Pedestrian Accidents

March 20, 2014

Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Attorney :: Two Sisters Struck by Car while Walking to High School, One in Critical Condition

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Two sisters walking to Middleton High School in East Tampa early yesterday were struck by a car, leaving one of the sisters critically injured.

According to Tampa police, the sisters, 14 and 15, were hit while crossing Hillsborough Avenue near 25th Street.

Both girls were taken to an area hospital. The 15-year-old, a sophomore, is in critical condition. The 14-year-old, a freshman, is stable.

The crash occurred shortly after 7 a.m. as the sisters tried to cross Hillsborough outside of the crosswalks.

The driver, a 17-year-old Hillsborough High School student will not face charges, according to police.

Middleton High School is located just south of Hillsborough Avenue at 4801 N 22nd St., a short distance from the crash site.

This is not the first incident where a student has been hit crossing this busy street. Another Middleton High student was killed in 2011 when she failed to use a crosswalk.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every year nearly 5,000 pedestrians are killed in motor vehicle-related accidents, and more than 78,000 pedestrians are severely injured in automobile accidents.

When it comes to the laws of the road, both pedestrians and drivers are responsible for following various safety rules. A driver of a car, truck, SUV or any other motor vehicle must exercise reasonable care when behind the wheel. Failing to exercise reasonable car can include such actions as:

Distracted Driving
Failing to Observe and Follow Speed Limits
Failing to Observe the Right of Way of Pedestrians at Designated Crosswalks
Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Failing to Account for Poor Weather Conditions

Just like drivers, pedestrians must also follow safety laws and avoid negligent and reckless actions, such as:

Failing to Use Designated Crosswalks
Attempting to Disrupt the Flow of Traffic
Entering Traffic in Front of a Vehicle with no Warning

As a pedestrian, avoiding the above dangerous activities will not only lessen your chances of being involved in a pedestrian accident, but can ensure that you are not viewed as negligent in a personal injury or death matter.

February 24, 2014

Tampa Bay Injury Attorney :: St. Pete Man Struck and Killed by 3 Cars

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A St. Petersburg man died Sunday evening after he was struck by three cars while standing in Gandy Boulevard.

According to troopers, the 50-year-old man was standing between the inside and outside lanes of eastbound Gandy Boulevard at Snug Harbor Road Northeast shortly after 7 p.m. when he was hit by a Cadillac driven by a 54-year-old St. Petersburg man. The man told police that he failed to see the pedestrian until moments before the impact, and could not avoid hitting the man despite his attempts to swerve his vehicle away from the man’s body.

The deceased fell into the inside lane and was hit twice more, first by a Volvo and then by a Toyota.

January 23, 2014

Sarasota County Child Pedestrian Accident Attorney :: Sarasota Toddler Killed after Mom Backs Over Her

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Unfortunately, children are not only at risk for suffering a severe injury or death when out in the roadway or travelling as a passenger in a car, truck, SUV or other vehicle. Every year, numerous children are involved in back-over accidents and are even run over at their own home. Sadly, this type of crash recently resulted in the death of a Sarasota toddler.

Last week, a Sarasota toddler was killed after officials say she was run over by a car driven by her mother in Nokomis.

Reports indicate that the 20-month-old girl was run over around 5 p.m. in the 1000 block of Tarpon Court.

Deputies claim the couple at the home had just finished repairing their Honda Passport SUV, when the mother got inside the vehicle and pulled it forward.

A Sarasota County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you through this difficult time.

The mother claims she had last seen her 20-month-old daughter playing with bubbles on the porch, but the child apparently toddled into the driveway and was run over by the vehicle.

Deputies arrived on scene with the North Port Fire Department and made an effort to resuscitate the child.

The Sarasota County Fire Department transported the toddler to Venice Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

Driveway back over accidents, while quite tragic, are especially common in toddlers and young children that are not easily spotted when close to the back of a vehicle. These types of accidents also regularly occur in suburban areas where kids are frequently found playing in the street, riding bikes and wandering in the driveways of neighboring homes. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every week two children are killed by vehicles moving in reverse.
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December 5, 2013

Tampa Bay Trucking Accident Attorney :: Polk County Cyclist Seriously Injured in Accident with Semi Truck

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A bicyclist was seriously injured Wednesday morning after he was struck by a semi-truck in Winter Haven.

The crash occurred at 10:25 a.m. on U.S 17 near Snively Avenue, according to reports.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said a white semi-truck, hauling a 53-foot box trailer, was travelling northbound and attempted to turn onto Snively Avenue when it smashed into the 53-year-old bicyclist.

One of the man’s arms was crushed by the truck’s tires. Witnesses were able to help the man and stayed with him until emergency crews arrived.

He was transported by air to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he was listed in serious but stable condition.

Investigators do not believe speed or alcohol played a role in the collision.

The crash remains under investigation.

Bicycling is a very popular sport, especially in the Tampa Bay area where the climate is mostly warm year round. Even commuting by bicycle has become increasingly common in the area. Despite whether you just ride your bike for exercise on the weekends or if you are travelling on your bike every day to get to work, you most likely know the many safety precautions you must take on the roadways, such as wearing a helmet, following traffic laws and keeping an eye out for all other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians sharing the road with you. However, even the safest bicyclist can find themselves involved in an accident that is not their fault. If a negligent motorist caused you to suffer injuries in a bicycle accident, a Tampa Bay Trucking Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you obtain financial compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

November 4, 2013

Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Attorney :: 3-Year-Old Critically Injured in Sarasota Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A three-year-old boy was taken to the hospital and listed in critical condition Saturday night after being struck by a car in Sarasota.

The crash took place on Bee Ridge Road and Briggs Avenue around 7 p.m., according to reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol believes the child ran into the road from the shoulder and in front of a car. The 70-year-old man who was behind the wheel apparently tried to swerve out of the way to avoid making contact with the child, but could not.

The driver and his passenger did not suffer any injuries.

Child pedestrian accidents can happen at any time of day for many different reasons. Usually children wind up the victims of pedestrian accidents for two reasons – not following pedestrian safety rules or because of a distracted or reckless driver. Sadly, 630 children, on average, are killed every year in child pedestrian accidents. Another 39,000 suffer serious injuries in pedestrian accidents caused by negligent motorists.

When a negligent driver hits a pedestrian the aftermath can be tragic. The parents or guardians of a child who has been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident caused by a careless driver can usually seek some type of financial compensation from the at-fault driver. While no amount of money can change your child’s physical condition, it can help pay for growing hospital bills, long-term care and other bills that rack up as a result of the accident. Money is the last thing you want weighing on your mind during this difficult time. A Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Attorney at Whittel & Melton can get to work on your case right away so that you can focus on your child’s recovery.

September 25, 2013

Tampa Bay Auto Accident Injury Lawyer :: Sarasota Bicyclist Killed in Bee Ridge Collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 44-year-old Sarasota bicyclist was killed Monday after he was struck by a vehicle on Bee Ridge, authorities said.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, the man was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred near the intersection of Hidden Glen Drive east of Interstate 75.

Based on evidence picked up at the scene of the accident and witness statements, troopers have pieced together that the man was lying in the eastbound lane of Bee Ridge with his bicycle nearby when he was run over by the automobile around 9:30 p.m.

The driver of the vehicle that hit the man apparently told troopers he did not notice the man before the collision.

It is unknown at this time why the man was lying in the roadway.

Biking is a common mode of transportation in the Tampa Bay area, especially with Florida’s year-round warm temperatures. Bicyclists can be found on the roads commuting to and from work, exercising or just partaking in a fun recreational activity. Sadly, many bicyclists find themselves the victims of auto accidents on the busy streets of Tampa, Brandon, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton and Sarasota.

Bike riders are particularly susceptible to severe injuries when involved in a collision with an automobile. Aside from a helmet, bicyclists lack further protection to withstand the impact of a motor vehicle. Even if a cyclist is wearing a helmet, this may not be able to protect a biker from suffering a serious injury or death.

February 18, 2013

Tampa Bay Pedestrian Death Attorney :: Eight-Year-Old Girl Struck and Killed by SUV

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An eight-year-old Tampa girl was killed earlier this month after she was hit by an SUV on Busch Boulevard.

The third grader underwent surgery after suffering internal and head injuries, but passed away shortly after.

According to police, the child was struck in the innermost lane of eastbound traffic, while she attempted to cross the six-lane roadway.

She was with her 12-year-old sister at the time of the accident. The girls were trying to cross the very busy road at the intersection of Busch Boulevard and 14th Street.

There is no crosswalk at that intersection and the speed limit is 45 miles per hour.

Tampa Police claim the driver of the SUV will not face charges.

Sadly, pedestrian accidents involving children are not uncommon. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, children under the age of 16 accounted for 23 percent of pedestrians injured in traffic collisions in 2010. In addition to these numbers, more than 20 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 9 were killed in pedestrian traffic accidents. Children are at an increased risk when it comes to crossing the street, so it is important to remind your children regularly of how to be safe pedestrians.

The following are some tips that can keep your child safer on the streets:

1. Always cross the street using crosswalks and traffic signals.

2. Wear bright or reflective clothing to boost visibility to drivers.

3. Before crossing the street – stop, look and listen. Encourage children to stop first before crossing an intersection, look left, right and left again before crossing and listen for approaching vehicles. As they cross the street, they should continue to look and listen.

4. Whenever possible, walk on sidewalks. If there is no sidewalk, remind children to walk facing oncoming traffic and to stay as far to the left of the street as possible.

5. Do not wear headphones when crossing the street. You need to be able to listen for approaching vehicles.

6. If you need to use your cell phone, stop walking.

February 14, 2013

Clearwater Pedestrian Killed in Auto Accident last night

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

According to new reports, the Clearwater man walking across Missouri Avenue near Turner Street who was struck by a car Wednesday night, is dead.

As part of a traffic homicide investigation, Clearwater Police shut down all southbound lanes of Missouri Avenue at Druid Road, Wednesday evening to preserve evidence at the scene. A Clearwater Public Safety spokesperson says the man was crossing Missouri from the east to the west side and south of the intersection at Turner Street when he was hit.

The driver told traffic homicide detectives that he did not see the pedestrian until just before impact.