Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

July 8, 2024

News: 70-year-old motorcyclist killed in multi-vehicle wreck in Sumter County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TARRYTOWN, FL – A motorcyclist was killed in an accident involving two other vehicles in Sumter County on Sunday morning.

A report by WKMG states that the incident happened at the intersection of State Road 50 and State Road 471. The Florida Highway Patrol said it began when the driver of a Ford Expedition going west on State Road 50 at about 9 a.m. went through a red light at the intersection.

The Ford crashed into the side of a northbound Kenworth tractor-trailer carrying milk. Both vehicles were sent into the southbound lanes of State Road 471, where the tractor-trailer collided with a southbound Harley Davidson motorcycle, killing the motorcyclist. The victim was a 70-year-old man from Lakeland.

July 5, 2024

News: Person extricated after 2-vehicle accident on Interstate 75 south

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – Rescue crews were called to the scene of a two-vehicle accident in Alachua County on Thursday morning.

A Facebook post by Alachua County Fire Rescue said that its crews and Gainesville Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash on Interstate 75 southbound at the 386 mile marker at about 5 a.m.

The first units to arrive found a heavily damaged vehicle and one person who needed to be extricated. Crews used rescue tools including the Jaws of Life to safely remove the person, who had suffered a minor injury.

July 4, 2024

News: Port Richey man dies after motorcycle collides with SUV on SR-52

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol has released details of a fatal motorcycle accident that took place in Pasco County on Wednesday night.

According to WTSP, the incident happened along State Road 52 near Parkwood Street just before 8 p.m. The FHP said a motorcyclist on a Harley Davidson was headed west and tried to make a U-turn, but turned into the path of an eastbound SUV and was struck.

The motorcycle rider, a 41-year-old Port Richey man, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV, a 60-year-old woman from Land O’Lakes, was not injured.

July 3, 2024

News: Motorcyclist, 56, killed in collision with pickup truck near Hernando County waste station

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – State troopers were called to the scene of a fatal motorcycle accident in Hernando County on Saturday afternoon.

Pasco News Online reports the incident occurred at the Hernando County Solid Waste Station on Cortez Boulevard.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation, the driver of a GMC 2500 pickup truck was exiting the waste station and failed to yield to a Yamaha motorcycle heading east on State Road 50. When the pickup turned left in front of the motorcycle, the vehicles collided.

July 2, 2024

What Should You Do if You Are Injured at a Community Pool? | Florida Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

In the sweltering Florida temps of summer, community pools are great for staying cool, getting some exercise, socializing with your friends and neighbors, and a source of fun for the entire family. However, like any place where a large body of water is involved, community pools also come with their share of risks.

What Are Common Causes of Community Pool Accidents?

Slip and falls – Pool decks are usually wet making them slippery. It is imperative to walk when on the pool deck, not run and non-slip footwear is a great choice to minimize your chances of slipping and falling. The pool deck should also be properly maintained to clear any hazards that could cause an injury to guests.

July 2, 2024

News: Driver killed in rear-end collision with tractor-trailer on I-75

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A car and a tractor-trailer were involved in a fatal collision in Ocala on Sunday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

WCJB reports the incident occurred on Interstate 75 southbound near mile marker 359, where troopers were called to the scene at about 4 p.m.

According to the FHP, the driver of a Dodge Challenger crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer that was disabled in the emergency lane of the interstate. The Dodge driver, a 27-year-old Gainesville man, was declared dead at the scene. No one else was in the vehicle at the time.

July 1, 2024

Make Sure You Keep a Lookout on Your Cookout this Fourth of July | Florida Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Whittel & Melton’s Florida Injury Lawyers want to ensure that everyone uses grills safely this holiday weekend and throughout the rest of the summer. Grill fires are most common in July, with June, May, and August following closely behind.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 64% of American homes have at least one outdoor grill, smoker, or barbecue. Grills that run on gas cause more fires than those that run on charcoal. Grills are the primary cause of 10,200 home fires annually. Fire departments across America responded to 11,421 home fires involving grills, hibachis, or barbecues on average between 2017 and 2021; these included 5,763 building fires and 5,659 outdoor fires. Approximately one-fifth, or 20%, of reported grilling fires were caused by a dirty grill. More than 25% of grill building fires originated from an open porch or balcony outside. From 2017-2021, grill-related injuries sent 22,155 patients to ERs annually on average. Thermal burns, which include burns from fire and contact with hot objects, accounted for nearly half (10,342 or 47%) of the injuries.

When grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, chicken, or tofu, poblano peppers, or whatever your heart desires this 4^th of July, please remember to keep your eye on your grill. It can be easy to get distracted when you have company over, but you do not want a burn injury or fire to ruin your good time.

July 1, 2024

News: Pickup driver cited for crash involving school bus in Marion County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a driver has been cited for an accident involving a school bus in Marion County last Wednesday morning, reports the Ocala StarBanner.

This is an update to a previous story.

The bus was struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of SW 31st Avenue Road and Marion Oaks Trail at about 8 a.m.

June 28, 2024

News: Woman, 70, dies after being hit by vehicle on Interstate 75

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating an accident that killed a pedestrian on Interstate 75 Wednesday afternoon.

A report by Pasco News Online states that a Honda Pilot was stopped along the shoulder of I-75 near milepost 294 in Pasco County, and the driver was outside the vehicle.

According to the FHP’s investigation, a 67-year-old Leesburg man was driving a Ford F-350 north on I-75 and tried to change from the center lane to the outside lanes. When he noticed the Honda Pilot, he tried to move back into the center lane but struck the woman outside the Honda. The victim, a 70-year-old resident of Ozark, Alabama, was pronounced dead at the scene.

June 27, 2024

News: Collision causes Marion County school bus to crash into house

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A Marion County school bus was involved in a crash that left two people injured on Wednesday morning.

WKMG reports the bus was struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of SW 31st Avenue Road and Marion Oaks Trail at about 8 a.m.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the southbound pickup failed to stop for a stop sign and collided with the bus as both vehicles were entering the intersection. The impact then sent the bus off the roadway, where it crashed into a house in the 12900 block of SW 31st Avenue Road. The pickup came to rest on Marion Oaks Trail.