Blog - CGWC

Law & Politics and Super Lawyers has once again honored Stewart Colling, Ron Gilbert and Melvin Wright by selecting them as Super Lawyers for 2008. Super Lawyers publishes a magazine and maintains a website with the objective of creating a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorney annually. The Super Lawyers list and database can then be used by attorneys and consumers alike in searching for competent legal counsel in their geographical area.

Super Lawyers names attorneys from 70 practice areas after a rigorous selection process determining they have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Polling research and selection are performed by Law & Politics. Only 5% of Florida attorneys have been honored by this designation. Selection involves an extensive process of balloting, peer nominations, blue ribbon panel review, and independent research.

Congratulations to CGWC.

The Fatalities Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reports that there are more than 1.8 million auto accidents at intersections every year. Over 900 people were killed and another 168,000 people were injured as a result of drivers running red lights in 2004. There were 622 automobile accidents caused by running redlights in Orange County, Florida alone. There were 108 auto accidents in Seminole County caused by drivers running redlights. Another 72 occurred in Osceola County.

According to a study by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, 61,000 pedestrians were injured in 2006. In the same year, almost 5,000 pedestrians were killed. Pedestrians account for about 11 percent of all traffic deaths each year.

Many of these accidents are avoidable. For example, running red lights is a huge problem in Central Florida. About half of the deaths from red light running are pedestrians. Speeding is also a major contributing factor, accounting as a factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes in 2003, for example, according to NHTSA statistics. Speeding is especially serious when a pedestrian is involved, increasing not only the likelihood of hitting a pedestrian, but also the likelihood of death. Needless to say, alcohol is often a contributing factor to such accidents, particularly at night, when most pedestrian accidents occur.

For victims of such accidents, it is important that an attorney be retained promptly to conduct an independent investigation while evidence, such as skid marks and other evidence at the site of an accident, are still fresh. If you or a loved one has been injured, or worse, if a loved one or friend has been the victim of a fatal pedestrian accident or automobile accident, call CGWC, The Florida Firm, for a free consultation.