Personal Injury

Published on: June 28, 2013

Four People Taken to Hospitals with Injuries After Lake Worth Car Crash

Four people were transported to the hospital early Wednesday morning in Lake Worth after two cars collided. It was just after 2 a.m. when Tiffanie Hoffman slammed her 2006 Chevy Aveo into Bernice Greenblatt’s 2008 Honda Accord. Hoffman was driving west on Lake Worth Road and the crash happened at the intersection with Ohio Road, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Eighty-nine-year-old Greenblatt, a resident of Lake Worth, was driving east on Lake Worth Road and was attempting to make a left onto Ohio Road. She attempted to make the left turn, but failed to yield to thirty-five-year-old Hoffman, a West Palm Beach resident. Fire Rescue spokesman Capt. Albert Borroto said that when Palm Beach County Fire Rescue arrived on scene, they had to utilize cutting tools to free Hoffman, Greenblatt, another woman, and a child from the two vehicles. Two of the individuals were transported Delray Medical Center, one to JFK Medical Center, and another to Palms West Hospital.

Lake Worth car crash injures four people, www.palmbeachpost.com June 27, 2013

Published on: June 25, 2013

NYC Man Arrested After his Vehicle Swerves out of Control, Destroys Half a Block, and Injures Eight

by Friedland | Carmona

Eight people were injured in Manhattan’s East Village early Wednesday morning when a vehicle barreling down an avenue spun out of control, over a sidewalk, and into a storefront flower stand. The crash occurred around 6:30 a.m. and left half a city block in disarray. One of the individuals critically injured was a sixty-year-old grocery store worker. Shaun Martin, the driver of the vehicle, was arrested by police who said Martin was driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol.

Investigators are still unsure of how fast Martin was travelling down the road, but one witness, Dr. Alvaro Alban, stated that he saw two vehicles racing down Second Avenue at a high rate of speed. He said the cars were “swerving around” and that “when the white car swerved right, it lost control.” Martin was operating a rented Nissan Altima. After he swerved, he plowed through everything on the sidewalk, including a twenty-five-foot-tall tree, a telephone booth, parked bicycles, a parking kiosk, and a street sign. When the Altima hit the flower stand, it overturned an outdoor refrigerator case.

Numerous people were hospitalized, including three grocery store workers. Martin, a thirty-two-year-old resident of Queens, has faced drug possession and drunken driving charges before. Investigators are still looking into reports of a second car racing down the street. This crash occurred just three days after a drunk driver killed a woman walking on a sidewalk in Brooklyn and fifteen days after a teenager operating his parent’s vehicle without a license struck and killed a four-year-old girl. The number of pedestrians killed in New York City traffic accidents has dropped twenty-three percent since 2001 with one-hundred-forty-eight pedestrians killed last year.

Car jumps onto NYC sidewalk, hurts 8; man arrested, www.palmbeachpost.com June 19, 2013

Published on: June 20, 2013

Two Dead in Coral Gables After Rear-End Collision Involving North Miami DJ

by Friedland | Carmona

A well-known North Miami DJ is under investigation following a fatal automobile crash that occurred in Coral Gables in the early morning hours on Sunday, June 9. Police said a vehicle driven by twenty-six-year-old Ervens Prudent rear-ended another vehicle that was coming to a stop at a traffic light at the intersection of Southwest Eighth Street and Douglas Road. Maria Martinez, forty-four, and Marlon Gutierrez, thirty-four, both of Sweetwater, were in the automobile that was rear-ended. Both were killed.

The accident occurred around 1:20 a.m. when Martinez and Gutierrez were travelling east and slowing down for a traffic light. Prudent was also travelling east and was located directly behind Martinez and Gutierrez. For reasons yet unknown, Prudent’s vehicle failed to come to a stop and collided with the rear of the couple’s car, killing both at the scene. Police are unsure how fast Prudent was travelling at the time of the crash. Prudent was also seriously injured in the accident and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. The investigation of the incident is ongoing. No charges have been filed at this time.

Local DJ involved in crash that killed two in Coral Gables, www.miamiherald.com June 10, 2013

Published on: June 19, 2013

Fort Lauderdale Police Identify Two Men Killed by Out-of-Control Porsche

by Friedland | Carmona

Two men who were killed last Thursday after being run over by a Porsche have been identified by Fort Lauderdale Police. Samuel Artez Martindale, thirty-five, and Mackendy Jules, thirty, were in a parking lot near downtown Fort Lauderdale when the out-of-control vehicle jumped over a curb, drove through the bushes and mowed down both men. The parking lot where the two men were struck is located on the corner of Southwest Fifth Avenue and Broward Boulevard. The driver of the Porsche was twenty-two-year-old Alyza Rachel Russell.

Police said Russell may have been under the influence “of some substance” at the time of the crash, but the results of a toxicology report are pending. It may take up to eight weeks to obtain the results. Russell has not yet been arrested in connection with the death of Martindale and Jules. Detective DeAnna Greenlaw said Friday that a preliminary investigation revealed that Russell was travelling west on Broward Boulevard when she attempted to turn left onto Southwest Fifth Avenue. Instead of completing the turn correctly, Russell drove through the hedges on the corner and into the parking lot, an area where homeless people are known to hang out and sleep.

A witness said the scene appeared to be like one from a movie. The witness, Michael Lacey, said he “heard a screech and a loud crash” just after 2 a.m. A third person was seated on the curb at the time of the accident, but that person escaped unharmed. There were also two passengers inside the Porsche. The names of the third person sitting at the curb and the two passengers will not be released until investigations are complete. Greenlaw stated that red light cameras on Broward Boulevard may have captured the accident, but the video will not be released until investigations are complete.

Two men killed by Porsche identified, www.miamiherald.com June 14, 2013

Published on: June 4, 2013

Former NBA Player in Critical Condition After Car Accident in Georgia

by Friedland | Carmona

A former NBA star is reportedly in critical condition following a car accident in Clayton County, Georgia on Friday. Mookie Blaylock, a former point guard for the Atlanta Hawks, was one of three individuals injured in the head-on collision, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Blaylock was operating a Cadillac Escalade northbound on Tara Boulevard, stated Jonesboro police Chief Franklin Allen. For reasons yet unknown, Blaylock crossed over the median and drove into oncoming traffic.

After crossing the median, the Escalade struck another automobile head-on, causing injuries to the two people in that vehicle. All three individuals were transported to Atlanta Medical Center following the crash. Blaylock was put on life support and was unresponsive. The female passenger in the car that Blaylock struck was pronounced dead Friday evening. Blaylock’s condition improved slowly throughout the day and by Friday evening he was removed from life support. He remained in critical condition. A family member informed police that Blaylock has been under treatment for seizures.

Report: Former Hawks player Mookie Blaylock improves after car crash, www.miamiherald.com May 31, 2013

Published on: May 23, 2013

Eighteen Year Old Finally Able to Walk Again After Devastating Accident

by Friedland | Carmona

An eighteen-year-old Amesbury, Massachusetts resident is finally walking again, more than seven months after losing her leg in a horrific accident. Paige Fortin has endured a long road of recovery, including numerous surgeries and other setbacks, but within the past few weeks Fortin has been fitted with a prosthetic leg, and is now walking for the first time since the accident. Fortin received the prosthetic leg over a month ago, but did not begin wearing it consistently until now.

Many were likely quite skeptical that Fortin would ever walk again after she and her boyfriend were struck by a truck while riding a scooter last September. Both Fortin and her boyfriend, Josh Zaino, were knocked off of the scooter upon impact. Zaino did not sustain serious injuries, but Fortin’s right leg was catastrophically damaged. Fortin’s doctors said the injury was one of the worst they have ever seen. Fortin’s mother, Virginia Page, stated that it was likely Fortin’s leg was caught in a tire rotation when she was hit. Fortin’s leg was ultimately amputated. Fortin also suffered broken ribs, some road rash, a bruised lung and a broken femur. Fortin was wearing a motorcycle helmet when she was struck, which likely protected her from sustaining any head trauma.

In the months following the accident, Fortin underwent seven surgeries and two cleanup procedures, but she also dealt with numerous infections along the way that continually prolonged her recovery. Fortin has been in physical therapy and is adjusting well to her new leg, but she is still unable to run. Fortin says she is extremely appreciative of the fact that she can actually walk again, but hopes to work her way up to running in 5Ks someday.

Amesbury woman adjusting to life after amputation, www.palmbeachpost.com May 17, 2013

Published on: May 22, 2013

Head-On Collision Takes the Life of Ninety-Seven-Year-Old Woman

by Friedland | Carmona

A Broward County woman died Saturday as a result of injuries suffered in a head-on collision in suburban Delray Beach. According to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Cecile Steingart, a ninety-seven-year-old Coconut Creek resident, died Saturday afternoon at Delray Medical Center after her vehicle collided with an SUV near the intersection of El Clair Ranch Road and Atlantic Avenue.

According to a crash report, Steingart was a passenger in a 2003 Toyota driven by seventeen-year-old Fort Lauderdale resident Brian Holness. The Toyota was travelling west on Atlantic Avenue while a 2010 Chevrolet SUV driven by Michael Borino, forty-nine of Boyton Beach, was travelling east. Borino attempted to turn left onto El Clair Ranch Road when the vehicles collided head-on. Borino’s SUV came to a stop in the intersection and the Toyota driven by Holness came to rest in the northwest corner of the intersection.

According to witnesses at the scene, Holness drove through a red light. Holness suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash. Borino also sustained minor injuries. Another passenger in Holness’ Toyota, sixty-two-year-old Almira Segree of Delray Beach, sustained serious injuries. No charges have been filed at this time and investigations continue into the details of the accident.

97-year-old woman killed after after head-on collision in suburban Delray Beach, www.palmbeachpost.com May 20, 2013

Published on: May 17, 2013

Miami-Dade Truck Involved in Seven-Car Crash that Injured Five

by Friedland | Carmona

On Wednesday morning a Miami-Dade Transit pick-up truck was involved in a seven-car crash that seriously injured five people. Traffic travelling northbound on Southwest 42nd Avenue was stopped at the West Flagler Street light around 10:20 a.m. when one car started a chain reaction by rear-ending another car. The first car was the Miami-Dade Transit truck driven by Alfredo Menendez, fifty-seven. According to Miami police, Menendez crashed into the back of another car and then jumped a sidewalk and crashed into a bus bench where three individuals were sitting.

Police are still investigating what caused the initial accident. This accident then caused five other vehicles to crash into each other. According to Carlos Sanchez, one of the drivers that was involved in the crash, the Miami-Dade Transit truck just came barreling through and never stopped. Sanchez said he noticed three people that were injured pretty badly, including one man with a severed leg. All of those who suffered injuries in the accident were taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. This is not the first time this intersection has seen a tragic accident. In 2011, two cars collided, striking and killing a pedestrian at that same intersection.

Seven-car crash sends victims to hospital with serious injuries, www.miamiherald.com May 15, 2013

Published on: May 7, 2013

Woman Recovering After Attack by Five Pitbulls

by Friedland | Carmona

A twenty-seven-year-old woman is recovering in Daytona Beach after she was attacked by a group of dogs while walking with her young daughter in Flagler County. Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies stated that Brandy Bookamer suffered serious injuries from the attack that occurred around 8 p.m. Sunday evening. Her six-year-old daughter did not suffer any injuries in the incident.

When help arrived on scene, Bookamer was barely moving. The Daytona Beach News Journal reports that she had sustained puncture wounds and scratches all over her body. Bob Weber, Flagler County Sheriff’s Lt., stated that there were five dogs involved in the attack and that all were pit bulls. The dogs were taken away by Flagler County Animal Control. There is no news of further investigations or any information about the owner of the dogs that has been released at this time.

Woman mauled by 5 dogs in north Fla., www.palmbeachpost.com May 6, 2013

Published on: April 26, 2013

Victims of Boston Marathon Bombing Face Potentially Astronomical Medical Bills

by Friedland | Carmona

The victims of the Boston Marathon bombing face a pricey road of medical expenses ahead as they start their journeys on the road to recovery. An amputation alone, on average, costs at least $20,000, high-tech artificial limbs will require another $50,000, and physical therapy expenses will dictate tens of thousands more. These are just a fraction of the costs that victims will face in the coming months and years.

While victims may not be thinking of the medical bills piling up, their families, friends, and even strangers are setting up fundraisers and online “crowd-funding sites.” The City of Boston has already collected over $23 million in donations from individuals and corporations. No one knows at this time if these donations, combined with health insurance and other funds, will suffice to cover the medical bills incurred by the three killed and more than 260 injured in the attack. The injuries suffered range from at least fifteen with amputated limbs to countless others with head injuries and tissue torn apart by shrapnel.

Unfortunately, health insurance often does not cover some of the costs associated with these injuries. While health insurers typically pay for basic artificial limbs, they do not pay for more advanced models that provide life-like joints. Rose Bissonnette, through the organization she founded, the New England Amputee Association, is trying to help the victims by dealing directly with the insurance companies. Bissonnette stated she has already faced push-back from the insurance companies.

Boston victims face huge bills; donations pour in, www.miamiherald.com April 25, 2013