Lakeland Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

The driver of an SUV died when his vehicle crossed a median, leading to a five-vehicle pileup on U.S. 92 in Winter Haven, FL the Florida Highway Patrol stated.

According to the Tampa Tribune, the wreck happened when Milton Jacobs, 68, of Winter Haven, FL was heading west on U.S. 92 in Winter Haven, FL and crossed the median into eastbound traffic near Sandy Lane, in Winter Haven, FL around 6:50 p.m., on January 3, the Polk County investigator's report stated.

Jacobs, driving a 2005 Dodge Durango, first hit a Dodge Charger driven by Gary Smith, 41, of Auburndale, FL and forced it into a 1992 Mercury sedan driven by Christopher McKnight that hit a guardrail, the report stated.

McKnight, 19, of Winter Haven, FL tried to avoid the collision and crossed the median into the westbound lanes, where his car hit a 2006 Saturn SUV driven by Carolynn Parsons, 33, of Winter Haven, FL.

After hitting the first car, the SUV driven by Jacobs continued west and hit a 1999 Plymouth sedan driven by Lawrence Denslow, 78, of Winter Haven, FL the report stated.

Kirra Parsons, 4, was in the Saturn, driven by Carolynn Parsons and was injured. She is in stable condition at Tampa General Hospital, the highway patrol said. Carolynn Parsons is in stable condition at Lakeland Regional Hospital.

Jacobs was taken to Lakeland Regional Hospital, where he died, the highway patrol said.

Everyone involved in the incident was wearing a seat belt, the highway patrol stated.

According to a 2005 Florida Highway Patrol news article, driving on Florida highways became busier, deadlier and more dangerous in 2004, according to an annual report released recently by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The number of cars, trucks, SUVs and vans on the road swelled in 2004 to more than 14,512,000, the Florida Traffic Crash Statistics Report said. In 2004, 2,936 crashes killed more than 3,250 people, an increase of 2.5 percent. "It's sad that people won't buckle up," said Lt. Bill Ferrell. "We've sold this for many, many, many years as a highway patrol that people buckle up because we know for a fact that seatbelts save lives."

Often times, it can be difficult to identify the negligent party in a pile up involving multiple vehicles. While one driver may have caused the initial impact, other drivers may also be a contributing cause to the crash. For this reason, it is imperative to seek legal counsel immediately. As a personal injury attorney practicing in Polk County, FL, I fight for the injured. If you or a loved one has been injured, please call us for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights.

A pedestrian crossing U.S. 92 in Lakeland, FL was struck by a car and killed Thursday night, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, 53 year old Lee Anthony Tighe, was hit shortly after 9 p.m. as he tried to cross U.S. 92 in Lakeland, FL, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Ray Beasock, who was traveling west on U.S. 92 in Lakeland, FL, had just crossed Fairway Avenue in Lakeland, FL when Tighe tried to cross the highway heading south.

Tighe died at the scene. Investigators have been unable to locate any next of kin.

Beasock, however, was not injured.

Deputies closed all lanes of U.S. 92 between Fairway Avenue and East Lake Parker Drive while the accident was being investigated, the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated.

The investigation into the crash is continuing, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

According to Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System, specifically, 4,749 pedestrians were reported to have been killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2003. These deaths accounted for 11 percent of the 42,643 motor vehicle deaths nationwide that year. An estimated 70,000 pedestrians were injured or killed in motor vehicle collisions, which represents 2 percent of the 2.9 million total persons injured in traffic crashes. A drop in pedestrian fatalities in recent years may reflect the fact that people are walking less, according to the U.S. Census and the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS). The need to reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries while promoting increased walking continues to be an important goal for the engineering profession.

Pedestrian and/or motor vehicle crashes are the most serious problems that are being faced by the world today and the United States has a particular problem with pedestrian deaths and injuries.

Pursuant to Florida law, wrongful death actions must be brought by a surviving spouse, child, or parent who qualifies as the personal representative of the estate. If there is no next of kin, as defined by the wrongful death statute, there is no cause of action.

Attorney Tania L. Rivas is a personal injury lawyer who practices in Polk County, FL. If your loved one has been killed in an accident, do not delay in consulting with a lawyer. The law limits the time you have to file a claim.

A 56-year-old Lakeland, FL Police Officer died Monday afternoon after a car accident, according to the Florida Highway Patrol report.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Lakeland, FL veteran police officer Charlie Dallas, was driving a 2008 Ford Explorer, around 4:20 p.m. Monday, when he was involved in a crash as he drove north on U.S. 27 in Lakeland, FL just south of Lake Wales, FL, according to Polk County investigators.

While driving south on U.S. 27, Federico Vasquez, 23, of Sebring, FL swerved left to avoid hitting a 1989 Ford station wagon, driven by 54-year-old Lake Wales, FL resident Sharon Kolbinskie, who was crossing the road at Jackson Street, the FHP reported.

Vasquez, who was driving a 2006 Pontiac G6, crossed the median and traveled into the path of a 2008 Ford Explorer that Dallas was driving.

The left side of Vasquez's car struck the left side of the Explorer, according to the FHP. The Explorer went out of control and rolled over, throwing Dallas out.

Vasquez and his passenger, Katie Boyette, were not injured.

Dallas's Explorer overturned, and he was ejected. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt, according to the FHP. No one else was injured in the crash.

Dallas, a former Lakeland, FL firefighter, had been working an off-duty detail for the Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, FL when the crash occurred. Dallas' passenger, 33-year-old Karyn Spencer of Lakeland, FL was taken to Lake Wales Medical Center in Lake Wales, FL with minor injuries, the report said.

"Charlie was one of the bravest and most courageous officers I've worked with," police spokesman Jack Gillen said. "To say the mood in the police department was somber after hearing the news would be an understatement," Gillen said. "It was extremely sad. Charlie was extremely well respected throughout the department."

The crash remains under investigation.

According to a 2002 press release on the 2001 preliminary statistics report presented by the Florida Bureau of Investigation(FBI), 140 of the Nation's law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty in 2001. This number includes the 71 officers killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. By circumstance, ten officers were murdered in 2001 while answering domestic disturbance calls, and ten were killed during traffic pursuits and stops. Eight officers were slain investigating drug-related matters, while another eight officers were killed attempting other arrests or serving arrest warrants. Sadly, Officer Dallas' death appears to be accidental and not in any way connected with a felony.

As a personal injury attorney, located in Winter Haven, FL, I am honored to represent the residents of Polk County, FL. My heart goes out to the family and friends Officer Dallas left behind. This truly is tragic loss.

A Lakeland, FL man trying to help a dog was hit by a bus and killed Friday night, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.

According to the Lakeland Ledger John Christopher Morgan, 22, stopped his car in the turning lane on State Road 60 in Plant City, FL just east of County Line Road in Plant City, FL . The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Jan. 15 when Morgan and his friend and neighbor, Ray Callins, were stopped at a red light on State Road 60, in Plant City, FL. While in the left-turn lane at County Line Road in Plant City, FL they saw a truck hit a black Labrador that had been trying to cross the road.

"It's a tragic accident," Kraus said. "It doesn't look like there's any negligence on the part of the bus driver."

But his friend, an animal lover who had adopted strays, bolted out of the car, leaving Jersey, Morgan's butterscotch-colored dog, in the back seat.

Morgan was walking in the eastbound lanes of SR 60 in Lakeland, FL when an eastbound bus driven by James R. Borgiet of West Palm Beach, FL drove past while transporting middle school students on a field trip when they drove past, Callins stated. The sideview mirror struck Morgan in the head and snapped his neck. He remained standing for a moment before toppling into the grass.

Callins sat in shock. Then he ran out of the car, leaving the keys in the ignition and Jersey behind in the backseat., according to the FHP report.

An off-duty paramedic had also seen the accident. As she worked on Morgan, Callins called 911. But neither Morgan nor the black Labrador survived. Callins said Jersey watched from the back seat.

According to a recent article on child safety and school bus safety, every year school buses carry around 24 million students and collectively travel more than 4 billion miles. Considering how many kids the buses carry and the distance they cover, deaths on the road are extremely rare. School buses have a rate of 0.2 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. The rate of deaths in automobiles is eight times higher.

Rivas Law Group, LLC is located in Winter Haven, FL. Attorney Tania L. Rivas primarily practices personal injury law. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact us for a free consultation. There is no fee or cost unless you win.

One person was killed and five others were critically injured in a two-vehicle crash early Friday at 7:32 at the intersection of Berkley Road and Drexel Boulevard in Auburndale, FL, Auburndale Police Department reported.

According to the News Cheif, About six hours earlier, on New Year's Eve, a 48-year-old man on a bicycle was struck and killed by a car on Berkley Road in Auburndale, FL.

In the two-car crash, one of the vehicles involved had just fled a traffic stop, according to an Auburndale Police Department report.

According to the report, a police officer attempted a traffic stop on a black Acura Integra at 1:26 a.m. on New Year's Day, but instead of stopping, the driver of the Integra fled west at high speed along U.S. 92 in Auburndale, FL. Auburndale, FL police reported that they dropped their pursuit of the car, the driver of the Integra continued to speed down the highway.

According to a witness who spoke to police, the Integra ran two red lights before colliding with a white, four-door Chevrolet that was making a turn north onto Berkley Road from eastbound U.S. 92.

Three out of four people in the Chevy were ejected from the car, police reported, and a passenger in the Integra was ejected when that car overturned and landed in the ditch on the west side of U.S. 92, in front of a Shell gasoline station.

The driver of the Integra was killed instantly and five people were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center in critical condition, police reported.

Polk County, FL Police on Saturday identified the decedent as David Valles of 146 18th St. W. in Wahneta in Auburndale, FL. No other information was available about the injured crash victims.

The investigation for both crashes was turned over to the Polk County, Fl police department's Traffic Homicide Unit. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Cpl. Roger Tribble at 863-965-5555.

According to the 2008 Crash Reports of Motor Vehicle Crashes/Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, bicycles are linked to more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile. More than 70 percent of children, ages 5 to 14, ride bicycles. This age group rides 50 percent more than the average bicyclist and accounts for approximately 16 percent of all bicycle-related deaths and more than half of all bicycle-related injuries. In 2008, 511 children, ages 14 and younger, were injured or killed on bicycles in Florida

Rivas Law Group, L.L.C. is a personal injury law firm located in Winter Haven, FL. Attorney Tania L. Rivas is dedicated to meeting the legal needs of Polk County, FL and representing injured victims.

The crash at Broadway Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue of Polk County, FL happened around 5 a.m., on January 2, 2010, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office crash reports.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Cynthia Renfroe, 45, of Stagecoach Road, of Polk City, FL, was traveling north on Commonwealth in Polk County, FL in her 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck when a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, which was hauling a 36-foot pleasure boat west on Broadway in Polk County, FL, failed to stop at the stop sign.

The Silverado, driven by Clendon Smith, 63, of Cruisers Drive, of Polk City in Polk County, FL, struck the passenger side of the F-150, the Sheriff's Office reported. The Silverado pushed the F-150 into a power pole and the boat and trailer broke free, hitting another power pole.
Both drivers were transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, in Lakeland, FL in stable condition.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office reported that the intersection was closed for the crash investigation and repairs to the utility poles and power lines. Traffic didn't flow freely again at the accident site until about 2 p.m.

Florida ranks near the top of the list of states for intersection crashes and a third of those are caused by running red lights," said Randall Smith, Traffic Safety Administrator for the Florida Department of Transportation. Research indicates that nearly all of us are afraid of being hit by a motorist running a red light and yet half of us admit we've run one ourselves. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2005, the last year for which statistics are available, there were 96 fatalities and 6300 injuries in Florida as a result of people running red lights.

Rivas Law Group, L.L.C. is a personal injury law firm located in Winter Haven, FL. Attorney Tania L. Rivas is dedicated to meeting the legal needs of Polk County, FL and representing injured victims.

Debra Bayer, 25, died of her injuries Monday at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, in Lakeland, FL. The driver, Tabaitha Marie Cain, 28, remains in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Cain was driving a 2005 Hyundai north on Lake Hollingsworth Drive in Lakeland, FL when the car veered and struck a tree.

Bayer wore her seat belt and her airbag deployed, but Cain was not wearing a seat belt and her airbag did not deploy, reports said.

Authorities do not yet know whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash, but a police officer noted Cain smelled strongly of alcohol, the report said.

According to DUI.com, the legal threshold for intoxication is typically a blood alcohol content of .08%. Ignition interlock devices are usually calibrated to disable the vehicle if a BAC of .02% is detected. As a result, people who are enjoying moderately consumed alcohol, like at a sporting event or a wedding, will be penalized.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and the chaos it creates on the road, are becoming an accepted fact of life for many Floridians. In fact, Florida is one of the most affluent states in the country, where driving under the influence is notorious, and every step is being taken to take control of this out-of-control, life-threatening situation here in the State of Florida.

According to Florida Statue 316.193, any person who is convicted of driving under the influence receives a fine of not less than $500, but not more than $1,000. It is until the third conviction, and so on, in a five year period, where higher fines are established and up to twelve months of imprisonment.

In some cases, Florida law entitles victims of drunk driving accidents to greater compensation. If you or a loved one is the victim of a drunk driving accident, contact Attorney Rivas immediately at 877-299-5539. Your consultation is free and there are no fees or costs unless you obtain a recovery.

Lakeland, FL police say a Lakeland, FL man walked in front of a car Friday night, causing injuries that led to his death four days later.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, John Christopher Coniglio, 52, of 17 Oleander Circle of Lakeland, FL died early Tuesday morning of December 22, 2009 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Police say he was walking south across East Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland, Fl, about 1,000 feet east of Lakeshore Drive in Lakeland, FL, around 9 p.m. on Friday, when he walked in front of an eastbound 1986 Ford driven by James Clifford Griffin, 28, of Lakeland, FL.

According to the Polk County Sheriffs Office police report, Griffin began honking and tried to brake when he saw Coniglio, but couldn't stop in time. The Ford struck Coniglio, who did not listen to the warning honks and never looked in Griffin's direction, police said.

Coniglio hit the windshield and was vaulted over the car. Griffin stopped and stayed with Coniglio until emergency workers arrived.

Griffin had been wearing a seat belt and did not sustain injuries.

Police say Coniglio was drinking at the time of the crash.

The accident remains under investigation.

Apparently, pedestrian accidents similar to this one are becoming more common, especially in large cities where more people walk among vehicles. According to the alcohol alert, a total of 41,059 total traffic fatalities were recorded in the US in 2007. Of those, an estimated 12,998, were drunk drivers. On average, someone is killed by a drunk driver in the US every 40 minutes. The effects of alcohol and intoxicated driving are far-reaching. Its effects go way beyond the number of killed and injured. We are all equally at risk.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, do not hesitate to obtain legal representation. At Rivas Law Group, we work diligently to defend your legal rights. Attorney Tania L. Rivas is dedicated to providing clients with the personal attention they deserve. Call Attorney Rivas today for a free consultation. You owe no fees or costs unless you win.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office says a train hit and killed a teen Monday night of October 20, 2009, in Auburndale, FL.

The accident happened at Lake Alfred and Bolender Road in Auburndale, FL.

According to ABC Action News, 18-year-old Robert Lopez Jr., a senior at Auburndale High School in Polk County, FL, was walking along the center of the tracks around 6:00pm.

A 9-car, 2-engine Amtrak Passenger Train traveling from Miami to New York was nearing Bolender Road in Polk County Fl, around the same time.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the engineer of the train saw Lopez walking on the tracks and sounded the horn multiple times.

ABC Action News spoke with Robert Lopez's mother and she said she warned her son to stay away from the tracks numerous times.

Lopez did not seem to hear the horn, but when the train was approximately 20 feet away, he appeared to notice the train and tried to get off the tracks. He was hit and died at the scene.

The engineer stopped the train and called emergency personnel.

According to a recent News article, Florida ranks third nationwide in the number of people killed,120, in pedestrian-train deaths since the start of 2005. Four of those deaths were in Duval County, with two each in Clay and St. Johns and one in Nassau.

There are tips on how to avoid becoming a rail accident statistic, according to CSX Corporation :

- The only safe place to cross railroad tracks is at a public crossing, designated by the crossbuck.

- A safe distance from the nearest rail is at least 15 feet. However, because straps protecting heavy equipment could come loose, you might want to be 25 feet back.

- The average train overhangs the tracks by at least three feet; wider loads can stretch even farther from the tracks.

- Look both ways and listen before crossing tracks. Expect a train at anytime.

- Tracks, trestles, rail yards and equipment are private property. If you hunt, fish or ride your

Rivas Law Group, L.L.C. is a personal injury law firm located in Winter Haven, FL. Attorney Tania L. Rivas is dedicated to meeting the legal needs of Polk County, FL and representing injured victims.

Rodney Clem Cummings of Davenport, Fl, was arrested for allowing his wife to drive the car that killed 17-year-old Samantha Hasting Friday, December 18, 2009. Rodney Cummings was in the car with his wife Candy in Haines City,FL, when the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated she hit Hasting and fled the scene.

According to ABC Action News, Polk County Deputies stated that Rodney knew Candy did not have a valid operator's license when she was driving. He was being sought for violating his probation on illegal dumping charges and has been in the Polk County, FL Jail 7 times.

Rodney Cummings is being held in jail without bond after violating the probation.

Pursuant to Florida Statue 316.027, The driver of any vehicle involved in a Florida, hit and run can be a very serious crime with very substantial penalties, depending on what happened in the accident. If you need to defend yourself in criminal court from a hit and run charge, you need to be sure that you are being represented by a skilled defense attorney with experience fighting hit and run cases. Your future and your freedom can depend on it.

In the instant case, the defendant may not only be facing criminal charges but also a civil action. In the State of Florida, motor vehicle owners can be liable for an injury accident whenever the defendant negligently entrusts the vehicle to another. In the instant case, the driver did not have a driver's license. Thus, there may be a case of negligent entrustment.

A Tenoroc High School student died of his injuries Tuesday, December 8, 2009, after being hit by a car while walking home after school, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Colton Meyers, 14, had been flown to Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, FL after the accident.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, the accident happened shortly after 2 p.m. at Old Dixie Highway West and Taylor Road South, in Lakeland, FL, as school was letting out, Polk County Police reports stated.

Meyers was walking east across Old Dixie Highway in Lakeland, FL, when he was struck by a gold Nissan driven by 17-year-old Jamiell Russell Jack, who is also a student at the school.
Traffic investigators stated Jack, who was heading south, was attempting to pass another vehicle in front of him when he struck Meyers near the east edge of Old Dixie Highway's northbound lane in Lakeland, FL.

Traffic investigators stated Jack, who was heading south, was attempting to pass another vehicle in front of him when he struck Meyers near the east edge of Old Dixie Highway's northbound lane in Lakeland, FL.

Jack's car came to a skidding halt when it struck a utility pole on the side of the road.

Meyers was flown from the scene in critical condition, Polk County officials said. Jack remained at the scene after the accident.

Jessica King, a student at the school, saw Meyers get hit. "I dropped my bag and I ran by his side," she told Bay News 9.

Meyers was bleeding from his nose and ears, and his arms and legs appeared to be broken, she said.

The injured teen tried to speak, but it was difficult.

Under the laws in Florida, hit and run can be a very serious crime with very substantial penalties, depending on what happened in the accident. Your future and your freedom can depend on it.

Rivas Law Group, L.L.C. is a personal injury law firm located in Winter Haven, FL. Attorney Tania L. Rivas is dedicated to meeting the legal needs of Polk County, FL and representing injured victims.

A 14-year-old student died after he was hit by a car Tuesday, December 8, 2009, while he was walking near Old Dixie Hwy and Taylor Rd South in Lakeland, FL.

The victim, identified as Colton Meyers, was a student at Tenoroc High School, according to ABC action News.

Myers was taken by medical helicopter to Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, FL in critical condition and was later pronounced dead.

According to Polk County investigators, the driver of a Nissan involved in the accident was traveling south on Old Dixie Highway in Lakeland, FL.

The driver attempted to pass another vehicle in front of him and his car struck Meyers, who was crossing Old Dixie road in Lakeland, FL.

Any person who operates a motor vehicle and is involved in an accident is required by law to stop in a safe place, provide information to the owner of whatever property may have been damaged (car, property, person, etc.), and render aid to anyone who was injured if necessary. Those who cause property damage and are unable to identify or contact the property's owner are legally required to leave a note with contact information and file an accident report with the police. Failure to do these things constitutes a hit and run, according to Florida State Laws.

When a suspect is charged and convicted of a hit and run, sentencing usually takes into account:

• The nature of the accident
• The extent of damage
• Personal injuries
• Cooperation with law enforcement
• Criminal record

Rivas Law Group, L.L.C. is a personal injury law firm located in Winter Haven, FL. Attorney Tania L. Rivas is dedicated to meeting the legal needs of Polk County, FL and representing injured victims.

Jimmy P. Justice, 59, of Lake Wales, FL an equipment operator with the county's Dundee, FL maintenance facility, died in the accident, which happened about 11 a.m. as county maintenance crews were working along the shoulder of the road.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Thomas U. Davidson, 51, of Haines City, was treated at the scene for minor injuries, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

The accident happened when a 2001 maroon Dodge Dakota pickup driven by Johnnie M. Lemon, 52, of Lakeland, FL, was heading east on Lake Hatchineha Road in Lakeland, FL and left the road for an unknown reason, the Polk County Sheriff's Office reported.

The truck first struck Justice and then hit Davidson as they worked along the road's shoulder. Justice died at the scene.

Justice had worked for the county since Feb. 15, 1988. He had expressed an interest in becoming a foreman and was working toward that goal, a news release from Polk County Sheriff's Office stated.

Justice was a veteran of the Air Force. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Micheline, and one sister.

The accident is under investigation.

Every day in the United States, approximately 115 americans die from motor vehicle accidents.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, in Polk County, FL alone there were more than 3,700 reported hospitalizations because of unintentional accidents and injuries during 2007. During 2006, 144 people were killed during an auto accident in Polk County, FL more than half of those individuals were pedestrians.

In my practice as a personal injury attorney, I represent accident victims in Polk County, FL. If your family member was killed in an accident, you should not delay in hiring an attorney to protect your legal rights. In this article, it is noted that the victim was struck by an automobile while working. Pursuant to Florida law, an individual who is injured or killed while in the course and scope of employment has a worker's compensation claim. Negligence law also applies. In Florida, there is a two year statute of limitations to bring a claim in both worker's compensation and wrongful death. Thus, it is crucial to hire a lawyer immediately.

A Polk County Sheriff's Office detective's car was struck by an oncoming car when he tried to make a U-turn on Reynolds Road on Wednesday afternoon, December 2, 2009.

The accident happened about 3 p.m. on Reynolds Road near the subdivision of Angler's Cove, in Lakeland, FL, police reports said. Those involved in the crash received minor injuries.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Polk County Sheriffs Office Detective Kurt Karakash, was driving his Ford Taurus north on Reynolds Road in Lakeland, FL, when he made a U-turn and was struck by an oncoming Honda Accord, which was driven by Elias Rivera of Auburndale, FL.

The impact caused the Taurus to spin, and Rivera's Honda struck a fence on the west side of the road, Polk county, FL police reports said.

Karakash, was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for minor injuries and was expected to be released Wednesday night.

Rivera, 23, and his three passengers, Jessica Negron, 22, Elieser Rivera, 1, and Elileana Rivera, 17, were also taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, FL, with minor injuries. Elileana Rivera was the only one not wearing a seat belt, reports said.

The accident remains under investigation.

Seat belt laws are divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary seat belt laws allow law enforcement officers to ticket a driver for not wearing a seat belt, without any other traffic offense taking place. Secondary seat belt laws state that law enforcement officers may issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt only when there is another citable traffic infraction, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Specific laws vary greatly from state to state, depending on the age of the rider and in what seat he or she is sitting, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Rivas Law Group, L.L.C. is a personal injury law firm located in Winter Haven, FL. Attorney Tania L. Rivas is dedicated to meeting the legal needs of Polk County, FL and representing injured victims.

Polk sheriff's officials said deputies are searching for a person involved in a crash that left two other people injured early Sunday, November 29, 2009.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, a 2005 Mitsubishi Galant heading east on Knight's Station Road just east of Sand's Road about 3:45 a.m. struck a utility pole and rolled, the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated.

Regis Sherrod Valbrun, 20, of Dade City,Fl, was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with serious injuries and Kevin Todd Floyd, 21, of Zephyrhills, FL, had unknown injuries, reports stated.

A third person apparently left the crash scene, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. No one in the car was wearing a seat belt, reports stated.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA), a total of 43,200 people died on the nation's highways in 2005. Fifty-five percent (55%) of passenger vehicle occupants who died were not wearing seat belts.

Nationwide, 10.2% of students had rarely or never worn a seat belt when riding in a car driven by someone else. Overall, the prevalence of having rarely or never worn a seat belt was higher among male (12.5%) than female (7.8%) students, according to a 2005 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Youth Risk Surveillance report.

According to the 2007 Youth Risk Surveillance report, In the United States, 72% of all deaths among persons aged 10-24 years result from four causes: motor vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Results from the 2007 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) indicated that many high school students engaged in behaviors that increased their likelihood of death from these four causes. Among high school students nationwide during 2007, 11.1% had never or rarely worn a seat belt when riding in a car driven by someone else.

As a personal injury attorney, practicing in Polk County, FL, I have seen first hand the consequences of not wearing a seat belt. A split second decision not to wear a seatbelt can have lifelong consequences. Get into the habit of buckling up each time you go for a ride. It's a decision that may very well save your life!