Teen Killed While Standing On Shoulder of Florida's Turnpike

A 16-year-old Apopka, Florida boy was struck and killed by a car while standing on the right shoulder of the Florida turnpike, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Moments before he was hit, the teen was involved in a fender bender accident with another motorist. He turned on the emergency flashers and was standing on the passenger’s side of his vehicle when he was hit by a Nissan. He died at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that struck the teen said she had fallen asleep behind the wheel. She was treated at the hospital for minor injuries. The crash is still under investigation.

Falling asleep while driving is an all too common occurrence. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. The result is approximately 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries. Because not everyone reports all sleep-caused accidents, the actual number is most likely much higher.

Proving negligence in driver fatigue accidents is quite difficult unless the driver admits he/she fell asleep at the wheel. Whether the negligent driver admits fault or not, in order to seek compensation the victim will need to provide evidence to support a personal injury or wrongful death claim. The best way to pursue such claims is to consult an experienced attorney.

Let’s assume that an attorney takes this case but the family has been advised that a settlement may realistically take one to two years. Let’s also assume that the family has unpaid funeral and burial expenses, in addition to their normal monthly household bills. What can they do to avoid debt?

After retaining an attorney and beginning their pursuit of the litigation, this family may be interested in lawsuit funding. Lawsuit funding allows the plaintiff to obtain justice without coming up short financially because the insurance company delayed and refused the claim as long as possible.

There is no cost to apply for lawsuit financing, no hassles, no credit check, no upfront fees and no monthly payments. If the plaintiff qualifies for a lawsuit cash advance, the money can be available within 24 – 48 hours by check or wire.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, you may benefit from lawsuit funding.This legal finance service is not for everyone, but when you are facing financial hardship, our financing can be a very powerful tool. Don’t settle for less than you deserve; contact Lawsuit Financial to determine if lawsuit funding is an option for you.

About Lawsuit Financial
Lawsuit Financial Corporation is a pro-justice lawsuit funding company that seeks to educate plaintiffs and attorneys about lawsuit funding. Our company is an attorney owned and operated full service legal finance company recognized by attorneys nationwide as a preferred choice for legal funding services. Mark Bello, CEO and General Counsel, is recognized as an expert in this field, both as an underwriter of these transactions and as an advocate for appropriate treatment of plaintiffs/clients in this industry and in litigation.

Walk This Way to Safety

When a car strikes a pedestrian, the consequences of the accident can be devastating for the victim According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2012, 4,743 pedestrians were killed, an increase of 6 percent from 2011 and the highest number of fatalities in the last 5 years. On average, 42 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur on roads without proper crosswalks, with another 21 percent on roadways in which a crosswalk was available, but the pedestrian wasn’t using it. A recent pedestrian accident stresses the importance of walking in a crosswalk and obeying rules of the road.

A Texas man was killed while about 10 p.m. as he tried to cross a road. Police do not believe the pedestrian, who was wearing dark clothing, was crossing in a crosswalk when he was struck by the vehicle. Witnesses said the man was clipped by one car then hit and killed by another vehicle. An investigation is ongoing.

Pedestrians are at risk whenever they cross the roadway. Using available crosswalks and ensuring crosswalk safety is enforced can greatly reduce the risk. It is safest to walk on a sidewalk, but if one is not available, walk on the shoulder and face traffic. Pedestrians should also increase their visibility at night by carrying a flashlight and wearing retro-reflective clothing. And, never assume a driver sees you. Always be cautious when sharing the road with vehicles. Perhaps the greatest defense against pedestrian accidents is caution from both motorists and pedestrians alike.

If you or a loved one is seriously injured in a pedestrian accident that was not your fault (or, was only partially your fault), you may be able to recover damages for medical bills, loss wages, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of financial support, and funeral expenses. Contact personal injury attorney who specializes in handling pedestrian accident. Determining fault in a pedestrian accident can sometimes be a complicated process. Insurance companies will sometimes try to reach a quick settlement and limit recovery to the lowest possible amount. Don’t agree to settle too early for too little; always consult with an attorney before considering any offer of settlement.

If your case is dragging on, but the bills and expenses keep piling up, you should consider lawsuit funding. An experienced, legal finance company can provide the financial assistance you need to get through the litigation process without having to settle under severe financial distress. Ask your attorney for advice on whether auto accident lawsuit funding would be the right move for your situation. There are no application fees, credit checks, employment history verifications, or monthly payments. Best of all, repayment is only made when a settlement is reached. If the case is lost, our repayment is lost. Applying for funding takes less than five minutes, and a funding decision can be often be made within 24 – 48 hours.

If you were in a pedestrian-auto accident and awaiting justice, don’t let your bills wait and ruin your credit. Call Lawsuit Financial or visit us online for more information or to complete and application.

A Wake-Up Call for Your Safety and the Safety of Others

Many people are so wrapped up in their busy lifestyles that they often fail to get enough rest. For many, it is not uncommon to yawn while heading to work on Monday mornings. While some may see this sort of sleepiness as normal, data indicates that fatigued driving is a serious safety concern.

 

Driver fatigue and/or drowsy driving can be factors that prove just as dangerous as those related to drinking and driving. Lack of sleep in combination with operating a motor vehicle, can be extremely dangerous. When people experience driver fatigue, their decision-making skills and reaction time are negatively affected; they often fail to take any evasive actions such as braking or swerving.

One of the most tragic things about drowsy driving accidents is that they are completely preventable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drowsiness is responsible for at least 100,000 auto accidents every year, with 1,550 resulting deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in costs. Experts believe that these figures might underestimate the magnitude of the driver fatigue problem. The actual numbers are almost certainly much higher since driver fatigue accidents are difficult to quantify; there is no drowsiness test comparable to blood alcohol testing for drunk drivers.

Falling asleep at the wheel is clearly dangerous, but just being sleepy is enough to affect your ability to drive safely. A driver may lapse into short periods of "micro-sleep.” “Micro sleep” is a type of sleep episode that can last anywhere from a fraction of a second up to 30 seconds at a time. These brief instances of sleep tend to occur when a person is notably sleep deprived, and in response, the body attempts to recharge a little bit at a time. During these periods, the mind will trick itself into believing it has been awake the whole time by forming false memories or giving the impression of simple daydreaming. In reality, a driver may be engaged in intermittent periods of sleep, leaving the car to drift into another lane, veer off the road, or strike a nearby vehicle or pedestrian.

Driver fatigue is not always caused by one being too tired or driving for hours at a time. Knowing the causes and symptoms of driver fatigue and learning effective strategies for preventing such dangerous driving could help save your life.

NHTSA identified the following as factors that increase the risk of an auto accident caused by driver fatigue: 

• Loss of sleep. 
• Unrecognized or untreated sleep disorders.
• Sedating medications. 
• Driving between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. 
• Mid-afternoon driving (particularly for the elderly). 
• Driving a significant number of miles every year or a significant number of hours every day. 
• Driving for long time periods without a break. 
• Alcohol consumption, even if the driver has not consumed enough alcohol to be near the legal limit. 

NHTSA advises to watch for these signs of fatigue:

• Difficulty focusing and inattentiveness.
• Frequent yawning, head bobbing, rubbing eyes, and inability to keep eyes open.
• Feeling restless, irritable or impatient.
• Disconnected or wandering thoughts; can’t remember the last few miles driven.
• Brief lapses in memory or "zoning out."
• Drifting in and out of your lane.
• Abnormal driving behavior, such as inappropriate speed, tailgating or ignoring traffic signs.

If you are feeling sleepy while behind the wheel, it is vital that you understand that you could be a danger to yourself as well as others on the road.

• Pull over at a rest stop and get out to walk around.
• Take a short nap someplace safe.
• Ask a traveling companion to drive for a while.
• Have coffee or other caffeinated products and don’t get back on the road for at least 30 minutes (when the anti-fatigue effects will kick in).

No one is immune to drowsy driving. You may get away with driving sleepy once in a while, but you are tempting fate. Do not underestimate your body's ability to force you to sleep.

Unfortunately, we are only in control of our own driving safety. While it is often hard to prove that another driver was experiencing driver fatigue, if you believe that you have a case against a driver due to fatigue contact an experience auto accident attorney to understand your rights. Once an attorney is retained and a lawsuit filed, the plaintiff may want to consult a litigation funding company to avoid financial devastation while pursuing the case.

Lawsuit Financial fights for people who have been seriously injured or who have lost a loved one due to the negligence of others. As the industry leader in auto accident litigation funding, Lawsuit Financial provides a lawsuit cash advance against the future settlement to help pay medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, mortgage payments, car payments, and important expenses bills so the plaintiff can wait for fair compensation. Litigation funding gives a plaintiff leverage against the insurance company; it prevents the plaintiff from being forced to take inadequate offers. With the financial pressure removed, there is no need to resolve any case for less than the full value of your injuries. Applying for a litigation funding can be done online or by phone. There is no cost to apply, no upfront fees, no monthly payments, no credit checks and no hassles. If you qualify, the money arrives fast, within 24-48 hours. Contact Lawsuit Financial at 1-877-377-7848 for more information.