While walking or biking in very populated areas, you take a risk of sustaining severe personal injury and/or death if struck by a motor vehicle. The state of Florida is particularly prone to bicycle-auto accidents and pedestrian-auto accidents as the weather is warm year-round.
Their track record with the injuries and deaths from car accidents is alarming–both national and state data show that there is a very high risk of injury or death for pedestrians and bicyclists in Florida. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida has the highest rate in the nation of pedestrian fatalities because of car accidents in 2008, as well as the highest number of bicycle fatalities.
Like many other states around the country, Florida law requires all drivers to purchase and keep personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and property damage liability insurance in order to keep their driver’s license and registration current. This insurance covers a variety of things, including the medical costs of pedestrian and bicycle accident injuries or deaths occurring as a result of a car accident. Common injuries sustained in car accidents are concussions, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, back or neck injuries, or sometimes death. Additionally, pedestrians or bicyclists may be entitled to other damages, such as financial support for pain and suffering or loss of wages. If a fatality occurs, it may be possible to recover payment for funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
Being involved in a bicycle-auto accident or a pedestrian-auto accident is a diffcult process for anyone to go through. An experienced personal injury attorney can help answer many of the questions that an injured person has regarding an accident. Personal injuries sustained in car accidents have the potential to be life-changing. Therefore, it is essential to contact a hard-working and aggressive personal injury lawyer for the representation needed to conduct a successful claim. The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell have years of experience providing legal advice and help to injured persons, and are available to help you today.
As American citizens, we trust our police officers to protect and uphold the law, to the benefit of the common good. This makes it even more shocking when an officer commits a crime resulting in a fatality. Over Halloween weekend, a Bronx policy officer has been arrested, on the charges that he killed a pedestrian while driving intoxicated.
Twenty-two year veteran Kevin C. Spellman was driving his government sedan when he struck sixty-seven year old Drana Nikac as she crossed the street. When police arrived on the scene of the pedestrian accident, Detective Spellman not only appeared intoxicated, but was unsteady on his feet and smelled of liquor. Although he twice denied a breath test, his blood was eventually drawn at the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.
Investigators found two beer cans, one empty and one full in Detective Spellman’s car. The evidence against him, in spite of his long record with the department continued to mount, until his arraignment Friday night in Bronx Criminal Court. Because of the accident, Detective Spellman was charted with second-degree vehicular homicide, criminally negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated. Additionally, just before he hit Nikac he ran a red light.
Pedestrian accidents, especially when fatal, are devastating. However, that tragedy is made even worse when the person who caused the accident was an intoxicated police officer. Drunk driving is dangerous and can have fatal consequences. It is important to always designate a sober driver. That way, pedestrian accidents and others like it can be avoided. The Bredell and Bredell Arrive Alive Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and prevention of drunk driving accidents in the local community. And, we have the experience needed to help those injured in drunk driving accidents or pedestrian accidents.
Halloween night is full of treats each and every year. However, there can be tricks as well. This is especially true on a night when many children are walking around in the dark, in such close proximity to streets and moving cars. And because twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween, pedestrian safety should be a top priority for parents and drivers alike.
This year, Halloween is on the same night that the clocks are pushed back due to daylight savings time. However, children will wait until it is dark to go trick-or-treating for candy. This will make it harder for drivers to see them. Therefore, it is important to slow down and keep a keen look out for trick-or-treaters, especially near crosswalks. Additionally, it is important to minimize all distractions, and focus all attention on the road. Preventing pedestrian accidents this Halloween is not just the responsibility of drivers–it is also the obligation of the parents to reinforce safe pedestrian behaviors to remember while hunting for candy.
Parents, please remember:
- Children under the age of twelve should not be trick-or-treating without adult supervision. Make sure that a mature adult will be present to ensure the safety of the younger children.
- More mature children should still not trick-or-treat alone. Make sure that your child will be traveling in a group, as well as staying to a route that is brightly lit and close to home.
- It is important to emphasize the necessity of crossing the street at corners, and not in the middle of the street. Additionally, all traffic signals are to be obeyed. This will increase the ability of drivers to see pedestrians as they navigate through their communities. Always look both left and right, and walk across the street.
- While moving along their trick-or-treating route, children are to stay on the sidewalk and paths at all times. If there are no sidewalks available, then walk on the left most side facing traffic. However, this should try to be avoided as much as possible when predetermining a route with your children.
- Encouraging your child to wear a brightly colored costume can also increase their visibility to oncoming traffic. Additionally, remind your children that it is unsafe to dart in the streets in front of traffic and between parked cars.
Keeping children safe this Halloween should be a top priority of all drivers and parents this year. Following the aforementioned tips can help to prevent pedestrian accidents in your community. The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell wants to raise awareness for the increased chance of injury on Halloween, and encourage every trick-or-treater to use extreme caution. Should you or a loved one be injured in a pedestrian accident, please do not hesitate to contact us for help.
When in a heavy traffic area, pedestrians must recognize that they are at risk. On Wednesday, July 15th Freddie Zepeda was placing his one year-old son into a car seat when he was stuck by a vehicle. The car, driven by 47 year-old Cathy Birgen-August continued to travel approximately a block and a half before being stopped by a witness.
Mr. Zepeda, 35, was immediately rushed Mass General Hospital, where, he underwent emergency brain surgery for the serious head traumas that he incurred as a result of the incident. In spite of this, Freddie Zepeda was pronounced dead Thursday evening. Birgen-August pleaded not guilty to the Brighton District Court on charges of negligent operation and leaving the scene of the accident. After being released on $1,000 bail, she was forced to surrender her drivers license. Additionally, Birgen-August is prohibited from driving a car or from leaving the state of Michigan. The district attorney’s office reports that new charges will likely be filed against Birgen-August. Her driving record is less than stellar–she has been involved in five car crashes in the past five years.
The death of Freddie Zepeda reminds us that it is we must always take extra care to be aware of one’s surroundings. At Bredell and Bredell, our deepest sympathies go to the family of Freddie Zepeda. Our twenty five years of legal experience have provided us the expertise to help anyone involved in a similar accident. Should you or any of your loved ones be involved in a pedestrian accident, we encourage you to contact us immediately.
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