News You Can Trust for West Palm Beach Personal Injury Plaintiffs Like You

Sure, you can find news about West Palm Beach personal injury and accident cases by searching Google News and similar sites. But for real, in-depth analysis, David Glatthorn Law provides the news that you can use.

News Category: All CategoriesWrongful Death ClaimsTrucking AccidentsCar AccidentsGeneral

Wrongful Death Claims

• Teen Motorcyclist Dies In Boca Raton Left-Turn Accident
  Jul 18, 2012

  A young motorcyclist is dead after a Saturday night crash in Boca Raton.

   

  Eighteen-year-old William T. Willard of Boca Raton was headed west on Glades Road near Golf Course Road at about 8:24 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, 2012. He appeared to be driving at a high rate of speed when he crashed into a Toyota Corolla that was making a left turn off of Glades Road onto Golf Course Road. Willard was ejected from his motorcycle. He died at the scene from injuries sustained in the accident.

   

  The car was driven by 82-year-old Francisco E. Curril. Curril and his passenger, 68-year-old Maria M. Curril, both of Boca Raton, were taken to West Boca Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

   

  The Boca Raton accident is still under investigation. However, piecing together what really happened may not be simple. In most cases, liability for a left-turn accident belongs to the driver of the car making the left turn. But there are exceptions if:

   

  1. The vehicle going straight was going too fast.
  2. The vehicle going straight ran a red light.
  3. The left-turn car began to turn when it was safe but something unexpected happened to slow down or stop its turn.

   

  While witnesses reported that the motorcycle appeared to be speeding, it is very difficult to judge the actual speed of a motorcycle by eye. Because motorcycles are smaller than cars, they often appear to be moving faster than they actually are.

   

  Boca Raton accident injury attorney David Glatthorn would like to offer his condolences to the family of William Willard.

• Three Migrant Workers Dead After Florida I-95 Rollover Crash
  Jun 30, 2012

  Three migrant farm workers killed in a rollover accident on Interstate 95.

   

  The Florida rollover accident occurred at about 7:45 on Sunday, June 3, 2012. The victims were passengers in a 1997 Dodge van that was carrying fifteen Haitian migrant workers to a job in New Jersey. The van was in Volusia County near the Flagler County line, when a tire separated, and the driver, 57-year-old Vilbrun Bertrand of West Palm Beach, lost control of the van. The van overturned and three of the passengers were ejected. The three passengers, Benitoh Delice, 38, Sonja Maubrun, 34, and Berteau Nazaire, 45, all of West Palm Beach, died at the scene. Eleven others were hospitalized, two with critical injuries.

   

  The accident is under investigation. Alcohol is not being considered a factor in the accident.

   

  Fifteen-passenger vans are especially vulnerable to tire blowouts and rollover accidents. In 2010, the National Highway Transportation safety Administration (NHTSA) offered an advisory for businesses and groups using 15-passenger vans. Recommendations included:

   

  • Owners should make sure that the van is properly maintained before it is used to carry passengers.
  • Owners should make sure all drivers are fully trained and properly licensed.
  • 15-passenger vans should never be overloaded, as this increases vehicle instability and rollover risk.
  • Owners should make sure that tires are correctly sized for the vehicle.
  • Tires must be well-maintained. Before every trip, tires must be checked for proper inflation, and signs of wear.
  • There must be a seatbelt for every passenger.

   

  Family members of accident victims have rights, even if they are not U.S. citizens. Contact a Palm Beach wrongful death attorney for more information.

• Four Die In Martin County Wrong-Way Car Crash
  May 29, 2012

  Two adults and two children are dead after an early morning car crash involving a wrong-way driver.

   

  The Palm City accident occurred at about 2:19 a.m. on Sunday, May 13 on I-95 just north of southwest Martin Highway near mile marker 110. Forty-one-year-old Carolyn Ramos of Port St. Lucie was driving south in a northbound lane of I-95 when she crashed her Jeep into a 1982 Chevy Silverado pick-up truck driven by Demetrius Suggs, 28, of Chattanooga. Suggs had three passengers: his wife, Porscha Suggs, and two children, 7-year-old Mercedes Davis and 9-year-old Raineisha Powell. All four were in the front seat.

   

  After the crash, both vehicles burst into flame. Ramos was rescued by three witnesses and airlifted to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute in critical condition. She is now in stable condition. All four occupants of the pick-up truck were pinned inside the truck and died at the scene. A medical examiner is trying to determine if the victims died before the fire.

   

  The cause of the accident is under investigation. Police officers do not know why Ramos was driving the wrong way or how long she’d been travelling in the wrong lane, but suspect that alcohol and/or drugs were a contributing factor. At this time, charges have not been filed.

   

  When reckless driving behavior leads to fatal car accidents, the families of the victims have the right to pursue damages through a Florida wrongful death lawsuit. To learn more, contact a Palm City auto accident injury attorney.

Trucking Accidents

• Commerce Secretary Seizure Causes Medical Emergency Car Accident
  Jun 30, 2012

  U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson was recently cited in a felony hit-and-run accident in southern California. Secretary Bryson suffered a seizure while driving and crashed into two separate vehicles.

   

  The first accident occurred shortly after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 9^th. Secretary Bryson was driving a Lexus when he rear-ended a Buick that was stopped at a railroad crossing in San Gabriel, California. Bryson stopped and spoke with the three occupants in the car. After offering to exchange information, he drove away, hitting the Buick again. The occupants of the car called the San Gabriel Police department to report the accident. Five minutes later, Secretary Bryson was involved in a second accident with a Honda Accord in Rosemead, California. He was found in his vehicle, unconscious.

   

  Secretary Bryson was taken to the hospital where doctors diagnosed him with a seizure. He was treated for minor injuries and was kept overnight for observation. While at the hospital, Secretary Bryson was tested for both drug and alcohol use. The substance abuse tests were negative.

   

  Both the Lexus and Honda sustained minor damage. There were no serious injuries, but two occupants of the Buick were treated by paramedics after they complained of pain.

   

  According to ABC news, the 68-year-old commerce secretary had blacked out at a Boeing board meeting about four years ago. However, the Secretary did not have any known medical problems.

   

  Medical emergency crashes are especially common in Florida because of the high percentage of elderly drivers. Victims of medical emergency car crashes should consult with a Palm Beach auto accident attorney.

   

  On June 21, 2012 Bryson resigned from his post as Secretary of Commerce citing health reasons.

   

• Father And Child Dead After Orlando Truck Accident
  Jun 19, 2012

  An Alabama family’s dream vacation ended in tragedy. A man and his 10-year-old son were killed after their car crashed into an ice cream truck in East Orange County. Another child is in critical condition.

   

  The accident occurred just after 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 24 on S.R. 520 near Taylor Creek Road. Thirty-eight-year-old Stacy Watters was returning home from a Disney cruise with family and friends. His two sons were riding in the back of the grey Chevy Impala. Watters was planning to meet up with his girlfriend and her children who were riding in a separate car. However, after stopping at the stop sign at S.R. 520 in Christmas, Watters pulled out into traffic and directly into the path of a large box truck carrying ice cream and other dairy products. Watters and his 10-year-old son died at the scene of the accident. His 9-year-old son sustained critical injuries and was transported to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

   

  Watters was a football coach in Alabama. The children lived with their mother in Mississippi, but were with their father for a family vacation.

   

  Police believe that confusion over unfamiliar roads may have contributed to the crash.

   

  Florida attracts tourists from all over the world. Visitors to Florida should remember that it is easy to become distracted and confused while navigating unfamiliar roads. Palm Beach accident injury attorney David Glatthorn suggests that drivers who are unfamiliar with local roads plan ahead. It is a good idea to print out the route on MapQuest or Google before getting in the car, even if you have a GPS. Read the directions ahead of time, and if you get lost, pull into a safe spot to check a map.

   

  David Glatthorn would like to offer his condolences to the Watters family.

• St. Lucie School Bus Crash Leaves One Child Dead, Five Injured
  Apr 20, 2012

  The National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB) is investigating a fatal school bus accident in St. Lucie County.
  
  The Florida school bus accident occurred on March 26, 2012 at 3:50 p.m. The bus, a 2005 International school bus, was carrying 30 students home from Frances K. Sweet Elementary School in Fort Pierce. The driver, 56-year-old Albert Hazen turned left from westbound Okeechobee Road toward Midway Road and into the path of a 1998 Peterbilt semitrailer loaded with sod. The driver of the tractor-trailer could not stop in time. The truck crashed into the school bus and overturned. The bus spun 180 degrees.
  
  One child, 9-year-old Aaron Beauchamp, died in the crash. Fourteen other children were injured. The driver and eleven injured children were taken to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce. One child was taken to St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie. Five children were listed in critical condition at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. One child, 11-year-old Joseph Yannucci, was still hospitalized as of April 5. He was in critical, but stable condition. The uninjured children were taken to St. Lucie County's Emergency Operations Center, west of Fort Pierce.
  
  FHP and NSTB are investigating the crash. The preliminary report says that weather and road conditions were not factors in the deadly St. Lucie bus crash. Alcohol and drugs are not considered factors; however, the driver was tested for alcohol. The report blames the accident on driver inattention. No charges will be filed until the investigation is complete.
  

Car Accidents

• Florida Driver Kills Pedestrian, Leaves Accident Scene For a Beer
  Jul 31, 2012

  Running over a pedestrian may be hard to handle, but it is no excuse for leaving the scene to buy a beer. While this sounds like a scene from the Simpsons, a 21-year-old man did exactly that after he ran over a homeless pedestrian in Polk County.

   

  At about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, Polk County Sherriff’s deputies responded to a report of a car crash at Deeson Road and Cherry Road in Lakeland. They found the body of a 51-year-old homeless man and his undamaged bicycle, and a drunk man who denied any knowledge of the accident.

   

  The drunk man was 21-year-old Richard S. Schenfield. He told police that he had recently left his home to get cigarettes from a nearby Circle K convenience store. However, Schenfield’s 1997 Honda showed evidence of recent front-end damage. The officers became suspicious and, after a detailed inspection, they were able to link Schenfield to the crash.

   

  In fact, what really happened is that Schenfield hit William Franklin “Frank” Moates earlier that morning. Instead of staying at the scene and calling for help, Schenfield drove to the Circle K where he bought a beer. Video surveillance footage from the Circle K shows Schenfield arriving in his Honda, getting out and looking at the front of the vehicle, and then entering the store where he bought a beer. After leaving the store, Schenfield checked the front driver’s side of his car again before returning to the scene.

   

  Schenfield was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a traffic crash with a fatality and failure to obtain a valid Florida driver’s license.

• Three Hospitalized After Truck Crashes on I-95 in West Palm Beach
  Jul 24, 2012

  Heavy rain may be to blame for two related accidents on I-95 near 45^th street. Eight vehicles were damaged and three people were hospitalized.

   

  The first accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 13, 2012. Five vehicles and a semi-truck heading north on I-95 crashed during a sudden, heavy downpour just south of Blue Heron Boulevard. Two people were hospitalized. The injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Others were treated at the scene.

   

  The initial crash slowed down traffic on I-95. A second semi-truck and a Toyota Camry collided as they approached the slow-down. The driver of the Camry, 18-year-old Junior Garry Laquerre, was seriously injured. He was flown by Trauma Hawk to St. Mary’s Medical Center.

   

  All southbound lanes and three northbound lanes were closed as the Florida Highway Patrol and West Palm Beach Fire Rescue crews cleared the scene.

   

  Rainy days in south Florida can mean dangerous driving. Here are some rainy weather driving tips from Palm Beach auto accident attorney David Glatthorn:

   

  • Make sure your wipers are in good condition before it rains.
  • Slow down. The faster you drive, the greater the risk of hydroplaning.
  • Use your headlights. They will help you see, and they will help you be seen by others.
  • Increase your following distance. It takes longer to stop when the road is wet.
  • When driving on I-95 or any other freeway, drive in the center lanes. Water is more likely to pool in outside lanes.
  • Drive slowly through any puddles. It is hard to judge the depth of water, and if you drive slowly, you will have the option of backing out. Never drive through moving water.

• Man Injured When Mother-In-Law Crashes Into Lake Worth Home
  Jul 20, 2012

  Mothers-in-law are the subject of many sitcom jokes and comedy skits. But sometimes real life is stranger than TV.

   

  On Thursday, July 12, 33-year-old Huguens Lamande of Lake Worth was having a day like any other. At 10:15 a.m. he was sitting on his porch holding his 3-month-old daughter Imani. He watched his mother-in-law Gislaine Jules return from a trip to Wal-Mart. Since the yard had no driveway, Mrs. Jules attempted to park in the yard. However, instead of hitting the brake to stop, she accidentally hit the gas. The CRV crashed into Lamande and his daughter and pushed them through the front door of their home. Lamande’s leg was crushed and the baby sustained minor injuries.

   

  A young girl in the home called 911. A neighbor heard the crash and came to help. Lamande was flown to Delray Medical Center. Baby Imani was taken to Bethesda Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released.

   

  Forty-year-old Gislaine Jules was not injured. She has been cited for driving an unregistered vehicle and having no proof of insurance.

   

  We’d like to offer our well wishes to the Lamande family.

   

  Accidents are never planned. Even the most ordinary day can be violently disrupted by a Florida traffic accident. When accidents happen, it is hard to know where to turn. This is why Palm Beach personal injury attorney David Glatthorn wrote his book, The Florida Accident Workbook: Tools, Tips & Tactics to Resolve Your Injury Claim. To get your free copy, click the link on the side of this page or contact David Glatthorn at 866-413-5525.

• Man Charged After Intentionally Causing Lake Worth Pedestrian Accident
  Jul 19, 2012

  Twenty-six-year-old Diego Francisco Pascual is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond after causing a deadly Fort Worth pedestrian accident.

   

  The fatal accident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 15, 2012. Pascual intentionally ran over his 17-year-old girlfriend Ana Pedro Andres and her family as they were walking down the 800 block of North H Street.

   

  Pascual lived with Ana and her family. The night before the accident, Pascual and Ana argued after she refused to give him the keys to his 2001 GMC Yukon so he could go out drinking. Her parents became involved after Pascual hit Ana. He left the home in the SUV and went to a local convenience store where he purchased an 18-pack of Bud Light beer. He began drinking the beer in the parking lot and then drove to a friend’s house to continue drinking. He woke up at 9 a.m. determined to get revenge.

   

  Pascual went to the family’s home on the 700 block of North G Street, but then saw the family at a nearby laundromat. When the family left, he followed them in his vehicle. Then he accelerated to 50 mph and drove directly into the family.

   

  Ana’s mother, 37-year-old Cristina Andres was killed. Ana and her father, 37-year-old Miguel Pedro Francisco, suffered severe injuries and were hospitalized at Delray Medical Center. Ana’s siblings, Carmina, 6, and Manuel, 2, sustained minor injuries. Maria, 9, was with the family, but was able to get out of the way. The children were taken to Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach where they were treated and released.

   

  Pascual left the scene. After police began a countywide search for his vehicle, he turned himself in later on Sunday. He is being held on one charge of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted first-degree murder.

  Palm Beach accident attorney David Glatthorn offers his condolences to all affected by this tragic accident.