Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

March 3, 2025

News: Woman involved in crash after fleeing from Marion County deputy

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A driver is facing charges after crashing her vehicle while fleeing from law enforcement in Marion County last week, according to a WCJB report.

The suspect in the Feb. 24 incident was identified as 33-year-old Nicole Backer, of Ocala. Authorities said she was spotted entering her car and then failing to stop before driving onto Northeast 24th Street. Officials also said she was not wearing a seatbelt.

A Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy began following Backer, who tried to turn onto Northeast 25th Street but swung too wide into the shoulder of the road and was almost hit by another vehicle.

February 28, 2025

News: Man struck, killed by 2 vehicles on US Highway 301 in Citra

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRA, FL – A man died after being hit by two vehicles in northeast Marion County Wednesday morning, the Ocala StarBanner reports.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the pedestrian was walking or standing in a southbound lane of U.S. 301 in Citra at about 5 a.m., and was struck by a semitractor-trailer whose driver did not see him in time.

The pedestrian was thrown across the median into a northbound lane, where he was struck again by a northbound Honda CRV. The victim, a 40-year-old man from Citra, was pronounced dead at the scene.

February 27, 2025

News: Spring Hill man, 20, dies in Hernando County motorcycle crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a collision in Hernando County that killed a motorcyclist on Tuesday morning.

According to the Hernando Sun, the crash occurred at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Windward Boulevard. State troopers said the driver of a GMC SUV was headed north on U.S. 19 at about 7:34 a.m. and tried to make a left turn at Windward Boulevard, where the vehicle entered the path of a southbound Honda motorcycle.

The vehicles collided, causing the SUV to veer onto the shoulder of the road and hit a roadway sign. The motorcycle came to a stop on the highway. The motorcycle rider, a 20-year-old man from Spring Hill, died at the scene. The SUV driver, a 52-year-old Spring Hill woman, suffered minor injuries.

February 26, 2025

News: Motorcyclist, 23, killed in collision with SUV on US-441 north of Ocala

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A motorcycle rider was killed in a collision with an SUV in Marion County on Sunday night, WFTV reported.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the motorcyclist was heading north on US-441 near Ocala when the incident occurred shortly before 10 p.m. The FHP’s investigation indicated that the driver of the SUV was going west on NW 95th Street and pulled out from a stop sign.

As the SUV driver was trying to cross over US-441, the vehicle was struck on the left side by the motorcycle, causing both vehicles to overturn.

February 25, 2025

Do Not Leave the Scene of a Car Crash – Here’s Why

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Hit-and-run car accidents are a big problem in the state of Florida, with nearly 25% of all crashes involving a hit-and-run driver. Most of these accidents result in property damage, but the reality is that a good amount of hit-and-run accidents can result in serious injuries or even death.

According to the FLHSMV, there were 104,273 hit-and-run crashes in Florida in 2023, which is a decrease of less than 1% from 2022. Of these hit-and-run collisions in 2023, 271 lives were lost and another 871 suffered serious bodily injuries. Out of the 271 people who were killed in hit-and-run accidents in 2023, 159 were pedestrians and 47 were bicyclists.

What Are the Laws in Florida Regarding Hit-and-Run Accidents?

February 25, 2025

News: 18-year-old driver killed when pickup truck crashes on U.S. 301

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – A wreck in Hernando County last week claimed the life of a teenage driver, the Villages-News reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the 18-year-old was driving a Ford F-250 pickup truck north on U.S. 301 Feb. 19 when the accident occurred just before 9 p.m.

The driver lost control of the vehicle on the wet roadway north of State Road 50, and the pickup overturned. The driver, a man from Webster, was pronounced dead at the scene.

February 24, 2025

News: 7-vehicle crash shuts down southbound Florida Turnpike near Clermont

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CLERMONT, FL – Injuries were reported in a multi-vehicle accident on the Florida Turnpike Saturday afternoon.

According to WKMG, a total of seven vehicles were involved in the wreck on the southbound lanes near mile marker 283 in the Clermont area. Among the vehicles was a marked Florida Highway Patrol car as well as a tractor-trailer.

The FHP said several people suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. They were taken to Orlando Health, South Lake Hospital and Orlando Regional Medical Center. The trooper in the patrol car was not injured.

February 21, 2025

News: Sheriff’s deputy, driver injured in collision at SR-54 intersection

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – A collision in Land O’Lakes left two people injured, including a Pasco County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Pasco News Online reported details of the incident, which occurred Tuesday evening at 7:15 p.m. at the intersection of State Road 54 and Collier Parkway.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the 26-year-old deputy was driving a marked Pasco County Chevy Tahoe north on Collier Parkway with his emergency lights and siren activated. As the deputy began proceeding through the intersection with SR-54, the driver of a westbound Lexus sedan failed to stop and collided with the Tahoe.

February 20, 2025

News: Driver dies after tree falls on vehicle following crash on U.S. 301 south

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMMERFIELD, FL – A two-vehicle collision in Marion County on Sunday morning left one of the drivers dead, reports the Ocala StarBanner.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a Hyundai Elantra and a Ford Escape were involved in the wreck, which took place at about 8:45 a.m. The FHP’s investigation determined that the Elantra driver was stopped at a red flashing light on Southeast 147th Street, then turned left to go onto U.S. 301 South. The Escape was heading south on U.S. 301, and collided with the Elantra. The back of the Escape then struck a tree, which fell on top of the vehicle.

The Escape driver, a 53-year-old man from Summerfield, died at the scene. The Elantra driver, a 78-year-old Summerfield man, declined medical treatment.

February 19, 2025

News: ‘Elevate Florida’ program launched to help reduce risk from hurricanes, floods

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TALLAHASSEE, FL – A new state program is aimed at helping Florida residents better protect themselves from future storms after the damage caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, WTSP reports.

The Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) announced the launch of the Elevate Florida Residential Mitigation Grant Program.

Billed as an effort to strengthen community resilience, the first of its kind initiative provides property owners with federal and state-funded grants to elevate their property structures in order to reduce the risk of damage from natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods.