Accident Between Car and Motorized Scooter in Palm Bay
On Thursday Morning, 78-year-old James William Smith was driving his personal motorized scooter through a shopping plaza in Palm Bay when he tried to cross the road near the plaza’s entrance, where Palm Bay Road and Bottlebrush Drive intersect. The report filed by officials states that at the same time as Mr. Smith was trying to cross the road, a car bore down on him. Because Mr. Smith was not in a crosswalk, he was supposed to yield to the vehicle at this particular location, however neither Mr. Smith nor the as-of-yet-unnamed driver of the vehicle stopped in enough time. The car struck the scooter, tipping it over and morally wounding Mr. Smith.
The area where the accident occurred is only a short distance from the 1 location of the Palm Bay Fire Station, but by the time the Florida police department and emergency rescue vehicles were able to arrive Mr. Smith had sustained too much damage and was pronounced dead at the scene. Florida police offices closed the road down for a while as they cleaned up the accident and took notes regarding the positions of the car and scooter. The road was opened a few hours afterward.
At this moment, there are many unknown elements to this particular case. Culpability is going to be hard to pin on any one individual, and it is uncertain whether or not the driver of the car attempted to slow down, if Mr. Smith realized there was a car headed for him, or if either of the parties involved attempted to prevent the accident at all. Because Mr. Smith was crossing outside of a sidewalk, the primary responsibility to be aware of cars coming along the road was his.
Accidents such as this are delicate areas, and it will take a full investigation before more results are brought forward. Right now, what is known is that a person has died in an automobile accident. The police have not released any more complete statements, and it is not known if Mr. Smith has left any living relatives behind to grieve for him.
Losing a loved one in an auto accident such as this is certainly a devastating event. For over thirty years, Palm Bay auto accident lawyer James O. Cunningham has been fighting for the rights of victims involved in accidents. For a free initial consultation, contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).
Sources:
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.