Pinellas County Injury Attorneys

November 22, 2013

Tampa Bay Injury Lawyer :: Florida Lawmakers Want Tampa Teen Drivers to Put Their Cellphones Away

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Florida lawmakers have recently proposed a new bill that would ban anyone under the age of 18 from using electronic devices while driving in Florida.

This means teens would not be allowed to make calls, use Facebook or any other website while driving.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens. In fact, on average, seven teens between the ages of 16 and 19 die every day from car crashes, and drivers in that same age group are three times more likely to get into a deadly crash.

Despite these statistics, many drivers oppose the proposed law claiming it is unfair to single out a particular age group.

Florida lawmakers are currently talking about proposed changes to current laws.

If the proposed law is passed, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2015.

According to the CDC, in 2010, nearly 2,700 teens across the nation between the ages of 16 and 19 were killed and another 282,000 were treated and released from emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle accidents. While young people ages 15-24 account for only 14 percent of the U.S. population, this age group represents 30 percent, or $19 billion, of the total costs of auto accident injuries among males and 28 percent, or $7 billion, of the total costs of car accident injuries among females.

July 29, 2013

Pinellas County Auto Accident Attorney :: Two Seriously Injured in Crash Caused by Wrong-Way Driver on I-275 in Pinellas County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A wrong-way driving accident seriously injured two people and closed the southbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge earlier this month.

The crash happened just after 6 a.m. on July 14. According to the Florida Highway patrol, a 21-year-old Plant City woman entered I-275 driving a 2012 Scion north in the southbound inside lane just north of Fourth Street N.

A 29-year-old man from Morton, Ill. was driving south in the same lane in a 2013 Nissan.
Troopers reported that the man saw the woman’s car traveling towards him and steered his car to the right to try and avoid a collision. Despite his efforts, both cars still collided.

Both injured drivers were taken to Bayfront Medical Center.

Troopers have yet to figure out what caused the woman to enter the highway going the wrong way.

Both drivers were wearing a seatbelt. Charges are pending.

There are numerous types of car accidents, but some are more damaging than others. If you are involved in a wrong-way driving accident, your injuries could be far more severe than if you were involved in another type of auto accident. Seeking financial compensation for your injuries after a wrong-way driving collision can be tricky, even if evidence clearly points out who the at-fault driver is. You need the help of a Pinellas County Auto Accident Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton to make sure your rights are protected and that you recover full and fair compensation for your injuries.

Head-on collisions can be some of the most deadly collisions that occur on Tampa Bay roads. A head-on collision happens when two cars travelling in opposite directions crash into each other. Due to the fact that the vehicles are heading in opposite directions, usually at high speeds, the possibility for severe injuries and even death is very high. Most head-on car accidents completely destroy the vehicles involved and can deliver catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord trauma, to the occupants of the cars.

May 30, 2013

Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Attorney :: Weaker Helmet Laws Blamed for Rise in Motorcycle Injuries

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Over the past 15 years, motorcycle deaths have risen across the United States and seem to have reached an all-time high of more than 5,000, which some believe is a direct result of states weakened helmet law requirements.

According to a recent insurance industry study, the average medical claim from a motorcycle collision increased by more than one-fifth in Michigan last year after the state eliminated laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. However, this is not just a problem in Michigan it is also a huge issue for Florida and every other state across the nation. Motorcyclists throughout the U.S. opposed to mandatory helmet laws have been fighting state helmet laws for years while the death toll for bikers continues to climb.

Michigan required all motorcycle riders to wear helmets for more than 40 years, but state legislators changed the law last year only requiring riders under the age of 21 to wear a helmet. In the two years before the law was changed, the average insurance payment on a motorcycle injury claim was $5,410. After the law was changed, the cost increased to $7,257, an increase of 34 percent, according to the study conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute.

The study found that the actual increase was about 22 percent after adjusting for the age and type of motorcycle, rider age, gender, marital status, weather and other factors relative to a group of four comparative states, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

While other studies have shown an increase in motorcycle deaths after states weakened mandatory helmet requirements or eliminated them all together, this industry is the first of its kind to look specifically at the effect of repealing helmet laws compared to the severity of injuries determined by medical insurance claims.

While some blame weak helmet laws on the increased number of biker injuries and fatalities, others are pointing the finger at something else entirely. The president of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education of Michigan, attributed the increase in the severity of injuries on motorcyclists who fail to take the required safety courses needed to obtain a special motorcycle license. He claims bikers without motorcycle licenses have accounted for a larger number of fatalities and injuries in recent years.

Although there is no way to determine how many of the Michigan claims involved motorcyclists not wearing helmets, a recent study by the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute found a momentous increase in bikers involved in crashes who were not wearing helmets after the law changed. Results from the study show that from April 13, 2012, the first day after the change was implemented, through the end of the year, 74 percent of motorcyclists involved in crashes were wearing helmets. That number is down from 98 percent in the same period for the previous four years.

Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet. Another 28 states require only some motorcyclists, usually younger bikers, to wear a helmet, and three states do not require any riders to wear helmets. Over the course of nearly two decades, states have been slowly repealing or weakening mandatory helmet laws.

March 21, 2013

St. Petersburg Car Accident Leaves Woman Injured After Colliding with Tour Bus

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A St. Petersburg car accident has left a Clearwater woman critically injured after her car collided with a tour bus carrying a college baseball team travelling from Minnesota for a baseball tournament.

According to news reports, the crash occurred during Wednesday rush hour near the corner of 34th Street and 22nd Avenue S in St. Petersburg. The driver and her male passenger were taken to Bayfront Medical Center for trauma treatment. Both are expected to survive.

In an apparent rush to beat a red light, video evidence showed law enforcement that the woman driver made a left hand turn in front of the bus, and that the bus ran a red light, contributing to the crash and extensive property damage to her car. Investigators are still waiting for video from a different red light camera to determine where the woman’s Buick was when the light turned red.

Collisions involving cars, truck, motorcycles and SUVs can happen in the blink of an eye. While many different factors can lead to a crash, most result in significant property damage, serious personal injury or even wrongful death.

Many of our clients wonder if you can you recover a portion of your damages even if you may have contributed to the collision. Fortunately, Florida recognizes a “comparative negligence” theory of negligence, which allows both parties to monetarily recover– even when more than one party is responsible for the accident. But, in comparative negligence cases, there tends to be a lot of blame passed back and forth between sides for who contributed the most to the accident. This is why it is so important to have an experienced Tampa Bay Car Accident Attorney from Whittel & Melton by your side. We work with a team of experts who can recreate your accident and collect all necessary evidence to help you recover the largest award possible.

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 15, 2013

Tampa Bay Injury Lawyer :: New York Mother Files Injury Lawsuit Against Wendy’s for Negligence with Safety Measures

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A New York mother and daughter team has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Wendy’s International Inc. and Westbury Properties, LLC, after sustaining serious injuries at their local fast-food restaurant.

The mother and her 11-year-old daughter were exiting the restaurant on Dec. 4 when they were struck by the vehicle of an elderly driver. The pair was pinned to the wall of the restaurant, crushing their legs and resulting in multiple fractures, excruciating pain and costly medical treatment.

Two months later, the mother is still confined to a wheelchair while the daughter is able to walk again.

Now, the mother has filed a multimillion dollar personal injury lawsuit against Wendy’s and the driver of the car with the hopes of recovering just financial compensation for the damages suffered from this life changing accident.

The woman’s claim not only names the cause of the accident as the driver’s negligence, but also claims that the restaurant was careless with their safety precautions. The fast-food location only installed curb stops and signs after the accident occurred.

While Wendy’s did issue a statement of regret following the accident, they did not address any specifics associated with the pending lawsuit.

Personal injury lawsuits can be filed by victims who were injured as a direct result of another person or entity’s negligence. The mother and daughter team in this case are seeking full and fair compensation for their pain and suffering, which is entitled to them by law. When filing a personal injury claim, victims may recover for various damages including lost wages, costs associated with all medical treatments and physical and emotional pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has suffered personal injuries due to someone else’s reckless actions or negligent behavior, a personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights.

February 8, 2013

St. Petersburg Boy Injured By Falling Accident at Tropicana Field

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Last week, Bay News 9 reported that a toddler fell nearly 15 feet from the top of the stands at Tropicana Field at the East-West Shrine Football Game.

St. Petersburg Fire officials say that the boy crawled between part of the stadium’s permanent seating and make-shift stands for the event, and then fell. Thankfully, the after the boy was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, his condition stabilized.

Accidents can happen anywhere, but sometimes, negligent upkeep of premises by property owners can cause injuries. When this happens, accident victims my have a claim against the property owners under Florida Law.