St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyer

Drunk driver drags scooter of victim all the way home

2010-10-03T12:56:00+00:00

A 22-year-old woman is facing charges of Driving Under the Influence, driving on a suspended license, and leaving the scene of a crash with injuries following allegations that she struck a man riding a scooter. The drunk driving accident occurred Friday night at the intersection of 64th street South and Third Avenue South. The drunk driver rounded the corner and struck the scooter as it went by. According to police the drunk driver left the scooter driver behind and dragged the scooter along underneath her car all the way home. The driver of the scooter is in critical condition.

Investigating Hip Replacement Recall

2010-09-30T13:34:00+00:00

The lawyers at Beltz and Ruth are investigating several cases in the St. Petersburg and Tampa area involving the Depuy hip replacement system Johnson and Johnson recalled last month. After receiving over 200 reports of post-surgical complications, the company issued a voluntary recall. A recall of medical device is much more complicated than other recalls -- If a manufacturer recalls a part in in a car, you can return to the dealership - but it's not that easy with a surgical implant! Its difficult and often intimidating to determine your future risks and options. Secondary surgeries involve additional recovery time, difficult rehabilitation work and chances for additional complications. You don't have to answer these questions alone. If you or a loved one has experienced complications or have received a notification that you have a recalled implant, please call the experienced St. Petersburg hip replacement recall lawyers at 1-800-931-4369

Six-vehicle accident involving crane unresolved

2010-09-17T18:55:00+00:00

Ray Anthony cranes have been ordered off the road by federal inspectors at a rate higher than the average, according to investigation following Thursday's six-car pileup on Hillsborough Avenue at 56th Street.

Hillsoborough sheriff's deputy Deborah Walker, who was seriously injured in the accident, is now in fair condition. Various citations have been lodged against the crane company over the last year, at a rate significantly over the average, including complaints of employees lacking medical records, flat tires, and weight limit problems.

Inspectors suspect that the brakes failed on the 41-ton crane involved in Thursday's accident. Witnesses to the crash say that they saw a mattress left in the road get wedged under the crane, which may have contributed to the driver's inability to stop.

County admin involved in minor accident

2010-09-09T18:18:00+00:00

According to police, Hernando County Administrator David Hamilton was issued a citation last August 27 for careless driving.

The ticket was issued in connection with a minor accident at the intersection of Mildred and Jefferson streets, wherein Hamilton reached in the back seat for his satchel and his foot slipped off the break. His car rolled forward, bumping into the rear of the vehicle in front. No damage was sustained to either vehicle.

A county-policy mandated drug test following the accident returned no negative results.

"Lesson learned,'' Hamilton said of the incident noting he would pay his $149 fine and attend traffic school. "I am going to be a much more careful driver.''

Luckily, nobody was hurt in this accident. If you or someone you know has been injured by a reckless driver, contact the Reckless Driving Accident Attorneys of Beltz & Ruth at 1-800-931-4369.

Bus driver charged with careless driving

2010-08-23T14:39:00+00:00

A Pasco school bus driver who rear-ended a car on U.S. 41 was cited with careless driving last Wednesday by the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 38-year-old bus driver was taking 49 students to Land O'Lakes High School when the accident occurred around 7:15 AM. She was unable to stop the bus in time to avoid rear-ending the car in front of it just north of Causeway Boulevard.

While the driver of the 1999 Chevy that was struck suffered minor injuries, no one else was hurt. The driver was treated at Spring Hill Regional Hospital and released the same day.

Traffic was slowed around the scene of the accident for about one hour, and another bus was sent to pick the kids up and take them to school.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a negligent or reckless driver, contact the Reckless Driving Accident Attorneys of Beltz & Ruth at 1-800-931-4369.

Police ID Fort Myers Woman Killed in St. Petersburg Car Accident

2010-08-20T14:39:00+00:00

Police have identified a Fort Myers woman killed in a St. Petersburg car accident Wednesday.

According to officials with the Florida Highway Patrol, 77 year-old Karen Hay was killed Wednesday afternoon when her vehicle crossed the center lane of interstate 75 and slammed into an oncoming truck near North Port. Police say Hay was driving south near mile marker 180 shortly before 2:00 p.m. when her vehicle drifted out of the southbound lanes, crossed the median, and moved into the path of a northbound semi-tractor-trailer.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, Sarasota-resident Ramiro Vidal, swerved toward the shoulder to avoid a collision, but the front of Hay's car collided with the truck, a Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson said.

Hay was transported by Bayflite to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg following the crash, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 were closed for two hours while crews worked to clean up the accident.

$6.2 million awarded to man in medical malpractice suit

2010-08-13T10:32:00+00:00

In December 2002, 41-year old Jacksonville resident Cory Fine went to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida for gastric bypass surgery. A few days after the surgery Fine began having difficulty breathing. Fine was then taken to have a CT scan by a CT technician where he claims he told them that he felt like he was dying. Furthermore, Fine told the technician he did not think he would be able to breathe at all if he laid down flat for the scan. Despite this, no one at the hospital tested his oxygen saturation levels and the technician made him lie down for the CT scan. Fine died during the CT scanning procedure.

A jury in Alcachua County recently awarded $6.2 million to Fine's family in a medical malpractice lawsuit against Shands.

St. Petersburg Man Dead in Speeding Accident

2010-07-27T09:32:00+00:00

A St. Petersburg man is dead after a tragic accident Tuesday. Police say that a 24-year-old was speeding on North MLK Jr. Street.

He was weaving in an out of lanes, illegally passing cars. The driver has been identified as Joshua Joseph Klesssig. According to the St. Petersburg Times, "Around the 8200 block, Klessig tried passing a 2004 Dodge minivan driven by Danny Noah Harnage, 26, of St. Petersburg." Klessig underestimated the distance he needed to pass and clipped the minivan instead. This sent both cars spinning.

Klessig's Jeep careened into a light pole. He was not wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries to his upper body. The other driver, Harnage, was not injured in the accident.

Dogs Attack Woman on Bicycle

2010-07-21T09:44:00+00:00

According to The St. Petersburg Times, "Police arrested three people on animal cruelty charges after an investigation that began when two of their dogs escaped from an enclosed yard and attacked a woman riding her bicycle Monday night." 48-year-old Vanessa Watts was heading North on Ninth Street around 10:30 at night. According to police, two dogs broke out of a fenced yard as she pedalled by, pulling her from her bicycle. She was bitten on one arm and both her legs. Watts was able to run home and call for help.

Police told Animal Control to round up the dogs. When Animal Control arrived, the animals responsible for the attack were not there. They did recover two severely injured animals, however. According to The St. Petersburg Times, police are looking for the dogs, which are "blue pit pulls with gray coats."

Animal attacks can leave you seriously injured. If you or someone you know has suffered from an animal attack, contact your St. Petersburg Dog Bite Lawyers at Beltz & Ruth by dialing 1-800-931-4369.

Police Have Suspect in Weekend Pedestrian Hit and Run

2010-07-14T08:28:00+00:00

ABC Action News reports that police have found a possible suspect in a deadly hit-and-run pedestrian accident over the weekend.

74-year-old Shirley Harris was crossing South 4th Steet Saturday around 7:20 a.m. According to police, a 2004 Hyundai Sonata ran a red light, careened into a Dodge truck, then hit Harris. Harris flew over the car and onto the road where she died. The Sonata continued on its path. It then hit a parking meter and crashed into a building on North Fourth Street. After all that, the driver escaped and headed south.

Police have annound that 24-year-old Byron Sterling is a suspect, according to ABC Action News. He was arrested on unrelated charges, "nearly 12 hours after it happened on numerous charges including child abuse and throwing a deadly missile into an occupied vehicle," writes ABC Action News.