Driving on Florida beaches is a tradition dating back to the late 19th century, when horses pulling buggies and passengers traveled across the sand. Later, the beaches were used for stock car races, and, until 1959, various NASCAR races. More recently, some Florida beaches have been the scenes of tragic accidents, and one incident has led to a wrongful death suit.
The parents of 4-year-old Aiden Patrick, who was killed in a July 2010 beach-driving accident at New Smyrna Beach, have brought a wrongful death lawsuit against Volusia County, claiming that the county was negligent, and that although the county knew that the beach was dangerous, no precautions were taken to make the beach safer. The little boy was running toward his father when he crossed the road and was struck by a pickup truck. The driver did not see him. Aiden’s tragedy is not the only of its kind. Another child, 4-year-old Ellie Bland, was hit and killed in a beach-driving accident in March 2010 at Daytona Beach.
In recent years, driving on overcrowded beaches has caused many injuries, and several fatalities. According to the Orlando Sentinel, there have been 49 beach-driving accidents in Volusia since 1995, and in each one of these accidents a pedestrian or sunbather was either injured or killed.
If a loved one has been killed because of someone else’s negligence, please contact the experienced Orlando, Florida wrongful death attorney Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D.