South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

A boating accident on Lake George, south of Putnam County claimed the lives of two children on Sunday. According to Florida Wish and Wildlife Conversion Commission officials, a 4-year-old boy from Umatilla and a 14-year-old girl from Eustis drowned when their boat got caught in a bad storm. All of the occupants except the 14-year-old were wearing PFD's when the boat accident occurred.

The operator of the boat is believed to have pulled up anchor while the six occupants went down below the cabin of the boat. When two waves came over the bow of the boat, it caused water to build up in the vessel. Then the boat took a wave over the side, which caused the vessel to roll over and capsize, trapping six people in the cabin.

A Mayport-based Coast Guard crew was conducting a training operation when they found the capsized boat. A 5-year-old from Fernandina Beach was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Another occupant, a 36-year-old from Umatilla, was also taken to the hospital and is expected to recover from the Florida boating accident.

Update--Fatal Accident on Lake George, WOKV.com, May 25, 2009

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This weekend, a Coral Springs man was critically injured on Sunday afternoon around 5pm after he lost control of his vehicle on Interstate 95. The motor vehicle crash occurred about a mile north of Becker Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Armagan Steven Serap, 39, was driving south in his 4-door Toyota when he lost control of the vehicle, entered the median, and hit a utility pole. The Coral Springs car accident victim was taken by helicopter to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute's trauma center, where is in critical condition.

Police say they are still investigating the South Florida motor vehicle accident.

South Florida man seriously injured in Interstate 95 accident, TCPalm.com, May 24, 2009

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A little over a week ago, a 90-year-old man with homes in Florida and New Jersey died after his car plunged into a Sunrise Lakes canal. According to a Sunrise police officer, Herman Lipshutz was either pulling in or out of a parking space at the Sunrise Lakes retirement community when the auto accident occurred around 7pm on a Saturday. His car went over a curb and into the canal.

Witnesses and police officers reacted quickly, cutting the seatbelts nad pulling the couple of the water's surface just as the car was sinking. Emergency medical responders gave Lipshutz CPR before he was transported to the hospital. Police say he was pronounced dead just after midnight.

The driver's 87-year-old wife, Helen, was riding in the car and was treated for minor injuries. She was released from the Westside Regional Medical Center later that night. The Florida car accident has been deemed "an unfortunate accident" by police.

Man pulled from Sunrise canal dies, South Florida Sun Sentinel, May 10, 2009

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According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Micanopy man, 42, died in a motorcycle crash on Saturday night after he turned his cycle in front of an oncoming vehicle.

Mark D. Wiggins was riding east on Silver Lake Drive as Lisa M. Mason, 36, of Palatka was traveling west on Silver Lake drive. Both were driving Suzuki motorcycles. As they approached the intersection, Wiggins pulled into Mason's path because he did not see her turn left. The two motorcycles collided and the riders were taken to Putnam Medical Center, where Wiggins later died. Mason survived the motorcycle accident with minor injuries.

The Florida Highway Patrol said both drivers had alcohol in their system and charges in the crash are pending.

Micanopy man killed in crash on motorcycle, Gainesville Sun, May 18, 2009

Motorcycle crash claims man, St. Auguestine Record, May 18, 2009

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On Saturday afternoon, six members of the same family were seriously injured when their 33-foot cabin cruiser exploded and burned to the waterline off the southwest corner of Pine Key Island (as known as Beer Can Island) in Florida. An explosion rocked the boat, and it caught fire.

According to a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, six people were seriously injured and were airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, while four children were treated for minor injuries at the scene of the boat accident. The remaining four people on the boat (including one other child) were wading in the water and were not injured. The family has requested that the hospital not release their conditions to the public.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Tampa Fire Department's Investigations Unit are investigating the boat accident.

Officials investigating boat explosion at Beer Can Island in Tampa; 6 still hospitalized, St. Petersburgh Times, May 11, 2009

Officials investigate weekend boat explosion, Florida AP, May 11, 2009

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According to the Broward Medical Examiner's Office, a student and teacher from South Florida Christian Preparatory Academy died after the driver of their SUV apparently fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the vehicle.

Elizabeth Codie Lewis, 17, died at North Broward Medical Center three days after the car crash, which occurred on their return from a class trip to Universal Studios in Orlando. Her teacher, Gerald Jerome Oliphant, 27, died on Sunday, and six of her classmates were injured in the motor vehicle accident.

Officials from the Florida Highway Patrol said that none of the passengers were wearing seatbelts. Five people were ejected onto the Coconut Creek Parkway exit when the SUV crashed. Six students ranging in age from 17 to 20 are still hospitalized at Broward General Medical Center, and their conditions are unknown.

Student, 17, dies; 6 others still hospitalized in SUV rollover that killed teacher, South Florida Sun Sentinel, May 6, 2009

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Last week, an early morning industrial accident in South Miami-Dade killed a South Florida construction worker. A telescoping arm connected to a concrete pump truck fell on the 67-year-old man, killing him instantly as he worked on the ground. He had worked for C&C Concrete for the past five years. A supervisor said he is still trying to figure out what caused the machinery accident.

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, rescue personnel arrived after receiving a call around 9am and found that a constructions worker had been crushed beneath the arm of the concrete pumping device. A construction worker who witnessed the accident said it looked like the first section broke off. Crews were building businesses and condos for a new mixed-use development across the street from the Dadeland Mall.

The Miami-Dade police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said they will investigate the fatal construction accident.

Construction Worker Killed In Accident, CBS4.com, April 27, 2009

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Earlier today, a motorcyclist ran into a city of Delray Beach utility truck on Linton Boulevard near August Circle. Police say the cyclist is in critical condition after the collision sent him flying. The name of the injured cyclist has not been released, but he was wearing a helmet and is being treated for injuries at Delray Medical Center.

Police say they are investigating how the motorcycle accident occurred.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 76,000 motorcyclists were injured in traffic accidents in 2004. Another 4,008 motorcyclists died on the road, which represents an 8% increase over 2003 statistics. A serious accident can have life-changing results for those involved, including head injuries, broken bones, and even death.

Motorcyclist in intensive care after crash in Delray Beach, South Florida Sun Sentinel, April 29, 2009

Traffic Safety Facts, 2004 Data (PDF)

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