Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

January 11, 2024

News: Driver charged with DUI in Ocala crash that killed bicyclist

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A woman has been arrested following a crash in Ocala on Sunday that left a bicycle rider dead, WESH reports.

The incident happened on the 3100 block of NW Blitchton Road near Interstate 75. According to the Ocala Police Department, a woman driving a Mini Cooper veered off the roadway and hit a man who was riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. The bicyclist, 61-year-old Louis Osiel, was killed.

Police said the driver, identified as 43-year-old Elizabeth Pizzonia, left the scene after the accident but returned later showing indications of impairment.

January 10, 2024

News: Car and motorcycle involved in fatal collision on US 19 in Holiday

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HOLIDAY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said an accident at an intersection in Pasco County on Saturday afternoon claimed the life of a motorcyclist.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the driver of a Dodge Challenger was going north on U.S. 19 in Holiday at about 2:45 p.m. and turned left at Louis Avenue into the path of a southbound Harley Davidson motorcycle.

The motorcycle collided with the car, seriously injuring the operator of the bike. The victim, a 54-year-old man from New Port Richey, died after being taken to an area hospital. His name was not released.

January 9, 2024

News: Motorcyclist killed in crash involving 2 other vehicles in Spring Hill

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SPRING HILL, Fla. – A motorcyclist was killed in an accident involving two other vehicles in Hernando County on Saturday morning, state troopers said.

According to WTVT, the crash took place on Mariner Boulevard near Landover Boulevard in Spring Hill.

An investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol found that a man was riding a Kawasaki motorcycle northbound on Mariner Boulevard at about 2 a.m. when he made a left turn and entered the path of a Mercedes CLK320. The motorcycle struck the Mercedes at the intersection and was then sent into the northbound lanes, where it collided with a Nissan Altima.

January 9, 2024

Almost a Dozen Fatal Crashes in Central Florida At Start of 2024, Many Due to Wrong Way Drivers | Florida Car Accident Attorneys Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

In just the first week of 2024, there have already been 11 fatal crashes in Central Florida, three of which involved wrong-way drivers.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Central Florida has had an issue with these kind of collisions for a long time.

At least six significant collisions involving drivers traveling the wrong way have been covered by Eyewitness News in the past three months; every one of these crashes had fatalities except one.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation, new technology is still being implemented, including camera detection systems that instantly notify law enforcement when cars are driving the wrong way and LED-highlighted wrong-way signs. In addition, if a wrong-way driver is identified, the system—officially named the Wrong Way Vehicle Detection System—automatically initiates message board notifications on roadways.

According to FDOT, 19 of these systems have been deployed throughout the area’s I-4 corridor since 2019, with more being added each year.

Our Florida Car Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton want to encourage all drivers to practice responsible driving as we get further into 2024. Most drivers that drive the wrong way are distracted, impaired, tired, or just unaware of their surroundings – all of which are extremely dangerous when behind the wheel of a car.

What should a driver do if they see a wrong-way driver alert?

Slow down.
Proceed with extreme caution and try to exit the interstate or move to the far outside lane.
As soon as a car approaching from the incorrect direction changes lanes, get off the road and dial *FHP or 911.

When a motorist approaches a WRONG WAY sign or becomes aware that they are traveling in the incorrect direction, what should they do?

To stop a crash:

Stop right away.
Pull off to the side of the road.
When it is safe to do so, turn around.

When a driver travels the wrong way on the road, it can easily result in head-on collisions, causing severe injuries and fatalities. As one would expect, head-on collisions are among the most catastrophic forms of car accidents because both vehicles are traveling at high speeds and collide directly. Continue reading

January 8, 2024

News: Motorcyclist, 19, dies after crashing into sign in Pasco County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAND O’ LAKES, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a teenage motorcycle rider died following an accident in Pasco County.

A report by WFTS states that the crash occurred Dec. 30 near the intersection of Collier Parkway and Killington Boulevard.

According to state troopers, the 19-year-old victim was driving a Kawasaki motorcycle north on Collier Parkway shortly before 9 p.m. and lost control of the bike while changing lanes. The motorcycle went off the roadway and onto the shoulder, where it hit a traffic sign and overturned.

January 5, 2024

St. Johns County Deputy Demonstrates the Importance of Florida’s ‘Move Over Law’ After Being Struck By Bus During Traffic Stop | Florida Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A driver violated Florida’s Move Over Law last week, which resulted in a St. Johns County deputy getting hit by a minibus and suffering a broken hand and shoulder injury.

On Dec. 27 around 6 p.m., the deputy pulled over a man for reckless driving on US 1 and International Golf Parkway. As he approached the vehicle, a minibus in the right lane clipped him.

The accident could have been much worse, which is why everyone needs to be aware of the Move Over Law. You must pull over if you notice a construction worker, tow truck, road ranger, or emergency vehicle on the side of the road while you are driving. As of Jan. 1, the law has been extended to cover all disabled vehicles.

What happens if you cannot safely move over? You must reduce your speed to at least 20 mph below the legal limit. You must reduce your speed to 5 mph if the restriction is less than 20 mph.

According to state records, there have been 1,700 crashes since 2015 because of people failing to move over. As a result, there have been at least 8 fatalities and over 100 major injuries.

The purpose of the Move Over Law is to protect everyone who is stopped on the side of the road, including emergency medical personnel, police officers, construction workers, sanitation workers, utility workers, emergency personnel, and drivers of broken-down cars or those involved in wrecks. It is crucial to abide by the law to protect the lives of those who are stopped on the side of the road as well as to avoid consequences like fines and jail time. Continue reading

January 5, 2024

News: Dunnellon woman killed in 3-vehicle crash on County Road 484

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

DUNNELLON, FL – State troopers were called to the scene of a fatal multi-vehicle accident in Marion County on Tuesday evening.

According to the Ocala StarBanner, the crash took place in the area of County Road 484 and Southwest 134th Street in Dunnellon shortly before 6 p.m.

An investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol found that the driver of a Chevy Equinox SUV was headed west on CR-484, crossed over the center line, and sideswiped an eastbound GMC Sierra pickup truck. The Chevy then collided head-on with an eastbound GMC Denali pickup truck that had been behind the Sierra.

January 4, 2024

News: Pickup truck driver dies after crashing into Ocala office building

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A driver trying to elude law enforcement authorities was killed when his vehicle crashed in Ocala on New Year’s Eve, the Ocala Star-Banner reports.

The incident began at about 11:30 p.m. when Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies tried to pull over a pickup truck on Maricamp Road that matched the description of a vehicle linked to a burglary/disturbance in Silver Springs Shores. The sheriff’s office said the driver took off with a deputy in pursuit, and the pickup hit the deputy’s vehicle.

The pickup driver continued on Southeast 22nd Avenue and then across East Fort King Street, where the vehicle went into a business parking lot and crashed into an office building that houses a real estate company and an investing office.

January 3, 2024

News: Man arrested on DWI charge after crash kills motorcyclist in Citrus County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – Authorities said a motorcyclist was killed in a crash involving a suspected drunk driver in Citrus County on Sunday, WTVT reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the incident occurred in Floral City on Old Floral City Road near Evergreen Loop. According to the FHP, the driver of a Dodge Caravan was headed south at about 4:38 p.m. when he crossed over the center line and struck a northbound Suzuki motorcycle.

The operator of the motorcycle, a 45-year-old man from Inverness, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Dodge driver, identified as 27-year-old Tristen Alexander Melichar, was allegedly impaired at the time of the accident. He was arrested on a charge of DUI manslaughter and was taken to the Citrus County Jail. Melichar was not injured in the crash.

January 3, 2024

New Year’s Resolutions Bring Many to the Gym – Who is to Blame for Workout-Related Injuries? | Florida Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

With the start of 2024, many people decide to get serious about their goals for the year – and one that always takes a top spot on many people’s new year’s resolution is fitness. January typically sees gym memberships on the rise, and that brings up the question of who is to blame in the event of an injury? The answer can vary depending on the circumstances surrounding your injury.

A gym owner may be liable if their equipment was not properly maintained or a spill was not cleaned up properly, causing an unsuspecting patron to slip and fall. Defective gym equipment that malfunctions in use could be to blame on the equipment manufacturer. A group fitness instructor or personal trainer that pushes too hard and disregards your limitations or advises you on how to use a piece of equipment incorrectly could be to blame if you suffer an injury.

What Types of Gym Injuries Are Most Common?