North Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Pursuant to Florida Statute sec. 316.0895, the driver of an automobile shall not follow another automobile more closely than is reasonable and prudent. The driver shall taken into consideration the speech of the vehicles, the amount of traffic and condition of the highway. Those persons driving trucks, trucks drawing another vehicle, or a vehicle towing another vehicle or trailer shall not follow within 300 feet of the same while traveling upon a roadway outside of a business or residential district. Those vehicles traveling in a caravan or motorcade outside a business or residential district, whether or not towing another vehicle, shall allow sufficient space between such vehicles as to permit any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger (this does not include funeral processions). A violation of this section is considered a noncriminal traffic infraction. To read the actual language of the Florida statute see Fl. Stat. sec. 316.0895 - Following too closely.

A person driving an automobile within the State of Florida must bring the vehicle to a complete stop when approaching a school bus that is also stopped and is displaying its stop signal. Drivers are also prohibited from passing the bus until the stop signal has been withdrawn. Drivers are not required to stop when traveling in the opposite direction of a stopped school bus so long as automobile and bus are separated with an unpaved space of at least 5 feet, a raised median or a physical barrier. To read the Florida Statute requiring drivers to stop upon approaching a school bus see Fl. Stat. 316.172 - Traffic to stop for school bus.

Drivers should stop for school buses not only because it is required by law but also because yielding to buses provides more safety to the child passengers.

A recent 3-car wreck on West Beaver Street in Jacksonville, Florida, caused personal injuries to multiple victims. The worst of the nine victims was Officer Terry A. Thiem, 45, a 6-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Thiem's patrol car collided with two other vehicles while he was responding to a burglary call around 7:15 a.m. Thiem was traveling westbound on Beaver Street when 30-year-old Katrina Bobbitt attempted to turn left onto the road from Line Street. Bobbitt's Pontiac Grand Prix struck the side of Thiem's patrol car. The impact caused the patrol car to spin counterclockwise and into the path of an eastbound Pontiac Vibe with five teenage passengers and a 34-year-old driver inside. The trunk and hood of the patrol car were torn open and the rear bumper was practically peeled off. The Vibe sustained damage to the driver's front corner and the front of the Grand Prix was heavily damaged. The roof of the Vibe had to be removed in order for paramedics to reach the passengers. Thiem was ejected from his patrol car and into the street. He was taken to Shands Jacksonville in critical condition. Bobbitt had her 5-year-old child in the car with her but the two were not hurt, both were reported to have worn seat belts. Danny Lashawn Jones, the driver of the Vibe, suffered serious personal injuries. The passengers in the Vibe were Larrance Stanley, 13, and Monisa Wright, Jameisha Moultrie, Garrison Wright and Preston Hordage, all 14. Only Monisa wore her seat belt, but all the Vibe's passengers suffered minor personal injuries. For more read 3-car wreck in Jacksonville, Florida sends JSO Deputy to Shands Jacksonville in critical condition.

Six people were involved in a car accident near Six L's Farm Road near the Lee-Collier County line, 2 were killed and 4 sustained personal injuries. The crash occurred near midnight. 43-year-old Randall Landry was identified as the driver of the pickup. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Landry, a Naples resident, turned right into an unpaved loading dock then steered hard to the left. When Landry attempted to do a donut in the open lot the truck rotated and began to rollover. Landry was ejected and another passenger, identified as Jose Antonia Castillo, was partially ejected. The picked landed on its side, pinning Castillo and Landry, both died at the scene. The other passengers included 26-year-old Savannah Landry and 33-year-old Jessica Guzman, both suffered serious personal injuries. 27-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Castillo and 33-year-old Roberto Guzman both suffered minor personal injuries. According to the accident report, no one was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. For more read 2 killed, 4 personally injured after pickup truck rolled over near Lee-Collier County line.

In Clearwater Beach, Florida, it was reported that a Gainesville Radiologist (George Wladyka) went alone for a swim and was later found unresponsive by another swimmer / beach goer. Dr. Wladyka practiced at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. An autopsy will be performed to determine if the cause of death was drowning related, as the result of a medical condition, and / or a combination of both. It is a sad loss for the family and community. See Gainesville Doctor Dies After Near Drowning Incident at Clearwater Beach, Florida.

It is not clear from the story above whether the swimmer died as a result of a drowning or a medical incident. Nevertheless, stories like these should remind everyone of all ages to swim with a buddy and to take all precautions necessary when at a pool, lake, pond, or ocean. Yes, Florida provides people of all ages great weather and water ways; however, the water ways can present dangers that can cause serious personal injuries and even deaths.

While Easter brings with it Church, Easter Egg Hunts, and Easter Dinner, in 2011, it also brought to Jacksonville, Florida the unfortunately and untimely death of Kenneth Ruiter. it was reported by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office that Mr. Ruiter lost control of the motorcycle and then the front wheel locked up. As a result, Mr. Ruiter was thrown off of the motorcycle. The motorcycle accident took place at Aquatic Drive and Atlantic Boulevard in a shopping center parking lot. Kenneth Ruiter was a well liked man who some described as an amicable big guy. See Easter Morning Motorcycle Crash Kills Atlantic Beach Man.

It is sad that a person so young lost his life while riding a motorcycle. A full investigation will be completed by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and / or the Florida Highway Patrol since the accident involved a death.

Even a simple accident while riding a motorcycle can lead to serious personal injuries and even death. In some cases, a helmet can make a difference as to the severity of injuries. In other accidents, the benefit of a helmet may be limited due to the type of impact and trauma caused by the crash.

A Jacksonville, Florida, bicyclist was recently sent to Shands Jacksonville in stable condition after he was struck by a vehicle on Philips Highway. According to police, the bicyclist appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The bicyclist, a middle-aged man, was struck by a woman driving a Ford Expedition. The man was attempting to cross Philips Highway around 10:30 a.m. when he was struck. He apparently did not look or misjudged the oncoming traffic, stated Detective J.D. Gregory of the traffic homicide division. The SUV sustained damages to its windshield and right-front mirror. Gregory also stated the driver of the SUV appeared to be within the 45 mph speed limited and charges against her are not being considered at this time. For more read Bicyclist suspected of being under the influence gets struck by car in Jacksonville, Florida.

Driving under the influence is not only dangerous for drivers but also for cyclists. Alcohol impairs a person's judgment and reaction time. Drivers of bicycles, motorcycles or scooters also risk sustaining more severe injuries due to the disparity in size and weight of automobiles.

In Jacksonville, Florida, a rear end accident ended the life of Charles Biehler and caused serious personal injuries to Susan Biehler. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a white pick up truck driven by Robert C. Charles rear ended the Honda CRV occupied by the Biehlers. FHP further noted that Mr. Charles was driving erratically at a high rate of speed. The accident took place near Baymeadows Road at approximately 11:00 a.m.
See Update: Troopers Release New Details About Fatal Philips Highway Crash.

Both Phillips Highway and Baymeadows Road are major roadways in Florida. Traffic and back ups are common on these roads. Because of this, drivers should be prepared to stop and slow down on roads / streets like Baymeadows Road and Phillips Highway.

Jacksonville is known as the largest city (land mass) in the United States. Because of this, we have several main roadways and highways in town that attract traffic and delay.

In Jacksonville, Florida, a mother of three and a pre-med student (Yvonne Roberts) died in a motorcycle accident that took place last week. Yvonne was riding the motorcycle on Lem Turner Road in the area near Trout River Boulevard on the Northside of town in Jacksonville, Florida. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, another driver (Latoysha Blankenship) turned her vehicle off Bayview Avenue and caused Yvonne Roberts to crash into the side of the vehicle. Yvonne Roberts suffered serious personal injuries as a result of this automobile / motorcycle accident. In particular, Yvonne Roberts suffered fractures to the pelvis, face, neck, and back. She also suffered a serious brain injury. Subsequent tests revealed that there was no signs of brain activity. The life of this 28 year old woman with such a bright future ended as a result of these injuries. The death of Yvonne Roberts is a loss for her family, church, and the community. The driver of the other vehicle unfortunately and in violation of Florida law fled the scene and was later arrested. The other driver will be entitled to representation by a Florida criminal defense attorney or the Public Defender's office.

Motorcycles are common in North Florida and the rest of the State. Drivers should pay close attention and keep in mind the catchphrase "Watch Out for Motorcycles." See
Motorcyclist In Hit-And-Run Crash Dies - 28-Year-Old Mother Of 3 Critically Injured In Crash Last Week.

Jason Kneer, a 28-year-old man from Washington, Pennsylvania, was critically injured after he was struck by a car while crossing Universal Boulevard in Orlando, Florida. Kneer was crossing the street near the intersection of Universal Boulevard and Major Boulevard, located near Universal Studios theme park. He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition. The driver of the automobile, a Chrysler Sedan, was identified as 25-year-old Melinda Gonzales. There is a sidewalk that extends across the thoroughfare to an area of hotels and restaurants. Officials were unable to say where Kneer was headed or whether he was a tourist. According to police spokeswoman Sgt. Barb Jones, no charges have been filed in the crash. For more read Pennsylvania man in critical condition after hit by vehicle while attempting to cross Universal Boulevard in Orlando, Florida.

Universal Boulevard is a main road in Orlando, Florida. Surrounding this major street are many hotels, restaurants and Universal Studios theme park, thus attracting even more drivers. Pedestrians and drivers need to use extreme caution when they find themselves in heavily populated and busy Florida roadways.

In Hastings (St. Johns County) Florida, a tragic accident was reported on the St. Augustine Records website. The accident took place on a Sunday night on County Road 13 near Cow Pen Branch Road. The accident scene was located near Hastings. It was reported that the driver of the vehicle lost control of the 2006 Nissan Altima and hit a tree. The passengers in the vehicle (Sharon Pallet and John Currier) died as a result of the automobile accident. Since there were deaths involved, a full investigation will be completed by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and / or the Florida Highway Patrol. See Two in Fatal Crash in St. Johns County Florida Identified.

Automobile accidents in North Florida and the rest of the State of Florida tragically cause serious personal injuries and the deaths of residents and visitors to the State of Florida. Many such automobile accidents are avoidable if drivers obey the speed limits, follow road signs and traffic signals, yield traffic to the vehicle with the right of way, and properly maintain the vehicle so that all working parts including brakes, steering, and tires are in safe working order.

In Jacksonville, Florida, a tragic automobile accident was reported in the Florida Times Union newspaper. Sadly, Chanel Monique Boone from Fayetteville North Carolina lost her life. Chanel was the passenger in a vehicle (Toyota Scion) driven by Ashley Michelle Ball. The Scion was involved in an automobile accident with a 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser. It was reported that David Brian Hammer, 48, of Orlando was the driver of the FJ Cruiser also suffered injuries in this deadly automobile accident. The accident took place on 9A which is one of the major roadways that runs through Jacksonville, Florida. Automobile accidents are an unfortunate and tragic reality in and around the City of Jacksonville, Florida. Jacksonville is known as the largest land mass city in the United States. Due to the size of the City, drivers / passengers must often times travel a great distance to go from place to place. 9 A Crash Ends Life of North Carolina Woman and Causes Serious Personal Injuries to Others.

Florida has specific laws in place that pertain to automobile accidents, automobile insurance, medical benefits, and death benefits. Often times, people misunderstand the term Florida No Fault Law. Florida does not give immunity to those who are at fault for accidents. The Florida No Fault Law merely directs how insurance benefits are paid out and applied. Furthermore, there is a requirement that an injury victim suffer a permanent type of injury to claim damages for pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. While there are some restrictions with Florida's laws, there is no immunity to a person who drives negligently and causes serious personal injuries and / or death to others.

Clay Today staff

JACKSONVILLE -- An Orange Park woman was seriously injured and her passenger was killed early Tuesday, April 19, when their vehicle was involved in a crash on State Road 9A.

Ashley Michelle Ball, 23, was driving a Toyota Scion that was struck head on by another vehicle going northbound in the southbound lanes of 9A. Ball suffered serious injuries in the accident that happened shortly before 1:340 a.m. a quarter-mile south of Baymeadows Road, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Chanel Monique Boone, 20, of Fayetteville, N.C., was killed. Both were wearing seatbelts, the Highway Patrol said.

The driver of the other vehicle, David Brian Hammer, 48, of Orlando also suffered critical burn injuries when his 2011 FJ Cruiser caught fire after the crash, which involved a third vehicle that was struck as Hammer’s car spun out of control and overturned.

The third vehicle was driven by Darlene Cranfill Allen, 57, of Orange Park. She sustained minor injured, the Highway Patrol said.

Bryan Wrigley was an avid cyclist who loved riding in and around St. Johns County / St. Augustine Florida on his bicycle. Tragically, Bryan Wrigley was a victim of a hit and run type of accident on County Road 214. He was hit by a car or a truck and then left alone to die on the side of the road. St. Johns County investigators believe that Bryan was biking West on County Road 214. The vehicle at issue may also have been travelling in the Westbound direction as well. Deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office have reported that the vehicle in question may have been a dark blue - older model - Ford Ranger pick up truck. Bryan Wrigley had plans on attending physical therapy school. It is a great loss for his family, friends, and the community. A person, with so much to give and such a great future, really deserved more respect and courtesy than to be hit and left for dead on the side of the road. See Cyclist Killed on St. Johns Road Loved to Ride.

Bicycle riders are at risk for serious personal injuries when hit by a vehicle. Because of this, drivers, at all times possible, should yield to bicycle riders and slow down when driving near bicycle riders. Under Florida liability and Florida insurance laws, a bicycle rider (or the family of a deceased bicycle rider) can seek damages against the at fault driver and owner of the at fault vehicle. In addition, a bicycle rider (or the family of the a deceased bicycle rider) can seek damages against an Uninsured Motorist automobile insurance policy if the bicycle rider was a covered insured under the policy. For example, let's assume that the injured bicycle rider owned a car and had an automobile insurance policy with UM (Uninsured Motorist) insurance on the policy. Then, a claim can be pursued for the UM benefits even though the bicycle rider was not occupying or using the covered vehicle at the time of the accident. Florida insurance laws and policies focus on the status of the insured as part of a the Class of covered people under the policy rather than the covered vehicle. Understanding the terms and coverages of an automobile insurance policy can be quite helpful when pursuing the claims of an injured bicycle rider and / or the family of the injured bicycle rider.

A bike rider from New Jersey sustained critical personal injuries after she went through the windshield of a Honda Civic on U.S. 411 near Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. The cyclist was identified as 54-year-old Jayne Henry. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Henry was on her way back to Paynes Prairie when she pulled in front of the Honda, she was traveling south in the bike lane alongside 441. As Henry approached the park entrance, located in the left turn lane, she traveled across both southbound lanes. The left side of her bicycle collided with the right front of the Honda, according to the accident report. The impact sent Henry airborne and through the windshield of the automobile. She was airlifted to Shands at the University of Florida in extremely critical condition with life-threatening personal injuries. The driver of the Honda, 19-year-old April Ford of Summerfield, and her passenger 18-year-old Shaquita James were not physically injured. For more read New Jersey bike rider sustains life-threatening personal injuries after colliding with automobile at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park on U.S. 411.

Accidents are investigated by the local Florida law enforcement and / or the Florida Highway Patrol. In addition to the "official" investigation, a private investigator and / or law firm can be retained to assist a driver, passenger, bicyclist, and / or other person affected by the accident. Accident Reconstruction Engineers are often utilized by personal injury attorneys to help investigate and study an accident to determine the speed of the vehicles, location of impact, cause of the accident, and preventability of the accident.

In St. Johns (Julington Creek Plantation) Florida, a tragic accident ended the life of a St. Johns County woman (Lina Mourad). It was reported by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office that Lina Mourad was struck by a trailer that became unhitched from a truck that was driven by Austin Baker. Julington Creek Plantation is a mostly residential area of Northwest St. Johns County. The main roadways in the area include Racetrack Road, State Road 13, Robert Road, and County Road 210. Lina Mourad was walking on a sidewalk in the area near the entrance to Julington Creek Plantation. It was reported that the truck was hauling a trailer with sod on it. See Update: Victim Id'd In Fatal Accident On SR 13 See also Woman Killed by Runaway Trailer in Julington Creek - St. Johns County Florida.

As a resident of Julington Creek, it is sad to see that an accident of this nature took place. Julington Creek should be a safe haven of sorts for the residents and visitors.
In residential areas like Julington Creek, it is vital that all trailers hauling plants, sods, and / or lawn equipment are properly secured to the truck. This includes safety chains and other safety measures to insure that trailers do not become unhitched completely and cause accidents of this nature. Since a death resulted from the accident, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, Florida Highway Patrol, and / or other agencies will complete a thorough investigation of the cause and preventability of this accident. Unfortunate, a seemingly safe area like Julington Creek can quickly turn into a danger zone for innocent pedestrians and bicyclists.

Trailer safety should start with an inspection of the trailer and trailer hitch prior to any trip with the trailer. Safety inspections and measures include but are not limited to the following:

Inspect the pin securing the ball mount to the hitch. Make sure that the pin in intact, properly inserted, and intact.

Inspect the hitch as it is attached to the trailer hitch on the vehicle.

Make sure that safety chains are properly attached and appropriate for the trailer, truck, and load being hauled.

Make sure that the amount of weight being towed is within compliance with manufacturer recommendations for the vehicle, trailer hitch, and trailer.

Check to make sure that the electrical lines are properly attached and that the turn signals and brake lights are functioning prior to departure.

It is important that a person hauling a trailer have proper education and training to hook up the trailer and then to inspect the trailer prior to departure. It would be the responsibility of the business owner to train its employees as to the proper attachment and inspection of trailers. It is also vital that the right equipment is being used for the vehicle and the trailer. By investing time and a minimal amount of money, a business and /or trailer owner can help improve the safety of trailers. This, in turn, will prevent most trailer related accidents from taking place.

As part of a plan to raise awareness to high school students about the dangers of drunk driving, especially during Prom, New Smyrna Beach High School has a biannual mock drunk driving class, performed in front of the study body by their peers. Recently, New Smyrna Beach High School students performed a scenario on 10th Street that involved two couples driving to prom. One of the males had been drinking and crashed his car head-on into the other couple's car. Although the drunk driver suffered only minor personal injuries his girlfriend died at the scene. One of the passengers in the second automobile was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition; the second by ambulance. The mock crash began in 1998 at Deltona High School with the hopes that at least one student viewing the simulation would decide to refrain from drunk driving. In addition to the mock crash, random students were given red and black ribbons, representing those who could die or suffer personal injuries. For more read New Smyrna Beach High School puts on mock drunk driving crash to spread awareness to students before prom. According to Patty Tufano, a Bert Fish Medical Center nurse and founder of the Volusia County, Florida, mock crash program, figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that drinking and driving accounts for 30 fatalities daily across the county. In 2009, thos figures translated to almost 11,000 deaths and more than 74,000 experiences of sustaining serious personal injuries.

A Jacksonville, Florida, woman was reported in life-threatening condition after she was struck by an automobile while crossing the street at the intersection of 103rd Street and Blanding Boulevard. According to Detective Darrell Edmonds, the driver of a Ford Expedition was turning left of a Krystal fast-food restaurant around 2 p.m. The driver hit the victim at a low-rate of speed while the victim was crossing the street. The female pedestrian was taken to Shands Jacksonville. No criminal charges have been filed thus far and no names have been released. For more details read Woman in life-threatening condition after being struck by car while crossing street in Jacksonville, Florida.

Many automobile-pedestrian accidents occur every year in every community. Typically, the pedestrian is walking along a sidewalk, crosswalk or standing at a bus stop when he or she is hit by the automobile. Although pedestrians are given the right-of-way under many Florida laws and scenarios, pedestrians should still be aware of their surroundings while near or around automobiles. If you would like to read a summary of the Florida Statute establishing a duty on Florida drivers to exercise due caution regarding pedestrians please read Florida Laws Regarding Pedestrians and Traffic Regulations - Importance of Exercising Due Caution When Pedestrians Are Present.

A 21-year-old man of St. Augustine, Florida, tragically died after his involvement in a single-vehicle crash in Columbia County. The 21-year-old was identified as Tucker McCarty. He was the driver of the Ford pickup truck involved in the crash. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the truck ran off the road for unknown reasons, hit a mailbox and McCarty over corrected to the left, which caused the truck to rotate clockwise and flip onto its right side. McCarty was not wearing a seat belt. He was partially ejected from the truck, emergency workers pronounced him dead. The other passengers were also traveling inside the pickup. All three passengers, who were wearing seat belts, sustained minor personal injuries. For more read 21-year-old St. Augustine man dies in single-vehicle collision, not wearing seat belt.

Drivers are required to wear seat belts in the state of Florida. Seat belts reduce the severity of personal injuries as well as the chance of death.

One person was killed and three others suffered serious personal injuries after a high-speed crash in Palm Bay, Florida. Palm Bay police officers and fire-rescue responded to the scene of the accident around 2:30 a.m. Upon their arrival, officials spotted the two vehicles involved in the crash, a Chevrolet Impala and a Chevrolet Silverado. Investigators concluded that the Impala was traveling at a high right of speed when it crashed into the Silverado while the Silverado was backing into a driveway. The driver of the Impala was identified as 22-year-old Scott Williams. Williams' passengers, 23-year-old Robert Williams (the two are not related), was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Silverado, Adam Silver, 19, and his passenger, Katlynn Stone, 19, were both transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital. The three victims that survived the crash were reported to be in serious condition, although their injuries were considered non-life-threatening. The crash is still under investigation. For more read 1 killed, 3 personally injured in high-speed crash in Palm Bay, Florida.

Speeding decreases a driver's reaction time and ability to stop, thus increasing the likelihood a driver will be involved in a car crash. Florida drivers need to obey speed limits, making Florida roadways a safer place for all.

A 60-year-old man of Altamonte Springs, Florida, suffered a harmful attack and was simultaneously robbed after meeting a woman whom he met on Craigslist.com. Orlando police stated the man met the woman, whom he believed was 28-years-old at Sylvester Hankins Park around 11 p.m. The man and woman were eating when two men approached them, grabbed the man by his neck, threw him to the ground, and stole his wallet and phone. Afterwards, the two attackers and the woman ran off. Police suspect the woman knew the two attackers. The victim did not sustain any serious personal injuries and refused medical treatment. For more read 60-year-old man of Altamonte Springs attacked while meeting a woman he met on Craigslist.

With the plethora of social networking, dating and other Internet websites it is easier for people to meet and come in to contact with one another than before. However, people need to ensure their own safety before meeting someone with whom they met over the Internet. Try and use secured websites, run background checks and meet during the daytime and in public places.

A crash on Interstate 95 occurring between Northwest 79th and 119th Streets in Northwest Miami-Dade, Florida, caused multiple collisions on the highway. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a box truck overturned and drivers attempting to avoid the flying the debris from the truck were involved in multiple collisions. Although a few people suffered some personal injuries none were serious. For more read Flying debris from overturned truck causes multiple car crashes on I-95.

No matter how safe you may drive some automobile accidents are unforeseeable and highly unpreventable. Crashes involving commercials trucks can be much more severe in nature due to the increased size and weight of the trucks. This size and weight disparity are likely to be a contributing cause to the severity of the injuries or the death of drivers / passengers involved in a crash with a commercial truck. Also, commercial trucks typically transports items from one destination to another. These items add to the weight of the truck as well as add another risk-factor to being involved in a crash with these types of trucks.

A 6-year-old boy from New York was reported in serious but stable condition at Halifax Health Medical Center. Calvin Morse was found at the bottom of a hot tub at a Hilton Hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida. A woman was walking with her family in the pool area of the hotel when her son discovered Calvin at the bottom of the hot tub. The mother quickly jumped into the hot tub, retrieved Calvin, and immediately began performing CPR on the child. Calvin was vacationing with his mother and sister, the family was visiting from Staten Island, New York. Andrea Morse, Calvin's mother, said that both her child have had two years of swim lessons. For more read 6-year-old boy rescued from Hilton Hotel hot tub in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Constant and direct supervision is a key factor in preventing children from drowning or suffering other water-related personal injuries. Most hotels do not employ lifeguards. Therefore, parents need to ensure their child's safety while he or she is playing in the water. While swimming pool and hot tubs can be a lot of fun, they also pose a serious threat to the health, safety, and welfare of children.

A couple from Cocoa, Florida, was tragically killed after their motorcycle collided with a pickup truck in Osceola County. The crash occurred just before 5 p.m. on U.S. Highway 192 and Nova Avenue. The accident victims were identified as 55-year-old James Hudson and his wife Mary Hudson, 56. The driver of the pickup truck was identified as 22-year-old Ashley Williams of Pahokee. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the truck was traveling northbound on Nova Avenue and stopped at a stop sign on U.S. 192, the motorcycle was eastbound on U.S. 192 when the collision occurred. For more read Cocoa, Florida, couple tragically killed after motorcycle collides with pickup truck.

It was reported by the Florida Highway Patrol that the truck driver attempted a left hand turn onto U.S. 192 and drove into the path of the motorcycle.

The death of this couple is a tragedy for their family and community. Motorcyclists like the Hudsons are unfortunate victims of automobile / motorcycle accidents in Florida. It is important that drivers obey road signs, speed limits, and, yes, the right of way of vehicles (including motorcycles) on the roadway. There are bumper stickers in Florida that state, "Watch Out for Motorcycles". This is a simple yet very important messages. When drivers violate of the right of way of a motorcycle rider or otherwise drive in a negligent manner, the motorcycle rider and passenger are at risk for severe personal injuries and death. Safe, attentive driving can avoid or prevent many accidents that take place that cause serious personal injuries to motorcycle riders and passengers.

In Florida and other States, there are unfortunately many news reports of pedestrian and bicyclists injuries. Some accidents are avoidable if better attention is dedicated by the driver and / or the pedestrian and bicycle rider. Other accidents are just unfortunate tragedies that nobody could have expected. In Orange Park (Clay County) Florida, a 40 year old woman (Tonya Benefield) was hit by a vehicle on Blanding Boulevard. As a result of this vehicle - pedestrian incident, Ms. Benefield suffered critical personal injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol will conduct a thorough investigation of the incident to determine the cause and preventability of the incident. See Car Hits Female Pedestrian Crossing Blanding Boulevard.

In Arizona, Floria and other States, children enjoy playing in bounce houses and jumping castles. Unfortunately, on some occasions, children suffer serious personal injuries while jumping in or just occupying a bounce house. Recently, in Arizona, two children were personally injured while playing in a jump house. Apparently, a dust devil lifted the jump house about 15 feet in the air, blowing it across three lanes of traffic and slamming it back onto the ground. Two children, a boy and a girl, were jumping in the play house when the incident occurred. Both were transported to a local area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening personal injuries. For more read Two children sustain serious personal injuries while playing in a jump house.

Children have legal rights, however parents or legal guardians need to bring the causes of actions on behalf of their children. Depending on the circumstances the owner/operated of the bounce house may be liable to the injured children for the injuries each sustained. It may depend on whether a waiver was signed or, if the bounce house was rented, the terms and conditions of the rental agreement. Regardless, these attractions can be dangerous. If your child has been injured while playing in a popular bounce house you should contact a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer to see what your child may be entitled to.

The popular comic strip Zits has partnered up with AAA and plans to produce a strip that addresses the dangers of texting while driving. The strip will appear in more than 1,600 newspapers. Personal experience and distracted drivers inspired the comic's creators, Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman. Scott said that the children of today have a Pavlovian-response to the bells, alerts, and alarms set off by cell phones. The character Jeremy will be used in this strip's theme, AAA has used the character before in previous materials to address other issues regarding teen driving. According to research conducted by the AAA foundation, 9 out of 10 drivers consider driving while texting "a very serious threat to their safety." In some cases, drivers found texting while driving more dangerous than drinking and driving. A survey dont by the Department of Transportation/Consumer Reports revealed that out of the 1,026 people surveyed, 63% of respondents under 30 admitted to using handheld phones while driving; 30% admitted they texted while driving within the past month. However, 78% of the overall respondents said they reduced or completely stopped behaviors related to distracted driving. Teen drivers fail to realize the dangers of texting while driving and under appreciate the value of their own lives. It has been recommended that parents draft and have their children sign driving contracts, a copy of which can be found on AAA's website. For more read Popular comic strip Zits to produce issue about dangers of texting while driving.

Police at the University of Central Florida are investigating allegations that members of a fraternity spike the drinks of unsuspecting women with roofies. UCF's Office of Student Conduct and the UCF Police Department will conduct reviews of the incident. The reviews or investigations by local law enforcement and the University are welcomed by the suspected fraternity, which denied the allegations. The controversy stems from an event that occurred on February 10, when the Delta Upsilon fraternity and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority took a bus to a downtown Orlando nightclub. Three unnamed sorority members gave written statements that alleged members of the fraternity were bragging about putting roofies in random drinks and passing them out to random women. The unnamed women also said that members of the fraternity were drinking from a spiked two-liter bottle of soda although there no alcohol should have been transported or consumed on the trip. One sorority member claims she saw a fraternity member "open a two liter of soda, reach into his pocket, put his hand over the container, close the two liter, and shake it up." Despite the allegations none of the sorority members that came forward claimed to have seen the drugs. For more read UCF fraternity questioned about spiking drinks of unsuspecting women with roofies.

In Miami and other Florida cities, it can be quite dangerous for pedestrians, bicyclists, and, yes, those in wheelchairs when travelling in or near Florida roads. The danger also applies when attempting to cross a road. To the extent possible, drivers should slow down when driving near pedestrians including those in wheelchairs. A vehicle especially a commercial truck or an 18 wheel truck can easily overpower and crush pedestrians, bicyclists, and people in wheelchairs. A tragic accident was reported in Miami-Dade County, Florida. NBC Miami covered a story in which a man in a wheelchair was hit and killed by an 18 wheeler while the man in the wheelchair was attempting to cross the intersection of 27th Avenue and Northwest 41st Street. As of the time of the initial reporting of the story, authorities had not determined fault for the accident. Since a death resulted from this incident, there will be an autopsy completed and a full report completed by Miami-Dade County authorities and/or the Florida Highway Patrol. See Man in Wheelchair Killed After Truck Hits Him.

Salvatore Joseph Cruz, 21, of Mims, Florida, died after he crashed his motorcycle into a concrete wall around 2 a.m. Titusville police said Cruz was driving his 1998 Honda motorcycle on Harrison Street when the crash occurred. Cruz was transported to Parrish Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Witnesses told traffic homicide investigators that Cruz may have been speeding moments before the crash. For more read 21-year-old motorcyclist dies after bike crashes into concrete wall in Titusville, Florida. Speeding and driver distraction are major problems on Florida roadways. Although it is impossible to avoid all accidents, many Florida motorcycle accidents would be avoided with increased driver attentiveness, less speeding, and all around safer driving. Also, motorcycle drivers are at a higher risk of sustaining serious personal injuries or death due to the major difference in size, weight, and height from other vehicles on the road.