Tampa St. Petersburg Injury Lawyer Blog

On Friday afternoon, the driver of a pickup truck caused a five-car collision and the death of two people in Hillsborough county. 

At about 3 p.m. on October 21st, the driver of a truck going north on Habana Avenue in Tampa ran a red-light and hit a Dogde minivan that was traveling on Hillsborough Ave.

The driver of the truck, Eric McNeil of Tampa, reportedly lost consciousness while driving, ran a red-light, hit two street signs and crashed into the minivan of Webster and Nancy Farnsworth, of Tampa.  The truck then went airborne, landing on a third vehicle with six passengers inside.  The Farnsworths were both pronounced dead at the scene, while their 3-year-old granddaughter who was in the vehicle was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in critical condition. 

None of six people in the third vehicle suffered life-threatening injuries.  McNeil appeared in good condition according to police but he was taken to the hospital. 

Police are invesitgating what caused McNeil's loss of consciousness.  Witnesses estimated the truck was going about 70 or 80 mph down the Habana Avenue sidewalk and into Hillsborough Ave.

Hillsborough Avenue was shut down for about three hours during rush hour while officers investigated. 

Continue reading "Hillsborough Ave crash kills Tampa couple" »

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" »

On October 30, 2010, Matthew Moye of Riverview was speeding and driving drunk when he hit and killed two pedestrians on Harbor Island Bridge in Tampa.

Prior to the fatal crash, Moye had received numerous citations, obtaining 10 speeding tickets in 12 years. However, many of the previous citations left no points on his Florida driver's license simply because Moye had the option, and agreed, to return to driving school.

It is not uncommon in Florida for drivers to keep their licenses by opting to partake in driver improvement courses approved by the State. Research is now showing that these courses are not proving to be strongly effective in aiding to reduce the amount of crashes in the state.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety demerits the myth that highway safety education is going to solve a lot of problems, explaining that license suspension and revocation were the most effective ways to reduce both crashes and violations, according to a 2004 study.

Considering that to get points on a driving record in Florida, drivers have to admit guilt or be found guilty of a moving violation, some Safety advocates are arguing that the State makes it too easy for those with bad driving records to stay on the road.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were more than 2 million noncriminal moving violations in 2009, but nearly two-thirds of the time, no conviction was made after ticketing. Further, drivers were only found to be guilty in 6 percent of the cases. Thirty percent of the cases involved a defendant admitting guilt by paying civil penalty, and the rest of the cases were dismissed, or had adjudication withheld.

As Deputy Larry McKinnon of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office explains, unless a driver is adjudicated, they will never obtain the status of a habitual offender. Adjudication withheld, he suggests, is a way to escape the point system.

Safety researcher and member of the Automobile Club of Southern California Steven Bloch agrees, suggesting that adjudication withheld is ruining the validity of hazardous drivers' records.

Continue reading "Numerous traffic violation citations ineffective in preventing Florida crashes" »

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 the afternoon of July 19, a Wesley Chapel motorcyclist sustained injuries after being hit by a sedan on Old Pasco Road.

At 3:20pm, William Wolden of Wesley Chapel was traveling northbound on Old Pasco Rd, north of Country Club road, when he slowed to a stop to wait to turn left into a driveway. According to Florida Highway Patrol, it was then that the driver of a Chrysler sedan, Tina Thompson of Dade City, rear-ended Wolden's 2008 Yamaha motorcycle. 

Wolden was immediately airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa for treatment of critical injuries.  Thompson reportedly suffered minor injuries and no charges were announced. 

Continue reading "Critical Injuries a Result of Wesley Chapel Motorcycle-Car Accident" »

On Tuesday morning, construction worker Robert Armstrong, 19, was hit and killed by the driver of a pickup truck on Interstate 75 near State Road 60.

Florida Highway Patrol stated that the 21-year old driver, Logan Feagle, somehow lost control of his vehicle, swerved, and hit and killed Armstrong, who was removing a speed limit sign at the time. All southbound lanes of the highway were closed as investigators came to the scene.

According to Sgt. Gaskins of the FHP, it remains under investigation what caused Feagle to swerve, and if there were any other vehicles involved. It is also not yet known if drugs or alcohol were factors in the accident. Feagle's blood sample was taken but according to investigators, it could be a month or more before the results are known.

A recent graduate of Brandon High School, Armstrong leaves behind his fiance and infant daughter.

Continue reading "Brandon Worker Hit and Killed on I-75" »

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.