Wrongful Death

September 5, 2013

Tampa Bay Injury Attorney :: Driver responsible for Clearwater Hit-and-Run Crash Turns Himself In

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 29-year-old man responsible for a hit-and-run collision in Clearwater that killed a man and severely injured a woman has turned himself in, according to Clearwater Police.

The man apparently told police he blacked out and cannot remember hitting the man and woman on Monday morning on the Memorial Causeway. However, he noticed his car was damaged and saw a news report on the accident, which triggered him to go to police.

Police claim that a camera on Clearwater Beach captured the man’s green Nissan pick-up truck leaving the area Monday morning. Minutes before the camera photographed the man’s truck, the camera picked up the man and woman in the same area on their tandem bike.

The pair on the bike suffered severe injuries. The man eventually died from his injuries and the woman remains in critical condition.

The responsible driver, who works at a Clearwater Beach hotel, told officials that he was at work and then got off and that is all he remembers. He claims he woke up later, took a shower and then saw the incident on the news.

According to police, a tipster called Crime Stoppers with information about the driver. Additionally, an unnamed individual apparently pointed the man out to a police officer at the beach.

Police found the man’s truck behind his mother’s Dunedin mobile home Tuesday afternoon. Police claim there was damage to the truck’s front end and the windshield was missing.

It is not clear at this time whether alcohol played a role in the collision.

The man is now facing one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving severe injury.

Records show that he has previously been arrested for disorderly intoxication and racing on a highway.

In addition to the criminal penalties this man is now facing, the surviving victim and the other victim’s family could potentially seek civil damages against the at-fault driver. Civil penalties can be sought through what is known as a personal injury or wrongful death claim. A personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit allows individuals and/or their families to recover financial compensation and an overall sense of closure following an unexpected and traumatic accident.

August 15, 2013

Tampa Bay Injury Lawyer :: Bicyclist Killed in Collision with Pickup Truck in Plant City

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 22-year-old man was killed Tuesday morning after a pickup truck struck him as he tried to bike across a road, according to authorities.

The Plant City man was apparently improperly crossing the southbound lane of N Park Road around 11:15 a.m. when he was hit by a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 67-year-old Lakeland man, according to Plant City police.

The bicyclist died at the scene. The driver of the pickup truck was not harmed.

Police confirmed that no charges would be filed against the driver.

Bicycle riding has become increasing popular over the years, both for transportation and recreation. Due to the fact that biking is much more common nowadays, the number of collisions between cars and bikes has also increased. Unfortunately, anytime there is an accident between a bike and a car, it is often the biker that suffers severe injuries or possibly death. For this reason alone, it is extremely important for all bike riders to follow the traffic laws and always be on the lookout for possible hazards, including inattentive drivers or other obstacles in the roadway. However, even the most vigilant biker is still at risk on the roads of Tampa because drivers do not always pay attention to people on bicycles.

Bicyclists must follow the same rules of the road as automobile drivers. Bikers are required to ride in the same direction as traffic and stay off of the sidewalk. However, it is not uncommon to see cyclists riding against traffic or on a sidewalk. Cyclists must stop at all traffic signs and signals and observe traffic laws. Additionally, bicyclists must display lights and reflectors while riding at night. When bikers fail to follow the rules of the road, tragic accidents can occur.

August 5, 2013

Manatee County Auto Accident Injury Lawyer :: 8-Year-Old Child Killed in Collision on State Road 70

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An 8-year-old Bradenton girl was killed in a gruesome crash in Manatee County on Sunday.

Officials believe the crash occurred east of I-75 on State Road 70, just west of Curtis Road around 4 p.m.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a SUV lost control and drove over a median, striking another car head on.

The 8-year-old Bradenton girl was killed instantly in the accident. Four other adults were flown to Blake Medical Center in serious condition.

Five helicopters were needed to transport all injured parties to the hospital.

The road was temporarily shut down in both directions so rescuers could tend to the injured while aircraft landed and departed.

Troopers are still investigating the cause of the accident, but speed is believed to have been a factor.

Speed limits are enforced to keep traffic moving at a steady enough rate so that motorists and pedestrians alike can avoid any unnecessary dangers. However, when drivers violate these limits by speeding, this recklessness places everyone sharing the roadway at risk for danger. Sadly, when motorists make unsafe driving decisions, the result are often catastrophic. Should a collision occur, the negligent driver should be held responsible for any injuries and deaths their poor judgment caused.

Many people fail to realize just how hazardous speeding is. Driving faster than the law allows poses a risk to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Speeding creates reduced reaction times, which can lead to catastrophic car accidents that result in serious injuries or death.

June 25, 2013

Tarpon Springs Wrongful Death Lawyer :: Tampa Bay Area Man Killed in Forklift Accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 25-year-old Tarpon Springs man was killed Tuesday afternoon after a massive roll of steel fell on top of him.

Reports indicate that the man was standing on the tines of a forklift next to a flatbed truck, preparing to unload rolls of steel when the accident occurred.

According to Pinellas Park Police, the man was trying to unload some rolls of steel when he cut a band that was holding the bundle together, causing one of the rolls to fall and crush him against the forklift.

The man was a three-year employee of USP Structural Connectors.

Accidents involving industrial vehicles like forklifts may not be as frequent as car or motorcycle accidents, but they can occur, and when they do they are often fatal or cause serious injuries due to the weight of the machinery involved. In the United States alone, industrial accidents account for more than 1,000 deaths each year. These dangerous accidents usually happen because of the serious safety issues that often surround industrial and construction sites. More than 7 million people across the U.S. work in industries or on construction sites, and there are numerous different types of accidents that can deliver serious injuries or even death to workers.

Industries and construction sites are notorious for causing severe injuries or death to workers and contractors because of the possibility of explosions, faulty machinery, electric shock and other workplace hazards. If you or a member of your family has been injured or killed in an industrial accident due to negligence by an employer or company, you must protect your legal rights and contact a Tarpon Springs Wrongful Death Lawyer at Whittel & Melton for complete assistance filing your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

April 24, 2013

Tampa Bay Wrongful Death Lawyer :: Worker Crushed By Elevator at St. Pete Beach Resort

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 45-year-old Tampa Bay area man working on an elevator shaft was crushed to death Wednesday morning at the TradeWinds Island Resorts.

The man was vacuuming water from the bottom of the elevator shaft at the Jacaranda Beach Villas, condominiums on the grounds of the resort with another worker when the elevator fell from the second floor and killed him. The accident occurred around 10:30 a.m. The other man was working outside the shaft and was not injured.

At this time, no one is entirely sure what caused the elevator to fall. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, hotel maintenance locked the elevator in place with a key, and the power was supposed to have been cut.

Hotel officials could not explain the tragedy.

Sadly, this man is not the first to have been killed in an elevator-related accident this year. Last month, a man was found inside an elevator shaft at Tampa International Airport after he apparently fell to his death. This particular accident remains under investigation.

State law does require elevators to be inspected annually. In Florida, inspections are conducted by private companies certified by the state.

The TradeWinds Islands Resorts’ elevators were inspected Monday, and all of them passed. No reports of any violations were found on the elevator that killed the worker.

The inspector’s report did note water at the bottom of the elevator shaft. Officials claim that this can happen naturally as the ground water table rises.

TradeWinds hired an environmental cleanup company to remove the water. The deceased and another worker from the company came Wednesday. The men had filled two barrels with water from the elevator before 10:30 a.m. when the elevator fell.

St. Pete Beach firefighters were called to the scene at 10:37 a.m. Not long after, the St. Petersburg Technical Rescue Team recovered the man’s body.

March 4, 2013

St. Petersburg Auto Accident Attorney :: One Killed in Overnight Collision on Interstate 275

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

One person was killed in a car accident Sunday night on Interstate 275.

The Florida Highway Patrol and St. Petersburg police arrived at the crash site around 10 p.m.

Southbound traffic on I-275 was blocked for several hours, but was clear in time for Monday morning rush hour.

The crash occurred between 38th Avenue N and 22nd Avenue N.

No additional details are available regarding the collision.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 33,808 people were killed in auto accidents throughout the United States in 2009. While this number may seem high, it was actually a 9.7 percent decrease in the number of people killed in related accidents in 2008. Although statistics show that the number of fatal car accidents has declined in the U.S. in recent years, this doesn’t help family members who suffer unexplainable shock and grief when a loved one has passed away in a motor vehicle accident. This is a highly emotional and troubling time, and family members need help working through the stress and anger the wrongful death of their loved one has caused.

When someone you love is unexpectedly killed in a car accident, it can be confusing and leave you at a loss for what to do next. You and your family should focus on grieving, but you may be forced to deal with hefty financial burdens related to the accident, like hospital bills, funeral costs and other expenses. Facing financial hardships following a fatal accident can be more than anyone can handle. A St. Petersburg Wrongful Death Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you hold any negligent parties accountable for your loss.

A wrongful death lawsuit can help you recover compensation for many various damages, including:

• Funeral Costs
• Hospital and Medical Expenses
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of Consortium
• Lost Wages
• Loss of Income and Benefits
• Physical Pain and Emotional Suffering