Tampa Bay Personal Injury Lawyer

September 27, 2017

Pedestrian Struck, Killed by Truck Tuesday in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A pedestrian who was struck by a truck Tuesday afternoon has died from her injuries.

Tampa police believe the 26-year-old Tampa woman was hit as she attempted to cross Nebraska Avenue just south of Hillsborough Avenue around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said the truck was traveling eastbound on Hillsborough Ave. and was turning right on Nebraska when Hufford reportedly walked into the side of the truck.

The driver of the truck has yet to be charged.

Pedestrian crashes are on the rise throughout the United States. In fact, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 6,000 pedestrians were killed nationwide in 2016, which is a vast increase from the 5,400 fatalities that occurred in 2015.

In many Tampa Bay area pedestrian crashes, the negligent actions of drivers are to blame for pedestrian fatalities, including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding, making illegal turns, and failing to obey all traffic laws and signals. Our Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton would like to remind everyone that in order to pedestrians to stay safe on our roadways, you must be vigilant, especially at busy intersections or during night time when accidents are more likely to take place.

August 29, 2017

Motorcyclist Critically Injured in St. Petersburg Overnight Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

St. Petersburg police are investigating an early morning traffic crash that sent one person to the hospital with serious injuries.

The crash occurred around 12:41 a.m. at Central Avenue and 45th Street in St. Pete.

Police said a Volkswagen, driven by a 22-year-old woman was driving northbound on 45th St. and stopped at a stop sign at Central Ave. The Volkswagen began to make a left hand turn and drove into the path of a Yamaha traveling eastbound on Central Avenue.

Police said the Yamaha, driven by a 25-year-old man, crashed into the rear driver side of the Volkswagen.

The man was thrown from his bike and was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with life-threatening injuries. Officials said he is considered to be in critical condition.

The driver of the Volkswagen was transported to Bayfront with minor injuries. A passenger in her vehicle was treated and released at the scene.

Officials claim both drivers were found to have signs of impairment by alcohol. Criminal charges are pending the results of blood tests, officials said.

When a drunk driver is on the road, they place everyone sharing the roadway with them in danger. Motorcyclists are exceptionally vulnerable to drunk drivers. They have less protection than other motorists and they are harder to identify by intoxicated drivers.

Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those utilizing a passenger car, which means that roughly 11 percent of all traffic accidents in the US involve a motorcycle.

Drunk driving accidents can result in serious injuries and even wrongful death. If you or someone you care for was the victim of a drunk driving accident while on a motorcycle, you need to seek the legal counsel that you deserve to recover damages from the at-fault party. Our St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you through your case and assist you with determining what your options are.

August 14, 2017

Outback Steakhouse of Florida LLC Accused of Failing to Take Safety Measures

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A customer is suing Outback Steakhouse of Florida LLC for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.

The woman filed a complaint on June 29 in the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida – Pinellas County, alleging that Outback failed to maintain its floors in a reasonably safe condition.

According to the complaint, the woman alleges that she was a customer at the an Outback in Clearwater on Aug. 13, 2014 when she slipped and fell on a foreign substance on the floor. She allegedly sustained injuries, pain and suffering, hospital and medical expenses, lost wages and mental anguish.

The woman holds Outback responsible for allegedly creating a dangerous condition on its premises and for failing to provide warning signs around the area where she fell.

If you suffer an injury from a slip and fall or trip and fall accident at a restaurant, you should follow these first steps:

Do not delay in seeking out medical treatment. Get medical care right away!
Do not sign anything from the restaurant’s management or their lawyers or insurance company until you have retained your own legal counsel.
Call Whittel & Melton at 727-823-0000 to get the legal help you need right away.

The injuries sustained in a slip and fall or trip and fall at a restaurant can be serious and potentially permanent, with skyrocketing financial costs. You shouldn’t have to worry about money at a time like this, but many slip and fall or trip and fall victims do because they might be unable to work and provide for their families. Medical expenses are just another strain to your finances. Even if you have insurance, your co-pays will add up quickly when you pay out of pocket for every test, follow-up appointment, medical treatment, medication, therapy session, and whatever else your injury requires.

August 8, 2017

3 Pinellas Teens in Stolen Car Die in Violent Crash: Why You Need UM Coverage

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Florida authorities said three teenagers – one 14-year-old and two 16-year-olds – stole a sport utility vehicle, sped away from officers and died in a fiery, violent crash early Sunday morning.

The 4:30 a.m. crash happened in Pinellas County.

A fourth teen in the SUV, who is 14, survived and is hospitalized.

All the teens all had criminal histories – including one who had gotten out of jail on July 31.

Reports indicate that a Ford Explorer and a Chrysler Sebring were stolen from a Clearwater car dealership Thursday. Both vehicles were spotted by deputies early Sunday morning. Deputies tried to apprehend the drivers of the cars, but didn’t pursue them. The sheriff’s office’s pursuit policy generally does not allow deputies to chase stolen cars.

Deputies believed the teens were using the stolen cars to commit burglaries. At one point, they set up a perimeter to try to catch the teens, but a deputy spotted the vehicles outside of the perimeter.

According to reports, the cars were in a “cat and mouse” game with each other, accelerating and slowing down, hitting speeds of 100 mph or more.

The deputy that spotted them did not initiate a high-speed chase, but the Explorer continued at about 100 mph when it hit another vehicle, caught fire and went airborne. The Explorer also hit a billboard pole.

The driver hit by the Explorer suffered minor injuries, reports indicate.

Officers found the Chrysler Sebring and arrested the two in that car; one is 16 and the other 18.

Drivers in the state of Florida are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and a minimum of $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Sadly, many drivers fail to abide by this law and drive without insurance. When someone is injured in a car accident with someone who does not have insurance or does not have adequate insurance, things can become quite difficult for the injury victim.

August 1, 2017

1 Dead, 1 Injured in Palm Harbor Crash with Pedestrians

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

One person was killed and another injured after a crash early Monday in Palm Harbor involving pedestrians.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, northbound US 19 was closed at Alderman Road for several hours early Monday. The roadway was reopened just after 7 a.m.

Troopers said a 2016 Honda Civic collided with two pedestrians crossing the northbound lanes of US Highway 19 at Alderman Road at the south end of the intersection.

The crash happened just after 4 a.m.

The driver of the Honda remained at the scene of the crash.

An 18-year-old man from Palm Harbor died at the scene. A female with him was taken to Bayonet Point Hospital in critical condition. The 47-year-old driver of the Honda was not injured.

The crash is currently under investigation.

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable people on the road. And because they are the most vulnerable, they should also be the most protected under Florida law. Our Tampa Pedestrian Accident Injury & Death Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you understand what your rights are if you have lost someone or been injured in a pedestrian accident.

July 25, 2017

24-Year-Old Man Killed After Losing Control of Car

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 24-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle crash overnight in Hillsborough County.

Officials said the man was traveling eastbound on West Waters Avenue, approaching Pinehurst Drive, and lost control of his Toyota Corolla.

After losing control, the vehicle rotated and struck the center median curb with the front passenger wheel and entered the center median.

The rear passenger door struck a standing pine tree, causing the tree to be uprooted and the vehicle to roll onto the roof.

Troopers said the man was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He died at the scene.

The crash occurred just before 3 a.m.

Loss of control collisions happen for all sorts of reasons. The common factor in all these scenarios is the driver was unable to control their vehicle and as a result, there is a wreck.

When there has been a loss of control by a driver, investigating the cause of the auto accident can be complex. This is where having an experienced car accident lawyer can come in handy to help gather evidence like the police report, photos taken by police, statements by witnesses and other drivers, and the hiring of the right experts to prove what actually happened. Our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help make sure you and your family are armed with the best legal representation. We can put our years of negotiating with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys to work for you and fight to achieve the maximum recovery on your behalf.

July 19, 2017

1 Killed, 1 Injured in Boating Accident Near Courtney Campbell Causeway

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A man was killed and a woman hospitalized after a Sunday afternoon incident at the Courtney Campbell Causeway boat ramp.

According to Tampa Fire Rescue, two people were in a boat that hit something in the water.

No further information was immediately available.

Even if you are operating your boat safely and carefully, it is sometimes impossible to avoid an accident. Our Tampa Bay Boating Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have guided many Tampa Bay area residents through boating accident cases. The injuries sustained during a boating accident can be severe, which can create a stressful scenario for you and your family. We want to help you through this difficult time.

July 12, 2017

Gibsonton Woman Intentionally Hit By Driver Following Argument

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 27-year-old Gibsonton woman early Tuesday after she intentionally struck another woman with her car following an argument over parking.

Investigators said at around 3:40 a.m. on July 11, a 27-year-old woman and a 38-year-old woman got into a verbal altercation over “parking concerns” near Fish Hook Place in Gibsonton. Following the argument, the 38-year-old reportedly left the scene and drove south on Fish Hook Place, and the 27-year-old, who had a passenger in her car, followed her.

Shortly after, the 38-year-old got out of her car and approached the 27-year-old’s vehicle. The 27-year-old purposely accelerated into the other woman and then fled the scene.

The 38-year-old suffered serious injuries, but is in stable condition.

The 27-year-old was later located and arrested. Deputies charged her with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a Valid License.

When you or a loved one is the victim of a traumatic, intentional action, you may face medical bills, may be unable to work, may be suffering from physical pain, or may have lost someone you love. In most cases, the police and the criminal justice system will handle charging the attacker, but you may have a chance to recover financial compensation in civil court as well.

When someone intentionally hits another with their vehicle, this is no longer classified as an accident. The aggressor can be charged with crimes for their actions, but they can also be sued in civil court for damages. While these kinds of damages are usually available for accidental injuries caused by another person’s negligence, the damages awarded in an intentional act case are usually higher as the courts often want to punish the person for their outrageous behavior.

July 6, 2017

Two Bitten by Loose Dogs in St. Petersburg

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Two people were injured, one severely, when they were bitten by a group of five pit bulls running loose near a St. Petersburg home.

Officials said officers were called to the home on July 3 after the dogs were reported loose.

A 52-year-old woman was bitten on the leg while trying to help her neighbor.

The woman was hospitalized with severe injuries that required emergency surgery.

The dogs reportedly charged the officers when they tried to exit their patrol car. The officers used fire extinguishers to force the dogs back.

A Pinellas Animal Control officer who responded to the scene also had to fend off one of the dogs’ attacks.

Eventually, at a point where all five dogs had jumped back into the home, officers were able to trap them inside by closing the windows.

The dogs’ owner was not home at the time, but later helped the Animal Control officer load the dogs into a truck to remove them from the home. The owner, who just moved into the house a few days ago, according to neighbors, has not been charged, since police said there was no intent.

The dogs will be kept under quarantine for further investigation.

Dog bite attacks are a bigger problem than most people realize until an attack affects them personally. A dog attack can leave both physical and emotional scars. The following statistics highlight the problem of vicious dog bites:

20 percent of dog bite victims require medical attention.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, more than 800,000 Americans receive medical treatment for dog bites every year.
Unneutered male dogs are more likely to show aggression and are involved in 70 percent to 76 percent of reported dog bite incidents each year.
Pit bulls contributed to 64 percent of all fatal dog attacks last year.
57 percent of fatal dog attacks involve more than one dog. A fifth of the attacks involve packs of four or more dogs.

July 1, 2017

Boat Safety For Fourth of July

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Fourth of July weekend is here! This is a holiday that brings thousands of boaters to the water. More boaters means more boats and people on the water, more alcohol, and an increased risk of accidents and arrests for Boating Under the Influence (BUI).

Keep in mind that police will be on the lookout for drunk boaters this holiday weekend. With that said, you should practice safe boating habits and make sure that you are vigilant about the safety of everyone on board your vessel.

Studies show that the majority of boating accidents occur between the months of June, July and August, on Saturday or Sunday, between 12pm and 6pm. The majority of boating accidents involve operators between the ages of 20 and 40. In the state of Florida, it is required that anyone born after Jan. 1, 1988 must have completed a boater education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), or passed an approved equivalency exam before operating a boat with an engine of more than 10 horsepower.