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.
TAMPA, FL – Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a hit-and-run collision reported Friday morning at the North 24th Street and East 17th Avenue junction.
Troopers have not said if anyone was injured, and they have not provided a description of the suspect or their vehicle at this time.
Additional details will be provided as our newsroom comes to learn more.
NORTH PORT, FL – A 23-year-old man operating a sedan rear-ended an SUV and was ejected from his sedan, leading him to suffer fatal wounds Tuesday night.
This crash took place around 8 p.m. near mile marker 183, where the 23-year-old man was driving in the center lane, WFLA said. One SUV occupant sustained minor wounds and received medical attention at the crash site, while the SUV driver and other passengers were unharmed.
Florida Highway Patrol launched an investigation and has not included additional details at this time.
TAMPA, FL – Hillsborough County firefighters were summoned to a semi-truck fire reported around 8:30 p.m. Thursday outside Walmart SuperCenter on Gunn Highway.
First responders told WFLA that a caller noticed smoke coming from the back of the truck (storing empty wood pallets) and wanted crews to come. Fortunately, fire crews arrived a short time later and were able to ventilate the smoke out of the store and extinguish the flames.
The driver and people inside and around the store were unharmed. It is not immediately clear what brought about the fire.
BRANDON, FL – At least one person suffered injuries in a collision that happened before 5 p.m. Thursday in the Towne Estate area.
This crash happened at the Grand Regency Boulevard and West Brandon Boulevard intersection, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies are investigating the events that led to this incident and have not included additional details at this time.
PINELLAS PARK, FL – A 66-year-old man from Largo walked along a marked crosswalk and was hit by a sedan, leading to his death Tuesday.
This crash occurred around 9 p.m. at the Park Boulevard and 76th Street North junction, WTSP reported.
The driver remained at the scene, and officials confirmed they believed the motorist was not impaired or speeding at the time of the collision.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – A pedestrian and two occupants from vehicles suffered serious wounds in a multi-vehicle crash in the United Central area reported around 10 a.m. Thursday.
This wreck happened at 34th Street North and Central Avenue South, according to WSVN.
St. Petersburg Police shut down the area to start their investigation and for the scene clearance process. Police have not provided additional information at this time, including an official update on what led to this incident.
The stretch of roadway west of U.S. 19 in Pinellas County along 62nd Avenue North has little to no lighting, making this a serious hazard for drivers in this area at night.
In addition to poor lighting, there are also ditches on the side of the road and no turn lanes, according to reports.
With more drivers using 62nd Avenue North instead of Park Boulevard, heavier traffic is making the poor lighting an issue.
There is an apartment complex on 62nd Avenue North on between U.S. 19 and 49th Street and many drivers cannot see the turn into the driveway at night, causing them to run off the road and crash into a ditch.
This brings up an important issue involving street lighting and traffic accidents. Even though most drivers do not normally give it much thought, street lights are essential in preventing auto accidents. It is considerably more difficult for drivers to see possible road dangers, traffic signs, other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists when there is insufficient lighting. Furthermore, poor lighting might make some driving dangers worse. It is essential to install streetlights in a way that is advantageous to drivers.
Researchers have discovered that poor street illumination has a significant impact on auto accidents. According to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analysis, in a single year, problems with signs or signals caused over 1,000 crashes across the country. There were additional 1,000 crashes due to poor roadway design.
Additional data support these conclusions. Researchers discovered that most fatal crashes happened between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. in a different NHTSA report. In similar fashion, crashes resulting in injuries most frequently happened between 3 p.m. and 5:59 p.m. Depending on the season, certain times of day can have either minimal or no natural lighting, which suggests that improved street lighting could help lower the number of collisions.
Poor lighting can cause traffic accidents in several ways:
TAMPA, FL – A traffic incident has led to the closure of the right lane on Hillsborough Ave westbound at Orient Rd in Tampa, Spectrum Bay News 9 Traffic reports.
The crash, which occurred around 4:09 a.m. local time on Wednesday, has caused disruptions for early morning commuters navigating through the area.
Tampa: Crash on Hillsborough Ave westbound at Orient Rd. Right lane blocked.
ST. PETE, FL – Authorities have closed 22nd Avenue South between 7th Street South and MLK following a pedestrian-involved crash investigation, according to a statement from St. Pete Police.
The closure was initiated in response to the incident, reported early Tuesday morning, prompting officials to advise commuters to find alternative routes.
#StPetePD Traffic Alert 🚨
NORTH PORT, FL – A 23-year-old Tampa man lost his life in a two-vehicle collision Tuesday night in North Port, according to ABC7
The fatal incident unfolded around 8:30 p.m. on Interstate 75, just north of Sumter Boulevard. According to investigators, the Tampa man was operating a sedan in the northbound middle lane when it collided with an SUV carrying three individuals from Tennessee.
Details indicate the sedan rear-ended the SUV, causing catastrophic consequences. The impact ejected the sedan’s driver, who, tragically, was not wearing a seat belt at the time.
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