Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

November 10, 2023

News: Man arrested following hit-and-run crash in Pasco County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HOLIDAY, FL – A man is facing charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash in Pasco County on Sunday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

New Port Richey Patch reports the accident occurred at the intersection of Ridge Road and DeCubellis Road at about 12:20 p.m. State troopers said the driver of a Ford Escape went through a red light and crashed into a Nissan Altima that was stopped for the red light. The Altima driver, a 66-year-old New Port Richey man, was not injured.

The driver of the Ford kept going north on DeCubellis Road after the crash before losing control of the vehicle, which overturned. That driver then fled the scene on foot.

November 9, 2023

News: Ocala woman dies in collision on State Road 200

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene of a deadly collision in Marion County on Monday.

WKMG reports a sedan and a pickup truck collided on State Road 200 near SW 62nd Court at about 5 p.m. According to state troopers, the driver of a pickup truck was going west when he went across the grass median for unknown reasons and entered the eastbound lanes of State Road 200.

The front of the pickup crashed into an eastbound sedan driven by a 65-year-old woman from Ocala. The woman was pronounced dead after being transported to an area hospital.

November 9, 2023

NHTSA Urges Drivers to Steer Clear of Decorative Car Steering Wheel Decals | Florida Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning consumers to avoid purchasing aftermarket steering wheel decals as they may detach in a collision and cause very serious injuries or death.

The NHTSA reports that at least one motorist suffered the loss of sight in one eye when a rhinestone embellished aftermarket emblem dislodged from the steering wheel in a crash and hit her in the face.

The item in question is a metal or plastic plate with an adhesive back that covers the vehicle’s logo in the center of the steering wheel. It is typically adorned in rhinestones or other shiny embellishments. When an air bag deploys in a collision, the product may become a projectile that causes significant harm or even death.

These aftermarket decals, unlike the permanently mounted insignia on your vehicle’s steering wheel, can readily become detached when the air bag deploys. Your air bag may also stop working properly if you make any modifications to it or its cover.

The NHTSA has released a warning asking consumers to avoid purchasing these potentially dangerous decals. If you have already purchased one and applied it to your steering wheel, the NHTSA urges you to remove it promptly to avoid any potential injuries.

Why Is Bling on Your Steering Wheel Dangerous?

These shiny, gemstone encrusted decals go over the steering wheel, which is where the driver’s side airbag deploys in the event of a crash. This is essentially placing a fragile item on top of an explosive. If a crash occurs, the stones from the cover could separate and become airborne shrapnel scattering about the vehicle that could cause harm to vehicle occupants.

Though aesthetically pleasing, these diamond or rhinestone embellishments are not safe. You may be entitled to compensation for losses such as medical costs, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and emotional anguish if you were hurt by products manufactured using defective components. Our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can offer you a free consultation about your legal rights and alternatives. Continue reading

November 8, 2023

News: 2 teenage boys killed in rollover accident near Leesburg

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a rollover accident near Leesburg Monday night left two teenagers dead.

WKMG reported details of the wreck, which took place in the area of Goose Prairie Road and Felkins Road. State troopers said a 17-year-old boy was driving a Jeep Wrangler east on Goose Prairie Road at about 7:52 p.m. when he entered the westbound lane of the roadway to pass a pickup truck.

When another westbound vehicle approached, the Jeep driver re-entered the eastbound lane and hit the front of the pickup. The Jeep then went onto the eastbound shoulder and the driver over-corrected, causing the vehicle to go across both lanes of the road and end up on the westbound shoulder. The Jeep overturned several times and collided with a wire fence.

November 7, 2023

News: Woman dies after car goes off road on I-75 north in Alachua County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – A motorist died following a car accident in Alachua County early Sunday morning, according to the Gainesville Sun.

The incident happened on Interstate 75 at mile marker 394 at about 12:10 a.m. The Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation found a driver going north on the interstate went off the roadway for an unknown reason and crashed.

The driver, a 34-year-old woman from Fort White, Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was in the car at the time, and no other vehicles were involved.

November 6, 2023

News: Motorcycle and pickup involved in fatal collision in SW Ocala

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A motorcycle and a pickup truck were involved in a fatal collision in southwest Ocala on the morning of Oct. 28, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The Ocala News reported details of the incident, which occurred in the area of SW 60th Avenue and SW 66th Street.

State troopers said a motorcyclist was going south on SW 60th Street and was approaching the intersection at about 10 a.m. At about the same time, the driver of the pickup truck entered the intersection and started to make a left turn. The front of the motorcycle hit the right front passenger side of the pickup, with the truck ending up on SW 66th Street while the bike came to rest in the intersection.

November 3, 2023

News: Ocala man killed when SUV crashes into trees off County Road 234

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol and local first responders were called to the scene of a fatal car accident in Alachua County Tuesday night, according to the Main Street Daily News.

The crash occurred at the intersection of County Road 234 and County Road 2082 at 11:45 p.m. The FHP’s investigation found that a 31-year-old man was driving an SUV eastbound on CR-234 when he failed to stop at the intersection.

The vehicle crashed into two large trees and caught fire, and the driver was thrown from the SUV. The driver, an Ocala resident, was pronounced dead at the scene by Alachua County Fire Rescue.

November 2, 2023

News: New Port Richey woman fatally struck by hit-and-run driver on Shamrock Drive

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident that took place in Pasco County on Monday night.

A report by WFLA states that a woman was attempting to walk across Shamrock Drive at about 8 p.m. when she was struck by an eastbound vehicle near Nimmer Drive.

The victim, a 70-year-old New Port Richey resident, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital.

November 1, 2023

News: Collision on State Road 121 in Alachua County kills 1, injures 1

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – Two vehicles were involved in a fatal collision in Alachua County on Saturday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

According to a WJXT report, the drivers of a 2000 Honda sedan and a 2015 Toyota sedan were going in opposite directions on State Road 121 in Gainesville at about 6:15 a.m. The vehicles collided just south of NW 177th Avenue.

The driver of the Honda, a 53-year-old woman, was declared dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota, a 22-year-old man, was seriously injured and transported to an area hospital.

October 31, 2023

News: Suspected drunk driver arrested in fatal Spring Hill crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SPRING HILL, FL – A suspected drunk driver has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash in Hernando County.

According to Pasco News Online, the suspect was identified as 38-year-old Reinier Casola Rodriguez of Tampa. The Florida Highway Patrol said he was driving a Ford F-150 northbound on Mariner Boulevard at a high rate of speed on Oct. 18 at about 7 p.m. When he failed to negotiate a curve near Quality Drive and entered the center median, a man riding in the front seat who was not wearing a seat belt fell out of the pickup truck.

The truck continued traveling to the west shoulder before hitting a utility box. The passenger, a 34-year-old man from West Palm Beach, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital. Two other men riding in the pickup, ages 47 and 29, suffered minor injuries.