Tampa Bay Personal Injury Lawyer

October 22, 2014

Reduce Deaths and Increase Awareness: National Teen Driver Safety Week Awareness

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week, so this is a time to bring up the real dangers teens face when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, auto accidents are the leading cause of death for teens. Moreover, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reported that almost half of teen drivers involved in a collision are killed.

While the above statistics present a real problem in regards to teen drivers, a recent survey found that only 25 percent of parents have had a discussion with their teens stressing the importance of driving safely.

The NHTSA discusses the following rules for teens in its “5 To Drive” campaign:

No cell phones while driving
No extra passengers
No speeding
No alcohol
No driving or riding in a car without a seatbelt

The “5 to Drive” campaign was launched during Teen Driver Safety Week last year, and it addresses the five most dangerous and deadly behaviors for teen drivers. The thought behind this initiative is to help parents address these five key issues when talking with their teens about driving.

The statistics regarding teenage driver collisions are sobering. Approximately 60 percent of the teens that died in crashes in 2012 were not wearing a seatbelt and 48 percent of those killed were speeding. Teens are involved in crashes where speeding is an issue at a rate of 60 percent higher than that of adults.

As parents, it is our responsibility to set a good example for our children by always wearing our seat belts and stressing the importance of why we wear them. Seatbelts save lives. In addition, it is important to continue setting a good example by following all posted speed limits and other rules of the road.

Alcohol is another key issue in teen driver deaths. In 2012, NHTSA statistics showed that 28 percent of teen drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were killed in crashes had been drinking.

Another serious problem for teens is texting and driving. In 2012, a study found that cell phones distracted nearly 1 in 5 teens in distraction-related fatal crashes. Extra passengers in the vehicle also cause distraction for teens, and the risk for an accident only increases with each additional passenger. In fact, just one passenger raises a teen driver’s risk of a fatal crash by 44 percent.

October 17, 2014

Pregnant Woman Suffers Critical Injuries after Being Struck by Tow Truck in Downtown St. Pete

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Police are further investigating an accident that critically injured a 7 and a half month pregnant woman in downtown St. Petersburg Wednesday afternoon.

The 36-year-old mom-to-be was struck by a tow truck near the intersection of 3rd Street North and 1st Avenue North around 2:30 p.m.

According to police, the woman was crossing 1st Avenue North just west of the crosswalk when the truck attempted to turn left onto 1st Avenue North.

The woman was halfway across the center lane when she was hit and knocked down, striking her head on the pavement, according to police.

The light for the truck driver was yellow at the time, according to reports.

The woman was taken to Bayfront Hospital with critical injuries.

No further information regarding the woman’s injuries or the crash is available at this time.

Car crashes, no matter how minor, can present a number of unique risks to pregnant women. The most serious types of after-effects can include preterm labor, miscarriage, internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, birth defects, and the possibility of a high-risk pregnancy that did not exist before the collision. A high risk pregnancy can create a number of complications to both the mother and unborn child before, during and after the birth.

The less serious risks for a pregnant woman can include stress and emotional duress. Mental anguish can often result from the trauma of a car accident, child birth complications, or, in some cases, the loss of the child.

Studies have shown that an expectant mother’s immediate actions following an auto accident are crucial to ensure the best possible treatment and overall outcome for the mother and child.

September 23, 2014

Tampa Teacher Arrested for Driving the Wrong Way Near Interstate 75

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Tampa high school teacher was arrested on Sunday for driving the wrong way near I-75, according to troopers.

Reports indicate that the Florida Highway Patrol received a call around 3:50 a.m. regarding a wrong-way driver on State Road 618 near 22nd Street.

Troopers were told a gold 2001 Saturn was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes and would eventually turn southbound in the northbound lanes of I-75. A trooper arrested the 24-year-old teacher as he exited at the northbound Gibsonton Drive entrance ramp.

The social studies teacher was charged with driving under the influence and driving the wrong way on a limited access roadway.

The man allegedly refused to provide a breath test, but the trooper claims he had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol.

This year alone has shown an outbreak of wrong-way driving on the interstates in the Tampa Bay area. Fortunately, some of these wrong-way drivers have been stopped by local police before a tragic collision occurred, as this case shows, limiting the effects of wrong-way drivers. However, unfortunately, there have been five serious wrong-way crashes on the interstates in the Tampa Bay area this year, resulting in 11 deaths and numerous injuries.

Many drivers are the victims of wrong-way accidents in the Tampa Bay area every year. Those injured or those who have had loved ones taken from them may be left with the financial burden of medical expenses and lost wages to handle on top of the pain and suffering they must go through while working towards recovery. These victims are not without relief, though, as the laws in Florida give accident victims and immediate family members the right to bring a personal injury or wrongful death claim for their damages against negligent motorists who caused a car accident.

September 17, 2014

Student Biker Struck by Car near Riverview High School

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 17-year-old girl riding her bicycle near Riverview High School on Tuesday morning was hit by a car.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the girl, who is a Riverview High student, was struck by an Acura sedan on Whispering Creek Boulevard near Balm Riverview Road just south of Boyette Road.

The driver of the Acura, a 23-year-old man, waited at the scene for deputies to arrive. According to officials, the man won’t be cited in the crash.

The crash occurred just before 7 a.m. The accident caused the roadway to be shut down for about an hour.

Authorities said the teen received non-life threatening injuries, however she was airlifted to an area hospital.

The crash is still being investigated.

The Tampa Bay area is full of beautiful scenery and many people choose to take it all in by getting outdoors and riding a bike. Many children and teens ride bicycles to school and adults often use them to commute to work. Sadly, many bicyclists are injured or killed by negligent drivers every year in Florida and across the United States. The Tampa Bay Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are committed to helping bicycle accident victims recover full compensation for their injuries. We also help families of those who have lost loved ones obtain fair compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one.

Even though a bicyclist may do everything right, serious injuries can still happen. A negligent motorist can pull out in front of a cyclist or make a turn without looking and collide with a biker. Regardless of how your accident occurred, our team of injury lawyers can handle all aspects of your case so that you can receive adequate compensation for your losses. Even if your accident involved an uninsured/underinsured motorist, we can do everything in our power to make sure you recover a monetary award, including from your own insurance company.

September 15, 2014

8 Injured at Hard Rock in Tampa after Temporary Wall Falls Over

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

According to authorities, eight people were injured at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday night when a construction wall gave way.

Three of those injured were transported to area hospitals for treatment, according to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. One man apparently suffered a broken arm when the wall fell around 11 p.m.

Crews had bolstered up a 12- to 15-foot high temporary wall to separate an open section of the casino area from a high-limit slot room that is currently under construction. In between was a walkway.

The wall fell down striking some people on the walkway.

A witness told authorities that the accident sounded like ice falling and that the wall crumbled a bit when it fell.

It is unclear at this time what caused the wall to come down.

The hotel and casino, located in East Tampa, is still open for business.

Hotels and casinos can be quite unique, fun-filled places. But they can also be crowded, boisterous and as this case shows, potentially dangerous. Unfortunately, accidents and injuries in hotels and casinos happen on a regular basis due to many different causes.

If you or a loved one was injured at a hotel or casino due to negligence or carelessness, you have legal rights. You may be entitled to receive compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and more. In order to determine whether you have a case, you need to speak with an injury attorney as soon as possible.

A Tampa Bay Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton will conduct a thorough investigation of your case in order to determine the full scope of your injuries. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, but we will still explore other avenues to a favorable resolution such as aggressive settlement negotiations. Our ultimate goal is to help you achieve a positive outcome.

September 10, 2014

AGAIN?? Three Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on I-275 in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A wrong-way driver and her two passengers were killed in a head-on collision with a gasoline tanker truck on Interstate 275 just south of Bearss Avenue early Sunday.

This is the fourth fatal wrong-way crash on I-275 in Tampa this year that has happened just before sunrise.

The Florida Highway Patrol believes a 2013 Honda sedan was traveling south in the inside lane of northbound I-275 when it crashed into a Gemini Motor Transport tanker that was headed north. Both vehicles came to a halt in the northbound lanes.

The car’s driver, along with another woman in the front passenger seat and a man sitting in the back, all died at the scene.

There is no information regarding when, where or why the women entered the interstate heading in the wrong direction at this time.

The driver of the tanker, a 50-year-old Lakeland man, was not injured. No fuel was spilled, however the crash created a lot of debris.

This is not the first wrong-way collision on I-275 in Tampa in the last seven months.

On Feb. 9, a 28-year-old man driving south in the northbound lanes of I-275 collided near Busch Boulevard with a 2010 Hyundai carrying four University of South Florida fraternity brothers. All five men were killed.

Less than two weeks later, a 25-year-old drove a Honda Civic north on the southbound side of I-275 and smashed into a rental truck near Bearss Avenue. The man was killed and the two men in the truck suffered personal injuries.

Last month, a 23-year-old man was killed after he crashed into an ambulance after entering I-275 from I-4 going north in the southbound span.

According to the FHP, most of these wrong-way accidents involved drivers making U-turns on the highway. Impairment was at least suspected in the previous wrong-way crashes. Troopers said it is too early to tell whether it was a factor in this crash.

In an effort to combat this serious problem, officials with the Florida Department of are taking steps to better protect motorists against wrong-way drivers. Message boards warn motorists once a 911 call has been made. The agency is also testing interstate sensors that would automatically notify the FDOT of a wrong-way driver even before that first 911 call.

Wrong way collisions are usually very serious due to the fact that two vehicles traveling at moderate to high speeds generally do not have enough time to break or take any other evasive action to avoid a head-on collision. A crash of this magnitude creates significant impact forces into the occupant compartments of both vehicles. Sadly, catastrophic injuries and death are quite often the result of wrong way accidents.

One of the most common causes of wrong way collisions is drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. While this is certainly not the only reason these accidents occur, it is usually a factor.

September 9, 2014

St. Petersburg Accident Shows Important Lesson for Boaters

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Boating is a popular and enjoyable activity here in the Tampa Bay area, but it is also a pastime filled with accidents as well. If you find yourself hurt or injured while boating due to someone else’s negligent or careless actions, it is worth speaking to a Boating Accident Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton about your rights.

Three adults were rescued by a Coast Guard crew eight miles west of Bean Point on Anna Maria Island Sunday after their 37-foot boat began taking on water.

Coast Guard watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a report around 3:50 p.m. that the boat had begun taking on water from a six-inch hole in the hull.

A boat crew from the station made it to the scene around 4:30 p.m., plugged the hole, began dewatering and put the boat in tow.

The boat was safely towed to Bradenton Beach Marina by 8 p.m.

A command duty officer at Sector St. Petersburg mentioned a valuable tip for boaters: “It is important for boaters to remember the Coast Guard can always be reached via channel 16 in an emergency. Having a marine band radio on board a vessel, like in this case, can save lives when a situation becomes an emergency.”

Manatee County Fire and Rescue also responded to the accident site.

In the United States, boating collisions are the most common type of accident. More than 8 percent of all boating accidents result in fatalities. Nearly half of boating accident tragedies occur because of passengers falling overboard, with 70 percent of those victims drowning. Of these drowning accidents, 86 percent involve passengers not wearing a life jacket. The most common recreational boat accidents involve the following:

Capsizing
Falling overboard
Collisions with other vessels or stationary structures
Fires
Flooding or Sinking
Explosions

When operating a boat, there are certain steps that can be taken to prevent a boat accident injury or minimize the damage. The following tips can prove useful to boaters when an emergency situation arises:

Always have enough life jackets for all crew and passengers, and make sure everyone wears one
Refrain from drinking alcohol while boating
Always have a working VHF radio on board, a submersible model is preferable
Use GPS technologies to know your location at all times
Keep flares on board
Make sure to have a first aid kit on board
Keep fire extinguishers in an easily accessible location
Leave your itinerary with someone on land

August 26, 2014

Tips for Cruising Safely: Be Aware of Cruise Ship Crime

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Any time a dangerous situation erupts or a catastrophe occurs onboard a cruise ship it makes headline news. However, when a crime happens aboard a cruise line, we do not always hear about it despite the fact that cruise lines are obligated to report all allegations of serious crimes to the FBI.

Major cruise lines even post criminal data online for the general public to view. There are some limitations, though. Cruise lines are only required to report theft of items totaling more than $10,000, and assault causing serious bodily injury.

While more than 22 million people travel via cruise ship every year, crime figures are actually quite low. Trips aboard cruise ships are not inherently dangerous.

Due to the fact that these ships sail internationally, the laws can be somewhat cloudy. Criminal investigations are usually handled by the FBI, but this also depends on where the ship is located at the time as well as where it is registered.

The main thing to be concerned with is how crimes are reported, investigated and tracked.

Should you find yourself the victim of a crime, make sure to report it right away to onboard security and demand that the crime scene be secured until law enforcement can gain access to the ship.

The other thing you want to make sure to do is write down the names of everyone involved in the incident – this includes witnesses. If a criminal act occurs while you are at a foreign port, contact the closest embassy or consulate.

Keep your eyes and ears open when taking a cruise. Trust your gut – if something appears odd or suspicious to you, it probably is. Should something appear out of the norm to you, take a trip to the Purser’s Office and let the staff know. They will appreciate the heads up, and you might just keep a criminal act from occurring.

Taking a cruise is a fabulous experience, so don’t think they are all bad. As long as you are prepared and watch out for your own safety, it will be smooth sailing all the way.

August 19, 2014

Motorcyclist Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries in St. Pete Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 54-year-old motorcyclist was seriously injured on Sunday evening after an intersection collision on St. Pete Beach.

According to reports, a 54-year-old motorcyclist from Kenneth City was driving a 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle west on 75th Avenue approaching Blind Pass Road. At the exact same time, a woman driving a 2014 Chevy Cruz was stopped in the left turn lane of east 75th Avenue, partially in the intersection waiting for traffic to clear to turn on Blind Pass Road.

As the motorcyclist entered the intersection, the woman made a left turn as the traffic light was turning yellow.

The biker was transported to Bayfront Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Both the driver and the passenger in the Chevy were not harmed.

The accident is still under investigation, but alcohol and drug impairment are not factors in the crash, according to reports.

Motorcyclists are far too often hit by other vehicles as they pass through intersections. Intersections are usually prime locations for collisions because motorists may speed through them or fail to yield as they rush to where they are going. Intersection accidents are estimated to account for half of all traffic-related injuries, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Sadly, intersection accidents can be especially dangerous to motorcyclists and leave them with devastating injuries.

Intersection collisions can result in catastrophic injuries, including death in some cases. For injury victims, if you can establish the other driver’s liability, you may recover financial damages for your suffering if you file your claim within a specific time frame. In the state of Florida, there is a four-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims and a two-year time constraint for wrongful death suits, which can be filed on behalf of a relative or spouse who died in an accident. In order to establish legal liability and recover financial compensation, it is absolutely vital to file a claim in a timely fashion.

August 4, 2014

Adult, Baby Killed in I-4 Minivan Crash in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An adult and an infant were killed and two children were critically injured after a minivan travelling on Interstate 4 exited the roadway and crashed.

A 2008 Hyundai Entourage was heading west on the highway, west of County Road 579, around 1:10 a.m. when it left the road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The van crossed a concrete culvert, rode up a grass embankment and crashed through a chain link fence. The Florida Highway Patrol claims the vehicle flipped several times before stopping on its left side in the parking lot of Camping World of Tampa.

The driver, a 29-year-old Wesley Chapel man, suffered only minor injuries. However, the right-front passenger, a 30-year-old adult from Tampa, was ejected from the van and died at the scene. A 5-month-old infant was taken to a hospital and died a short time later.

Two children, ages 7 and 9, were taken to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition.

Another female passenger was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the crash. Witnesses to the accident are asked to contact the FHP at 813-631-4020.

Losing someone you love unexpectedly in a car accident is devastating. The grieving process can be an extremely difficult time period, and on top of that, you must deal with securing the financial future of your family. It is critical to speak to an auto accident attorney who can take care of all matters related to your loss, so that you can focus on taking care of yourself and your family’s wellbeing. A Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you recover financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages that your loved one would have earned, pain and suffering and all other damages related to the collision.