A beloved and talented musician from Venezuela was killed in an Orlando pedestrian accident recently while chaperoning a group of children on vacation.
Grammy-Nominated DJ Luis Borges was staying with a group of children whom he and other adults were chaperoning at a hotel near Lake Buena Vista. He and one of the chaperons decided to walk to a nearby grocery store to stock up on food. The two adults loaded up their carts at a local grocery store, pushed the carts back to the hotel, unloaded the food and then walked back to the store with the carts to return them.
Around 12:35 a.m., it was raining heavily and Borges was reportedly walking in the road. A 42-year-old man driving on Lake Street says he never saw the pedestrian before striking him. There were no street lights and Borges was not in a crosswalk. The driver did remain at the scene until troopers arrived. Neither alcohol impairment nor speeding is believed to have been an issue, and no criminal charges are expected.
As our Orlando pedestrian accident lawyers know, a finding of comparative fault by an injured person or decedent can reduce the overall amount of damages to which one is entitled through civil litigation. However, it will not bar it entirely. Even if attorneys can prove defendant was responsible to a degree of just 1 percent, plaintiff can still collect damages. That’s why it’s almost always worth pursuing, even if there is strong evidence to suggest victim’s own actions played a significant role in his or her injuries or death.
Pedestrian accidents are a major problem in Florida. According to 2013 data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Florida has the second-highest rate of pedestrian fatalities compared to every other state – a rate of 2.56 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 population. Delaware was No. 1, with an incident rate of 2.70. But while Delaware had 99 pedestrian deaths that year, Florida reported 501. Two one other state counted more – California with 701 pedestrian deaths. But when population was factored in, California’s accident rate was 1.83, compared to Florida’s 2.56.
Central Florida is known to be one of the most dangerous places in the nation for pedestrians. From January 2006 to January 2015, almost 5,000 crashes just in Orange County alone have involved a pedestrian or bicyclist. Within those crashes, nearly 260 people were killed and another 4,000 seriously injured. In more than 1,000 of those cases, according to local officials, distracted driving was listed as a factor.
Many of these accidents do make headlines, especially if a person is killed. However, Borges’ death is receiving a great deal of attention because of the success he carved within the music industry.
Borges was a member of the electronic Caribbean music group Caseroloops, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Tropical Fusion Album in 2012 for their album “Afronauta.”
After exiting the group, decedent became active on Venezuelan television.
Nationally, the NHTSA reports there were 4,653 crashes resulting in pedestrian fatalities in 2013. This represents 14 percent of all those killed in traffic crashes and 4 percent of all those injured.
More than two-thirds of all pedestrians killed in traffic accidents that year were males.
Call Freeman Injury Law — 1-800-561-7777 for a free appointment to discuss your rights. Now serving Orlando, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie and Fort Lauderdale.
Additional Resources:
Fans devastated by death of Venezuelan DJ in crash, Aug. 31, 2015, By Tiffany Walden and Rafael Palacio, Orlando Sentinel
More Blog Entries:
Vanderbloom v. Vermont – Negligent Construction of a Highway, Sept. 8, 2015, Orlando Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Blog