Platt, Hopwood, Russell & Cole Law Blog

Most Florida motorists following the traffic laws and rules of the road, but they can't always avoid the recklessness of other drivers. Unfortunately, negligence and recklessness of one driver can result in serious motor vehicle accidents to unsuspecting travelers. One family is grieving the death of a loved one after a wrong-way driver caused a fatal collision.

A 35-year-old man was traveling eastbound in westbound lanes early on a recent morning. He crashed his pickup truck head-on into another vehicle. The impact of the crash resulted in the pickup flipping on its side, and witnesses reported that the other vehicle appeared to be shredded.

Police say distracted driving and blinding sunlight are to blame for a crash involving a group of 14 bicyclists in Davie, Florida over Thanksgiving weekend. Several riders were injured and one woman, identified as Denise Marsh, 53, died after being transported to the hospital.

Officers at the scene of the accident stated that they did not believe the driver was speeding, or that alcohol or drugs were the cause of the accident. They also stated that the did not believe the woman was texting while driving, a common cause of traffic accidents. The driver reportedly admitted that something in her vehicle distracted her momentarily, but there are no details as to what that distraction was.

Many individuals dream of moving to Florida or remaining here during their retirement years. Sadly, many may find their retirement plans altered due to a high-asset divorce after the age of 50. Special attention must be paid to retirement assets, Social Security benefits and insurance policies during a so-called gray divorce in order to protect future living expenses.

A gray divorce involves spouses over the age of 50 and often occurs after a couple has accumulated wealth and significant retirement funds. Many individuals in this age group have pension plans that may have unique rules and require specific court orders to acquire shares. An individual's attorney must file for a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, which must then be submitted to the retirement account administrator. If a former spouse is to be designated as the surviving beneficiary to a former spouse's pension plan, it must be documented in the final divorce decree.

It is always tragic when lives are lost in car crashes. However, when motor vehicle accidents claim the lives of children, many find it harder to accept because the victims are so innocent and still have their entire lives ahead of them. One family in Florida is likely still reeling from a collision that took the life of one of their children and injured two others.

The accident occurred in Lehigh Acres around 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12. Two vehicles were involved in the crash, which happened at the intersection of two roads. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a 17-year-old male failed to stop at the intersection and collided with a minivan. The pickup truck he was driving flipped; however, no one in the truck suffered serious injuries.