Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City & Inverness, Florida Accident Attorney and Alachua County DUI Lawyer Blogs

Bicycle Safety Awareness Month, May 2009--6-year old cyclist survives Collision with FedEx 18-wheeler

As a personal injury lawyer with 38 years of experience, I am concerned for child bike safety, since child cyclists are "drivers" and are responsible for knowing and following state and local traffic law.  Cycling can put kids in dangerous situations, face-to-face with nearly 100,000 pounds of semi truck and busy rush-hour traffic-sometimes, with devastating effects.

The May 2009 FedEx tractor trailer crash involving a 6-year-old child cyclist is a miraculous exception. The boy astonishingly survived an 18-wheeler collision while riding his bike on a sidewalk. The collision highlights May 2009 as Bicycle Safety Awareness Month and the importance of wearing a properly fitted helmet. While the boy dodged death as the semi passed over him, it seems sheer luck that he received only non-life threatening head and facial injuries since-he failed to wear a helmet, as required by Florida law. 

 Florida law states that children under 16 years old are required to wear a properly fitted helmet when "driving" a bike or riding as passenger. Wearing a helmet is not only the law but may reduce the risk of severe head and brain injuries by 85% to 88%.   While the boy was lucky, his bike was not. The truck dragged the mangled bike beneath its tires for nearly a half mile.

Not only did the boy fail to wear a helmet, his bike reportedly had no brakes-another law violation. Florida law requires that all bikes must be equipped with properly functioning brakes.  It is possible the child simultaneously was unable to stop at the stop-sign intersection, and the truck was unaware of the small cyclist as it made a right turn out of a busy shopping plaza.

The National Safety Commission reports that a common cause of accidents is low visibility of cyclists and pedestrians in high congestion areas.  Motor vehicle drivers simply fail to notice pedestrians and bikers-sometimes because of dark colored clothing or bad weather. Examining pictures taken shortly after the accident, it appears rain may have been a contributing factor to the FedEx crash.

Legally, it is important to note that a parent may not knowingly allow a child to fail to comply with Florida bicycle laws-such as not having working brakes or not wearing a helmet. It is also interesting that failure to wear a helmet is not a reason a bike accident victim can be found contributory negligent or at fault, meaning it is not a reason the reduce damages for the victim in a civil suit.

It is also important that the 6-year-old crash victim was apparently following the National Highway Traffic Safety Association's  (NHTSA) recommendations in riding on the sidewalk. The NHTSA recommends that children 10 year of age and younger ride only on the sidewalk due to maturity levels and inability to fully understand and follow traffic laws.

 Taking safety precautions with child cyclists is especially vital in Florida-since Florida outranks all other states in bicyclist fatalities, nationwide, according the Florida Bicycle Association.  The National Safety Commission explains that Florida has high tourism rates and a long-lasting warm weather season, making outdoor activities like biking especially attractive.

  In 2007, 24 % (or 10,000) bicyclists nationwide, who were injured in motor vehicle accidents, were children 14 years or younger, according to the NHTSA's Traffic Safety Facts 2007: children.  Children-specifically young boys-are especially vulnerable "drivers" and should always wear a helmet.

For more information:

Child Cyclists and Motor Vehicles - Safety Tips to Save a Child's Life

Semi's and Bicycles generally a deadly combination - Know the law and teach bicycle safety to your children

Bicyclists - Know the Law and Stay Alive

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: bicycle laws bicycle safety comparative negligence helmet sidewalk

Semi's and Bicycles generally a deadly combination... Know the laws and teach bicycle safety to your children!

Lemarcus Rayford was extremely lucky in his encounter with the FedEx truck in Gainesville last week; however, this is usually not the case when a bicycle and semi meet on the road. I would like to suggest that parents take this time to discuss simple safety tips with your children and review the traffic laws regarding bicycles... It just may save their lives.

As an experienced personal injury lawyer, I have seen my share of tragic bicycle accidents - many of which could have been prevented.  It is vital for motor vehicle operators, bicyclists, children, and parents of child cyclists to know the law about bicycles and save lives.

Florida outranks all other states in bicycle deaths nationwide, according to the Florida Bicycle Association.  In 2007, 3.8% of all Florida traffic fatalities were bicycle drivers, totaling 121 statewide deaths, according to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash report (2007).  Plus, 4,347 bicyclists and passengers were injured in traffic collisions. 

Additionally, children are especially vulnerable to bicycle accidents. A properly fitted helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury by 85 %, according to the NHTSA.  Plus, more children ages 5 to 14 visit the emergency room for bike accidents than any other sport-many of these injuries involve the head and brain.

Know the laws and teach bicycle safety to your children.

For More Information:

Bicyclists - Know the Law and Stay Alive 

Bicyclists, 6, Survives FedEX tractor Trailor Crash

Safety Tips to Save a Child's Life


         

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

They are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators and litigators that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies he has written the consumer guide book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free copy right now, or contact his office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck or motorcycle accident.  They are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you, and are there to help you.

Mr. Meldon's Office proudly handles accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam since 1971!

Labels: bicycle laws children safety

It is Time for the Legislature to Not be Asleep at the Wheel!

The semi driver, Reinaldo Andujar Gonzalez, 30, was arrested on Tuesday April 21, 2009, on charges of vehicular homicide and reckless driving with serious bodily injury for the death of a Marion County student in September 2008.  The devastating aftermath left a school bus in flames and an 8^th grade student dead.

 Vehicular homicide, a second degree felony, is the killing of another human caused by operation of a motor vehicle in a reckless manner that is likely to cause death or great bodily injury to the victim.  If convicted of vehicular homicide, Gonzalez could be:

• imprisoned for up to 15 years;
• fined up to $10,000; and
• ordered to serve 120 community service hours in a hospital that serves victims of car accidents.            

 Gonzalez was arrested on lesser charges than Jacksonville trucker Alvin Wilkerson, who slammed into the rear of car that was safely stopped behind a school bus on S.R. 121 in Union County in 2006, killing seven children.  Like Gonzalez, Wilkerson was alleged to be asleep at the wheel.

Wilkerson was arrested on seven counts of vehicular homicide and manslaughter, also a second degree felony.

Wilkerson is currently serving 7 years in prison for pleading no contest.  He is scheduled to be released on March 12, 2015, subject to gain time. 

Except for a short rest, Wilkerson had been awake 34 hours prior to the accident that killed the seven children, ranging in age from 20 months to 15 years. It is reported that Wilkerson had a dog in his cab at the time of the accident that may have been another driving distraction.  

As an experienced personal injury lawyer I do not think it is just truckers that are "asleep at the wheel".  I think it is time for our legislators to wake up and pass legislature reform to make our roads safer. Reform that includes moving school bus stops from highways, reducing the number of hours truckers can driver per day,  forcing trucking companies to take responsibility for their drivers and make big rig drivers and cell phone use illegal.  For more of my opinions on this please see, Asleep at the Wheel?  

Sleeplessness to Blame In Semi and Bus Crash? 

The rule establishing the number of hours for truck drivers behind the wheel is challenged in court.

Bill for School Bus Stop Fails

We Don't Have to Wait for it to be the Law to Turn Off Our Cell Phones

6 Days on the Road, May not be Safe for the American Public

 
Mr. Meldon strongly believes that public education is step one in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one. 

As one of the top local Gainesville Personal Injury Attorneys (Accident Lawyer), Jeffrey Meldon, takes pride in his work and the results he and in his experienced Associates and Staff get for their clients.  

He and his unique law office works hard to help accident victims get the justice and the fair settlement or jury verdict that they deserve thoughout the North and Central Florida area including: Ocala, Lake City, Daytona Beach and Inverness. 

Attorney Meldon is highly involved with every case in his office and is the top negotiator with insurance companies. "He is the one you want to be fighting for you on your side!" 

You can feel free to give him a call at 1 800 373 8000 or contact his office, with any questions you may have, or to discuss your unique case.

Labels: bus stops personal injury lawyer truck driver sleeplessness vehicular homicide

Sharing the Road with Tractor-Trailers: Protect Yourself now more than EVER!

As a truck accident lawyer that for 37 years has been helping the victims of big truck accidents, and as a driver, I know that it does not require a high level of intelligence to know that the longer a person is driving the more dangerous they are on the road.   

In the US, approximately 5,600 people are killed annualy in traffic accidents involving commercial trucks. Although many of the crashes are attributed to the truck drivers falling asleep behind the wheel or not paying attention due to the prolonged driving, auto drivers can do several things to protect themselves on a road.  Here are a few of the main ones.

Keep your distance. The size of trucks makes it difficult for the truck drivers to slow down quickly. At 55 mph, a car on a dry road with good brakes can stop in about 200 feet, while a large truck requires approximately twice as much distance. At highway speed, a truck on a wet road may require about half a mile to come to a full stop.

Make sure you are Visible. Many trucks have blind spots, unable to see a car on a road. Do not stay in the "no-zone", which is the area behind and beside a truck where a truck driver has limited visibility.

Keep in mind that the driver of the truck could be tired and have been on the road longer than is safe.

More of my thoughts :  "6 days on the road" may not be safe for the american public!
News:  The rule establishing the number of hours for truck drivers behind the wheel is challenged in court.

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

They are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators and litigators that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies he has written the consumer guide book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free copy right now, or contact his office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck or motorcycle accident.  They are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you, and are there to help you.

Mr. Meldon's Office proudly handles accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam since 1971!

Labels: truck accident lawyer

Beware of Trucks and Busses!

In light of the recent deaths from a big truck accident and a bus accident in North Florida,  I would like to give some basic information on how driver's of cars can protect themselves.  Truth is, the majority of accidents that occur with big trucks or buses, Big Rigs, Semi's, call them what you will, will lead to death or serious injury to the people driving the normal sized vehicle and the driver behind the wheel of a big truck or bus will usually walk away from an accident without a scratch.

 The fact of the matter is that truck drivers need to have experience to know how to operate their equipment right in order to make the road safer for everyone. But how can we be sure that the drivers behind the big vehicles on the road have lots of experience when it can take as little as 3 weeks for someone to get their Commercial Driver's License (CDL).

 The Commercial Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was signed into law as a way to improve highway safety and as a way to make states test for certain driving skills of people operating commercial vehicles at the lowest federal standard. It was not until 1992 that drivers of a commercial vehicle would need to acquire their CDL, in which can be a program as short as 3 weeks to complete.

 Even after 3 weeks of "in-depth" training how can we be sure the truck we are driving next to isn't on their 11^th hour straight behind the wheel? According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration drivers of commercial vehicle drivers can drive up to 11 hours straight without a break. Eleven hours of straight staring at pavement could get anyone in a daze.

There is no sure way to protect our selves from big vehicle accidents, but being aware of the driver's potential lack of experience and taking little precautions here and there could help prevent a fatal accident.

You should know that it takes almost three times the distance for a semi to come to a complete stop than a dual axel vehicle, and with their size, they also have a blind spot that can be up to 10 times longer than one on a regular sized vehicle. It is best to follow in a safe distance behind the truck, 5-seconds behind is recommended. It is never safe to drive along side a big vehicle for extended periods of time. When you are along side a big vehicle try to pass it, and it is best to pass a big vehicle along the left side. The driver of a big rig has a little less of a blind spot on his or her side. After passing, make sure that you are able to see both of the truck or busses headlights in your rearview mirror. This will ensure that the truck or bus sees you, and that way, if you by accidently slow down, they will have time to slow down as well. DO NOT pass the truck if you have to speed up a great amount just to pass it.

Our hearts go out to the families of the victims in these accidents. 

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090203/ARTICLES/902030285

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090203/ARTICLES/902030281

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

They are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators and litigators that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies he has written the consumer guide book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free copy right now, or contact his office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck or motorcycle accident.  They are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you, and are there to help you.

Mr. Meldon's Office proudly handles accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam since 1971!

Labels: big truck accident bus accident how to protect yourself

The 69th Daytona Bike Week is underway with its first fatality reported.

The 69th annual Bike Week in Daytona Beach, one of the largest motorcycle events in the world, got underway last Friday and will run until March 7.

During this week, several hundred thousand motorcycles are predicted to converge on the Daytona area from all over the country. Volusia County's Emergency Rooms are geared up for the dangerous and deadly week. One fatality has already been recorded. 

As a local motorcycle accident attorney - have a safe time and Remember:

 Bikers: Wear a helmet on every ride; Wear bright colors; Turn on high beams during the day; Ride as if the other vehicles on the road cannot see you; and don't drink and ride.

Drivers:  Pay extra attention and look twice, even three times, before changing lanes and turning, it is not always easy see motorcycles.

For more safety information please see:

5 Deadly Motorcycle Myths

Ride to Survive: Motorcycle Safety Tips

A Motorist Guide to Motorcycles - Share the Road

Daytona Beach Bike Week 2009 is over but there are still lessons for us all to learn

Daytona Beach Bike Week: A time for extra caution.

Hot Tips for Motorcyclists - Ride Safe This Summer

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: accident attorney Daytona Beach motorcycle safety

Buckle - Up! Over the next two weeks and every week!

Over the next two weeks, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will be stepping up their "Click it or Ticket" campaign in an effort to get increased compliance with Florida's seat belt law.

This period of increased focus on seat belt use starts today. Sadly, it begins on the day after a tragic car accident in Marion County which killed a 21-year old Micanopy woman and injured two others, one critically.   The early Sunday morning accident occurred when the deceased lost control of her vehicle and was ejected out of it after it flipped several times. She was not wearing a seat belt.

As an experienced local accident attorney that has often written about the importance of seat belt use, I praise the FHP for stepping up their crack down on seat belt offenders from now until March 15.  I suggest that we all take this time and this tragic loss of life to be reminded to make sure that we buckle up every time we start our vehicle, and that everyone else is properly restrained as well.  

Not doing so could cost you more than the $104 ticket.  It has been proven - seat belt use saves lives.

Here is more information:

Seat belts - I hate them! Do I have to buckle up in Florida?

What is a "Seat Belt Defense?"

Buckle Up!  Odds are it just might save your life

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: accident accident attorney FHP marion county seat belt use suggestion

Four Reasons You Should Have Bodily Injury Liability Insurance Coverage

I estimate that less than 25% of today's drivers have adequate Bodily Injury Liability Insurance . The major reason may be because it is not required  in the state of Florida, but that doesn't mean you should make yourself a victim.

There are four reasons I believe everyone should have Bodily Injury Liability insurance (BI).

1. It is the right thing to do. If you cause an accident, you should be able to provide monetary compensation to the person(s) you hurt. People often miss work and accumulate piles of medical bills after a car accident. Without BI, you will not be able to cover any damages or medical bills for the other person, which can easily result in a law suit. Remember, the person who is compensated may be a friend of yours who was a passenger in your car when you caused a crash.

2.  BI insurance provides an attorney if you are at fault in a car accident and get sued, which can make your difficult situation easier to resolve.

3.  BI protects your assets. If you cause an accident and do not have BI you risk a lawsuit and putting your non-homestead assets in jeopardy. However, if you have an adequate amount of BI, most lawyers will settle and will not go after your personal assets.

4.  Purchasing BI allows you to have Uninsured/Under-insured Motorist Coverage, which is something of the utmost importance as it protects you and your family when the negligence of others causes serious injury to you or your family.

As an experienced Ocala and Gainesville accident attorney, I strongly suggest and recommend you protect yourself and your family by purchasing an adequate amount of BI-the minimum $10,000 personal injury protection will not even get someone out of the emergency room. I recommend at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.

Also, beware of inexperienced insurance sales representatives when purchasing an insurance policy. You wouldn't use the internet to treat a medical problem right? Therefore, do not buy insurance online or over the phone. Visit a local experienced insurance agent to ensure you are getting quality advice.  You can always shop prices later after you know what insurance coverage you need.

For more information, please see:

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance 101

Is Bodily Injury Liability Insurance required in Florida?

Auto Inurance Coverage: Laws, Recommendations, Factors and Tips for Florida Drivers.

What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance and why do I need it?

 
Mr. Meldon strongly believes that public education is step one in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one. 

As one of the top local Gainesville Personal Injury Attorneys (Accident Lawyer), Jeffrey Meldon, takes pride in his work and the results he and in his experienced Associates and Staff get for their clients.  

He and his unique law office works hard to help accident victims get the justice and the fair settlement or jury verdict that they deserve thoughout the North and Central Florida area including: Ocala, Lake City, Daytona Beach and Inverness. 

Attorney Meldon is highly involved with every case in his office and is the top negotiator with insurance companies. "He is the one you want to be fighting for you on your side!" 

You can feel free to give him a call at 1 800 373 8000 or contact his office, with any questions you may have, or to discuss your unique case.

Labels: accident attorney Bodily Injury Libiality Insurance reasons recommendations uninsured motorist coverage

Drivers Aren't the Only Ones Distracted; Pedestrians are too!

For some time I have voiced my opinion about using a cell phone while driving. It's clear and has been proved by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute  that it increases your chance of causing or being in an accident by 23 times!

If that isn't enough to make you put down your phone, then maybe this will:

Recent news has shown that using a cell phone or a device that can distract you- while walking-can also increase your chances of an accident.

Frankly, we can't pay attention to the roads around us, the people next us, the music in our ears, the text we're sending and expect to be aware of oncoming bicycles, cars and/or objects. This is called "inattention blindness." It's what happens when we are looking at something but can't register it in our brains because we are distracted by something else. Basically, we just can't see it.

In the news mentioned above, one study showed that people were so preoccupied; they missed a clown riding a unicycle that was right in front of them! Is it possible you've missed things as you surfed the web on your cell and walked the streets of Gainesville or Ocala? Most likely. So, as an experienced personal injury attorney, who has seen accidents negatively alter people's lives, I ask you to stay safe by focusing on one thing at a time, especially on busy streets!

For more information:

Graphic British Video Unveils the Dangers of Texting Behind the Wheel: A Must-See

Distracted Driving 101

Gorilla in Court 

Test Your Awareness: Do The Test

 
Mr. Meldon strongly believes that public education is step one in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one. 

As one of the top local Gainesville Personal Injury Attorneys (Accident Lawyer), Jeffrey Meldon, takes pride in his work and the results he and in his experienced Associates and Staff get for their clients.  

He and his unique law office works hard to help accident victims get the justice and the fair settlement or jury verdict that they deserve thoughout the North and Central Florida area including: Ocala, Lake City, Daytona Beach and Inverness. 

Attorney Meldon is highly involved with every case in his office and is the top negotiator with insurance companies. "He is the one you want to be fighting for you on your side!" 

You can feel free to give him a call at 1 800 373 8000 or contact his office, with any questions you may have, or to discuss your unique case.

Labels: cell phone distracted pedistrians

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys May be able to Prove PIP Insurance Fraud.

The Florida legislature has continued to give the insurance industry more rights in the "PIP Wars" to the point where a consumer will get run over and flattened like a pancake unless they hire an attorney to enforce their rights to obtain the insurance benefits they paid for.  Here is the story:

New case law, allows an insurance company to cut off Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits without the policy holder ever being examined by the insurance company's doctor.

These recent court decisions make it easier for insurance companies to deny PIP benefits to their policy holders and to show greater profits to the detriment of ordinary citizens who have been seriously injured in car or truck crashes. 

Insurance companies have had the right to conduct insurance medical exams carried out by their own "hired guns" since 1972.  These doctors, after an "examination" predictably deem the insured has no need for medical care which results in the termination of their benefits.

Lawyers were able to contest these sham independent medical examinations by sending vidographers and by limiting the endless questioning of the injured person that are designed to help the insurance company deny coverage.

This tactic was valuable because, if the insurance company sought to cut off PIP benefits there would be video evidence to present to a judge to prove that the exam was just part of a deceitful business practice by the insurance company held to deny their policy holder benefits they had paid for.

Fortunately, it is possible for experienced personal injury attorneys to prove insurance fraud and get PIP benefits reinstated along with attorney fees and costs.  

For more information:
Here are my suggestions on what to do if you find yourself in this predicament.
New PIP Case Law in Florida 

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: independent medical exams insurance fraud PIP

Your Vehicle Does Not Have to Look Like This To Be Dangerously Overloaded!

It may surprise you how easily you can put yourself and others at risk by overloading your vehicle. It is easier than you may think to exceed the load capacity limit on your vehicle, even when the vehicle does not appear to be overloaded and you are within your auto's seating capacity.   As an accident attorney, I suggest that with the Holiday travel season upon us, now is a good time for all of us to be reminded of this danger and to take the time to find out our vehicle's maximum load capacity.

For example: A Honda Accord has a seating capacity of 5 and a load capacity of 850 pounds. Load capacity includes passengers and all cargo.  If all 5 people weighed 150 pounds, that would leave 100 pounds for luggage (20 pounds each) before overloading the vehicle. These facts are something to take into consideration when piling in the car to go to the airport or on a road trip, for the Holidays.

Beware - An overloaded vehicle poses many dangers, here are a few:

Overloaded vehicles:

• Are less stable, more difficult to steer and take longer to stop - increasing the risk of roll-overs, rear-enders, and other serious accidents. This also makes responding to emergency road situations much more difficult.
• Can cause tires to overheat, leading to blowouts and severe crashes, especially if the tire is under-inflated.
• Are unable to accelerate quickly, leading to difficulty in proper judgment when it comes to passing.
• Cause brakes to overheat and loose their effectiveness.
• May invalidate your auto insurance policy.

Remember: Exceeding permissible weight ratings can result in vehicle damage, accidents, and personal injury.  Check your vehicle's load capacity today!

For more information:

Staying Safe If You Overload Your Car 

Too Fat For Your Car?     

How much weight can my car safely hold?

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: dangers load capacity limit overloaded vehicle risks

5 Simple Things You Can Do To Make Your Holiday Road Trip Safer

Thanksgiving holiday, the heaviest 102 hours of the year for roadway travel, officially begins tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. and ends at midnight on Sunday.   According to the National Safety Commission, Thanksgiving holiday is historically, not only the biggest travel weekend of the year, it is also the deadliest for drivers and passengers.  Many in North Florida will be hitting the roads to visit family and friends.   Here are five simple safety tips to make your holiday trip as safe as possible:

• 1. Avoid blow-outs.  Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained and its tires are up for the drive; especially with the car loaded down. Before you leave, check for adequate tread and proper inflation. When was the last time you checked your tires?  
• 2. Pay attention to the road at all times. Avoid driving distractions such as cell phones and texting while behind the wheel. Keep both hands on the wheel, both eyes on the road and pay attention to the road and other drivers. Distracted driving is the leading cause of crashes on the road. Many things on the roads we cannot control, distracted driving is not one of them.  
• 3. Buckle up! Proper use of seat belts and age appropriate safety devices is the number one thing you can do to keep safe in the event of an accident. It is also the law in Florida.  Three ways to protect your most precious cargo - your child passenger.
• 4. Follow the speed limit and keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you. Experts recommend the 2 second rule  to make sure you have adequate time to come to a stop. Tailgating is a form of aggressive driving. Aggressive driving has been shown to be a factor in at least half of accidents. Four factors to keep in mind when keeping your distance.
• 5. Avoid driving drowsy and allow plenty of time to reach your destination. Driving sleepy can have the same effect as alcohol. It can decrease awareness, slower reaction time and impair judgment. Make frequent stops to stretch your legs and be realistic about how many hours a day is safe for you to drive and at what time of the day. It just takes a few seconds of nodding off to cause a tragic accident.  What you should know about drowsy driving if you are planing a long road trip.

Have a safe Thanksgiving weekend!

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: roadways safety tips Thanksgiving travel

Good News - Floridians are now buckling up at more than the national percentage!

A recent press release from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) stated some great news, "....that statewide safety belt use reached a record 85.2% this year following FDOT's 2009 Click It or Ticket safety belt campaign and the passage of the state's primary enforcement law.  The national safety belt use rate for 2009 is 84%."

As an accident attorney, I would like to once again applaud Florida's lawmakers and law enforcement organizations for their effectiveness that resulted in this amazing statistical accomplishment.   

This is great news for all Floridian's safety and that of our visitors. However, we need to keep up the good work and each and everyone of us need to continue to properly wear our seat belts each and every time we start our engines, no matter how long the trip, and make sure that everyone else in the car does the same!  Remember too, our children are watching and learning what we do.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that with passage of the primary safety belt law in June of this year that "Florida will save 124 lives, prevent 1,733 serious injuries, and save $408 million in associated costs each year."

So, Buckle up Florida... it just might save a life and it could be yours or a loved one. 

I would also like to remind all parents and caretakers to make sure your young passengers are also buckled up safely, with properly installed and age appropriate safety restraints.  Is your most precious cargo buckled up safely? 

These are topics that we have written about the importance of many times; here are just a few of our articles:

Buckle up: Odds are it just might save your life.

Reminder: Buckle up or you will get ticketed.

Great News! Seat Belt Use Now a Primary Offense in Florida.  Also, A Heads Up...

Primary and Secondary Offenses: Know our rights but stay safe!

Seat belts; I hate them! Do I have to buckle up in Florida? 

What is a "seat belt defense"? 

Reminder: Always buckle-up, especially on our rural roads! 

A Tragic Reminder To: Keep Your Distance, Pay Attention, and Buckle Up! 

 
Mr. Meldon strongly believes that public education is step one in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one. 

As one of the top local Gainesville Personal Injury Attorneys (Accident Lawyer), Jeffrey Meldon, takes pride in his work and the results he and in his experienced Associates and Staff get for their clients.  

He and his unique law office works hard to help accident victims get the justice and the fair settlement or jury verdict that they deserve thoughout the North and Central Florida area including: Ocala, Lake City, Daytona Beach and Inverness. 

Attorney Meldon is highly involved with every case in his office and is the top negotiator with insurance companies. "He is the one you want to be fighting for you on your side!" 

You can feel free to give him a call at 1 800 373 8000 or contact his office, with any questions you may have, or to discuss your unique case.

Labels: FDOT press release florida percentage seat belt use

A Tragic Reminder To: Keep Your Distance, Pay Attention, and Buckle Up!

There was a Tragic and Deadly SUV Accident in Lake City, last month, one that reminds us of some extreemly important road safety topics. Here are the brief details of the crash:

Wesley S. Outlaw was driving his Nissan SUV on I-75, approaching a car driven by Robert J. Nye. Outlaw had to swerve off the road to avoid a rear-end collision with the car. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to avoid the crash, and the left front of his SUV hit the car.

Outlaw then overcorrected to the left and his SUV rolled over several times. Not wearing a seatbelt, he was ejected out of the car onto the highway, and was run over by a GMC Yukon whose driver swerved but could not avoid hitting Mr. Outlaw's body.

Outlaw died instantly from the impact. He was only 24 years old. The drivers and passengers of the other vehicles involved in the accident were not injured.

As an accident lawyer, my heart goes out to all involved in this tragic crash.  Could this gruesome accident have been avoided?  We may never know, however, there are some important topics to discuss and be reminded of in its aftermath: to drive without distractions, to not tailgate, and to always make sure to buckle up!

Distracted driving is the leading cause of vehicle crashes, some say as high as 80% of accidents are caused by some type of distracted driving, from chatting, texting, etc.  Driving requires our full attention. Pay attention to the road and keep both eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Tailgating or following too closely is against the law. According to Florida Statute 316.0895, "The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the highway."  Tailgating is a form of aggressive driving; behaviors that are linked to half of all car crashes according to the National Road Safety Foundation and are often accompanied by speeding - a deadly combination.  For more information on safe following distances, please see: Four Factors You Should Keep in Mind When Keeping Your Distance.

Remember, wearing a seat belt is the law and one of the most effective things you can do to save your life, reduce your chance of traumatic brain injury, and keep you restrained inside your vehicle to avoid being run over by another vehicle. 

Be safe on the road, buckle up, pay attention to the road and give yourself room to stop safely.

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

They are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators and litigators that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies he has written the consumer guide book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free copy right now, or contact his office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck or motorcycle accident.  They are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you, and are there to help you.

Mr. Meldon's Office proudly handles accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam since 1971!

Labels: accident death distracted driving ejected from vehicle I-75 Lake City no seat belt roll over tailgating

Work Zone Safety Is Everyone's Job - A Reminder

Approximately 1,000 people are killed in the country's work and construction zones every year. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, in 2007, there were 11,248 accidents in Florida work zones that resulted in 8,288 injuries and 105 fatalities.

Two recent construction zone accidents were: A woman from Palm Beach charged with DUI manslaughter for killing two construction zone workers, and a Plant City man hurt in a work zone crash apparently caused by his distracted driving (reaching for his medication).

As an accident attorney, I would like to remind everyone about the dangers posed to drivers and workers in construction zones.   Here are some facts from the Florida Department of Transportation:

• More than 90% of fatalities in construction zones are pedestrians and motorists.
• Over 50% of fatal accidents in work zones occur after dark.
• In nearly one quarter of construction zone accidents, alcohol or drugs were to blame.
• Speeding was the cause of the crash in over 50 % of the time.

Construction zones have reduced speed limits for safety reasons and it is the law to reduce your speed to the limit posted on the sign.  Because of the numerous deaths of construction workers caused by inattentive or distracted, or speeding motorists, the fines for speeding and traffic violations are doubled in a construction zone in Florida.

Also, in a construction zone, according to Florida Statutes, every driver must yield the right-of-way to a road worker, a flag person, or a construction/maintenance vehicle.

For more information on how you can do your part in making construction zones safer, please see:
Top 7 Tips for Construction Zone Safety

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: accidents construction zone safety speed limit work zones

Death of Improperly Restrained Children Observed During Baby Safety Month

September 2009 hails Baby Safety month, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) declared September 12-18 National Child Passenger Safety Week.

As an experienced accident and personal injury attorney, I urge parents in North Central Florida to assess child safety in their vehicles during Baby Safety Month. A simple safety seat check can help avoid tragedy and reduce child death-such as those occurring in Marion County last March.   

On March 1, 2009, Micanopy resident, Tiffany A. Davis's collided in a head-on accident with another vehicle, resulting in the tragic death of her 2 young children, 3 and 9, and the waist-down paralysis of her third child, 9. 

What caused the death of these children? One factor could have been Davis' improper use of child safety restraints (in addition to the Oxycodone, marijuana, and cocaine cocktail present in Davis' system at the time of the crash).  Davis has been charged with child neglect with serious bodily injury and DUI Manslaughter.

Davis' crash forces us to face hard facts - 80% of child restraints are used incorrectly (NHTSA).

Could proper use of child restraints have saved Davis' children? We may never know.  But we do know how they should have been restrained under Florida law based on their ages.  

In the spirit of NHTSA's National Child Passenger Safety Week, Florida's child restraint laws require the following:

• Children ages 0 through 3 must be restrained in a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device (separate carrier);
• Children ages 4 through 5 must be restrained in a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or with a seatbelt;
• Children under the age of 18 must be properly restrained by a safety belt or approved child restraint device when riding in a motor vehicle.

So what does this mean? Davis' 3 year old should have been in a federally approved forward-facing car seat. The 9-year olds should have been properly secured by safety belts or in booster seats, if they weighed between 40-80 pounds and measured under 4'9".

The NHTSA reminds us car crashes are the leading cause of death for children from 2 to 14 years old.  Plus, head-on collisions are more likely to result in fatalities.  Common causes of head-on collisions include crossing the center line-both of which may have been contributing factors.

For more information:

 3 Ways to Protect Your Most Precious Cargo - Your Child Passenger

Florida Child Car Seat Requirements Explained

 Head on Collisions are the Most Dangerous

It's the Law: The importance of Car Seats

Protect your child on the road - follow the law and be safe

Reminder - DUI does not always equal a high BAC

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: accident child neglect child safety restraints law

Enjoy the Fall weather - 2 things you should know to be safe and legal on your off-road vehicle

As an accident attorney that believes in public education and in the prevention of accidents, I would like to give a heads up regarding off-road motorized vehicles, such as go-karts. 

Over the summer there were several tragic accidents that occurred on public lands when go-karts met road vehicles; here are 2 important points to remember for safe and legal off-road vehicle use:

           1. Stay off public streets and roads! Operating most off-highway vehicles on public land is against the law. This is due to many reasons, mainly, just as what happened this summer - the likelihood of getting hit by a passing car or a truck and suffering a serious injury or even death is much higher on a public roadway.

           2. Wear a safety helmet and protective gear! Remember, drivers under 16 must wear a helmet and eye protection at all times when riding an off-highway vehicle, such as an ATV or a go-kart. Wearing a safety helmet is recommended for everyone, to prevent serious head injury such as traumatic brain injury and may even save your life. Remember, helmets serve as a cushion to protect your head - one of the most vulnerable places in a crash or an accident.

Fall weather will be in the Gainesville and Ocala area soon, a nice time to get out and enjoy the outdoors.  If an ATV or another such recreation vehicle is part of your plans, please take a few moments and review the laws regarding your vehicle's operation.  Please see:

The ABCs of off-highway and recreational vehicle use: ATVs, go-karts, and golf carts

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

They are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators and litigators that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies he has written the consumer guide book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free copy right now, or contact his office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck or motorcycle accident.  They are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you, and are there to help you.

Mr. Meldon's Office proudly handles accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam since 1971!

Labels: accident atv go-karts helmet laws recreational vehicle safety

Florida Legislature Must Act Now To Prevent Deaths Caused By Drivers Who Text

In response to a recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which found that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to cause an accident than those who do not, Congressional leaders have proposed connecting federal highway funds to a ban on texting while driving. This means that those states that do not pass laws making texting behind the wheel illegal in the next two years would lose 25 percent of their annual federal highway money.

As an accident attorney, I would like to encourage Florida's Legislature not to wait until the federal bill is passed, rather, act now! Next session our state's legislature is yet again to consider a bill to make texting while driving illegal. Similar attempts to pass the bill were unsuccessful in the last two years regardless of many accidents caused by the texting drivers in Florida and other states. While the legislators in Florida may agree that texting while driving can be dangerous, they do not seem to realize how many lives the anti-texting law can save. Here is what some of the other states are doing: 

• Seventeen states have passed anti-texting legislation because accidents caused by texting drivers are numerous and often fatal.
• A recent law in Utah punishes those drivers who text and cause an injury or death by up to 15 years in jail and a $10,000 fine to text while driving and cause an injury.
• Alaska is the only other state that has even a tougher law against electronic distractions on the road: it is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison if a driver causes a fatal accident when a television, video monitor or computer inside the car is in the driver's field of vision. The law applies to phones used for texting. Alaska legislature passed this law in 2007 after an accident in which a driver, distracted by watching a movie on a video monitor in his car, caused a crash in which two people died.
• California passed their anti-texting law after an accident in which a train operator was distracted by texting and a commuter train ran a red light, killing 25.
• Texas recently passed a law restricting the rights of driver to use cell phones in "active" school zones.

Florida legislature should follow the example of other states by making texting while driving illegal. How can the legislators ignore the fact that using a cell phone while driving is as risky as driving with a .08 blood alcohol level, which is the standard for drunken driving?

For more information, please see:

Graphic British Video Unveils the Dangers of Texting Behind the Wheel:  A Must See.

Bad News For Floridians on the Road - Texting and Celling Behind the wheel Remains Legal

Common Driving Distractions

Don't Let Them Longhorns Outshine Us - Here is What You Can Do

The Toughest Law Against Texting While Driving took Effect in Utah

Texting While Driving May Soon Be Illegal in Florida

Texting While Driving... It should be illegal in Florida! 

 
Mr. Meldon strongly believes that public education is step one in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one. 

As one of the top local Gainesville Personal Injury Attorneys (Accident Lawyer), Jeffrey Meldon, takes pride in his work and the results he and in his experienced Associates and Staff get for their clients.  

He and his unique law office works hard to help accident victims get the justice and the fair settlement or jury verdict that they deserve thoughout the North and Central Florida area including: Ocala, Lake City, Daytona Beach and Inverness. 

Attorney Meldon is highly involved with every case in his office and is the top negotiator with insurance companies. "He is the one you want to be fighting for you on your side!" 

You can feel free to give him a call at 1 800 373 8000 or contact his office, with any questions you may have, or to discuss your unique case.

Labels: antitexting laws danger driving Florida Legislature texting

Protect Your Child on the Road - Follow the Law & Be Safe!

In light of the recent accident where a van crashed into a concrete wall with 11 unbuckled children on-board, I would like to remind all drivers, that child safety seats and booster seats must be used to ensure children's safety and to be in compliance with the law. Though, the National Child Passenger Safety Week is drawing to an end, drivers must never forget that all children are required by law, even in vans, to be properly restrained in motor vehicles.  Here are some recommendations to protect your children in a vehicle:

Choose a car seat or a booster seat that fits your child.

• Infant seats are designed for infants up to the age of one and up to the weight of 20 lbs. It must face the back of the car, not the front.
• A child car seat is required for a child up to the age of three and is recommended for use up to the age of five for a child who weighs 21 to 40 lbs. It may be placed in the front or back, and it may face the front of the car.
• A booster seat should be used for a child who weighs 40 to 100 pounds. It lifts a child up, so that a seat belt can be positioned properly for a child who is too small to sit in a regular car seat.

Additionally, it is recommended that children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat with a seat belt. And, it is the law that all children under 18 must buckle up.

Properly install a car seat or a booster seat.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that 80% of all child safety seats in the country are improperly installed. You can attend a car seat check event where those who are certified in child safety seat installation will help you install or check if the car seat is properly installed. You can call (866) SEAT CHECK for the nearest location. Or visit Safe Kids of North Central Florida to schedule your free check.

Have your child ride in the back seat.

Although not required, it is recommended that a child rides in the back of a vehicle. While, front seat air bags save lives, they may be dangerous for children under the age of 12 because they are shorter than adults. Since air bags inflate in less than 1/25^th of a second, which is faster than a blinking eye, this force can strike a child in the neck, causing serious injury. 

Continue to constantly educate yourself about the Florida laws on child safety, carefully read car seat instructions and never leave children unattended or unsupervised in a vehicle. Following these simple rules will help protect your most precious cargo - your child.

For more information, please see: 

3 Ways to Protect Your Most Precious Cargo - Your Child Passenger

Is your most precious cargo buckled up safely? 

Make Sure Your Child's Car Seat is Installed Correctly 

It's the Law:  The Importance of Car Seats

Florida Law Regarding Child Safety Seats and Adult Seat belt Use - Do You Know What It Says?

 
Mr. Meldon strongly believes that public education is step one in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one. 

As one of the top local Gainesville Personal Injury Attorneys (Accident Lawyer), Jeffrey Meldon, takes pride in his work and the results he and in his experienced Associates and Staff get for their clients.  

He and his unique law office works hard to help accident victims get the justice and the fair settlement or jury verdict that they deserve thoughout the North and Central Florida area including: Ocala, Lake City, Daytona Beach and Inverness. 

Attorney Meldon is highly involved with every case in his office and is the top negotiator with insurance companies. "He is the one you want to be fighting for you on your side!" 

You can feel free to give him a call at 1 800 373 8000 or contact his office, with any questions you may have, or to discuss your unique case.

Labels: car seats crash law recommendations van

Graphic British Video Unveils the Dangers of Texting Behind the Wheel: A Must-See

A short film about the dangers of texting while driving has been produced in Wales. The film realistically portrays the terrifying details of a staged crash caused by a teenager texting behind the wheel. The video is graphic, but strong imagery is needed to stop the dangerous and common activity of text messaging while driving. This video is a powerful deterrent and should make anyone think twice about texting while operating a motor vehicle. As an accident attorney, I suggest you watch it and also share the link with others. It just might save a life. 

 

           
Know the facts!

• A driver who is traveling at a speed of 45 mph is traveling at 66 ft per second. This means that a driver who looks at a cell phone for just 2 seconds has traveled 132 feet (66 ft x 2 sec) during those two seconds without looking at a road.
• The average text message takes a driver's attention away from the road for 4.6 out of every 6 seconds. This is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field at 55 mph without looking at the road! 
• Drivers who text are 23 times more likely to cause an accident than drivers who do not text.
• Studies show that texting behind the wheel is far more dangerous than drunk driving.              

There are over 14 million licensed drivers in Florida with thousands of new licenses issued each year.  Each of those drivers should know that texting behind the wheel is as irresponsible as drunk driving and can have tragic outcomes.  Just a few seconds may forever change your life and the lives of others. 

Remember:
Driving a car or truck or any motor vehicle safely requires:  both hands on the wheel,  both eyes on the road and your mind paying attention to the road and the other vehicles and pedistrians on the road.

For more information, see:

Bad news for Floridians on the road - texting and celling behind the wheel remains legal
Common Driving Distractions
Don't let them Longhorns outshine us - here is what you can do today

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

They are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators and litigators that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies he has written the consumer guide book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free copy right now, or contact his office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck or motorcycle accident.  They are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you, and are there to help you.

Mr. Meldon's Office proudly handles accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam since 1971!

Labels: dangers texting while driving video

Marion County Bicyclist Survives Wrong Way Crash-Avoid This Common Collision Scenario

A Marion County bicyclist, who last week survived a head-on car accident while riding against the flow of traffic, is a reminder that cyclists must - "drive their bikes" and ride with the flow of traffic.

According to the Ocala Star Banner report, Miguel A. Almedia, 46, was riding his bicycle eastbound on the westbound lane of S.R. 200.  After making a complete stop at a four-way stop sign, Michael L. Rogers, 56, a motorist of Ocala, completed a right turn onto S.R. 200, failing to see Almedia.

Roger's car crashed head-on into Almedia's front bike tire.  Almedia was thrown onto the roadway and suffered non-fatal head injuries.

It appears the bicyclist, committed a potentially lethal cycling error-the "Wrong Way Wallop" (Wallop).  The Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) refers to the Wallop as a common collision caused by preventable, illegal cycling.

The Wallop occurs when a cyclist is riding against the flow of traffic and gets hit by a crossing or turning motorist. Basically-the cyclist is riding the wrong way on the street.

One California study shows that cyclists riding against the flow of traffic are 3.6 times more likely to get in a car accident. The risk increases by 6.6 times for cyclists under the age of 17.

To cycle safer, the FBA recommends riding with the flow of traffic.  Motorists normally scan for traffic trav­eling in the lawful direction. Wrong-way traffic is easily overlooked. Not only is this smart advice-it's the law.

As an accident lawyer, I can say, while cyclists have a right of way on the road, they must obey Florida's motor traffic laws.  Although no "bike license" is required, cyclists must "drive their bike" and follow the rules of the road.

Interestingly, although Almedia violated the law by riding in the wrong direction, Florida Highway Patrol issued a citation to Rogers for failing to yield the right of way.  Likely, this is a case of comparative negligence.  

For More Information:   

Avoid a Bicycle Accident--Adult Safety Tips

Bicyclists-know the Law and Stay Alive

For other common crash scenarios visit, Florida Bicycle Associaton's, Understanding common crash types and how to prevent them  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

They are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators and litigators that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies he has written the consumer guide book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free copy right now, or contact his office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck or motorcycle accident.  They are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you, and are there to help you.

Mr. Meldon's Office proudly handles accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam since 1971!

Labels: accident attorney bicycle marion county Ocala wallop wrong way

Is your most precious cargo buckled up safely?

The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) reports that 4 out of 5 kids (80%) are improperly restrained. So, how can you be sure?

September 12-18, 2009, is National Child Passenger Safety Week, and it highlights Baby Safety Month.  As an experienced accident attorney in North Central Florida, I join the NHTSA in challenging parents to check out their child's safety seat on National Seat Check Saturday and to follow their recommendations for keeping their child passengers safe at all times.

Schedule your inspection with Safe Kids of North Central Florida on National Seat Check Saturday, September 12, 2009, from 9:00 am to 11:30 am at Jonesville Fire Station no. 17.

The NHTSA reminds parents there are four steps for kid safety as they grow:

1. Rear-facing car seat;
2. Forward-facing car seat;
3. Booster seat; and
4. Safety belt restraint.

Expectant parents are urged to install a rear-facing seat at least 3 weeks before their babies' due date - the hospital won't let you go home without one.     

Restrain and buckle up your children properly and do it every time, on every ride!

For More Information:
3 Ways To Protect Your Most Precious Cargo - Your Child Passenger

It's the Law: The importance of Car Seats

NHTSA National Child Passenger Safety Week: September 12-18, 2009

 
Mr. Meldon strongly believes that public education is step one in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one. 

As one of the top local Gainesville Personal Injury Attorneys (Accident Lawyer), Jeffrey Meldon, takes pride in his work and the results he and in his experienced Associates and Staff get for their clients.  

He and his unique law office works hard to help accident victims get the justice and the fair settlement or jury verdict that they deserve thoughout the North and Central Florida area including: Ocala, Lake City, Daytona Beach and Inverness. 

Attorney Meldon is highly involved with every case in his office and is the top negotiator with insurance companies. "He is the one you want to be fighting for you on your side!" 

You can feel free to give him a call at 1 800 373 8000 or contact his office, with any questions you may have, or to discuss your unique case.

Labels: accident attorney baby safety month car seats check safety

Several Recent Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Ocala Raise Concern About Pedestrian Safety on Day One of the New School Year; Here is Why:

Recent fatal accidents raise concerns about pedestrians not being cautious when crossing the road. As schools start off their new school year today all over Alachua County, as an accident attorney, I would like to say to all pedestrians - please, be safe!  Here is why:

Accidents involving a person on-foot and a vehicle are often fatal and can cause serious injury.  In fact, pedestrian accidents are one of the most fatal types of accidents along with head-on collisions, roll-over accidents and bicycle accidents.

According to the National Safety Commission, Florida has the 2^nd highest pedestrian fatality rate for our population in the country, behind DC and above New Mexico.  Nationwide, pedestrian fatalities make up 11% of all traffic fatalities, with approximately 4,600 pedestrian deaths and 70,000 injuries per year.  

With this in mind, I wrote an article explaining the pedestrian rules of the road that might save your life or prevent you from suffering serious injuries, please see: Rules of the Road for Pedestrians in Florida; What Every Walker Should Know To Be Safe and Legal.

Have a great new school year and walk safely!

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: accidents attorney pedestrian rules safety

Helmet Use Might Save Your Life

In light of the recent motorcyclists fatalities in Gainesville and Ocala, as an accident attorney, I would like to remind bikers that wearing a helmet decreases the severity of injuries, likelihood of death, and cost of medical care in crashes involving a motorcycle.

The first motorcycle helmet law in the world was passed in 1961 in Australia. In the United States, the Highway Safety Act was amended in 1976 to remove sanctions against the states that do not have the motorcycle helmet laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American College of Emergency Physicians, an association which supports quality of emergency care, estimate that the states with the motorcycle helmet laws have lower number of traffic fatalities, since the helmets reduce the likelihood of death by 37 percent.

Because a motorcycle is not enclosed like a car, it leaves its rider more vulnerable to severe injuries and even death from the impact with another vehicle or from being thrown out of the motorcycle. Also, due to its small size, a motorcycle is less visible to the other drivers on the road, thus, once again, it leaves its rider more vulnerable to being hit. Helmets decrease the severity of injuries that the motorcyclists, being more prone to crash injuries, may suffer. They cushion and protect the motorcyclist's head from the impact of a crash, reducing the likelihood of a serious head injury or death.

In Florida, those under 21 must wear helmets when riding a motorcycle. Those 21 years old and older may ride without a helmet but only if they have at least $10,000 of medical insurance coverage. The NHTSA found that for two years after 2000, when the Florida helmet law was changed to exempt motorcyclists 21 and over from wearing the helmets, the motorcyclist fatalities per 10,000 motorcycle registrations increased by 21 percent. According to the NHTSA, this change in law has also increased the hospital admissions of riders with head, brain and skull injuries by 82 percent. The average cost of treating such injuries is $40,000, and the medical insurance requirement of $10,000 covers only one fourth of the cost for the motorcyclists who choose to ride without a helmet.

Regardless of whether you have the medical insurance coverage or not, wear a helmet! Do not disregard the possibility that you might be involved in a traffic accident. Wearing a helmet might not only reduce your injuries, but might also save your life. And that cannot be disregarded.

For more information:
What Do I look for in purchasing a motorcycle helmet

If you are going to ride free; protect yourself with adequate insurance 

Hot tips for motorcycle riders; ride safe this summer

A motorists guide to motorcycles - share the road

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: accident attorney helmet insurance motorcycle

Blown tire said to be the cause of fatal accident on I-10!

A woman was tragically killed and her husband seriously injured on I-10 in Suwannee County, near Live Oak, last Thursday afternoon, through apparently no fault of their own.

The cause of the fatal accident, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), was a blown tire on the pick-up truck traveling in the adjacent lane.  This is what the FHP said the chain of events was that caused the accident:

When the left front tire of the Ford F250 blew, the driver lost control of the pick-up and it veered left into the next lane, crashing into a car and sending that car into the path of a Mach truck heading in the opposite direction, killing a woman from Virginia who was the passenger in the car and seriously injuring her husband who was driving the car.

As an accident lawyer, my heart goes out to the family and friends of Shirley and Joseph Ricks, who apparently despite doing nothing wrong, even wearing their seatbelts, had their lives changed forever in a split second.  What is the lesson that we can learn from this terrible tragedy?

Most importantly, that this is another reminder for each and every one of us to routinely check our tires once a month. 

Sadly, what occurred on I-10 last week is a typical tire blow-out scenario... a tire blows on the freeway while going at high speeds, the driver then looses control of the vehicle, and crashes ensue. 

Some things that we can do to prevent a blow-out on our vehicles are outlined in this article. 

Be safe and make sure to check your tires monthly, it just might save your life or another's life.

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

They are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators and litigators that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies he has written the consumer guide book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free copy right now, or contact his office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck or motorcycle accident.  They are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you, and are there to help you.

Mr. Meldon's Office proudly handles accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam since 1971!

Labels: accident attorney blow-out live oak pick-up suwannee county tire truck