DUI Car Accidents

January 12, 2015

Another Driver Arrested for Driving the Wrong Way on Selmon Expressway

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Authorities nabbed yet another wrong-way driver on Sunday on a Tampa Bay area roadway.

Around 2 a.m., a 24-year-old Bradenton man drove around a road block put in place on the eastbound Lee Roy Selmon Expressway for a crash investigation, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers claim the man then turned his 1999 Saturn sedan around before reaching the crash and traveled west in the eastbound lanes.

A trooper helping with the traffic investigation pulled the man and arrested him for driving under the influence. The FHP said he refused to provide a breath sample.

Wrong-way traffic accidents claimed 16 lives on Tampa Bay area roads in 2014. Many of these crashes occurred on divided highways. A handful of wrong-way drivers have been stopped before they could cause an accident.

Just last week the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stopped a woman travelling the wrong way on the Veterans Expressway. It was found that she was confused, but not under the influence of alcohol.

According to the Florida Integrated Report Exchange Program, a total of 223,110 traffic accidents were reported in Florida this year. Of those, 98,817 accidents have resulted in 147,285 people being injured and 1,611 deaths. In 2014, the record month of accidents was March, with 30,183 crashes reported. Moreover, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported in their “Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report 2012” that of the 281,340 accidents in Florida in 2012, a large amount were attributed to wrong-way drivers. A total of 363 accidents resulted in property damage due to vehicles being driven on the wrong side of the road or travelling the wrong way. Another 541 car accidents involved bodily injury, and 53 wrong-way collisions resulted in death.

December 30, 2014

Celebrate New Year’s Safely & Avoid Accidents

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The start of 2015 is right around the corner, which means it is important to address that the New Year’s holiday is known for being one of the most dangerous times of the year, especially for accidents involving drunk drivers.

According to the National Safety Council, in 2014, the three-day period around New Year’s Day was the holiday period with the highest amount of drunk driving deaths. Partygoers who are out celebrating should factor safety precautions into their holiday planning to improve their chances of avoiding a holiday accident.

There are numerous dangers that drivers and passengers face when traveling on the roadways during the New Year’s holiday. Some of the most common holiday hazards include:

More Traffic: With gasoline prices low, more people have been travelling for the holidays. New Years Eve and New Years Day is no exception. With more vehicles on the roads, there is an increased risk for holiday travelers. Drivers can get easily frustrated or distracted when traffic is congested.
Bad Weather: Rain, hail, snow and ice only add to the hazards of New Year’s travel. Even the most skilled drivers are no match for poor road conditions caused by inclement weather.
Drunk Drivers: Holidays and alcohol go hand in hand. Many people use New Year’s celebrations as an excuse to get drunk. When drunk drivers choose to get behind the wheel, they pose a serious danger to themselves and others.

Whether you are hosting a New Year’s party or attending one yourself, remember that there are numerous things you can do to protect yourself from becoming a New Year’s statistic.

Know your limit when it comes to alcoholic beverages.
Designate a driver, take a cab, use Lyft or Uber, call AAA, use public transportation or ask a sober friend to come pick you up.
Report suspected drunk drivers.
If you are planning to attend a New Year’s party, arrange to stay at the party location, or stay at a hotel or motel that is within walking distance.
Celebrate the New Year without alcohol.

December 22, 2014

1 Killed, 1 Critically Injured in Wrong-Way Crash in Plant City

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Wrong-way collisions have been highlighted in the news more than usual this year because of five crashes that claimed 11 lives on interstate highways in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

While this most recent wrong-way crash did not happen on an expressway, a Brandon man was killed and a Lithia man was critically injured on State Road 60 in Plant City early Saturday.

The crash happened near Cable Road just before 5 a.m., leaving the eastbound lanes of S.R. 60 closed for several hours.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 2014 Ford F-250 truck was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of S.R. 60 and crashed head-on with a 2005 F-250.

The wrong-way driver, a 52-year-old Brandon man, died at the scene. The second driver, a 28-year-old man of Lithia, was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition. Authorities have confirmed that he is in stable condition.

Wrong-way accidents usually involve more than one other vehicle. Due to the fact that these accidents are high impact collisions, most wrong-way crashes result in serious injury and fatalities. Wrong-way accidents are usually head-on collisions. And while the wrong-way driver may immediately realize he or she is driving in the wrong direction, it is often too late to avoid oncoming vehicles who are not expecting or prepared for a wrong-way vehicle.

December 12, 2014

Wrong Way Driving Accidents Major Problem in Tampa Bay Area

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The number of wrong way driving accidents has been on the rise in Tampa, and this alarming trend continued on Thursday when four instances of wrong-way drivers on Bay area roads were reported, including one that resulted in a fatal crash.

This recent activity comes despite law enforcement being extra vigilant when it comes to wrong-way drivers.

A Spring Hill man was killed on US 41 Thursday when the car he was a passenger in crashed head-on into another car near State Road 52. The 39-year-old man was killed and his 38-year-old wife suffered critical injuries. The driver of the other car, a 40-year-old Tampa man remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Troopers said alcohol was not a factor in that crash. This man’s death is the 12th this year due to a crash involving a driver going the wrong way on a Bay area roadway.

That fatal accident was the last of four incidents Thursday. Two of the other three did involve alcohol, according to authorities.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies stopped two wrong-way drivers in separate incidents earlier Thursday.

Deputies started getting telephone calls just before 2 a.m. about a wrong way driver in eastern Hillsborough County. Deputies said the woman was stopped driving the wrong way on Highway 60 East at Turkey Creek Road. She was arrested on DUI charges.

Just two hours later, another driver was stopped by deputies going north in the southbound lanes of the Veterans Expressway just south of Gunn Highway. Deputies believe the driver of the Toyota Corolla, a 34-year-old Tampa man, smelled of alcohol, had delayed reaction and watery and red bloodshot eyes. Deputies also allege his blood alcohol was measured at more than two times the legal limit.

And a few hours after that, the Florida Highway Patrol received multiple calls about a motorcycle going the wrong way on Interstate 275 near downtown Tampa.

Troopers responded and located the 25-year-old Tampa biker standing along the southbound inside shoulder next to the parked 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle which was facing north.

The man told troopers he had entered the interstate at Busch Boulevard and was traveling southbound listening to music from his smart phone. According to reports, the man dropped his phone south of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and decided to travel back along the inside shoulder to the area where he had dropped his phone to find it.

The man’s motorcycle was towed from the scene because troopers said he had a suspended driver license at the time of the incident. No charges were filed.

There were no crashes or injuries in the other three wrong way driving incidents.

Drivers that intentionally or unknowingly drive the wrong way on a street, highway or interstate pose an imminent threat to all other motorists and passenger sharing the roadway. Due to the fact that automobiles are heading directly toward one another at a high rate of speed, there is usually very little or no time at all for drivers to react to the situation and avoid the collision. Wrong-way crashes are almost always head-on collisions that result in serious injuries or even death, as Thursdays’ fatality shows.

December 10, 2014

Two Separate Wrong-Way Drivers Arrested for DUI in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Two wrong-way drivers were arrested on Friday after officials said the drivers were operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol.

According to reports, a 41-year-old Miramar man was driving a 2005 Acura traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of S.R. 574 around 2:15 a.m.

Deputies said they stopped the vehicle and noticed that the man had glassy and bloodshot eyes, was unsteady on his feet, appeared very confused and had an odor of alcohol on his breath.

The man’s blood alcohol content was .196., according to deputies.

Nearly two and a half hours later, police arrested another wrong-way driver in Tampa.

Officials claim the man was operating a 1998 Honda around 4:45 a.m. traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Adamo Drive when deputies pulled him over.

Reports show that the man smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech and watery eyes.

Both of the men were charged with driving under the influence.

Drunk driving is a very serious offense that can result in jail time for the offender. Victims of drunk driving accidents deserve to be compensated for their pain and suffering, medical costs and other losses that resulted from the accident. Most people recognize that they can sue a drunk driver for their injuries, but what most people fail to realize is that the pub, bar, restaurant or even the party host that served alcoholic drinks to the driver could also be held liable for damages under Florida’s dram shop laws.

December 8, 2014

Man Charged in DUI Crash that Killed Motorcyclist in Haines City

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 37-year-old Kissimmee man has been arrested for DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in an October collision that killed a motorcyclist in Haines City.

According to Polk County deputies, FDLE blood analysis showed that the man arrested had a blood alcohol content of .145 when he caused the fatal crash on October 12, 2014.

According to reports, the man was driving his 2000 silver Chrysler Concord westbound on Johnson Avenue in Haines City around 5:41 p.m. when he passed another vehicle travelling westbound in a no passing zone.

Deputies believe the man’s car entered the eastbound lane and into the path of a Harley motorcycle being driven by a 52-year-old Lakeland man. The two vehicles hit head-on. The biker was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following the crash, deputies sent a sample of the man’s blood to the state FDLE lab for analysis. Once the results were returned to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies obtained a warrant for the man’s arrest.

On November 27, the man was taken into custody and booked into the Polk County Jail. He was released on November 29 after posting bond.

Most accidents that result from a drunk driver will result in criminal charges being filed. Additionally, the victim of the accident may be able to file a civil claim for his or her injuries. In a case where there is a death, the family of the deceased may file a wrongful death claim.

Filing a claim will not fill the void that is left after losing a loved one, but it can provide some sense of closure. It may help to know that the at-fault party is being held accountable for their negligent actions. Filing a claim can also help to alleviate costs, such as medical bills or funeral arrangements that a family was not prepared to pay for.

October 22, 2014

Reduce Deaths and Increase Awareness: National Teen Driver Safety Week Awareness

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week, so this is a time to bring up the real dangers teens face when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, auto accidents are the leading cause of death for teens. Moreover, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reported that almost half of teen drivers involved in a collision are killed.

While the above statistics present a real problem in regards to teen drivers, a recent survey found that only 25 percent of parents have had a discussion with their teens stressing the importance of driving safely.

The NHTSA discusses the following rules for teens in its “5 To Drive” campaign:

No cell phones while driving
No extra passengers
No speeding
No alcohol
No driving or riding in a car without a seatbelt

The “5 to Drive” campaign was launched during Teen Driver Safety Week last year, and it addresses the five most dangerous and deadly behaviors for teen drivers. The thought behind this initiative is to help parents address these five key issues when talking with their teens about driving.

The statistics regarding teenage driver collisions are sobering. Approximately 60 percent of the teens that died in crashes in 2012 were not wearing a seatbelt and 48 percent of those killed were speeding. Teens are involved in crashes where speeding is an issue at a rate of 60 percent higher than that of adults.

As parents, it is our responsibility to set a good example for our children by always wearing our seat belts and stressing the importance of why we wear them. Seatbelts save lives. In addition, it is important to continue setting a good example by following all posted speed limits and other rules of the road.

Alcohol is another key issue in teen driver deaths. In 2012, NHTSA statistics showed that 28 percent of teen drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were killed in crashes had been drinking.

Another serious problem for teens is texting and driving. In 2012, a study found that cell phones distracted nearly 1 in 5 teens in distraction-related fatal crashes. Extra passengers in the vehicle also cause distraction for teens, and the risk for an accident only increases with each additional passenger. In fact, just one passenger raises a teen driver’s risk of a fatal crash by 44 percent.

April 14, 2014

Clearwater Drunk Driving Motorcycle Accident Lawyer :: Fatal Clearwater Motorcycle Crash Leads to DUI Manslaughter Charges

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Clearwater woman is facing DUI manslaughter charges following a crash that killed a motorcyclist Sunday night.

The 47-year-old woman was arrested after the accident, which occurred around 9:40 p.m. at Missouri Avenue and Belleair Road.

As of Monday morning, she was being held in the Pinellas County Jail without bail.

Clearwater police believe the woman was driving a 2001 Buick Century south on Missouri when she turned left at Belleair and crossed into the path of a 24-year-old motorcyclist traveling north on Missouri on a 2007 Kawasaki.

According to reports, the woman showed signs of impairment at the scene and admitted to consuming alcohol before the crash happened.

The intersection was shut down while traffic homicide teams investigated.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every two minutes across the United States, someone is injured in an alcohol-related traffic accident, and someone is killed every 45 minutes. In fact, more than 40 percent of all fatal traffic accidents involve drunk drivers. Even more shocking is the reality that drunk motorists, on average, drive intoxicated 87 times before they are stopped by police and arrested.

If someone you care for has been killed in a motorcycle accident caused by a drunk driver, please know that you are well within your rights to seek damages against the at-fault driver. A Clearwater Drunk Driving Motorcycle Accident Attorney at Whittel & Melton understands that various challenges can present themselves to family members following a tragic accident and can provide you with the legal experience and resources needed so that any negligent parties can be held liable for their recklessness.

Pursuing a wrongful death claim from an intoxicated motorist is not always just about getting even. Rather, it is about taking care of you and your family’s future, personal well-being and quality of life. Obtaining financial compensation for any medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other accident-related damages is a way to overcome any long-lasting financial hardships that usually accompany a serious accident. Pursuing legal action can help you achieve a sense of justice as well as make sure you and those close to you are taken care of both now and in the future.

January 9, 2014

Tampa DUI Accident Attorney :: Driver’s Alcohol Detection System still in development by NHTSA

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to continue working with a coalition of automakers to develop a Driver Alcohol Detection System to curb the growing trend of DUI fatalities.

According to reports, in 2012, deaths in crashes involving drunk drivers increased 4.6 percent, taking 10,322 lives, compared to 9,865 in 2011.

The Driver Alcohol Detection System, or DADSS, promises to detect when a driver is above the legal alcohol limit of 0.08 BAC adopted by all 50 U.S. states, including Florida. The automatic system would be enabled every time the car is started, but unobtrusive so it would not pose an inconvenience to the non-intoxicated driver.

By early 2015, the agency hopes to have a research vehicle that incorporates two different approaches to measuring alcohol in a person’s system– a touch-based and breath-based system. To date, research using laboratory-scale prototype device is underway, while testing with on-road prototype devices is expected within the next few years.

NHTSA and ACTS are contributing a combined total of $6.5 million to help advance the research into DADSS.

September 30, 2013

St. Petersburg DUI Accident Attorney :: St. Pete Teen Charged with DWI Manslaughter in Double-Fatal Parrish Collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A St. Petersburg teen was recently arrested on charges of DWI manslaughter in connection to a crash that killed a Winter Haven couple in Parrish last year.

The 18-year-old was arrested in early September after the State Attorney’s Office filed charges against her, according to the arrest report.

She has been charged with two counts of DWI manslaughter and two counts of DWI causing personal injury to passengers in her vehicle.

She was being held at the Manatee County jail with bail set at $16,000.

On Jan. 8, 2012 at 8:25 p.m. the then 17-year-old teen was driving her 2005 Toyota Prius westbound on State Road 62 when she reportedly ran off the road, over-corrected and re-entered the roadway, hitting a motorcycle carrying the Winter Haven couple.

The couple was ejected from the motorcycle onto the shoulder of the road.

The 61-year-old man and 55-year-old woman were pronounced dead at the scene.

The teen suffered serious injuries in the collision. When her Prius came to a stop, the car’s front end caught fire.

She was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital following the crash. Her blood alcohol level was determined to be .146, according to police.

The Florida Highway Patrol performed a homicide traffic investigation and recommended charges to the State Attorney’s Office. Charges were filed against the teen on Aug. 21 and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

More than 43,000 people are killed annually in car accidents across the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nearly 40 percent of these fatal crashes are alcohol-related. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 32 people are killed every day in the U.S. in automobile accidents involving a drunk driver. This translates to one death every 45 minutes.