Accidents caused by other people's negligence are by their very nature, unplanned. It's for this reason that when an accident happens, victims may find themselves bridled with injury, pain and financial losses, not knowing which way to turn.
Being involved in an accident can be one of the most unsettling and devastating times in a person's life. During this time, having a seasoned attorney on your side, looking out for your best interest, can be the difference between becoming whole or struggling with pain and financial loss for years to come. If you are a victim of an accident, who you select as your attorney is the most important decision you need to make.
We are here to help.The Tampa Bay Personal Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton guarantee that our clients receive the personalized attention they deserve. Our first priority is doing everything in our power to fight for full and fair compensation for your injury and loss.
Our Pinellas and Hillsborough County personal injury practice involves every type of injury case-- from serious car or motorcycle accidents to slip and falls to premises liability. The first step we take with our prospective clients is to schedule a free consultation to discuss the facts of the case. Our St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyers then will offer advice about options to seek financial recovery following a serious accident, catastrophic injury or the wrongful death of a loved one. We represent clients on injury claims arising from of a wide range of incidents and accidents. Click any area to the left to learn more about the scope of our practice.
If you have been in an accident, we don't think that you should have to suffer unnecessarily just because you were involved in an accident and are awaiting resolution to your case. While we cannot take the pain away, many times, we are able to refer you to Doctors who will treat and manage your pain, even if you don't have health insurance.
We Stand with You.Most importantly, at Whittel & Melton, you can be confident that we will stand behind you and your case. Once we commit to representing you, we will never put you or your claim on the back burner, and we are available by phone 24 hours a day.
We promise to aggressively pursue the parties and insurance companies involved in your case to obtain justice for you and your loved ones. Through financial settlement or trial, we will prepare your case to achieve maximum compensation. You will never be responsible for any attorney's fees unless and until there is a successful financial recovery for your damages. Simply put, we will not be satisfied until you are.
We are proud to help accident victims throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota Counties – including Tampa, Brandon, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida.
Please call us at anytime. We are available 24 hours a day. (813) 221-3200, (727) 823-0000, (866) 608-5529.
SARASOTA, FL – An ambulance transported a 48-year-old man to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he passed away after colliding with a parked car Wednesday.
Florida Highway Patrol told WFLA that this collision occurred after 9 p.m. in the 5300th block of Antoinette Street.
Preliminary details from FHP indicate that the driver, for reasons unclear, lost control of his car, went right through a flower bed, came into contact with a ditch, and then crashed into a parked car.
TAMPA, FL – Tampa Police confirmed that a pickup truck driver struck a man in the 3400th block of East Busch Boulevard before 2 a.m. Wednesday.
Police confirmed that the man who passed away was a pedestrian, according to WFLA. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the unresponsive man.
First responders performed CPR on the pedestrian but said he succumbed to fatal wounds.
TAMPA, FL – A man lost his life in a collision reported around 2 a.m. Wednesday on East Busch Boulevard, WTSP revealed.
After arriving, paramedics perform CPR on the man. However, despite their efforts, the man, whose name has not been disclosed, passed away on sight.
Tampa Police also responded to the scene. Upon arrival, they shut down East Busch between Wick Place and Larkhall Place for their investigation and for the scene clearance process.
TAMPA, FL – A 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old man were arrested after causing a collision that claimed the life of a woman in her 60s last Monday, June 3rd.
ABC Action News said that before 10:30 a.m. on Dale Mabry Highway, the 22-year-old man, driving a 2011 BMW, was racing the 19-year-old man, operating a black Camaro. Both men were going at a high rate, which then led the BMW driver — Andy Moya Robaina — to lose control of his car and then crash into a Nissan Versa.
The woman in her 6os was a Nissan passenger. The Nissan driver was a man in his early 70s who was taken to a local hospital for unspecified wounds.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – St. Petersburg Police released the name of a man who lost his life after he was hit by a car on Sunshine Skyway Lane South Friday.
New details from police indicate that the male pedestrian, 83-year-old Danilo Aguero Tamayo, was trying to cross the 7200 block of Sunshine Skyway when he was struck by a driver operating a blue Honda CRV.
After arriving, an ambulance took Tamayo to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. There, he succumbed to fatal wounds.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – An elderly man walking in the 7200 block of Sunshine Skyway Lane South was hit by a Honda CRV, leading to his death Friday.
The St. Petersburg Police Department told WFLA this collision happened around 7:45 a.m. Upon arriving, an ambulance took the pedestrian to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. There, he succumbed to fatal wounds.
Police said the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. They did not confirm if the motorist would be cited or charged for involvement in this collision, nor did they release the victim’s name.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL – A 28-year-old man from Michigan lost his life after he was struck by a Hyundai Elantra on U.S. 41 North Thursday.
This collision happened around 1 a.m., according to WTSP. Florida Highway Patrol declared the man dead at the scene and said an ambulance took the driver, a 23-year-old woman from Land O’Lakes, to a hospital for minor non-life-threatening wounds.
No other details have been reported.
TAMPA, FL – A woman in her 70s passed away, and a man in his 70s was hospitalized after their car overturned near the Hillsborough River Sunday.
This single-vehicle collision happened before noon at West Hillsborough Avenue and North Boulevard, according to Tampa Bay Times.
Tampa Police, who started the investigation, said it happened after the man, the driver, lost control of his convertible, leading him to drift to the left side of the road and hit a utility pole before it overturned.
An accident on Monday morning reportedly resulted in one passenger death and one driver injury, according to the police.
The crash occurred shortly after 11 a.m. at the intersection of N. Dale Mabry Highway and W. South Avenue, involving two vehicles.
After being transported to a nearby hospital, a female passenger in one of the cars passed away. A male driver in the same vehicle was receiving medical attention.
There were no injuries to the driver of the second car.
When we think of car accidents, our minds often jump to the drivers. Their responsibilities, choices, and actions control our primary concerns. Yet, passengers—who have no control over the vehicle—can face equally severe consequences.
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), of the 42,939 fatalities from motor vehicle crashes in 2021, 26,585 were passenger car occupants (63%). Being a passenger in a car accident can result in a variety of injuries, ranging from small scrapes and bruises to serious, life-altering conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or even wrongful death. The physical recovery process can be long and arduous, often accompanied by chronic pain and disability.
Emotionally, the impact can be just as devastating. Passengers may struggle with anxiety, PTSD, and a lingering fear of traveling in vehicles. The emotional scars can affect their relationships, work, and overall quality of life.
Families of deceased passengers can file wrongful death claims against the at-fault driver, whether it is the driver of the vehicle the passenger was in or another involved driver. These claims can cover medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and loss of companionship.
The deceased passenger’s family can claim compensation through the insurance policies of the drivers involved. This may include liability insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and personal injury protection (PIP). An experienced attorney can help navigate the legal process, ensuring that surviving family members receive fair compensation. Continue reading
TAMPA, FL – Tampa Police arrested a 22-year-old man after causing a two-vehicle collision on Dale Mabry Highway, which claimed one life and injured another Monday.
This collision happened before 10:30 a.m. along West South Avenue, Bay News 9 said. Police said the 22-year-old man — Andy Moya Robainia — was racing another driver, going at a high rate, when he crashed his 2011 BMW into a 2015 Nissan Versa.
Police said first responders took the Nissan occupants — a white man in his 70s, the driver, and passenger, a white woman in her early 60s — to a hospital. There, the woman passed away, and the man was set to receive treatment for unspecified wounds.
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