South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

In Florida, Emmanual Carry has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of Coral Springs resident Patrick Dameus. Carry, also from Coral Springs, is accused of “intentionally” hitting the 48-year-old man with his 2005 Honda Element more than once before using the vehicle to drag his body 2 ½ miles.

The alleged attack reportedly occurred right before 5am on Sunday in a parking lot on Riverside Drive. Coral Springs Police say that the two men had been arguing.

Police accuse Carry of not only striking Dameus and dragging his body under his motor vehicle as he left the scene, but also of backing the car over him and driving over him again. Dameus’s body was found on State Road, where he was pronounced dead.

Carry, who was arrested at 6:15 pm at a family member’s house in North Miami Beach, is being held in the Dade County Jail without bond. He will be extradited to Broward County.

Wrongful Death
In Florida, the family of a victim who was killed by another person’s negligent or reckless act may be able to file a Florida wrongful death lawsuit to obtain compensation for the loss of their loved one and the harm suffered by the family as a result of that loss. The kinds of recovery that surviving family members can claim may vary. For example, a child who has lost her mother or father in a car accident may be able to claim damages for loss of parental support.

Family members may seek economic and noneconomic compensatory damages. In certain cases, they may have grounds to file a Florida wrongful death claim that also seeks punitive damages.

Punitive Damages
Punitive damages in a Florida wrongful death case may be awarded if there is evidence to prove that the defendant acted intentionally and/or with gross negligence to cause the victim’s death.

Coral Springs man runs down another man, drags him 2 1/2 miles, Sun-Sentinel, October 27, 2008

Man Dragged To Death, Suspect Arrested, Local10, October 26, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Types of Personal Injury Damages, Justia

Continue reading "Florida Man Dies After Being Run Down Several Times and Dragged 2 ½ Miles Under an SUV " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In West Palm Beach, Florida, five people died on the Florida Turnpike on Friday night when the sport utility vehicle they were riding in rolled over after it blew a tire. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver lost control of the Ford Expedition and rolled into a 15-foot canal.

Eight people were in the SUV, which was completely submerged in the canal when police arrived. Troopers say that bodies had been ejected from the vehicle and children were crying at the crash scene.

Three people, a boy and two women, were pronounced dead at the crash scene. A dive team found the body of another boy the following morning. Another victim, a girl, was pronounced dead at Delray Medical Center, where the three survivors were also treated for their injuries.

Only four of the eight people riding in the SUV —driver Moline Etienne and the three injury victims that survived the crash—were wearing seat belts. The children were not riding in child safety seats or wearing seat belts.

The victims that died were Etienne, 23, Roodandray Louis, 3, Shelley Peters, 30, Natayel Meyer, 10, and Malesha Louis, 5. The victims that were injured but survived the crash are Gina Merceron, 41, Enichka Maurice, 15, and Shadrack Gustave, 6.

Tire Blowouts
There are many reasons why tire blowouts can happen. Defective tires is one reason that tire blowouts occur.

Examples of tire defects:

• Valve stem cracks
• Breaks in the tire fabric
• Damaged or exposed cords
• Knots and bumps resulting from tire damage

Tire blowouts can cause a motorist to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in motor vehicle collisions, SUV rollovers, and other catastrophic accidents.

5 dead in Turnpike crash,, Sun-Sentinel.com, October 18, 2008

5 Killed When SUV Rolls Over On Turnpike, WPBF, October 18, 2008

Related Web Resources:

The Hidden History of the SUV, PBS.org

Tire Blowouts on the Highway, Safety.com

Continue reading "Five People Killed in West Palm Beach After Tire Blowout Causes SUV Rollover" »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Products Liability , SUV Rollovers , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

The Florida parents of Pateesha Clinch, a 12-year-old girl who died while roughhousing with friends at Westview Middle School in September 2007, is suing the Miami-Dade school district for her wrongful death. According to students at the school, the 6th grader struck her head on the side of classroom wall when she fell.

Fire-rescue units that arrived at the scene found Clinch unconscious. She was pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital North. The medical examiner’s office says that Pateesha’s body showed no observable trauma. Autopsy results indicate that because of a rare, undetected heart condition, she may have gone into sudden cardiac death.

Pateesha’s parents, Daryl and Meka, are accusing the school district of negligence. The couple say that the fall contributed to her death, regardless of whether she had a preexisting heart condition. The couple’s personal injury lawyer said that teachers and security monitors at the school knew that the students liked to roughhouse in between classes and should have been properly supervising them.

Premises Liability
Schools, daycare centers, community centers and other premises where children are supervised owe a duty of care to the children and their parents to keep the kids safe from harm. When failure to provide that care results in personal injury, a Florida premises liability lawsuit may be filed. If someone you love has died on a premise because of negligent security, inadequate supervision, or any other unsafe conditions, you and your family may be able to file a Florida wrongful death claim or lawsuit against the responsible party or parties.

Examples of personal injury accidents that can occur at schools include:

• Sexual abuse
• Sexual assault
• Physical assault
• Defective products-related accidents
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Fall accidents

Dead girl's parents sue Miami-Dade school district, Miami Herald, October 15, 2008

Horseplay Could Be To Blame For 12-Year-Old Girl's Death, Local10.com, September 18, 2007

Related Web Resource:

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Premises Liability , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

A jury in Palm Beach, Florida has awarded the family of Pompano Beach resident Claudia Avila $6.98 Million for her wrongful death. Avila died on February 17, 2004 in Delray Breach when a 34-pound metal plate crashed into the windshield of the motor vehicle she was riding on I-94 and struck her on the head.

Avila went into a coma. She died a few weeks after the accident when doctors took her off life support.

The Palm Beach County jury found company Tarmac America 28% liable for the tragic accident. Tarmac America was the company that packaged thousands of metal plates for shipping and then loaded them onto a number of flatbed trailers for transport to Fort Lauderdale.

Avila’s children had filed a wrongful death lawsuit suing Tarmac America, Ft. Lauderdale scrap metal company IGM, and Miami truck company EM Transfer. IGM and EM Transfer settled with Avila’s family out of court.

During the trial, the plaintiffs accused Tarmac of negligence because it failed to properly secure the metal plates to the wooden pallets that they were stacked on. The metal plate struck Avila after falling off the truck.

The Palm Beach found EM Transfer 72% liable. Because the truck company had already settled the case, the resulting judgment for the family is $1.7 million. The wrongful death award includes damages for loss of parental support and pain and suffering.

Road Debris
According to a 2004 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Study, 25,000 motor vehicle accidents occur every year because of road debris, with almost 100 deaths resulting.

Because of road debris, motor vehicle accidents can occur when:

• A driver loses control of the vehicle.
• Brakes suddenly to avoid debris.
• Injuries from debris crashes through the windshield.
• The driver becomes distracted.

Road Debris Can Be Fatal, CBS News, July 13, 2004

Jury awards $1.7 million to family of woman killed by metal plate on I-9, Sun-Sentinel.com, October 13, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Highway Debris, Long an Eyesore, Grows as Hazard, New York Times, May 11, 2007

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Study

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

Earlier this year, the Orange County Health Department in Florida cited 100 neighborhood hotels and apartments for having deficient pool drains. A list of the properties cited can be found below this article in the Related Web Resources section of the page.

Pool Drains
Pool drains can pose a hazard to swimmers, especially to children, if the drains are not properly covered and do not have the proper shut-off valves. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been numerous accidents in which people have become trapped by the drain at the bottom of a pool or a spa tub. Many of these victims have been children.

A pool drain can create suction that a person can easily get caught in if it is too strong. This can prevent him or her from being able to resurface from the water and may lead to drowning accidents and other serious injuries. Drowning deaths can result when a person’s hair gets stuck in a hot tub drain. Earlier this year, a 6-year-old girl died from injuries she sustained when a swimming pool drain sucked out her intestines.

In December, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act will go into effect. This new law will make it mandatory for all public pools to install the proper drain safety covers and shut-off valves that will prevent people from getting trapped underwater by the suction of a powerful pool or hot tub drain.

The legislation is named after former Secretary of State James Baker’s 7-year-old granddaughter who drowned after getting trapped by the drain of a friend’s hot tub. The suction of the drain was so powerful that efforts to pull her out of the water before she died proved impossible.

Despite the dangers that deficient pool drains pose, an ABC News undercover team reported in July that they discovered that many public pools and hotels across the US have failed to take action to remedy this unsafe condition.

Injuries or death caused by a defective pool drain can be grounds for a products liability or wrongful death lawsuit.

Dangerous Pool Drains Could Trap And Kill Children, WFTV.com, July 28, 2008

ABC News Investigation Finds Dangerous Drains Across the Country, ABC News, July 23, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Disemboweled In Pool, Minn. Girl Dies, Local10.com, March 21, 2008

List of Florida Properties (PDF)

Continue reading "Dangerous Pool Drains in Florida Pose a Personal Injury Hazard" »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

According to results from the inspection conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation following the deadly Burhap, Walton County truck accident that left one man dead and a young girl seriously injured, the tractor-trailer driven by former Walton County Commissioner Herman Walker was overloaded with cattle feed by about 1,000 pounds( over the 80,000 limit). DOT inspectors also found that two breaks on the truck were out of adjustment and that the truck had not undergone its latest inspections.

The deadly crash, which happened on July 11, killed Eric S. Burhap, injured his wife Shannon and two children, and left family friend Katie Johnson, 9, with catastrophic injuries. The tractor-trailer collision occurred on State Road 2A north of DeFuniak Springs when Walker lost control of his truck on a curve and struck Burhap’s SUV. While blood alcohol test results show no proof Walker had alcohol in his system at the time of the crash, toxicology results are still pending.

In August, Shannon and Johnson filed a lawsuit against Walker for wrongful death and personal injury caused by the deadly Florida truck crash. The lawsuit also notes that Walker and his wife filed and finalized their divorce soon after the collision and that over $7 million in assets were transferred to his wife as part of their settlement. The lawsuit contends that Walker filed for divorce to avoid paying the money as compensation to the injury victims. Johnson and Shannon are seeking unspecified damages.

There are specific federal and state regulations that large truck operators must abide by when driving on US and state roads. For example, truckers must make sure that their vehicles are properly maintained, that all cargo is properly secured, and that the load they are carrying does not exceed weight requirements. Failure to meet these regulations and others can lead to deadly truck accidents and be grounds for a truck collision lawsuit.

FHP: Truck in fatal Buharp crash was overloaded, NWFDailyNews.com, September 3, 2008

Piecing together Buharp crash; lawsuits ahead?, NWFDailyNews.com, September 3, 2008

Walker sued in fatal Buharp crash (with LAWSUIT), WSOWAL.com, August 20, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In Clearwater, John Niesen and his mother Mary Riley are suing the Florida city and five ex-police offers for his brother’s death. Riley says that city cops bludgeoned his brother Michael, then age 18, to death over 30 years ago.

Niesen and Riley are accusing the city of Clearwater of conspiracy, including failure to conduct a complete investigation, and destroying evidence. Their Florida wrongful death lawsuit seeks damages that include loss of companionship, loss of support and services, and past and future mental pain and suffering.

According to Niesen, Michael died in July 1977 after he was attacked by police officers that were upset when a fellow cop died after being thrown from the truck that the teenager was driving.

The incident allegedly occurred on July 13, 1977, when Officer Ronald Mahoney stopped Michael’s pickup in Clearwater Beach. Mahoney cited Michael for reckless driving and found out that the truck had been stolen. As the officer came toward the car, Michael reportedly sped up his car. Mahoney, who jumped into the truck’s flatbed died after being thrown from the vehicle when it flipped—Michael had reportedly fishtailed the car a number of times.

The Niesen’s say that Michael was alive after the car collision but that officers Michael Egger, Edward Garner, Mark Cairns, James Gravely and Charles Butler beat him with their nightsticks. Michael died soon after.

John had first filed his lawsuit last year, but withdrew the case wanting more time. His attorneys say the statute of limitations for this case has not begun running because the defendants continue denying the family the chance to sue for wrongful death.

The Clearwater police department maintains that its police officers did not engage in any criminal conduct resulting in Michael’s death and that the 18-year-old died in the crash. John, who has spent at least $1 million investigating his brother’s death, believes otherwise.

If you believe that someone you loved died in Florida because of another party's reckless or negligent actions, you should speak with a Florida personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. You may be entitled to financial compensation from the negligent party.

Man sues Clearwater again over death of his brother, TampaBay.com, August 15, 2008

Claims shaky in tragic case, TampaBay.com, January 14, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Clearwater, Florida, MyClearwater.com

Police Brutality in the US, HRW.org

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Police Brutality , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In Fort Pierce, Florida, one man died and three others sustained injuries on Sunday in a two-vehicle auto collision on Avenue K and North 16 Court. The accident happened about 3 am when the 1988 Mercury Grand driven by 22-year-old Jarrell Housing collided with a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. Local authorities say the driver of the Toyota ignored a stop sign.

Raythez Flowers, who was a passenger in The Mercury, died in the car accident. Housing and another passenger, Sarmeca Johnson, were taken to local hospitals in serious condition. 23-year-old Jermaine Kearse, a passenger in the Toyota, sustained minor injuries.

Failure stop at a red light or traffic stop sign is considered a negligent action if a pedestrian, a bicyclist or another motorist is injured at a result. Many times, other motorists and pedestrians that think they have the right of way are caught unaware when they are struck by a vehicle that was supposed to have stopped before crossing an intersection. Injuries to these accident victims can be catastrophic and costly.

According the Federal Highway Administration, intersection collisions are among the most common kinds of traffic accidents in the United States accounting for 6,700 deaths and 2 million accidents each year . Injuries can range from minors cut, scrapes, and bruises to broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death.

Our South Florida car crash lawyers can help you determine whether you have grounds to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. We can also determine whether there is more than one negligent party that can be held liable for your injuries.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 3,214 motor vehicle deaths in Florida in 2007, a slight decrease in number compared to the 3,357 Florida traffic accident fatalities that occurred in 2006. Any motor vehicle accident that causes injury or death is one crash too many.

Crash in Fort Pierce kills one, sends four to area hospitals, TCPalm.com, August 17, 2008

One killed, three injured in crash, PalmBeachPost.com, August 16, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Highway Administration

Continue reading "Deadly Florida Car Accident in Fort Pierce Leaves One Victim Dead and Three Others Injured" »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

The wife of Timothy Powers, the 49-year-old Vero Beach motorcyclist who was killed in a crash with a tractor-trailer on US 1 on January 24 is suing the trucker and the driver’s truck company for wrongful death.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Powers could not see the truck due to the heavy morning fog. He tried safely laying down his motorcycle but was thrown off as the truck struck him as it tried to make a U-turn. Powers died at the truck accident scene.

In her lawsuit, Jennifer Powers is accusing truck driver Felix Villa of negligence. She also alleges that Torres Trucking & Tree Hauling Corp was vicariously liable for her husband’s death.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 5,212 truck accident fatalities in 2005—a large truck being defined as a truck with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 lbs.

18-wheeler trucks, tractor-trailers, big rig trucks, large delivery trucks, and other large trucks can be a serious injury hazard to motorcyclists, the drivers and passengers of other cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists if a truck driver is negligent on the road and causes a traffic accident. Trucking companies are prepared to deal with these injury cases, and many of them will act fast to minimize liability on their part.

Our South Florida truck accident law firm is knowledgeable about dealing with large truck companies, their representatives, and their insurance companies, and we will protect your right to financial recovery.

We know how to investigate the truck crash scene and the vehicles involved to prove liability, and we will zealously pursue your compensation for you.

Vero Beach widow files lawsuit against truck driver, TC Palm.com, July 1, 2008

Large Truck Fatal Crash Statistics, 1975-2005, FMCSA.dot.gov

Related Web Resource:

Truck Safety Coalition

Continue reading "Florida Motorcyclist’s Widow Sues Tractor-Trailer Driver and Trucking Company for Wrongful Death" »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

A woman in Florida is suing the lawn care company that employed her deceased husband for his wrongful death. Tomasa Castro says that Tom Mahoney Ultimate Lawn Service acted negligently when the owner, Tom Mahoney, told her husband, Jose Carillo, to mow the lawn next to a deep lake in a residential area. Carillo did not know how to swim, and the lawsuit alleges that Mahoney was aware of this fact.

According to the wrongful death lawsuit, Mahoney neglected to train Carillo on how to safely use a riding lawn mower next to a body of water. Mahoney also allegedly failed to give Carillo the proper safety equipment, such as a life jacket, in the event of an accident.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office says that Mahoney discovered Carillo’s hat in the water and dove into the lake, where he discovered Carillo’s body about 10 feet from shore. Carillo was pronounced dead at the accident scene.

While workers’ compensation usually prevents an employee or his or her family from suing an employer for injuries (or death) that occurred while on the job, Mahoney did not provide Carillo, who had worked for the lawn company for several years, with workers’ compensation.

Also named in the Florida wrongful death lawsuit is Scott Jensen, the owner of the property where the drowning accident occurred. The lawsuit accuses Jensen of failing to post a warning that the water depth was deceptive, the bottom of the lake was unstable, and there were currents in the water.

Carillo left behind four young children. Castro is suing for funeral costs, pain and suffering, mental trauma, lost wages, loss of future earnings, and loss of support, companionship, guidance, and protection for the children.

Drowning Accidents
Property owners that have a pool, a lake, a hot tub, or another body of water on their premises are supposed to make sure that the proper safety measures are in place to prevent accidental drowning deaths.

Common causes of drowning accidents that can be grounds for a premises liability or wrongful death lawsuit include, inadequate supervision, defective pool or faulty hot tub parts (such as a defective drain), failure to secure the body of water from children when they are unsupervised, and failure to post appropriate warning signs.

Please contact our South Florida law firm to discuss your wrongful death case.

Widow Sues Florida Lawn-Care Company Over Drowning, Lawn & Landscape, June 16, 2008

Landscape employee drowns in East Naples lake, Naples.com, June 2, 2006

Related Web Resources:

Florida Wrongful Death Statute

Division of Workers' Compensation

Continue reading "Florida Widow Sues Lawn Service Company for Wrongful Death " »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Premises Liability , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In Florida, Pompano Beach resident Marie Anderson is suing the city of Ft. Lauderdale for wrongful death. She claims that police officers would not help her husband, who had been shot, and he bled to death.

In October 2006, Chad Randall was at a barbecue in Ft. Lauderdale when a stray bullet struck him. He was placed in an SUV and was on his way to the hospital when someone saw police and tried to flag them down.

Anderson says that police refused to help Randall, and instead, patted down the occupants of the SUV and ran a check for warrants. Four of the men who had tried to save Randall say it took 1-2 hours before help finally came. A spokesperson for the police department, however, says that any allegations that police would not contact EMS immediately are not true.

Randall leaves behind his wife, and their 6 and 7 year old children. Randall and Anderson were childhood sweethearts.

Wrongful Death Survivors
In Florida, surviving family members of a person killed because of another’s negligence may be able to file for wrongful death compensation. Husbands, wives, sons, daughter, and others that were dependent on the deceased for services or support are considered “survivors.”

Damages recovered for wrongful death may include:

• Lost wages (income and benefits the decedent would have earned)
• Loss of support and services
• Loss of companionship
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of parental companionship
• The decedent’s medical and funeral costs

Surviving family members have two years from the time of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Our Florida wrongful death firm has helped many Florida families obtain their recovery. We have law offices in Miami, Port. St. Lucie, and West Palm Beach.

Woman claims police let husband bleed to death in SUV, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 13, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Wrongful Death, Justia

Continue reading "Pompano Beach Woman Sues City of Fort Lauderdale for Husband’s Wrongful Death" »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In St. Lucie County, the female passenger who was ejected from a motorcycle during a motor vehicle crash on Friday has died from her injuries. Elizabeth Williams, a 40-year-old Vero Beach resident, and driver Nicholson Pierre were riding a motorcycle on US 1 when a jeep, driven by Charles Curtis, pulled in front of them.

The motorcycle hit the Jeep’s front bumper, and Williams and Curtis were both thrown from the motorcycle. Pierre was also treated for injuries. He has been charged with failing to yield.

According to the Insurance Information Institute’s Web Site:

• There were 4,810 motorcycle fatalities in 2006.
• Approximately 104,000 motorcyclists were involved in motor vehicle collisions during the same year.
• Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than the passengers of other motor vehicles.

Motorcycle injuries are usually catastrophic injuries and can include traumatic brain injuries, severed limbs, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, helmet injuries, paralysis, coma, severed limbs, and wrongful death.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Driver inexperience
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Failure to yield
• Driver inattention

In South Florida, our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you file a claim for personal injury compensation from a negligent motorist or the manufacturer of a defective motorcycle. We will work with accident reconstructionists and medical experts to get you the maximum recovery. If we are unable to negotiate a settlement, we will file a Florida motorcycle crash lawsuit and go to court.

Vero Beach woman dies from accident injuries, TCPalm.com, June 11, 2008

Motorcycle Crashes, III.org

Related Web Resource:

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Continue reading "Vero Beach Motorcycle Passenger Dies in Florida Motor Vehicle Crash" »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motorcycle Accidents , Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

A judge in California has ruled that convicted murderer Scott Peterson will stand trial for the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Dennis Rocha and Sharon Rocha, the parents of his dead wife, Laci Peterson Dennis and Sharon had hoped that Peterson's conviction was enough to conclude the civil lawsuit, but the Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Roger Beauchesne ruled otherwise.

Laci Peterson was pregnant when she disappeared from her home on December 24, 2002. In 2005, Scott was convicted to death for the murders of Laci and their unborn son Connor, whose bodies were found in the waters of the East Bay in April 2003.

Laci’s parents are asking for unspecified damages. It is unlikely that Scott would be able to pay a judgment, but Dennis and Sharon want to make sure that their son-in-law never makes a penny if he decides to sell his story. Two made-for-TV programs and several books have already been published about the Peterson murders.

Florida Wrongful Death
In Florida, the immediate family members and heirs of a person killed in an accident or crime that was caused by another person’s negligence, carelessness or reckless actions, can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party.

Our South Florida wrongful death law firm can investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death and determine whether you have grounds for recovery. Florida wrongful death law allows family members to claim compensation for loss of companionship, love, moral support, financial support, services, and other damages.

In Florida, you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is not a lot of time to conduct a thorough investigation of your case, interview key witnesses, gather evidence, and build a case against the negligent party or parties, so it is important that you speak with an experienced Florida wrongful death attorney right away.

Scott Peterson likely faces second trial in wrongful death case, Miami Herald, June 6, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Florida Wrongful Death Statute

Laci Peterson TImeline, CourtTV.com

Continue reading "Scott Peterson Faces Wrongful Death Trial For Murders of Wife and Unborn Son" »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Wrongful Death

Bookmark:

In Broward County, Florida, Marie Arsenault-Langlois, a 38-year-old pregnant woman from Pembroke Pines, lost her 17-week-old unborn baby when the car she was riding in was struck by another motor vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle, Miami Gardens resident Renee Greene, failed to stop at a stop sign.

Arsenault-Langlois was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital where she was treated for serious injuries. Her baby was declared dead. The Broward Medical Examiner’s office pronounced cause of death to be intra-uterine demise resulting from blunt force trauma from an auto accident.

Although Florida’s mandatory Personal Injury Protection (PIP) provides all drivers with $10,000 coverage for medical costs for auto accident injuries, this amount often does not cover all medical expenses and recovery costs for serious personal injuries. It certainly cannot compensate for the death of a loved one.

With offices in Miami, Port St. Lucie, and West Palm Beach, our Florida car accident lawyers will work with medical experts to assess the immediate and long-term effects of your injuries. If your loved one was killed in a car crash, we know how to prove negligence. Our motor vehicle crash lawyers have an excellent track of getting the necessary results—whether through negotiation or a jury verdict.

Causes of driver negligence that can lead to serious car accident injuries:

• Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign
• Speeding
• DUI/DWI
• Driver fatigue
• Failure to pay attention to the ro