LAKE COUNTY, FL – A Villages restaurant manager was arrested for crashing into a vehicle and injuring another person near Eustis early Saturday morning.
According to Villages-News, Johnathan James Ritter, 29, was traveling on Lakeview Avenue in Eustis when he crashed into a vehicle around 4:45 a.m.
The woman whose vehicle was hit said that Ritter had swerved into her lane and she tried to maneuver away but was rear-ended. She suffered minor injuries to her shoulder in the crash.
HERNANDO, FL – The man believed to be responsible for a deadly crash in Citrus County yesterday is facing a number of DUI charges, WTSP reports.
The collision occurred when 38-year-old David Kahler’s pickup truck crossed the center line of the Carl G. Rose Highway near the North Lecanto Highway and slammed head-on into another vehicle.
The driver of the vehilce that was hit, a 33-year-old woman from Ocala, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Two other victims, including a 3-year-old child, suffered unspecified injuries.
A 29-year-old man that allegedly caused a fatal traffic crash in Avon Park in 2007 fled the country before he could be prosecuted, according to reports.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) says the man was driving drunk when he caused the collision. His alleged blood-alcohol content was nearly four times the legal limit of .08.
The man was arrested just outside of Mexico City on Monday after eluding police for nearly a decade. The United States Marshals Service brought him back to the United States, where he now faces very serious charges of DUI manslaughter, property damage, and driving with a suspended license where death is involved.
The man posted bail of $10,000 two days after being arrested in 2007 and then fled the country.
Troopers believe the man killed a man and woman on June 30, 2007, when the man’s Cadillac struck the vehicle the pair were travelling north in.
The man apparently tried to flee the scene after the crash, but was unable to do so because of his injuries. He has two previous DUI charges on his record – one in 2001 and one in 2004.
The FHP did not go into detail on how the man was captured. The man is now 43-years-old.
Thousands of people are killed every year across the United States in DUI crashes and countless others are injured. DUI victims face a variety of challenges after an accident changes their lives, which is why you need a Florida Injury Lawyer for Victims of DUI at Whittel & Melton to help you fight for your rights when you need it the most. Our team of seasoned personal injury and wrongful death lawyers have handled numerous DUI cases and recovered financial compensation for victims and their families. We are proud to help real people just like you after an accident with a drunk driver has changed their lives. The negligent driver responsible for the accident can face criminal charges, but victims may also be able to file a civil lawsuit against the at-fault driver and their insurance company for damages, including:
PLEASE BE ADVISED: When an insurance company calls you following a DUI accident, this is to help them limit their damages owed to you (the victim). We strongly recommend waiting to speak to the other side until you have retained a lawyer that can walk you through handling insurance adjusters. We don’t want to see your damages get reduced just because you said something that was misconstrued. If you get a call from an insurance adjuster, you can politely inform them that you are not ready to speak with them at this time and that you will have your attorney contact them in the future.
Drunk driving personal injury and wrongful death cases can be the most devastating types of cases a person will ever endure. We know the difficulties involved in these cases and are equipped to fight to the finish for the full and fair damages that you are owed. While nothing we do can undo the damage already done, we can help to make your future better and hold the negligent driver responsible so that they make better decisions moving forward. Continue reading
The holiday season is a time for joyful celebrations and enjoying time with friends and family. It is also a high-risk time to be on the roadways. Christmas, New Year’s, and the days surrounding these holidays are days when there is a substantially higher number of auto accidents and crash fatalities than other times of the year. If you or someone you love is injured or killed in a holiday car accident, our Florida Auto Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here to help you through.
Christmas and New Year’s are all at the top of the list of high-risk days for drivers. These holidays see some of the year’s highest accident rates, along with Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day. The increase in fatalities and serious injury accidents on these holidays is substantial, with motorists facing a dramatically increased chance of being involved in a crash.
The Christmas holiday period includes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas. During this holiday time, an average of 343 people die in motor vehicle accidents. New Years is also defined as a three-day holiday period including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Over New Year’s, an average of 373 people die in car accidents. Why? More drivers on the roads and more drunk drivers are two primary reasons for the rise in car accident deaths on both Christmas and New Year’s.
Drivers need to be aware of the added dangers of driving on these holidays and should take precautions to try to protect themselves from becoming accident victims. There are a few things you can do to make sure you are set up well for travelling this holiday season.
If you or someone you love is the victim of a crash on any day or holiday, our Florida Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can provide assistance with pursuing a case for financial compensation for crash injuries or wrongful death.
Halloween is tomorrow and our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want everyone to remember to make safety a part of your celebration at home, at a party, or while trick or treating. Please keep the following safety tips in mind for happy Halloween memories:
Trick or Treating Safety
Safe Driving On Halloween
If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, a slip and fall accident or any other type of accident due to another’s negligence, we can help. Call us for a free consultation at 866-608-5529 or contact us online. We can begin helping you with your potential case right away, so do not delay.
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrated today- the 5th of May! The date is observed to recognize the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862.
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is heavily celebrated. Our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want to help you celebrate safely. Here’s how to have an unforgettable and safe Cinco de Mayo:
Plan Ahead
As you and your loved ones get together today and the rest of the week to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, please have safety on your mind as the roads can be crazy out there! With Black Friday shopping starting Thursday evening, there are sure to be many drivers on the roadways at all times of the night and early morning. It is today, though, that is a growing concern for many. The day once innocently called Thanksgiving Eve by those anticipating all the celebrations of the next day, has become known as Blackout Wednesday to bars, law enforcement, and hospitals around the country. This night sees a marked increase in drunk-driving injuries and deaths.
There are many reasons that the day before Thanksgiving has become one of the year’s busiest nights for bars and clubs. College students and recent grads coming home for the long weekend and reconnecting with old friends is one reason for the increase in DUI accidents and deaths. Another reason is that most professionals are off work on Thanksgiving, so a quick drink after work can escalate into a full night out.
While there is absolutely nothing wrong with going out tonight and having fun, please be prepared if you are consuming alcohol. Before you go out, know how are you getting home. Do not drive if you have had too much to drink and do not ride with anyone else who is not sober. Just by being on the road your risk of being involved in an alcohol-related accident is about 30 percent higher from Blackout Wednesday through the New Year’s holiday, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
It does not take much effort to be prepared for a good time. Plan ahead for a Lyft or Uber to pick you up and get you home safe. You can always just call a taxi.You can even designate a friend to stay sober and get everyone home in one piece. Just remember, if you are buzzed, you are drunk. Don’t jeopardize your future or the safety of others on the road.
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