Articles Posted in Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyer

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A Tampa man was killed Saturday night after he lost control of his scooter on Hillsborough Avenue and crashed into a power pole, authorities said.

The Florida Highway Patrol believes the 27-year-old was riding a Honda PCX150 west on Hillsborough east of Harney Road around 8 p.m. when he veered right and crossed two lanes of westbound traffic.

The scooter exited the roadway, turned into its side and struck a power pole and then a sign post. It came to rest at the entrance to Jasmine Plaza, 7031 Hillsborough Ave., according to troopers.

The man was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

11380944554_c33b00efc4_zA person operating a scooter or a pedestrian struck by a scooter may sustain a wide range of injuries after becoming involved in an accident. Even minor injuries can have a serious impact on your life or the life of a loved one. Scooter accidents can result in various injuries, including:

  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Contusions
  • Lacerations and Road Rash
  • Disfigurement
  • Broken Bones and Fractures

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Two teenagers skateboarding fun turned tragic Sunday when one of them was killed.

According to police, one of the 15-year-old boys got into his mother’s 2003 Mercedes sedan and drove it down Atwood Avenue N while his other 15-year-old friend held onto the right rear corner and sped along on his skateboard.

This type of skateboarding trick is called “skitching.”

3695427669_c7d4440301_zPolice believe the teen driving accelerated with the other boy holding on to the rear. The pair traveled only a short distance before the boy let go of the car, became unstable and fell to the ground, striking his head.

Bystanders performed CPR, and emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene. The teen was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, where he was pronounced dead at 8:37 p.m., about 2 1/2 hours after the accident happened.

The risk of injury associated with skateboarding tricks like skitching far out-weigh the thrill than can be achieved. Skitching presents a high risk of serious injury and even death to those that partake in this activity. There are numerous things that can go wrong from these types of accidents, such as being pulled under the vehicle, being hit by another car on the road or  as this case shows, even just losing control and hitting pavement.

  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Spinal Cord Trauma
  • Broken Bones and Fractures
  • Nerve Damage
  • Facial Disfigurement
  • Death

When a child is injured due to his own negligence, there is usually no recourse or available compensation for injuries suffered. The Tampa Bay Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know how devastating serious injuries to children, or worse death, can be on families and parents.

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A 7-year-old boy suffered serious injuries after being struck by a minivan on Saturday night, according to Tampa police.

Witnesses told police they saw the boy run across Main Street around 5 p.m. with several other children. The boy was crossing the street when a gray 2015 Dodge Journey Minivan traveling west passed the intersection of N. Rome Ave and hit him.

The driver of the minivan, a 28-year-old man, apparently stopped and attempted to give the boy CPR.

Tampa police have not released any additional information regarding what led up to the crash or the boy’s injuries.

The boy was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital.

492917705_2d7fe88425_zPolice did say there are no signs of impairment due to drugs or alcohol of the driver and speed is not a factor in this crash.

The crash remains under investigation at this time.

Most young children do not fully understand the dangers associated with street crossings. Children tend to travel in groups or pairs and may become distracted while talking with friends or chasing others into the street, and they often do not realize they are in the way of oncoming traffic.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around one-fifth of traffic fatalities among children ages five to nine years old are pedestrian traffic accidents. Children who are hit by an automobile and survive could potentially suffer very serious injuries, including brain damage, internal injuries, broken bones, disfigurement and loss of motor skills. It is quite rare for children hit by cars to walk away unscathed.

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A 38-year-old Gibsonton man was killed Wednesday evening while walking along the northbound shoulder of U.S. Highway 41.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the man was struck by a vehicle at 6:18 p.m.

Troopers believe the man was not using an available sidewalk when he was hit by a Ford Focus driven by a woman who claims she did not see the victim.

9146013475_4d501c2d94_zThe man was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The woman was not injured.

As of now, no charges have been filed.

If an innocent person is killed because of somebody else’s negligent, careless or deliberate actions, it is only fair to hold that party responsible for the victim’s death. While every case has a unique set of facts, if negligence is found to be a factor in the collision, then the family of a pedestrian accident victim may be justified in filing a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver who caused the fatality.

It is important to note that anytime a person travels on foot near a roadway, they are assuming some amount of risk by doing so. There are several thousand pedestrians who are killed in motor vehicle collisions every year in this country, and even more are injured in pedestrian accidents each year.

One of the most common causes of tragic pedestrian accidents is distracted driving. Motorists can become distracted when behind the wheel in numerous ways, including talking on cell phones, texting, eating food and even applying makeup. The simple act of changing stations on a car radio can be enough to distract a driver to the point where they fail to take notice of a serious traffic situation directly in front of them.

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Authorities nabbed yet another wrong-way driver on Sunday on a Tampa Bay area roadway.

Around 2 a.m., a 24-year-old Bradenton man drove around a road block put in place on the eastbound Lee Roy Selmon Expressway for a crash investigation, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers claim the man then turned his 1999 Saturn sedan around before reaching the crash and traveled west in the eastbound lanes.

A trooper helping with the traffic investigation pulled the man and arrested him for driving under the influence. The FHP said he refused to provide a breath sample.

4627093882_fb4b2f8e38_zWrong-way traffic accidents claimed 16 lives on Tampa Bay area roads in 2014. Many of these crashes occurred on divided highways. A handful of wrong-way drivers have been stopped before they could cause an accident.

Just last week the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stopped a woman travelling the wrong way on the Veterans Expressway. It was found that she was confused, but not under the influence of alcohol.

According to the Florida Integrated Report Exchange Program, a total of 223,110 traffic accidents were reported in Florida this year. Of those, 98,817 accidents have resulted in 147,285 people being injured and 1,611 deaths. In 2014, the record month of accidents was March, with 30,183 crashes reported. Moreover, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported in their “Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report 2012” that of the 281,340 accidents in Florida in 2012, a large amount were attributed to wrong-way drivers. A total of 363 accidents resulted in property damage due to vehicles being driven on the wrong side of the road or travelling the wrong way. Another 541 car accidents involved bodily injury, and 53 wrong-way collisions resulted in death.

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As it is now, Florida is one of only two states in the nation that does not require car seats for children who have outgrown baby seats but are still too small for seat belts. But come Thursday, a new law will go into effect that will greatly improve Florida’s child safety seat laws.

The new law essentially mandates booster seats for children aged 3 to 6-years-old. The new law will require children to be in booster seats until their 6th birthday, however, experts say to keep kids in the booster seat until the seat belt fits properly.

12139874375_7ce177987b_z (1)According to law enforcement, children restrained the wrong way in vehicles is a daily problem.  Not only is this a danger for children, but now it translates into a $60 ticket and three points on their driver’s licenses. According to experts, the best guideline for child car seats is to go by your child’s height and weight. They need to be at least 4’9 and weigh between 80 to 100 pounds before they can use an adult seat belt. Experts say that when used properly, car seats elevate kids so the seat belt can secure them properly by going across the chest in the proper way.

There is one exception to this new law, children ages 4 or 5 may ride with just a seat belt if the driver is not a member of their immediate family and if they are being given a ride due to a medical emergency.

The following car seat guidelines are from the FLHSMV and should be used when driving with a child in your vehicle.

  • Birth – 1 year old and at least 20 lbs: Use a rear-facing child car seat in the back seat of the car.
  • 1 year old and 20 lbs. – 4 years old and 40 lbs.: Use a rear-facing child car seat in the back seat until they outgrow the weight and height limit of the child car seat. Once a child is over 1 year old and weighs more than 20 pounds, you can switch to a forward-facing car seat in the back of the car.
  • 4 years old and 40 lbs. – 8 years old or 4’9″ tall: Use a forward-facing child seat in the back seat until a child reaches the weight and height limits recommended by the manufacturer, then switch to a booster seat in the back of the car.
  • 8 years old or 4’9″ tall –12 years old: Use a booster seat in the back seat until a child is big enough to use the car’s seat belt. Once a child turns 13, they can sit in the front seat of a car.

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A 26-year-old Palm Harbor man was killed Thursday in an early morning crash on his scooter near downtown Palm Harbor.

The man was heading south on Alt. U.S. 19 near New York Avenue when he lost control of the scooter and hit the outside curb at 2 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

That impact of the collision caused the scooter to overturn and eject the rider, who was not wearing a helmet, onto the pavement.

423100160_18e524e21c_mThe man was taken to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, where he later died from his injuries.

Due to the small size and lighter weight of scooters, collisions involving these vehicles usually result in catastrophic injuries for the drivers and any passengers. Although scooter drivers are responsible for wearing a helmet and practicing defensive driving skills, most accidents are caused by the following:

  • Motorist Error and Distracted Driving
  • Roadway Defects, such as potholes, cracks and other issues
  • Bad Weather and Poor Visibility or inclement weather conditions
  • Driver Impairment from operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs

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The start of 2015 is right around the corner, which means it is important to address that the New Year’s holiday is known for being one of the most dangerous times of the year, especially for accidents involving drunk drivers.

According to the National Safety Council, in 2014, the three-day period around New Year’s Day was the holiday period with the highest amount of drunk driving deaths. Partygoers who are out celebrating should factor safety precautions into their holiday planning to improve their chances of avoiding a holiday accident.

2154575545_f58be7229d_zThere are numerous dangers that drivers and passengers face when traveling on the roadways during the New Year’s holiday. Some of the most common holiday hazards include:

  • More Traffic: With gasoline prices low, more people have been travelling for the holidays. New Years Eve and New Years Day is no exception. With more vehicles on the roads, there is an increased risk for holiday travelers. Drivers can get easily frustrated or distracted when traffic is congested.
  • Bad Weather: Rain, hail, snow and ice only add to the hazards of New Year’s travel. Even the most skilled drivers are no match for poor road conditions caused by inclement weather.
  • Drunk Drivers: Holidays and alcohol go hand in hand. Many people use New Year’s celebrations as an excuse to get drunk. When drunk drivers choose to get behind the wheel, they pose a serious danger to themselves and others.

Whether you are hosting a New Year’s party or attending one yourself, remember that there are numerous things you can do to protect yourself from becoming a New Year’s statistic.

  1. Know your limit when it comes to alcoholic beverages.
  2. Designate a driver, take a cab, use Lyft or Uber, call AAA, use public transportation or ask a sober friend to come pick you up.
  3. Report suspected drunk drivers.
  4. If you are planning to attend a New Year’s party, arrange to stay at the party location, or stay at a hotel or motel that is within walking distance.
  5. Celebrate the New Year without alcohol.

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Wrong-way collisions have been highlighted in the news more than usual this year because of five crashes that claimed 11 lives on interstate highways in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

While this most recent wrong-way crash did not happen on an expressway, a Brandon man was killed and a Lithia man was critically injured on State Road 60 in Plant City early Saturday.

4152256392_d68970e3ab_zThe crash happened near Cable Road just before 5 a.m., leaving the eastbound lanes of S.R. 60 closed for several hours.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 2014 Ford F-250 truck was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of S.R. 60 and crashed head-on with a 2005 F-250.

The wrong-way driver, a 52-year-old Brandon man, died at the scene. The second driver, a 28-year-old man of Lithia, was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition. Authorities have confirmed that he is in stable condition.

Wrong-way accidents usually involve more than one other vehicle. Due to the fact that these accidents are high impact collisions, most wrong-way crashes result in serious injury and fatalities. Wrong-way accidents are usually head-on collisions. And while the wrong-way driver may immediately realize he or she is driving in the wrong direction, it is often too late to avoid oncoming vehicles who are not expecting or prepared for a wrong-way vehicle.

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The number of wrong way driving accidents has been on the rise in Tampa, and this alarming trend continued on Thursday when four instances of wrong-way drivers on Bay area roads were reported, including one that resulted in a fatal crash.

This recent activity comes despite law enforcement being extra vigilant when it comes to wrong-way drivers.

A Spring Hill man was killed on US 41 Thursday when the car he was a passenger in crashed head-on into another car near State Road 52. The 39-year-old man was killed and his 38-year-old wife suffered critical injuries. The driver of the other car, a 40-year-old Tampa man remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Troopers said alcohol was not a factor in that crash. This man’s death is the 12th this year due to a crash involving a driver going the wrong way on a Bay area roadway.

That fatal accident was the last of four incidents Thursday. Two of the other three did involve alcohol, according to authorities.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies stopped two wrong-way drivers in separate incidents earlier Thursday.

Deputies started getting telephone calls just before 2 a.m. about a wrong way driver in eastern Hillsborough County. Deputies said the woman was stopped driving the wrong way on Highway 60 East at Turkey Creek Road. She was arrested on DUI charges.

14308719365_998864538d_zJust two hours later, another driver was stopped by deputies going north in the southbound lanes of the Veterans Expressway just south of Gunn Highway. Deputies believe the driver of the Toyota Corolla, a 34-year-old Tampa man, smelled of alcohol, had delayed reaction and watery and red bloodshot eyes. Deputies also allege his blood alcohol was measured at more than two times the legal limit.

And a few hours after that, the Florida Highway Patrol received multiple calls about a motorcycle going the wrong way on Interstate 275 near downtown Tampa.

Troopers responded and located the 25-year-old Tampa biker standing along the southbound inside shoulder next to the parked 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle which was facing north.

The man told troopers he had entered the interstate at Busch Boulevard and was traveling southbound listening to music from his smart phone. According to reports, the man dropped his phone south of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and decided to travel back along the inside shoulder to the area where he had dropped his phone to find it.

The man’s motorcycle was towed from the scene because troopers said he had a suspended driver license at the time of the incident. No charges were filed.

There were no crashes or injuries in the other three wrong way driving incidents.

Drivers that intentionally or unknowingly drive the wrong way on a street, highway or interstate pose an imminent threat to all other motorists and passenger sharing the roadway. Due to the fact that automobiles are heading directly toward one another at a high rate of speed, there is usually very little or no time at all for drivers to react to the situation and avoid the collision. Wrong-way crashes are almost always head-on collisions that result in serious injuries or even death, as Thursdays’ fatality shows.

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