West Palm Beach Teen Headed Home After Car Surfing Accident

Posted on June 2, 2012 by admin

We previously posted on 5/2 and 5/8 on the car surfing accident that left 16 year old, Hannah Huntoon in a coma with a Traumatic Brain Injury.

Hannah suffered a serious head injury after falling from a moving vehicle in what has been termed as a “car surfing” accident. She was in a medically induced coma at St. Mary’s Medical Center and hadn’t moved, opened her eyes or spoke a word since the accident.

Doctors reported yesterday that she had made a “miraculous” recovery. She has been in rigorious thereapy andwears a helmet to protect her brain while the swelling decreases.  Doctors say in three months she will have another surgery to replace the sides of her skull that were removed. 

After 36 days in the hospital she is finally returning home. Friday the teen was greeted at her home by several of her Gatorettes teammates and a quarter-mile long welcome mat.  Her family posted “Welcome Home Hannah” signs throughout their neighborhood.

 

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1-95 Accident Caused By Careless Driving

Posted on May 30, 2012 by admin

A car accident this morning on I-95 in Boyton Beach injures two, one a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy, was due to careless driving reported the FHP.

The accident was reported at approximately 7:20 a.m. this morning and blocked the southbound lanes of I-95. It occurred just south of Woolbright Road and involved an overtuned 1988 Ford Ranger truck and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy who was in an unmarked Dodge Charger.

According to FHP reports, the Ranger was on its roof facing southeast in the east emergency median lane with the back of the truck blocking the HOV lane.  The Deputy’s Charger was facing south in the east emergency median lane.

Sheriff’s deputy Michael J. Taylor, 56 of West Palm Beach, was sitting in his vehicle finishing paper work for a traffic stop he had just completed.  An unknown vehicle caused an “abrupt slow down and stop of vehicles” traveling in that lane.  The Ranger’s driver, Garret Taylor, 42 of West Palm Beach, then crossed through the HOV lane into the emergency lane, striking a concrete median barrier at a high rate of speed. The impact with the barrier caused the Ranger to slide sideways and hit the rear of the deputy’s car.

The Deputy, who was wearing his seatbelt, was complaining of lower back pain.  It is still being investigated if the driver of the Ranger was wearing one.  Both drivers were taken to Delray Medical Center with minor injuries.

FHP reports that while the use of drugs or alcohol is not suspected in the accident, Garret Taylor will be charged with carelss driving.

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Pompano Beach Man Charged in Deadly Hit and Run Accident

Posted on May 17, 2012 by admin

The Pompano Beach man involved in a deadly hit and run accident that killed a woman in Oakland Park claims he thought he ran over a dog, according to Broward County Sheriff’s Office arrest report that was released today.

Tyler K. Burdhimo, 18 of Pompano Beach, has been charged with failure to stop at an accident involving a death and driving with a suspended license.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office report, the victim was walking in the 1500 block of Northeast 45th Street when she was struck by a Nissan Altima Tuesday morning. According to a nearby resident, he was sitting on his porch when he heard a loud “thump” and saw a dark colored Nissan drive away.  Deputies found the car’s emblem at the scene.

Later around 2 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office received a tip of an address where the car could be found that was possibly involved in the fatal accident. When Deputies located the vehicle they found a dark gray Nissan Altima, missing the front emblem and with damage to the front end that was consistent with a collision with a pedestrian.

They contacted the owner, who told them he’d borrowed his vehicle to a friend, Burdhimo.  The friend also told the deputy that Burdhimo had hit something.

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office report stated that “based upon the severity of the damage on the vehicle, a person would have know that injury or death could have occurred or should have known based on the nature of the crash”.

Burdhimo appeared in bond court on Wednesday where he was ordered to be held on $17,500 bond. 

 

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West Palm Beach – Car Crashes into Building

Posted on May 17, 2012 by admin

One person was reportedly injured when a single car crashed into a building in West Palm Beach yesterday.

Fire and rescue officials are investigating the circumstances of a West Palm Beach car accident in the 1700 block of North Congress Avenue.  A vehicle struck a building leaving one person injured.  The extent of their injuries are unknown at this time and the accident is under investigation.

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Boca Raton Car Accident – Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by admin

Liability, Damages and Insurance

Simply stated, if the answer to each of the three questions listed below is yes, then the answer to the question “Do I have a case?” is also yes.

  • Is there liability? If the facts show that the defendant acted negligently and that those acts caused or directly contributed to the accident, our attorney can make a strong argument that the defendant should be held legally liable.
  • Are there damages? Even if you were not injured, you will probably still have a claim for property damage and transportation costs.
  • Is there insurance? If the defendant has insurance, the insurer can be included in the suit as a codefendant. If not, or if there is not enough insurance to cover your losses, it may be possible to obtain additional compensation through your own insurance company. There may be alternative sources of compensation as well.

 

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West Palm Beach Woman Dies in Fatal Accident

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin

A West Palm Beach resident died Friday afternoon after a two-vehicle fatal car accident near Acreage.

Lesa Tavarez, 53 years old, from West Palm Beach, died when her 2011 Mini Copper rolled over after crashing into a 2008 Hyundai at approximately 1:15 pm on Friday afternoon.

The driver of the Hyundai, Daemon Drew, age 17 of Orlando, was flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach in critical condition.  Two other passengers of the vehicles, one 20 year old, the other a minor, were also both flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center in critical condition.

The crash closed one southbound and one northbound lane on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road for several hours on Friday. 

Charges are pending, and investigators are looking into the crash and whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.

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Fort Lauderdale – Charges Filed in Fatal Drunk Driving Accident That Killed Pregnant Medford Woman

Posted on May 10, 2012 by admin

Florida police charged a Plantation woman with two counts of DUI Manslaughter and property damage in the death of a pregnant Medford woman killed during a drunk driving accident in mid-March in Fort Lauderdale.

Police arrested Rosa M. Rivera Kim on May 9th after an investigation revealed her alcohol level was .24.  That is three times over the legal limit.

Alanna Demella was on vacation in Fort Lauderdale with her husband at the time of the accident.  A pregnant Demella was sitting at a poolside cabana when Kim lost control of her car, hit a south side curb, ran over the sidewalk and crashed into the cabana.

Michael Demella sustained non life threatening injuries, but both Alanna Demella and her unborn child were killed instantly.  She was 7 months pregnant at the time. 

Police say at the time of the fatal accident Kim was driving in excess of the posted 25 mph speed limit.

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Increase in Motorcycle Accidents in South Florida

Posted on May 9, 2012 by admin

With more and more people utilizing motorcycles as their main mode of transportation, there has been an increase in motorcycle accidents and fatalities in the last couple of weeks throughout south Florida.

“I hear the same stories over and over again”, Jim Gladstone says to WTSP-TV.  Gladstone is the president of West Coast ABATE of Florida, a non-profit organization that promotes motorcycle safety.

His comments were in regards to the fatal motorcycle accident, that claimed the life of a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy on April 27, 2012.  Jason Shoulta was riding his motorcycle when another driver turned left directly into his path. 

Less than a week before, a 28 year old was seriously injured when a car turned into his path in Sarasota.  Also on April 9, 2012 a 26 year old motorcyclist was killed on U.S. Route 41 in Bradenton, when a car turned in front of him.

These senseless accidents should be kept in mind by all motorists in Florida and throughout the nation, as May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.  This annual initiative is supported by the NHTSA and comes at a time when more and more motorcycles are hitting the roads.

Some of the common causes of motorcycle accidents can be avoided. Here are some tips to avoid being in an accident with a motorcycle:

  •  Look twice for motorcycles and bicyclists at intersections. 
  •  Motorcycles can easily be in a driver’s blind spot – check all mirrors before changing lanes or making a left hand turn.
  • Be careful not to misjudge their speed or distances when turning.
  • Don’t follow too close to a motorcycle.  Given them the appropriate room to react should they need to.

Be aware that May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and help keep motorcyclists safe.

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West Palm Beach – Teen in Coma Following a Car Surfing Accident

Posted on May 8, 2012 by admin

This is a follow up to our blog posted on May 2, 2012 where a Palm Beach Gardens teen was seriously injured after a “car surfing” accident.

Hannah Huntoon, age 16, suffered a serious head injury after falling from a moving vehicle in what has been termed as a “car surfing” accident.  She remains in a medically induced coma at St. Mary’s Medical Center and hasn’t moved from her bed, opened her eyes or said a word since the accident and is unable to breath on her own. The family is currently awaiting results from a CT Scan.

Her mother, Constance Huntoon, hopes that this will serve as a reminder to other teens and young adults of the serious repercussions of this new fad called “car surfing”. 

Even though it’s been 11 days since the accident and Hannah has had no physical signs of improvement, Constance knows that Hannah is fighting.

Her hope is that others will learn from her daughter’s accident about the serious dangers of car surfing.

Anyone who is looking to help support Hannah and her family, should know there is a benefit “Dance for Hannah” on Saturday that runs from 3pm to 6pm at Palm Beach  Gardens High School.  For additional information visit: http://www.wflx.com/story/18166434/teen-in-coma-after-car-surfing-accident

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First Steps to Take After an Accident in Florida

Posted on May 7, 2012 by admin

Although everycar accident situation is different, some of the most important first steps to take after an accident include:

  • Making sure the police are called and don’t leave the scene until they arrive. Always err on the side of caution. Leaving the scene of an accident can impair your right to sue the at-fault driver and may even result in criminal charges or driver’s license sanctions.
  • Seeking medical attention even if you feel fine. The personal injury protection (PIP) coverage you are required to carry under Florida’s no-fault laws means that you will be able to claim reimbursement for medical expenses even if you caused the accident. If you don’t seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you’re sure you don’t need it — expect an argument that your injuries were not related to the accident.
  • Saying no more than you have to. Even if you think you are at fault, do not admit liability. Also, do not make statements to anybody at the accident scene, except for the police. When you speak to the police, tell them only the facts and let the officers draw their own conclusions. Last, promptly call your own insurance company and tell them you were involved in an accident but leave it at that for now.
  • Obtaining important information, if possible. This includes: the other driver’s name, address, license number, insurance information and license plate number; the names and contact information of any witnesses; the names of any officers at the scene and the “incident number” of the accident report; photographs (if you happen to have a cell phone or camera).
  • Talking to an attorney about the accident and your legal rights and options.
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