South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
Being stranded on the side of the road can be a scary experience. Just ask Angel Soto Jr. According to The Palm Beach Post, he had to have one of his legs amputated, had one of his feet fractured and was locked up in a hospital room for weeks — all to save the life of a helpless motorists. Any regrets? No way, says Soto Jr.
The victim he helped was Alexander Proscurshim from Boynton Beach. He was sitting on the side of the road after he crashed his truck. He was bleeding from the head. Soto Jr. stopped to lend a helping hand. Just seconds after he stopped though, a passerby slammed right into Soto’s truck.
Our Palm Beach personal injury attorneys understand that these can be some of the most dangerous scenarios on our roadway. While Soto says he is glad to be alive, he realized that he’s going to have a long and painful recovery. Doctors told him he’s going to have to learn how to hold himself up on his left leg before they can attempt to attach a prosthetic leg. Rehabilitation can’t be made though, until his feet heal.
It’s not just the physical pain. He’s also dealing with a lot of emotional trauma. Dr. Gene Rodriguez, trauma surgeon at Delray Medical Center, Dr. Gene Rodriguez, says that these are damages that can last a lifetime.
Even though Soto Jr. is keeping it positive, he says he’s angry at the other driver for being so careless. He adds that he believes that the driver was on the phone when the accident happened. That’s a behavior that’s not regulated by state law. Florida continues to be one of the only states in the country that still allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and their eyes off of the road and pay attention to cell phones and other communication devices while driving.
Unfortunately, officers with the Boynton Beach Police say that they can’t find anything that proves the driver was on the phone. Subsequently, criminal charges have not been filed. The driver has been charged with reckless driving though, and Soto Jr. plans on filing a personal injury lawsuit.
If you should find yourself on the side of the road, we’re asking you to follow some simple safety precautions to help keep you and your passengers safe:
Make sure you always travel with a cell phone. If your car breaks down, make sure you pull off to the side of the road as far as you can. Turn on your hazard lights to make sure others see you. Call roadside assistance or a family member to request help. It’s also a good idea to keep your car packed with an emergency kit. In this kit, you should keep emergency flares, a flashlight, some tools, water, nonperishable food items and a first-aid kit. You also never want to accept a ride from a stranger or emergency responder of any kind without first checking for identification. Most importantly — you want to stay inside of your vehicle with your seat belt on while waiting for help. One of the most dangerous things you can do is get out of your vehicle. This only puts you at greater risks for another accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact the personal injury attorneys at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-561-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Passengers: Increasing Your Teen’s Risks for an Accident, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, October 19, 2012
Broward Traffic Safety: Protecting Children Near Our Roadways, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, September 28, 2012