Tampa St. Petersburg Injury Lawyer Blog

On November 20, a car driven by a Tampa resident hit and killed a St. Petersburg bicyclist.

Stephen Caputo of St. Petersburg was riding his Schwinn beach cruiser at Belcher Rd and 118th Avenue in Pinellas Park around 5 a.m., when William Colwell of Tampa, driving a Chrysler, struck Caputo's bike from behind. The victim reportedly hit the car's windshield and was then thrown into the road.

According to police, Colwell stopped after the incident, but then a second vehicle also struck the victim's bike, and kept driving. Caputo, who was said to not be wearing a helmet but was wearing a reflective vest, died at the scene.

The bike did have a small rear light, and a flashlight was taped to the handlebars, but authorities weren't sure if the lights had been working at the time of the accident.

While police investigated, the southbound lanes surrounding the scene of the accident were closed for several hours. Traffic charges are still pending, as Colwell claimed he did not see the bicyclist.

Continue reading "St. Petersburg Bicyclist Dies in Pinellas Park Accident" »

The increasing number of reckless drivers in Pinellas Park, Florida has developed into a huge problem for the city, according to Pinellas Park police. Aggressive drivers, particularly those whose driving creates a great risk for their fellow motorists, are the target of a new battle being launched by police.

Sgt. Tracy Schofield, the special operations supervisor, was recently a victim of an aggressive driver himself. Schofield believes the rise of aggressive drivers can be contributed to the country's economic status and the extra financial and personal stressors people are experiencing. (TBNWeekly.com) Police are especially looking for drivers who run red lights, tailgate, change lanes aggressively and those who speed. In the most recent effort of traffic enforcement,108 citations were made for speeding, DUIs and other violations. Police are even turning to unexpected and unconventional ways to stop violators and cut down on reckless driving, by using more unmarked cars, and even disguising officers.

Many of these aggressive drivers are thought to be 25 years old and younger, however the number of middle aged and senior violators are on the rise as well.  Younger drivers are more likely to drive high performance vehicles. Wednesday and Saturday nights have been deemed the most dangerous nights on the roads in Pinellas Park and the surrounding areas, as several local establishments sponsor weekly motorcycle and car events on those evenings.

Motorcyclists are also more inclined to break driving laws than motorists, according to Schofield. A common ticket for motorcyclists has been for doing "wheelies" on city streets, but the cyclists are starting to find ways around the ticket. Some mount their plates on hinges, so if spotted by the police they can flip up their plates and speed away from police, with the knowledge that most police agencies have "no chase" policies. While "wheelies" for some may seem harmless and fun, there are some serious consequences.  Even if it's the first time a motorcyclist has been ticketed for a wheelie, they can face a fine that's over $1,000.00. If that weren't enough to defer cyclists, second offenders' fines can be up to $2,500.00 and third time offenders not only may pay a substantial fine, but become felons and may face up to a year in jail.

Since there is no specific law which governs "aggressive driving", motorists engaging in risky road behavior are actually ticketed for other violations, such as speeding or tailgating. What many drivers may not be aware of however, is that the officer can use his or her discretion to check an "aggressive driving" box on a summons, which in turn gives the judge a clue to impose a higher fine on the driver or require them to take an aggressive driving course.

Continue reading "Pinellas Park Police Cracking Down on Aggressive Drivers" »

Being a warm-weather state, it makes sense that more people are riding bikes in Florida, for pleasure and as a means of transportation. Not only are more people riding, but people are able to ride year-round.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Sunshine State riders are at risk, as Florida was recently named the number-one deadliest state in the nation for bicyclists. In 2007, Florida even topped similar warm-weather state California, having 119 bicyclist deaths compared to California's 109; as well as surpassed the traffic-heavy New York, who only had 51 deaths that year.

Some may suggest that the high number of deaths is simply due to the fact that people are able to cycle year-round in Florida, which is not possible in many other states. However, cycling advocates are saying there are other contributing factors. There is not only a growing number of cars on our roads, but also an evident lack of bicycle lanes and paths next to these busy roads.

City and state officials are trying to influence this trend for the better. In the past few years, the state has adopted guidelines which suggest that the new major roads and reconstruction projects be altered to include lanes for bicyclists. In Hillsborough County, both the Sheriff's Office and the Tampa Police give seminars on bicycle safety for kids, and give away helmets to children.

Despite efforts, bicycle-auto accidents are still very prevalent in the community. As recently as April 10, 2009, a Riverview man who was biking was struck from behind by a car and killed. The hit and run accident occurred on U.S. 301 south of Riverview Court.

Alan Snel, who is a local biking enthusiast and the director of eight local retail bicycle stores, insisted to the Tampa Tribune, (TBO.com) that we need to make a change in our "car culture" to educate the biking and driving communities and come to an understanding that they are sharing the roads.

At the Law Office of John T. Grove we handle accidents involving cyclists and motor vehicles. These cases involve not only the car insurance for the driver, but also the auto insurance for the cyclist. It is important to know your rights. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, call us today for a free consultation to discuss your insurance coverage.