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Allen Murphy Law - driven. focused. fearless
429 S. Keller Rd Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32810

Orlando Personal Injury Law Firm serving:
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Ford settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit with Family of Baseball Prospect

Nearly ten years after a tragic car accident that claimed the life of a professional baseball prospect and injured his passenger, personal injury attorneys have settled a lawsuit over charges that the vehicle he was riding in was unsafe. Orlando personal injury attorneys also represent victims and families of car accidents and wrongful death.

The lawsuit was filed by the family of Brian Cole, a young man from Mississippi who was killed in a car accident on interstate 10 in Northwest Florida in 2001 as he drove home from Spring Training.

Cole had been drafted by the New York Mets and also recruited by Florida State University to play football. On March 31, 2001 he was driving his Ford Explorer home with his brother Ryan so that he could fly to the first game of the minor league baseball season the next week when the accident happened.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident happened when Coles Ford Explorer overturned on Interstate 10 in Floridas Panhandle. He was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and died from his injuries. He was 22 years old at the time. His cousin, who was then 17, survived the accident with minor personal injury.

The lawsuit filed against Ford Motor Company alleged that the vehicle was unstable and that the defective safety belts resulted in Coles ejection despite the fact that he was wearing his seatbelt. A jury in Jasper County, Mississippi decided that Ford was 100% liable for the damages and had just awarded the family $131 million damages when the parties decided to settle.

The terms and amount of the settlement were kept confidential.

Man Suffers Wrongful Death in Tragic Central Florida Car Accident

Orlando personal injury attorneys and Florida Highway Patrol investigators are still looking into the causes of a devastating car accident last week that resulted in the wrongful death of a Lakeland man. Fortunately, it does not appear that anyone else suffered personal injury in the wreck.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident happened early last Tuesday morning at around 6:15 a.m. 24 year old Matthew Grube of Lakeland was traveling South on County Line Road in a Hyundai Elantra when he crashed into the back of a semi truck that was waiting to turn left at the intersection of Drane Field Road.

Investigators indicated that the right rear end of the semi tractor trailer, which was driven by 39 year old Timothy Chism, was partially blocking the inside of the lane where Grube was traveling while the truck waited to turn.

The violent collision cut away portions of the left front side of Grubes car and sent it spinning around to the right of the truck, eventually striking the cab of the truck and coming to a stop. Grube was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. No passengers were riding in either vehicle and no one else was injured.

Accident reports indicated that both drivers were wearing their seatbelts. An investigation into the causes of the collision continues and charges are pending the conclusion of that investigation. Check back for further updates.

South Florida Car Accident Causes Wrongful Death and Several Injuries

Orlando Personal Injury Attorneys are awaiting the results of an investigation into a weekend car accident that claimed the life of one person and caused injury to three others. The accident comes at the height of the summer auto travel season when tragic collisions seem to be a daily occurrence.

Orlando car accident attorneys frequently see collisions during these months caused by distracted drivers, which can involve alcohol, texting or mobile phone use. Teenagers who are busy with summer activities before they return to school also play a role in increased traffic.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, this weekends accident happened in Miami Lakes on State Road 826 near 154th Street on Sunday morning. An unidentified driver of a white Lexus was traveling south around 8 in the morning when they had a collision with a road side object.

The collision caused one of the passengers in the car to be ejected. They died as a result of their injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. The three other occupants of the car were injured and taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital via helicopter for treatment.

FHP accident investigators are still looking into the causes of the accident and have not yet released the names of the victims. Check back for more details on this accident as they become available.

Teenager suffers wrongful death in Daytona car accident

Orlando personal injury attorneys are joining Florida Highway Patrol investigators in trying to find out what caused a tragic car accident this weekend that resulted in the death of a Volusia County teen. The accident, which also injured two others, serves as a harsh reminder for other Florida drivers to buckle up.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on Interstate 95 just north of Daytona, at just before 11:00pm. 18 year old Alex Crouch, who was the son of an area physician, was traveling North at a high rate of speed when his car struck the rear of another car in the center lane. The impact caused his car to roll several times and Crouch, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the car. He died at the scene.

Investigators are not sure whether alcohol was a factor in the accident. Blood samples were taken and the Highway Patrol is awaiting results from an alcohol test.

The driver of the car struck by Crouch, 41 year old Jessica Parodi, as well as her passenger, Maria Colon-Morales, suffered minor personal injuries when their car was pushed into a guardrail. After being cut from the vehicle they were taken to Halifax Medical Center for treatment.

An investigation into the cause of the accident continues. Check back for further updates.

Drunk Driver causes Wrongful Death of Orlando Family

A man arrested for DUI manslaughter after killing an Orlando family of four in a tragic car accident over the weekend will be needing the help of an Orlando DUI lawyer or an Orlando criminal law attorney. Police have arrested him on multiple counts of DUI violations as well as possession of alcohol by a minor.

The accident has left an Orlando family and the community where they lived shaken. 51 year old Roy McConnell was on vacation in Redington Beach with his family and was returning from a movie with his three sons, Roy McConnell III, Nathan McConnell and Kelly McConnell when they were struck by another car and killed. The senior McConnell was an accountant and avid triathlete. All three of his sons had played football at area University High School.

According to police, the family was driving in St. Petersburg early Sunday morning at around 12:45 am when a speeding car driven by 20 year old Demetrius Jordan ran a red light and crashed into them. The accident pushed their car into a roadside support beam and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

Both Jordan and the passenger in his car, 20 year old Mario Robinson, wre transported to Bayfront Medical Center in serious condition. Jordan was charged with four counts of DUI manslaughter, DUI causing serious bodily injury, and possession of alcohol by a minor.

Police continue to investigate the accident.

Accutane Injury Lawsuit of Hollywood Actor to Start this Week

Accutane injury lawyers representing Hollywood actor James Marshall will begin their Accutane lawsuit this week in New Jersey over allegations that the drug caused the actor bowel conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease that led to him having surgery to remove his colon. More info is about Accutane is available.

Marshall is best known for his role as Private First Class Louden Downey in the 1992 hit A Few Good Men. He also starred in the movie Gladiator. Accutane, which was sold by Roche Pharmaceuticals until June of 2009 has been linked to several bowel conditions including Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns Disease. In the most sever of these afflictions patients may have to have parts of their bowels removed.

The lawsuit filed by the 43 year old actor alleges that the eventual surgery he had to undergo as a result of the severe side effects from Accutane ruined a successful acting career. Several industry insiders and fellow actors such as Martin Sheen, Brian Dennehy and Rob Reiner are expected to testify to that effect during the trial.

More than 1,000 Accutane lawsuits have been filed so far against Roche alleging that the drug manufacturer did not properly warn patients of the risks of severe bowel disease side effects associated with the drug. Although only 7 of the cases have reached a jury decision, all of those have resulted in verdicts against Roche totaling approximately $56 million.

It is expected that even more people suffering from conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns Disease who took Accutane but do not know of the connection will learn about their legal rights because of this high profile case.

Three car accident causes one Wrongful Death and two Injuries

Orlando personal injury attorneys are looking into the causes of a Central Florida car accident that occurred over the weekend killing one man and injuring two others. The accident, involving three cars, marks another deadly statistic for the summer and the year as a whole.

According to investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident happened on Hillsborough Avenue Friday evening.

19 year old Vincent Agosto from St. Petersburg was travelling east on Hillsborough when he lost control of his car just west of Countryway Boulevard. As a result he ran over the median and struck two vehicles traveling west on Hillsborough. Agosto was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries suffered in the accident.

One of the other drivers involved, Jose Ramirez, was seriously injured in the accident and taken to St. Joseph's Hospital for treatment. Fortunately the third driver was not hurt in the accident.

Police are continuing their investigation into the causes of the accident.

Wrongful Death caused by North Florida Car Accident

Orlando personal injury attorneys are looking into a tragic car accident in North Florida that claimed the life of one person over the weekend. The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident as well, but has released few details so far.

According to the FHP, the victim was driving west on Interstate 10 near Milton, Florida and mile marker 42 in their Volkswagen vehicle at a high rate of speed. For some reason which is not yet known, they lost control of the car and ran into a drainage ditch.

The accident caused the vehicle to flip over and catch fire. Authorities reported that the fire was so intense it caused a full closure of I-10 for several hours near the accident site and traffic had to be re-routed through the Holt exit.

The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. At this time, they have not released their name or any other details until they are able to notify their relatives. They have not indicated whether the person was using a seatbelt or if alcohol was a factor in the accident.

An investigation into the causes of the crash continues.

Central Florida Man killed, another injured in Panhandle Car Accident

Fate delivered a deadly message this past weekend when a Sebring man suffered wrongful death and another suffered serious injury during a car accident. The two men were being pursued by police after a prior hit and run accident. Orlando personal injury lawyers are looking into the causes of the deadly accident.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, police were pursuing a car driven by 19 year old Ryan Nowell of Sebring in connection with an alleged hit and run. Nowell ran through a red light at an intersection of CR 2387 and U.S. 98 where he struck a pickup truck driven by 19 year old Nicolas Mustain of Destin.

The impact caused both vehicles to overturn. A third vehicle was struck after the accident and a fourth was hit with flying debris.19 year old Travis Bowers, who was a passenger in Nowells car, died at the scene of the accident. Nowell was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition.

Fortunately Mustain only suffered minor injuries in the accident. No one else was injured and there is no indication anyone was injured in the initial hit and run.

Neither Bowers nor Nowell were wearing their seat belt when the accident occurred. An investigation by Florida Highway Patrol continues.

Port Charlotte Motorcycle Accident causes Wrongful Death

Orlando personal injury attorneys and Florida Highway Patrol investigators are looking into the causes of a tragic car accident last week that took the life of a young man in Port Charlotte after a car crashed into a motorcycle.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred last Tuesday in Port Charlotte, Florida at around 1:30 in the afternoon. 25 year old Dustin Klett was riding his motorcycle south on Cochran Boulevard when a vehicle driven by Sturgis Lyster, 83, also of Port Charlotte, drove into his path.

Klett was ejected from the motorcycle and landed on the street. Although he was wearing a helmet, he died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Klett was pronounced dead at Lee Memorial Hospital two days later on Thursday. Lyster did not suffer any personal injury in the accident.

Investigators are continuing their search of clues into the causes of the incident. Until a full investigation is released, charges are pending.

Central Florida Car Accident Causes Wrongful Death of Elderly Couple

Orlando personal injury attorneys and Central Florida law enforcement investigators are looking into the causes of a tragic car accident that happened this past weekend which led to the death of a married couple and serious injury to three others.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident happened Saturday on Interstate 95 around Lake Worth when a Toyota being driven by 35 year old Lunda Boliere was cut off by another vehicle. The incident caused Boliere to lose control and cross an entrance ramp, where the vehicle struck a barrier, flipped over and landed on its roof on the shoulder.

78 year old Diana Einhorn was a passenger in the vehicle but was not wearing a seatbelt. She was ejected from the car and died. Her husband, 81 year old Sidney Einhorn, was also killed from injuries sustained in the accident.

Boliere had been driving the couple, along with passengers Elise Sharon Graham and Naomi Graham, to Palm Beach International Airport. They and Boliere were taken to St. Marys Medical Center in West Palm Beach where they were listed in critical condition.

Officers are still searching for information about the vehicle that cut off the car and potentially caused the accident. They are asking anyone with information to contact them.

Two killed in Central Florida Car Accident

Orlando personal injury attorneys and accident investigators are looking into a car accident that occurred in Sumter County yesterday causing the wrongful death of two people and injury of two others.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident happened around 5:00 p.m. when 23 year old Kodi Chamberlain and 45 year old Roger Higny, both of Polk County, were driving a Jeep SUV south on State Road 471 in Sumter County

Investigators believe Chamberlain, who was driving the Jeep, momentarily ran off the roadway. When he tried to re-enter the southbound lane, he overcorrected and ran partially into the Northbound lane and into the path of a GMC driven by 73 year old Floyd Sloan.

The GMC reportedly struck the left side of the Jeep that had entered the Northbound lane, which ejected Chamberlain and Higby from the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Sloan and his wife, 70 year old Caren Sloan, were both taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center and were listed in serious condition, according to the FHP.

One Vehicle Accident Causes Death of One, Serious Injury of Another

Florida Highway Patrol investigators and personal injury attorneys are looking into what caused a car accident last week in Manatee County that caused the wrongful death of one person and serious injury to another.

The accident happened at around 10:30 a.m. last Thursday on Interstate 75 near the State Road 64 exit. Witnesses reported seeing a car roll over while driving in the Northbound lanes. There were also indications that two people had been ejected from the car due to the roll.

A rescue helicopter was sent to the scene where one person was confirmed dead and another was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

From all early reports it appeared that only one vehicle was involved in the crash. Identities of the victims and more details have yet to be released as investigators continue their study of the accident.

Florida man with poor driving record causes South Florida Car Accident

Florida Personal Injury Attorneys and police are looking into an accident that occurred Friday in Delray Beach, when a man with several previous DUI arrests ran onto a sidewalk and into a group of people. Fortunately no one suffered wrongful death, however several were injured.

51 year old Laurence DeRook will be needing the help of a criminal law attorney after his arrest. Around midnight Friday, he ran his 1997 Ford Mustang onto the sidewalk at 16 E. Atlantic Ave., near Delux nightclub, struck a light pole, then ran down seven people who were standing in the area.

According to police all seven people were injured in the accident and later taken to Delray Medical Center with serious injuries. DeRook was not injured in the accident but was booked on seven counts of DUI causing serious injury.

Witnesses said DeRook was stumbling when he got out of the car. According to records from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, he has been charged with DUI several times before.

Orlando Car Accident causes Wrongful Death of one, injury to others

Orlando Wrongful Death and Car Accident Attorneys as well as law enforcement authorities are investigating a collision that occurred Sunday killing a woman and injuring two others.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 22 year old Stephanie Rodriguez was driving north on Goldenrod Road at approximately 9:15 pm when she was struck head on by a car that crossed into her lane. Police are charging 22 year old Jhoan Escobar-Grajales with the accident.

Investigators stated Grajales had been traveling south on Goldenrod Road when he crossed into oncoming traffic for some reason.

Authorities stated Rodriguez was pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center. An unidentified 4 year old girl who was riding in her car was injured and taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital. She was listed in serious condition.

Grajales was taken to ORMC, where he is listed in critical condition at ORMC.

An investigation into the causes of the accident continues and charges are pending.

Wrongful Death of FHP Trooper Caused by Turnpike Car Accident

Investigators and South Florida Personal Injury Attorneys are looking into the causes of a tragic car accident that occurred Saturday evening in Miami taking the life of a Florida Highway Patrol officer.

According to FHP investigators, 35 year old Patrick Ambroise, a four year veteran of the FHP, had his patrol car parked on the side of the northbound lane of the Turnpike in North Miami-Dade County when it was rear-ended by a Lexus driven by 19 year old Jonathan Robert Garcia just before 9:00 p.m.

No one is sure yet what caused Garcia to veer from the northbound traffic lane onto the shoulder striking the patrol car, although some are speculating cell phone use or alcohol could have been a factor.

Ambroise was in his car at the time of the collision and consequently stuck inside while the car burst into flames. He died at the scene. Garcia was seriously injured and flown by helicopter to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Ambroise is survived by his wife and two young daughters.

An investigation into the cause of the accident continues.

Two killed in Central Florida car accident

Investigators and personal injury attorneys are looking into the causes of a single-car accident last weekend that resulted in the wrongful death of a man and his girlfriend in the Villages, west of Orlando.

According to police, the accident occurred Sunday evening just before 7:00 on Highland Ave. when a car driven by 26 year old Joseph Roman struck a utility pole and several trees. The car was destroyed in the accident and Roman and his girlfriend Brittany Smith were both killed in the collision.

Accident investigators are attributing the crash to excessive speed. It is unclear whether either person was wearing their seatbelt.

Police speculated that the couple were heading from one family’s home to the other for Mother’s Day.

Tragic Baker County Car Accident causes death of infant, injury to others

Jacksonville injury attorneys and the FHP are looking into the wrongful death of a 4 month old and the personal injury of two others as the result of a head-on car accident on Interstate 10 in Baker County Saturday night.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a vehicle carrying a family of four along with 4 month old Caden Graham was traveling westbound on I-10 when they were struck by a car driven by 59 year old Clarence Allen of Tallahassee, who was traveling east in the westbound lane. The accident occurred near mile marker 316.

Graham was killed in the collision. 42 year old Calvin Foster Sr., and 40 year old Charlotte Foster were taken by helicopter to Shands Hospital in Gainesville with serious injuries. Fortunately two other children riding in the car only received minor injuries.

State investigators are looking into whether alcohol was a factor in the collision.

Wrongful death blamed on head-on car accident

Jacksonville Police and injury attorneys are looking into the causes of a car accident over the weekend that left one man dead and three others injured. Police from Jacksonville to Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale are warning drivers to buckle up with the increased summer traffic and risk of accidents. It is not clear yet whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The yet unnamed victim was killed when the car in which he was traveling was struck by a truck that crossed the center line on North Main Street at around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, he was not wearing a seatbelt. Also injured were the driver of the car, another passenger, and the driver of the truck.

The three individuals who survived the crash were wearing seatbelts.

13-year-old Student Killed in Tragic Car Accident

Personal injury lawyers and investigators are looking into the tragic wrongful death of a student this week who was struck by a car while crossing a busy road on his bicycle in South Florida.

According to investigators, 13 year old Ryan Santos was trying to ride his bike across Del Prado Boulevard when he was hit by a car traveling South. He was thrown from his bike and later passed away at Lee Memorial Hospital.

Friends and family have erected a memorial of flowers and balloons near the spot where he was killed. Santos’ fellow students are trying to deal with his loss and counselors have arrived at his Middle School to help those who are grieving.

At this point the crash appears to be an accident and investigators say there are no plans to charge the driver involved.

Central Florida car accident causes wrongful death of one, injuries of others

Lawyers and investigators are looking into the causes of a car accident Saturday in Polk City, near Orlando, FL, which left one person dead and five others with personal injury.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at approximately 4:00 pm Saturday on State Road 33 in Polk County. Two vehicles were involved. One was a car and the other a church van.

Rebecca Barner, 47, was driving her car North on SR 33 when she approached stopped traffic. She ran off the road on to the shoulder where she lost control, spun out into oncoming traffic in the southbound lane, and struck the church van.

Barner died in the collision. The passenger in her car as well as four people in the van were also injured and were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Woman killed in East Orlando car accident

Orlando personal injury lawyers as well as police investigators are looking into a car accident that caused the wrongful death of one woman and the injury of others early Thursday morning.

The accident occurred around 1:30 am on Colonial Drive in east Orange County when a car driven by 39 year old Mark Hunt ran into the back of two other cars waiting at a stop light.

The first car struck, driven by Tyne Deacon, then struck the car in front of it driven by Derrow Jean. 62 year old Gloria Harness, who was a passenger in the first car and was not wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene after the crash.

Deacon was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in serious condition. The other drivers and passengers who were wearing seatbelts received minor or no injuries.

According to police Mark Hunt could be charged in the fatal crash.

Gainesville car accident results in death of one person, another injured

Injury lawyers and investigators are looking into the causes of a car accident in Gainesville, Florida, between Jacksonville and Orlando, that resulted in the wrongful death of one person and the personal injury of another. The accident also caused nearly 400 people to lose power.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on Williston Road near Main Street in Gainesville Sunday afternoon. A single driver SUV hit the back of a car, sending that driver spinning into a utility pole. The driver of the car, its only occupant, was killed in the accident. The identities of the two people involved is not yet known.

The accident damaged a power pole which knocked down power lines and cut off power for approximately 400 people in the area during repairs.

A witness near the accident said the driver of the SUV appeared to have been speeding and was switching lanes to avoid hitting another car just before the fatal wreck.

Car accident in Jacksonville Florida causes wrongful death of six

Authorities and personal injury attorneys are looking into a tragic car accident this weekend that claimed the life of six people all traveling in the same car. The family was on their way to celebrate the release of a man from prison.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, 57-year-old Brenda Edwards was driving from Georgia to Jacksonville Friday when her van was struck by a speeding car which sent it into the median and into the path of an oncoming pickup truck.

Edwards was killed, as was her daughter Melissa Mitchell and her four grandchildren ranging in age from 4 to 16 years old. The family was on their way to greet Edwards’ son, who was being released from prison.

Pedro Juan Ocacia Alcazar has been charged with six counts of vehicular homicide as a result of the accident. He is being held in the Nassau County Jail on $300,000 bail.

North Florida car accident causes wrongful death, several injuries

A three car accident in North Florida this week caused the personal injury of four people and the death of another. A driver who contributed to the accident admitted to police that he was tired and may have dosed off just before the impact.

The accident happened Wednesday when 73 year old Raymond Lewis, who was traveling north on highway 87, crossed the center line into the southbound lane. His car clipped another driven by 29 year old Virginia Thomas, killing her.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol press release, Lewis told an officer that he was feeling drowsy and was looking for a spot to pull over prior to the crash. After he crossed the center line, Thomas moved to the southbound shoulder to try to avoid the collision, but Lewis reportedly awoke before impact and swerved to his right.

Three passengers in Thomas' car were all taken via ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. Lewis sustained minor injuries.

The accident is still under investigation.

Wrongful death for one man, personal injury for another after car accident

Jacksonville lawyers and investigators are looking into the causes of an accident last weekend in North Florida that ended the life of one man and sent another to the hospital with serious injuries. They believe excessive speed may be the culprit.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the single car accident happened Saturday night in Lake City when 26 year old Dennis Watt lost control of his car around 6 pm. He and passenger Matthew House were driving just South of C.R. 252, reportedly at a high rate of speed, when he lost control, the car began to spin, then struck two trees.

Watt was pronounced dead at the scene. House was airlifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville where he was listed in critical condition.

An investigation was pending the outcome of a blood-alcohol test.

Central Florida man dies in Motorcycle Accident

Lawyers and investigators are looking into the causes of a motorcycle accident that caused the wrongful death of a Central Florida man and the personal injury of another.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred Sunday afternoon in Indian River County on Old Dixie Highway, North of Oslo Road.

63 year old Robert Muller of Sebastian, Florida was riding southbound just before 1:00 pm when he missed a curve and drifted into the path of a car heading south, hitting the left front of the vehicle.

Muller was thrown from his motorcycle in the collision and died soon afterward. It is unclear what injuries were suffered from the driver of the car. An investigation into the accident continues.

North Florida car accident causes wrongful death, personal injury

Lawyers and Florida Highway Patrol Investigators are looking into the causes of a car accident last week near Jacksonville, FL that left a woman dead and another driver injured.

The accident involved three cars and happened around noon on U.S. 1 near the airport in St. Augustine, FL.

According to FHP, 19 year old Daniel Rocca from Gainesville was driving southbound when he attempted to pass a Lexus. Instead, he struck the car, sending it into the northbound lane where it was hit by a pick-up truck driven by Gail Marston of St. Augustine.

The driver of the Lexus died at the scene. Ms. Marston was taken to Shands Jacksonville with critical injuries and Rocca was treated for minor injuries at Flagler Hospital.

The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate.

Two people killed, four injured in Central Florida car accidents

Authorities and Lawyers from Plant City, Florida, between Orlando and Tampa, are investigating two car accidents that happened there Wednesday night resulting in the wrongful death of two people and personal injury to four others. Police are also searching for a man they say ran from the second accident.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the first accident occurred just before 10:00 p.m. when a Ford Taurus ran through a stop sign and crashed into a Ford F-250 pickup truck. Both the driver and passenger of the car were ejected and died at the scene while the driver and passenger of the truck were airlifted to the hospital in critical condition.

Shortly afterward, an SUV driving on the same highway collided with the Taurus, which was facing north in a southbound lane of Redman Parkway. The driver of the SUV continued driving, then crashed into another vehicle nearby which was occupied by two elderly people. The two were taken to a hospital in critical condition.

The driver of the SUV fled the scene of the second crash as well, running from his SUV. FHP investigators are processing his vehicle for evidence, but do not yet have a description of the driver.

Florida lawmakers to push for texting ban in 2010 to reduce car accidents

Attorneys who handle cases for car accidents, wrongful death and personal injury have seen a troubling increase in the number of accidents caused by people distracted while texting. Now that the issue is finally getting national attention and public support, they hope lawmakers in Tallahassee will be able to pass a bill banning texting while driving.

As Florida legislators get ready for the 2010 session, they will return to approximately 17 bills that deal with distracted driving. Most of these seek to prohibit Florida drivers from texting while driving, while others wish to ban the use of hand-held cell phones and other electronic devices altogether while driving.

Proposed bans on texting while driving have come up for debate before – 10 in 2009 that never even made it to the floor – but never had enough support to defeat concerns over regulating private behavior and special interest groups.

Entering this session, however, many are cautiously optimistic that the ban will get passed this year. At least 20% of the legislative members have sponsored or co-sponsored one of the 17 texting bills on the current docket. Although questions remain about enforcement, punishment and implementation, lawmakers sense more agreement than in the past on the core issues. Many attribute this to growing public support and several national studies showing effects of the practice, which has led to more political support from all sides.

Woman killed, 2 injured in Central Florida car accident

A Central Florida woman suffered wrongful death and two others suffered personal injury this weekend in a car accident in Marion County, Florida. Lawyers and authorities are looking into what caused the tragic accident.

According to officials from the Florida Highway Patrol, a 2005 Nissan 350Z was traveling North on 115th Avenue at around 3:30 a.m. in the suburb of Fellowship when for some reason the driver reportedly lost control of the car and it spun clockwise and into the east grassy shoulder.

The vehicle jumped over a private driveway and hit a mailbox before striking a wooden fence, which broke through the back window of the car. The vehicle flipped several times which caused one of the passengers, 21 year old Christie Bowling, to be ejected. Bowling died at the scene from her injuries.

Two other occupants of the car were seriously injured and were transported to Shands at the University of Florida for treatment. Police are not yet certain who was driving the vehicle, but have determined that it was not Bowling.

Though investigators are unsure who was driving the vehicle, officials say it was not Bowling, who was not wearing a seat belt. Charges are pending further investigation.

Woman killed in car accident near Jacksonville

Attorneys are looking into a car accident that caused the wrongful death of a woman Tuesday morning in St. Augustine, Florida when her car missed a stop sign and struck a semi truck. It does not appear that anyone else suffered personal injury in the accident.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 68 year old Bonnie Fowler was driving on Don Manuel Rd. in St. Augustine when she failed to stop at the intersection with State Road 13. The Toyota Corolla she was driving struck the rear of a semi truck traveling north on SR 13 just after 8:00am, causing her car to spin off the road, hit a tree and flip over.

The FHP accident report indicates Fowler was thrown from her car during the accident, and died at the scene from her injuries. A father and son who were in the semi were not injured.

Wife killed in Central Florida car accident

A 54 year old woman from Longboat Key, Southwest of Orlando, suffered wrongful death this weekend when the truck she was riding in with her husband was struck by another car. Lawyers and authorities are looking into the cause of the accident, which left her husband with serious personal injury as well.

The accident occurred early Saturday morning in Sarasota at the intersection of Weber Street and Lockwood Ridge when 34-year-old Kristin M. Fogg missed a stop sign and collided with the pickup truck driven by Andrew Parsons, causing it to overturn.

Neither of the two were wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Rebecca Parsons was taken to Bayfront Medical Center but died from her injuries. Her husband suffered serious injuries. Fogg was taken to the hospital as well with serious injuries. The investigation of the accident continues.

Community awaiting charges in South Florida car accident

Friends, family and lawyers of a man who suffered wrongful death in a south Florida car accident last week are asking why the responsible driver has not been charged. It is unclear if the driver, who may have been intoxicated, suffered personal injury.

23 year old Scott Wilson of Wellington, who had just graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, was killed in the accident Friday when he was struck by John B. Goodman.

Although investigators suspect Goodman ran through a stop sign and crashed into Wilson's car because he had been drinking, no charges have been filed yet. Since Goodman founded the nearby International Polo Club Palm Beach, those in the community are suspicious of a cover up.

Scott's parents want answers as well. "We know that Goodman ran the stop sign so it would seem like he would at lease be ticketed and processed or something," explains William Wilson.

Wilson was about to begin working as a Mechanical Engineer after graduation. His friends have created a memorial in his honor at the accident scene.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office says their investigation is still ongoing.

Central Florida man killed in car accident, another injured

One man suffered wrongful death and another personal injury this weekend in a car accident in Defuniak Springs, near Orlando. Attorneys and investigators are looking into what caused the crash.

32 year old Richard Hopkins was reportedly attempting to pass traffic in the northbound lane of US Highway 331 when he lost control of the car. His vehicle left the highway and flipped several times.

Hopkins was partially ejected from his car during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, Dian Gregory, was injured in the accident and taken to Bay Medical Center in serious condition.

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Man killed in five-car Central Florida car accident

A 68-year-old man from Winter Haven suffered wrongful death this week in a multi-car accident in Auburndale, just west of Orlando, Florida. Attorneys and authorities are looking into the causes of the accident, in which a mother and daughter also suffered personal injury.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Milton Jacobs was traveling west on U.S. 92 Tuesday around 7 p.m. when he crossed the median and entered the eastbound lanes. There, he struck the left side of a car driven by Gary Smith.

The collision knocked Smith's car into the path of a car driven by Christopher McKnight, who was driving behind him to the right. McKnight's car took a violent turn into the guardrail then back into the westbound lanes where it hit a car driven by Carolyn Parsons. Jacobs’ vehicle also continued on to strike another car.

Jacobs was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. 4 year old Kirra Parsons, and her mother Carolynn where both taken to the hospital with injuries but were in stable condition. Other drivers received minor injuries, although everyone involved in the accident was using a seat belt.

Man killed in car accident, woman suffers personal injury in another

A Central Florida man suffered wrongful death in a tragic car accident this weekend, although it appears to lawyers and investigators the driver was not at fault. Investigators are looking to question a driver who may have been responsible for another accident that occurred soon after.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol both accidents happened late Saturday on U.S. 19 in Pasco County. In the first, 27 year old Brandon Hensley walked in front of a car at about 9:28 p.m. and was struck. He was taken to Helen Ellis Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A few hours later, 44 year old Tammy Nunn was struck by an SUV walking across the same highway, but the driver kept going. She was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital and was listed in serious condition.

Man killed in Central Florida car accident

An elderly man suffered wrongful death Monday in a 2 car accident in Fort Meade, Central Florida. Fortunately no other drivers suffered personal injury. Lawyers and authorities from the Florida Highway Patrol are looking into the causes.

According to the FHP, 74 year old Merlin M. Hart of Fort Meade was driving east on County Road 640 in his Volkswagon Beetle when he turned into the path of a semi truck and trailer. The front of Hart's vehicle collided with the left side and undercarriage of the truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation by Florida Highway Patrol is continuing.

Central Florida police officer killed in car accident

Lawyers and Florida Highway Patrol are looking into what caused a car accident Monday that resulted in the wrongful death of an off-duty Lakeland police officer and the personal injury of another person.

The three-car accident occurred on U.S. Highway 27 south of Lake Wales. 56 year-old Charles Dallas of Lakeland was traveling north just after 4:00 pm when his truck was hit by a car driven by 23 year old Federico Vasquez. According to accident reports Vasquez had been heading south when he swerved to avoid Sharon Kolbinskie, who pulled out in front of him.

The accident sent Dallas’ truck spinning and overturning and he was eventually ejected from the vehicle. An officer with the Lakeland Police Department and a former firefighter, he died at the scene from the injuries he sustained. He was not wearing his seatbelt.

Dallas’ passenger, 33 year old Karyn Spencer of Lakeland, received minor injuries in the wreck and was transported to Lake Wales Medical Center for treatment. She was wearing a seatbelt, troopers reported.

Dallas and Spencer were returning to Lakeland after completing a medical transfer for Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he worked in an off-duty assignment.

One wrongful death and six injured in South Florida car accident

A South Florida car accident in which a car ran into a street sweeper has resulted in the wrongful death of one man and personal injury to six others. Lawyers and FHP authorities are looking into what caused the three vehicle crash.

The accident took place early Wednesday morning in the westbound lanes of I-595. An Audi driven by 22 year-old Miguel Echevarria with three passengers rear ended a sweeper truck. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, this caused the truck to overturn and veer into a median. The Audi then spun out and struck another car.

41 year old Guillermo Avellan, who was driving the sweeper truck, died in the accident according to authorities. His passenger, Carlos Manrique, was taken to Broward General Medical Center, where he is in serious condition.

Echevarria, the driver who struck the sweeper, was taken to Broward General as well in critical condition. The passengers in the Audi where Nicholas A. Florez, who is in critical condition at Broward General; Charlton A. Roberts, who was taken to Broward General with minor injuries; and Jonathan Rosas, who was in serious condition at Westside Regional Medical Center.

Valorie Lyn Quaregna, who was driving the car struck last, was taken to Cleveland Clinic with minor injuries.

Child ejected in car accident killed in Northwest Florida

A 14 year old child suffered wrongful death last week in a car accident on I-10 in Northwest Florida after he was ejected from a moving car. According to lawyers and authorities, the driver also suffered personal injury.

Young German Ramirez Hernandez was riding in the rear of a 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander, which was driving west I-10 around 5 p.m last Thursday. The driver, Maria Consuelo Hernandez Linares, let the car vear off the highway towards the median at high speed. According to FHP, she then tried to over correct by steering sharply to the right, which sent the car spinning clockwise across the lanes of traffic. The car began to overturn, which ejected the child.

Linares and two other children riding in the backseat received minor injuries. A 42 year old gentleman sitting in the passenger seat was transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center with serious injuries. Everyone in the car was from Veracruz, Mexico.

Elderly man runs into gas station in South Florida car accident

Luckily there was no wrongful death or serious personal injury involved when an older gentleman ran off the road and into a gas station this week. Lawyers say the elderly man is recovering after losing control of his car Tuesday.

According to authorities, the accident happened at approximately 8 o clock in the evening at the Shell station on Oakland Park Boulevard. Broward County officers reported that an elderly man was heading north when he lost control of his vehicle, hitting a sign, then crashing into the gas station.

He was taken via ambulance to Broward General Medical Center.

It is unclear yet why the man ran off the road.

Doctor Injured, wife killed in Central Florida car accident

A retired doctor suffered personal injury while his wife suffered tragic wrongful death last week in a car accident near Tampa. Lawyers are looking into how the three-vehicle crash occurred.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident took place on the morning tof December 28 near St. Petersburg. 74 year old Dr. George Kuruvilla remained in serious condition in a Florida Hospital. His wife, Elizabeth Kuruvilla was killed. The couple had just recently retired to Florida.

According to reports, the doctor had stopped at a stop sign but then pulled out into the path of a car driven by Jacob A. Davis, 18, of Odessa, Fla. Davis' car hit the passenger side of the Mercedes, which was pushed into the front of another vehicle. Davis was taken to a hospital with minor injuries while the third driver was not hospitalized.

Dr. Kuruvilla had practiced as a cardiologist in Owen Sound for many years.

Florida man dies in motorcycle accident

A Central Florida man suffered wrongful death Sunday after he was involved in a motorcycle accident in Pasco County, near Orlando. According to lawyers and authorities, no one else suffered personal injury in the car accident.

60 year old Stephen Kopilchak, of Frostproof, was riding his motorcycle on Blanton Road when he lost control. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, he was riding with three other motorcyclists when a car ahead of them slowed to turn into a driveway.

Jury awards victim of Florida car accident $4 million in lawsuit

In one of the highest awards ever handed down in Jackson County, a jury last week gave a North Florida victim of a car accident and her lawyer over $4 million. Although luckily no one suffered wrongful death in the accident, 65 year old Julie Keyes does have serious personal injury as a result.

Keyes was injured in a one-car accident in December, 2006 near her home when as she claims she was run off the road by another driver. When she over corrected it caused her car to flip upside down.

She was flown to Flowers Hospital in Dothan and suffered from a bruised spinal cord and a hangman’s fracture. Now, she has difficulty controlling her arms and legs and is unable to walk without a wheelchair or help from others.

The driver of the other vehicle was never found. Therefore Keyes, who had worked as a caregiver for her husband and Florida Welcome Person, sued her uninsured motorists policy from her insurance company. Although that company, American International Insurance, initially said they would cover the claim, they never did.

Passenger suffers wrongful death while driver seriously injured in car accident

A Central Florida man was killed this weekend in a tragic Orlando car accident while another suffered serious personal injury. Lawyers and authorities are looking into the cause of the accident.

Hector Castano was killed while riding in a Nissan car driven by Israel Martinez Gutierez, of Orlando when the car ran off the road and crashed at about 2:14 a.m.

Authorities are not yet sure why the car veered off the road. According to Florida Highway Patrol, it ran into a ditch and flew in the air before hitting a pole and fence and coming to rest on its roof.

The driver, Gutierez, was seriously injured in the accident and was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Charges are pending in the accident. FHP has not yet determined whether alcohol was a factor.

Woman killed in car accident with unmarked Sheriff’s vehicle

A Central Florida woman suffered wrongful death late Wednesday evening as she was struck by an unmarked Orange County vehicle in a car-on-pedestrian accident. Authorities and lawyers are investigating whether anyone else suffered personal injury and who was at fault.

The so far unidentified 44-year-old woman was killed around 11 p.m. while she was crossing Orange Blossom Trail North of Orlando near Sadler Road. She was struck by an unmarked Orange County Sheriff's Office vehicle.

Deputy Steven Smith was heading North on Orange Blossom Trail near Mount Dora in a Sheriff's Office van when he struck the woman, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

An accident report indicates Smith was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and alcohol was not a factor. It is unclear at this time where he was going when the crashed happened or if he was responding to a call.

The victim died at the scene. Troopers are looking into whether she was drinking prior to the crash. Her name has not been released since her family has not yet been notified.

Florida man killed in single car Gadsden County accident

A North Florida man suffered wrongful death in a car accident this weekend in Gadsden county. Since it was a single car accident, no other people suffered personal injury. Lawyers and officials are investigating the cause of the accident that killed Jose Orlando Hernandez.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 32-year -old Hernandez died early Sunday December 6th when his truck flipped. He was reportedly traveling on county road 379 at about 4:41am when he drove his 2000 Nissan truck across the northbound lane just south of Lee Paramore road and onto the east grass shoulder.

According to the accident report, it appears that Hernandez continued to drive down the north embankment and into a ditch causing the truck to flip. Florida Highway Patrol officials indicated the vehicle came to a final rest on its roof in the ditch. Hernandez was partially ejected and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities are trying to determine why the car drifted into a ditch.

South Florida teen dies after car-on-pedestrian accident

A tragic car accident in which a promising teenager was struck by a car has turned from a case of personal injury to wrongful death as she passed away this weekend. Lawyers and authorities are still looking into how the accident happened.

According to current information from police, 15 year old Shakeymah Lucas was on her way to volunteer at a retirement center Wednesday when she was hit while crossing Sample Road at Coral Ridge Drive to reach the bus stop. She suffered massive injuries in the accident and died Saturday evening after doctors disconnected her life support at Broward General Medical Center.

Lucas, a sophomore in high school, was planning to go to medical school, and was a strong student in addition to her volunteer work. She even composed poetry and was a cheerleader.

"She was a very sweet-hearted person, always willing to go one step beyond," said Carolyn Marshall, whose two daughters and Lucas were members of the cheerleading squad for the Pompano Beach Cowboys of the South Florida Youth Football League. "When you needed someone, she was there."

The driver, a Davie resident, stopped at the scene following the accident. So far, no charges have been filed. The driver's name was not available from police on Sunday.

Florida man dies in car accident near Jacksonville

One man suffered wrongful death and another suffered personal injury in a car accident early Saturday morning on U.S. 90 in Baker County near Jacksonville, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Lawyers are looking into who was at fault in the accident.

27 year old Casey Prevatt was traveling east on U.S. 90 east of Nursery Boulevard when his car crossed over into the westbound lane, according to authorities from FHP. That’s when he collided with a truck driven by Shaun C. Behr, 30, of Macclenny, who was driving westbound at the time.

Prevatt, of Glen Saint Mary, died later at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, where he was transported after the 8:45 a.m. accident. His vehicle overturned during the collision.

The other driver, Behr, was taken to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida with serious injuries and was listed in serious condition.

Prevatt was not wearing a seat belt while Behr was.

South Florida mother and wife dies tragically in fiery car accident

Family and friends are mourning the tragic loss of Kiesha Price this week, who died in a tragic car accident on I-95 in South Florida. The at-fault driver also caused the personal injury of several others in the wreck. Lawyers will no doubt be looking to help her family with a wrongful death type personal injury lawsuit based on the circumstances of the accident.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, 23-year-old Jacob Payne from nearby Hallandale was speeding down the interstate with two other people in a Cadillac Escalade when he struck two vehicles. He then kept going and eventually rear-ended a Ford Expedition, after which both vehicles caught fire. Payne and the two passengers are recovering at Memorial Regional Hospital.

According to the FHP, charges are pending against Payne. Price was driving with her husband, who had to be airlifted to Memorial Regional Hospital. He remains in critical condition. Price was killed in the collision and burned to the point where her family used a tattoo to identify her since her body was unrecognizable.

Price leaves behind her husband, her 6-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter. "It's so sad. She couldn't get out of the truck. She was just trying to get to them, and the guy was driving so fast," said her sister Simpson-Lopez.

West Florida man charged for death in car accident

Authorities are charging a Baldwin county, Florida man with the wrongful death of a motorcyclist after he caused a car accident that killed the man. Lawyers for the driver did not have comment on whether he suffered personal injury in the accident as well.

38 year old Seth Dickison is being charged with DUI Manslaughter stemming from the accident. According to a Florida Highway Patrol accident report, he was driving on Highway 292 Saturday night when he lost control on a curve. Police say Andrew Helber of Pensacola then struck the rear of Dickison's car with his motorcycle, killing him in the collision.

A blood alcohol test performed after the accident showed Dickison’s BAL was .137%, almost twice the legal limit. He was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol for DUI Manslaughter.

Former NFL star charged in South Florida car accident

Former NFL player Lawrence Taylor was arrested and charged this weekend after he left the scene of a car accident, according to authorities. Lawyers did not disclose if anyone suffered personal injury or wrongful death in the accident.

The 50-year-old NFL star and Hall of Famer has struggled with drug use for decades and was in the headlines most recently after competing on the TV show "Dancing with the Stars" last spring. He tested positive for cocaine twice during his playing days, and was arrested two times after he retired for buying drugs from undercover cops.

Taylor was arrested in Dade County for "leaving the scene of accident/property damage," shortly before 10 p.m. He was quickly released on $500 bond.

South Florida man charged with DUI after injuring two in car accident

Lawyers this week charged a 35-year-old Naples man for allegedly causing a car accident last Saturday that caused serious personal injury to two women, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Fortunately, no one suffered wrongful death in the dangerous collision.

According to authorities, Laban Barnes Lebuff Jr. caused the accident when he ran off the road on Golden Gate Parkway and struck a Lexus stopped at the Premier Drive entrance of Naples Grande Resort. He was arrested and charged with DUI, DUI serious bodily injury, DUI property damage, careless driving and no proof of insurance.

Carolyn Antilla, 58, the driver of the car, and Dianne Steinitz, 59, the passenger — were airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital. The FHP listed Antilla’s injuries as critical and Steinitz’s injuries as serious.

Antilla remained in the surgical intensive care unit on Sunday, Lee Memorial staff reported. Steinitz’s husband, Paul Steinitz, said his wife was released from the hospital Saturday night.

Tragic wrongful death of child crossing to bus stop

A first-grader suffered a tragic wrongful death and her brother had personal injury when the two were struck in a car on pedestrian accident Wednesday in West Florida. According to lawyers and investigators the two were attempting to cross the street to a bus stop.

The siblings were walking on Front Beach Road, between Wisteria Lane and 16th Street, when they were struck by an older car driven by an unidentified woman. The 9-year-old was transported to Bay Medical Center for treatment, and he was reportedly alert and awake. The body of his 6-year-old sister remained covered in the street much of the morning while Florida Highway Patrol officials investigated the wreck. The identities of the two children have not yet been released.

The other students at the bus stop were sent home, school officials said. Ken Phillips, the director of transportation for Bay District Schools, said school officials are investigating the death to determine the safety of the bus stop. Officials are “trying to make sure the bus stop is safe and we do believe that it is,” Phillips said.

Florida man dies in car accident on Interstate 75

In a tragic case, a Central Florida man suffered wrongful death this week just after walking away from a car accident on I-75. Lawyers and investigators are looking into the accident which caused personal injury to several others.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred in the northbound lanes of I-75 near mile marker 223 around 12:45 a.m. when a Chevy SUV traveled off the highway and onto the inside shoulder. After over correcting, the car flipped several times, eventually coming to rest partially in the left and center lanes.

The second vehicle in the accident, a 2008 Chevrolet, struck the rear of the SUV. After the collision, the driver and passenger in the second vehicle, both of whom had minor injuries, got out of their car and walked to the inside shoulder of I-75.

The driver of a third car was traveling in the left lane and failed to slow down as it approached the crash scene. The car veered to the left and off the highway onto the inside shoulder, striking and killing the passenger of the second vehicle, FHP said.

The driver of the first vehicle suffered serious injuries while the driver of the third vehicle suffered minor injuries.

19 year old Florida man dies in car accident near Orlando

According the the Florida Highway Patrol, a young man suffered wrongful death Late Wednesday night in a car accident near Kissimmee. It appears that no one else suffered personal injury. Lawyers are investigating what may have caused the accident.

Kevin Jimenez was driving west on Osceola Parkway approaching the Florida Parkway just after midnight Thursday morning when he lost control of his car, according to reports. His 2001 Chevrolet Impala crossed over the concrete median and into the eastbound lanes, FHP said.

The victim’s car continued across the road, onto the opposite shoulder and then struck a brick wall. Jimenez died at the scene.

Florida man dies while his son injured in car accident

A Central Florida man suffered a tragic wrongful death as his son suffered a personal injury this weekend in a car crash near Orlando, Florida. Lawyers and authorities are looking into the accident to determine who was at fault.

The accident occurred at around 6:30 pm on Sunday on Hickory Tree Road in St. Cloud when the driver, Kenneth Phelp, 34, lost control of his vehicle and went off the road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was pronounced dead at St. Cloud Hospital where he was taken after the crash. 3-year-old Joshua Phelps survived and was being treated at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando in serious condition.

Phelps lost control of his vehicle after passing Robert Lee Rd. and veered onto the shoulder, where his truck flipped and rolled several times, according to the highway patrol. An FHP spokesperson said the medical examiner would conduct an autopsy to find out if there were any medical reasons that may have caused the accident.

Both the man and his son were wearing seatbelts.

Central Florida Car Accident causes power outage to 200 homes

Over 200 homes in Ocala, Florida were affected by power outage Wednesday after a one car crash accident took out an electrical pole. The driver causing the accident suffered personal injury, however, no one suffered wrongful death in the crash.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a GMC pickup truck was traveling east on Northeast 35th Street when it struck an electrical pole, breaking off the lower half of the pole and leaving the top half hanging by electric wires.

The man driving the truck was taken via ambulance to a local hospital. His condition was not known late Wednesday night.

Ocala Electric utility workers had restored some power to the affected areas within two hours of the accident, but were still working on fixing the damage done to the light pole. Authorities estimated at least 200 homes lost power.

Four die in Florida Car Accident

Authorities and attorneys are investigating the wrongful death of four people in a car accident that occurred near Panama City in West Florida. Another driver suffered personal injury in the crash.

The accident happened when a pickup truck driven by Zubon Sims, 22, of Blountstown, crossed over the median on I-10 and struck a car traveling westbound containing 4 people. Sims collided with the front end of a 2000 Nissan Sentra carrying four DeFuniak Springs residents, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The truck landed in a ditch, while the car came to rest facing west on the south shoulder of I-10.

The passengers in the car, whose names have not been released, were all killed in the accident, which happened at Mile Marker 142 about 5:30 a.m., troopers said.

Sims was taken to a local hospital in serious condition, officials added. Charges are pending more investigation, officials said.

One person left dead in Central Florida Car Accident

One person suffered wrongful death and another personal injury in a car accident in Marion County Tuesday. Lawyers are investigating the accident, which occurred at the corner of 147th Street and 71st Court in Marion County.

The accident happened when a 2000 Jaguar traveling east on 147th Street at an unknown speed went airborne over the railroad tracks. The vehicle then lost control and spun over the curb hitting a stop sign and a wooden utility pole. After impact, the car continued to crash into a tree on its right side.

The passenger, Bronson Robert McCabe, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Anthony Quirello, 26, was transported to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville with serious injuries.

Three killed in multiple car Central Florida Car Accident

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a tragic multiple car accident that occurred Saturday just north of Lakeland. Lawyers are looking into who may be responsible for the wrongful death of three people and personal injury of two others.

The accident started when a Chevrolet pickup truck veered into the wrong lane of traffic on U.S. 98, causing a five vehicle collision. Investigators do not know at this time what caused the truck to veer into oncoming traffic.

The driver of the accident causing truck, another driver of a pickup, and a helmetless motorcycle passenger were all killed in the accident. The driver of the motorcycle and the passenger in the Chevrolet pickup were seriously injured.

After its initial review, the FHP stated that the pickup was driving north on U.S. 98 when it veered into the southbound lane of traffic, where it struck the motorcycle head-on. That crash threw the rider and his passenger off the motorcycle and caused a series of collisions.

The other pickup following the motorcycle shifted toward the shoulder in an attempt to avoid the accident, but struck the left front of the Chevrolet pickup. Finally, a Toyota sedan traveling behind the Ford pickup collided with the truck, sending it into the northbound lane where it struck a Ford SUV.

Central Florida Car Accident sends seven to hospital

Several Florida residents narrowly escaped wrongful death last week in a car accident on I-75 near Ocala that sent seven people to the hospital with personal injury. Lawyers are questioning who may be a fault.

A report by the Florida Highway Patrol indicated that 30-year-old Beverly Black was driving a van Thursday night when she lost control and drove into the path of a semi tractor trailer. The vehicles collided, spinning out the van. As a result, 4 people in the back seat of the van were ejected.

Black and another passenger were taken to a hospital with only minor injuries. Three other passengers suffered serious personal injuries and the fourth was critically injured. The driver of the semi, 52-year-old Rodolfo Pena, was taken to another hospital in an unknown condition.

The FHP had ruled out alcohol as a factor in the crash. Charges are pending further investigation.

North Florida car accident blocks I-10

Two people suffered personal injury yesterday in a one-car accident on eastbound I-10 which blocked traffic for more than an hour as the debris was cleaned up. Luckily no one sufferd wrongful death according to FHP authorities and lawyers.

The cause of the accident and the identities of those involved was not available at press time. However, both people were taken to West Florida Hospital.

The eastbound lanes from Exit 13 on I-10 to southbound Interstate 110 were blocked from about 8:15 to 9:30 a.m., according to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Trial starts this week for Paxil birth injury lawsuit

A Philadelphia woman is suing GlaxoSmithKline P.L.C. in a medical malpractice case on behalf of her now 4 year-old son, alleging that its superdrug Paxil caused his birth injuries and heart problems. The suit also alleges that the company ignored evidence that its antidepressant Paxil may have caused birth defects for years.

Lawyer Sean Tracey told the court that Pennsylvania resident Michelle David, a former dancer for the 76ers, took the drug during her pregnancy. Glaxo is headquartered in London, but employs several thousand people in the Philadelphia region. Tracey also alleged that the company told its scientists to avoid disclosing possible risks associated with the drug's use by pregnant women.

"GSK said if there is any doubt, take it out," Tracey said, quoting from the company's core safety philosophy. "That's the exact opposite of what the regulations say, which is that if there is any evidence of association, you need to put it in."

Florida Motorcycle rider dies in three-car accident over holiday weekend

An unidentified man suffered what may be wrongful death last Sunday in a car accident in Ocala, according to authorities from Florida Highway Patrol. It is unclear if any other drivers suffered personal injury. Lawyers noted that accidents were also prevalent over the weekend in the nearby cities of Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne.

The rider was traveling East on S.R. 200 at about 6:00 pm Sunday when he struck or was struck by a Chevy SUV and possibly a Saturn at the intersection of Southwest 60th Avenue, officials said.

The rider was pronounced dead at the scene, Ocala Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Wendell Rora said. It was still unclear by Monday what caused the accident. FHP investigators remained on the scene for hours afterward, trying to piece together how the three vehicles became entangled.

The FHP report on the accident is expected soon. It was also unclear if any charges would be filed in connection with the accident.

Florida man arrested after hit-and-run car accident

A bike rider narrowly escaped wrongful death but still suffered serious personal injury this weekend when he was struck by a car early Sunday morning. The suspect fled the scene first in his car then on foot into a Gainesville neighborhood. Lawyers are investigating whether the injured man should file suit.

After police found the suspect’s car they tracked him with dogs to a nearby house where he was arrested. 22 year old Isaih Leon Johnson was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and driving with a license suspended or revoked according to Gainesville police Sgt. Dan Stout.

The bicycle rider suffered critical injuries but was expected to survive, said Stout, who did not have the victims identity.

Three people die in Florida car accident

Three Florida men from Sumter County were killed this weekend when a car they were traveling in crashed into a tree. Other than the three tragic wrongful deaths, no one else suffered personal injury at the scene according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The gentlemen were traveling west in a 1992 Honda on County Road 588 when the driver, Nicholas Adkison, 21, lost control at around 12:10 a.m., the FHP said. That’s when the car left the road and struck a tree.

All three men died at the scene according to the accident report. Also killed were Justin Abney, 19, and Paul Pope, 22. Unfortunately, none of the men were wearing a seat belt.

An investigation is continuing to determine if alcohol was involved in the accident, the report said.

Police will use DNA to determine driver in deadly car accident

Police will use DNA testing to determine who was the at-fault driver in an Orlando car accident this Monday that resulted in the wrongful death of an Osceola County woman. The man suspected of driving a truck that ran through a red light causing the accident suffered personal injury as well.

The woman killed in the accident was identified as Marcy Martine, 50. Her 2002 Lexus SUV was struck at around 2:00pm when a 2004 Dodge SUV ran a red light.

The woman was wearing a seat belt but died instantly, according to police.

19-year-old Christopher Felder is suspected of driving the SUV that ran the light, but denied the charge. He was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in serious but stable condition, troopers said.

"DNA evidence will be used to confirm the identify of the driver," an FHP report stated.

Two Florida residents killed in car accident on Interstate 95

Two Boca Raton residents suffered wrongful death Sunday morning in a car accident on I-95 near Jupiter, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver of a second car suffered personal injury in the accident, which is still under investigation.

According to police, 72-year-old Wei Jiang and 69-year-old Jun-Yi shen were northbound on I-95 in a 1998 Toyota Camry when they crossed into the median and directly in front of a 2005 Dodge Ram being driven southbound by Jacksonville resident Vanessa Lee Austin.

FHP said Jiang and shen struck the right side of Austin’s truck. Although they were both wearing seat belts when the accident occurred, they were pronounced dead at the scene. Austin, 52, was transported to Jupiter Medical Center in serious condition. Two southbound lanes were temporarily closed during the investigation.

Florida driver dies in car accident after car pushed into path of semi

A Spring Hill, Florida man suffered wrongful death this week in a multi-vehicle car accident in Citrus County. Another driver was on the loose from authorities and another just escaped personal injury.

According to authorities from Florida Highway Patrol, Kevin R. Bronsdon, 46, had stopped his car in a northbound lane of U.S. 19 waiting for a red light to change when a 1999 Chevrolet pickup struck him from the rear, knocking him into a semi truck trailer truck that was turning east onto U.S. 98.

The driver that struck him ran from the accident scene, and police were still looking for him in some woods near Homosassa. As of the time of this article, the driver of the semi, Jose Rodriguez, 57, of Temple Terrace, was uninjured.

Anyone with any information about this accident is urged to contact Florida Highway Patrol.

Florida Authorities investigating wrongful death from Hit and Run Car Accident

Florida authorities are searching for the owner of a car involved in a tragic hit and run accident late Monday night. The accident left one driver dead and it is unclear whether anyone else suffered personal injury.

The accident happened in Miami-Dade near the intersection of State Road 826 and 836 just after 9:00 Monday night. According to investigators from the Florida Highway Patrol, the victim was outside of his car when he was struck by an on-coming vehicle. The victim died at the scene, while the other driver drove off.

FHP is investigating the deadly accident today. They have recovered the suspect’s vehicle but so far there is no word whether anyone has been arrested.

Anyone with tips may call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS for a possible reward.

Two people die, one injured in Florida car accident

A Port St. Lucie couple was killed this week in a wrongful death car accident in Palm Harbor, Florida. Another driver suffered personal injury and remains in critical condition. Lawyers and authorities are investigating who was at fault.

According to police, 53-year-old Leigh Hallett and 51-year-old Robert Hallett died when the car they were driving was struck while trying to cross East Lake Road.

The Hallett’s vehicle was stuck by Michelle Jensen, 25, from Clearwater. She was airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center in critical condition, police said.

The accident report indicated Leigh Hallett was driving on Boot Ranch Boulevard and tried to cross East Lake Road when she drove in front of the car driven by Jensen. The impact carried both vehicles about 80 feet, the accident report said.

Leigh and Robert Hallet were pronounced dead at the scene. Both were wearing seat belts.

Rider killed in Florida car versus motorcycle accident

An Orlando, Florida man was killed Saturday in a car accident when his motorcycle was hit by two cars. Police are investigating the wrongful death and it is unclear if the other drivers suffered personal injury. Lawyers for the man killed had no comment.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Michael Theriault was riding east on Lee Road when a Cadillac SUV pulled out of a hotel driveway in front of him.

Therialut tried to swerve to avoid the collision but was struck and flew over the concrete median and into the westbound lanes of Lee road. There he was hit again by a smaller car, a Toyota Yaris. The Florida Highway Patrol stated that charges were pending against at least one of the car's drivers.

Van driver killed in car accident with semi truck

An early morning car accident on State Road 33 in Lake County, FL yesterday resulted in the wrongful death of one man and personal injury of at least six others. The accident involved a van colliding with a semi truck, reported the Florida Highway Patrol.

Dennis Terrazas was driving the tractor trailer at around 3:30 am when he realized he was heading in the wrong direction, claimed the FHP report. He attempted to turn around in a private driveway when he backed across the northbound lane of State Road 33.

56 year old Marciano Tavarez was driving on the road in a van containing seven passengers when he collided with the left side of the semi’s trailer. According to witnesses he attempted to stop but was unable, and was killed by the impact.

Reports indicate at least 6 of the passengers in the van were seriously injured. It is unclear if the driver of the semi suffered any injuries.

Man arrested for wrongful death of Florida motorcyclist

Florida authorities this week placed Ryan Schaufert under arrest for the death of a motorcyclist last Friday stemming from a car accident in Cape Coral. Schaufert did not suffer any personal injury in the accident.

Schaufert was charged with DUI manslaughter for the death of Ronald Johnson. The accident took place at the 2600 block of Del Prado Boulevard South. Johnson was slowing for a turn lane stop light that had just turned yellow when Schaufert, who was driving behind in the same lane, drove onto the rear wheel of the motorcycle, according to police and witnesses. The impact launched Johnson from the bike and he came to rest in the roadway.

Johnson was transported to Lee Memorial Hospital where he died. Schaufert was not injured in the crash.

3 youths die and lawn mower driver injured in car accident

Three youths suffered wrongful death and one man riding a lawnmower suffered personal injury yesterday when a car driven by the youths hit the mower then crashed into a brick wall. Florida personal injury lawyers have represented numerous victims in cases involving cars striking lawnmowers.

According to a witness the car was traveling fast on a Detroit road when it entered a golfing subdivision, clipped the mower driver then struck the wall. The mower rider was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A witness described the crash as sounding like an explosion. “It looked like they were traveling 90 m.p.h.,” he said. “It was as if police were chasing them but there was no high-speed chase.”

The car hit the brick wall so hard that it crushed the front bumper back to the seats, knocking bricks off the wall in the process.

An off-duty sheriff deputy who saw the accident checked the vehicle after the crash and saw three people -- two men and a woman -- inside but saw no signs of life. They appeared to be in their late teens or early 20s.

“I put my head inside the car. Nobody moved,” said Webb, a former Detroit Police officer.

Motorcycle rider dies in Florida car accident

A motorcyclist suffered wrongful death and another driver suffered personal injury in an accident Saturday night near Tampa, Florida. Investigators and Lawyers are still looking into the details.

The motorcycle rider was a 63 year old man from Valrico. His name is being withheld until his family can be notified. He passed away after he collided with a car on that turned in front of him according to state troopers. The car, driven by Shonda R. Bailey-Christian, of Brandon, turned in front of him off of State Road 60 toward N Miller Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Both people were taken to Brandon Regional Hospital, where the motorcyclist died. Bailey-Christian sustained minor injuries. The accident is under investigation.

Memorial gathering for teen killed in Florida car accident

SATELLITE BEACH – A service was held Sunday following the wrongful death of Brittane Henderson in a car accident last week on State Road A1A near Patrick Air Force Base. About 100 people attended the dramatic service for the teen.

Henderson passed away last week when a car she was riding in ran out of control and struck a wall near the base. Four others in the car suffered personal injuries, but survived. Police are investigating the exact cause of the accident.

The teen had moved from Brevard County to Great Britain a few years ago and was back staying with a friend when the accident happened. Her father and brother are both overseas. Her mother, Patricia, passed away in 2006.

Three time Olympic speed skater Ed Rudolph dead from tragic car accident

A tragic car accident in Western Wyoming has claimed the life of four people, including 3-time Olympic speed skater Ed Rudolph. Personal Injury Lawyers are looking into who is at fault in the wrongful death.

According to the Wyoming State Patrol, another driver in a GMC Suburban swerved to miss a deer Sunday when he struck Rudolph’s 2005 Acura. Rudolph, 68, and his wife, Gwen, were both killed.

Daniel Wahlen, 52, who was driving the Suburban, along with 47-year-old Dani Elenga, a passenger, also were killed. All four people lived in Colorado Springs.

Rudolph competed on the 1960, 1964 and 1968 U.S. Olympic teams. He later became a land developer in Colorado Springs and volunteered to help with the construction of the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center.

Florida truck driver causes accident, killing child

A 6-year old child died and another suffered serious personal injury Sunday following a car accident in which a semi truck driven by a Florida man rear ended a car on Interstate 65 in KY. Police are still investigating the wrongful death.

Around 2:00 pm Sunday the truck, driven by Michael Pope of Florida, slammed into the rear of a car driven by 33-year-old Misleni Eastman of Tennessee near mile marker 58. 6 year-old Jonathan Eastman passed away at the scene of the accident. Another child riding in the car, 5 year-old Gracie Eastman, was taken by helicopter to Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville.

The driver of the car, Misleni Eastman, was also flown to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the semi wasn't injured. Two other cars were involved in the accident as well, but those passengers did not receive threatening injuries.

What is causing the increase in C-Section deliveries?

About ten years ago 20% of women having a baby underwent a C-section. Now, the number is getting closer to 50%. Experts believe the trend increase is due to more high-risk pregnancies, fear of medical malpractice and birth injury lawsuits and the habit of patients wanting a scheduled delivery.

All of this has led to an increase in health care costs with extended hospital stays, more pain in recovery, as well as the overall risks associated with any surgery. C-sections are now the second-most popular surgical procedure for women according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Ten years ago, it was third.

A major reason for the jump is the fear of a birth injury lawsuit. While every doctor has the threat of being sued for malpractice, OB-GYNs are among those most commonly sued. C-sections may limit those fears since it is performed in a controlled environment.

“Rather than incur the risk, increasing numbers of obstetricians are bypassing natural childbirth in favor of C-sections,” explains Mike Matray, editor of The Medical Liability Monitor, a publication on malpractice issues.

But C-sections also have their own risks, from infection to blood clots and even death from complications of the surgery or anesthesia, according to a 2006 study by the Childbirth Connection. Obstetric and gynecologic surgery had the most malpractice claims of the 28 medical specialties studied from 1985 to 2007 by the Data Sharing Project of the Physician Insurers Association of America.

“It doesn’t take an economist to see that high (medical-malpractice) premiums have an effect on the high price of health care,” he said.

Man dies after being thrown from SUV in car accident

A 26-year-old California man died last week after he was ejected from an SUV in a car accident on Interstate 5. Police are investigating the wrongful death as well as personal injuries of other passengers.

According to state police, five people were in a Chevrolet Tahoe traveling around 70 or 80 mph when the driver tried to switch lanes but did not see a car next to them. When he tried to swerve back into their lane he lost control of the SUV, which hit an exit sign and rolled several times. The victim was thrown from the truck, which came to a stop on its roof in a field.

The victim was taken to Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from severe head injuries. The driver of the SUV suffered only lacerations to his head as well as pain in his back. Other passengers had cuts on their arms and neck and head pain. The driver and passengers were taken to Sutter Tracy, San Joaquin County Hospital in French Camp and Doctor’s Hospital in Manteca.

Jacksonville at Top for Car Accidents

Based on the findings of a Highway Patrol study, Jacksonville ranks at the top of the list for car accidents, so chances are that you're more likely to also have increased traumatic outcomes, resulting in personal injury and even wrongful death.

Surprisingly, Jacksonville ranked higher than other large, Florida cities, such as: Orlando, Tampa, and even Miami. Jacksonville not only ranked higher, but had approximately double the car accidents that Miami had in 2008. So, what does that say about drivers in Jacksonville, Florida? It says that they may be some of the most dangerous, careless drivers in the country.

The number of deaths associated with car accidents dropped from 2007 to 2008. Although deaths decreased, personal injuries related to car accidents and pedestrians increased.

Man killed in car accident when he is struck by Pizza delivery car

A pedestrian in Wisconsin died in a car accident this week after he was struck by a car delivering pizzas. The wrongful death happened when the driver moved into a different lane to avoid hitting two other men in the street crossing in the same area. It was unknown if they suffered any injuries in the incident.

According to Police, the accident happened Tuesday night around 10:00 in the evening at an intersection in downtown Madison.

Police stated that the three gentlemen were crossing the intersection diagonally when the driver switched lanes to miss two of them and hit the third, who was walking behind.

The Dane County coroner's office said the victim, 41-year-old Thy Vong of Madison, died of blunt force head injuries. The accident remains under investigation.

Two people injured in car accident ending with van upside down

Two people were injured last month in a car accident in Salisbury, North Carolina when a pickup truck knocked a van onto its roof. Given the unusual cause, the accident could have easily happened in Florida. There was no comment from lawyers about whether a personal injury lawsuit was forthcoming. A female passenger from the van as well as the driver of the truck were injured.

Luckily the 51-year-old driver of the van was uninjured. He and the passenger were able to crawl out of the van afterward. Fortune, 31, was bleeding from a cut on her head. A witness saw the accident while he was mowing a yard at the intersection. He remembered that the van ran through a stop sign and crossed into the path of the pickup. He then saw the van flip over two times before finally landing on the sidewalk. The driver of the van stated he had been blinded by the sun, and was ticketed in the accident.

Police charge drunk driver in death on Southwest Freeway

Police are holding a driver suspected of causing the wrongful death of one and the injury of another in a car accident in Texas last week. Victor Jerome Tugwell, 39, was charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault in the car accident on the Southwest Freeway.

Tugwell was traveling on the freeway at approximately 2:00 am when his Oldsmobile struck both victims as they were standing next to their vehicles which were parked along the left shoulder.

One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been released by medical examiners. The other driver was taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

Tugwell was being held at the Harris County detention center with bail set at $30,000 for each charge.

Twelve people injured in collapse of deck at Atlanta bar

According to police, twelve persons were injured last week when a deck collapsed at Sister's Room, a bar in East Atlanta Village.

Emergency personnel were called to the scene around 2 a.m. after the accident. Lawyers for the bar and victims gave no comments at the time.

Authorities said those injured in the fall were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital that evening. According to hospital staff, five women were being treated for injuries. Fortunately, most of the injured were treated and released at the scene.

Boxer Rafeal Marquez Injured in a Car Accident in Mexico

Rafael Marquez, the former super bantamweight boxing champion, was injured in a car accident in his home town of Cuernavaca, Mexico last month. Fortunately he did not suffer any serious injuries, however, they were bad enough to cause him to miss the EWAA’s annual dinner in New York. He was slated to be presented with the award for “fight of the year”, along with his rival Isreal Vasquez.

According to Marquez, he was driving a small truck and lost control of the vehicle due to debris on the road.

“I came from my home in Cuernavaca. They were repairing the road and left the stones, sand and other loose things on the road. I lost control of the vehicle. Thank God nobody was seriously hurt.” Marquez told ESTO

Injured Green Unsure if he’ll return to golf following tragic accident

Professional golfer Ken Green, who was injured in a car accident last week that also resulted in the wrongful death of his brother and girlfriend, recently issued a statement from his hospital thanking those who have offered him support since the accident.

Green is still in the hospital and listed in fair condition with unknown injuries. He has refused requests for interviews, but wished to thank the golfing community. Lawyers are debating what his next legal move should be.

"I want to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support that have come my way these past few days," Green said. "The golf community is like one big family, and it means so much to me to have all of you wonderful people by my side."

Green was a long time PGA Tour participant who won five tournaments over his career before joining the Champions Tour. Originally from Danbury, Conn., he currently lives in Indiantown, Fla. He does not know at this time if he will compete at golf again.

Initially listed in critical condition, Green was injured after a tire blew out on his RV last week in Mississippi, sending the vehicle rolling down a hill until it crashed into a tree. His brother William, girlfriend Jean Marie Hodgin and German shepherd were tragically killed in the accident.

"The pain and emptiness of losing my brother Billy, my girlfriend Jeannie and my dog Nip are enormous," Green said. "They were always supportive and loving and stuck by me during my struggles. Not having them around is a tremendous loss and leaves a void that will never be filled."

Two injured last week in Montana shooting

Violence erupted last week resulting in the death of two men outside of a popular Overland, Montana business.

According to police, an argument broke out in the parking lot of T. Billy Buffet’s around 1:00am when approximately 200 people were hanging out. Overland Police Chief Herron said one of the men involved in the argument got a rifle out of his car and opened fire on the crowd. Two men were hit, one struck in the leg and the other in the hand. Rifle fire also shattered the front windows of the bar as well as other businesses nearby. Some other people were injured by the flying glass.

The man who fired on the crowd got away and is still at large. Although a police officer arrived on the scene during the shooting, he was unable to capture the shooter as a result of the chaos that followed the incident. Police did not note that any security was present in the crowded area.

Chief Herron said an on-duty police sergeant arrived on the scene as the incident was taking place, but was unable to apprehend the suspect in the chaos that erupted.

In the investigation following the shooting, detectives did arrest a felon who was illegally in possession of a gun, but they were unable to immediately ascertain if he was the shooter.

This story is a good example of how the failure of a business to maintain proper security can result in personal injury or even wrongful death. The victims or their families can bring a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in similar cases even though a shooter escapes.

I-65 Cable Barriers

After approval of a contract by the State of Indiana, construction of cable barriers along stretches of I-65 is set to start in the next several weeks. The State approved $2.8 million for the project, which is expected to cover 23 miles. Work was expected to begin in April but was delayed by bad weather.

Residents are anticipating the barriers after recent crashes involving cars crossing the median killed several people. Addition of the cable barriers in other, similar sections of the interstate have saved lives after a bad history of crossover crashes.

According to Debbie Calder of the Indiana Department of Transportation, the cable barriers will be added by December. Local resident Michael Sum thought the cables would be useful if they could help prevent future accidents. "I understand how a car goes off and then (the driver) overcorrects and loses control," he said." It's just a ton of hurtling metal at that point. So anything to catch it or stop it or slow it at that point will make a difference."

Similar cable barriers installed in other areas have had excellent results. According to a study by INDOT, the other barriers were struck 69 times in their first 8 months of use. Of these crashes zero vehicles passed through, and at least one semi truck was prevented from crossing to the other side of the highway. In the 3 years previous to their installation, however, there were 12 fatal crashes, 11 accidents involving serious injuries and 69 other personal injury accidents on all of the stretches of the interstate, based on data from the INDOT. Resident Aaron Posey agreed with the use of State funds." Anything that's going to make the roads safer," Posey said, "I think it's worth a shot."

Barriers like these constructed in Florida and other states have helped reduce the number of fatal car and truck accidents and other types of personal injuries. They appear to be an effective use of tax money.

Driver Impaled after Car Accident

A gentleman estimated to be in his early 30’s from Canberra, Australia, was in serious condition last week in a hospital after a car accident in Dower area left him impaled on a metal fence.

According to Police, the accident occurred just past midnight on Bradfield Street. They are still investigating the exact cause of the strange accident.

Fortunately, only the driver was seriously injured in the accident. Treatment was given to at least one other person for minor injuries, they confirmed, thought no other details were given. Authorities are currently investigating how the incident was caused.

Toll Booth Wrongful Death

A woman died last week in Sydney after being crushed in a car accident involving two cars and a toll booth. The two cars struck about 100 feet away from the toll booth and were pushed into the booth. One landed on its roof while the other was crushed.

Rescue crews were called to free the driver of the Toyota Rav4 which was on its roof. The smaller car had not even been identified due to the extreme damage. Both drivers were taken to nearby hospitals. It is believed the woman was working in the toll booth at the time of the accident.

This type of accident has occurred in Florida as well as other states and can result in personal injury or wrongful death.

$7M Lawsuit against Teenager

The family of the truck driver who died after his rig plunged into the Chesapeake Bay following a crash on the Bay Bridge last year has filed a $7 million lawsuit against the teenager responsible.

Relatives of John Short, 57, claim that Candy Lynn Baldwin, 19, had been drinking so much the night of the wreck that she swerved into Short's lane, forcing him to crash through a bridge wall and fall to his death.

Attorney Keith Franz announced the lawsuit yesterday outside Queen Anne's Circuit Court in Centreville. Short's wife Connie and daughter, Renee, attended, but declined to comment.

The fatal wreck also revealed problems in the bridge's aging infrastructure, which the Maryland Transportation Authority was forced to address. The state was not named in the civil lawsuit, but it may be added later, Franz said.

The civil lawsuit comes six months after prosecutors decided not to charge Baldwin, of Millington in Kent County, with auto manslaughter, since her blood-alcohol content was below the state's legal limit for drunken driving. Baldwin paid $470 in fines after pleading guilty to negligent driving, failure to drive right of center and violating a license restriction. She had a .036 blood alcohol level two hours after the wreck, below the state's legal limit of .08.

But Franz argued that Baldwin's alcohol levels would have been higher if the test had been given immediately after the crash.

He also provided a series of pictures taken from Baldwin's MySpace page that shows her drinking alcohol alone and with her brother, and holding a bottle of rum while behind the wheel of a car. In one photo, she provided the caption, "I DEFINITELY want someone who can handle my drinking habits. And keep up with me."

The pictures were later removed from Baldwin's site.

"It's disgusting, in all candor, the manner in which she explains her excessive use of alcohol," Franz said.

He also noted the emotional toll Short's death has had on the family.

"They had no opportunity to say goodbye, to tell him they loved him. ... They say time heals all wounds, but I can tell you from the many clients we've had (in cases like this), people have a pain that never heals."

Steven Allen, Baldwin's Towson attorney, said he had not seen the lawsuit, so he could not respond to it directly. He said that Baldwin is sorry for what happened.

"This is a very tragic event," Allen said. "(Baldwin's) prayers and thoughts have been with the Short family since the event first took place and they continue to be on her mind every day. She thinks about Mr. Short and his family every day and is very concerned about them."

Baldwin told police she left her mother's wedding reception in Millington on Aug. 9, then went with her cousin to Iguana Cantina in Baltimore. She said she drank three beers at the reception and one at the bar, where she used a fake ID to get served, Franz said.

By 3:45 a.m. Aug. 10, Baldwin was driving her 1997 Chevrolet Camaro with her 22-year-old cousin asleep in the passenger seat. Baldwin told police officers she was extremely tired, but couldn't find a place to pull over, so she traveled eastbound across the Bay Bridge while two-way traffic was in effect.

Short, a driver for Delaware-based Mountaire Farms who lived in Wicomico County, was traveling westbound on the bridge with a load of 24,000 pounds of refrigerated chicken.

He hadn't planned to drive the route, but agreed to do so after he was needed to cover for another driver, police said.

Baldwin dozed off on the bridge and veered across the center line, into the path of Short's truck. She told officers she woke up just in time to see that she was in the wrong lane and driving toward the truck.

Police said Short tried to avoid the car, scraping the concrete barrier on his right so that he only swiped the driver's side of Baldwin's car. He lost control, veered left and clipped the passenger side of another vehicle before smashing through the opposite Jersey wall and landing 30 feet below, in the Chesapeake Bay.

Short was able to unfasten his seat belt, was trapped inside the cab of his trailer and drowned, according to the lawsuit.

Lisa Spicknall, a victim advocate for the anti-drunken-driving group MADD Maryland, said tragedies like this show how dangerous underage drinking can be.

"Our belief is that anyone drinking and driving should be punished to the fullest extent of the law," she said. "It's a horrifying experience to see these pictures (of Baldwin drinking). We try to use every avenue to reach youth and show them that underage drinking does have consequences."

Man Struck by Police Car

A “frozen finger” resulting from a pedestrian accident involving Charlottesville police has hurt a city man’s art career and damaged his reputation, according to the man’s lawsuit.

Gerald Mitchell filed a $850,000 lawsuit Tuesday in Charlottesville Circuit Court against Albemarle County police Officer Greg C. Davis, city police Officer Steve H. Grissom and the city. The wheelchair-bound Charlottesville man was hit in a crosswalk by a police vehicle in November 2007.

According to his suit, Mitchell suffered physical and mental anguish as a result of being struck while traversing a crosswalk at West Main and Fourth streets at about 10:40 a.m. Nov. 5, 2007.

While Mitchell was crossing the street, Davis made a left turn in the police car from Fourth Street onto West Main. The car hit the back of Mitchell’s wheelchair, ejecting Mitchell and throwing him to the ground.

The suit accuses Grissom, who arrived after the accident, of working with Davis and other Charlottesville police officers to charge Mitchell in the accident. Mitchell was accused of crossing the street against the pedestrian signal, not pressing the button to activate the pedestrian signal and not yielding to a pedestrian, as his wheelchair is considered a vehicle.

Mitchell later was found not guilty, according to the suit, which called the charges “an abuse of power” by the police. Defense attorney Richard Armstrong said Mitchell was the victim of the car accident and shouldn’t have been charged in the first place. “If everyone came out and said, ‘Sorry, we made a mistake,’ this would have been resolved a long time ago,” Armstrong said. “Mr. Mitchell feels outraged that police officers protect their own in this way and that he has to defend himself. Apparently there are no ramifications in either the city or the county police department.”

Mitchell referred questions to his attorney.

City spokesman Ric Barrick said the city doesn’t comment on pending lawsuits, and noted that the city had not received the paperwork for the suit. County spokeswoman Lee Catlin said the county hasn’t been served with the suit, but that Davis would be provided with legal representation per county policy.

Armstrong said Mitchell had been working with both localities in hopes of having his medical bills paid and “for someone to acknowledge that what happened wasn’t right.” Mitchell was inspired to file the suit after a June 1 accident in which a teenage driver hit a woman crossing South Street, Armstrong said. The driver was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian.

The city and county may have been expecting Mitchell to file suit. Armstrong said he had been in contact with both localities to try to work something out. Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy J. Longo also wrote a memo to the City Council in December 2007 indicating that city Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman thought the issue would likely be resolved “in the context of a civil proceeding, as opposed to a criminal prosecution for a violation of the traffic code.”

As a result of the accident, Armstrong said, Mitchell suffered a broken shoulder and a “frozen finger” that prevented him from attending a prestigious art show in Harlem, N.Y. “This was quite a personal damage to him,” Armstrong said. “Once you’ve done that [show], you’ve made it into the art world. He did suffer damage to his career.”

The lawsuit also said Mitchell suffered from “depression-like symptoms, nervousness, nightmares and flashbacks” after the accident. Armstrong said Mitchell returned to the hospital again because of accident-related issues and almost lost a foot from pressure sores that he developed as a result of being confined to a hospital bed. A court date has not been set in the case.

EIU Student Killed

The parents of Eastern Illinois University graduate students who died in a wrong-way accident have sued the driver of the other vehicle – a police officer – for wrongful death.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in St. Louis County against 41-year-old Christine Miller, a suburban St. Louis police officer.

Morgan Freeman Crash

An attorney for Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman on Friday claimed a woman who was with the actor when he wrecked a car in Mississippi was partly to blame for the accident.

Attorney Jack Hayes, Jr. didn’t elaborate on how Demaris Meyer, who was in the car with Freeman when it ran off the road and flipped, may have helped cause the accident. Meyer is suing Freeman in U.S. District Court in Oxford, Miss. for negligence.

Both Meyer and Freeman were seriously injured during the accident, which occurred about five miles from his home.

Meyer sued Freeman in February for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, permanent disability and property damage.

Officer Drunk at Bar

An off-duty Sunset Hills officer drank heavily at a bar down the road from her police station before causing a wrong-way accident in March that killed four people in Des Peres, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

The suit claims Christine L. Miller drank "a high quantity" of alcohol at O'Leary's Restaurant & Bar, located in a strip mall in the 3800 block of South Lindbergh Boulevard. The bar is about 1,000 feet from the Sunset Hills police station.

Miller, 41, is being sued for wrongful death and personal injury by parents of the four people killed in the March 21 accident and a survivor. The suit accuses Miller of negligence based on allegations of driving drunk and driving on the wrong side of the road, among other things.

Police have said Miller posted a blood-alcohol count of .169 three hours after the crash, more than twice the legal limit of .08.

The lawsuit says Miller, a Sunset Hills, Mo., police officer who listed a home address in Kirkwood, Mo., was drinking heavily at a bar near her police station before driving on the wrong side of a road early March 21 and slamming into another vehicle.

Wrongful Death

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New York City Crash

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Children to Blame for Accident

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