Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

July 12, 2024

News: Tractor-trailer accident causes fuel spill on State Road 326

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol and emergency crews were called to the scene of a truck accident in Marion County on Friday morning.

According to WKMG, the crash involved a tractor-trailer and took place on State Road 326 near Interstate 75 near Ocala shortly before 8:46 a.m.

It resulted in a spill of 150 gallons of fuel onto the roadway. A portion of State Road 326 was shut down while the wreck was being cleared and the spill cleaned up. There was no immediate word on whether anyone was injured.

July 11, 2024

News: Collision on Interstate 75 in Alachua County kills 1, injures 2

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said an accident in Alachua County Tuesday night left one person dead and two others injured.

According to details reported by the Gainesville Sun, the crash took place on Interstate 75 northbound at mile marker 405 at 10:07 p.m.

The FHP’s investigation determined that a man was driving on I-75 when his car entered the median, hit a guardrail and went back onto the roadway. It then crashed into a pickup truck.

July 10, 2024

News: 3 rescued from vehicle following Ocala multi-vehicle collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – Rescue teams extricated three people who were trapped after a multi-vehicle crash in Ocala last Wednesday morning.

According to Ocala Fire Rescue, crews were dispatched to the accident involving two sedans and an SUV at NE 24th Street and NE 19th Avenue at about 8:16 a.m. A caller reported one of the vehicles was on its side with the occupants inside.

OFR units arrived to find that the drivers of a Toyota Camry and an Audi A8L were able to get out of their vehicles on their own. No one else was inside the cars.

July 9, 2024

News: Accident backs up traffic for miles on northbound Interstate 75

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – Emergency crews were on the scene of a crash that snarled traffic in Ocala during Tuesday morning’s rush hour, according to the Ocala News.

Two vehicles were involved in the collision shortly before 8 a.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 near the exit for W State Road 40/W Silver Springs Boulevard. One person was taken to an area hospital to be evaluated.

As a result of the crash, the middle lane was blocked and traffic was backed up for several miles beyond mile marker 348. One of the vehicles was moved off to the shoulder, and the interstate reopened later in the morning.

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.