Family of Florida Woman Killed in Car Accident Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Driver

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) October 14, 2015 – A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the family of a Florida woman who was struck and killed by a car in 2013.

Esther Ohayon, an Orthodox Jewish woman, was crossing an intersection on her way to a Florida synagogue on Sept. 13, 2013, when she was struck and killed by a driver. Esther Ohayon and her daughter Orly were unable to press the walk button to cross the intersection, due to religious strictures preventing them from performing certain activities, including generating electricity, on holy days. This meant that they had to cross eight lanes of traffic in approximately 11 seconds.

The women were struck by a vehicle driven by Michael Fortunato. According to an investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol, the light had just turned green as the driver approached the intersection, but he had not slowed his vehicle for the light when it was red.

“When a family loses a loved one because someone else failed to exercise proper care, it is appropriate for the family to consider a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain compensation for their loss,” said Robert Joyce, a wrongful death attorney with the Tampa firm of Joyce & Reyes, who is not involved in the case.

A negligence lawsuit was filed by Orly Ohayon, who was also struck by the vehicle. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed by her sister on behalf of their mother.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 502 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2013. In addition, there were 1,562 serious or incapacitating injuries and 3,135 non-incapacitating injuries the same year.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation, for four years, Florida was ranked the worst state in the nation for pedestrian fatalities, but it is now ranked fifth worst.

Learn more at http://www.joyceandreyespa.com Joyce and Reyes Law Firm, P.A. 307 S Hyde Park Ave Tampa, FL 33606 Call: 813.251.2007