Car Accidents

October 2, 2015

Bronson Woman Killed, Teen Injured in Levy County Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 34-year-old Bronson woman was killed in a traffic crash in Levy County Wednesday morning.

A 15-year-old female passenger, also from Bronson, was seriously injured in the accident, which occurred around 6:43 a.m. on U.S. 27.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the woman was driving a 2002 Ford Explorer west in the outside lane and lost control of the sport utility vehicle. It veered onto the shoulder for about 120 feet before hitting a tree.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

If you have been seriously injured, or if you have had a loved one killed in an accident in Florida where the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree, pole, barrier, house, parked car or other fixed object, you are probably seeking answers to your legal questions. A Levy County Auto Accident Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you get the answers you are looking for during this difficult time.

Auto accidents in which a car, truck or SUV exits the roadway and hits a tree, utility pole, building, traffic barrier or some other fixed object are some of the most deadly types of motor vehicle accidents. Auto accidents involving a vehicle that left the street, roadway or highway and struck a fixed object are responsible for 20 percent of deaths across the country each year.

September 24, 2015

Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash in Altoona

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 23-year-old man died after losing control of his motorcycle at about 7:05 p.m. Sunday night at County Road 42 and Rea Way in Altoona.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the St. Augustine man was traveling westbound on CR-42 at a high rate of speed on his 2015 Yamaha.

According to the report, when he entered a curve in the road, he lost control and struck a power pole.

The man was transported to Florida Hospital Waterman, where he later died.

The driver was wearing a helmet. Police are looking into whether alcohol was a factor.

Troopers said the crash is still currently under investigation.

Speeding, alcohol, or drug use, as well as disobeying traffic laws greatly increases the chances of a serious accident. While most bikers take precautions to avoid accidents, all too often other driver’s mistakes lead to unfortunate collisions. Even when all safety measures have been observed, there is no way to eliminate the risk, even for the most skilled motorcyclists.

Any motorcyclist who has been involved in a Florida wreck and sustained any type of injury should consult with a Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton. You deserve to be fully compensated for injuries caused by another motorist. Families who have lost a loved one may be able to seek compensation by filing a wrongful death claim. We realize that these are tragic situations and are extremely difficult for everyone involved.

September 23, 2015

One Injured in Crash with Seminole County Fire Truck Near Winter Springs

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

One person was taken to the hospital after a crash involving a car and a Seminole County fire truck Wednesday morning.

The crash occurred around 10:40 a.m. on Red Bug Lake Road near Tuskawilla Road, near the entrance to the Willa Springs Shopping Plaza.

Seminole County fire officials believe the truck was responding to a call when the crash happened.

The driver of the car was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center. At this time, it is unknown how severe the driver’s’ injuries were.

The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating what caused the crash.

Fire trucks throughout the United States have a duty to operate in emergency service, which only contributes to the likelihood of a motor vehicle accident, especially when there is heavy traffic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 2,000 fire truck accidents happen throughout the country each and every year. More than 1,000 injuries are associated with fire truck collisions, on average, which is quite concerning to motorists everywhere.

Reports indicate that fire truck crashes may occur as many as twice a week in some of the more urban cities in Florida. Despite the fact that all fire trucks have loud sirens, honking horns, and bright lights flashing, some heavily trafficked areas make it impossible to get out of the way. In these cases, an accident is highly likely to occur and serious injuries may result.

September 15, 2015

Buckle Up for Child Passenger Safety Week

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

September 14 kicks off the first day of Child Passenger Safety week and experts are once again reminding parents to make sure their child car seat is installed correctly.

Experts believe some parents are letting their children use a regular safety belt too soon.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts should lie across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain your child safely in a crash. It should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck or face.

Children who have outgrown their car seat by weight or height should use a booster seat until they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall, according to the NHTSA. The use of booster seats can also reduce injuries by 45 percent compared to using an adult safety belt alone.

They recommend keeping all children in the back seat until age 13.

Some other basic rules to follow are listed below:

Make sure the car seat is properly installed
Make sure the child is securely fastened
Make sure the buckle is at armpit level

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles requires that every driver on Florida roads use a car seat that is crash-tested and federally approved for any child 5 years old or under. According to the NHTSA, when properly restrained, infants have a 71 percent greater chance of surviving a car crash and toddlers have a 54 percent decrease in the risk of death.

Our Florida Auto Accident Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton encourage all Florida drivers to buckle up. We urge parents and caregivers to take extra care in buckling up little ones. Using a proper child safety seat is one of the most important steps you can take for keeping your child safe.

September 2, 2015

Florida’s Bicycle Death Rate Highest in Nation

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A new report on bicyclist deaths by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that Florida has the highest rate of bicycling deaths of any state in the nation — 0.57 per 100,000 people, more than double the nationwide rate of 0.23 per 100,000.

While other states have found ways to cut bicycle deaths during two periods measured over the last three decades, Florida has only reduced the number less than 10 percent.

Nationwide, safety seems to be improving for bicyclists, with the number of deaths per 100,000 people declining 44 percent from 0.41 to 0.23 during the periods measured — the five years from 1975 to 1979 and the five years from 2008 to 2012, according to the new CDC report titled “Bicyclist Deaths Associated with Motor Vehicle Traffic — United States, 1975–2012.”

The steepest decline measured was among children younger than 15.

According to the report, bicyclists are killed on U.S. roads at a rate double that of vehicle occupants, even though bicycle travel accounts for only about 1 percent of trips across all modes of transportation.

Because of the year-round warm climate in Florida, cycling is a popular mode of transportation and exercise activity during most months of the year. However, Florida roadways also pose serious risks to bicyclists, from distracted automobile drivers to improper bike lanes. If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury or was killed in a bike accident, it is very important to discuss your case with a Florida Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton.

Unfortunately, what could start out as a leisurely bike ride can quickly turn into a fatal accident. At Whittel & Melton, we believe that the responsible party should be held responsible for damages. Filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim for a bike accident can be complex, but we can provide you with the experienced representation you need.

August 21, 2015

1 Killed After Train Hits Car in Auburndale

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

One person is dead after an Amtrak train struck a vehicle in Auburndale Monday evening.

A 44-year-old man died in the accident that occurred on Stadium Road near Bennett Street.

According to witnesses, the arms were down and the lights were flashing at the tracks. Cars were apparently stopped on both sides and the driver of the car allegedly went around other traffic and crossed the railroad tracks.

The investigation into this accident is ongoing.

A train wreck is usually a catastrophic event that often results in multiple injuries and a high number of fatalities. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration reports that there are close to 14,000 train wrecks annually. Of these train accidents, around 850 people die every year and another 9,500 people are injured. Unfortunately, train wrecks, railroad crossing accidents, and deaths and injuries as a result of collisions between trains and cars occur quite frequently.

August 7, 2015

What Jeep & Chrysler Owners Need to Know About Fiat Chrysler Enforcement Action

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently issued a press release regarding the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fiat Chrysler Enforcement Action.

Fiat Chrysler has acknowledged violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and admitted to failing to handle the required repairs on vehicles with safety defects. They have agreed to federal oversight, buy backs and a civil penalty.

They are facing a $105 million civil penalty- the largest penalty ever imposed by the NHTSA.

Violation of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

NHTSA officials pointed out various problems with Fiat Chrysler’s execution of 23 vehicle safety recalls, covering more than 11 million defective vehicles. The automaker violated the Safety Act in three ways:

Timely Recall Remedies
Notification to Vehicle Owners as well as Dealerships
Notification to the NHTSA

Fiat Chrysler In the Future

Fiat Chrysler is facing significant civil penalties. The automaker will have to pay an initial $70 million in cash, and spend another $20 million on meeting performance requirements in the Consent Order. Another $15 million could be taken if the independent monitor uncovers any further Safety Act or Consent Order violations. The NHTSA is sending out a powerful message to Fiat Chrysler as well as other automakers: You cannot place profits above consumer safety, and you cannot violate the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Are You a Jeep or Chrysler Owner?

Owners of certain Jeep and Chrysler vehicles will have the chance to sell their defective vehicles back to Fiat Chrysler, under the Consent Order. More than half a million automobile owners with vehicles that have defective suspension parts will be eligible to sell these vehicles back. More than a million Jeep owners will also be able to trade their vehicles in for above market value prices or will receive financial incentives to get their car’s fixed. To find out if your vehicle is under recall, check Safercar.gov’s VIN search tool.

August 4, 2015

This Week is National Stop on Red Week

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Since 2001, the first full week of August has been dedicated to National Stop on Red Week. This year, National Stop on Red Week is August 2-8. The purpose of this week is to promote safe driving practices, which include always stopping at a red light.

Red light running is a pretty big issue across the United States. In fact, red light running is the leading cause of urban car accidents. It may be surprising, but one out of every three people knows someone who was killed in a red light collision. Red light crashes are responsible for around 900 deaths and 165,000 injuries each year.

In 2013, the latest year for which complete information is currently available, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that:

Red light accidents resulted in 697 fatalities. Nearly half of the people killed were pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists other than the one who ran the red light.
Another 127,000 people were injured in red light accidents.
Failing to stop for a red light, stop sign, or all other forms of traffic control is the most common type of crash in urban areas.

While running a red light may save you two minutes, stopping at a red light can actually save your life. Please join our Florida Auto Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton and do your part to stop Florida red light accidents. Here are a few tips to always remember when behind the wheel:

Always stop when the light is red, no matter what.
If you plan to turn right at an intersection where right turns are permitted at red lights, always stop and check for cars and pedestrians before making the turn.
If the light turns yellow while you are approaching an intersection, slow down and stop. Do not try and speed through the intersection in order to beat the red light.

July 27, 2015

Court Agrees to Hear Appeal in Hospital PIP Lawsuit

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A federal court has agreed to hear an appeal on whether drivers in Palm Beach County and across Florida should be granted class-action status in their claim that HCA hospitals, including JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, are severely overcharging for services under the state’s car insurance system.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta agreed this week to consider an appeal of a lower-court decision in Florida that drivers could pursue lawsuits individually, but not as a group. The plaintiffs allege that the hospitals are draining Personal Injury Protection benefits by charging up to 65 times what Medicare pays.

An HCA statement issues said the case lacks merit and the company intends to defend it vigorously.

Recently, the Florida state legislature has taken steps to reduce the amount of fraud in the insurance system, reduce payment delays and limit use of the court system. The following changes were implemented:

In the past, injury victims had an unlimited time frame to make an injury claim, but now injury victims only have 14 days to seek medical treatment that may be covered by PIP.
Under the new law, people with minor injuries might be limited on the amount of financial recovery that they will receive from PIP coverage.
PIP compensation is limited to 80 percent of your medical costs.

July 15, 2015

Four Killed in U.S. 27 Crash in Frostproof

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Four people are now dead after a crash Sunday night in Frostproof.

Around 10:15 p.m., a 29-year-old Avon Park man is believed to have lost control of his Dodge sedan on southbound U.S. 27 between County Road 630-A and U.S. 98, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

The Dodge exited the roadway, struck a concrete culvert and came to rest in a drainage ditch.

First responders found two passengers dead: a 38-year-old Frostproof man and a 28-year-old Eustis man.

The driver and another passenger, a 33-year-old Frostproof man, were airlifted to Lakeland Regional Health. One man passed away the same day and another died Monday.

Police believe a second car may have been involved. They suspect a 1990s black Honda with a light-colored left-front fender may have been in the area. The car would have been heading south on U.S. 27. Anyone with information about this vehicle is asked to call Deputy Sheriff Johnnie Wombles at 863-297-1109.

Across the United States, on average, a person dies in a car accident every 12 minutes. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for all people under 35.

Most auto accident fatalities are entirely preventable, resulting from driver negligence. When one driver’s negligent actions behind the wheel causes the death of another person, survivors of the victim are entitled to make a claim for financial compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one.

While no amount of money can compensate for the loss of a human life, making a wrongful death claim for an auto accident fatality is not really about the money, it’s about accountability and making careless drivers face up to the tragedy they have caused a family. Nothing can bring the person back, but holding the wrongdoer accountable can be of some comfort and possibly prevent future similar accidents.