Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

August 23, 2024

News: Passenger dead in collision involving Tesla at Pasco County intersection

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – A crash at an intersection in Pasco County last week left one person and two others injured, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

According to New Port Richey Patch, the wreck occurred Aug. 16 on Little Road near Heritage Lakes Boulevard. An investigation by state troopers determined that the driver of a Buick Reatta was headed south at about 9:20 p.m. and made a left turn into the path of a Tesla Model 3, resulting in a collision.

A passenger in the Buick, a 73-year-old woman from New Port Richey, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital. The driver of the Buick, a 75-year-old New Port Richey man, and the driver of the Tesla, a 45-year-old Osprey man, sustained minor injuries.

August 22, 2024

News: Coleman man dies after crashing into guardrail on Interstate 75 north

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol has released details of a fatal vehicle crash that occurred in Sumter County early Tuesday.

According to WKMG, the incident happened on Interstate 75 north near mile marker 330. According to the FHP, a driver lost control of his vehicle while traveling on the interstate and crashed into a guardrail in the median.

The motorist, a 36-year-old man from Coleman, died at the scene. His name has not yet been released.

August 21, 2024

News: Head-on collision in Sumter County kills 1, injures 2

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – Two vehicles were involved in a deadly head-on collision on County Road 472 in Sumter County on Monday night, WFTV reported.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation, the driver of a Nissan Altima was going east on County Road 472 at about 7 p.m. when her vehicle was struck by a Cadillac CTS that entered the eastbound lane while passing traffic near NE 42nd Boulevard. Both vehicles rotated to the south shoulder of the roadway, and the Altima overturned multiple times.

The driver of the Altima, a 55-year-old woman from Oxford, died at the scene. The driver of the Cadillac, a 52-year-old Ocala man, and his passenger, an 81-year-old man from Yorkville, Illinois, were seriously injured and transported to an area hospital.

August 20, 2024

News: Crash on US-19 in Hernando County leaves 1 driver dead, 1 injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – One driver was killed and another injured when their vehicles collided in Hernando County on Friday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

A report by WFTS states that the accident happened along U.S. Highway 19 near State Road 50. According to state troopers, a driver had pulled out of a restaurant parking lot on Commercial Way and failed to yield to the driver of a Dodge Ram headed north in the outside lane of Highway 19.

The first driver turned left into the path of the Ram, and the vehicles crashed. The first driver, a 69-year-old woman from Brooksville, died at the scene. The Ram driver, a 16-year-old male, was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

August 19, 2024

News: Wesley Chapel man dies in motorcycle accident on US-301

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal motorcycle accident that occurred in Pasco County on the evening of Aug. 11.

A report by Pasco News Online states that a man was riding a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle northbound on US-301 on wet road conditions. The FHP said he lost control of the bike while trying to pass other vehicles north of Dead River Road.

The motorcycle overturned and slid off the roadway, then crashed into a roadside sign. The motorcyclist, a 24-year-old man from Wesley Chapel, was pronounced dead at the scene.

August 16, 2024

News: Belleview woman, 24, dies in rollover crash on County Road 484

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A rollover accident in Marion County on Wednesday evening left a woman dead, WKMG reports.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a driver heading east on County Road 484 at about 5:30 p.m. lost control of her vehicle near S. Magnolia Avenue. The vehicle went into the median before overturning several times across the westbound lanes and ending up in a line of trees.

The driver was ejected in the crash and died at the scene. She was a 24-year-old woman from Belleview, the FHP said. The victim was not wearing a seat belt at the time the wreck occurred.

August 15, 2024

Drive Sober Labor Day Weekend & Every Day | Florida Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

During the Labor Day holiday weekend, there are typically more impaired drivers on the roadways, so you can expect to see more police officers patrolling the streets as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ramps up its annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

The goal of the August 14–September 2 campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, is to raise public awareness of the risks and repercussions of drunk driving.

According to the NHTSA, 32% of all traffic deaths in 2022 involved a drunk driver. Over the Labor Day holiday in 2022, 490 people died in traffic accidents.

August 15, 2024

News: Dunnellon man dead in dump truck accident in Marion County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a man died following a dump truck accident in Marion County on Tuesday morning.

The Ocala StarBanner reports the incident happened along County Road 225A near Northwest 79th Avenue Road at about 9:10 a.m.

According to the FHP, a man driving a dump truck loaded with dirt was headed north when he crossed over the center line. The vehicle went off the roadway and collided with a concrete barrier.

August 14, 2024

Back to School Safety Checklist | Florida Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

It is that time of year again – the kids are all heading back to school. Right about this time is when family life gets hectic, but it is important to take the time to review – and share with your kids – some key safety tips that can keep them safe throughout the school year.

Tips for Transportation Safety

Children must take the necessary safety precautions whether they walk, ride their bicycles, or take the bus to and from school. To ensure that your child gets to school safely, consider the following suggestions:

August 14, 2024

News: Driver, 47, killed in SUV rollover accident on County Road 46A

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – State troopers said a single-vehicle rollover accident in Lake County Monday night left a driver dead.

According to WOFL, the incident took place along County Road 46A near County Road 46. The Florida Highway Patrol learned that the driver of a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe was headed south at about 10 p.m. and ran off the roadway.

When he tried returning to the road he overcorrected, and the vehicle overturned multiple times. The driver, a 47-year-old man from Orlando, was ejected and died after being taken to an area hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, investigators said.