Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

November 22, 2024

News: Driver flees after SUV crashes into Land O’Lakes home, leaving 1 man dead

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAND O’LAKES, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred Tuesday morning in Land O’Lakes, according to Pasco News Online.

State troopers said the driver of a Chevy Tahoe veered off the road while heading south on US-41 near Bell Lake Road at about 12:30 a.m. The SUV went across a sidewalk and collided with a Honda Fit that was parked in a driveway. The impact caused the Honda to go through an interior wall and hit a 37-year-old Tampa man, who was airlifted to an area hospital with serious injuries. He was pronounced dead the following day.

The FHP is now searching for the driver of the Tahoe, described as a woman in her mid 30s. She fled the scene on foot after the crash.

November 21, 2024

News: Bicyclist dies following hit-and-run incident on State Road 200

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A bicyclist was found dead Wednesday morning after what Ocala police said was a hit-and-run incident.

The Ocala StarBanner reports the victim, a 28-year-old man, was discovered at about 7 a.m. in bushes in the 4400 block of State Road 200, west of Interstate 75.

Police said their initial investigation indicated that the man was on an e-bike and crossing State Road 200 northbound when he was hit by a westbound vehicle. The bike rider’s name was not released.

November 20, 2024

News: Ocala woman killed when car crashes into retention pond on County Road 452

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – A car accident along County Road 452 in Lake County on Sunday left a driver dead, WKMG reported.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the victim was a 25-year-old woman from Ocala. She was driving north in a Dodge Challenger when she drove off the road while approaching Martin Drive.

The Challenge hit a pole and a chain-link fence, then kept going northeast until crashing into a retention pond on the shoulder of the roadway. The car ended up being totally submerged in the water.

November 19, 2024

News: Driver dies after car collides with utility pole in Alachua County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol has released its report on a fatal car wreck that occurred Saturday morning in southeast Alachua County.

According to the Gainesville Sun, the crash took place on U.S. 441 at County Road 234 West near Micanopy at about 6 a.m. The FHP’s investigation indicated that the driver of a Kia went off the roadway and crashed into a utility pole.

The driver was thrown from the vehicle, and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. He was a 21-year-old man from Lithia, in Hillsborough County.

November 18, 2024

News: 1 dead, 4 hurt when van returning from hurricane cleanup work crashes on I-75

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A minivan returning from post-hurricane cleanup work was involved in a fatal accident in Marion County on Wednesday, according to the Ocala StarBanner.

Five men who were coming back from Georgia and heading toward Naples were in a Honda Odyssey van that was traveling south on Interstate 75.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the Honda lost control of the vehicle at the top of a hill near the exit for State Road 326, after one of the tires apparently blew out.

November 15, 2024

News: Woman, 77, dies following two-car wreck at intersection in Hudson

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HUDSON, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a two-car crash in Pasco County claimed the life of one of the drivers, a 77-year-old woman from Hudson.

Pasco News Online reports the woman was behind the wheel of an eastbound Hyundai Elantra when the accident happened Thursday morning at 6:47 a.m.

The FHP said the Hyundai driver was trying to make a left turn at the intersection with Little Road and entered the path of a Honda CRV that was going south on Little Road.

November 14, 2024

News: 1 dead in collision involving van and semi-truck on Interstate 75

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A collision in Marion County on Tuesday afternoon left one person dead and four others injured.

A report by WESH states that a Honda van and a semi-truck were involved in the crash on Interstate 75 south near mile marker 358. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the van was heading south at about 3:20 p.m. and veered off the roadway toward the center median.

When the driver tried to overcorrect, the van crossed every lane to enter the exit lane toward State Road 326. The driver of the semi tried veering right to avoid the van, but the front of the truck collided with the van’s right side.

November 14, 2024

How to Stay Safe and Avoid Accidents on Black Friday

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is known as one of the biggest shopping days of the year. According to the National Retail Federation, 2023 saw a record 200.4 million shoppers take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday bargains.

To help you stay safe while shopping for those must-have items on your list, our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want to remind you of the potential hazards, typical injuries, safety tips, and what to do if you get hurt during the holiday rush. This year Black Friday falls on November 29, 2024, and we want you to be prepared.

Injuries from Large Crowds

November 13, 2024

News: Elderly woman fatally struck by vehicle on Southwest 80th Avenue

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A pedestrian accident in Marion County Friday night claimed the life of an elderly woman, according to the Ocala StarBanner.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the 77-year-old victim was attempting to cross near the 6600 block of Southwest 80th Avenue from east to west when the collision occurred. The pedestrian was struck by a southbound Subaru Outback SUV driven by a 74-year-old man.

The woman, who lived nearby, was pronounced dead at 9:48 p.m. The driver, who also lived in the area and was headed home, stopped and stayed at the scene. The driver and his 76-year-old wife who was his passenger were not injured.

November 12, 2024

News: Motorcyclist dies after crashing into mailbox off State Road 44 in Eustis

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – An investigation is underway into a deadly motorcycle accident that occurred in Lake County on Saturday, the Leesburg-News reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene on State Road 44 at Bottany Woods Drive in Eustis. The FHP said a man was riding a 2020 Harley Davidson FXLRS motorcycle southbound shortly after 5 p.m. when he was unable to negotiate a curve.

The motorcycle went off the roadway and crashed into a mailbox. The rider, a 57-year-old man from Sanford, died after being rushed to AdventHealth Hospital. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, state troopers said.