Benjamin Pirofsky took his motorcycle for a ride at 9:30 on a Friday night in March of this year. Making a move from Coral Springs to Fort Lauderdale, the 30-year old was doing a load of laundry and went for a ride in Pompano Beach to pass some time. Mr. Pirofsky never made it home.
Southbound on North Federal Highway at Northeast Fourth Street, Mr. Pirofsky had a green light. Northbound in a Ford SUV, 42-year old Nadia Verdoni of Pompano Beach turned left in front of Mr. Pirofsky. Despite evasive braking, Mr. Pirofsky struck the back of the vehicle and was thrown from his motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ms. Verdoni fled the scene. An eyewitness pursued Ms. Verdoni, eventually stopping her just blocks from her home. When the witness told her the motorcyclist could be dead, Ms. Verdoni purportedly replied, “I didn’t kill nobody.”
The issue of motorcycle safety on Florida roads is serious. Look at the disturbing facts from the Florida Department of Highway Safety:
- Motorcycle fatalities have risen for three straight years. In 2012, 425 motorcyclists died.
- Motorcycle crashes increased more than eight percent in 2012. In Florida, 9,384 crashes involved motorcycles.
- The rate of injury for motorcyclists continues to rise. More than 7,000 motorcyclists were injured, an increase of 8.5 percent from 2011.
When Ms. Verdoni refused to return to the scene after speaking with the witness, he took a picture of her license plate. Ms. Verdoni was located and charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene involving death and tampering with evidence.
If you are injured, or a loved one is killed through the negligence of others in Florida, speak with an experienced injury law firm.