MARION COUNTY, FL – State troopers said a Marion County sanitation worker was killed in an accident on Tuesday morning, according to WKMG.
It happened as the worker was loading garbage within the Spruce Creek subdivision on Southeast 108th Terrace.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the man was hit by a tire from the garbage truck at about 9 a.m. The worker, a 25-year-old Ocala man, was pronounced dead by Marion County Fire Rescue.
GoPasco offers free bus rides to Pasco County voters on Tuesday, March 19, so anyone needing transportation to the polls has it!
Voters who present a valid voter information card will receive free bus rides thanks to a partnership between Pasco County Public Transportation and the Supervisor of Elections. Voters who otherwise would not have been allowed to cast a ballot on election day have come to favor the collaboration, which has been in place for a little over ten years.
Polls throughout the state open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
A woman in Ireland recently learned the hard way that social media is not your friend when it comes to a legal dispute, like a personal injury claim.
After a photo of the 36-year-old woman winning a competition to see who could throw a tree the farthest surfaced online, an Irish court denied the mother’s $820,000 insurance claim.
In 2017, the woman apparently claimed in disclosures made before Ireland’s High Court that she suffered from “debilitating pain” from a car accident that prevented her from lifting heavy objects and kept her in bed on bad days.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning consumers to avoid purchasing aftermarket steering wheel decals as they may detach in a collision and cause very serious injuries or death.
The NHTSA reports that at least one motorist suffered the loss of sight in one eye when a rhinestone embellished aftermarket emblem dislodged from the steering wheel in a crash and hit her in the face.
The item in question is a metal or plastic plate with an adhesive back that covers the vehicle’s logo in the center of the steering wheel. It is typically adorned in rhinestones or other shiny embellishments. When an air bag deploys in a collision, the product may become a projectile that causes significant harm or even death.
These aftermarket decals, unlike the permanently mounted insignia on your vehicle’s steering w
heel, can readily become detached when the air bag deploys. Your air bag may also stop working properly if you make any modifications to it or its cover.
The NHTSA has released a warning asking consumers to avoid purchasing these potentially dangerous decals. If you have already purchased one and applied it to your steering wheel, the NHTSA urges you to remove it promptly to avoid any potential injuries.
Why Is Bling on Your Steering Wheel Dangerous?
These shiny, gemstone encrusted decals go over the steering wheel, which is where the driver’s side airbag deploys in the event of a crash. This is essentially placing a fragile item on top of an explosive. If a crash occurs, the stones from the cover could separate and become airborne shrapnel scattering about the vehicle that could cause harm to vehicle occupants.
Though aesthetically pleasing, these diamond or rhinestone embellishments are not safe. You may be entitled to compensation for losses such as medical costs, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and emotional anguish if you were hurt by products manufactured using defective components. Our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can offer you a free consultation about your legal rights and alternatives. Continue reading
Hiring the right lawyer for your case does not just mean getting the best results. It also means getting the right treatment.
The truth of the matter is that our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have been practicing personal injury law for a very long time, and we have great relationships with doctors all over the Sunshine State, especially in the communities near our office locations in Spring Hill, New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, Inverness, Beverly Hills, Bushnell, The Villages, Gainesville, Tampa, Boca Raton, and Miami Beach.
What does this mean for injury victims? The benefit of seeking treatment from a medical professional recommended by an attorney is that you will probably be seen immediately away and can choose a location that is convenient for you.
It is acceptable to receive care from your health insurance provider if you have coverage. Your health insurance company will be entitled to compensation for any accident-related medical care it paid for when your injury claim is resolved.
When receiving care through a health insurance provider, there may be protracted wait times and challenges obtaining physical therapy authorization. Additionally, you might need to see a chiropractor but your insurance does not cover that type of care.
If you employ a personal injury attorney, they may recommend a physician who will treat you on a lien, which means you will not have to pay the physician until after you have received the settlement money from the case. Doctors that have an established relationship with your lawyers will prioritize seeing you and will go that extra mile to really do what they can to help you.
At the end of the day, a personal injury case is not only about money – it is about making you feel better, getting you quality medical care, and getting you on the right track for now as well as in the future. This is why it is so important to hire the right lawyer and not just any lawyer. Continue reading
Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer for many Americans. Beer will be flowing, and barbecue grills will be lit. While most Memorial Day celebrations are enjoyable and safe events, accidents do occasionally occur and people get hurt. If you are hosting or attending a Memorial Day party, our Florida Personal Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have some helpful advice for you.
Memorial Day Safety Tips for the Party Hosts
Adult supervision: During your barbeque, appoint a rotating team of one to three adults to keep an eye on kids playing, especially close to the grill or fire pit. Stop any dangerous activities before they start, like jumping off patio furniture and marshmallow roasting stick sword fights.
Grills: To minimize burn injuries, place grills about 10 feet away from people. Furthermore, one of the primary causes of barbeque fires is leaning your bag of charcoal against the grill; refrain from doing this. After you have finished grilling, let the coals cool for a while before pouring water on them. You can view more tips on grilling here: Grill Tips
Standing water: Backyards may have standing water areas. Standing water is a mosquito breeding ground and a slip and fall hazard. Of course, empty any containers that have water, including the tarp that covers any backyard boats that may have collected rainwater. Place temporary ground covers or just rope off portions of your yard that have standing water.
Pets: While your precious pup may not hurt a fly, sometimes large crowds can cause them to exhibit erratic behaviors. Secure pets in areas where kids and even adults will not be in danger.
Swing sets and other outdoor play equipment: Swing sets should be anchored and level. You will want to inspect tree houses and other play structures for any cracks, holes, or exposed hardware that could cause injury. If you have a trampoline, make sure it is anchored securely before you allow any jumpers inside. An adult should always supervise jumpers.
Swimming pools: Make sure you have adults always supervising tiny swimmers. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4, so keep this in mind. Make sure you have fences, alarms, and covers for your pool and keep all chemicals locked away. Flotation devices do not prevent drowning, so you still need to supervise children who are wearing floaties. Do not run around the pool. Tell kids to refrain from pushing or dunking people in the pool, as well as playing any hold your beath underwater games. If there is bad weather, like lightning, then get out of the pool immediately.
Memorial Day Safety Tips for the Party Guests
You should take precautions to avoid getting hurt when you are celebrating Memorial Day on someone else’s property. Here are some common reasons slip and fall and trip and fall accidents occur:
If you or a loved one is harmed in an accident this Memorial Day weekend, then you need to get medical care as soon as possible. Once your injuries have been handled by a medical professional, then you should contact our Florida Personal Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton. We can help you pursue financial compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and other damages.
Sometimes an unsafe accident scene does not necessarily indicate that the property owner was careless. As the injured party, you must establish that the property owner was aware of the harmful condition yet did nothing to address it. Our attorneys have a wealth of knowledge demonstrating that property owners failed to take reasonable safeguards and endangered visitors.
You can contact us online 24/7 or you can call us any time of the day or night at 866-608-5529. Your consultation with us is always free. Continue reading
School buses happen to be one of the safest vehicles on the roadway. Every day, millions of children ride school buses and less than 1% of all traffic deaths involve children on school buses.
School buses are designed so that they are highly visible to others and are equipped with safety features like flashing red lights, stop-arm signs, cross-view mirrors, high crush standards, protective seating, and rollover protection features.
Children are at a greater risk of being involved in an accident when entering or exiting a school bus than when they are passengers on one, so it is very important for all drivers, parents, and students to understand school bus safety.
A new report by Tripadvisor shows that 3 cities in Florida – Orlando, Miami and Key West – are among the top 5 most popular vacation destinations in the U.S. The Sunshine State boasts beautiful weather, gorgeous beaches and waterways, fun night life, exciting theme parks and water parks, and of course, delicious cuisine. Figures from VisitFlorida.org show that in 2021, Florida saw 122.4 million visitors. With that many people coming to Florida, there are bound to be some mishaps that lead to injuries.
Below you will find the top five most common injuries suffered by tourists visiting Florida:
Neck and head injuries: Car accidents, slip and falls, trip and falls, sporting and recreational accidents, and too much alcohol consumption are all common causes of head and neck injuries. Using golf carts, bikes, electric scooters – all popular modes of transportation in the Sunshine State – can present risks to tourists who are not used to using these vessels. Hiking, surfing, paddle boarding, parasailing, snorkeling, and kayaking are all recreational activities that many tourists partake in, but there are inherent risks.Whatever injuries you have suffered, whether from a negligent hotel or a faulty jet ski rental beach company, our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can pinpoint who is liable and pursue financial compensation for your suffering. We specialize in all types of personal injuries and wrongful death cases, including what is known as “resort torts,” or injuries or death that happen while on vacation and staying at a resort, hotel, or in a recreational setting. Continue reading
Hyundai and Kia have issued a warning to vehicle owners of 484,577 cars and SUVs across the United States to keep using their vehicles, but keep them parked outside and away from any structures as they could contain a defect that could cause the vehicles to burst into flames unexpectedly, even if the car is turned off.
What is the problem? Possible “foreign contaminants” in the anti-lock brake computer control module can short circuit and cause the engine compartment to potentially catch fire.
Hyundai is recalling 357,830 automobiles, including the following vehicles:
Kia has recalled 126,747, including the following:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Kia said they know of three vehicles that have caught fire. Kia did say that vehicle owners can continue driving their recalled vehicles, but should not park near any structures or buildings.
If you are a Kia or Hyundai vehicle driver, then you can check the status of your vehicle by contacting the company’s customer service department or by checking the NHTSA’s auto safety website.
Dealers are starting to replace the recalled vehicles’ anti-lock braking control module, which is a small computer system that controls the vehicle’s emergency anti-lock braking system at no cost to owners. They will also replace a fuse that controls the electric current to the anti-lock braking control unit that will reduce the amount of power entering the module.
Seeking Compensation for Vehicle Fires
If you have been the victim of a vehicle fire, then we encourage you to speak with our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton about filing a personal injury claim for financial compensation. We can help you understand what you need to do to pursue a financial award for property damage, physical injuries, and all other damages related to the dangerous vehicle. Continue reading
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.
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