Archive for November, 2011

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30
Nov

1 died, 1 rushed to hospital after pursuit in Orlando

November 30, 2011

What started as a routine traffic stop ended in a violent crash, investigators said.

A car that refused to stop for a trooper crashed into a tree, killing one person and injuring another early Tuesday morning  in Orlando, Florida, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

The pursuit began when the driver of the fleeing car, a white Mazda, made an illegal U-turn at Orange Blossom Trail and 29th Street. Then the driver cut off the vehicle’s headlights and sped west on L.B. McLeod Road.

The car eventually lost control and slammed into trees near the Holden Avenue Fire Station on 29th Street and Rio Grand Avenue.

Troopers had to cut the men out of the vehicle. The 25-year-old driver, who was partially ejected from the vehicle, was killed instantly.

The 55-year-old passenger was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

An FHP sergeant said that while a trooper did pursue the car, she did not believe the chase reached high speeds.

Troopers said that they suspect that the driver was driving on a revoked license.

Read more.

Have you or someone you know been injured in a Florida car accident?

The Florida auto accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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28
Nov

Florida man critically injured on Highway 98

November 28, 2011

Car racing caused an accident on Highway 98 in Santa Rosa County, Florida, on Saturday night, according to Santa Rosa’s Press Gazette.

Two cars collided at the intersection of Highway 98 and Twin Pine Boulevard, reported the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

A witness reported that a car heading eastbound on Highway 98 was racing another vehicle at a high rate of speed. The driver of the first car was a Pensacola 21-year-old male, according to the FHP press release.

A Gulf Breeze 73-year-old man was attempting to make a left turn from Highway 98 onto Twin Pine Boulevard when the younger man’s car struck the passenger’s side door.

The FHP press release stated that the impact spun the older man’s car in a counter clockwise direction.

The vehicle’s passenger was taken to Baptist Hospital with critical injuries.

The younger man’s car ran off the roadway, struck a stop sign, a post, a guide wire from a power pole, a property sign, and a pine tree before coming to a stop.

The FHP is trying to find the driver of the second vehicle. It is undamaged and described as a two-door Pontiac GTO, burnt orange or bronze in color.

Read more.

Have you or someone you know has been injured in a Florida car accident? The Florida car accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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23
Nov

$6.5 million settlement reached in Florida sex abuse case

November 23, 2011

After four years of litigating against corporate defendants, Gary T. Iscoe, one of the partners at Steinger, Iscoe, & Green, feels that justice was finally served in a Port St. Lucie sex abuse case.

Since 2007, four young girls had been victimized by a pedophile at Village Green Head Start in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The case was settled last week, and the families of the children were awarded a $6.5 million settlement, according to News CBS12.com.

“I think that they’re relieved. I think that it gives them a little bit of closure,” said attorney for the victims, Neil Anthony of Steinger, Iscoe & Greene.

The pedophile is now in prison serving 20 years for “lewd and lascivious molestation of children.” He was a volunteer grandparent at Head Start.

“He would pick up the children, touch them, stroke them, kiss them and things like that,” said Anthony.

After one of the girls finally told her mother what was going on, the pedophile was arrested.

“The 6.5 million dollar settlement will go a long way to help the victims. It’s going to give the children adequate resources to get the therapy that’s recommended when something like this happens to a child at four and five years old,” said Anthony.

Iscoe said that other attorneys and law firms had told the children’s parents that the defendants were government entities and therefore had sovereign immunity.  But the defendants were private corporations with private insurance.

“Trial by jury in a courtroom before a jury of their peers was the only incentive to bring this case to conclusion,” he stated.

Read more.

Have you or someone you know suffered a Florida personal injury?

If so, the Florida personal injury lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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21
Nov

Most dangerous state for pedestrians: Florida

November 21, 2011

According to Florida’s First Coast News, nine pedestrians die each week and 21 are injured. This makes Florida the most dangerous state for pedestrians in the country.

Rated the third most dangerous city for pedestrians is Jacksonville, Florida, reports Transportation For America, an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.

From 2006 to 2012, in Duval County 120 pedestrians were killed, and 60 were killed in the surrounding counties of Clay, St. Johns, Nassau, Baker, and Putnam.

Most pedestrians are at fault in fatal accidents, said Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Leeper. “Most pedestrians that are struck are crossing in an area where they should not be crossing. They should be a crosswalks, at intersections. They should be visible.”

“When you are crossing, make eye contact with the driver to make sure they see you…If you are driving, pay attention to what you are doing.”

Representative Irv Slosberg, who lost a daughter in a car crash, said motorists using cell phones and texting are an ever-increasing danger to pedestrians. “Driver distraction is causing us to move backwards instead of forwards.”

Leeper added that pedestrians should also take care walking in parking lots. He said a lot of injuries occur there as well as on the roadways.

Read more.

What are some things that you as a pedestrian can do to stay safe? As a motorist to keep pedestrians safe?

Have you or someone you know been in a Florida accident?

The Florida pedestrian accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.

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18
Nov

Florida motorcyclist killed in Sunday crash

November 18, 2011

According to the News-Press, a 37-year-old Sunrise, Florida, man was killed on Sunday. Just after 4 p.m., he drove his motorcycle into the back of a Toyota Tundra pickup truck on State Road 82 in Lehigh Acres.

The biker was heading westbound on State Road 82 near Rod and Gun Club Road. He tried to pass the truck and clipped the back of the pickup, which was driven by a 75-year-old Lehigh man, reports the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

He was thrown from his bike, over the truck, and into the path of the swerving truck. In the meantime, the bike was hit by an eastbound Nissan Maxima, driven by an 85-year-old man. The biker was struck by both the pickup truck and the other vehicle.

The only other injuries reported were non-life-threatening. A woman passenger in the Nissan suffered minor injuries.

The biker was wearing his helmet, the FHP said in its report. Charges are pending on completion of the investigation.

The accident closed the road for about four hours on Sunday.

Read more.

Have you or someone you know been in a Florida accident?

The Florida motorcycle accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.