Gainesville, Ocala & Daytona Beach Personal Injury Lawyer - Wrongful Death

Motorcyclist's Death Blamed on Drunk Driver

Craig Cannon — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:13:37 GMT

On October 19, 2006, the night before the official start of Biketoberfest, Clifford L.R. Atkinson, 68, was killed when his motorcycle collided head-on with a car on State Road 100 in Flagler County west of Bunnell. After completing its investigation, the Florida Highway Patrol is blaming the driver of the oncoming car, Bunnell resident Michelle K. Bohn, 36.

Bohn was driving west when she crossed the center line of the two-lane road to pass a truck and trailer ahead of her. While she was passing the truck she hit Atkinson. Atkinson was traveling east, to his home in Bunnell at the time of the crash. He had moved to Bunnell from Holly Hill.

Bohn's blood alcohol level after the accident was tested at 0.228, police said, nearly triple the 0.8 level that state law sets as impaired. Bohn has been charged with negligent homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol and driving under the influence of alcohol with property damage. The State Attorney's Office filed the charges last month and Bohn was arrested April 10.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Cannon

Pool Safety

Craig Cannon — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:35:40 GMT

A young boy drowned in his neighbor's pool because the neighbor did not have a child proof barrier around their pool. The child wandered into the neighbor's yard and fell into the pool. The boy was discovered some time later by his mother who began to perform resuscitation on him until rescue personal could arrive on the scene. Although the rescue personnel tried to save him he was pronounced dead at the hospital. This tragedy could have been avoided if the neighbor had complied with the Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act.

The Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, Florida Statutes Sections 515.23, 515.25. 515.27, 515.29, dictates that any private swimming pool built after Janaury 1, 2002 is required to have certain sfaety features to prevent young children from drowning. One safety feature required by the law is a 4' high child safety barrier to be in place around the perimeter of the pool. The pool involved in this case did not have that safety barrier in place at the time of the drowning. Had the pool owner placed the child safety barrier around the pool this tragic incident would probably not have occurred.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Cannon

13 Car Accident Causes Deaths

Craig Cannon — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:07:17 GMT

Heavy fog and smoke on The Florida Turnpike near Orlando caused a 13-vehicle wreck. The crash resulted in 5 wrongful deaths. Four other people were injured.

All five deaths occurred during the second crash, Florida Highway Patrol said in a statement. No one was injured in the first or third crashes.

Two people from Boynton Beach and one person from Gainesville were killed in the accident. A resident of Kissimmee was hospitalized in critical condition.

The accident required officials to shut down a 51-mile part of the turnpike to work the crash. The crash happened at about 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Osceola County.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Cannon

Motorcycle Crash Results in Wrongful Death

Craig Cannon — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 18:29:09 GMT

A resident of The Villages riding his motorcycle was killed when he crashed into a car. The motorcycle and car accident occurred in Ocala. The motorcycle rider was taken to the hospital where he as pronounced dead. The driver of the automobile did not suffer any serious personal injury.

The collision left the motorcycle in several pieces and the rider was thrown at least 13 feet from the point of impact.

The driver of the motorcycle that crashed was only 28 years old. The article does not indicate whether or not the fatally injured motorcycle driver was wearing his helmet.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Cannon

Federal Court Now Has Wrongful Death Case Against CNN Anchor

Shannon Weidemann — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:34:13 GMT

The parents of Melinda Duckett filed a wrongful death lawsuit against CNN Anchor Nancy Grace and the network. The case has been moved to federal court.

The family charges that Grace's interview with tough questions aimed at Duckett involving the disappearance of her 2-year-old son led her to commit suicide. The family is seeking damages and for the show to never be aired again. The boy has not been found and Duckett is the main suspect in the case.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann