Tampa St. Petersburg Injury Lawyer Blog

On September 30, 2011, two people were killed at the scene of an accident after a two car collision on Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach.

As Pablo Mansilla-Aguinaga, of Tampa, and Sandra Paulson, of Scahumaburg, Ill, were pulling out of the Alden Beach Resort on Gulf Blvd, a speeding SUV struck their small Madza, causing both vehicles to overturn.  The SUV ended up on top of a large fountain in front of the resort and quickly caught fire, which witnesses rushed to put out. 

The driver of the SUV, Daniel Dolcater, of Gulfport, was clocked at going 69 mph in a 35 mph zone, and was taken to the hospital with serious head injuries.

Dozens of witnesses watch the accident happen, and ran to help the victims in the sedan as well.  Attempting to help, a local business owner who had witnessed the entire event, ran to the Sedan, but noted little and no pulse in the two victims just moments after the accident.

An officer with the St. Pete Beach police saw the SUV speeding prior to the crash and attempted to initiate a traffic stop with his motorcycle lights.  Other witnesses noted that the SUV was swerving as it approached the hotel.

Police suspected road rage as the reason for speeding, but the case is still being reviewed to determine charges.

Continue reading "Two-vehicle fiery crash kills two in St. Pete Beach" »

Traffic signals at some of the most congested intersections around the Tampa Bay area will soon be upgraded to include flashing yellow arrows.

Over the next few months, the state will be putting forth effort to reduce accidents, maintain a normal traffic flow, and reduce the consumption of gas. They are doing so by means of installing at least 75 new traffic signals at high traffic intersections around the state.

The first installation in the state was in Palm Harbor in 2009 and in a matter of weeks Hillsborough County, among others, will follow suit. By the end of summer flashing yellow lights will be along Belcher Road at Alderman and other Tampa roads as well. As traffic signals become due for replacement, or as intersections undergo construction, new yellow arrows are being added too, where appropriate. Engineers based their location choices on such factors as pedestrian numbers and the volume of traffic at each intersection.

Pinellas County's traffic signal operations manager explained the importance of the new light, explaining it's goal was to provide additional safety to drivers in these high congested areas.

Florida is not the only state looking for ways to provide additional safety and improve traffic flow on it's roads. The Federal Highway Administration relates that there are more than 35 states that have already implemented the use of these lights at at least 1,000 intersections. That number is still growing.

Some drivers may not think this change is neccessary, but it is a small change that could help clarify things quickly for drivers, so that there may be no question of right-of-way. The highway administration explains that even if a driver has a green light, if they are making a left-hand turn, that light does not give them the right of way against oncoming traffic. This is often misinterpreted by motorists. The goal is that the flashing yellow will automatically signal drivers that they have to yield first to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, and then they can turn left. In the event a motorist doesn't understand the purpose of the light, the state has planned to install signs next to each new light to further clarify.

Continue reading "Yellow Turn Arrows to be Added to Tampa Bay Traffic Signals" »

On August 25, a Kenneth City woman was struck and killed by a car while riding her bicycle on 66th Street, according to Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Just after 3 p.m., 86-year old Bettie Deetz was riding her bike through the intersection of 49th Avenue and 66th Street, when a van turned left onto 66th street, blocking Deetz' view of oncoming traffic, including a 1991 Camry driven by a Pinellas Park man.  After the van turned, the Camry then struck Deetz.

It was reported that Deetz was not in a crosswalk at the time of the accident, and she was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead. Deputies said there were no crossing signs at the site of the accident and no citations were issued.

Continue reading "Kenneth City Bicyclist Struck and Killed by Car" »

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.