Tampa Bay Personal Injury Lawyer

February 10, 2014

Tampa Bay Watercraft Accident Attorney :: Common Causes of Jet Ski Accidents in Clearwater Beach and Treasure Island

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Tampa Bay area is well known for its beautiful rivers, lakes, bays and access to the Gulf of Mexico. Because areas like Clearwater Beach and Treasure Island have so many various waterways, jet skiing is quite popular among tourists and residents alike. However, jet skiing is an inherently risky activity, with the U.S. Coast Guard broadcasting more than 700 fatalities involving jet skis and more than 3,000 injuries nationwide.

A moment of negligence or recklessness on a jet ski can result in severe personal injuries and even wrongful death. The good news is that most jet ski accidents can be prevented by understanding the common causes of these accidents and how to identify risky behaviors that can easily lead to an unfortunate mishap. Moreover, it is vital that jet ski riders know how to operate a jet ski in a safe fashion before heading out on the waterways.

Were you injured on the waterways of Clearwater Beach, Treasure Island or the surrounding areas? Call Whittel & Melton today at 727-823-0000 or dial us statewide and toll-free at 866-608-5529.

SPEEDING

Nearly 15 percent of all accidents involving personal watercrafts, such as jet skis, were caused by speeding drivers, according to the US Coast Guard. Driving a jet ski can undoubtedly be an exhilarating experience. As a jet ski driver, it is important to not get carried away when operating these vehicles as the amount of horsepower these vessels have can be intense. When excessive speeds are used, serious accidents can occur.

INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS

Many people hop on jet skis and take off into the water without fully realizing how dangerous these vehicles can be. It is important to get the proper training and experience before darting off in these vehicles. The National Transportation Safety Board estimates that nearly a third of drivers involved in a jet ski or other personal watercraft accident had operated the vehicle ten times or less prior to their accident.

INATTENTIVE DRIVERS

As water sports like jet skiing become more and popular, waterways become more crowded, increasing the number of distractions for drivers. Unnecessary collisions on personal watercrafts are often caused by drivers who fail to pay attention to their surroundings. By staying focused while on a jet ski, you can prevent a catastrophe from occurring.

RECKLESS DRIVING

One of the leading causes of jet ski accidents is reckless driving. Often referred to as the motorcycle of the waterways, jet skis can be quite dangerous when operated in a reckless manner. Following the rules of the waterways is crucial when operating a jet ski, and failure to do so can result in broken bones, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma and even death.

February 3, 2014

Tampa Bay Car Accident Attorney :: Elderly Woman Backs into Crowd of People Killing 3 and Seriously Injuring 4

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An elderly woman accidentally backed into a crowd of people while leaving church late Sunday morning leaving three people dead and at least five more injured, according to authorities.

The crash occurred in the Sugar Creek Country Club 55-and-over mobile home community off Belinda Circle and Clubhouse Drive in East Bradenton.

79-year-old woman backs into crowd of people Sunday morning in church parking lot in Bradenton leaving three people dead and at least five more injured.

Witnesses claim the 79-year-old woman thought she put her large Chevrolet sport utility vehicle in “drive,” but actually shifted into reverse and traveled backward through the clubhouse parking lot.

An 80-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other women, ages 70 and 72, were both taken to Blake Medical Center where they later died.

Four others are listed in serious condition.

According to witnesses, the woman drove into and through the pedestrians, and kept driving until her vehicle went into a creek.

She left the scene with her family. She and her husband, who was a passenger in the car during the incident, were not harmed.

Just as the name suggests, backover accidents occur when a driver backs into something or someone. These types of accidents usually take place in parking lots or driveways. Even though these accidents generally occur at lower speeds, the results can be fatal. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 221 people are killed in backover crashes in the United States in parking lots, driveways and other off-road locations, and an additional 71 deaths occur on public roads annually. Another 18,000 people nationwide suffer injuries each year from backover collisions. If you or someone close to you has been injured or killed in a backover accident, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your losses.

January 31, 2014

Bradenton Wrongful Death Attorney :: Manatee Day Care Facing Possible Shut Down after Infant’s Death

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Manatee County day care center may be forced to close its doors pending an ongoing investigation into a 4-month-old girl’s death.

The girl died at the Bradenton facility on Jan. 7 and state investigators claim there is video evidence a daycare worker did not follow proper policy when caring for the child.

A report by the Department of Children and Families reveals the baby was put on her stomach in a crib and not on her back. The facility director apparently told the Department of Children and Families the infant was fed and placed on her side in the crib as she slept.

Officials claim that a video shows the worker placing the baby in a swing and propping a bottle next to her using a blanket so she could feed herself. The video goes on to show that the baby was placed in the crib without being burped.

A 4-month-old girl was killed at a Bradenton day care facility on Jan. 7.

At 11 a.m. that morning, the child was found unresponsive by day care workers.

On the same day of the infant’s death, a teacher who initially cared for the baby tested positive for cocaine and marijuana and admitted to the recent use of marijuana, according to reports.

An emergency suspension order was issued last week by the Department of Children and Families making the day care facility’s license invalid for children 12 months or younger in the wake of its investigation.

The day care center has three other locations that will remain open as they are not a part of the ongoing investigation.

Every parent’s worst nightmare is getting a phone call saying their child has been harmed in their absence. Sadly, accidents at day care facilities can range in severity from minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes to more serious ones involving catastrophic injuries, or even worse, death. Sadly, in many cases day care negligence is to blame for these tragedies. When caregivers fail to act appropriately, you may be able to hold the negligent party accountable through a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

Too many times day care negligence goes unnoticed until it is too late. When a day care facility fails to follow state and federal laws that set the standards for care, they can be held legally liable in the event of an accident.

December 23, 2013

St. Petersburg Injury Lawyer :: CPSC Reports ‘Tis the Season for Injuries

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging everyone to “Deck the Halls” safely this holiday season. An estimated 15,000 people will be injured this holiday season based on the number of people sent to emergency rooms across the nation last November and December. The worst of the injuries reported involved slip and falls from holiday decorating, stepping on ornaments, back injuries, ladder catastrophes and lacerations.

Hundreds of people fall off ladders every holiday season in their attempts to decorate. Ladders are supposed to be set up in a non-congested area with a 75 degree angle. Metal ladders should never be set up near electrical equipment. Sadly, ladder accidents often result in severe personal injuries or death. Last year, the CPSC reported that there were 20 injuries due to ladder accidents that resulted in a whopping $16 million in property damage.

Fires are another big problem during the holiday season. Fire departments across the country reported about 200 Christmas trees that were ignited from 2009 through 2011. These fires resulted in 70 deaths, 680 injuries and about $308 million in property damage, according to the CPSC. The number of fire-related incidents has been on the rise since 2009, resulting in about 12,000 more ER visits annually.

The CPSC urges everyone to follow these simple guidelines to prevent a holiday disaster this year:

• Discard any light sets with bare wires, broken sockets or that are damaged.

• Blow out candles when no one is in the room.

• Make sure your ladder is in good condition before using it.

• Keep your Christmas tree away from any heat sources.

• Watch out for children around the Christmas tree, as they could become injured from ornaments or sharp objects on or around the tree.

• Keep wrapping paper out of the fireplace as it can ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

Any problems with consumer products that lead to accidents or injuries should always be reported to saferproducts.gov. This is how the government tracks injuries from defective products so that recalls can be issued when enough injuries are reported.

December 17, 2013

Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Attorney :: Motorcycle Accident in Hillsborough County Ends in Fatality

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 40-year-old Kissimmee motorcyclist was killed Wednesday after a car that was turning in front of him struck him on Fletcher Avenue.

The biker was riding a 2000 Yamaha Road Star westbound around 7:30 p.m. on Fletcher Avenue when the driver of a 1998 Ford Taurus heading eastbound tried to execute a left turn onto 42nd Street and turned into the biker’s path causing the motorcycle to hit the passenger side of the car, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The Kissimmee motorcyclist was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. According to police, the man was wearing a helmet.

The 27-year-old driver of the Taurus and his passenger were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to reports.

The investigation is ongoing. No charges have been filed at this point.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to experience a fatality when travelling on the roadway than those riding in passenger cars. Despite numerous efforts to raise awareness and safety for motorcyclists, the number of bikers killed in motor vehicle accidents increased by 2 percent from 2010 to 2011. With the number of motorcyclists on the roads steadily increasing, the sad truth is that the number of deadly accidents is also on the rise.

The majority of motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle, and most of the time it is the motorist and not the motorcyclist who is at fault. There are many things drivers can do to prevent collisions with bikers, including taking the time to check blind spots when turning or changing lanes and allowing for more space when following a biker. Moreover, drivers should limit the amount of distractions while behind the wheel, use proper traffic signals and always follow the general rules of the road.

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.

November 11, 2013

Tampa Bay Wrongful Death Lawyer :: Clearwater Man Killed in Oldsmar Collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A three-vehicle collision in Oldsmar Wednesday afternoon took the life of an 81-year-old man.

The accident occurred around 2:47 p.m. at the intersection of Tampa Road and St. Petersburg Drive.

According to Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies, the Clearwater man’s wife, 65, was driving a 2005 Cadillac DeVille west on Tampa Road and went to make a left turn onto St. Petersburg Drive when her car was struck on the passenger side by two vehicles — a Jeep Liberty driven by a 32-year-old woman and a Ford Fusion driven by a 31-year-old man.

The deceased was trapped in the debris for about a half-hour before firefighters from Oldsmar Fire Rescue extracted him from the wreckage, according to reports. He was flown by helicopter to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:17 p.m.

The man’s wife was taken to St. Joseph’s with injuries that were not considered life threatening.

The other drivers involved in the pileup were not harmed.

The crash remains under investigation.

Any type of motor vehicle accident can lead to serious injuries to all parties involved. However, when multiple vehicles are involved in a crash, injuries are often compounded. Multi-vehicle accidents can result in catastrophic injuries including head, brain, neck and spinal cord trauma. Sadly, these types of collisions often end in fatality.

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.

October 28, 2013

St. Petersburg Motor Vehicle Auto Accident Injury Lawyer :: Scooter Rider Suffers Serious Injuries in St. Pete Collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A St. Petersburg scooter rider suffered a life-threatening head injury in a crash early Sunday morning that also involved two pedestrians, according to police.

The 32-year-old man was apparently riding east on Central Avenue around 3 a.m. when two pedestrians started to cross in the 600 block. One stopped halfway, however the other, a 22-year-old woman, continued walking.

This ultimately caused the scooter to swerve, and it struck the woman as it went down.

The scooter rider was not wearing a helmet and was ejected from the vehicle and hit his head on the pavement, police said.

The man was taken to Bayfront Medical Center. The female pedestrian suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene of the crash.

If you were hurt in a scooter or moped accident in St. Petersburg, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other damages you have suffered. A St. Petersburg Motor Vehicle Auto Accident Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can meet with you right away and discuss your potential claim. If your accident was caused by another person’s negligence, we can make sure you receive the full and fair compensation that you deserve.

Other than following Florida scooter laws whenever you operate a scooter or moped, it is very important to focus on other safety practices that can prevent you from being involved in a St. Petersburg scooter accident that results in serious injuries.

The following common scooter safety tips can keep you free from harm:

• Always wear a Department Of Transportation-approved helmet that fits your head correctly
• Purchase a pair of riding goggles if your helmet does not have a face shield
• Keep your headlights on at all times, this even includes when you are riding during the day
• Steer clear of roads with uneven pavement, gravel and potholes
• Do not try to ride over a pothole, as this can lead to tire deflation
• If you are newer to riding a scooter, or just need to brush up on your skills, attend a scooter safety course

October 11, 2013

Tampa Bay Slip, Trip & Fall Lawyer :: More Slip & Fall Lawsuits Arising Over Everyday Substances – Know Your Rights and How to Protect Yourself

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Everyday items, such as hand sanitizer, urine, champagne, fried potatoes, napkins and a slew of other substances have become hazards that are being blamed for numerous slip and fall accident injuries and the basis for various lawsuits being filed in Hillsborough and Pinellas County courts.

This recent string of lawsuits claims owner negligence in places ranging from an Outback Steakhouse restaurant and Target store to a museum and skateboard park.
Some of the recent cases include:

• A woman who says she slipped on hand sanitizer and fell while visiting the Glazer Children’s Museum. Her claim states that she “neither saw the hand sanitizer nor any cautionary signs before she fell.”
• A Tampa Walmart shopper claims she slipped and fell on a “fried potato” near the cash register. Her lawsuit alleges she sustained permanent injuries and a reduced ability to lead a normal life or earn money.
• A man celebrating his 76th birthday with his family at an Outback Steakhouse in Plant City says he was sitting at the bar when he reached for his drink and his bar stool slipped on a floor allegedly covered with grease. He ended up falling backward, breaking his neck. He died just two weeks later.
• A woman shopping at a Target in Brandon claims she slipped on what she thought was urine and fell. She claims she suffered hospitalization, medical expenses and a loss of earnings.
• A man skateboarding at SkatePark of Tampa says an employee at the facility began spraying champagne causing him to slip and fall and suffer serious injuries.
• A man dining at Acropolis in Riverview says the staff at the restaurant began dancing and “negligently and dangerously” tossing napkins into the air, as is customary at all of the Greek restaurant chain’s locations. The man claims he slipped on a stray napkin and suffered “severe” injuries, including a fractured kneecap that required two surgeries.

Injuries resulting from a slip and fall or trip and fall accident are common occurrences that result in thousands of claims being made every year. Many victims of these accidents suffer severe, life-changing injuries that can even lead to wrongful death. Wet floors, misplaced objects and food items as well as obstructed walkways can have catastrophic results. It is important to understand your rights and know what to do if you are involved in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident. Immediately following an accident, it is best to consult a Tampa Bay Slip, Trip & Fall Lawyer at Whittel & Melton to determine whether you are entitled to recover damages for the negligence of a property or business owner.