Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

February 8, 2022

News: Pinellas Co. man on scooter killed in hit-and-run, suspect found

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

KENNETH CITY, FL – A man died after falling off an electric scooter being hit by a pickup north of St. Petersburg late last month.

According to WFLA, the man was riding an electric scooter when they fell onto SR-693. The man was then hit by a pickup truck while lying in the roadway. The driver of the pickup immediately fled the scene.

After receiving an anonymous tip, police were able to locate a white Dodge pickup that had damage consistent with the incident details near a home at 36th Avenue North. However, the suspect is still wanted for fleeing the scene of the accident.

February 7, 2022

News: Pedestrian struck, killed walking along roadway near Zephyrhills

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – A man died when he was struck by a vehicle when walking along a roadway northeast of Zephyrhills Sunday morning.

The victim was walking south in the northbound lane of Old Lakeland Highway at Melrose Avenue at about 4:25 a.m. when he was hit by an oncoming vehicle, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

The identities of the victim and driver have not been released.

February 4, 2022

News: Fatal collision in Pasco Co. kills 1, seriously injures another

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL – An 81-year-old man died and a 13-year-old passenger was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash near State Road 54 Wednesday night.

According to WFLA, the man was headed south on Wiregrass Ranch Boulevard approaching a construction zone when he hit a barrier fence. The vehicle then collided with a John Deere excavator at the construction site.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the passenger was transported to an area hospital for serious injuries.

February 3, 2022

News: Construction worker dies on job site at US Hwy 27/441 bridge

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LADY LAKE, FL – A worker was killed after being buried under rubble at the bridge at US Hwy 27/441 on Wednesday.

According to the Villages News, the construction worker was operating a skid steer loader, commonly known as a Bobcat, when his path was obstructed. He crawled into a hole to investigate the issue when a retaining wall caved in, burying him underneath.

A rescue effort quickly ensued in an attempt to unearth the man. Emergency personnel worked to remove debris with the help of heavy equipment.

February 3, 2022

Data From NHTSA Shows Traffic Crash Fatalities on The Rise for the First 9 Months of 2021 | Florida Auto Accident Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released its preliminary data for January-September (the first nine months of the year) for 2021.

Their projections estimate that 31,720 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes for the first nine months of 2021, which is about a 12% increase from the first nine months of 2020.

This projection is not just higher than 2020 or even 2019. It is actually the highest number of fatalities during the first nine months of any year since 2006 AND the largest percentage jump during the first nine months in the history of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

February 2, 2022

News: 2 injured in single-vehicle accident in Ocala

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – Two people were injured in a car accident that happened at the 3100 block of E Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala earlier this morning.

A driver and passenger were found in a gray sedan around 7 a.m., reports Ocala News. The passenger had to be extracted from the vehicle.

Both occupants were transported to an area hospital. Details on what caused the car crash are unknown at this time.

February 1, 2022

News: Man arrested after fatal car crash in Citrus County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

INVERNESS, FL – A woman died and two others were seriously injured in a car crash on US-41 near Inverness Airport early Saturday morning.

Around 1:45 a.m., a 16-year-old Ocala teenager in an SUV was headed south in the northbound lanes of US-41 approaching South Airport Lane. An 18-year-old woman from Inverness was traveling in the opposite direction when the SUV struck her sedan, reports Ocala News.

The sedan’s driver was transported to an area hospital where she died of her injuries. A passenger in her vehicle was seriously injured.

January 31, 2022

News: Spring Hill motorcyclist dies days after collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SPRING HILL, FL – A man has died of injuries he suffered when his motorcycle was hit by a driver leaving a church on the south side of Spring Hill late last month.

The 47-year-old motorcyclist died Sunday after being hospitalized for three days.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the accident happened at the intersection of Shady Hills Road and Fringe Tree Drive around 6:30 p.m. last Thursday.

January 28, 2022

News: 1 dead, 2 injured in Tarpon Springs car crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – One person was killed and two others injured in an intersection collision in Tarpon Springs Thursday night.

According to The Free Press, two vehicles collided around 7 p.m. at S. Highland Avenue and E. Tarpon Avenue.

A driver in a Nissan Cube traveling northbound on Highland Ave. was attempting to make a left turn onto Tarpon Ave. Another driver in a Dodge Ram was heading eastbound on Tarpon Ave. and crashed into the Nissan.

January 27, 2022

News: Pasco Co. pedestrian fatally struck crossing roadway

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – A woman was struck and killed while crossing a roadway early Thursday morning in New Port Richey.

The 65-year-old Port Richey resident was heading west across Rowan Road near Gibraltar Avenue. According to FOX13, a driver in a sedan was traveling south on Rowan when they fatally struck her.

The woman died at the scene of the accident.