A St. Petersburg man is dead after a tragic accident Tuesday. Police say that a 24-year-old was speeding on North MLK Jr. Street.

He was weaving in an out of lanes, illegally passing cars. The driver has been identified as Joshua Joseph Klesssig. According to the St. Petersburg Times, "Around the 8200 block, Klessig tried passing a 2004 Dodge minivan driven by Danny Noah Harnage, 26, of St. Petersburg." Klessig underestimated the distance he needed to pass and clipped the minivan instead. This sent both cars spinning.

Klessig's Jeep careened into a light pole. He was not wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries to his upper body. The other driver, Harnage, was not injured in the accident.

According to The St. Petersburg Times, "Police arrested three people on animal cruelty charges after an investigation that began when two of their dogs escaped from an enclosed yard and attacked a woman riding her bicycle Monday night." 48-year-old Vanessa Watts was heading North on Ninth Street around 10:30 at night. According to police, two dogs broke out of a fenced yard as she pedalled by, pulling her from her bicycle. She was bitten on one arm and both her legs. Watts was able to run home and call for help.

Police told Animal Control to round up the dogs. When Animal Control arrived, the animals responsible for the attack were not there. They did recover two severely injured animals, however. According to The St. Petersburg Times, police are looking for the dogs, which are "blue pit pulls with gray coats."

Animal attacks can leave you seriously injured. If you or someone you know has suffered from an animal attack, contact your St. Petersburg Dog Bite Lawyers at Beltz & Ruth by dialing 1-800-931-8106.

A new Florida law, which took effect July 1st, will make plaintiffs' (victims) slip and fall cases harder to prove. The rule requires the plaintiff to prove that the venue either knew of, or should have know about whatever substance caused the fall and failed to do something about it.

Previously, one only had to prove that a substance that did not belong there caused the fall. The law, House Bill 689, is supposed to even the grounds for businesses and consumers in these cases.

Some attorneys are afraid of the consequences this law will have on the injured. Paul Jess of the Florida Justice Association says that it is tough for clients to figure out how long the foreign substance was on the floor when they are dealing with their actual injuries. Instead of encouraging companies to conduct investigations, this law encourages a lack of action, which makes it tougher for a victim to prove their case.

Slip and Fall accidents can leave you severely injured. If you or someone you know has suffered injuries from a fall, call an experienced St. Petersburg slip and fall lawyer at Beltz & Ruth. Dial 800-931-8106 to talk to an attorney today.

According to police reports, a St. Petersburg teen struck a pickup truck as he crossed Fifth Avenue on Monday afternoon. The driver of the 1999 Toyota Tacoma truck was unharmed. The teen remains in stable but critical condition in All Children's Hospital.

This accident accentuates the importance of vehicle-bicycle safety precautions. Cyclists should be sure to take their time in crossing streets and drivers exhibit patience in passing cyclists.

 If you or anyone you know has been in a cycling accident, contact the St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers of Beltz & Ruth, P.A., at 800-931-8106

Two freshman girls were hit from behind by another high school student on their walk to school. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for minor injuries.

The girls were walking along the right-hand side of a road with no sidewalk. The sophomore student who hit them alleges that he did not see them prior to the collision. The accident happened around 7 a.m., before sunrise.

While both girls survived the collision with only minor injuries, this accident highlights the importance of remaining vigilant while using the road. Pedestrians should take care to avoid occupying roadways where they can be hit and should wear brightly colored clothing. Drivers must exercise caution at all times and look for movement that may indicate that someone is occupying the road.

If you or someone you know has been hurt in a pedestrian or car accident, contact the St. Petersburg car accident attorneys of Beltz & Ruth, P.A., at 800-931-8106.