April, 2011

Florida Fatal Accident Attorney :: DeLand Woman Killed After Driving Into a Cement Mixer

A 53-year-old Volusia County, Florida woman died Friday after she drove into a cement truck. The Florida Highway Patrol said she allegedly stopped at a stop sign before rolling her 2011 Nissan into a cement mixer that trapped and killed her at the scene.

The cement truck was driven by a 38-year-old Daytona Beach man. Troopers said that they do not expect to file charges against the man.

An investigation will ensue to determine why the woman barreled into traffic before the intersection was clear.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in 2010 more than 10 percent of all traffic accidents involved commercial vehicles and accounted for an estimated 4 percent of automobile accidents with injuries. In 2008, 4,545 people suffered fatalities with large commercial trucks and buses. Last year, large commercial trucks and buses took the lives of 3, 619 people and injured another 93,000.

Big-rigs, tractor-trailers, semis and any other large truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Once a large truck collides with a smaller vehicle that is not engineered to withstand an impact that large, the result is usually tragic. If the collision does not result in death, the injuries sustained are usually quite catastrophic leaving the victim with crushed limbs, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, ruptured internal organs and variety of other injuries.

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December, 2009

Brooksville, Florida Man Seriously Injured in Accident with Mack Truck at Pasco-Hernando County Border

An 80-year-old Hernando County resident was rushed to Spring Hill Regional Hospital for treatment of a critical injury. The local news is reporting that this Central Florida octogenarian was driving his 1984 Datsun pickup truck on County Line Road (Hernando County side) and drifted in the westbound lane (Pasco County side) causing a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer.

The news reports that the driver of the truck was not wearing a seatbelt, yet was uninjured in the serious motor vehicle crash. Generally a truck accident of this magnitude this will make an immediate impact on insurance policies. Obviously, if the driver of the work truck was engaged in some kind of employment and interesting legal scenario can evolve whereby he may have both a workers’ compensation claim with his employer’s policy, but also have a simple auto negligence claim for the actions of the 1984 Datsun. In other words, after the workers’ compensation claim is completed, the automobile insurance policies can distribute appropriate compensation for the pain and suffering that went unreimbursed during the workers’ compensation claim.

Often times, drivers involved in such a serious accident may be “uninjured” only to learn later of chronic neck and back pain. The reason for this is different in every case but commonly you will find that: 1) The Emergency Room doctors do an exceptionally poor job of determining levels of pain if it is abundantly clear that no life threatening injuries are apparent; 2) After a big collision the human body does an amazing job of masking pain to help cope with the situation; and 3) When another person is very seriously hurt, your injuries, although serious, may seem relatively minor.

If you have been involved in a truck accident or car crash in Hernando County or Pasco County, contact Florida Car Accident Lawyer Whittel & Melton, LLC for free consultation at 352-666-2121 or 727-847-2299 or contact us online.

July, 2009

Hernando County Accident Laywer Update: Hernando County truck crash ends in tragedy

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a semitrailer truck rear-ended a Dodge van just south of State Road 50. The van crashed into the guardrail and caused the semi to overturn and catch fire. The southbound lanes were closed for about four hours after the accident.


The truck driver, who has not been identified, was killed in the crash. The driver of the car suffered only minor injuries in the collision.

If you have been hurt in a truck crash that was not your fault, you deserve to be fairly compensated. Whittel & Melton, LLC have handled many cases on behalf of Hernando County clients who were victims of tractor-trailer accidents. Our office is designed to see that our clients get fair compensation for their injuries. If you have been injured in a Hernando County truck accident please contact our office to schedule a free consultation.

May, 2009

Ocala, Florida Car Accident Attorney News Update :: Marion County, FL Man Dies in Alleged Single Car Crash

Florida Highway Patrol has reported to the Ocala Star Banner that a 27-year-old man has died as a result of losing control of his vehicle in Marion County. FHP reports that the man’s 2000 Nissan pickup truck was headed south on County Road 314A near Southeast 65th lane when he lost control, struck a tree and was ejected.

Reportedly the man was flown to Gainesville, where officials at Shands University of Florida Hospital pronounced the young man dead. FHP has concluded the young man was not wearing his seatbelt. It is unknown at the time of this post whether or not any other cars witnessed the crash, if others were involved in the turn or have an estimate as to the driver’s speed prior to allegedly losing control.

Marion County and Ocala have incurred 30 traffic related fatalities this year. Thirty traffic homicides would suggest that we are on pace to see less deaths, as 2008 reportedly had 96 traffic fatalities. However, summer and the holiday season are still in fornt of us and these are the times when alcohol and youngsters, which are out of school, collide with sometimes drastic results.

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