Latest Blogs

A tragic van accident on the Florida turnpike killed one person and left 19 other passengers, including young children, injured last month, Fort Myers auto accident lawyer reports. Merlande Chery, a North Miami woman, died after being ejected from the van when the driver lost control during a tire blowout. The state Highway Patrol is looking into what caused the crash. Depending on the outcome of that investigation, the victim's family and the injured parties may decide to take legal action.

The 15-passenger van was transporting a Miami church group back from a mission trip in Orlando when one of the tires blew out around 7 p.m. on a Saturday. The driver, Willem Camille, 42, lost control of the vehicle, and it rolled over several times towards the median. The force of the flip expelled Chery from the vehicle. According to the Highway Patrol's report, Camille suffered extensive injuries, and three other victims were transported to a nearby hospital by helicopter. 16 other passengers, including several children, were driven to hospitals by ambulance or treated at the scene.

The Miami church group GSC Community Inc. owns the van, which is designed to hold 15 people safely. But at the time of the accident, at least 20 members of the group were riding in the van, along with each passenger's luggage from the mission trip. Fort Myers car accident attorney says that GSC Community Inc. has not offered a comment on this safety hazard, even though it may have been a factor in the cause of the accident. The Highway Patrol report indicates that not all passengers may have been properly seat belted during the drive.

Government statistics show that almost 10,000 people die every year in rollover accidents, because the roof and support structure of most vehicles is the weakest point of the car. Furthermore, 15-passenger vans are responsible for almost 100 fatalities every year, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Leading causes of 15-passenger van accidents include driver negligence, tire blowouts or other malfunctions, and vans loaded beyond their capacity. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires that these vans meet certain safety qualifications, and prohibit the use of drugs or alcoholic beverages when operating larger vans.

Drivers and passengers involved in large van accidents may be able to seek compensation for their injuries, medical bills, or other related expenses. Fort Myers auto accident lawyer Randall Spivey notes that these lawsuits are dependent on the results of an investigation, and whether the accident was the result of a manufacturing defect or negligence by a driver or owner. If the tire that blew out was defective, attorneys could investigate the possibility of a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Likewise, negligent behavior in loading or driving the van could also be open to legal action.

At Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., Fort Myers auto accident lawyer Randall Spivey has experience in large vehicle accidents, and can represent anyone who has suffered injuries or lost a loved one as a result of a van accident.