A pedestrian was killed Wednesday morning after he was struck by a truck while crossing Ulmerton Road in Largo.
The crash occurred at 6:13 a.m. in the 7900 block of Ulmerton Road, near the intersection with Belcher Road.
Police believe the 60-year-old was attempting to cross the eastbound lanes of Ulmerton Road when he stepped in front of a 2012 Ford F-250.
A pedestrian was hit by a pickup truck and seriously injured in Seminole on Saturday evening, according to authorities.
The 51-year-old man of Clearwater was crossing 54th Avenue N. at Seminole Boulevard inside the crosswalk, but against the “Don’t Walk” pedestrian signal, around 6:50 p.m., the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.
He was struck by a a 2013 Dodge pickup truck driven by a 24-year-old man.
Investigators believe the driver was apparently driving the speed limit when she saw the pedestrian at the last minute and swerved unsuccessfully to miss him.
The pedestrian was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with life-threatening injuries.
Detectives say the pedestrian may have been impaired at the time, but the truck driver showed no signs of impairment.
There are a number of injuries that can be sustained as result of a pedestrian being involved in a truck accident:
A motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Clearwater on Friday morning.
According to reports, a 22-year-old was driving a motorcycle eastbound on Belleair Road at a high rate of speed east of Belcher Road when he collided with a 2001 Buick Century, driven by 78-year-old man, who was pulling out of a driveway.
The biker was ejected from the motorcycle, and died at the scene.
According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are more than 200 people who are killed every year in the United States and another 17,000 injured in backover accidents. Backover accidents happen when a driver is backing up their vehicle and hits an object, pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist, etc. that they did not see, usually because of a blind zone in the vehicle. SUVs and trucks are notorious for having blind spots, and their increasing popularity has only resulted in more reports of backover fatalities. Trucks and SUVs are responsible for a whopping 60 percent of backover tragedies.
A Seminole woman was killed Saturday evening when she was hit by an SUV while riding her bicycle.
The crash occurred just before 7 p.m. on the east side of the 8600 block of Seminole Boulevard.
The 68-year-old woman was riding her bicycle on the sidewalk when a 2003 Ford Expedition pulled out of the Florida Mobile Home trailer park, preparing to turn right, according to reports.
Deputies believe the driver of the Expedition did not see the woman and hit her.
The woman was taken to Largo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Neither alcohol nor speed appear to be factors in the crash, according to deputies.
The investigation is ongoing.
When in an accident with an automobile, bicycle riders are at an increased risk for serious injuries. Any motor vehicle can cause serious, catastrophic injuries to an unprotected bike rider.
Our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are dedicated to helping bicycle riders who have been injured as a result of a vehicle operator’s negligence. Bicycle accidents most often occur due to:
Our Tampa Bay area personal injury lawyers at Whittel & Melton have extensive experience in representing bicycle accident victims. We are very familiar with the complicated laws that govern bicycle use in the state of Florida. We understand that many insurance companies are quick to place the blame on the the bicycle rider, which is why we fight aggressively to stand up for your rights.
If you are like most Americans, you will be celebrating Halloween this weekend. Halloween is quite a fun holiday, providing you with the opportunity to dress up in a unique costume and eat a lots of candy! Halloween is known by children for its trick or treating, and for good reason. This year alone, Americans are projected to spend $2.1 billion on Halloween candy!
Around 41 million trick or treaters between the ages of 4 and 15 are expected to be out on the streets this Halloween. And while Halloween is a spooky fun holiday, it is important to not forget the list of potential dangers that can arise. Serious injuries can occur, ranging from pedestrian accidents, dog bites and even slip and falls or trip and falls. The following safety tips can ensure that you and your family and friends stay safe this Halloween while out and about in the Tampa Bay area.
Tips for a Safe Halloween
A Bradenton man riding a scooter was killed Sunday night after being hit from behind by a SUV on State Road 70, according to reports.
The 41-year-old man was riding a scooter east on State Road 70 near the I-75 interchange around 7:20 p.m. when a Jeep Liberty changed lanes behind him and crashed into the scooter, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The man was thrown from the scooter and transported to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, where he later died.
The driver of the Jeep, an 18-year-old, was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.
The most common scooter and moped injuries are fractures, broken bones, back and spine injuries, and head trauma. While some of these injuries can heal with time, others can have permanent, life-changing effects. In some tragic cases, scooter accidents can result in wrongful death. Scooter and moped riders should always wear helmets when operating their vehicles. However, even when riders use their safety equipment and drive defensively, they are still among the most vulnerable drivers on the road due to the lack of protection that these motor vehicles provide compared to passenger vehicles.
A 13-year-old boy suffered minor injuries Tuesday morning after he was hit by a vehicle while riding his bike in Tampa.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred shortly after 8 a.m. at the intersection of West Waters Avenue and Riverwood Boulevard.
Deputies believe the boy was riding his bicycle when a vehicle at the intersection turned and struck him.
The boy received minor abrasions to his hands and was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital to be checked out.
The driver was not cited.
A parent’s worst nightmare is seeing his or her child suffer an injury of any kind and deal with the pain as well as the healing process. Sadly, many children are the victims of other people’s negligence, which can result in serious harm. Even worse, sometimes another person’s carelessness or recklessness can lead to the accidental loss of a child. When this happens, the parents may have the right to bring a claim for wrongful death and seek compensation for the loss of their child.
A Winter Haven man became the third person to die in a vehicle crash in Polk County over the weekend after a pickup truck turned in front of his motorcycle Saturday night, according to authorities.
The 56-year-old man and his 54-year-old wife were riding a Honda south on Spirit Lake Road around 7 p.m. approaching 2nd Street when the crash occurred.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a 27-year-old Winter Haven was driving a Dodge pickup truck south on Spirit Lake and turned left at 2nd Street and into the motorcycle’s path.
The motorcycle hit the truck, ejecting both riders. The pair were taken to Lakeland Regional Health, where the man later died. The wife was hospitalized in stable condition.
The truck driver and two children in the truck were wearing seat belts and were not injured.
Speed, impairment or distraction were not factors in the crash, according to deputies.
Earlier Saturday, another motorcycle crash claimed the life of a Davenport man.
Just after noon, the man was traveling east on County Road 547 near U.S. 27 when it struck a Ford Focus driven by a man who was leaving a convenience store parking lot. The biker was thrown from the motorcycle and died at the scene, the sheriff’s office said.
Saturday morning, a 47-year-old Plant City man was killed in a three-vehicle crash on County Line Road.
Around 7:30 a.m., the man’s Dodge Neon and a tractor-trailer driven by a 52-year-old Alabama man were traveling south, side-by-side, on County Line Road near Drane Field Road, the sheriff’s office said.
The Dodge drifted into the lane of the semi, struck the right front of the truck and shot into the northbound lanes. It then collided with a northbound Dodge Charger driven by a 36-year-old Mulberry man, deputies said.
When emergency personnel arrived on scene, the driver of the Dodge Neon did not have a pulse. He was taken to Lakeland Regional Health where he was pronounced dead, deputies said.
When a loved one is killed in an auto accident, the family has enormous grief to deal with as well as wrongful death insurance claims. Our Tampa Bay Wrongful Death Lawyers at Whittel & Melton understand that you need time to grieve without the added stress of dealing with insurance companies and others who want to settle your wrongful death claim as soon as possible.
While this is a difficult time for your family, make sure you take your time with wrongful death claim. You need to determine the full extent of your financial losses as well as understand the need for pain and suffering compensation. When there are dependents involved, such as children, a spouse, other family members, their needs should also be taken into account in a wrongful death settlement.
There were no injuries Saturday morning after a car crashed into Manos Bakery at 1975 Drew Street in Clearwater.
According to police, a westbound Honda Civic on Drew Street ran a red light and collided with another car, resulting in the Honda crashing through the front of the bakery.
The Honda came to rest inside the bakery.
The bakery owner and one employee were inside, but neither they nor the drivers were injured.
The 34-year-old driver of the Honda was cited for running a red light and not having a valid driver’s license, according to police.
The technical rescue team from Clearwater Fire & Rescue examined the structural integrity of the building and boarded up windows that had been smashed out by the impact, police said.
Thousands of people in the U.S. are injured or killed because someone ran a red light. In fact, it is the one of the leading causes of urban accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
Traffic lights and signals are in place to protect drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. When these signals are ignored, the results can be catastrophic.
For most, Labor Day weekend symbolizes the unofficial end of summer. As a three-day weekend, this gives many Americans the chance to celebrate with friends and family one more time before fall comes around and the weather gets cooler. Whether you plan on taking one last road trip for a weekend getaway or staying home and celebrating with family and friends, the Tampa Bay Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want you and your loved ones to stay safe!
Labor Day Weekend has a high rate of preventable accidents, injuries, and deaths, both on the roadways and at homes across Tampa Bay and the rest of the country. To help you and your loved ones stay safe this holiday weekend, our Tampa Bay Injury Lawyers have compiled a few helpful safety tips:
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