Tampa St. Petersburg Injury Lawyer Blog

The climbing number of pedestrian deaths recently has triggered Clearwater Police to launch a campaign for safety.

Yesterday, December 21, through today, police will be watching the busiest streets, conducting a special safety detail, through which they hope to prevent and lower the rising amount of pedestrian deaths.

Since research shows that most pedestrian deaths occur when people attempt to cross outside of crosswalks, the police department will be keeping an eye out for jaywalkers in particular, along with anyone seemingly attempting to interrupt safe traffic flow.

Tickets will be issued to those individuals at a fine of $62.00 each, though the police are stressing the main reason they are patroling is to encourage safety on the roads.

Continue reading "Frequent Pedestrian Deaths Trigger Clearwater Police to Take Action" »

In the early morning of November 30, a woman hit and then saved the life of a pedestrian she hit in Clearwater.

Patricia Syraski, a respiratory therapist, was on her way to work at Tampa General Hospital at about 6 am when she hit a pedestrian crossing Gulf to Bay Blvd. She described that he was walking in the darkness and not in a crosswalk. Syraski immediately pulled over and said the man was not breathing when she got to him. After flagging down another motorist, who called 911, she was able to perform CPR and revive the man, with the aid of a doctor who stopped to help.

The pedestrian was then taken to a hospital via helicopter when paramedics arrived. The accident shut down Gulf to Bay traffic in both directions for a short time. Clearwater police did not expect there to be any charges.

Continue reading "Driver Hits, Saves the Life of Clearwater Pedestrian" »

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" »

In the early morning hours of October 21, 2009, a Hillsborough County firefighter riding her motorcycle was involved in a collision with a pickup truck.

The firefighter, driving her Harley-Davidson collided with a Tarpon Springs man in a Chevy pickup after she drove the wrong way in the eastbound lanes of S. Village Drive. While the driver of the pickup was not injured, the firefighter, Patti Valero of Brandon, was said to be in critical condition and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. The collision is still under investigation and no one has been cited yet.

The Law Offices of John T. Grove handles motorcycle collisions frequently and knows the harsh emotional, physical, and financial damages victims often experience.  Call Attorney John T. Grove for your FREE consultation today.

Being a warm-weather state, Florida already has a higher number of motorcycle riders than most states, and therefore a higher number of collisions.  Now, it seems that the failing economy has led to a trend in buying motorcycles as a primary means of transportation.  While they used to be considered luxuries for most, people are now purchasing motorcycles simply because they can not afford a car and the expenses that go along with it.  Despite the sagging economy, managers at local dealerships suggest that sales are indeed still holding their own. Motorcycles can be purchased for even less than a used car, they get signficantly better gas mileage, and riders are not required to have insurance in the state of Florida.

For those struggling financially, motorcycles may seem like a wise choice...but at what cost? In 2007, when neither he nor his mother could afford a car, a 17-year old Ridgewood High senior saved up and got a used motorcycle for $1,300. His ride turned fatal in November of that year when his motorcycle collided with a car on U.S. 19. 

Trend experts suggest that the affordability of the bikes has fused a statewide surge in motorcycle injuries and deaths.  With the number of registered motorcyclists up to 582,740 in 2006, compared to 339,488 in 2002, the number of fatalities is also on the rise. In 2002, Florida repealed its Helmet Law for bikers, so that currently the law is only enforcing that riders under the age of 21 need to wear a helmet, and riders over the age of 21 who choose to ride without a helmet now must carry insurance for $10,000 in medical payments coverage, in the event that they are involved in an accident.  And, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, it seems that they continue to be involved in those accidents, as over 40 percent of motorcyclists that are killed in collisions were not wearing helmets.

While contributing factors like youth, inexperience and speed are usually thought to be the cause of crashes with motorcycles, law enforcement officials suggest there is really an equal amount of collisions caused by careless drivers, or those who didn't see the motorcyclists. However, in Florida, those in motorcycle accidents are six times more likely to die than automobile drivers. The battle of placing blame between car drivers and motorcyclists is not likely to end anytime soon, but the reality, as stated by Sgt. Jim Bordner, spokesman for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, is "the roadways are only as safe as the worst driver."  (http://www.sptimes.com/) 

Continue reading "Affordability May Be To Blame For Rise in Florida Motorcycle Deaths" »

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" »

Jim Key, of Winter Haven, was leaving work on Recker Highway for his lunch break on the morning of February 9^th, when another driver slammed into him, ejecting him from his motorcycle.

As the other driver drove off, Key's bike went up in flames, and co-workers extinguished the fire, dragging Key away. Co-workers and witnesses hastily made a tourniquet, attempting to treat Key while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

According to NewsCheif.com, after being airlifted to Tampa General Hospital and undergoing an extensive 30 hour surgery, as well as spending one month in the hospital and attending weeks of physical therapy, Key is finally able to return home and to work. While he is thankful and glad to be back, he still faces another trying six months before he is able to walk.

Key states he is not holding a grudge against the other driver, but has no interest in meeting her. The woman, who was driving a minivan was arrested a few days following the accident, with charges of leaving the scene of a crash, which is a third-degree felony.

Motorcycle accidents occur every day in Florida. Many of these accidents cause significant injuries to the motorcyclist simply due to their lack of protection from the vehicle impacting it or the roadway itself. Motorists must use the utmost care to watch for motorcycles on the roadways. Although not required in Florida, our office recommends that our clients who ride carry extra uninsured motorist coverage to protect themselves against the medical expense and life expense associated with an accident. The Law Offices of John T. Grove handles motorcycle accident cases on a regular basis.