Florida Injury Attorneys Blog

Tyler K. Burdhimo of Oakland Park, Florida was arrested after he allegedly struck and killed Maria Konstantinidis in a hit-and-run car accident, according to news reports. Burdhimo, 18, has been charged with driving without a valid driver's license and leaving the scene of a crash involving a fatality, sources indicate. He was reportedly booked into Broward County Jail on the charges, where he was granted $17,500 bail bond. If he posts the bond, sources indicate that he will have to don a GPS locator before he is freed. It is not clear whether Burdhimo has retained a private criminal defense lawyer to help him with the charges.

News sources indicate that Burdhimo has been accused of being involved in a crash that occurred on Tuesday morning in the 1500 block of Northeast 45th Street. In a public announcement, a Broward County Sheriff's office spokesperson reportedly stated that Konstantinidis, 75, had been walking along the street near the intersection of 15th Terrace and North East 45th Street just after sunrise when she was struck by a four-door Nissan Ultima. Investigators purportedly noted that the lack of skid marks in the area indicated that the driver had not stopped after the accident occurred.

Konstantinidis was reportedly found in the street wearing clothes that suggested she was exercising at the time of the crash. Police found a "Nissan" emblem on the ground near her, according to sources. Konstantinidis was transported to Broward General Medical Center for medical treatment, but she died a few hours later of injuries sustained in the accident, reports indicate.

Authorities reportedly connected the collision with Burdhimo after someone called in an anonymous tip indicating that a vehicle matching the description of the hit-and-run car was parked at a home approximately two blocks away from where the accident occurred. Police investigated the claim, which led them to a damaged 2007 Nissan Altima located at the 4300 block of Northeast 15th Terrace. Deputies evidently notice that the damage to the Nissan was consistent with damage from hitting a pedestrian and that the car was missing its' front grill emblem.

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Walter Roach of Miramar, Florida was reportedly sent to the hospital after a pit bull attack, sources indicate. The attack came just a day after Miami-Dade commissioners decided to include a vote on whether to lift their ban on pit bull ownership. Reds, the dog in question, was taken from Steve White, his 22-year-old owner, following the alleged attack. Walter Roach, 77, required treatment at Memorial Hospital Pembroke following the incident, where he was reportedly kept overnight on Wednesday. It is not clear whether Mr. Roach is seeking the services of a personal injury lawyer.

According to news reports, the alleged dog bite attack occurred at approximately 10:20 a.m. on Wednesday in the 8600 block of Shearton Drive in Miramar. Roach reportedly told investigators that he was walking in the area, which is near his residence, when he was approached by three unsupervised pit bulls. The pit bulls were reportedly not on leashes and not accompanied by an owner. One of the pit bulls, 4-year-old Reds, attacked Roach, biting his back, right leg, and left arm. Reports do not mention how Roach was able to escape the attack.

After the altercation, Roach was transported to Memorial Hospital Pembroke, where he was treated with 24 stitches for his non-life threatening injuries. He was quoted calling the dog that attacked him "vicious" and "dangerous." It is not clear whether he has already been released from Memorial Hospital.

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Edith Bette Lewis, Steven V. Taitel, his wife Karen Taitel, and Jack and Joyce Weinstein were involved in a Palm Beach, Florida car accident over the weekend that ended with Steven Taitel dead, according to news sources. Taitel, 69, was reportedly pronounced dead at Delray Medical Center after the accident. Karen Taitel, 68, Joyce Weinstein, 67, and Edith Bette Lewis, 72, sustained serious injuries in the crash, sources indicate. Jack Weinstein was reportedly the least hurt, suffering minor injuries. Charges are pending as an investigation into the crash continues. Authorities have asked any witness of the crash to please come forward with information.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office reportedly announced the accident in a press release on Monday morning. According to reports, the accident occurred at approximately 10:23 p.m. on Sunday night at the entrance to the Cobblestone Creek community located on Lyons Road. Weinstein was reportedly driving an Infiniti sedan carrying his wife and Steven and Karen Taitel, while Lewis was driving a Dodge Caravan with no passengers. The crash allegedly occurred when the Infiniti was headed northbound on Lyons Road. Lewis allegedly drove her vehicle directly in front of the Infiniti while trying to turn left into the Cobblestone Creek community where she lived. The Infiniti struck the Caravan on its right side, sources indicate.

After the accident, everyone involved in the crash had to be transported to area hospitals for medical treatment, according to reports. Taitel was reportedly pronounced dead at 4:05 a.m. on Monday at Delray Medical Center, where he was undergoing emergency surgery. Karen Taitel, Joyce Weistein, and Lewis remain in serious condition, and no updates on their statuses are immediately available. It is not clear whether Jack Weinstein is still in the hospital

Florida has seen more than its' fair share of traffic accidents recently. In one Winter Park, Florida incident that occurred recently, a 21-year-old woman was arrested and charged with DUI and property damage after she allegedly struck a Steak 'n Shake restaurant with her SUV. It is not immediately clear whether Brittany Christian has qualified for bail bond or retained a private criminal defense attorney following the incident.

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Jessica Williams of Palm Springs, Florida allegedly killed Ben Perez, a wheelchair-ridden man, in a car accident on March 23. The 80-year-old, who was reportedly trying to cross the street when the incident occurred, was pronounced dead at Delray Medical Center shortly after the accident. Charges have not been filed pending a car accident investigation by the Palm Beach Sheriff's office. Williams, 22, was not injured in the accident. It is not clear whether she has retained a private criminal defense attorney to fight possible charges.

According to the accident report, the crash occurred at approximately 6:25 p.m. at the intersection of Purdy Lane and Ardell Way. Perez was reportedly sitting in his power chair near the road, attempting to cross Ardell Way. It is not clear what the traffic lights and pedestrian signals indicated at the time of the crash. Traffic was apparently backed up because of rush hour.

Witnesses say that woman driving a 2005 Ford Expedition turned out of a business parking lot and went through a gap in between stopped cars waiting for the light in an attempt to go north on Ardell Way. However Williams, who is from Palm Springs, was unable to see Perez on the sidewalk because of backed up traffic. The front of her vehicle struck Perez, knocking him out of his power chair and to the ground. He later died from his injuries, which are suspected to have included head trauma. It is not known whether Williams has any other traffic accidents on record.

Meanwhile, a man who survived a hit-and-run car accident in Miami apparently responded by fighting off officers who tried to come to his aid. The incident reportedly began at about 5:40 a.m. on Saturday near the 1800 block of Bayshore Drive, when the man, whose name and age have not been released, was hit by a yellow taxi cab. The taxi driver fled the scene without stopping, and police have asked for the public to come forward with relevant information.

According to officers, they received several emergency calls indicating that someone had been hit by a taxi cab in the area. When they responded to the calls, the taxi had fled and the victim of the accident was found was half naked and bleeding in the street. However, when police officers attempted to go to his aid, he allegedly started arguing with the officers for an unknown reason. He then began to physically fight with the officers. The man was eventually subdued, but the fight reportedly involved 10 Miami police officers, all of whom were exposed to the man's blood.

The man, once subdued, was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center for treatment. He injuries were classified as critical. Three police officers also went to the hospital for treatment for injuries received during the fight with the victim. One officer suffered a fractured arm in the altercation.

Tests are underway to make sure that the victim's blood does not contain any communicable diseases. It is not clear whether charges have been filed against him for attacking police officers. Normally, attacking a police officer is a felony violation.

As was reported in my last entry, Roy McSweeney was attacked in Gainseville, Florida by two vicious pitbulls. This entry is being published after more information has come to our attention about this case.

According to news reports, the pitbulls were living at a neighbors house and were supposedly locked in a kennel or cage while the owner was away from the home. Somehow, the pitbulls were able to escape from their cages, they jumped the fence, and attacked McSweeney as he did yardwork on his own property.

The owner of the home told a local news agency that the pitbulls belonged to a friend. She also said she was not home at the time of the attack and has no idea how they dogs were able to escape from their kennel. (Photo credit: NYDailyNews)

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Roy McSweeney was the victim of a horrible dog attack near Gainesville, Florida last Friday morning. According to news reports, McSweeney, age 74, was doing yard work when the dogs jumped a fence and attacked him.

News reports are not clear about where the dogs came from or who their owner is. Were the dogs roaming the street and did they jump McSweeney's fence OR were they fenced in their owner's yard and jump their own fence to attack McSweeney?

Either way, McSweeney is an elderly man who did not deserve to be mauled so horrifically. As a result of the attack, McSweeney has lost his right arm and has also sustained severe injuries to his face.

As an injury lawyer, I can tell you that this case is no run-of-the-mill dog bite case. This case is extremely serious and Roy McSweeney is most likely entitled to some very hefty financial compensation for his injuries, disability, pain and suffering. (Photo credit: News 4 WJXT Jacksonville))

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Lately, the news has been filled with stories of ALF's (assisted living facilities) neglecting their residents. For instance, a Miami Herald investigation recently revealed filthy conditions, gross negligence, and in many cases, abuse at various facilities. The people subjected to these conditions cannot fight back; they are either elderly, severely disabled, or mentally disturbed. For example, at All America ALF, in Miami-Dade, an elderly man was burned so badly by scalding bath water, he later died from the burns. Another incident at All America ALF involved staff standing by, watching two residents beat each other with two by fours. All America ALF now has over 100 state citations. All America is still licensed to operate by the state.

The number of citations received by these facilities seems high, but is lower than the probable number of incidents that actually occur. For example, Alva Trout died in a Wilton Manors nursing home. The facility signed her death certificate with the cause of death being "failure to thrive." The mortician compared that cause of death to the body, and knew something was up. Ms. Trout had several injuries, including a fractured neck. The cause of her death was pneumonia brought on by injury.

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Betty Botta was involved in a car accident in Boynton Beach, Florida this morning. The accident has left her with serious injuries that include the loss of an arm. According to police, Botta was a passenger in a vehicle which rear ended an FPL truck. It is being reported that Botta's arm has been amputated above the elbow. The name of the person driving the vehicle Botta was traveling in has not been released.

Betty Botta's injuries are exacerbated by the fact that she is 86 years old. Given her elderly age, Botta's ability to heal normally and fight infection may play a substantial role in how any legal action taken on her behalf.

As an injury lawyer, my perspective focuses on liability and injuries. As a passenger , I am sure Botta played no role in causing the accident. Therefore, liability will likely be assessed on one or both of the two drivers, depending on how the car accident unfolded.

If Betty is anything like anyone else's grandma that I know, odds are she was wearing a seat belt. If she wasn't, the lack of a seat belt may be the only angle a defense lawyer may use to claim assess partial liability on Botta. However, even if this were to occur, Botta's potential failure to wear a seat belt would not account for the totality of causes that led to her injuries, especially since such a failure would in no way cause or contribute to the accident.

Regardless, the ultimate analysis in this case will likely rest on a review of her injuries. While the loss of a limb is an extremely serious matter for any person, it is exponentially worse when you are 86 years old. Moreover, Botta's injuries may not end there.

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