TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law - PASCO - HUDSON - PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT ATTORNEY • CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY • (727) 398-2900 • Speak to an attorney NOW!

HUDSON - Bay News 9 reports that a 10th grade student was hit by two vehicles as she attempted cross a street in Hudson, Pasco County, Florida today. The 16 year-old was taken to Bayonet Point Hospital with serious injuries. The two vehicles were identified as 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara and a 1999 Ford F-150 pickup truck.

If you or a loved one are injured by the negligence and improper conduct of another, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law at (727-398-2900) for an immediate, confidential case evaluation. There is NO Fee and NO Costs if we do not obtain a Recovery for YOU.

At the TRIPP LAW FIRM, we have the necessary experience to protect your rights and pursue the money damages you deserve. Don’t hesitate to call us. We answer our phones 24/7/365. The injury law team and staff private investigators at the TRIPP LAW FIRM are ready on a moment’s notice.

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GOLF CART hit head on by SUV that fled the scene of the crash – Collier County Sheriff investigation continues

NAPLES - Three people were injured while riding in a golf cart at the ACE Group Classic. All three were hospitalized at Naples Hospital.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office continues to search for the driver of the SUV who hit them head on before fleeing the scene.

The investigation in ongoing.

Dunedin Largo PINELLAS COUNTY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT - One fatality - One Seriously injured

PINELLAS COUNTY - Two separate Pinellas motorcycle accidents leave one rider dead, another injured. One motorcyclist was killed and another injured in two separate crashes in Pinellas County on Wednesday September 30, 2009.

The first accident occurred at the intersection of County Road 1 near San Christopher Drive in Dunedin. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office was on the scene. The biker was transported to Mease-Dunedin Hospital and pronounced dead at 4:08 p.m. No citations have been issued but the investigation is continuing.

Later, another motorcyclist was injured around 6 p.m. when he lost control of his bike and was thrown off his motorcycle on U.S. 19 just north of East Bay Drive in Largo. Largo Police was on the scene. The unidentified motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. He was flown via Bayflight to the Bayfront Medical Center with serious injuries.

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Car Hits Elderly Woman in Church parking lot ♦ Central Florida

A parishioner was hit by a car as she walked through the parking lot at a Central Florida church. The initial investigation by police suggests that the elderly driver may have pushed the gas pedal instead of the brake.

The driver of the car was backing out of a handicap parking spot at the church when the accident occurred. After backing into the pedestrian, the driver of the car slammed into a tree causing extensive property damage.

The injured woman was airlifted to the Orlando Regional Medical Center in serious condition.

The investigation continues and charges are pending.

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MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT • US 19 • TAMPA ROAD • FHP • BayFlight • SunStar • EMS on the scene

PALM HARBOR -- A multi vehicle accident on US 19 at Tampa Road has caused quite a back up on this major north / south roadway this morning.

The two northbound lanes were closed by officials at the intersection of U.S. 19 near the intersection of Tampa Road. Some of the vehicles involed have overturned and BayFlight was dispacted to the scene. The victims will be transported to area hospitals. The investigation continues.

No information about the cause of the accident or the identities of those involved has been released. US 19 and Tampa Road is one of the most dangerous intersections in northern Pinellas County and is the scene of multiple accidents each year.

Source - BayNews9

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One Fatality and many others injured in multi-vehicle crash on I-75 – Tampa – Hillsborough County

TAMPA - A five-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 just south of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard on Saturday afternoon left claimed the life of one and left several others injured.

The FHP reported that the accident occurred at 1:50 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the interstate. A north-bound vehicle rear ended a slowing 2001 Toyota Rav-4 SUV. The passenger in the SUV was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The driver and passengers of the vehicle that rear ended the SUV were seriously injured and transported to University Community Hospital in Tampa.

The collision involved three other vehicles, a pickup truck, a sport-utility vehicle and a van. Drivers and passengers in those vehicles were uninjured or only suffered minor injuries.

The FHP investigation continues.

I-275 ROLLOVER ACCIDENT injures woman, baby between Bearss and S.R. 54 • Lutz • Wesley Chapel • Land O' Lakes • FLORIDA

A woman and a baby were injured when their pickup left the road on Interstate 275 about two miles north of Bearss Avenue and rolled over several times. The 25-year-old woman was seriously injured, but a 4-month-old baby in the vehicle received only minor injuries when the woman lost control of her pickup truck on Interstate 275 late Tuesday. The driver of the truck was heading north on the interstate about 11:38 p.m. when she veered to the outside shoulder about two miles north of Bearss Avenue, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The driver overcorrected when she tried to bring the 2003 Silverado back into the highway, and the truck went into the median, where it flipped several times, the accident report said.

The driver-side door had to be pried off by rescue personnel, and the driver of the truck was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, troopers said. The highway patrol listed her injuries as serious. The baby was strapped in to a car seat when rescue workers got on the scene. The infant was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph's Hospital for evaluation.The driver of the truck was charged with careless driving.

The highway patrol is continuing to investigate the accident

ROLL OVER CRASHES - cause fatalities & serious injuries in the United States including FLORIDA

Every year in the United States, more than 10,000 people are killed in rollover accidents, and some 24,000 more are seriously injured. SUVs and pickups are the most rollover-prone vehicles. Some say that tougher standards and more rigorous testing are urgently needed.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's report published in 2008 - Roof Strength and Injury Risk in Roll over crashes is available by clicking on the following link:

www.iihs.org/research/topics/pdf/r1098.pdf

NHTSA upgrades roof strength regulation. "The long-awaited federal upgrade of the 35-year-old regulation governing vehicle roof strength will save 135 lives, prevent more than 1,000 injuries and add up to $1.4 billion annually to the cost of new cars, the Transportation Department said."

The new regulation boosts the requirement to three (3) times to the weight for vehicles up to 6,000 pounds. Vehicles weighing from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds must meet 1.5 times standard. It said that the new regulation will add $54 per vehicle.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "These new standards go a long way toward reducing deaths, but safety belts are the first, most important step everyone should take to protecting themselves and their families."

If you or a loved one has been injured in a roll over vehicle crash, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM for an immediate injury case evaluation. Our injury law team is available 24 hours a day to discuss your concerns. Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., and his staff investigators are available by calling toll-free (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

NO FEES OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

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ALLIGATOR ALLEY - I-75 CRASH - Accidents due to smoke / low visibility cause serious injuries

Recently, the Florida Highway Patrol officially cited low visibility and smoke from the Big Cypress wildfire as the cause behind four separate accidents at I-75’s mile marker 79.

The accidents, which involved 12 vehicles and a boat, totaled $42,000 in damages and occurred over a 30-minute span when visibility was at its worst on Alligator Alley. According to Florida Highway reports, no charges were filed for three of the accidents. However, reports said there were charges pending on the fourth accident in which a pedestrian was seriously injured.

The Florida Highway Patrol has since closed this stretch every morning to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. of the TRIPP LAW FIRM reminds you to drive safe as you travel accross ALLIGATOR ALLEY, especially in low visibility areas caused by smoke.

New Roof Crush Regulation a Good Start – a “WIN” FOR FLORIDA CONSUMERS and consumers across AMERICA in ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS

The U.S. Department of Transportation is requiring vehicle roofs to withstand three times the weight for vehicles weighing up to 6,000 pounds is a good start, but does not go far enough to protect consumers, according to the American Association for Justice (AAJ). The roof crush standard addresses the safety of vehicles’ roofs to withstand pressure when involved in rollover accidents.

Rollover accidents are the most deadly, killing one person every hour in the United States, according to industry experts. The roof standard had been in place since 1973, before SUVs were a common mode of consumer transportation. Currently, there are no roof crush standards for motor coaches and commercial trucks.

The new standard excludes commercial vehicles which weight starts at 10,001 pounds for interstate, and typically 26,001 for intrastate commercial vehicles. It is estimated by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration more than 12,000 lives could be saved by having commercial vehicle roof crush standards.

Another issue of concern to consumers is out of date insurance requirements. The minimum insurance requirements for trucks and buses were set nearly three decades ago and have never been raised. Today, those minimum levels of insurance are inadequate to compensate those who have been seriously injured in a collision involving multiple vehicles or multiple injured individuals. Adjusting the minimum insurance requirements for inflation would ensure increased coverage for the significant health care costs injured individuals can incur.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a rollover accident involving a car, SUV, or van call the TRIPP LAW FIRM at (888) 392-LAWS (5297) for a FREE TELEPHONE CASE EVALUATION. Our on-call staff and Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., are available 24 hours a day. NO FEES OR COST IF NO RECOVERY.

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FLORIDA SEAT BELT LAW – 2009 – NHTSA says would save an estimated 124 lives, avoid 1,733 serious injuries and save $408 million dollars annually

The Florida Senate has recently passed a measure that toughens the state's seat belt law. The Senate voted 33-4 and the House passed the bill (SB 344) with a 95-20 vote to allow police officers to pull over drivers who fail to buckle up. Gov. Charlie Crist indicated he was ready to sign it into law. The Safety Belt Law was named in memory of Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti, two young women killed in accidents. Katie, 16, was heading home from Sarasota when a crash outside Sun City Center caused her to be thrown from the vehicle and into the middle of Interstate 75, where she was hit by an oncoming vehicle. Dori, 14, was one of five teens killed 13 years ago in a 1996 crash. Those wearing seat belts survived.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics that show Florida would save an estimated 124 lives, avoid 1,733 serious injuries and save $408 million a year.

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., encourages drivers and passengers alike to “buckle up for safety, buckle up!” If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law for a FREE immediate telephone consultation.

CALL The TRIPP LAW FIRM at (888) 392-LAWS (5297) 24 hours a day 7 days a week to speak with an injury team member and/or Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr.

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U. S. Hwy 19 - Weeki Wachee to St. Petersburg

U.S. Highway 19 may be the most dangerous road in America for pedestrians who have to cross it or walk along it, but it has plenty of company. In a review of five years of federal crash data, it was found from coast to coast roads with no sidewalks, unsafe crossings, and speeding traffic was dangerous just because of where they are. The lesson here is pretty clear. In a land where the car is king, the person on foot better get out of the way.

And even the most deadly roads can be improved. In recent years US 19, (the worst road in the country) -- it's getting better! Recent improvements benefit both motorists and pedestrians. There are more sidewalks, highly visible signs that let drivers focus on the road, and even new overpasses at major intersections to decrease traffic conflicts. However, there’s still room for improvement!

As you travel on US 19 (Commercial Way) from Weeki Wachee and Spring Hill in Hernando County through Hudson, Bayonet Point, Port Richey, New Port Richey and Holiday in Pasco County, down through Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, into St. Petersburg the high volume of traffic is still of concern.

During the peak season (Thanksgiving to Easter) the traffic volume increases with out of town guests and tourists on vacation. These visitors are unfamiliar with the area and tend to cause or become involved in serious crashes. In addition, drivers exceeding the speed limit are a major factor in serious motor vehicle versus pedestrian accident crashes. Speeding contributes to nearly one-third of the nation's traffic fatalities, and on roads where drivers routinely speed; the risk is high, and deadly.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian, bicyclist, operating a motorcycle or as the driver or passenger in an automobile, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM at (888) 392-LAWS (5297) for an immediate case evaluation. We are available 24/7 to consult with you. On our injury law team, we have two (2) licensed private investigators, two (2) legal assistants, and a legal nurse consultant who all assist the attorney in gathering and compiling the necessary evidence to properly document your personal injury case.

Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. will personally handle your case. CALL NOW TO DISCUSS YOUR CASE! If we do not obtain a monetary recovery for you – there is NO ATTORNEY FEE or costs!

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ABOUT YOUR AIR BAGS

Virtually all new cars have airbags, and they’re saving lives. They’re reducing driver deaths by about 14 percent, and passenger bags reduce deaths by about 11 percent. People who use safety belts may think they don’t need airbags. But they do. Airbags and lap/shoulder belts work together as a system, and one without the other isn’t as effective. Deaths are 12 percent lower among drivers with belts and 9 percent lower among belted passengers.

But there also are problems with airbags. Inflating bags have caused some serious injuries and deaths.

• Position Is What Counts
• Kids in the Back
• Adults: Buckle Up and Sit Back

On/Off Switches for Airbags

The federal government has set criteria for the very few cases when airbag on/off switches may be needed to avoid injury risk. But getting a driver airbag switch makes sense only when someone — for example, a very short person — has tried various positions and cannot comfortably drive while sitting back and away from the steering wheel. A woman late in pregnancy who cannot get her abdomen away from the steering wheel also may wish to get permission for a switch based on medical need. But remember that in a serious crash without an airbag, sitting so close to the wheel means a high risk of hitting it.

FOR MORE INFORMATION - www.iihs.org/brochures/pdf/about_airbags_english.pdf