Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

September 2, 2024

Former Cruise Ship Crew Member Sentenced to 30 Years for Secretly Filming Children | Florida Cruise Ship Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A former Royal Caribbean International staff member was sentenced to 30 years in prison for using hidden cameras to film guests while they were in various stages of undress, including minors.

The 34-year-old man was sentenced on Wednesday following his previous guilty plea to producing child pornography, according to a news release from the Southern District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office.

After a guest on the Symphony of the Seas ship discovered a hidden camera beneath the sink in their bathroom, the man was charged with six counts of video voyeurism in Florida and detained on federal child pornography charges in March.

September 2, 2024

News: Collision in New Port Richey leaves 1 driver dead, 1 injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – A two-vehicle wreck in Pasco County last week left one of the drivers dead and the other hospitalized.

Pasco News Online reports that the incident happened Aug. 26 at the intersection of Little Road and Heritage Lakes Boulevard.

The Florida Highway Patrol said that the driver of a Ford Focus was going south on Little Road and turned left into the path of a northbound Nissan Xterra, resulting in a collision. The Ford driver, a 36-year-old man from New Port Richey, was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead.

August 31, 2024

Labor Day Festivals and Fairs in Full Swing – Stay Safe Out There | Florida Amusement Park Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Labor Day weekend is here, which marks the official end of summer. Whether you are attending a block party, a parade, a music festival, concert, or even a carnival or fair, our Florida Amusement Park Injury Lawyers want to remind you to exercise caution so that you can stay injury-free.

Injuries at fairs and festivals can be caused by a variety of things, including ride malfunctions, chaos and fights, inadequate security, etc. Many hazards can present themselves at these large events, especially when crowd control is not prioritized.

If you are injured at a festival or fair, we would like to remind you to do four important things:

August 30, 2024

News: Bronson man killed when motorcycle crashes into utility pole

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

GAINESVILLE, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol has released details of a deadly motorcycle crash that occurred in Alachua County on Wednesday morning, the Gainesville Sun reports.

State troopers responded to the scene on State Road 24/Archer Road west of Gainesville at about 10:32 a.m. The FHP said a motorcyclist and the driver of a car were both attempting to pass other traffic when they collided. The motorcycle then went off the roadway and crashed into a utility pole.

The motorcycle rider, a 40-year-old man from Bronson, was pronounced dead after being transported to UF Health Shands Hospital.

August 29, 2024

News: Bicyclist injured after being struck by vehicle in Zephyrhills

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL – State troopers are investigating a collision in Pasco County that sent a bicycle rider to the hospital.

A report by Pasco News Online states that the incident took place Monday morning on Chancey Road near Zephyr Preserve Place in Zephyrhills.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a bicyclist was riding westbound in the eastbound lane and was hit by an eastbound Chevy Silverado. The bicyclist, a 40-year-old man from Zephyrhills, was seriously injured.

August 28, 2024

News: 16-year-old motorcyclist crashes into school bus in Pasco County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – A motorcycle and a school bus were involved in a collision in Pasco County on Monday afternoon, WTSP reported.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 16-year-old boy was riding a Kawasaki motorcycle east on Trinity Boulevard when the incident took place shortly before 3:30 p.m. The school bus and other cars had stopped for a pedestrian on a crosswalk near Sweetspire Drive, and the motorcyclist was not able to stop in time.

The teen rider crashed into the back of the bus and was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. There were no injuries among the 42 students on board the bus and the bus driver.

August 27, 2024

Labor Day 2024 – What Are the Best and Worst Times for Travel? | Florida Car Accident Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

One of the busiest travel weekends of the year is here – Labor Day weekend 2024.

The first Monday in September is always designated as Labor Day. Labor Day falls on Monday, September 2 this year.

The three-day weekend signifies the end of summer for many people. And, given that Florida is one of the most popular summer vacations in the United States, it is no surprise that one of the state’s most touristy cities is on AAA’s list of the top Labor Day locations in the country this year.

August 27, 2024

News: Spring Hill woman, 20, dies after car goes off US-19 and crashes

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – A car wreck in Hernando County on Friday night claimed the life of a young woman, reports Pasco News Online.

The Florida Highway Patrol was dispatched to the scene on US-19 near State Road 50 after the crash occurred at about 6:20 p.m.

State troopers said their investigation indicated that the driver of a Kia K5 was headed north on US-19 when she lost control of the vehicle and drove off the roadway. The car crossed the shoulder, crashed into a utility pole, went through the parking lot of an animal care center, and came to rest in a wooded area.

August 26, 2024

News: Driver dies in Lake County when tree falls on vehicle, causing crash with dump truck

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – A collision in Lake County left one person dead and two others injured last Tuesday afternoon, WKMG reports.

An investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol found that a man was driving a pickup truck westbound on County Road 474 at about 4:25 p.m. when a tree fell onto the vehicle near State Road 33. That caused the pickup to enter the eastbound lane, where it ended up in the path of an oncoming dump truck and the vehicles collided.

The pickup driver, a 58-year-old man, died after being taken to an area hospital. One of his passengers, a 40-year-old woman, was flown to an area hospital with critical injuries while the other passenger, a 34-year-old man, was seriously injured. All three occupants were from Groveland. The driver of the dump truck, a 47-year-old man from Kissimmee, was not injured.