Wrongful Death

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.

September 21, 2017

Pedestrian Struck By Semi In Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 35-year-old Dunedin woman was killed early Wednesday when she was struck by a semi-truck.

According to Clearwater police, the crash happened on U.S. 19 around 1 a.m. The woman was struck by a tractor-trailer headed south on U.S. 19 just north of Sunset Point Road.

Police said the woman walked into the southbound lanes of traffic on U.S. 19 and the 50-year-old driver of the semi was unable to avoid striking her.

The U.S. 19 lanes were closed for several hours.

The crash remains under investigation.

The injuries suffered after being hit by a semi can be life-changing. They usually result in catastrophic injuries or death. If you do survive this type of crash, hospital bills, physical therapy, and time missed from work to heal can severely impact your physical, emotional and financial well-being.

In most cases, insurance companies will be eager to settle your claim, but may not offer you the full and fair amount you are entitled to. For your own protection, never sign anything from an insurance company until you have spoken with an attorney, who can make sure your best interests are protected.

September 19, 2017

Motorcyclist Killed in Crash Involving Pinellas School Bus

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An 18-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash early Monday morning.

Troopers said the motorcyclist crashed into a Pinellas County school bus and died from the injuries he sustained.

The crash occurred just before 7 a.m. at 49th Street N. and 58th Avenue N. in Pinellas County.

Troopers said the man was speeding down 49th Street N. changing lanes multiple times. A school bus transporting seven children to Sawgrass Elementary School was traveling southbound on 49th Street N. and turned east onto 58th Avenue N. well ahead of the motorcycle, which was traveling northbound on 49th St.

Troopers said the man came upon the intersection and changed lanes again to pass another vehicle, and collided with the right rear corner of the school bus on the east side of the intersection.

The man was ejected from his bike and died at the scene.

Troopers said no one on the bus was injured during the crash.

Helmets, protective gear, and making sure to follow all motorcycle safety practices and precautions are all various ways motorcyclists can avoid sustaining injuries in motorcycle crashes. However, motorcyclists share the road with hundreds of larger, heavier vehicles at any given time. All it takes is one mistake from a driver to cause a tragic accident.

Accidents between motorcycles and larger, heavier vehicles rarely end well for the motorcyclist. If the motorcyclist does survive the collision, they usually suffer catastrophic injuries.

Establishing fault in a motorcycle accident can often be a challenge. Auto insurance companies will do everything in their power to try and claim that the motorcyclist was at fault, but that just simply is not always the case. Even the safest of motorcyclists are always at risk due to careless drivers sharing the roadway.

If someone you love was taken from you in a motorcycle accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages. While this cannot bring your loved one back, it can help make sure you are financially taken care of so that you can grieve properly.

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 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.

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 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.