Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog

Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota Counties Whittel & Melton, LLC

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.

October 21, 2024

News: Helene, Milton causes $884 million in damages in Sarasota, Manatee Co.

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SARASOTA AND MANATEE COUNTY, FL – Sarasota and Manatee County officials estimate that Hurricane Helene and Milton caused around $884 million in structural damages.

Sarasota County authorities told the Herald-Turbine that they speculate that the aftermath of Helene led to $337.7 million, while $306 million from Milton, tallying up a total of nearly $634 million in damages. Manatee County officials said they believe that damages from Milton resulted in over $250 million but did not specify if that included Helene as well. The only cities within Manatee County that don’t currently have damage report numbers are Bradenton, Palmetto, and the three cities on Anna Maria Island: Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, and Holmes Beach.

Both counties, however, are not off the hook yet with a loss of damages. All counties in the state of Florida, which include Manatee and Sarasota counties, are expected to see “between $17 billion and $28 billion” in wind and flood losses from Milton and uninsured property losses are anticipated to only increase “ between $21 billion and $34 billion,”according to data from CoreLogic.

October 18, 2024

News: Hurricane debris fire reported in St. Pete Beach

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ST. PETE BEACH, FL – A mounting pile of hurricane debris caught on fire at a debris loading site in the area of Egan Park Tuesday night, WFLA reports.

It is unclear what exactly caused the fire, but a nearby resident, identified as Joan Welden, looked out the window and dialed 911 as fast as she could. Fire crews rushed to the scene and immediately extinguished the flames.

While no individuals were harmed in this incident, the growing pile of leftover debris from Hurricane and Milton does pose environmental concerns since pollutants are permitting, and thus also causing risk to residents’ homes and bodies, especially since many of the occupants are older and struggle with respiratory and cardiac disease.

October 17, 2024

News: Tampa crews work 7 days a week to clean up Milton debris

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – There are no days off for Tampa city crews who have to work seven days a week to get the city cleaned up after Hurricane Milton within a three-month span.

According to Fox 13 News, personnel have to clean up an estimated million cubic yards, or the size of “10,000 football fields full of debris,” as Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says.

The 90-day time limit was first prescribed by Governor Ron DeSantis, who then ordered the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to create an emergency order. The emergency order states that Florida cities are to pursue hurricane cleanup efforts for the first “90 days or until debris mission is complete.”

October 17, 2024

How to Handle Debris from Hurricane Helene and Milton in the Tampa Bay Area

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

In Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, the debris from two hurricanes is piling up, leaving clean up crews racing to get everything picked up in a timely manner.

Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and all the Tampa Bay area are aiming for all storm debris to be cleared within 90 days of Oct. 11, which is the time limit set forth by FEMA for cities to get full reimbursement.

The city of Tampa has already processed 292 tons of debris so far, according to reports. The city and contracted haulers are working around the clock to get the debris removed.

October 16, 2024

News: Tri-Par Estates Mobile Home residents fight for normalcy after Milton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SARASOTA, FL – The Tri-Par Estates Mobile Home Park residents are among the many who are working to restore their lives to normalcy after the powerful Hurricane Milton.

Images from Fox 13 News show torn-off roofs and numerous twisted panels and windows scattered about following the storm surge, which was said to have been between 8 to 10 feet, according to additional data from The Tallahassee Democrat.

While it’s unclear how many homes in the entire county have been destroyed by Milton, the Tallahassee Democrat declares that 100 homes in Sarasota alone have been hit really hard.

October 15, 2024

Protect Yourself During a Power Outage After Hurricane Milton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

As of Tuesday morning, more than 220,000 people in Florida are still left without power. Hillsborough County and Pinellas County has the most outages, according to the Florida Power Outage Tracker, with Hillsborough County still seeing more than 92,000 outages and Pinellas County seeing more than 40,000 outages.

Manatee County is not far behind with more than 29,000 outages and Sarasota County follows with more than 22,000 outages still.

Florida Power and Light Company is working around the clock to get power restored to Floridians, according to reports. They have dispatched 20,000 workers from 41 states as well as Canada to assist with restoring power.

October 15, 2024

News: Over $146 million needed to restore Manatee Co. after Milton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MANATEE COUNTY, FL – It’s going to take a significant amount of time and money, specifically over $146 million, to restore properties that have taken a hit from Hurricane Milton.

County authorities told MySunCoast News that commercial property damages amounted to more than $16 million, while damages to residential homes are believed to be up to $130 million. The hurricane, which was identified as a Category 3 event, has totaled 19 homes and affected more than 2,000 buildings. More than 500 homes have also experienced some minor damage.

Daily life after this tumultuous storm has also taken a daily toll on the lives of residents across the board. Regular commuters have had to navigate around downed traffic lights, and power outages are still frequent.

October 14, 2024

News: 65 St. Pete homes destroyed in Hurricane Milton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Since Hurricane Milton made landfall last Wednesday, records show that a total of 65 homes have been destroyed and 762 homes were significantly damaged.

This information comes from the Pinellas County Residential Damage Assessment for Hurricane Milton, which also indicates that 2,276 homes sustained minor damage.

Images from NBC News also highlights some examples of affected homes in the Twin City Mobile Home Park, including two mobile homes with significant damages to the roofs, which were either completely or nearly knocked to the ground. One completely totaled home was shown with a large tree leaning against it, and building debris, including a large amount of plywood, scattered about. Another home could be seen with its door frames, flooring, and walls torn apart.

October 11, 2024

News: Elderly woman fatally hit by downed branch after Hurricane Milton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – A woman in her 70s died Thursday after being struck by a falling tree branch in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall just the day before.

This incident occurred before 11 a.m. on North Nebraska Avenue, amid hurricane reconstruction efforts and the debris cleanup procedure, WFLA reports.

The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, succumbed to her injuries at the scene before officers arrived. At this time, police believe this event was an accident but will continue their investigation and work to determine whether other factors played a part.

October 10, 2024

News: St. Pete’s Tropicana Field roof totaled by Hurricane Milton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Even Tropicana Field Stadium’s roof panels were no match for the dangerous Hurricane Milton, as most were torn apart due to the 101 mph winds.

According to Fox 13 News, the winds were strong enough to break through the fiberglass, only sparing two roof panels.

Tropicana Field, while home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays year round, was set to become a temporary housing shelter and evacuation center for St. Petersburg residents. However, due to some concerns about the structural integrity, authorities who okayed the set-up soon called off this project.