Hit and Run

April 16, 2014

Martin County Hit-and-Run Suspect was Texting While Driving when he Struck Motorcyclist

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A hit-and-run crash in Stuart on Monday that left a motorcyclist hospitalized is the result of a texting driver, according to police.

The suspect, a 29-year-old man, was texting while driving when he struck the motorcyclist and fled the scene.

A citizen driving near the intersection of Indian Road and Willoughby Boulevard in Stuart on Monday reported the incident to police when he noticed the man hit the biker and failed to stop.

The 911 operator confirmed the location of the citizen and police arrived a short time later and arrested the man. According to Martin County police, the man admitted that he was texting while driving and thought he had killed the motorcyclist.

The suspect was arrested and faces several charges. The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, is still recovering in the hospital.

This is the county’s first texting-and-driving case, according to reports.

Texting has become a very popular means of communication between friends and family. However, texting while driving is not only dangerous to other drivers, but to everyone else sharing the roadway. There are a growing number of auto accidents in Florida and throughout the United States that are caused by texting drivers. If you were involved in a car accident that was caused by a driver who was texting or talking on a cell phone, it is in your best interest to speak with an injury lawyer who can help you proceed with a personal injury lawsuit. A Florida Auto Accident Injury Lawyer can advise you of your rights as a victim and help you file a claim to recover damages for your injuries.

There are many expenses that are involved in a Florida car accident. The at-fault driver whose negligence caused your injuries should be held responsible for your suffering. By filing a personal injury claim you can get the money you need to pay for:

Repairs to your Automobile
Hospital Bills
Ambulance Fees
Lost Wages
Physical Therapy
Psychological Therapy
All Other Accident-Related Damages

January 30, 2014

Florida Pedestrian Accident Attorney :: Lake Man Dead after Being Struck by Four Vehicles

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 72-year-old man was killed after being struck by four vehicles near the intersection of County Road 44 and South Fish Camp Road in Grand Island northwest of Eustis shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday.

According to Florida Highway Patrol troopers, the Fruitland Park man was on the south shoulder of County Road 44 trying to cross when, for an unknown reason, he stepped into the path of oncoming westbound traffic.

The man was hit once by a Saturn car driven by a 30-year-old Umatilla man and a second time by a Jeep driven by a 28-year-old Eustis woman. Witnesses at the scene said two other vehicles also struck the man, but did not stop.

A 72-year-old man was killed after being struck by four vehicles in Eustis Thursday.

A Grand Island resident drove up to the scene before paramedics arrived and saw the man lying on the ground. Another person was trying to revive him while another person called for help, according to reports. The FHP noted the area was rainy, without streetlights and very dark.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers are still looking for the third and fourth vehicles that struck the deceased. Anyone with information can call FHP at 407-737-2213.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 5,000 reported deaths are the result of motor vehicle v. pedestrian accidents each year. Sadly, more than 78,000 pedestrians suffer serious injuries every year from an accident involving a car or truck.

A pedestrian collision can result in death, head and brain injuries, disfigurement, nerve damage, scarring, loss of a limb and other serious physical and mental impairments. In many cases, pedestrian accident victims require specialized treatment, such as long-term physical and psychological care. The physical pain and mental anguish suffered by pedestrians injured in auto accidents are often extreme, and the cost for medical care can be astounding. A Florida Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can make sure that you and your family has the help they need to deal with these injuries.

March 28, 2011

Pinellas County, Florida Personal Injury Lawyer :: Largo Woman Involved in Hit and Run with Pedestrian

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

What do you do when you are the victim of a Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Florida? Pinellas County police have arrested a 25-year-old Largo woman after she allegedly struck a 32-year-old man with her vehicle and left the scene of the accident. Deputies have charged the woman with aggravated battery with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest after she hit and injured the man.

When purchasing your auto insurance it is imperative that you purchase Under and/or Uninsured Motorist (UM) protection. This specific type of insurance is sold by most reputable auto insurance companies and can be used to cover damages sustained when the at-fault party has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover the full extent of your damages. Unfortunately, in today’s economy everyone is looking to stretch the dollar and the amount of coverage on an auto policy can be the first to go. There is no exception to this rule –you must purchase UM to fully protect yourself and family from accidents like the one described here. For instance, had the vehicle never been found which allegedly caused this accident, the victim would have been able to make a claim on his UM policy as the at-fault driver was unknown, therefore was uninsured. This scenario is sometimes referred to as a “phantom vehicle”.

Police responded to the scene around 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday and reported that the Largo woman approached the man on the side of the street, whom she had a prior dispute with, in her vehicle and began yelling at him. According to the St. Petersburg Times, around 25 to 30 people surrounded the woman’s car and the man punched her in the face while another individual pepper sprayed inside the vehicle through the driver’s side window.

The woman allegedly hit the gas and slammed into the man.

The Largo woman allegedly dropped her car off with another person who stopped at gas station to clean up the pepper spray.

Deputies arrested the woman later on and the arrest report shows the woman was uncooperative, pulling her hands and body away from them.

She is being held at the Pinellas County jail with bail set at $20, 150.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

National government statistics show that nearly 11 percent of all motor vehicle accidents are hit and run car accidents. Almost 700,000 hit and run accidents involving a car are reported every year in the United States. The National Highway Administration shows that the state of Florida ranks third in the nation with 3,300 hit-and-run accidents reported yearly.

The woman in this case hit a man with her vehicle and fled the scene, leaving the man injured. Florida law is clear that the driver of any vehicle involved in a collision must stop and wait at the scene of the accident. Breaching this requirement is viewed as a hit and run and could cause a violator to face criminal felony charges, suspension of their driver’s license, court-demanded community service, and other civil or administrative fines.