April 2013

Amanda Chakos was seriously injured when she was struck by an SUV driven by Equbal Kalani on Alt 19 north of Alderman Rd.  Chakos was knocked into another pedestrian, Lori Baker, who was also injured.  Chakos was reportedly not in a cross-walk, however, use of a cross-walk is not required by law if no cross-walk exists. Florida Statute 316.130, titled “Pedestrians; traffic regulations,” requires pedestrians crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk to yield the right of way to vehicles on the roadway.  Pedestrians are also required to cross a roadway at right angles to the…

Dany Ramos was killed when he was struck by a car driven by Shelly King on U.S. 19 north of Alderman Rd.  Florida Statute 316.130 provides that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or any person propelling a human-powered vehicle and give warning when necessary and exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated person.”  This statute entitles an injured pedestrian or bicyclist to a jury instruction at trial regarding a motorist’s responsibility to take evasive action.  See Beeman v. Cosmides, 825 So. 2d 511 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002).

Alexia Douglas was killed in a single vehicle accident when the SUV she was riding in, being driven by Christina Shiver, struck a guardrail on 40th Ave NE.  The SUV swerved to the right and crashed into a guardrail that went through the windshield on the passenger side.  Florida Statute 316.1925, titled “Careless driving,” provides that “Any person operating a vehicle upon the streets or highways within the state shall drive the same in a careful and prudent manner, having regard for the width, grade, curves, corners, traffic, and all other attendant circumstances, so as not to endanger the life, limb,…

Leo Carey, Jr. was killed when he was struck by a truck driven by Joshua Baron near the intersection of Park St and 54th Ave N.  Carey was not in a crosswalk.

Ashley Thompson, Steven Cuervo, and Tonya Faris were killed in a single vehicle accident on Columbus Ave when the SUV they were riding in struck a wall and flipped.  Kenneth Crouse was also injured in the crash.  None of the occupants was wearing a seatbelt.  Ejection – or worse, partial ejection – is the most common cause of death in a rollover accident.

Eric Becker was seriously injured when he was struck by a car driven by Nicole Capps at the intersection of Keene Rd and Nursery Rd.  Becker reportedly entered the cross walk on a red light before being struck.  Becker was crossing from west to east and Capps was driving northbound on Keene Rd, which means that Becker had crossed at least three lanes of traffic before he was struck.  Florida Statute 316.130 provides that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or any person propelling a human-powered vehicle and give warning when necessary and…

Marcella Moore was killed when she was struck by a car at the intersection of Ulmerton Rd and 49th St.

Olga Valentin was killed in a single vehicle accident on S.R. 60 near U.S. 301.  Valentin was ejected from the vehicle when it flipped.  The vehicle landed on her.  A baby who was properly restrained in a car seat was only slightly injured.  Valentin was not wearing her seatbelt or her seatbelt failed.  Ejection – or worse, partial ejection – is the most common cause of death in a rollover accident.