Jacksonville Personal Injury Blog

A 19-year-old from Atlantic Beach near Jacksonville suffered fatal injuries when the pickup truck in which he was riding got a flat tire and rolled over. The crash happened Thursday afternoon, January 14, 2010 at about 4:15 p.m. on Interstate- 95 and LPGA Boulevard in Daytona Beach.

The teen was one of two passengers ejected from the vehicle, a 2005 Ford, after the driver lost control and the car went into the grass median before overturning twice. He was not wearing a seat belt. The other passenger, a 21-years-old, also of Atlantic Beach, was not wearing his seat belt and was hospitalized. The 29-year-old driver from Atlantic Beach was wearing a seat belt and sustained minor injuries.

Our prayers go out to the family members of the young man who did not survive and the other injured man who was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach and is recovering. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Florida’s New Seat Belt Law
Many people argue that they should not have to wear a seat belt if they do not want to and they refuse to buckle up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 20% of drivers are still not buckling up.

Continue reading "19-Year-Old Killed in Daytona from Flat Tire, Rollover" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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A young woman was lucky to have survived a Ford Explorer SUV rollover that killed four of her classmates last June.

The teenager was one of nine inside the Explorer on the last day of school all heading to the beach when the car blew a rear tire and rolled. None of the occupants was wearing a seat belt and all were thrown from the car, except the driver, the only one wearing a seat belt.

That happened six months ago.

Tuesday, another SUV injured this woman, this time crashing through the wall of her bedroom narrowly missing the teen as she slept in her bed. The girl says she felt the ceiling fall in on her. Her father found her under four feet of debris after the SUV plowed into the house.

Luckily, a mattress shielded the girl who suffered a broken pelvis, broken ribs, cuts and bruises. It’s fair to say that she is lucky twice, or unlucky twice, depending on how you look at it.

Continue reading "Teen Critically Injured By SUV, Injured Again" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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A San Diego woman lost her ability to walk after her Ford Explorer rolled over and its roof collapsed on her spine, crushing it. She was awarded $369 million by jurors who sat and listened to the evidence against Ford. That amount was later whittled down to $83 million by an appellate judge.

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the punitive judgment to stand Monday rejecting an appeal from lawyers for Ford Motor Co. They had argued that punitive damages were unfair and unconstitutional since the design of the Ford Explorer met all safety standards set by the government and industry.

It seems that almost weekly we are reporting on Ford Explorer rollovers.

It was an Explorer filled with high school students who rolled on a Jacksonville road killing four of the teens in the Florida SUV rollover accident on the last day of school in June.

Notoriously unstable, until stability control was added, and with a high center of gravity, the Ford Explorer also had an insufficient roof strength that allowed it to collapse. In hearing the case, the jury heard that Ford could have strengthened the roof and avoided catastrophic head injuring for about $20 per vehicle.

Ford was joined by its friends at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the appeal. The Chamber usually sides with big business no matter what the issue and no matter how morally questionable the product made by the industry (asbestos, cigarettes etc).

Continue reading "$83 Million Judgment Against Ford for Rollover" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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A 14-year-old from Mississippi was killed Saturday in Laurel Hill, Florida while racing at a motocross park in an all-terrain-vehicle, or ATV. The accident happened at the West Florida Motocross Park in Walton County. Witnesses say that the ATV flew into the air after the driver topped a hill, throwing him over the handlebars and onto the ground. At that point, the ATVcrashed on top of him with such force that it split his helmet in half. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

As Christmas approaches, many parents might think getting an ATV for the kids is a good idea. Think again. Recently a five-year-old was killed in South Carolina, a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina, and a three-year-old boy in central Wisconsin. A 15-year-old from Georgia was killed when he lost control of an ATV and crashed in rural Chattooga County. While ATVs were developed as a fun sporting three-wheel vehicle for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, the next generation - the four-wheel version – includes the Yamaha Rhino side-by-side or SXS.

It has two bucket seats, an open cage with roll bar and no doors. The Rhino is a particularly dangerous type of ATV. Described as a “golf cart on steroids,” and a width of 54 inches and a high center of gravity, it is particularly prone to tip, even on flat surfaces or turning at slow speeds.

It’s fair to say this is an example of the tail wagging the dog. The Rhino SXS is new to the market and government regulations have not caught up with design. Classified as a recreational off-highway vehicle, or ROV, it is in a largely unregulated category of vehicle, not low speed, and not cars, and not exactly ATVs because it can go up to 40 mph.

CBS News tells the story of a young mother who went for a ride in the Yamaha Rhino in November 2005. Her husband sat next to her and their 2-year-old was in the back. Traveling down a rocky road in Arizona, the woman tried to turn left and flipped the Rhino causing it to roll onto the driver’s side. The woman hit her head on the roll cage and died instantly. Her husband suffered three skull fractures, while their boy was okay.

Continue reading "Rhinos, Rollovers and Death" »

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Posted In: ATV Accidents , Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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The city of Palatka is home to approximately 10,804 and has seen a 7.5% jump in population since 2000. As a popular city in Florida, Palatka only has a population density of 1553 people per square mile in its stretch of 6.96 square miles in size, which is fairly low compared to other cities comparable in size. Situated in Putnam County, a little over 20% of Palatka residents both live and work in the city. With such a large amount of people commuting within and outside of Palatka’s area limits, the reliance on privately owned vehicles is evident.

With the amount of vehicles on the road in Palatka in mind, an unfortunate occurrence of accidents, injuries, and death have been known to occur due to defective vehicles. Whether these catastrophic incidents are brought on by disjointed auto manufacturing standards or the negligence of a particular auto maker, the failure of auto parts can have damaging repercussions for drivers and passengers to endure.

One of the most controversial vehicles when it comes to auto product liability is the 15-passenger van. Despite continuous warnings about the risk and inadequacy of 15-passenger vans provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, consumers still buy and use these vehicles. Defective in their design, 15-passenger vans possess a high center of gravity that creates a vulnerability of “fishtailing” and overturning. Tire inflation which can cause a rollover accident is also a major issue of concern with 15-passenger vans.

When a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part causes innocent people to suffer serious injury, compensation may be sought on their behalf from negligent parties responsible for manufacturing the vehicle or its parts. The experienced Palatka auto product liability attorneys at Farah and Farah have many years of experience helping defective vehicle injury victims in receiving just restitution. Whether you think that your auto accident and resulting injuries were brought on by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our Florida personal injury lawyers can help. Please contact Farah and Farah today at our Palatka office for a free consultation:

(386) 328-2889
417 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, Florida 32177


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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident

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Amelia Island, Florida is situated just off the coast of Florida and is a bustling part of Nassau County. Also referred to as the “Isle of Eight Flags”, Amelia Island has a population of approximately 68,437 within 18.2 square miles. As visitors continue to flock to Amelia Island, tourism thrives and many are drawn to desirable camping sites, sailing spots, and the several festivals hosted by the island every year.

Considering the vast number of visitors and residents throughout Amelia Island, accidents, injuries, and even wrongful death take place as a consequence of vehicles that are defective in some way. Whether these incidents occur because of inefficient auto manufacturing standards or the pure negligence of a particular auto maker, the failure of auto components can inflict several harmful circumstances for drivers and passengers to overcome.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has continuously warned consumers against the potential dangers linked to the inefficiency of 15-passenger vans. However, these vehicles are still purchased and used. 15-passenger vans are poorly designed and create a significantly high center of gravity. Thus, the vehicles have a tendency to “fishtail” and overturn. Tire inflation problems also pose serious issues and can cause a rollover accident to take place.

As an auto product liability injury victim, you may be able to receive compensation from negligent parties to help pay for expenses associated with your grievances. The skilled Amelia Island auto product liability attorneys at Farah and Farah have devoted many years to helping defective vehicle injury victims obtain the restitution that they deserve. Whether you think your auto collision and subsequent injuries were caused by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury lawyers can help. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Amelia Island office for a free and confidential consultation of your case:

(904) 261-4440
501 Centre St.
Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034


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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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As the largest town within the Jacksonville Beach community, Jacksonville Beach has an estimated population of 21,849. The population of Jacksonville Beach has grown by 4% since the year 2000. Often called “Jax Beach”, the popular area is a major section of Duval County. In being called home by thousands, Jacksonville Beach also attracts several tourists throughout the year to its beautiful beaches and vast cultural attractions.

With its immense population and large amount of visitors taking to the road and local highways, it is an ill-fated reality that accidents, injuries, and even death take place in Jacksonville Beach due to defective vehicles. Whether these tragic incidents are caused by the negligence of a particular auto maker or auto manufacturing standards that are unorganized, the breakdown of auto components often create detrimental circumstances for drivers and passengers to endure.

At the head of auto product liability concern, the U.S. Department of Transportation has constantly cautioned consumers about the threat and inadequacy of 15-passenger vans. These vehicles are defectively designed due to possessing a high center of gravity which creates a tendency to “fishtail” and overturn. Additionally, 15-passenger vans have demonstrated serious problems with tire inflation which can cause a rollover collision. These accidents may sometimes lead to a roof caving in and seriously injuring anyone within the van.

Those who have been injured by a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part have legal rights and deserve to receive compensation from negligent parties. The skilled Jacksonville Beach auto product liability lawyers at Farah and Farah have years of experience helping defective vehicle injury victims obtain the restitution that is owed to them. Whether you believe your auto accident and resulting injuries were brought on by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury lawyers may be of assistance. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Jacksonville Beach office for a free consultation of your case:

(904) 249-2585
472 Osceola Avenue
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250


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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident

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The city of Jacksonville has a population of about 805,605 and is the most populated city in the state of Florida. Jacksonville is also the 12th most populous city in the U.S. Covering 874.3 square miles in size, Jacksonville is the biggest city in the country for total land area. As more and more people are drawn to the vast culture and lively nature of Jacksonville, the area’s popularity for tourism also increases. Taking the large amount of inhabitants and visitors throughout Jacksonville into consideration, accidents, injuries, and even wrongful death occur as a result of defective vehicles. Some of these incidents take place due to shoddy auto manufacturing standards or the negligence of a specific auto maker. Nevertheless, the failure of auto components can create numerous life-altering effects for drivers and passengers to endure.

One major point of concern for auto product liability and auto defects pertains to 15-passenger vans. Even with the U.S. Department of Transportation issuing warnings for consumers regarding potential dangers associated with the inefficiency of 15-passenger vans, these vehicles are still purchased and used. 15-passenger vans are defectively designed with a notable high center of gravity which creates a propensity to “fishtail” and overturn. Issues with tire inflation are also a serious problem with 15-passenger vans because this can contribute to a rollover collision.

Individuals who have suffered property damage, physical injury, or emotional trauma from an accident involving a poorly designed auto part or defective vehicle have legitimate legal rights. As an auto product liability injury victim, you may be able to receive compensation from negligent parties to help pay for expenses associated with your grievances. The skilled Jacksonville auto product liability lawyers at Farah and Farah have dedicated many years to assisting defective vehicle injury victims in obtaining the restitution that they deserve. Whether you believe your auto collision and resulting injuries were brought on by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury attorneys can help. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Jacksonville office for a free and confidential consultation of your case:

(904) 396-5555
10 West Adams Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202


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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident

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Situated within Columbia County, Florida, Lake City is also known as the “Gateway to Florida.” Lake City is a typical stop for travelers on their way to Southern Florida and is a popular tourist destination. The population in Lake City continues to increase and was recently estimated to be about 12,000. Columbia County, where Lake City is located, has approximately 68,000 inhabitants as of 2006. With such an array of residents and visitors taking to the road, it is an unfortunate actuality that accidents, injuries, and even death take place in Lake City as a result of defective vehicles. Some of these tragic incidents are caused by the negligence of a specific auto maker or are caused by inefficient auto manufacturing standards. No matter what the exact cause, the failure of auto parts can inflict serious ramifications on drivers and passengers.

15-passenger vans are a big concern when it comes to auto product liability and defective auto parts. Despite constant warnings from the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the inefficiently and danger of 15-passenger vans, consumers continue to purchase and travel in these vehicles. One of the issues associated with the vans connects to tire inflation which can contribute to a rollover crash. In addition, these vans are defectively designed and have a high center of gravity which can lead to the van “fishtailing” and/or overturning.

Those who have suffered from a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part in Lake City have valid legal rights and may be able to obtain compensation from negligent groups. The experienced Lake City auto product liability attorneys at Farah and Farah have many years of experience helping defective vehicle injury victims. Whether you believe your auto accident and subsequent injuries were caused by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury lawyers can help. Please contact Farah and Farah today at our Lake City office for a free consultation of your case:

(386) 754-7534
212 N. Marion Ave Suite 208
Lake City, FL 32055


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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident

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Orange Park, Florida is a prominent suburb of Jacksonville situated in Northeast Clay County. Located south of Jacksonville, Orange Park possesses a dynamic community full of culture and history. Orange Park’s population exceeds 180,000 and has a high population density. In addition to those who call Orange Park home, several visitors and passerby traverse along the local streets and highways in Orange Park.

Within its vast region, residents of Orange Park greatly depend on privately owned autos to get around. With its large population taking to the road, it is an ill-fated reality that accidents, injuries, and even death occur in Orange Park as a consequence of defective vehicles. Some of these catastrophic accidents are brought on by the negligence of a specific auto maker or are caused by disjointed auto manufacturing standards. No matter what the cause, the failure of auto parts can impose life-altering repercussions on drivers and passengers.

One of the most questionable modes of transportation when it comes to auto product liability is the 15-passenger van. Despite continuous words of caution from the U.S. Department of Transportation warning about the inefficiently and danger of 15-passenger vans, consumers continue to purchase and travel in these vehicles. One of the problems associated with the vans relates to tire inflation which can lead to a rollover accident. Also, these vans are defectively designed with a high center of gravity that can lead to the van “fishtailing” and/or overturning.

Those who have suffered from a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part have legal rights and may be able to acquire compensation from negligent groups. The skilled Orange Park auto product liability lawyers at Farah and Farah have many years of experience helping defective vehicle injury victims. Whether you believe your auto accident and consequent injuries were brought on by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury lawyers can assist you. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Orange Park office for a free consultation of your case:

(904) 264-0700
1534 Kingsley Avenue
Orange Park, Florida 32073


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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident

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Home to the longest-standing port in the continental U.S., the city of St. Augustine is often called “the nation’s oldest city.” Surrounded by beautiful beaches and museums, St. Augustine is home to approximately 12,157 residents and caters to many visitors passing through Northern Florida. As a well traversed area, St. Augustine is situated 60 miles north of Daytona Beach just 5 miles east of Interstate 95, and 40 miles south of Jacksonville.

With the immense population of St. Augustine taking to the road and local highways, it is an unfortunate reality that accidents, injuries, and even death take place due to defective vehicles. Whether these catastrophic incidents are brought on by incompetent auto manufacturing standards or the negligence of a particular auto maker, the failure of auto components can impose many negative consequences on drivers and passengers.

15-passenger vans are one of the most controversial vehicles when it comes to auto product liability issues. The U.S. Department of Transportation has repeatedly warned consumers about potential dangers associated with the inefficiency of 15-passenger vans. These vehicles are improperly designed in that they have a particularly high center of gravity which creates a propensity to “fishtail” and overturn. Problems with tire inflation are also an issue of concern with 15-passenger vans because this can contribute to a rollover accident.

Anyone who has endured injury due to a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part has legal rights and may be able to obtain recompense from negligent parties based on auto product obligations under the law. The experienced St. Augustine auto product liability attorneys at Farah and Farah have devoted many years to helping defective vehicle injury victims receive the restitution that they deserve. Whether you believe your auto accident and subsequent injuries were caused by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury attorneys can help. Contact Farah and Farah today at our St. Augustine office for a free and confidential consultation of your case:

(904) 797-7977
1301 Plantation Island Drive
Suite 206A
St. Augustine, Florida 32080


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The city of Brunswick is situated in southeastern Georgia approximately 30 miles north of Florida. Brunswick is well-known for a variety of reasons, a few of which include being home to the fourth-largest automobile port in the eastern United States and being the center of Georgia’s shrimp and crab industries. Brunswick’s estimated population was 16,235 in 2007 and it had a metropolitan population of 101,792.

In encompassing the twelfth-largest metropolitan area in the state of Georgia, Brunswick residents rely heavily on personally owned automobiles as transport throughout the vast counties of Glynn, Brantley, and McIntosh. With its immense population taking to the road and local highways, it is an unfortunate actuality that accidents, injuries, and even death take place in Brunswick due to defective vehicles. Whether these tragic incidents are caused by incoherent auto manufacturing standards or the negligence of a specific auto maker, the failure of auto components can have detrimental consequences on drivers and passengers.

At the forefront of auto product liability problems, the U.S. Department of Transportation has continually warned consumers about the danger and inefficiency of 15-passenger vans. These vehicles are defectively designed in that they have a high center of gravity which provides a propensity to “fishtail” and overturn. 15-passenger vans also have shown issues with tire inflation which can lead to a rollover accident.

Individuals who have suffered injury due to a defective vehicle or poorly designed auto part have rights and may be able to seek compensation from negligent parties based on auto product obligations under the law. The skilled Brunswick Georgia auto product liability lawyers at Farah and Farah have acquired many years of experience assisting defective vehicle injury victims in obtaining the restitution that they deserve. Whether you believe your auto accident and subsequent injuries were caused by a defect in a small passenger vehicle, truck, or 15-passenger van, our personal injury attorneys can help. Contact Farah and Farah today at our Brunswick, Georgia office for a free consultation of your case:

(912) 466-8896
4216 Coral Park Drive
Suite 107
Brunswick, GA 31520

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident

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He is the 15-year-old teen who went for a joy ride on the last day of school in June with an overloaded SUV that rolled, killing four of his friends.

Now 16-years-old, he is set to go to trial October 19th, charged with four counts of driving without a license, causing serious bodily injury and careless driving. Of the nine counts, eight are felonies.

Police say the teen was driving to the beach when a rear tire blew causing the SUV to flip. Several people claim that the teen actually kept the car on the road for quite a while after the tire blew. His defense attorney claims that the reconditioned tire was defective and never should have been sold. With a catastrophic tire failure, many were surprised that the State Attorney’s office decided to prosecute the teen at all.

The community of Jacksonville has been divided over this case. The teen was driving when he shouldn’t have been. At the age of 15, he didn’t even have a permit.

None of the nine individuals in the vehicle were wearing a seat belt, except for the teen driver standing accused in this case. He was unhurt when the vehicle rolled over on I-295 near Pritchard Road. That doesn’t exactly paint a picture of a reckless driver.

Continue reading "15-Year-Old's Trial for Auto Accident Wrongful Death to Begin" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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This mother is lucky her child wasn’t killed. Hopefully she has learned a lesson. A two-year-old was thrown from an SUV today in a single-vehicle wreck in St. Johns County.

It’s not known if the 24-year-old driver is the 2-year-old’s mother, but they have the same last name. The driver, of Elkton, Florida, was driving near Cowpen Branch Road down Florida 207. Riding in the vehicle was a 5-year-old and the 2-year-old who was not properly restrained in her child seat.

Just before 9:15 a.m., the driver started to drift onto the shoulder of the road. She overcorrected and as is typical with SUVs, any sudden turn of the wheel can send the vehicle out of control. Often they roll. In this case, the SUV slid into a ditch and overturned. The 2-year-old was ejected from the vehicle during the SUV rollover accident in Jacksonville, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 2-year-old was the only one who suffered injuries and not surprisingly, she was the only one who was not properly restrained, according to law enforcement. She was taken to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, but her injuries are not reported to be life-threatening, the FHP said.

Florida law says you must have all children restrained in the proper seat for their age. The 2-year-old needed to be positioned in the back seat, in a five-point harness with the car seat securely held by the seat belts. An older child, approximately ages 5 through 7 can usually be transitioned to a booster seat, depending on their size. A shoulder belt should be used on a child when it actually hits their shoulder and not their neck. Children should never be allowed to put a shoulder strap under their arm.

Continue reading "Two-Year-Old Thrown from Vehicle" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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A 16-year-old female and a number of other teens had attended a birthday party for a fellow friend who was turning 19. The party lasted until the early morning hours of July 27.

For some reason, the teens decided to leave the party house. That’s when the 19-year-old got behind the wheel of his pickup truck to drive everyone home. Since there were six kids and only three seats in the cab, three of the teens decided to ride in the bed of the pickup.

But according to police, the 19-year-old was driving recklessly and too fast in the 13000 block of Bartram Park Boulevard in Mandarin, just south of Jacksonville and Old St. Augustine Road. Traveling at twice the 40 mph speed limit, the pickup flipped, and rolled several times, throwing the 16-year-old girl and two others riding in the bed out of the vehicle.

The 16-year-old, a student at Lee High School, was pronounced dead at the scene of the auto accident in Jacksonville. Four other teens were seriously injured. Law enforcement said the truck appeared to have rolled over her. Another young woman was in critical condition.

Now the young male driver has been charged with vehicular homicide. He turned himself into the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office on Wednesday and was later released on $10,000 bail.
This month, if the deceased teen were still alive, she would have turned 17. Her family said that they would still celebrate her birthday and that she is still in their hearts.

Our hearts go out to the family of this young woman as well as the injured teen who was in ICU. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Continue reading "Teen Driver Facing Vehicular Homicide Charges for 16-Year-Old's Death" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Truck Accident , Wrongful Death

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All eyes in the investigation into what caused a Ford Explorer to roll several times and kill four teens, are now focused on a possibly defective tire.

On the last day of school in June, one young man and eight friends got into his girlfriend’s family Ford, a 1997 Explorer SUV. On the way to the beach, a tire blew. Among all of the teens, this young man was the only one wearing his seat belt. The attorney, who represents four of the families involved, told the judge that the Cooper Tire was defective because it had been in the shop two weeks earlier.

He said Dale Earnhardt Jr. could have been driving the vehicle. Once a tire blows, keeping a Ford Explorer on the road, especially the notoriously unstable cars made before Ford added stability control would have been impossible.

The tire company has faced seven federal product liability and personal injury lawsuits since 1997 and in July, a Florida appeals court upheld a $1.5 million jury verdict against the company after a blowout on I-10 killed a man.

At an exhibition football game at Ed White High School, the four teens were remembered in a moment of silence. Our hearts go out to the parents of the children, who clearly had a tough time attending the game, but were grateful that their children are remembered.

The 15-year-old young man who was driving is facing four counts of driving without a license in the deaths of all four of his friends, who were killed when his SUV wrecked. This teen is also facing four counts of driving without a license causing serious bodily injury, and careless driving. That is a total of nine counts, eight of which are felonies. He is on home detention. For now, another high school, football practice, and church are the only activities he is allowed.
In an exclusive interview with the Florida Times Union after he was charged, the young man says he felt the left rear tire separate causing the car to pull strongly to the right then roll after it drifted into the grass off the right emergency lane.

Continue reading "Teen Faces 9 Charges in Fatal Wreck" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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The Florida Highway Patrol reports that two people were injured last Wednesday when a pickup truck driver lost control of his vehicle and rolled, landing on its roof. According to FHP, a 21-year-old man was driving on SR A1A around 1:19 a.m. at the intersection of Grandview Road near St. Augustine Beach.

The driver was taken to Shands Jacksonville with serious injuries after being thrown from the pickup and through a privacy fence. His passenger, also a 21-year-old male, was trapped in the truck and taken to Flagler Hospital.

A blood alcohol test will be conducted and charges could be filed depending on the result. We wish these young men the best for a speedy recovery. The responding officers did a great job in getting the second man out of the vehicle and to the hospital.

I wish we knew more information such as, what kind of car was involved. Was a cell phone found at the scene and had the driver been texting? Were the occupants wearing their seat belts? What speed were they traveling and what were the road conditions at the time?

We hope these young men pull through, but speeding or road conditions and any of the above, including alcohol consumption, just doesn’t mix with driving.

Florida had more than 22,000 alcohol related crashes with more than 1,100 alcohol related fatalities across the state in 2008. Additionally there were more than 15,700 alcohol related injuries. Labor Day weekend in Florida is reported to be among the deadliest for drivers. Last year 36 people lost their lives on Florida roads and alcohol contributed to 12 of those deaths.

Continue reading "Two Hurt in Single Vehicle Wreck" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Drunk Driving Accident , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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This is becoming a weekly report. Another older model Ford Explorer SUV has rolled over, this time killing a woman from North Florida. A 44-year-old woman from Hilliard was driving on County Road 108 near Amos White Road about 5:10 p.m. She suddenly swerved onto the right shoulder. It was raining at the time. The Florida Highway Patrol reports the SUV crossed a culvert and then overturned, hitting a tree in the process. The woman was taken to Shands Jacksonville where she was pronounced dead. The Florida Highway Patrol reports she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the SUV rollover accident in Jacksonville.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this woman for their loss. Our office offers our deepest sympathies to them as they go through this difficult time.

According to the Florida State Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Data, in the five years from 2003-7, Nassau County had 85 traffic crash deaths and the county has had significantly higher increases in traffic crashes, injuries and deaths than the Florida average. Also in that time period, more people were pulled over for driving with a suspended or revoked license or with a DUI in Nassau County than other counties in Florida.

At the same time there were fewer traffic citations given in Nassau County than in the rest of Florida.

We don’t have much information on how this accident happened. Was the driver distracted? Was she having a reaction to medication? Were the roads simply too slick to get control of the car? We also don’t know if there might be another driver at fault who caused her to go off the road or whether her car malfunctioned.

Continue reading "Hilliard Woman Killed in SUV Accident" »

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There is still a lot of confusion out there over the “Cash For Clunkers” program, primarily whether it is still alive. First Coast car dealers seem to be moving ahead with the program despite the question about depleted funds, according to an article.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be administering the program and the official website you can check to see if your car qualifies.

New car buyers are receiving anywhere from $3,500 to $4,500 credit on their old gas guzzlers, presumably to trade the vehicle in for a more gas efficient vehicle. Early reports were that the $1 billion program was tapped out, but the government has approved more money to extend the program.

In Jacksonville, Duval Ford employees are reportedly working late into the night submitting documents to the Department of Transportation. The dealership received about 25 clunkers last weekend alone, all rated at 18 miles per gallon or worse.

One of the top cars for trade-in is the Ford Explorer. In fact the top four spots on the list of trade-ins are taken by the Ford Explorer - 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999. 1995 and 1994 help round out the Top 10 list.

Not only is this a good idea because of the gas guzzling engines, but up until 2005, the Ford Explorer was a very unstable car. In late 2005, the Explorer SUVs came equipped with Roll Stability Control, featuring roll-rate sensing and correcting capability to allow drivers to more easily maintain vehicle control during extreme maneuvers such as correcting the steering wheel when the car was drifting off the road. Stability control debuted on the 2003 Volvo XC 90 and Lincoln SUV in 2004.

Continue reading "Cash for Clunkers: Good Riddance Rollover Cars" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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An 18-year-old, who was driving a pickup truck that rolled and killed a passenger last January, has been charged with DUI manslaughter, according to a story. The 18-year-old male of Bryceville was driving eastbound on Roy Booth Road, just south of Callahan, when his truck veered off the road at a curve, then traveled through a ditch, back across the roadway and then overturned. A 20-year-old male passenger of Callahan was killed.

We offer our sincere condolences to the family of this young man who left this world at such a young age. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated and determined that the 18-year old was the driver. Initially there were some claims he wasn’t, and that alcohol was involved. DUI manslaughter charges will be added to vehicular manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, and failure to wear a seat belt. The 18-year-old in this Florida drunk driving accident faces fifteen years in prison for one night of carelessness in his criminal case.

In a civil case, a personal injury attorney will need to be involved to ensure the defendant is not allowed to deny that DUI was a factor in any wrongful death lawsuit to follow. Determining the driver was drunk establishes that they were driving recklessly and could open the door to punitive damages against the drunk driving teen.

In this particular case, it is not clear why the decedent was ejected from the pickup truck. Family members may want to determine whether he was wearing a seat belt and whether the restraint system worked as it is supposed to. Generally, the assumption is that the passenger was not wearing a seat belt, when the truth may be that the product, the seat belt, was defective in some way. In that case, the family may have a Florida auto product liability action against the vehicle manufacturer or the maker of the seat belt.

Continue reading "Nassau County DUI Accident Kills Passenger " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Drunk Driving Accident , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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A 16-year-old high school girl was killed early Monday morning on July 27, 2009 when a pickup truck in which she was riding along with six others, over corrected, then struck a curb and overturned, according to an article. The teen, a student at Lee High School, was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. We are so sorry for the loss of this young person. Our hearts go out to her family at this tragic time.

We now know that there were six people in all were in the small pickup truck, three in the cab and three in the bed. All three in the bed were thrown out when the vehicle appeared to be traveling too fast around a curve in Bartram Park Boulevard, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Another passenger from the cab is also reported to be in critical condition with a broken neck, vertebra, and broken ribs. Altogether, four others were injured. The car crash in Jacksonville happened around 4 a.m. according to JSO. Alcohol use was involved, according to law enforcement.

Investigators have determined the teens were at a birthday party that wrapped up early Monday morning. When the party was over, the three jumped into the truck bed for the ride home.

The driver is now identified as a 19-year-old whose birthday everyone had just celebrated.

Continue reading "Jacksonville Rollover Pick-Up Truck Accident Kills Teen" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Drunk Driving Accident , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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A car accident in Florida happened along U.S. 1 in the Northeastern part of the state around 5 p.m. Saturday, according to a report. A Hilliard woman is in critical condition after a car riding nearby slammed into her SUV, causing it to roll.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, both the car and SUV were traveling north. A 50 year-old driver’s car went out of control and struck the SUV. The 45 year-old woman inside the SUV was taken to Shands-Jacksonville with critical injuries. The other driver suffered minor injuries. FHP says charges may be filed.

Our condolences go out to both drivers and especially the woman in critical condition for a speedy recovery from this Florida SUV rollover accident.

According to state statistics, almost one-third of traffic fatalities involve a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher, although we do not know at this time whether alcohol was involved in this accident.

In 2006, there were 959 alcohol-related fatalities in Florida. Under Florida law, DUI or driving under the influence of alcohol is measured at a 0.08 or above blood alcohol level (BAC).

The penalties in the state for a first conviction are no less than $500 nor more than $1,000. When the blood/breath level is .15 or higher, the fines rise to no less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000. Fines go up from there for a second, third of fourth conviction. But when jail time is added at the court’s discretion, it usually gets the attention of the driver. A person can be sent to a residential alcoholism or drug abuse treatment program - for a first conviction for no more than six months.

Continue reading "Florida SUV Rollover Accident Critically Injures Woman " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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A woman was killed and two others were injured in a head-on crash early Friday morning in Columbia County in North Florida. According to a story, a 37-year old driver’s SUV was heading west on I-10. She struck a vehicle driving east with a 25-year-old woman of St. Petersburg behind the wheel. The problem is that the SUV was going east in a westbound lane. When she struck the other vehicle, the SUV left the road and went into the median and overturned. The SUV driver, of St. Augustine, died at the scene of this tragic auto accident in Florida.

The other driver and her passenger were injured when her car spun around. The Florida Highway Patrol will try to determine if alcohol was involved in this crash.

The wreck happened about 1:45 a.m. near the I-75 exchange.

Once again, we are reporting on an SUV that rolled after a collision. There is no word on what kind of SUV this was, but they all have a high center of gravity making them less stable than a car lower to the ground.

Often the problems of death due to rollovers are associated with a design defect that the vehicle manufacturer knew about.

Continue reading "Columbia County Auto Accident Kills One, Injures Two " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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We’ve heard this story too often lately. Driving down an interstate a tire blows and the Ford Explorer rolls. It happened last Wednesday to a couple driving on Interstate 75 in Alachua County. According to an account, around 2 p.m. their Explorer had a blowout causing it to roll several times and landing in several trees. The Florida Highway Patrol arrived on the scene and along with Alachua rescue workers had to rescue the couple from the vehicle. Both suffered serious injuries from the car accident in Florida, but thankfully both were wearing their seat belts. That move, which only takes a second, likely saved their lives.

We wish them the very best in their recovery. They are lucky to be alive.

While the reporter does not say how old the Ford Explorer was, until recent models, that SUV was known to be top heavy with a tendency roll. Stability control was standard in the Ford Explorer beginning in 2005 and an option before that. The roof strength was also lacking, making a head injury possible. People not strapped in were known to be ejected from the vehicle and then suffer traumatic head injury. I can’t tell you how many times we have seen the same unfortunate situation time and time again.

The other consideration for any vehicle is the life of the tires. You practically need a secret decoder ring to read the date of a tire. The last number of the DOT tells you when they were made – the week and year.

And just because you buy ‘new” tires and they look new, does not mean they really are new nor does it eliminate the possibility that you have defective tires. Used tires can look new also. Tires are supposed to have a shelf life of about six years as a guideline, but there are many other things to consider such as the climate where they drive.

Continue reading "SUV Accident Caused by Blowout, Explorer Rolls" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Auto Product Liability , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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Last week, we remembered nine teenagers who decided to cut the last day of school, pile into a 1997 Ford Explorer and go to the beach. On the way there, the 15-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle, which rolled, tossing everyone out, except the driver who was the only one wearing a seat belt. Three teens died that day; now a recent report states that a fourth, a teenage girl, has died as a result of the Florida rollover accident.

The 15 year old girl died Monday morning, June 15, at Shands Hospital. All but one of the teens attended Ed White High School in Jacksonville. Other students are still listed in critical condition.

Our condolences go out to the parents, friends, and teachers of these young people.

The Florida Highway Patrol reports that the tire in the overloaded vehicle either lost its tread or blew out. Someone reconstructing the accident would want to know what type of tire this was.

Tires on the vehicle could have been recalled, had no tread, or been improperly inflated. More than 200 deaths and 700 injuries have been blamed on the Explorer rolling after the tread separated from Firestone tires, which were standard equipment on the Explorer.

The Explorer is notorious for rollovers, especially the older models. A 1997 model did not have the stability control that is added today after thousands of passengers lost their lives in the unstable vehicles. An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report in 2005 found that Explorers made between 1999 and 2002 had the fourth highest rate of driver wrongful death of all of the 47 SUVs in the study.

Continue reading "Fourth Student from Ed White Dies Following Explorer Rollover" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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It is a standard that hasn’t been updated for 35 years, despite the fact that every year about 10,000 passengers die in rollover crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has now agreed to double the requirement for the roof strength that a vehicle must be able to withstand to three times the weight for cars that weigh up to 6,000 pounds. This is essential if a passenger has any chance to survive a rollover accident. It is also an improvement from the 2.5 times a vehicle’s weight, which was previously proposed.

The proposed improvement should save lives and prevent at least 1,000 injuries a year, according to federal estimates. Previously, the law required the roof withstand only 1.5 times its weight.

Consumers may not understand it, but before the final rule was issued, very restrictive language was included that would have preempted or restricted lawsuits filed in state courts against automobile manufacturers. That language was removed from the final rule.

And while dynamic testing was left out of the rule - that is, testing roof strength when the car is in motion- the testing protocol will now include both sides of the car. Previously a test was conducted in less than real-world circumstances with a metal plate pressed against the vehicle’s roof on one side, then the other. Experienced Florida car accident attorneys understand from the cases they’ve seen that this is not what happens when a vehicle rolls. When a vehicle leaves the road and begins to roll, the pressure hits one side and weakens the roof causing it to crush in; then as the vehicle continues to roll, the other side receives the pressure, leading to the roof crush.

Continue reading "Car Roof Strength Standards Updated " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident

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Nine teenagers decided that they’d end the school year by cutting out and heading to the beach. So the teens from Ed White High School in Jacksonville got inside a 1997 Ford Explorer last Friday morning for a day in the sun. Instead, their family, friends, and schoolmates are mourning the death of three, and the injury of six after the SUV rolled several times and crashed on I-295.

According to a report, 15-year-olds Kimber Krebs and John Kiely, and 17-year-old Dennis Stout were all killed in the SUV rollover in Jacksonville. Three others remain in critical condition when they flew out of the rolling car. Only the driver, 15-year-old Brandon Hodges was wearing a seat belt. He walked away while two others are in fair condition at a local hospital.

It’s almost hard to believe, but at a church service Saturday, the parents didn’t blame the driver, instead they recognized that their children all made some bad decisions. Our hearts go out to these parents at their time of grief.

Florida law says that if you have a learners permit, you must be with a licensed driver over the age of 21. It’s not known if Hodges had a learner’s permit but no one in the car was older than 17. Charges are reportedly pending against the young teen.

Florida also has a mandatory seat belt law, but teens are notorious for not wearing their seat belts. Among the 4,540 teenagers killed in a vehicle accident in 2007, more than half were unbelted at the time of the Florida auto accident. At night, the rate of use is even lower with nearly two-thirds of 16- to-20 year olds killed in a car accident unbelted at the time.

An experienced law firm also has to inquire about the type of tire that was on the Explorer. Lawsuits have been filed against Ford for the Explorer’s Bridgestone/Firestone tires that were unsafe and had a tendency to de-tread. In this case, the Florida Highway Patrol reports that a rear tire blew out and the driver lost control.

Many of those recalled Firestone tires are still on the road. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident, you should look into what kind of tire your vehicle has and seek a skilled Jacksonville car accident attorney to help you determine what happened to cause the accident. At Farah and Farah, our personal injury and product liability lawyers are dedicated to defending the rights of those injured by another person’s negligence. Let us help you hold those accountable for your injuries. Contact us today for a free evaluation.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Rollover Accident , Wrongful Death

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A woman is hospitalized after her car swerved, flipped, and crashed into a utility pole in a serious auto accident in Florida on Jacksonville’s Westside last Tuesday night.

Witnesses say they saw the car swerve on Shindler Rd as if it were passing a vehicle, but there was no vehicle to pass. The car then flipped and hit a utility pole and broke it in half, according to a report. The female driver was taken to the hospital. At this time we do not know her condition, but we hope she survives and is not seriously injured.

Another driver was not so lucky. On the Northside, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office say a 23-year-old man traveling at a high rate of speed took a turn too fast, hit a mailbox, tried to correct and his car flipped several times. He was taken to the hospital where he later died due to the Jacksonville auto accident. Our condolences go out to his survivors for his loss.

Both of these cases highlight the importance of roof strength to keep the motorist alive in the event of an auto accident. Rollover accidents in Florida are among the deadliest crashes on our roads today killing about 10,000 people every year from head and neck injuries that occur when the roof caves in.

Ford experienced millions in lawsuit losses when it was revealed that engineers had encouraged stronger roof strength, but Ford had argued that roof strength did not affect the outcome of a crash.

New regulations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, will make the roof resistance capable of withstanding a force equal to three times the weight of the vehicle. Currently the standard is 1.5 times the weight for light vehicles up to 6,000 pounds.

NHTSA plans on implementing a 1.5 times standard for heavier vehicles that range from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds. Previously there was no standard.

The improvements will also include an electronic stability control system that helps prevent rollovers in the first place.

The bad news is we have to wait. The phase-in will begin in September in three years and should be completed after the 2017 model. That’s eight years away for something that should have been standard operating procedure.

Consumers should not have to wait for improvements that long ago were proven to save lives. An experienced Jacksonville personal injury attorney at Farah and Farah can determine whether roof crush standards caused catastrophic neck injuries that led to an injury or death. Waiting another eight years does not let car manufacturers off the hook from that reality.

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Posted In: Rollover Accident

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