Stolen Car Crashes, Kills Innocent Victim in Coral Springs

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on January 2, 2017

A Florida driver is left dead and her young son hospitalized after being hit by a group of adolescents who had stolen a vehicle. This is the tragic news that came out of Coral Springs, Florida last week, just before the Christmas holidays.

According to the Coral Springs Police Department, a surveillance camera alerted them of the location of a 2015 Toyota Corolla with a stolen tag, which was travelling east on Sample Road. However, when a squad car attempted to pull the Corolla over, the driver – a 17 year old male – accelerated through a red light, causing the stolen car to crash into a Mercedes-Benz being driven across the intersection by a 53 year old local school teacher. The Police Report states that the Toyota failed to stop at the red light and instead blew through the intersection at “a high rate of speed”.

Following the accident, the driver was taken to Broward Health North in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead. Her 11 year old son, who was a passenger in the car, was taken to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries listed as non-life threatening. The occupants of the stolen vehicle – three teens and one adult – were all transported to Broward Health North and are listed as being in critical condition. The four are facing various criminal charges, including:

• Grand theft
• Vehicular homicide
• Aggravated fleeing and eluding causing serious bodily injury and/or death
• Reckless driving

In the tragic case at hand, the surviving family members of the teacher that was killed will be able to file what is called a Florida wrongful death action. According to the law, a surviving spouse and/or children can, in some cases, seek compensation for the loss of their loved one. In cases such as the one here in Coral Springs, the surviving spouse could seek compensation for the decedent’s funeral expenses and medical bills. They could also receive compensation for loss of income and financial support. In addition to the wrongful death claim, the son who was injured will also be able to file his own personal injury suit, seeking damages for his injuries.

To learn more about Florida’s wrongful death statute 768.16 and personal injury laws, contact the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. today and schedule your free initial consultation.   

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.