Central Florida Personal Injury Lawyer - All Topics

Motorcyclist Raymond Leo Horn Dies in Collision with Auto Driver

K.C. Bouchillon — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:27:16 GMT

Raymond Leo Horn III, riding his motorcycle, died when Jaimee Lynn Piechota pulled in front of Horn Saturday night.

The collision occurred on U.S. 98 North at about 9 p.m. He was wearing his helmet.

Our condolences go to Mr. Horn's family. He was just 21 years old.

All too often, it is easy to blame a motorcycle driver for being involved in a motor vehicle accident, but the fact is, Mr. Horn was doing everything right. He had the right of way, he was wearing his helmet, and there is no indication that he was speeding. So what's the difference between an automobile and a motorcycle at night? One headlight.

There's simply no excuse for not seeing a motorcycle -- by day or night -- and at Lilly, O'Toole & Brown, we don't accept excuses or stereotypes. If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorcycle collision, give me a call.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by K.C. Bouchillon

Alcohol a Major Factor in Florida Traffic Fatalities

K.C. Bouchillon — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:53:00 GMT

Almost 40% of all traffic fatalities in Florida in 2008 were alcohol-related, according to the Florida Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2008.

This statistic is even more sobering when one considers that only about 9% of all traffic crashes were alcohol-related. In other words, when alcohol is involved, a traffic crash is significantly more likely to result in a fatality.

Pedestrian fatalities are also significantly increased when alcohol is involved. Only 10% of pedestrians involved in traffic accidents had been drinking. However, drunk pedestrians accounted for more than 36% of pedestrian fatalities.

At Lilly, O'Toole & Brown, we sue drunk drivers. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed by a drunk driver, give me a call at 863.533.5525, or email me at kc@loblawyers.com

To see the full report: www.flhsmv.gov/hsmvdocs/CS2008.pdf

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by K.C. Bouchillon

Stork Craft Drop-side Crib Recall Highlights Flaw in Preventing Defective Products

K.C. Bouchillon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:35:52 GMT

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has finally recalled more than 2 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs that have caused numerous injuries and deaths to babies for more than a decade.

The head of the CPSC admitted that the government watchdog for product safety failed to move quickly enough to recall the deadly cribs, which have been on the market since 1993.

Unfortunately, too many consumers assume that just because a product has not been the subject of a recall, it is not defective. That is far from the truth. As the crib recall demonstrates, it sometimes takes hundreds of incidents and years of attention before the government finally acts.

The lesson: be your own watchdog, particularly when it comes to your loved ones. Manufacturers often cut corners to increase profits, which puts you at risk. Inspect products with a critical eye. See if the parts function properly with heavy use. Look for cheap materials used in construction of the product. Do online research to see if there have been reported incidents with the product, or lawsuits pointing out defects in the product.

The crib recall is a classic example: by using cheap plastic parts that easily break and deform, dozens of infants have been injured, and many killed, after getting trapped and suffocating in these cribs, which were also sold under the Fisher-Price logo. Despite scores of reported incidents, the manufacturer did nothing, except continue to rake in profits while more children were injured and killed.

Don't assume that a product manufacturer is looking out for your best interest. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed as a result of a defective product, give me a call.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by K.C. Bouchillon

Texting Drivers Create Significant Risk of Crashing

K.C. Bouchillon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:16:00 GMT

A driver who is texting is 23 times more likely to crash, according to a recent report.

And while texting while driving has certainly gotten a lot of media attention, it is certainly not the only distraction causing serious auto accidents. The State of Florida recently released the Distracted Driver Research report, which contains sobering information about the dangers of distracted drivers:

A vehicle travels the length of a football field in just 5 seconds at highway speeds, which is less time than it takes to complete a text message
One in seven drivers admit to texting while driving
46% of drivers aged 16-17 text while driving
48% of drivers aged 18-24 text while driving
The impact of using a hands-free phone setup does NOT differ from the impact of using a hand-held cell phone
83% of drivers rate distracted drivers or drivers using cell phones as serious or extremely serious problems, which was higher than any category except drunk drivers

You can view the full Distracted Driver Research Report at www.flhsmv.gov/html/distracteddriver/2008DDR.pdf

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by K.C. Bouchillon

Bad Faith Claims Tell the True Story About Insurers

K.C. Bouchillon — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:27:27 GMT

Ever wonder if your insurance company is really as good as they claim? Are you really in good hands? Is your insurance company really like a good neighbor?

There's a way you can find out. Click on the link below:

apps.fldfs.com/civilremedy/SearchFiling.aspx

Then go down to the "Violations" subheading and find your insurance company on the dropdown menu for "Authorized Insurer." Hit search and you will see every bad faith claim filed with the State of Florida against your insurer.

Check out other insurers while you're at it. Some are actually pretty good. Others are horrendous. Get past the slick advertising and find out from the insurance company's own clients how they were treated when it really counted.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by K.C. Bouchillon

Hurricane Ida - does central Florida need to worry?

Bob Grode — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:52:10 GMT

Is it still hurricane season? We have been blessed with a very mild hurricane season but Ida is making her way across the Gulf of Mexico headed towards the panhandle. What does this mean for central Florida? Mostly it means taking stock of your insurance policies and making sure you have the right coverages. Nothing can be done about those policies when the storm is bearing down, but we in central Florida appear to be looking at maybe some rain and a little wind. So take the time to review your insurance policies and speak to your agent to make sure all is in order. After the storm takes your roof off is not the time to realize your policy is not providing the coverage you need.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bob Grode

Halloween Safety at the Forefront After Clermont Child Struck by SUV

Angela Pulido — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:13:07 GMT

Halloween ended tragically for a Central Florida family when their eight year old son was struck by an SUV and killed while crossing Highway 50 to attend a Halloween party. This is a stark reminder of the need for drivers and pedestrians to be extra careful on Halloween.

According to WESH:

Officials said Mitchell Trompeter was crossing the street with his father's girlfriend to attend First United Methodist Church's annual Halloween event, called Trunk-or-Treat, when they were struck by a white Ford Explorer.

The woman suffered minor injuries.

"He was struck along with another family member," said John Johnson, of the Clermont Police Department. "He was pronounced dead at the scene and the other family member is being treated at Southlake emergency room."

Children are more than twice as likely to be killed by a car while walking on Halloween than any other night of the year, according to Safe Kids USA. More than 540 kids under age 14 are killed in pedestrian accidents each year. In an analysis of deaths from 2002 to 2006, the group found an average of 2.2 children are killed in pedestrian accidents from 4 to 10 p.m. on Halloween, compared with one child every other evening at the same time.

According to SafeKids, Halloween is consistently the most dangerous day of the year for kids to walk. Kids are at greater risk on Halloween simply because they're more likely to be walking after dark, sometimes without their parents around. Additionally, Masks can make it hard for youngsters to see around corners, and dark costumes can make it hard for drivers to spot them.

Drivers should be more cautious on Halloween. They need to slow down, turn lights on and be prepared that there will be more kids out. Most importantly, they need to understand that children are generally unpredictable. Unlike adults, children are more likely to dart out between cars, especially when excited. That makes it more important than ever for drivers to avoid distractions, such as cellphones and texting, and of course, driving under the influence.

In Florida, drivers have a duty to keep a proper lookout for children around streets and highways. In fact, there is a specific standard jury instruction on the subject which states:

Duty of Motorist Toward Children

A motorist must exercise reasonable care to guard against the unpredictable and erratic behavior of children on or near the street or highway if he knows or should know of their presence.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Angela Pulido

Central Florida Teen Injured In Freak Accident

Chrissie Cole — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:07:00 GMT

A Central Florida teen has been in a drug induced coma for several days following a freak accident over the weekend.

Bree McMahon, 17, a senior at Freedom High School, was at a car wash fundraiser for her club soccer team, when she got pinned between a car and the wall.

A young lady was driving the vehicle and by accident pinned Brea against the wall. “She had crushed injuries to both her lower extremities of her legs; unfortunately there was a great effort to save the leg. Her left leg had to be amputated. Her right leg is compromised at this time,” said Newman.

“Bree is making major progress,” says Brenda Newman, a friend of the family. “She is off the respirator and I am happy to say she is doing well breathing on her own and she looks wonderful.”

She is recovering at Orlando Regional Medical Center from severe injuries she sustained in the accident.

The McMahon family is trying to stay strong. They are taking it day by day and doing everything they can for her, said Newman.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Car Crash into Orange County Convenience Store Caused by Brake Failure

Margaret Embry — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:37:51 GMT

On April 29, 2009, Diane Marie Hunter, 44, of Orlando, crashed her vehicle into a convenience store on Powers Drive after her brakes failed when she attempted to stop at a traffic light, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Luckily no one was injured, but Ms. Hunter has been charged with failure to maintain the brakes on her vehicle by the Florida Highway Patrol. The front of the convenience store was destroyed.

For anyone who has experienced brake failure in their vehicle, they know what a terrifying experience it can be. It is important to be aware of what to do in case brake failure occurs. According to the National Safety Council, the first thing to do if brake failure is suspected is to stay calm. Turn your directional signal on and move to the shoulder of the road.

Let the car gradually slow down by taking your foot off the gas pedal. Shift the car into a lower gear so the engine can help slow the car. Simply steer as your vehicle slows.

Once off of the road, shift into neutral and gradually apply the hand brake until the vehicle stops. If the hand brake has also failed, direct the car onto a soft shoulder or rub the wheel against a curb which will help the car to slow down. It is important to get the car to a safe place to avoid stopping traffic or being involved in a rear-end collision. Turn on your emergency flashers once the car has come to a complete stop.

Call for help and remember to never drive the vehicle, no matter how slowly, without brakes!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Margaret Embry

Two Killed In Orange County Car Accident

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:25:00 GMT

Some of the people involved in an early morning car crash that killed two people in south Orange County have been identified by authorities.

Christopher Vega, 25, of Orlando, was one of the people killed in the accident, which occurred on Orange Blossom Trail, near Pepper Mil Blvd., according to an FHP report.

An unidentified male, 26, in the car with Vega, was also killed.

An FHP report said Vega and the other man were riding in a 2006 Toyota driven by Vanessa V. Rodriguez, 21, of Orlando. The Toyota was southbound, in the middle lane, approaching Pepper Mil Boulevard at about 4:35 a.m.

The two vehicles collided and Toyota continued, before coming to rest on its roof inside the northbound outside lane.

The driver suffered minor injuries. And another passenger, 22, of Orlando also suffered serious injuries.

Troopers are investigating the accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole