Wrongful Death

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