Lakeland Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Sunday, February 5, 2012, was a deadly weekend on the roads in both Hillsborough and Pasco counties.  Three people in each county were killed only eight hours apart from one another.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Florida Highway Patrol was called to an accident on State Road 54 between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, FL at approximately 11:00 a.m. that Sunday morning.

Reports indicate that Dustin Andrew Diaz, 22, was driving his 2000 Toyota heading westbound on State Road 54 near Ernest Drive between Wesley Chapel, FL and Zephyrhills, FL when he failed to stop for traffic on the road.  Diaz’s Toyota collided into the backend of a 2008 four-door Volkswagon.  The force of the hit sent the Volkswagon onto the shoulder of State Road 54 in Pasco County, FL.

After hitting the Volkswagon, Diaz’s Toyota continued to travel into the eastbound lanes of S.R. 54 between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, FL into the oncoming traffic.  Diaz vehicle crashed into a 2002 Toyota hitting it head on.

Reports indicated that the three passengers in the eastbound Toyota, Lavon Hartman, 90, of Zephyrhills, FL, Charles W. Anken, 78 and Georgianna L. Anken, 77, both of Holland Patent , NY, were all pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  The other people involved in the accident were all taken to local hospitals where they were treated for their injuries.

Florida Highway Patrols reports stated that the three people who died as a result of the accident were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

The second accident occurred approximately eight hours earlier in Ruskin, FL, located in southern Hillsborough County.

The reports indicate that the three men involved in the crash, Jesus Jaime, 29, Abdiel Cruz, 27, and Erick Venegas-Zuniga, 29, all from Gibsonton, FL, were driving a 2001 Ford Expedition heading north on U.S. 41 near Ruskin, FL, at approximately 3:10 a.m. when their vehicle left the roadway onto a grassy median.  This caused the vehicle to overturn.  Because none of the men were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, they were all ejected from the vehicle.  They were all pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Family members of the three men stated that none of the men had a driver’s license in the state of Florida and were working to become United States citizens.  All three men leave behind children younger then the age of 5.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009, 2.3 million adult drivers were taken to emergency rooms and treated for injuries as a result of motor vehicle crashes.  By wearing a seatbelt, you reduce your risk of serious crash-related injuries or death by 50%.  Florida State statute 316.614 states that it is unlawful for anyone to operate a motor vehicle in the state of Florida without all occupants in the vehicle to be restrained by a safety belt.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.

All parents know that when we put our teenagers behind the wheel of a car, there is a chance that we will receive a call letting you know that your child has been involved in a car accident.  One parent’s biggest fear came true when their son was involved in a motor vehicle accident when a practical joke went wrong.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Dylan Torrie, 14, of Brandon, FL, had just be dismissed from a day at school at Bloomingdale High School in Valrico, FL.  As all of the student body that drives does, he headed out to the student parking lot to join friends. 

As the cars began to creep out of the high school parking lot, Torrie approached a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was being driven by an unidentified 16-year old female driver.  The young female was said to be a friend of Torrie with whom he was joking around with. 

At some point, traffic came to a stop and Torrie decided to lay down in front of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.  The female driver did not see Torrie lay down in front of her vehicle and when traffic started to move, she ran over Torrie and trapped him under the vehicle.

Blomingdale High School officials immediately called 911 and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with the Hillsborough County Fire Heavy Rescue Team, was dispatched to the scene of the incident. 

Upon arrival at the scene, the Fire Rescue team was able to lift the vehicle off of Torrie and extract him from underneath the SUV.  Torrie was then airlifted to Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, FL, where he was treated for severe injuries to his leg.  He was listed in good condition. 

The accident continues to be investigated by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Hillsborough County School Board.   The driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee is not expected to be charged. 

According to Department of Motor Vehicles, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 have the highest percentage for being involved in motor vehicle crashes across the United States.  A report published by the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) stated that in 2008 a total of 516 fatalities were reported in drivers age 15 to 20 years old.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.

Deputies were able to use fingerprints from the driver of a Toyota that was involved in a two-car accident on U.S. 27 in Lake Wales, FL in late January to identify the deceased driver involved in the crash. 

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Efren Martinez-Flores, 56, of 103 Constitution Lane, in Frostproof, FL, was driving his Toyota Corolla heading east on Jackson Street in Lake Wales, FL, when he crossed into the path of a semi-truck.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports indicate that as Martinez-Flores was driven east on Jackson Street in Lake Wales, FL, he began to swerve towards the median crossing over the outside southbound lane of  U.S. 27 in Lake Wales, FL, driving directly into the path of a Kenworth semi-truck being driven by Ernel Morales, 37, of Lakeland, FL.  

Reports stated that Morales was carrying a trailer full of sand at the time of the crash and was unable to bring his vehicle to a stop.  The force of the crash sent Martinez-Flores’  Toyota into a local trailer parts store at 14410 U.S. 27 in Lake Wales, FL.

Martinez-Flores was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  Samuel Ray Ellington Jr., 21, of 222 Holland St. in Lake Wales, Fl, the passenger in the Toyota being driven by Martinez-Flores, was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he was listed  critical condition at the time of the report.  Morales, the driver of the semi-truck, was taken to Lake Wales Medical Center and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.

When you mix a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed and alcohol, you have a recipe for a nasty accident.  That is apparently what happened when a Pinellas Park, FL man rammed his motorcycle into a fence.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Scott Alan Deeran, 40, of Pinellas Park, FL, was riding on his motorcycle through a neighborhood only several blocks from where he lives. 

Pinellas Park Police reports indicate that Deeran was traveling at a high rate of speed heading south on 56th Way North in Pinellas Park, FL, when he attempted to make a right angle turn onto 82nd Terrace, also in Pinellas Park, FL.  When Deeran attempted to make the turn, he lost control of his motorcycle sending him crashing into a fence on the 5600 block of 82nd Terrace in Pinellas Park, FL. 

Deeran was transported from the scene of the accident to Bayfront Medical Center where he was treated for life-threatening injuries.  He was later listed in critical but stable condition.

Police reports suggest that alcohol may have played a factor in the accident.

Mothers Against Druck Driving listed statistics posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that state that an estimated 10, 839 people will be killed this year in drunk driving accidents.  That is an average of 1 person every 50 minutes.  It also states that an astounding  1 in 3 people will be involved in a drunk driving accident sometime in their lifetime.  The article continues to state that one person every minute is injured as a result of a drunk driving accident.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.

With year round weather appropriate for outdoor activities, outdoor grilling is a regular occurrence for Florida residence.  More often than not, you hear about people who catch their lawns on fire when using a turkey deep fryer or use too much gasoline when starting up the grill.  This can lead to life threatening situations.  Sadly, a three year old boy was severely injured while being outside with his father while using a barbecue grill in Hollywood, FL in mid-January.

According to the Miami Herald, the Hollywood Fire Rescue was called to a house on the 500 block of North 60th Way in Hollywood, FL after receiving a call about a 3-year old child have serious burns on his face, neck and torso.

Reports stated that the father, whose name was not released at the time of the report, was outside trying to start an outside barbecue grill.  It was reported that the young boy was standing near his father when he attempted to use gasoline to get the fire ignited.

Neighbor, Fed Pavao heard the child scream and came outside to find out what the commotion was all about.  He witnessed the mother of the young child patting him down with wet towels and attempting to console the child.  Minutes later, Hollywood Fire Rescue arrived on the scene.

The child was transported to the pediatric unit of Memorial Regional Hospital where he was treated for third-degree burns.  The child was expected to survive.

The American Burn Association reported that in the years of 2010 to 2011, of the burn victims admitted into burn centers, 68% of the incidents occurred at home.  They also estimate that a total of 450,000 burns required medical treatment.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.

Head on collisions can be the most deadly of traffic accidents to occur.  They leave massive destruction, severe injuries and more frequently than desired, fatalities. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Polk County accounted for 5,579 of the 235, 461 traffic crashes reported in 2010.  It also tallied 3.47% of all fatalities reported in the state of Florida with a total of 85 fatalities in 2010.

The Lakeland Ledger reported that on Friday, January 27, 2012, a Lakeland, FL woman died from an accident involving two cars.

Polk County Sherriff’s Office reports indicate that Stacey Leigh Dewey, 41, of Lakeland, FL and her son Robert H. Dewey, 17, of Lakeland, FL were driving their 2003 Ford Mustang southbound on U.S. 98 in Highland City, FL headed towards Bartow, FL when the crash happened.

The other vehicle involved in the incident was a 2002 Acura SUV that was being driven by Jeny Idiculla, 27, of Winter Haven, FL.  She was driving her Acura headed northbound on U.S. 98 in Highland City, FL when she lost control of her vehicle and veered towards the median.

Reports state the Idiculla’s Acura crashed into Dewey’s Mustang at an angle and continued down the entire side of the Mustang.  The force of the crash sent both vehicles spinning across the southbound lanes of U.S. 98 in Highland City, FL.  The cars came to their final resting spot near the shoulder of the road at the intersection of U.S. 98 and Hancock Road in Highland City, FL.

Onlookers at the scene of the accident reported that Robert Dewey, the passenger in the Mustang, was able to crawl out of the back window of the vehicle and go to check on Idiculla, the driver of the Acura.  Onlookers state that Idiculla was pinned in the vehicle and was unable to get out.

When medics arrived at the scene on the accident, they pronounced Stacey Dewey, the driver of the Mustang, dead.  Idiculla was able to be cut from the vehicle and taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.  At the time of the incident, Idiculla was eight months pregnant.  Upon arrival at the medical center, she was listed in stable condition.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.

Thanksgiving weekend in Polk County, FL proved to be a devastating one for the roadways in the county.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, four people were killed and five were injured in three unrelated accidents.  All three accidents happened between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The first accident occurred on Wednesday night around 7:10 pm when two passenger trucks collided in Lake Hamilton, FL.

Reports stated that James Carl Payne Jr., 57, and Elaine Johnson Barnes, 46, both of 1718 Dickens Road in Lake Wales, FL was driving their 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac heading south on U.S. 27 in Lake Hamilton, FL.  Payne attempted to turn east onto Crump Road in Lake Hamilton, FL when it collided with a 2000 Ford F-250 pickup truck being driven by Pedro Teixeira, 18, of Orlando, FL.

The impact of the crash caused the Explorer, driven by Payne, to roll several times and finally coming to rest on it’s roof.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports stated that Barnes, a passenger in the Explorer, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  Payne, along with Jay Joseph Vanbockel, 19, of Palm Bay, and Connie Gould Jarrell, 50, of Lake Hamilton, who were both passengers in the Explorer, were all taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.  Payne, the driver of the Explorer, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the medical facility.  Vanbockel and Jarrell were listed in very critical condition at the time of the report.

The driver of the Ford F-250 and his passenger, Bruno Dornelas, 25, of Orlando, FL, were treated at the scene of the accident for minor injuries.

The second incident occurred just hours after the first on the same stretch of highway about a mile south of County Road 640 just south of Lake Wales, FL.

Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate that David Charles Whitted, 24, of Wagner, SC, was driving his 2008 Chevrolet Aveo traveling north in a southbound lane of U.S. 27, when he struck a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer being driven by Justin Hardy Mills, 21, of Frostproof, FL.  Although Mills attempted to avoid the crash, Whitted hit the Blazer, overturning the vehicle.

Mills, along with the passengers in his SUV, Nicole Monica Christiana, 33, of Avon Park, FL, and Tina Mearse Young, 46, of Frostproof, FL, were all seriously injured as a result of the crash.  Mills, the driver of the Blazer, was taken to Lake Wales Medical Center.  His passengers were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Whitted, the driver of the Aveo, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The third accident was a single vehicle crash that happened in the early morning hours of Thursday in Winter Haven, FL.

Winter Haven Police Department reports state that Gabriel Varela, 25, of Davenport, FL was driving his 2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 heading east on Avenue D Southwest in Winter Haven, FL.  As Varela approached the intersection of Avenue D and Seventh Street Southeast in Winter Haven, FL, he hit a curb and was sent crashing into a house at 342 Seventh Street in Winter Haven, FL.

Varela was transported from the scene of the crash to Winter Haven Hospital where he died as a result of his injuries.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.

Riding on the side of a busy highway is a dangerous activity.  With the increase of drivers that text and drive and sharing the road with larger vehicles can lead to tragedy.  This is exactly what happened to a young Frostproof bicyclist while riding his bike on the side of U.S. 27 in Frostproof, FL.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, around 2:30 p.m. in early January, Daniel P. Smith, 20, of Frostproof, FL, was riding on his bicycle heading south on U.S. 27 in Frostproof, FL.  Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports indicate that Smith was riding on the shoulder of the road when a semi-truck being driven by Levon S. Garcia, 29, of Haines City, FL, struck Smith and threw him from his bicycle near Streety Lake Road in Frostproof, Fl.

Reports state that Garcia’s truck was carrying a trailer loaded with wide equipment which caused Smith to be struck by the semi-truck.

Smith, the driver of the bicycle, was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead as a result of his injuries.

According to the 2009 Traffic Safety Facts published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 630 pedalcyclists, riders of two-wheel nonmotorized vehicles, were killed as a result of traffic accidents in 2009.  Another 51,000 were injured in traffic accidents in the same year.  The 630 fatalities accounted for 2% of all fatalities reported in traffic accidents in 2009.  This was a 12% drop in the number of fatalities that were reported in 2008, which were 718.  The same report indicated that 69% of the fatalities that occurred were in urban areas in non-intersection roadways.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.

As Florida residents, we are fortunate to not have to deal with snowy conditions and icy roads.  However, we are subject to severe rain that can cause just as dangerous driving conditions.  This can lead to vehicles hydroplaning.  Many drivers are unsure how to recover from hydroplaning and this can lead to severe car accidents.  This is exactly what happened in Haines City, FL when a tow truck hydroplaned out of control.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, at approximately 7:00 pm in late November, a West Coast Towing truck being driven by Paul Byra, 43, of Auburndale, FL, was driving north on US 27 near Commerce Avenue in Haines City, FL to the scene of another accident when his tow truck his a patch of water and began to hydroplane.  Haines City Police Department reports indicate that Byra’s tow truck crossed over a median and hit four vehicles that were traveling southbound on US 27 in Haines City, FL.

Of the vehicles that were hit, there are three people that were taken to medical facilities to seek treatment.  Dale Burton, 50, of Lake Wales, FL, was driving a 1998 Buick when hit by Byra’s tow truck.  He received several broken bones.  The passenger in Burton’s Buick, Rachel Burton, 73, was seriously injured in the crash.  Both occupants were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.  Dale Burton was treated for his broken bones and was released.  Rachel Burton was admitted to the hospital and remained in serious condition.

Another driver involved in the crash, Albert Williams, 75, of Kissimmee, FL, was driving his 1999 BMW when he was also struck by the tow truck.  He was taken to Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center where he was treated for chest pains as a result of the crash.

Reports indicate that Byra, the driver of the tow truck, did not sustain any injuries.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.

We’ve all seen accidents where a chain of events leads to several cars being involved in a single accident.  One car stops, the next one hits that one, and so one causing a mountain of cars and leading to serious injuries.  This is exactly what happened in Hillsborough County, FL involving three cars and a semi-truck in late November.

According to TBO.com, southbound Interstate 275 near Interstate 4 in Tampa, FL was shut down for hours after three cars and a semi-truck were involved in a massive pile-up sending one driver to the hospital.

Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate that Steven Gordon, 37, of Gainesville, FL was driving his 2011 Nissan Altima heading southbound on 1-275 in Tampa, FL when he came upon another car accident.  Gordon, slowed down and came to a stop as he approached the scene.  Carolyn A. Butler, 46, of Clearwater, FL, was following Gordon in her 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser.  She was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and crashed into the back of Gordon’s Nissan.  A third vehicle, a 2003 Ford Taurus being driven by Michelle O’Shaughnessy, 27, of Tampa, FL, was following Butler in the center lane and crashed into her PT Cruiser.  Following O’Shaughnessy was a semi-truck being driven by Richard Arnold Miller, 64, of Tifton, Ga.  Miller crashed into the Ford Taurus sending O’Shaughnessy spinning clockwise several times before coming to a rest.

O’Shaughnessy, the driver of the Taurus that was hit by the semi tractor trailer, was sent to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, FL, where she was treated for serious injuries.  She was listed in serious condition upon arrival at the medical facility.  Luckily, her injuries were non-life threatening.  Reports state that the other drivers involved in the crash were not injured.

Florida’s 2010 Traffic Crash Statistics Report, published by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, indicate that Florida recorded 235,461 total traffic crashes in 2010.  Of those crashes, 124,847 were listed as having injuries.  That was a .66% reduction in the number of injuries listed in 2009.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a civil attorney with Rivas Law Group, LLC located in Winter Haven, Florida. Attorney Rivas represents injured victims in Polk County, FL. Attorney Rivas is fluent in Spanish and represents only victims, never insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been injured, call us toll free at 877-299-5539 to schedule a free legal consultation with Attorney Rivas. You are not responsible to pay any legal fees or costs unless you win.