Car Accidents

November 13, 2017

Motorcyclist Killed in Treasure Island Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A motorcyclist was killed Monday morning in a crash at a Treasure Island intersection.

According to Treasure Island police, the crash happened at 104th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard just before 9 a.m.

Police did not release details of the crash as of yet.

The crash remains under investigation.

Riding a motorcycle in a bustling city like Tampa Bay can be dangerous, especially when it comes to intersections. Even though every driver on the road has an obligation to drive safely, some do not. Sadly, there are drivers who do not pay attention to motorcyclists as they should, while others do not like having to share the road with motorcyclists and even go as far as intimidating them while driving. This type of behavior can quickly turn into an intersection accident. If a motorcycle accident at an intersection in the Tampa Bay area has left you injured or taken a loved one from you, our Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help.

October 18, 2017

Bicyclist Struck and Killed on I-4 Ramp in East Tampa Hit-And-Run Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal hit-and-run in east Tampa.

According to Troopers, a man on a bike was hit by vehicle on the ramp that takes drivers from eastbound Interstate 4 to US Highway 301. The area is adjacent to the Hard Rock Casino. The driver of the vehicle then left the scene.

Investigators said the vehicle involved in the crash is a silver Mercedes sedan. The vehicle has front end damage on the passenger side and will be missing the passenger side mirror.

Troopers temporarily closed the roadway as part of their investigation. The exit ramp from I-4 to US 301 reopened around 9:20 a.m.

Bicycle and pedestrian accidents commonly cause massive harm due to the fact that victims are unprotected. Our Tampa Bay Pedestrian/Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have represented victims of head trauma, spinal cord injury, broken bones, amputation and other severe and permanent injuries, as well as surviving family members of fatal accidents resulting in wrongful death. We work with doctors, rehab specialists, economists and other experts to calculate full and fair compensation for hospital bills, ongoing and future care, future earnings and pain and suffering.

September 27, 2017

Pedestrian Struck, Killed by Truck Tuesday in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A pedestrian who was struck by a truck Tuesday afternoon has died from her injuries.

Tampa police believe the 26-year-old Tampa woman was hit as she attempted to cross Nebraska Avenue just south of Hillsborough Avenue around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said the truck was traveling eastbound on Hillsborough Ave. and was turning right on Nebraska when Hufford reportedly walked into the side of the truck.

The driver of the truck has yet to be charged.

Pedestrian crashes are on the rise throughout the United States. In fact, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 6,000 pedestrians were killed nationwide in 2016, which is a vast increase from the 5,400 fatalities that occurred in 2015.

In many Tampa Bay area pedestrian crashes, the negligent actions of drivers are to blame for pedestrian fatalities, including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding, making illegal turns, and failing to obey all traffic laws and signals. Our Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton would like to remind everyone that in order to pedestrians to stay safe on our roadways, you must be vigilant, especially at busy intersections or during night time when accidents are more likely to take place.

September 21, 2017

Pedestrian Struck By Semi In Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 35-year-old Dunedin woman was killed early Wednesday when she was struck by a semi-truck.

According to Clearwater police, the crash happened on U.S. 19 around 1 a.m. The woman was struck by a tractor-trailer headed south on U.S. 19 just north of Sunset Point Road.

Police said the woman walked into the southbound lanes of traffic on U.S. 19 and the 50-year-old driver of the semi was unable to avoid striking her.

The U.S. 19 lanes were closed for several hours.

The crash remains under investigation.

The injuries suffered after being hit by a semi can be life-changing. They usually result in catastrophic injuries or death. If you do survive this type of crash, hospital bills, physical therapy, and time missed from work to heal can severely impact your physical, emotional and financial well-being.

In most cases, insurance companies will be eager to settle your claim, but may not offer you the full and fair amount you are entitled to. For your own protection, never sign anything from an insurance company until you have spoken with an attorney, who can make sure your best interests are protected.

September 19, 2017

Motorcyclist Killed in Crash Involving Pinellas School Bus

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An 18-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash early Monday morning.

Troopers said the motorcyclist crashed into a Pinellas County school bus and died from the injuries he sustained.

The crash occurred just before 7 a.m. at 49th Street N. and 58th Avenue N. in Pinellas County.

Troopers said the man was speeding down 49th Street N. changing lanes multiple times. A school bus transporting seven children to Sawgrass Elementary School was traveling southbound on 49th Street N. and turned east onto 58th Avenue N. well ahead of the motorcycle, which was traveling northbound on 49th St.

Troopers said the man came upon the intersection and changed lanes again to pass another vehicle, and collided with the right rear corner of the school bus on the east side of the intersection.

The man was ejected from his bike and died at the scene.

Troopers said no one on the bus was injured during the crash.

Helmets, protective gear, and making sure to follow all motorcycle safety practices and precautions are all various ways motorcyclists can avoid sustaining injuries in motorcycle crashes. However, motorcyclists share the road with hundreds of larger, heavier vehicles at any given time. All it takes is one mistake from a driver to cause a tragic accident.

Accidents between motorcycles and larger, heavier vehicles rarely end well for the motorcyclist. If the motorcyclist does survive the collision, they usually suffer catastrophic injuries.

Establishing fault in a motorcycle accident can often be a challenge. Auto insurance companies will do everything in their power to try and claim that the motorcyclist was at fault, but that just simply is not always the case. Even the safest of motorcyclists are always at risk due to careless drivers sharing the roadway.

If someone you love was taken from you in a motorcycle accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages. While this cannot bring your loved one back, it can help make sure you are financially taken care of so that you can grieve properly.

August 29, 2017

Motorcyclist Critically Injured in St. Petersburg Overnight Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

St. Petersburg police are investigating an early morning traffic crash that sent one person to the hospital with serious injuries.

The crash occurred around 12:41 a.m. at Central Avenue and 45th Street in St. Pete.

Police said a Volkswagen, driven by a 22-year-old woman was driving northbound on 45th St. and stopped at a stop sign at Central Ave. The Volkswagen began to make a left hand turn and drove into the path of a Yamaha traveling eastbound on Central Avenue.

Police said the Yamaha, driven by a 25-year-old man, crashed into the rear driver side of the Volkswagen.

The man was thrown from his bike and was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with life-threatening injuries. Officials said he is considered to be in critical condition.

The driver of the Volkswagen was transported to Bayfront with minor injuries. A passenger in her vehicle was treated and released at the scene.

Officials claim both drivers were found to have signs of impairment by alcohol. Criminal charges are pending the results of blood tests, officials said.

When a drunk driver is on the road, they place everyone sharing the roadway with them in danger. Motorcyclists are exceptionally vulnerable to drunk drivers. They have less protection than other motorists and they are harder to identify by intoxicated drivers.

Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those utilizing a passenger car, which means that roughly 11 percent of all traffic accidents in the US involve a motorcycle.

Drunk driving accidents can result in serious injuries and even wrongful death. If you or someone you care for was the victim of a drunk driving accident while on a motorcycle, you need to seek the legal counsel that you deserve to recover damages from the at-fault party. Our St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you through your case and assist you with determining what your options are.

August 8, 2017

3 Pinellas Teens in Stolen Car Die in Violent Crash: Why You Need UM Coverage

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Florida authorities said three teenagers – one 14-year-old and two 16-year-olds – stole a sport utility vehicle, sped away from officers and died in a fiery, violent crash early Sunday morning.

The 4:30 a.m. crash happened in Pinellas County.

A fourth teen in the SUV, who is 14, survived and is hospitalized.

All the teens all had criminal histories – including one who had gotten out of jail on July 31.

Reports indicate that a Ford Explorer and a Chrysler Sebring were stolen from a Clearwater car dealership Thursday. Both vehicles were spotted by deputies early Sunday morning. Deputies tried to apprehend the drivers of the cars, but didn’t pursue them. The sheriff’s office’s pursuit policy generally does not allow deputies to chase stolen cars.

Deputies believed the teens were using the stolen cars to commit burglaries. At one point, they set up a perimeter to try to catch the teens, but a deputy spotted the vehicles outside of the perimeter.

According to reports, the cars were in a “cat and mouse” game with each other, accelerating and slowing down, hitting speeds of 100 mph or more.

The deputy that spotted them did not initiate a high-speed chase, but the Explorer continued at about 100 mph when it hit another vehicle, caught fire and went airborne. The Explorer also hit a billboard pole.

The driver hit by the Explorer suffered minor injuries, reports indicate.

Officers found the Chrysler Sebring and arrested the two in that car; one is 16 and the other 18.

Drivers in the state of Florida are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and a minimum of $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Sadly, many drivers fail to abide by this law and drive without insurance. When someone is injured in a car accident with someone who does not have insurance or does not have adequate insurance, things can become quite difficult for the injury victim.

August 1, 2017

1 Dead, 1 Injured in Palm Harbor Crash with Pedestrians

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

One person was killed and another injured after a crash early Monday in Palm Harbor involving pedestrians.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, northbound US 19 was closed at Alderman Road for several hours early Monday. The roadway was reopened just after 7 a.m.

Troopers said a 2016 Honda Civic collided with two pedestrians crossing the northbound lanes of US Highway 19 at Alderman Road at the south end of the intersection.

The crash happened just after 4 a.m.

The driver of the Honda remained at the scene of the crash.

An 18-year-old man from Palm Harbor died at the scene. A female with him was taken to Bayonet Point Hospital in critical condition. The 47-year-old driver of the Honda was not injured.

The crash is currently under investigation.

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable people on the road. And because they are the most vulnerable, they should also be the most protected under Florida law. Our Tampa Pedestrian Accident Injury & Death Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you understand what your rights are if you have lost someone or been injured in a pedestrian accident.

July 25, 2017

24-Year-Old Man Killed After Losing Control of Car

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 24-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle crash overnight in Hillsborough County.

Officials said the man was traveling eastbound on West Waters Avenue, approaching Pinehurst Drive, and lost control of his Toyota Corolla.

After losing control, the vehicle rotated and struck the center median curb with the front passenger wheel and entered the center median.

The rear passenger door struck a standing pine tree, causing the tree to be uprooted and the vehicle to roll onto the roof.

Troopers said the man was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He died at the scene.

The crash occurred just before 3 a.m.

Loss of control collisions happen for all sorts of reasons. The common factor in all these scenarios is the driver was unable to control their vehicle and as a result, there is a wreck.

When there has been a loss of control by a driver, investigating the cause of the auto accident can be complex. This is where having an experienced car accident lawyer can come in handy to help gather evidence like the police report, photos taken by police, statements by witnesses and other drivers, and the hiring of the right experts to prove what actually happened. Our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help make sure you and your family are armed with the best legal representation. We can put our years of negotiating with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys to work for you and fight to achieve the maximum recovery on your behalf.

July 12, 2017

Gibsonton Woman Intentionally Hit By Driver Following Argument

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 27-year-old Gibsonton woman early Tuesday after she intentionally struck another woman with her car following an argument over parking.

Investigators said at around 3:40 a.m. on July 11, a 27-year-old woman and a 38-year-old woman got into a verbal altercation over “parking concerns” near Fish Hook Place in Gibsonton. Following the argument, the 38-year-old reportedly left the scene and drove south on Fish Hook Place, and the 27-year-old, who had a passenger in her car, followed her.

Shortly after, the 38-year-old got out of her car and approached the 27-year-old’s vehicle. The 27-year-old purposely accelerated into the other woman and then fled the scene.

The 38-year-old suffered serious injuries, but is in stable condition.

The 27-year-old was later located and arrested. Deputies charged her with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a Valid License.

When you or a loved one is the victim of a traumatic, intentional action, you may face medical bills, may be unable to work, may be suffering from physical pain, or may have lost someone you love. In most cases, the police and the criminal justice system will handle charging the attacker, but you may have a chance to recover financial compensation in civil court as well.

When someone intentionally hits another with their vehicle, this is no longer classified as an accident. The aggressor can be charged with crimes for their actions, but they can also be sued in civil court for damages. While these kinds of damages are usually available for accidental injuries caused by another person’s negligence, the damages awarded in an intentional act case are usually higher as the courts often want to punish the person for their outrageous behavior.