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.

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.

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.

Driving under the influence is something that is serious and claims the lives of thousands of people each year.  An accident in Lakeland, FL brought an entirely new meaning to driving under the influence, when a mobile methamphetamine lab crashed killing one occupant of the vehicle.

According to the Lakeland Ledger and ABC Action News, Clifford Ellison, 36, of Lakeland, FL, was driving his vehicle down the 3900 block of Drane Field Road in Lakeland, FL.  The passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash, Jerek L. Evans, 26, of Lakeland, FL, reported to Lakeland Police Department deputies that Ellison was attempting to make a supply of methamphetamine called “shake and bake”.  This new process of creating methamphetamine is becoming more widely popular as it requires less supplies and you simply shake the contents up in a glass container.

Ellison was attempting to mix a dose of the “shake and bake” methamphetamine when the glass liquor bottle that he was using exploded in the car reported Evans, the passenger in the car.  When the bottle exploded, it sent shards of glass soaring through the car and several pieces of the glass penetrated Ellison’s neck.  The shards of glass in Ellison’s neck, consequently, lead to his death.

Witnesses of the incident reported that before the vehicle crashed, there was a commotion in the car.  Apparently, this was when the glass bottle exploded and lead to the vehicle crash.  Evans, the passenger in the car, fled the scene of the accident.  At the time of the report, no charges have been filed on Evans.

According to reports published by the U.S. Department of Justice, the methamphetamine trafficking issues in Florida center around the Central Florida area.  According to the report, there are a total of 193 methamphetamine lab seizures in 2011.  The reports goes on to state that the area between Orlando and Tampa on Interstate 4 seems to be the main strip where the problems exist.  These mobile labs create dangerous conditions on major highways and can lead to death, as reported in this blog.

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 have all been driving down the road and have seen a car sitting on the side of the road as a result of a breakdown.  These cars are pose serious conditions to the drivers on the interstate as we deal more and more with distracted drivers.  Sadly, this same scenario led to the death of one Tampa, FL man early Sunday morning.

According to ABC Action News, at approximately 4:15 a.m. on January 15, Arimus Antwain Marshall Dixon, 32, of Tampa, FL, was driving his Jeep Wrangler heading northbound on Interstate 75 at the Interstate 4 apex in Tampa, FL when he approached a disabled vehicle on the east shoulder of the interstate.  Dixon’s Jeep struck the disabled vehicle, overturning the Jeep and sending it into the center lane of northbound Interstate 75 in Tampa, FL.  Dixon was able to get out of his vehicle.

As he was standing next to the Jeep, Dixon was struck by an Acura Intergra that was also heading northbound on Interstate 75 in  Tampa, FL.  The Intergra was being driven by Chrissy Rodriguez, 34, of Tampa, FL.  The impact of the hit from the Intergra killed Dixon.  He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.

Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate that Rodriguez, the driver of the Intergra, was taken to Florida Hospital were she was treated for minor injuries.  The passenger in her vehicle, Alvin T. Travis, 29, of Tampa, was uninjured.  The reports also indicated that the driver of the disabled vehicle, Robert C. Norman, 21 of Dade City, FL, was also uninjured.

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 driving on the Florida highways, you are sure to run into construction zones.   These areas of road can be dangerous for drivers and the workers that are present.  Many times people disregard the reduced speed limits or signs advising of higher speeding fines.  These road signs are meant to create a safer environment for the pedestrians working on the sides of the roads.  Sadly, a worker on Interstate 75 in Sarasota County was hit and killed in an accident the night before Thanksgiving.

According to the Herald Tribune, shortly before 6:45 p.m., Steven Arthur Morgan, 53, of Port Charlotte, FL, who worked for DBI Services LLC, a company contracted to do interstate maintenance, was cleaning up an earlier fender bender in the southbound emergency lane on  Interstate 75 in Sarasota County near the Fruitville Road exit.

Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate that a 2001 Ford Explorer being driven by Brandon Joseph Conti, 18, of Sarasota, FL, was attempting to avoid traffic that had come to a stop due to the earlier accident and lost control of his vehicle.  As a result, Morgan was struck by the Explorer.  The SUV continued towards the median and hit a guide cable, overturning the vehicle and landing upright in the median.

Tyler Lee Cutright, 19, of Sarasota, FL, who was a passenger in Conti’s Explorer, was ejected from the vehicle during the crash.  He was taken for the scene of the accident and flown to Blake Medical Center where he was treated for serious injuries.

Morgan, who was also a retired volunteer firefighter in Phoenix, NY, died at the scene of the accident.  Morgan was honored as Enterprise Fire Company’s Firefighter of the Year in 1991.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2008 recorded a 13 percent drop in the number of workplace fatalities from the previous low in 2007 with approximately 2045 deaths.  They go on to report that the number of workers who were killed after being struck by vehicles or mobile equipment fell from 345 in 2007 to 322 in 2008.

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.

Any major roadway that you drive down, you are sure to see a pedestrian crossing the road.  The issue lies in that, most of the time, there is not an official crossing and people determine when it is appropriate to cross the road.  Misjudgment can lead to pedestrians placing themselves in harms way and the possibility of traffic accidents.  This is exactly what happened to a Lakeland, FL man in mid December.

According to the Lakeland Ledger and the Lakeland Police Department, Stephen Brackin, 69, of Eagle Lake, FL, was driving his 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche south on US 98 in Lakeland, FL when Marvin P. Black, 49, of Lakeland, FL attempted to cross the road at 3230 US Highway 98 North in Lakeland, FL.  Black ran directly into the path of Brackin’s vehicle and was struck. Black hit Brackin’s left front side of his truck and was thrown approximately 50 feet north of where he was hit.

Black was transported from the scene of the accident to Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, FL , where he was treated for life threatening injuries.  The medical center listed Black in critical, but stable condition.

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), nationally, there are around 4,000 pedestrian fatalities and about 59,000 injuries reported every year.  FHA goes on to report that pedestrian fatalities comprise 12% of all traffic accident fatalities annually.

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.

It’s common to see people standing on the side of the road while driving.  Most times, it is a flat tire or a mechanical issue.  Other times, you see people who have been involved in a car accident dealing with the smashed up bumper or other damage suffered in the crash.  This was the case for a young boy and his father in late September in Eustis, FL.

According to the Lakeland Ledger and Channel 13 News, Nathan Hayes, 10 of Eustis, FL, and his father, Steven Hayes, were driving in their pickup truck down County Road 44 near West Eldorado Drive in Eustis, FL, when they came upon a fallen tree in blocking the roadway.  This caused Hayes’ truck to crash into the tree, however, everyone in the vehicle was okay. As  Steven Hayes got out of his vehicle  to check the damage to his truck; Nathan, his son, got out the truck and was standing on the side of the road away from the crash.

As Nathan was standing on the side of the road waiting for his father, a car driven by Richard Sineath, 73, of Mount Dora, FL, was headed towards the fallen tree and the crash site.  Sineath saw the crash and the fallen tree and  swerved his car to missed the tree and the crash and struck Nathan standing on the side of the road.

Nathan was transported to Florida Hospital Waterman where he was later pronounced dead as a result of his injuries.

Florida Highway Patrol, who is investigating the accident, stated that Sineath, who volunteered at the Mount Dora Bible School where Nathan attended, is not expected to be brought up on charges.

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.

At approximately 4:38 a.m., Broward County Sheriff’s Office and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue received a call that a car had left the roadway and landed in lake behind a bank on the southwest corner of Andrews Avenue Extension and West Sample Road in Pompano Beach, FL.

According to Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the Sun Sentinel,  Tommy Neloms, 24, Victor Durham, 29, and Gregory Holloway, 19, all of Pompano Beach, FL, were driving their 1997 white Mercury Marquis after leaving the 525 Club in Deerfield Beach, FL with a group of other cars.  They were headed west on Sample Road in Pompano Beach, FL turning south onto Andrews Avenue Extension, also in Pompano Beach, FL when, for an undetermined reason, lost control of the vehicle.  Reports indicated that the Mercury hit a westside  guardrail and then jumped the guardrail, landing in the Pompano Beach Lake.

When Broward County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Rescue squad arrived at the scene, the Mercury was fully submerged in the lake in about 15 to 20 feet of water.  Divers belonging to the Pompano Beach Fire Rescue unit were able to locate the three males inside the car and bring them to shore.  The three men were taken to the Broward County Medical Center where they were all pronounced dead.

According to FARS, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, and the National Automotive Sampling System –Crashworthiness Data Systems (NASS-CDS), there are 247 vehicle submersion events annually where at least one fatality occurred. Of these vehicle submersion cases, 49 percent had a major frontal crash, 11 percent had a major side crash, 2 percent experienced a major rear crash, 23 percent involved a vehicle rollover with no collision and 15 percent did not involve a collision or a rollover.

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.

A late night drive turned serious when a 25-year old Lakeland, FL man flipped his vehicle landing in a ditch sending him to the hospital.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Lakeland firefighters worked for about an hour trying to free Chandler Schofield, 25, of 3815 Oakwood Circle in Lakeland,FL after his high speed driving forced him to lose control of his truck and landing him upside down in a ditch.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports state that Schofield was driving his 2003 Mazda pickup truck heading west on Old Tampa Highway in Lakeland, FL at approximately 10:20 p.m.  As Schofield attempted to speed around a curve in the highway, his truck spun out of control hitting a light pole.  After striking the pole, Schofield overcorrected his steering, sending him into a ditch.  The Mazda pickup truck was then sent airborne and spinning 180 degrees in the air.  Schofield’s vehicle came to it’s final resting spot in the parking lot of the Winston Baptist Church at 3233 Old Tampa Highway in Lakeland, FL.  The truck landed in the parking lot upside down on it’s roof.

Schofield was confined inside the vehicle for a little less than an hour while rescue workers attempted to free him from the truck.  He was later taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.  Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies believe that Schofield was impaired at the time of the accident.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 48 minutes.  Florida State Statute 316.193 outlines the requirements of driving under the influence as follows:

(1) A person is guilty of the offense of driving under the influence and is subject to punishment as provided in subsection (2) if the person is driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle within this state and: (a)The person is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in s. 877.111, or any substance controlled under chapter 893, when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired; (b)The person has a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or (c)The person has a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

Florida Highway Patrol officers were called to a two car accident involving a motorcycle and a 4-door sedan.  Sadly, it also involved the death of one of the drivers.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Joseph M. Glover, 70, of Haines City, FL, was driving west on Interstate 4 near Haines City, FL on his 2001 Kawasaki motorcycle when a 2004 Hyundai Sonata driven by Charles L. Lee, 63, from Port Orange, FL, who was also traveling west on Interstate 4 near Haines City, FL, merged into the lane of traffic that Glover was in.  Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate that Lee was attempting to exit off of Interstate 4 and onto Interstate 75 when he cut off Glover.

Unable to slow down to avoid a collision, Glover’s motorcycle hit the rear end of the Hyundai ejecting him from his motorcycle and onto the roadway.  Glover was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lee, the driver of the Hyundai, and  Alex C. Lee, 21, the passenger in the Hyundai, were not injured in the accident and did not require any medical attention.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 4,281 fatalities among motorcyclists in 2009 — more than double the number in 1997. That was the highest number of motorcyclists killed in one year since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting fatal motor vehicle crash data in 1975.  The Florida Motorcycle Helmet Law Repel now requires that  helmet use is only required by riders under the age of 21, and by older riders who do not have a minimum of $10,000 medical insurance coverage.

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.