$1 Million Settlement in Death of 3-Year-Old

Okeechobee:   An Okeechobee family has accepted $1 million policy limits in a wrongful death lawsuit.  Their toddler was riding his bike when a truck driver struck and killed him.

On a quiet Sunday morning in the parking lot of the Town Center Apartments in Okeechobee, FL, the parents of a three-year-old boy thought he was in a safe place to ride his bicycle.  The parents were standing close by, watching; signs saying “Slow Children at Play” were posted; and there were speed bumps throughout the complex to slow down drivers.

Yet, the driver of a 1 ton business truck with dual rear tires “gunned” his vehicle, pulled straight out of the parking space, and unknowingly ran over the small child’s bike, killing the boy instantly. The driver of the truck was unaware of the tragedy and had to be chased down to get him to stop.  

The night before this tragedy, the truck driver had been partying in West Palm Beach, not arriving home until 6:30 am.  He went to the apartment complex to drop off a friend, and he admitted seeing the child riding his bike in the parking lot when he arrived.

Witnesses said there were no obstructions in the way, so the driver should have seen the child and his bicycle, making the driver negligent.  The young boy suffered massive head trauma, which resulted in his death.   Tony Goodman, an attorney with the Accident Law Offices of Philip DeBerard, said, “This incident showed blatant disregard for responsible driving in a vicinity where small children play on a regular basis. We hope this settlement will make a difference, emphasizing how motor vehicle drivers must take responsibility for pedestrians.”  

The defendant’s business insurance company accepted responsibility for the defendant’s actions, settling the case for the entire policy limits of  $1 million.  Attorney Philip DeBerard said, “This accident robbed his family of a young and spirited son due to the careless driving of one person. No amount of money can ever take the place of the little boy whose life was cut short so tragically.”

The Accident Law Offices of Philip DeBerard, www.flainjurylawyer.com  practices in the area of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death, serving  Okeechobee, Stuart, Jupiter and Fort Pierce.

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