Tampa Personal Injury Law Blog

How many drinks are too many to drive?

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland posted in drunk driving accidents on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

Some people will find any reason to have an alcoholic beverage. They may be going to happy hour after work, they may be celebrating a holiday or special occasion, or they may be taking a trip to the beach or going camping. While these events can be fun, if a person consumes alcohol and then tries to drive home, it can lead to a drunk driving accident that could injure others on the road.

Most people in Florida understand that if a person's blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08% of above, they are too drunk to drive safely. However, even if a person's BAC is below the legal limit, any alcohol they have consumed could still affect their ability to safely operate their vehicle.

Man severely injured in Tampa motorcycle crash

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Friday, April 19, 2019.

A man suffered severe injuries while riding his motorcycle on Interstate 275 in the Tampa area. Ultimately, his injuries proved to be fatal. According to statements from law enforcement officers investigating the accident, the man was attempting to exit the freeway at the time of the accident. The driver of a car moved into the exit lane on the freeway, striking the motorcyclist with the vehicle's right sideview mirror.

The force of the blow sent the motorcyclist onto the shoulder of the road and then into a nearby guardrail. The woman driving the car did stop at the scene of the accident and cooperated with police. She was not hurt in the accident, and it was not clear if authorities planned to file charges or issue a traffic citation.

Distracted driving measure works way through legislature

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland posted in auto-pedestrian accidents on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

As readers of this blog know, we have been following the Florida Legislature's efforts to toughen the state's laws which prohibit distracted driving. Since 2013, texting and driving has been illegal in Florida, but police are only allowed to write a ticket if they have evidence of another traffic violation.

Like the federal Congress, Florida's Legislature has two distinct bodies, a House and a Senate. We've reported on the Senate's efforts to draft a proposal that would make distracted driving a so-called primary offense, meaning that police who observe it can pull a motorist over and write a ticket, even if the motorist was otherwise doing nothing wrong.

People often choose their jobs over traffic safety

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland posted in Car Accidents on Saturday, April 6, 2019.

Many people in the greater Tampa area know that their jobs are important for their livelihoods and thus do what they can to keep their employers happy. This desire to get ahead at one's workplace means, among other things, that an employee will be available to communicate remotely.

Indeed, many employers have come to expect their employees to respond to communications outside of normal work hours.

The reason behind the increase in pedestrian-involved accidents

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

When a car strikes a pedestrian, the results of that type of collision are most often catastrophic. Pedestrians are unprotected against the impact of a car or other type of passenger vehicles, and they are extremely vulnerable to injury, even in a low-speed collision. Unfortunately, statistics indicate that pedestrian-involved accidents are at a 30-year high.

In 2018 alone, just over 6,000 pedestrians died in auto accidents across the country. You probably will not be surprised to learn that many of these accidents take place in big cites where there are more people traveling by foot, including a few cities in Florida. Some believe that one reason for this troubling trend is a lack of pedestrian friendly zones, and while this may play a role, many believe the true culprit is distraction and more larger vehicles on the road.

Accident-related brain injuries can have a long-term impact

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland on Monday, April 1, 2019.

A car accident can change the lives of those involved in many ways. From significant personal property damage to serious injuries, the impact can be long-term. This is especially true for those who suffer brain injuries, which is one of the most common types of car accident injuries. Even a minor brain injury can lead to major complications and side effects.

No two brain injuries are the same. If you have this type of injury as a result of a car crash in Florida, or you have a loved one struggling with a traumatic brain injury, you know how complex it can be. People who have these injuries can have side effects that last for months or years. It may be helpful for you to learn about this type of injury, signs of a problem and what to expect from recovery.

Commercial drivers are able to prevent jackknifes

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland posted in commercial vehicle accidents on Thursday, March 28, 2019.

One of the scariest things a Tampa resident may see on or alongside the road is the site of a truck that has jackknifed. Usually, the vehicle will be twisted in to an awkward shape, and it may even lay on its side. Unfortunately, there is a reason why a jackknifed truck is scary. Often, as they crash, a jackknifed truck will sweep or otherwise collide with other vehicles around it. Especially given the huge size difference between a car and a semi-truck, the end result can easily be a serious commercial vehicle accident that can leave people seriously injured.

Jackknifes are more common in semis because the vehicle actually consists of two separate, but connected, parts. The tractor, or front of the truck, includes the motor and the driver's cab, while the longer trailer includes the load the trucker is trying to haul.

Drunk, drugged driving factors in to many Florida accidents

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland posted in drunk driving accidents on Thursday, March 21, 2019.

With Saint Patrick's Day just passed and the summer holidays on the horizon, it may be helpful to remind Tampa residents that drinking or doing drugs and then driving can turn an evening of fun in to a preventable tragedy.

According to statistics compiled by our state, there were a total of 402,385 motor vehicle crashes in 2017. In these accidents, 254,310 people had an injury that was significant enough to get reported. Additionally, 3,116 people died due to motor vehicle accidents in 2017.

Florida distracted driving measure moving forward

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland posted in auto-pedestrian accidents on Friday, March 15, 2019.

To follow up on a previous post from late February, a committee within the Florida Legislature has moved forward with a tougher measure designed to further prevent distracted driving in this state.

The measure under consideration would apply to all forms of distracted driving, and not just texting and driving. Texting and driving is already prohibited in Florida. The new measure would also prohibit behavior like trying to read while driving or even applying another a quick touch-up of makeup.

Teen driver's vehicle flipped, leaving him critically injured

On behalf of Culpepper Kurland posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

A teenager who was driving in a town about 60 miles away from the heart of Tampa, Florida, was critically injured recently in a hit-and-run accident. The accident was recorded on a security camera.

Based on initial reports, the teenager appears not to have been at fault for this car crash. It appeared from video that the teen was traveling along a major federal highway when the driver of a minivan pulled out in front of him. The driver of the minivan was trying to turn on to the same highway.