Ocala News reported recently that a local woman was killed in a motor vehicle accident on the early evening of Saturday, December 12, when her SUV overturned in a multi-vehicle incident.
According to officials with the Ocala Police Department, the woman was driving an SUV northbound on Pine Road just south of the intersection of Pine Road and Hemlock Road in Ocala, between 6:30 p.m. and 6:40 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Saturday, December 12. A young teenage driver sixteen years of age, driving a minivan, failed to properly yield the right of way and traveled into the path of the SUV, according to the accident report filed by the Florida Highway Patrol. The two vehicles collided violently and the SUV overturned, went airborne, and landed on a third car, also driven by an Ocala resident.
The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, with a time of death determined to be 6:43 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The other two drivers reportedly suffered only minor injuries. The accident remains under active investigation, and eyewitnesses or others with relevant information are asked to contact investigators to aid in the investigation.
According to statistics, nearly 9,000 people are killed each year when they are ejected from their vehicles. There are an additional 20,000 people who suffer from traumatic and long-lasting injuries due to partial or complete ejections. The NHTSA reports that 28% of all car crash deaths are caused by vehicle ejections. People who are ejected...
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, traffic deaths involving bicyclists in Florida has tripled since 1975. By May 2019, there had been 783 cyclists killed in the United States that year. 16% of these fatalities occurred in Florida. 38% of these were caused by either the cyclist or the motorist failing to yield...
A paper published in 2017 in the American Journal of Public Health focused on the opioid crisis and drivers involved in fatal crashes. In 1995, only 1% of drivers who were killed in traffic accidents had opioid drugs in their systems. By 2015, that number had surged to 7%. The most common opioids in use...
With many people out of work or working from home, and many businesses remaining closed as a method to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the roadways are less congested than ever before. This presents an opportunity that some drivers cannot resist, driving dangerously faster than posted speed limits. Unfortunately, this means that while overall accidents...
Importance of Child Safety Restraint Laws
The death of a Florida toddler that took place near the intersection of Fowler Street and Market Street serves as a harsh reminder of the importance of abiding by child safety restraint laws in Florida and throughout this nation. As we reported on this fatal Fort Myers car crash in our news section, we would...
Florida, along with forty-two other states, has adopted “move over” laws. These laws were designed to protect police officers and emergency workers as they work on the sides of busy highways and interstates. Florida law states that if it is safe, vehicles should move one lane over from a stopped police car or other emergency...
Child Passenger Safety Week (9/14-9/20) : How to Tell if Your Child is in the Right Car Seat
Car safety seats for children play a vital role in protecting your kids when driving in the car. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) citing a 2011 study in Pediatrics, car seat use reduces the risk for death to infants by 71 percent, and for toddlers by 54 percent. Sadly though,...
Five Critical Tips for Parents of South Florida Teen Drivers
As a parent, you want to protect your child from danger; however, when your child starts learning how to drive, it can be a scary time. You may find yourself not wanting to hand over the keys to your teen driver and being fearful of your child driving without you. If you find yourself asking...
When Do Lawyers Recommend Talking To An Insurance Adjuster After A Car Accident?
Following a car accident, lawyers recommend that you do not speak with an insurance adjuster right away. Instead, politely decline to give information and call a personal injury attorney. The insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart. Their goal is to reduce their own liability. Sometimes that includes undermining your legitimate claim...
Should I Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
Are you weighing the pros and cons of whether you should call a lawyer after a car accident? While the state of Florida allows you to resolve a personal injury case on your own, hiring a lawyer can also work to achieve your legal goals. Your lawyer can: Focus on your financial recovery while you...
Who Determines Fault (And How) After A Car Accident in Florida?
The determination of who is at fault after a car accident in Florida is typically made by a judge using information collected from the parties involved in the accident, their legal representatives, their insurance claims adjustors, and the police officers who responded to the accident. Determining Fault in a Car Accident in Florida There are...
How to Report a Hit and Run in Plantation
The simplest way to report a hit-and-run accident in Plantation, FL, is to call the police to the accident scene. In addition to being mandatory per state law to file a police report following a hit and run, the insurance company will require a police report if you file a claim for financial compensation. It...