Flitman allegedly made an improper lane change and struck the car next to her. The Herald reported that other motorist involved in the crash said Flitman stopped, got out of her car and cursed at him, then drove away. Flitman works as an assistant Miami-Dade County state attorney.

Thankfully, nobody was injured in this crash. There is never an excuse for leaving the scene of a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Florida has nearly 3,300 hit-and-run accidents annually. Some of the most common reasons drivers flee the scene of accidents include intoxication, not having a license or having outstanding warrants for their arrest relating to other crimes.

If you have been injured or have had a family member killed by someone else’s negligent actions, attorney Maria Gerber is here to assist you with compassionate counsel. Visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 233-4529.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury attorney

The ATV landed upside down in a ditch and the bicycle was found mangled nearby, according to WWSB. 18-year-old Israel Bible Jr. was killed in the crash, while 19-year-old Danny Bermea Jr., 21-year-old Ginno Cano and 21-year-old Jose Luis Cano-Mendez were injured.

WWSB reported that none of the victims appeared to be wearing helmets.

Use Caution While Operating An ATV

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ATV operators should take the following safety precautions:

• Children and young people under the age of 16 should not ride adult ATVs.
• All ATV users should take a hands-on safety-training course.
• Always wear a helmet and safety gear such as boots and gloves while on an ATV.
• Never drive an ATV on paved roads.
• Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The CPSC reported that in 2006, an estimated 903 people died nationally because of ATV accidents.

If you have sustained an injury or lost a loved one because of negligence, please contact our office for a free consultation. To speak to an attorney, visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 233-4529.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury attorney

Gerber’s Guidance: According to the CPSC, 131,900 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms because of injuries sustained during ATV crashes in 2009.

The Sarasota Police Department said the “accident appeared to have been caused when a driver ran a red light.” The accident remains under investigation. Police said that emergency medical professionals “cut the driver out of a white sedan, removing the top and driver’s side doors.” According to the Herald-Tribune, four people were removed from the car. The driver of the blue SUV was also transported to the hospital with injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2008 there were more than 2.3 million reported intersection-related crashes, resulting in more than 7,770 fatalities and approximately 733,000 injury crashes. A majority of these crashes are the result of a driver running a red light.

If your family suffers a tragedy or you have a relative who is severely injured because of a car accident, you could be entitled to damages. Visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 233-4529.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury lawyer

The website reported that Deputy Joseph Dunne was driving west on U.S. 90, just past Sunset Drive about 8:20 p.m. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), due to lighting conditions, Dunne was unable to see Bruce Crutchfield walking within the boundary of the outside lane.

Crutchfield was walking west with his back to approaching traffic and wearing dark clothing. Dunne was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting Crutchfield, according to the FHP.

Crutchfield, 56, who lived in Milton, was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he was pronounced dead. The FHP announced that they are not filing charges in the wreck.

Although a driver may not face criminal charges for his or her role in a fatal car accident, they can still be held liable if their negligence contributed to someone’s death. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in 2010, 7,894 auto accidents injured 7,290 pedestrians and killed 499 pedestrians.

If your family suffers a tragedy because of driver’s negligence, you could be entitled to damages. Visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 233-4529.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury attorney

The driver of the car that hit the bus, 22-year-old middle school teacher Abby Fishburn of Lakeland, was killed. The students were headed back to Charlotte County after attending the Skills-USA Competition in Pensacola. “We were just jumping onto the pavement on the highway. I noticed a lot of smoke, but that wasn’t really my big concern, my big concern was getting out and getting anyone else help,” student Quade Savisky told WWSB.

There were 43 students from various counties on the bus, operated by Dolphin Transportation Company. The company released a statement following the crash:

Dolphin Transportation Company is fully cooperating with the Florida Highway Patrol and other agencies. According to the Florida Highway Patrol the driver of a car was driving in the wrong direction when the vehicle struck the motorcoach. Dolphin Transportation wishes to express its sympathy to the family of the driver who died in the accident.

As many as 50 people were on the motorcoach and 17 people including the driver sustained injuries. The driver is the most seriously hurt and he will require surgery later today to repair a broken foot. The others have been treated and released from Tallahassee area hospitals.

A 2008 study by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration showed that 24,000 people are injured each year in bus accidents. Maria Gerber works directly with bus accident victims. To speak to an attorney, visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 233-4529.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury attorney

Gerber’s Guidance: According to NHTSA, from 2001 to 2010, 1,368 people died in school transportation-related crashes.

The Senate passed an amended version of HB 13 and voted 39-1 to approve the ban. Supporters concede it is not the ideal bill they want but called it a “first step” in a path filled with roadblocks, according to the Herald.

“It sends a clear message that too many people have been killed on the road because of texting and distracted driving,” Karen Morgan, manager of public policy for AAA told the Herald. HB 13 makes texting while driving a secondary violation, meaning a motorist would have to commit another offense, such as careless driving or speeding, in order to be pulled over, according to the Herald. Once stopped, a driver could receive two tickets, one for the first infraction and one for texting.

The penalty would be $30 for a first-time offense. A driver would pay a $60 fine, and be assessed three points if caught texting while driving again within five years, with more points added if the violation is in a school zone or another serious offense, according to the Herald.

We fully support his measure and hope that Scott signs it into law. If Scott signs the bill, it will go into effect October 1. Florida is one of five states without a texting ban, according to the Herald. Thirty-nine states prohibit texting while driving and six have partial bans.

A Tampa Tribune article recently reported that distracted driving contributes to 16 percent of all fatal crashes in the U.S., leading to about 5,000 deaths every year. If you have been injured or had a family member killed by a distracted driver, you are entitled to our help. Visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 233-4529.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury lawyer

According to an FHP report, an Isuzu driven by 45-year-old Robatert Henry of Bradenton failed to slow down for slowing traffic and crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front of him. The crash pushed the vehicle into another vehicle in front of it.

Henry suffered serious injuries and was taken to Blake Medical Center for treatment. The driver of the vehicle Henry hit, 41-year-old Aquilla Walker, of Palmetto, also suffered serious injuries and was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital. A 13-year-old passenger in her car suffered minor injuries.

Henry was ticketed and charged with careless driving. When a negligent driver injures or kills another person, they can be held liable. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 60 percent of drivers consider unsafe driving by others a major personal threat to themselves and their families. In 1997, NHTSA reported that 13,000 people had been injured or killed since 1990 in crashes caused by aggressive or careless driving.

If you have been injured in a vehicle accident, you are entitled to our help. Visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 223-4529.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury attorney

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said that the car’s driver, Dorothy Operhall, of Mulberry, died at the scene of the crash. Her common-law husband, Leonard Simmons, also died at the scene. Melina Helbig, of Rochester, Pennsylvainia, who was also in the car died at the scene of the crash. Helbig’s husband Robert was hospitalized and suffered serious injuries.

The driver of the pickup truck was hospitalized with several broken bones. A representative with the sheriff’s office said the accident remains under investigation and charges are pending.

Accidents at Intersections

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, about 40 percent of the estimated 5,811,000 crashes that occurred in the United States were intersection-related crashes. NHSTA reported that most of these intersection-related crashed were a result of inadequate surveillance or drivers not properly surveying oncoming traffic (44.1 percent), false assumption of another driver’s action (8.4 percent) and obstructed views (7.8 percent).

Maria Gerber knows how car accidents can be emotionally devastating for victims and their family members. If a negligent driver has injured you, we can help. Visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 233-4529.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury attorney

Gerber’s Guidance: According to NHTSA, there was a 5.8 percent reduction in intersection fatalities among drivers between 1998 and 2007.

A representative for the school district said that Cintron was complaining of back pain when a decision was made to send him to a hospital. According to the representative, Cintron passed out while he was on his way to the hospital and could not be revived.

“We express our deepest sympathies to Jeff Cintron’s family, friends and classmates on this loss,” said Disney representative Andrea Finger.

It is unclear how Cintron’s injuries occurred or what caused his death. The Sentinel reports that Osceola Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jan Garavaglia has performed an autopsy and is waiting on test results before determining cause and manner of death.

The death of a child or young adult is emotionally devastating. If an investigation determines that a child died because of negligence or because another party failed to prevent him or her from sustaining injuries, than it can be held liable via a wrongful death lawsuit.

A teen’s sudden death can leave permanent emotional scars. Visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 233-4529. We will fight for you.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury lawyer

Florida is seeking damages for “misconduct that led to this environmental and economic disaster.” Florida attorney general Pam Bondi filed the lawsuit in United States District Court in Panama City. The oil spill killed 11 rig workers in the Gulf of Mexico and fouled 1,100 miles of beaches and marsh along the Gulf coast.

Our Sarasota attorney also represents oil spill victims. A settlement, which has no cap for compensation, has been reached between BP and attorneys representing many of the business and property owners who suffered losses. Many properties in Florida are included in claim zones.

Because BP and Halliburton have aggressive legal representation, if you have a claim, you will need to work with an attorney who will fight for your right to compensation.

If you suffered damages because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, visit our website and fill out a contact request or call our office at (866) 233-4529.

The Gerber Law Group, P.A.– Sarasota injury attorney