Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

March 10, 2009

Hernando County Wrongful Death Lawyer News Update: Hernando County Sheriff’s Captain Killed in Car Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Hernando County was stunned when 42-year old Captain Scott Bierwiler was struck and killed in a head-on collision with a Hernando County youth while driving to work.

Reports indicate that the Hernando County law enforcement official was traveling to work at 5:45 a.m. when a 16-year old driver crossed over the median with his parent’s Mitsubishi Montero. The accident occurred on Powell Road, just south of Brooksville, in unincorporated Hernando County.

Legally, a Wrongful Death action could be filed by the Personal Representative of the Estate of Captain Bierwiler against the family of the driver of the Mitsubishi vehicle. It is also possible that a potential Worker’s Compensation claim could be made against Hernando County Worker’s Compensation carrier.

February 27, 2009

Pedestrian Critical after Spring Hill, FL Auto Accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Hernando County authorities have been busy of late with pedestrians struck by Florida drivers. According to the Hernando Times’ Kyle Martin, a 35-year old Spring Hill woman was recently hit by a Jeep Laredo as she walked on the side of Amero Lane in Spring Hill–the unincorporated population center of Hernando County, Florida.

Reports indicate the Spring Hill woman’s condition is critical. It is unclear what the circumstances surrounding the pedestrian’s actions or the inaction of the driver to avoid the auto accident.

Spring Hill Personal Injury Lawyer Jason Melton represents victims of car crashes where a pedestrian is injured. Assuming the fault of the auto injury falls upon the driver of the Jeep Laredo, it is commonplace in such an accident that both the Bodily Injury (BI) Auto Insurance coverage of tort feasor (here, that would be the driver of the Jeep Laredo) and the Under or Uninsured Motorist (UM) Auto Insurance coverage of the injured party would come into play.

February 15, 2009

Brooksville, Florida Bicyclist Struck and Killed by Phantom Vehicle

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

According to the Hernando Times, a 51 year old Brooksville, FL man was struck by an unknown automobile or truck on Broad Street while riding his bicycle. The man was discovered by a passing driver, but unfortunately he passed away at Brooksville Regional Hospital due to his injuries.

The driver of the offending vehicle, to date, has yet to be found.

When a car crash is caused by an unknown driver, it is commonly referred to as a “phantom vehicle.” This terminology is important when representing families on behalf of those seeking compensation for a lost loved one in a wrongful death lawsuit or a simple automobile injury case where the car or truck that caused the accident is unknown.

In Florida, there are two forms of financial protection from an accident such as this. First, every automobile insurance policy in Florida contains No Fault or PIP Benefits. These benefits can used for injuries despite who caused the the accident or thewhether the other car or truck driverhad insurance. But most importantly, this is a case where your Under or Uninsured Motorist Coverage can come into effect. Because a “Phantom Vehicle” is by definition not insured, your coverage will act in the place of this the phatom driver’s carrier.

February 14, 2009

Pasco County Highway Auto Accident leaves one dead, one injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

According to the St. Pete Times, two cars crashed into one another on the Sun Coast or Veterans Expressway(SR589) in Pasco County. The motor vehicle accident left a 70-year-old woman dead and seriously injured a 64-year-old Spring Hill, FL man.

Under Florida Law, a Pasco County Auto Accident Lawyer will need to show that the injuries sustained by the Spring Hill, Florida man were permanent in order to collect pain and suffering from any applicable insurance policies. The lawyer for the family of the deceased victim will also need to be cognizant of the 2-year statute of limitations that covers any Pasco County Wrongful Death Lawsuit.

February 13, 2009

Hernando County Auto Accidents injures one and leaves another dead

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Brooksville, FL woman was killed when she was struck by a Hernando County motorist traveling on US 41. According to the Hernando Times, the Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a traffic fatality investigation and has yet to charge the Spring Hill, FL man who struck the 33-year old Brooksville woman as she attempted to walk across the busy street. Fatality investigations can take weeks or months to conclude.

On this same evening on the other side of Hernando County there was another fatal car accident, involving an 18 year old Spring Hill woman who was tansported to the hospital for injuries sustained whne she lost control of her motor vehicle while traveling on Mariner Blvd. in Spring Hill, Florida. Hernando County law enforcement estimated that that crash involved $25,0000 in property damage.

In all auto injury and wrongful death matters, a complete investigation must be conducted to assess the who is liable for the accident, applicable insurance coverage and the totality of the damages. The sooner a Hernando County Personal Injury Attorney is contacted, the better the car accident investigation will be.

February 12, 2009

Two Florida Counties listed in Top Ten Deadliest Roads in America

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Although eight of the ten deadly spots, according to Fox News, were in the western states of California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas, the remaining two (and only counties from the East coast) were from Florida. Palm Beach County (I-95) and Miami-Dade County (US-1) were listed in the counties in the top ten most dangerous roads list.

Palm Beach County, Florida had an terrible truck accident involving a gasoline tanker where the tortfeasor’s tractor-trailer turned over on top of another motor vehicle, burst into flames, and killed four people. There have been allegations in that specific case that the truck driver worked in excess of the allowed Florida Department of Transportation guidelines. The other Florida County listed in the top ten was Miami-Dade County. Recently, US-1 was home to an auto accident involving a Florida woman who made a U-Turn into oncoming traffic that caused the death of a motorcyclist.