Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

January 3, 2025

Commit to Safer Driving in 2025

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Let’s face it, we are all guilty of doing something we shouldn’t be doing when we are behind the wheel. However, as we start fresh this new year, let’s all make a commitment to stop those bad behaviors and put safety first. The new year is a reminder to practice safer driving techniques that can make a lasting impact on our families, friends, and everyone else around us.

The NHTSA has some helpful tips to help us all be better drivers in 2025, including:

Wear your seatbelt every time you get behind the wheel.

January 3, 2025

News: Impairment suspected in deadly wrong-way crash in Brooksville

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BROOKSVILLE, FL – A crash in Brooksville involving a wrong-way driver left one person dead and several others injured, according to a report by WTVT.

The wreck happened Wednesday morning on US-41 north of Sergeant Lea Mills Boulevard. The Florida Highway Patrol said its investigation showed that the driver of a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was going south in the northbound lane of US-41 at 1:21 a.m. and collided head-on with a Dodge Ram.

A 44-year-old Brooksville man who was a passenger in the Ram was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ram, a 17-year-old girl, and two other passengers, a 45-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy, were taken to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

January 2, 2025

News: Spring Hill teen facing charges in fatal pedestrian collision in Hernando County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – State troopers announced an arrest in connection with a deadly pedestrian collision that occurred in Hernando County on Friday.

According to WFTS, a pedestrian from New York was struck and killed by a vehicle on Lenox Boulevard near the intersection with Ruby Falls Court. The Florida Highway Patrol said the victim was walking along the edge of the road at about 5 p.m. when he was struck by a BMW going south on Lenox Road. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

The FHP said the driver of the BMW left the scene and eventually stopped on Maybelle Drive. The alleged driver, identified as 18-year-old Cameron Grosso of Spring Hill, was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of a fatal crash and attaching an unassigned license plate to the vehicle.

January 1, 2025

News: Silver Springs man killed when motorcycle crashes into mailbox, fence

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol has released information on a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred in Marion County early Friday morning.

According to the Ocala StarBanner, the accident happened on Southeast 183rd Avenue Road near Southeast 26th Street. The FHP’s report stated that a man was driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle north on 183rd Avenue Road when he approached a left curve in the roadway and veered off the right side of the road. The motorcycle collided with a concrete mailbox and a fence.

The rider, a 43-year-old Silver Springs man, was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:22 a.m. by the Marion County Fire Rescue squad.

December 31, 2024

News: Land O’Lakes man killed in wreck after driver runs red light

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – A two-vehicle wreck at a Pasco County intersection Thursday night left one of the drivers dead, WTVT reports.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of a Chevy Silverado was headed east on County Line Road at about 7:45 p.m., and went through a red light at the corner of U.S. 41. The Silverado slammed into a Toyota Tundra that was going north on U.S. 41, killing the Tundra driver, a 69-year-old Land O’Lakes man.

The Silverado driver, a 38-year-old San Antonio man, sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.

December 30, 2024

Stay Safe on New Year’s Eve

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate the end of the year and all your accomplishments as well as any hardships you have endured. It is a time to reflect on past experiences and plans for the new year. Resolutions aside, New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights for emergency responders as there is an uptick in accidents, DUIs, and other safety issues. With that said, there are a few safety precautions you and your loved ones can follow to stay safe.

Plan Your Night Ahead of Time

By planning your night out in advance, you can make sure you have a safe evening.

December 30, 2024

News: Citrus County man dies in motorcycle accident in SW Ocala

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A car and a motorcycle were involved in a fatal collision in southwest Ocala early Thursday morning, reports the Ocala Star-Banner.

The incident occurred at Southwest 80th Avenue and Southwest 80th Street at about 4:10 a.m. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of a Hyundai was going south on SW 80th Avenue and attempted to make a left turn onto SW 80th Street. The driver apparently did not see a motorcycle rider going north and pulled out into his path, resulting in the crash.

The motorcyclist, a 37-year-old man from Citrus County, was thrown onto the grass shoulder and was pronounced dead after being taken to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. The driver of the Hyundai, an 87-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the same hospital.

December 27, 2024

How to Safely Dispose of Your Christmas Tree

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Now that Christmas is over, it is time to get a fresh start on the new year, and that means starting to think about taking down your holiday décor.

If you have a real Christmas tree, it is best not to wait until it dries out before removing it because dry trees are fire hazards. You want to remove all ornaments and lights as well as your tree stand and skirt before you dispose of the tree. It is a good idea to have a bucket handy to collect any water that may have dripped into your tree stand. You can then use a large plastic garbage bag or blanket or sheet to wrap around your tree to prevent any sap or needles from making a mess on your floors. You can then carry your tree to the curb for yard waste pickup. If you do not have that service, you can contact your local yard waste management to arrange a pickup date. Just make sure the tree is not obstructing any sidewalks or roads.

December 27, 2024

News: Spring Hill man killed in car accident in New Port Richey

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – A single-vehicle wreck in New Port Richey on Christmas morning left a driver dead, WTVT reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a man was driving a Ford Explorer east on Banbury Avenue near Gatun Street in Moon Lake when he failed to negotiate a curve and veered off the roadway.

The Ford went onto the shoulder and crashed into several trees. The driver, a 39-year-old man from Spring Hill, died after being transported to an area hospital.

December 26, 2024

News: Man from The Villages struck, killed by vehicle on U.S. 301

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMMERFIELD, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal pedestrian collision that occurred in Marion County last Friday night.

According to the Ocala StarBanner, the incident occurred at about 10:41 p.m. along U.S. 301 near County Road 42 in Summerfield. The FHP said a man was walking eastbound across U.S. 301 after leaving a local bar. The driver of an SUV was heading north in the outside lane, did not see the pedestrian, and struck him.

The victim, a 59-year-old man from The Villages, died at the scene. State troopers said he was wearing dark clothing and the area where he was struck was dark.