A 33-year-old Plant City motorcyclist was killed in a crash near Brandon early Tuesday.
The motorcyclist lost control of his Yamaha around 3:15 a.m. while making a right turn from E Adamo Drive onto northbound U.S. 301, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The motorcycle hit the raised center median, overturned and came to rest in the path of a northbound Toyota Camry.
Slick roads are what caused a semi-truck to travel over a bridge in Manatee County and dive into the water.
Fortunately, a Good Samaritan saw the whole thing and came to the driver’s rescue.
After the crash, the truck was crushed, sinking and leaking diesel fluid.
The 29-year-old New Jersey driver survived the crash with minor injuries.
The Good Samaritan was on his boat during the mishap and managed to get the driver out of the truck right in time.
The truck’s cab is completely crushed and the entire vehicle remains submerged in the Manatee River.
Florida Highway Patrol does not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Millions of cars and trucks travel throughout Florida’s roadways and the rest of the country each year, resulting in thousands of accidents that cause serious injury or death. Many factors can contribute to auto accidents, and wet and slippery roads are a major contributor.
The following are a few easy steps drivers can take to avoid driving errors that lead to accidents and property damage.
Four men were rescued on Friday after their boat capsized near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
A water rescue call came in around 12:52 p.m. for a small boat that had capsized at the bridge, according to St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue.
Officials were able to find all of the men – one was clinging to the capsized boat, and three others were found less than a mile off shore floating west of the bridge.
All four men that were on the boat had their life vests on.
None of the boaters were harmed.
Boat accidents can refer to a vast number of incidences and usually occur due to the following reasons:
A 49-year-old woman has drowned in a family swimming pool in Clearwater, according to authorities.
The woman’s mother found her floating in the backyard pool around 5:30 p.m. Monday, according to reports.
Police believe the mother unsuccessfully tried to pull her daughter from the pool. She called 911 and paramedics administered CPR upon their arrival. The woman was declared dead a short time later.
Also on Monday evening, police reported that a 7-year-old boy drowned in a backyard pool in nearby Pinellas Park. The child was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.
No additional information on either case is available at this time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ten people drown every day across the United States. Moreover, of the top causes of unintentional death in the country, drowning takes the number five spot. Children under the age of 14 are most likely to fall victim to drowning accidents. In fact, approximately one in five people who drown are children under the age of 14 and many more suffer serious, life-altering injuries after being submerged.
Most children who die from drowning accidents were killed in a residential swimming pool. Those that survive near-drowning accidents are often left to face brain injuries, learning disabilities and memory problems, just to name a few. An important fact to note is that when a residential swimming pool has a fence surrounding it, the chance of a drowning decreases by 90 percent.
A woman suffered severe injuries Sunday evening in Tampa in a jet ski crash on the Hillsborough River.
The driver of the jet ski lost control after crossing into the wake of a passing boat near the North Boulevard Bridge Sunday evening, according to Tampa Police Department Marine Patrol. The jet ski struck a metal sign posted near the center channel.
Officials believe the woman, who was a passenger on the jet ski, smashed her head on the sign. She was taken to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition. Officials have not released any further information about the woman.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is currently investigating the crash.
Investigators do not believe at this time that alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident.
In a study conducted by the University of Florida, researchers found that jet ski accidents actually produce far greater injuries than boating mishaps. The most common jet ski injuries include head and brain injuries and severe trauma to the chest and abdominal areas. Most of these injuries occur when a jet ski collides with a stationary object or other vessel causing the driver or passenger to be thrust into the object.
If you have been involved in a jet ski accident of any kind, you and your family may be entitled to financial recovery for:
Two lanes of northbound I-75 were blocked off this morning just south of Riverview after there was an accident involving a semi.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 37-year-old Tampa man was driving a 2013 semi north on I-75 at 5:39 a.m. when he lost control of the truck.
The semi exited the roadway and collided with a 2014 Volkswagen Passat driven by a 42-year-old woman, according to troopers. The semi and the car both hit the outside guardrail, then slid down the shoulder embankment.
Both individuals were taken to Tampa General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Traffic was backed up for several miles while crews pulled the vehicles up from the embankment..
The truck driver was ticketed for failure to use due care.
Troopers also believe heavy rains and wet conditions played a role in the crash as well.
The results can be devastating when a semi driver loses control of the vehicle or the tractor detaches from its trailer and spins out of control. These accidents are usually severe and cause significant property damage, injury or even death to the truck driver or other drivers and passengers involved in the accident.
Numerous things can cause a semi truck driver to lose control, from driver error to equipment malfunction. These cases can be quite complex, so it is best to consult with an injury lawyer as soon as possible. A Tampa Bay Truck Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can investigate your case to determine what caused the crash and who is liable. The at-fault party may not be just one person, in fact it can include a number of different parties from the truck driver to the trucking company or other parties.
Two pedestrians were injured in Clearwater Thursday morning after they were struck by a vehicle.
According to Clearwater police, a man and woman were struck by a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV while walking on Gulf to Bay Boulevard and Meadow Lark Lane just after 5:30 a.m.
Officers said the pair was trying to cross Gulf to Bay when they were hit by the car. According to officials, the man was trying to get the woman out of the way when they were hit.
The woman was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa. The man was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
The driver of the SUV, a 67-year-old Clearwater man, was not injured.
The crash is still currently under investigation.
Drivers must exercise reasonable care when behind the wheel of a vehicle. Failure to do so is considered negligence. The most common factors contributing to driver negligence include:
Just like drivers, a pedestrian must also exercise reasonable care for his or her own safety. Contributory negligence can be a factor in accidents if it can be found that a pedestrian failed to exercise such care and contributed to the cause of their own injuries.
The most common factors contributing to pedestrian negligence are:
The Tampa Bay Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton would like to wish everyone throughout Tampa and the state of Florida a very happy Fourth of July! During this summer holiday period, many of us celebrate the time with friends and family. As with many other holidays, risks of accidents and injuries can increase during the Fourth of July weekend.
To help you keep yourself and your loved ones safe this weekend, we have compiled some helpful safety tips:
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving accidents, injuries and deaths always peak during Fourth of July weekend. If you plan on celebrating Independence Day with a few drinks, make sure to drink responsibly and plan for a ride. Make arrangements with friends or family, or call a cab or transportation service like Uber or Lyft. Remember, law enforcement officers will be out in full force this weekend looking to catch intoxicated motorists.
Fireworks Safety
If you plan to light off a few Sparklers or fireworks yourself, please remember these important tips:
Water Safety
Many Tampa Bay residents celebrate the Fourth at the beach, lake or by enjoying the water at backyard pool parties. When having fun near the water, make sure that safety is a top priority. Supervise children, use safety vests when on the water, drink responsibly and have a safety procedure set in place in the event of an emergency.
Grilling Safety
Use caution when barbecuing! Many people suffer injuries when cooking on charcoal and gas grills. Never grill indoors, supervise the grill when it is on, follow all instructions and never add lighter fluid when charcoal has already been ignited.
A Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy was involved in a weather-related collision on Sunday morning, according to reports.
The single-vehicle crash occurred on Interstate-275 just before the exit to 38th Avenue North at around 10 a.m. on Sunday.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy was traveling southbound on Interstate 275 in heavy rain.
Reports indicate that due to the inclement weather, the deputy’s cruiser may have hydroplaned causing the vehicle to fishtail and strike the median guardrail barrier.
After hitting the median barrier the vehicle spun around before coming to a final rest on the guardrail.
The deputy was transported by ambulance to Bayfront Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
Every year in the United States, weather is found to be a factor in more than 1,300,000 accidents. According to the U.S Department of Transportation, 23 percent of all accidents each year are weather-related. The following conditions contribute to weather-related accidents:
A motorcyclist was killed in the early morning hours on Thursday in a traffic crash in Tampa.
The 38-year-old man was riding his motorcycle near N. Nebraska and E. Louisiana aves. when he was involved in a crash with another vehicle, according to police.
The man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to officials, the driver of the other vehicle remained at the scene and was cooperative with police.
Officials have not yet said whether charges will be filed.
The investigation is ongoing.
About 75 percent of motorcycle accidents involve a crash with another motor vehicle, usually passenger cars. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, within the past decade, more than 70,000 people have suffered from serious injuries and more than 3,000 more have died from motorcycle accidents. In the vast majority of these cases, the biker is not the one found to be at fault for the accident.
A motorcycle accident can result in a range of injuries, from minor cuts and abrasions to serious head and brain injuries and even death. Some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries occur to the head and neck and can leave the victim paralyzed or in a permanent vegetative state. Due to these serious injuries and possible wrongful deaths, victims and their families may face extensive medical bills, loss of wages and emotional distress. A motorcycle accident victim, as well as surviving family members, may be entitled to the following types of compensation:
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