Tampa Bay Wrongful Death Lawyer

June 22, 2017

Brother And Sister Drown at Tampa Hotel Pool

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a double drowning of two siblings at a Tampa hotel on Sunday.

Two siblings — a 12-year-old male and 17-year-old female — were pulled from the hotel swimming pool, both unresponsive around 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

The brother and sister had traveled with their family to Tampa from Dallas, Texas, with a large church group for a function.

Officials said deputies and fire rescue attempted to perform live-saving measures on the brother and sister. The boy was pronounced dead on scene and the girl was taken to Tampa General Hospital where she died Tuesday.

Summer is in full swing, and most Floridians or visitors to our home state are looking to cool off at the pool. Swimming pools are indeed one of the most popular places to be as swimming is one of the highlights of a summer vacation. Families vacationing in Florida often make the swimming pool their first stop after checking into their hotel room.

What you may not know is that on average, 400 children die every year from drowning in pools and spas across the United States. Emergency rooms treat an average of 5,100 children annually for injuries related to a drowning incident in swimming pools and spas.

June 12, 2017

25-Year-Old Woman Killed in St. Pete Motorcycle Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 25-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a motorcycle collision Thursday night in St. Petersburg.

The crash occurred around 6:15 p.m. at 6th Avenue South and 28th Street South.

Police said a Ford Focus, driven by a 52-year-old woman was traveling northbound on 28th Street S. and made a left westbound turn at 6th Ave. S. and traveled into the path of the motorcycle.

The motorcycle struck the passenger side of the Ford and the woman was thrown from the bike, according to officials.

The woman was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Hospital where she died from her injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know that being involved in a motorcycle accident can be an extremely traumatic experience. Motorcycle accidents are among the most devastating traffic accidents because they usually result in very serious injuries and even wrongful death. Motorcycle accidents often lead to enormous medical expenses, loss of employment or future earning power, and severe pain and suffering for those involved. Victims of motorcycle crashes and any surviving family members have the right to make a claim for compensation for the negligent actions of unsafe drivers on the road.

May 13, 2017

Car Strikes Pedestrian in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A pedestrian was killed late Tuesday in Tampa.

According to police, the pedestrian was struck near the intersection of West Hillsborough Avenue and North Tampania Avenue.

Officers have not released details of the crash, but said the driver did stay at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.

The identity of the person killed has yet to be released.

Even the most careful pedestrians risk their lives when crossing a busy street, especially at night. If a driver is distracted or simply cannot stop on time, they can hit a pedestrian, which likely will result in serious personal injuries or fatalities. Pedestrians injured in a vehicle crash can suffer physical injuries as well as emotional trauma, lost wages and other damages. If death occurs, the pedestrians surviving family members may be able to collect damages for their pain and suffering.

Florida is home to the top four metropolitan areas on the list of most dangerous large metro areas for walking in the country. The top spots go to:

Orlando-Kissimmee
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Jacksonville
Miami-Fort-Lauderdale-Pompano Beach

May 5, 2017

Enjoy An Injury Free Cinco de Mayo

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Tampa Bay residents are gearing up for Cinco de Mayo fiestas today! This is the perfect time to enjoy Mexican-inspired food, drinks and fun with friends and family.

Unfortunately, drunk driving rates increase over the holidays. Every day in the United States, an average of 27 people lose their lives to drunk drivers.

While you cannot control the actions of other motorists, you can reduce the likelihood of getting in a crash with a drunk driver.

May 2, 2017

Former Police Officer Charged with DUI after Hitting 5 Middle School Kids

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Five students were hit by a 48-year-old former law enforcement officer Thursday afternoon. Officials believe the man was drunk at the time of the accident.

A 13-year-old boy died from his injuries received in the crash Friday morning.

The students were hit by the man after they had gotten off the bus, officials said.

The crash occurred around 5 p.m. on Allegheny road near Athabasca in Poinciana.

Two of the children suffered serious, life-threatening injuries, including spinal injuries, facial fractures, and head trauma.

Officials said the man fled the scene after hitting the kids and ended up hitting a stopped car on Poinciana Parkway.

The man was charged with two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, two counts leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, two counts leaving the scene of a crash with bodily injury, three counts DUI with injury and property damage and reckless driving.

The man apparently blew a .14 on a breath test, which is over the legal limit, seven hours after the crash.

If someone you love has been injured due to a drunk driving accident, you have rights and can receive compensation. Florida does not take drunk driving lightly and there are significant consequences for anyone who drives under the influence. You may be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, property damage and even punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish the driver who chose to get behind the wheel of a car drunk.

It vital that you get legal help to begin investigating your accident as soon as possible. The preservation of certain evidence can be key in making a claim for personal injury or wrongful death.

April 10, 2017

Man Killed Crossing Road In Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 23-year-old man was killed Wednesday morning in a pedestrian-involved crash near Ulmerton Road in Clearwater.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened at 6:45 a.m. near westbound Ulmerton and 34th Street North.

Troopers believe the Alachua man was walking northbound across Ulmerton Road when he stepped into the path of a Honda Element SUV being driven by a 23-year-old man from St. Petersburg.

He was rushed to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg where he later died. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.

The crash is currently being investigated.

When a person dies because of another person’s carelessness, certain family members are entitled to recover compensation by filing of a wrongful death lawsuit. Different from a personal injury claim, a wrongful death suit is filed by a family member of the deceased instead of the victim of the accident. Wrongful death claims can provide financial compensation to surviving family members for emotional and financial injuries suffered whereas personal injury lawsuits provide the victim with monetary compensation based on the injuries suffered as a result of the accident.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another, our Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help. We can walk you through what steps need to be taken and make sure you understand what to expect.

April 7, 2017

Man Killed Crossing Road In Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 23-year-old man was killed Wednesday morning in a pedestrian-involved crash near Ulmerton Road in Clearwater.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened at 6:45 a.m. near westbound Ulmerton and 34th Street North.

Troopers believe the Alachua man was walking northbound across Ulmerton Road when he stepped into the path of a Honda Element SUV being driven by a 23-year-old man from St. Petersburg.

He was rushed to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg where he later died. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.

The crash is currently being investigated.

When a person dies because of another person’s carelessness, certain family members are entitled to recover compensation by filing of a wrongful death lawsuit. Different from a personal injury claim, a wrongful death suit is filed by a family member of the deceased instead of the victim of the accident. Wrongful death claims can provide financial compensation to surviving family members for emotional and financial injuries suffered whereas personal injury lawsuits provide the victim with monetary compensation based on the injuries suffered as a result of the accident.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another, our Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help. We can walk you through what steps need to be taken and make sure you understand what to expect.

March 7, 2017

Tampa Motorcyclist Killed in Hit-And-Run Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A motorcyclist was killed late Sunday in a hit-and-run crash in Tampa.

According to police, the driver of a pickup truck struck the motorcyclist at 11:30 p.m. at West Waters Avenue and North Boulevard and then fled the scene of the crash, leaving the vehicle behind.

The motorcyclist was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he later died.

A search is ongoing for the pickup truck driver.

According to police, that person will face charges of leaving the scene of a deadly accident. Other charges may be pending.

Numerous people are injured or killed every year in hit and run crashes in the Tampa Bay area. While sad, a good amount of these crashes involve drivers who hit motorcyclists and know they are at-fault, but flee the scene to avoid the repercussions of causing an accident. Our Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help if you or someone you love has been the victim of a hit and run accident.

Hit and run accidents can be quite complex, especially if the at-fault driver is never located. If you have been involved in a hit and run accident, or if you have lost a family member in a hit and run accident, let us help you file an injury or wrongful death claim. We can walk you through all the necessary steps and make sure you know what to expect.

February 15, 2017

Millennial Drivers Riskiest Drivers on Roadways, According To Study

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Millennial drivers are behaving badly on U.S. roads, a trend that could be contributing to a spike in highway deaths, according to a new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

In 2015, U.S. traffic deaths rose 7 percent to 35,092, the largest single-year increase in five decades. They’re expected to rise again in 2016 when that data is finalized.

The study found that more than three-quarters of drivers said it was unacceptable to text or email while driving, but 31 percent had done so in the last month and 8 percent do so often. Ninety-six percent of drivers said drowsy driving is a serious safety threat, but 29 percent had recently driven when they were so tired they had trouble keeping their eyes open.

The study questioned 2,511 licensed drivers aged 16 and over. Here are the findings:

The youngest drivers — those ages 16 to 18 — were less likely to engage in speeding, running red lights or texting while driving than drivers in their 20s through 50s.
Eighty-three percent of drivers — and 86.5 percent of drivers 75 or older — said they were more careful than other drivers on the road.
Just over half of drivers feel seriously threatened by drivers talking on cell phones, but 68 percent made a call while driving in the last 30 days.
Drivers ages 40-59 were the most likely to use a hands-free phone in the car. Drivers ages 16-18 and 75 or older were the most likely to hold their phones and talk while driving.
Twenty-three percent of drivers — and 36 percent of those ages 19 to 24 — think it’s acceptable to drive 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway. Forty-six percent of drivers say they have driven that fast on a freeway in the last 30 days.
Sixty percent of drivers say people who drive after using illegal drugs are a serious threat, but just 34 percent say the same about people who drive after using prescription drugs.

Distracted driving is dangerous. All of us drivers should remember this every time we get behind the wheel of a car. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, nine people are killed in the United States everyday in accidents connected to distracted driving and an additional 1,153 are injured.

Texting, tweeting, eating, drinking, and all other distracted driving behaviors should be avoided while driving. Focusing on the road should be your number one priority. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident because of a distracted driver, our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you recover financial compensation to help cover the costs associated with the crash.

February 1, 2017

Man In Critical Condition After Motorcycle Crash In Hillsborough County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 21-year-old motorcyclist is in critical condition after a collision Monday night in Hillsborough County.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash occurred shortly before 6 p.m. at Busch Boulevard and Twin Lake Boulevard.

A 29-year-old driver of a Ford Focus was traveling westbound on Busch Blvd. and turned left at the intersection of Twin Lake Blvd.

FHP believes the driver of the Ford Focus traveled into the path of a motorcycle traveling eastbound on Busch Blvd.

The motorcycle collided with the passenger side of the Ford Focus.

The 21-year-old biker was ejected from the bike, according to FHP.

He was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in critical condition.

The driver of the Ford Focus did not suffer any injuries in the crash.

According to the report, the investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

Motorcycle accident injuries can be devastating, and oftentimes fatal. If you or somebody you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident due to a driver’s negligent or reckless behavior behind the wheel, you need the help of a Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton right away.