Bagen Law Blog

On Sunday evening, a 9-year-old girl was seriously injured in an ATV car crash when she crashed into the path of an incoming car in Columbia County.

ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) are very popular in Gainesville and throughout Florida. They are fun, exciting, and enjoyable for off-road adventures. It’s no surprise that with this great fun comes great dangers. In fact, according to a study released by ATVSafety.gov, there were 376 reported deaths and 131,900 reported accidents in 2009 in ATV-related incidents. So what is the best way to keep you and your family safe during your off-road excursions? Follow these rules for a safe ride:

A Gainesville man has been sentenced to 60 years in state prison for attempted murder and robbery.

We all know that college football is huge in the Gainesville area. Tailgating, drinking, and celebrating are a huge part of the activities that go on around University of Florida`s campus during this time of year and staying safe after a big game, takes planning ahead. From allowing enough time for your tailgating grill to cool down before heading into the game or planning a designated driver to avoid being put under the pressure to drink and drive.  Younger people are more at risk to be involved in an alcohol related accident than older people.  If you plan on driving to the game and tailgating before, plan to have a designated driver to drive the vehicle home, or go knowingly you will leave your vehicle after the game and find a safe ride home.
Do not get a ride home from someone who has been drinking even if they say they are okay to drive. If you have any suspicion of the driver being intoxicated; find a new ride. Just because you aren’t the one driving does not make it any safer. Reports have shown that at least half of the deaths that have occurred due to drinking and driving accident, were the passengers in the vehicles. Always keep the local taxi cab phone numbers available in your phone, stay close to the public bus routes, and check with the university to see if they offer other options for safe rides home.  Remember, driving under the influence is no way to celebrate a big win.

Local husband and wife were killed late Saturday night (August 27th) after a Williston man was traveling in the wrong direction on U.S. Highway 27.Leonel Hernandez-Ocampo struck, Shelly Mohan-Bell Roberts and husband Tracey Lee Roberts head on after traveling North, on U.S. Highway 27 South. Both Shelly Roberts and Tracey Roberts were pronounced dead at the scene while Ocampo was taken to the hospital suffering minor injuries. Charges in the accident are still pending.
The deaths were the 44th and 45th of the year on Marion County Roads, having everyone wonder what can we do to be safer on the roads? Whether you are driving a short distance from the store to home, or a long distance trip we encourage everyone to follow the simple steps below to keep you and your family safe while driving.
1.    Always wear your seat belts, as the driver and require all passengers.
2.    Do not use the phone while driving. Excluding all incoming calls, outgoing calls, and texting while driving will keep you focused on the road, and your surroundings.
3.    Be alert; don’t drive if you are feeling sleepy.
4.    Avoid speeding. Timely plan ahead to avoid being in a rush, or running late for an appointment.
5.    DO NOT drink & drive; plan ahead with a designated driver, taxi company, or bus ride.
6.    Be sure your car has been maintained. Avoiding car accidents that could cause you vehicle to abruptly stop, or break down.
7.    Block distractions. Whether it is turning off your phone while driving, or requiring your passengers to be quiet, staying focused on the road requires all distractions to be at a minimum.
8.    Don`t Tailgate. Always leave enough room between you and the car in front of you, in case of quick brake reaction.
9.    Use turn signals. Notify the cars around you when you are getting over or turning. Making other drivers aware of your actions will reduce any chance of being hit.
10.    Be prepared. Adjust your mirrors, radio station, and seat preference before putting the car in drive.

A motorcyclist is accused of leading a high-speed chase through three counties at speeds up to 130 mph. A high-speed chase that resulted in the man and his female passenger in the hospital before his arrest.

A new study developed by the University of Michigan found that car accidents are mostly caused by women. Researchers studied thousands of traffic accidents over a 20-year time span. The results are surprising: female drivers are far more likely to run into a car driven by another woman than a man.

According to a new report released by Transportation for America, 11.1% of pedestrians and 17.4% of bicyclists were killed in Florida making it one of the deadliest states for walkers and bikers.

Early Sunday morning a mother and daughter were killed after hitting a concrete barrier on Northwest 44th Avenue in their Chrysler PT Cruiser. The vehicle was found lying on its roof by employees who were arriving for work around 8:00a.m. Sunday morning. An "accident reconstructionist" has been called to help determine the cause of the accident, due to the fact that where the vehicle hit the barrier it was posted “Dead End” and was not open to traffic.

23 year old Spring Hill man was killed early Saturday morning on Interstate 75 South when his Pontiac G6 ran off the road. The young man, who was not wearing a seat-belt attempted to return to the road and slid sideways and entered the median on the opposite side of the road. The Pontiac was then struck by a cement culvert  causing the vehicle to airborne and eject the young man onto the shoulder of the northbound lanes and was then struck by a vehicle.