Bereaved Family Sue Police After Fatal Accident
By Weinstein & Scharf, PA
Nov. 20, 2012 1:56p
South Florida Man Killed After Being Struck By Police Cruiser
After losing their husband and father in a tragic automobile accident in the Florida Keys, a family has filed suit against the policeman allegedly responsible for causing the collision. The wrongful death suit seeks damages against the officer who drove the car, as well the sheriff, whom the suit claims was "vicariously liable" for the actions of his deputy.
According to court documents filed by the Fort Lauderdale attorney representing the plaintiff, the accident took place on May 29th, 2011, as the man was driving a rental electric car on US Highway 1 in Boca Chica Key. At approximately 7:41 PM, the man was heading southbound in the right lane on the bridge when an approaching Monroe County Sheriff's Department patrol cruiser came up behind him and rammed into the rear of the electric car.
As the complaint attests, the sheriff's deputy was speeding slightly, traveling 59 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone. The electric car, not designed to handle high speeds, was traveling slowly in the right lane at around 20mph. The deputy, who was on his way to his assigned patrol in Higgs Beach, failed to notice the automobile in front of him until it was too late, colliding with great force and sending the driver careening out of control.
Family Files Complaint Against Driver, Sheriff, and Rental Company
Medical personnel quickly arrived and transported the gravely injured man to nearby Ryder Trauma Center in Miami. He was declared dead just a few days later, having passed away at the emergency center on June 5th.
The lawsuit alleges that the deputy was negligent in his actions, speeding and allegedly looking down at a computer display inside the police cruiser as he approached the electric rental vehicle. Citing the Florida Wrongful Death Act, the complaint claims that the deputy was careless, failing to "exercise reasonable care."
In addition to filing for damages against the deputy and the sheriff, the widow of the slain man also names the rental company that gave the man the electric car liable in the suit. In the documents, the complaint alleges that the owners of the rental business and the manufacturers of the electric car "failed to adequately, properly and sufficiently advise renters" against driving it on high-speed roadways.
You Need An Experienced Attorney On Your Side
If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent actions of another driver, your loss is indescribable. Nevertheless, it is important that you put aside your emotions and act to ensure that the responsible party thinks twice before engaging in reckless behavior ever again. With the help of one of South Florida's top-notch personal injury firms, you can pursue maximum damages against your tormentor. At Weinstein & Scharf, our legal team has decades of courtroom experience to put at your disposal. Please, visit our website at http://www.coralspringsinjuryfirm.com today to learn more.