conditions, and aggressive driving. If you were hurt in a car crash due to someone else’s carelessness, an experienced automobile accident lawyer can help.
Read more “Eleven Dead in Gainesville Interstate Pileup”

| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized

New Study Reveals Red Light Cameras May Actually Increase Fatal Accidents in Florida, Nationwide

480202_broken_car%20sxchu%20website.jpgAccording to research recently released by the University of South Florida, cities that utilize red light cameras have a 25 percent higher rate of traffic fatalities related to red light running than cities that do not use the technology. The research, published in the Florida Health Review, completely refutes a February 2011 study disseminated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety which stated red light cameras would have prevented approximately 800 additional traffic deaths in 48 cities during a five year period.

In the February 2011 study, a five year period during which 62 cities did not have red light cameras was selected. Next, a five year period during which 14 of the cities had active red light cameras installed and operational and the remaining 48 cities did not use red light cameras at all was chosen. After the Insurance Institute compared the data, it arrived at the conclusion red light cameras could have prevented many red light running fatalities in camera-free cities.

In contrast, the University of South Florida study concluded the Insurance Institute’s analysis was not only scientifically flawed, but also highly suspect because the insurance industry funded the entirety of the research. Insurance companies have a significant financial stake in red light camera tickets. Although tickets from red light cameras do not add points to a Florida driver’s license, they are still used to increase insurance premiums.

Other problems with the Insurance Institute’s research also existed. For example, several of the cities evaluated that never implemented red light cameras experienced very few or no fatal accidents associated with red light running during the relevant time periods. Consequently, it was impossible for researchers to truly compare before and after death rates. After researchers at the University of South Florida re-analyzed the statistics used by the Insurance Institute using valid research methods, they concluded red light running fatalities were in fact significantly higher in red light camera cities.

Florida residents spend countless hours in their automobiles each year and motor vehicle collisions are an unfortunate fact of life. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injury and death in Florida. Injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision can range from minor to catastrophic. Automobile accidents are generally caused by driver inattention, impairment or fatigue. Other factors may include defective vehicles, speeding, road debris, and aggressive driving. If you were injured on the road, a knowledgeable car accident attorney can help you file a claim against the negligent party.
Read more “New Study Reveals Red Light Cameras May Actually Increase Fatal Accidents in Florida, Nationwide”