Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith finds himself entangled in a legal battle following a recent car accident, with Alekxei Pino initiating a lawsuit against him in Florida.
As reported by TMZ Sports, Pino’s lawsuit, filed last week, seeks damages exceeding $50,000 in connection with the collision.
The incident unfolded on February 6, shortly after the Miami Heat’s victory over the Orlando Magic, when Highsmith, behind the wheel, was involved in a collision. The Miami-Dade Police Department cited Highsmith for careless and negligent driving.
According to the crash report, Pino was aiding a woman with a disabled vehicle on the road when Highsmith’s vehicle approached at an estimated 45 mph in a 40 mph zone.
Highsmith failed to halt his vehicle upon noticing the obstruction ahead, resulting in a collision with the disabled vehicle and Pino, who was standing nearby.
Pino suffered severe injuries, including a partial amputation of his right leg, a fractured left leg, and a possible broken left arm. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.
Jerry Dianis, representing Highsmith, asserted that his client was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the incident. However, the police report suggested that Highsmith may have been distracted by unspecified factors.
In a statement obtained by TMZ, Manuel Dobrinsky, Pino’s attorney, noted that his client remains hospitalized, facing an arduous journey of rehabilitation.
Highsmith, now in his third season with the Miami Heat, initially joined the team on a 10-day contract in December 2021.
Despite the legal issues stemming from the accident, he has participated in 40 games this season, notably featuring in the last three games before the All-Star break after missing a February 7 matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.
