Florida Accident Attorney Blog

South Florida is known for its extensive system of man-made canals. Literally thousands of miles of canals stretch from Orlando, Florida, southward to Miami, Florida. Canals come in different types and sizes, and they serve many purposes in Fla., including drainage and flood control, agricultural canals, waterway navigation and ocean access, boating and recreation, and residential canals -- which boost home values in neighborhoods by virtue of houses being built adjacent to canals.

One downside to having so many canals in South Florida is car accidents sometimes occur where vehicles go off the road and crash into canals, and the driver and occupants drown before they can escape the sinking vehicle.

As a Palm Beach County auto accident injury lawyer knows from following Florida motor vehicle accident fatality reports, a car that plunges into water can sink rapidly, making it challenging for the car accident victims -- even if they're unharmed in the initial crash -- to escape.

Florida Car Accident Deaths Due To Cars Crashing into Canals

A tragic accident of this nature recently occurred in Palm Beach County, Florida. Last February, Ms. Deiula Francois, a mother with her two daughters in the car, was driving on State Road 80 near Belle Glade when her auto swerved out of control, plunging into the canal. Though one of the daughters called emergency 911 from the submerged vehicle -- it was too late to save them. All 3 occupants of the motor vehicle died in this fatal car accident in Palm Beach County. Another fatal car crash into a Florida canal occurred last March in Boca Raton, Florida; a West Boca man was killed when his car rolled into a canal.

According to news reports, the Florida Department of Transportation has sped up its schedule to install guardrails along the stretch of SR 80 near Belle Glade since this tragic car accident of the mother and two daughters who perished in their submerged car occurred. News reports state that at least 12 people have died in Florida motor vehicle crashes on State Road 7 near Belle Glade in the last several years.

Many articles have been written about how to increase chances of surviving a car crash that ends up with the vehicle sinking under water. Some safety advocates recommend carrying a hammer or other heavy tool in the glove box that can be used to punch out the windows and escape. See additional resources below on how to survive a water crash, including demonstration videos from the Florida Highway Patrol (which show escape techniques from a car floating and a car sinking rapidly).

Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney article:

Florida Family Missing From Fort Lauderdale Since '99 Found Dead in Van Submerged in Canal Off I-75 April 7, 2010

Sources:

Dangerous road to get guardrails
News Channel 5 WPTV.com July 11, 2011

Guardrails to be installed along canal on Boca Rio road in Boca Raton
South Florida Sun Sentinel March 16, 2011

Related Web Resources:

Surviving a Submerging Car
Florida Highway Patrol (videos)

Surviving an Auto Emergency
MSNBC.com

Plant Management in Florida Waters: Canals
University of Florida

The U.S. Dept. of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued its findings in a highly publicized Orlando, Florida accident that left a SeaWorld trainer dead.

The incident received international news coverage last February when a SeaWorld trainer, who had been working with a killer whale, was pulled underwater by the whale in front of a park audience. The trainer suffered injuries to her spine, head and ribs and died by drowning.

OSHA maintains Florida offices including one in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

OSHA is the same regulating agency that is called to investigate types of work-related accidents in South Florida, including construction accidents and accidents related to maritime law.

OSHA found SeaWorld to be in violation of three safety regulations and has fined the company $75,000 for allowing trainers to work with potentially dangerous animals. The case has raised many questions about the risks involved to trainers and other staff in working with large animals and whether it is humane to keep these creatures in captivity. OSHA stated that the same whale was involved in the death of another trainer in Canada.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida work accident lawyers may work with families in cases where an employer's negligence may have led to injury or death of an employee.

US Labor Department's OSHA cites SeaWorld of Florida following animal trainer's death
OSHA News Release Aug. 23, 2010

SeaWorld fined $75,000 for safety violations
CNN.com Aug. 23, 2010

Related Web Resource

OSHA Homepage

According to news reports, a man who had been swimming at Lake Worth Beach in South Florida drowned this past weekend. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department reported that the body of a male swimmer was spotted floating in the water north of Lake Worth Pier. The man was pulled from the water and taken by paramedics to JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, FL, where he was pronounced dead. The police are seeking information on the identity of this drowning victim.

Lake Worth is located near West Palm Beach, Florida about 60 miles north of Miami. Witnesses at the beach told news media that it appeared the man pulled from the water may have been in the water for some time.

A West Palm Beach accident lawyer may be contacted by families who seek guidance in cases where drowning due to a swimming pool accident or other water recreation accident in Florida (such as a personal watercraft or boating accident) led to injury or death of a loved one.

According to a survey conducted by the American Red Cross, almost half the adults reported that they’ve had a near-drowning experience, and one in four know someone who has drowned. In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that drowning is the number-one cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 4, and three children die daily as a result of drowning.

Experienced Palm Beach County, Florida injury attorneys are familiar with issues surrounding premises liability and safety laws in place designed to protect swimmers who go to South Florida beaches, lakes, and resorts, as well as those who swim in private and public swimming pools. No further details were available on the circumstances surrounding this apparent drowning in the waters near West Palm Beach, Florida.

Man Drowns At Lake Worth Beach
ABC 25 / WPBF.com June 7, 2010

Related Web Resources

Brevard County, Florida: Swim Safety Tips

American Red Cross: Summer Water Safety Guide (PDF)

CDC: Drowning: Protect the Ones You Love

City of Lake Worth, Florida

A mother and two daughters who went missing in 1999 during a drive from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa, Florida, has been found deceased -- their car submerged in a canal. According to news reports, a Broward Sheriff's Office dive team on a training exercise in a canal off Florida I-75 last week discovered a green submerged van containing skeletal remains. Police identified the remains as those of Nelta Jacques, her two young daughters, and her unborn child. Ms. Jacques and her children had gone missing in June 1999 on a rainy night, as they were driving from Ft. Lauderdale to their home in Tampa, Florida.

Broward County, Florida Police have ruled the deaths accidental, due to an apparent car accident. Police theorize that Ms. Jacques may have pulled off Florida Interstate 75 to get out of the bad weather and accidentally drove into a canal around mile marker no. 31, near a boat ramp. The BSO dive team found the green van submerged under 18 feet of water -- the bodies still strapped in to their seat belts.

NBC News of Miami, Florida, reports that traffic accidents occurring off Florida canal roads -- where vehicles and their occupants end up trapped under water -- are tragically all too common. A news article stated that...

Divers from the Broward Sheriff's office made 90 dives in canals last year alone. One in every 100 cars they find has human remains.

Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers may be consulted by families when a serious or fatal car accident occurs, to determine whether negligence or recklessness on the part of another party or parties may have caused or contributed toward the accident.

NBC News reported that the Broward County Medical Examiner called on Florida transportation officials to join him in identifying the most dangerous roads along South Florida's canals (e.g., those with difficult bends), where cars are most apt to go off the road and into the water -- in hopes of improving safety and preventing deadly motor vehicle accidents such as this sad story.

Vanished 11 Years Ago, Missing Mom Mystery is Resolved
NBCMiami.com April 2, 2010

Related Web Resource

Broward County Sheriff's Office: Marine Patrol and Dive Team

A news source reports that a Plantation, Florida child was saved and brought to the hospital after falling into a swimming pool.

According to the news report, the swimming pool accident occurred early Saturday. The Plantation Fire Department was called to a home where a 3-year-old had fallen into the pool. The child had been pulled from the pool by the time rescue workers arrived and was breathing and conscious. The toddler was brought to Plantation General Hospital to be examined, and initial reports indicated the child would be OK.

Florida Pool Accidents and Drownings
An experienced Florida accidental drowning lawyer stays up-to-date on state and federal safety laws that the owners of public swimming pools must abide by. The recently enacted Virginia Graeme Baker Act requires the owners of all Florida public pools and spas to put safety covers on drains to prevent small children from being sucked in and injured or drowned.

In addition, the owners of private swimming pools may be subject to Florida premises liability law if someone is injured or drowns on their property. Safety advocacy groups urge all private swimming pool owners to review safety recommendations and install fencing, drain covers, and other safety equipment, so their pools are safe for children and adults. It is also recommended that an adult supervise children in the pool at all times. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children younger than age 5 in Florida.

Child rescued after falling in pool at Plantation home
South Florida Sun-Sentinel June 20, 2009

Related Web Resources

Preventing Tragedies:
Broward County and Palm Beach County Pool Accidents

Virginia Graeme Baker Act:
Information for Compliance with the 2007 Pool & Spa Safety Act