Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

April 16, 2024

What to Do If You Have Been Injured in a Car Accident as a Passenger | Florida Car Accident Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

It can be extremely stressful to be a passenger in an automobile accident. It is critical to understand what to do in the aftermath to make sure you get the care you need, safeguard your legal rights, and get justly compensated for your injuries.

Get Medical Care Right Away

The first and most important action after suffering injuries in an automobile accident as a passenger is to seek emergency medical care. It is vital to have your condition assessed by a medical professional, even if you think your injuries are insignificant. Certain injuries may not present themselves right away, but once the adrenaline has worn off from your accident, your condition may worsen.

April 15, 2024

News: Motorcyclist who yielded for fire truck fatally struck by car on SR-54

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ODESSA, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a man riding a motorcycle was killed in a collision in Pasco County on Tuesday night.

The Tampa Free Press reports the incident occurred at the intersection of State Road 54 and Fencepost Drive at about 9 p.m.

The FHP’s investigation determined that the operator of a Harley Davidson motorcycle was heading west on SR-54 when he stopped at Fencepost Drive for an oncoming fire truck that was responding to a service call.

April 12, 2024

News: 6 injured in vehicle crash in eastern Hernando County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – Hernando County Fire Rescue responded to the scene of a vehicle crash with multiple injuries on Tuesday afternoon.

According to a Facebook post by HCFR at 4:16 p.m., rescue crews were dispatched to the area of Cortez Boulevard and Burwell Road.

Three patients were transported by helicopter to local trauma centers. Three additional patients were transported by ground. No details were released on the severity of their injuries, or the circumstances that led to the crash.

April 11, 2024

Distracted Driving and Big Trucks Do Not Mix | Florida Truck Accident Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Distracted driving is a deadly roadway problem. An even bigger problem is when drivers of big rigs get distracted from using their phones, adjusting radio dials, reaching for things they dropped, or eating and drinking. Driving distracted wastes seconds that you could use to avert a close call or a fatal crash.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, so we wanted to highlight some of the dangers that can arise when drivers of semi-trucks get distracted behind the wheel.

Research from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), shows that the odds of a texting truck driver getting into a crash or near-crash are 23.2 times higher than truck drivers who do not text.

April 11, 2024

News: 1 dead, 4 injured in multi-vehicle accident in Pasco County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

DADE CITY, FL – One person died and four others were hospitalized following a multi-vehicle crash in Pasco County Monday afternoon, according to Pasco News Online.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of a Mercedes C300 was going north on US-301 north of Rapid River Boulevard when she crossed into the southbound lane. The Mercedes crashed into a southbound Isuzu truck head-on, causing it to rotate into the path of a Toyota 4Runner going north.

The Toyota driver, a 19-year-old man from Dade City, died at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes, a 39-year-old Zephyrhills woman, the driver of the Isuzu, a 61-year-old Zephyrhills man, and two passengers in the Isuzu, 19-year-old men from Plant City and Thonotosassa, were all transported to area hospitals. None of their injuries were life-threatening.

April 10, 2024

News: Motorcyclist killed in collision involving car with car on US-441

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LEESBURG, FL – Police in Leesburg said a motorcycle rider died following a collision with a car Saturday evening.

According to a WKMG report, the crash happened in the vicinity of U.S. Highway 441 and Tomato Hill Road. Investigators determined that the driver of a 2020 Honda Fit, an 88-year-old Fruitland Park woman, was exiting from a gas station onto U.S. 441 at about 6 p.m. She crashed into a 2015 Harley-Davidson motorcycle heading south on the highway.

The motorcycle rider was pronounced dead after being taken to UF Health-Leesburg. He was identified as 65-year-old William Clough of Tavares.

April 9, 2024

News: Troopers searching for driver following fatal wreck on I-75

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – State troopers said they are searching for the driver of a tractor-trailer following a fatal crash in Marion County last month, WKMG reports.

The incident took place March 20 along I-75 south about four miles north of State Road 326. The Florida Highway Patrol determined that a van had become disabled in the center lane of the interstate at about 10 p.m. as the result of a prior collision with a tractor-trailer.

Another driver heading south on I-75 did not see the van in time and crashed into the back of it. The 71-year-old van driver died after being taken to an area hospital. His five passengers, three women and two men all in their 70s, were hospitalized with serious injuries. All occupants of the van were from Ocala.

April 8, 2024

News: Wildwood man dead after car crashes into truck on I-75 ramp

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

WILDWOOD, FL – State troopers said a man was killed when a vehicle slammed into a parked truck on an Interstate 75 entrance ramp Tuesday afternoon.

A report by the Villages-News said the crash occurred on the ramp from State Road 44 at 3:46 p.m. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of a Nissan Rogue was heading northbound on the ramp when the vehicle hit a tractor-trailer that was parked on the paved east shoulder and the Nissan struck the truck’s trailer.

A passenger in the Nissan, a 25-year-old man from Wildwood, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital. The Nissan driver, a 22-year-old Wildwood man, sustained minor injuries. The truck driver was not injured.

April 5, 2024

News: Ocala woman, 55, killed when SUV slams into sign, fence and tree

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol and Marion County Fire Rescue responded to the scene a fatal single-vehicle accident on County Road 328 Thursday morning.

According to the Ocala StarBanner, a woman was driving an older model Chevy Blazer westbound shortly before 10:12 a.m. when the vehicle veered off the roadway near West State Road 40. The Blazer crashed into a speed sign, a fence, and a tree.

The driver, a 55-year-old woman, was extricated from the SUV by rescue crews. She was pronounced dead after being taken to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital.

April 4, 2024

News: Zephyrhills man killed when motorcycle collides with pickup truck

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol released details of a collision on Sunday that claimed the life of a motorcycle rider.

According to the Tampa Free Press, the crash happened at the intersection of State Road 56 and Oxbow Boulevard. State troopers say a motorcyclist was going west on SR-56 at a high rate of speed at about 5:35 p.m.

The driver of a Ford pickup truck made a left turn onto SR-56 from Oxbow and the pickup was hit by the motorcycle. The bike then went up in flames.