Hillsborough County Injury Attorney

December 8, 2016

FDOT Fixing Deadly Lakeland Road

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Officials are working to make a Lakeland road safer after three people died along the roadway in the past three years, most recently in May of this year.

The details of a Florida Department of Transportation study will be released later and suggest that improvements on Clubhouse Road should be made.

A high school student was struck and killed by a school crossing guard supervisor as he tried to cross the road in the dark in May. The teen was trying to get to his school bus stop.

In August 2014, the body of a woman was found next to Clubhouse Road, the apparent victim of a hit-and-run. In November 2014, a man was hit by a Ford F-250 as he rode a skateboard on Clubhouse Road.

The problems on the roadway, which also has a development entrance, include a lack of sidewalks, crosswalks and lights.

The fatal crashes date back to 2014 with three cases of people being struck by cars as they tried to cross Clubhouse Road. All of the accidents happened in the dark.

In addition to lighting, FDOT will suggest connecting sidewalks that aren’t continuous, adding signs to address speeding and installing left-hand turn lanes at three of the busiest intersections along the roadway that don’t have traffic control signals.

Dangerous road conditions are the cause of many fatal traffic accidents in Florida. Auto accidents involving deadly roadways can occur because of the poor surface condition of a road, improper design, lack of adequate marking or signage, inadequate guardrails, poor traffic control in work zones, and many more as this article highlights.

A driver that has suffered an injury in an auto accident may not even realize that poor road conditions played a part in their collision. Sometimes these accidents require an independent investigation by a skilled lawyer. Our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have experience with complex traffic accidents, which is why we work with traffic accident reconstruction experts to identify the exact cause of auto collisions. We can analyze your accident and determine if dangerous road conditions contributed to the crash.

December 3, 2016

Boy Drowns In Backyard Pool In Davenport

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 1-year-old child drowned Tuesday night in a pool at a Davenport home.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the child was found floating in the family’s pool at their home.

Deputies and emergency personnel responded to the home after the child was found floating in the pool just before 5:30 p.m.

Family members said the boy was able to get out through a sliding glass door without anyone noticing.

When the family noticed he was missing, they began searching for him and found him in the pool.

A neighbor, who is a registered nurse, performed CPR until emergency crews arrived but they were not able to save the boy.

Backyard swimming pool accidents usually result in catastrophic injuries and even death. According to the Center for Disease Control, drowning is a leading cause of injury and death for kids ages 1 to 4, and the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages. For children between the ages of 1 to 4 years old, swimming pools pose a huge risk of drowning injuries and wrongful death.

For every child under the age of 15 who dies from drowning in a swimming pool, another 10 children receive emergency room care for nonfatal drowning injuries. Nonfatal drownings can result in brain damage and long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functions.

November 29, 2016

Spilled Gravel Causes Cars To Crash On I4, 1 Man In Serious Condition

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 24-year-old man is in serious condition after a multi-vehicle crash on I-4 in Hillsborough County Tuesday morning.

The Florida Highway Patrol believes a truck traveling northbound on the crosstown connector entered the ramp to travel eastbound on I-4 and spilled a large amount of gravel onto the roadway, causing two vehicles to lose control and collide with the barrier wall.

According to the FHP report, the 24-year-old man got out of his vehicle to inspect the damage and was hit by a third vehicle. The impact caused the man to fall over the wall 33 feet to the ground below. He is in serious condition at Tampa General Hospital.

The other two drivers did not suffer any injuries.

Due to the accidents and spilled gravel, the ramp was closed for several hours.

FHP is asking anyone with information on the truck that spilled the gravel to call 813-631-4020.

An auto accident involving a dump truck can be quite serious, as this case shows. Dump trucks are primarily used for transporting materials like gravel, sand, or dirt for construction purposes. A car accident can easily occur when dump trucks spill materials on the roadway. Gravel can break windshields, blow out tires and cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and crash.

Auto accidents involving trucks can end in serious and sometime fatal injuries. If you or someone you love has been involved in a truck accident in Hillsborough County, our Tampa Bay Truck Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help with your personal injury or wrongful death claim. We firmly believe the at-fault driver should be held responsible for their actions.

November 28, 2016

One Dead, One Injured In Mobile Home Fire In Odessa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

One person was killed and another was injured early Monday in a mobile home fire in Odessa.

According to officials, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded just after 6 a.m. to a fire in the Silver Dollar Golf/Trap and RV Resort.

The firefighters found flames shooting through the roof of the double wide mobile home when they arrived and were also notified of a possible person still inside the home.

Crews immediately started search and rescue operations inside the home and firefighters located that person in the home. The person was found dead.

The 1-alarm fire destroyed the mobile home and caused damage to the outside of the neighboring homes.

During the fire, paramedics at the scene were notified of a person at a home across the street that needed medical attention. That person was taken to an hospital and their condition is improving, according to officials.

Officials have not released information on the people impacted or how the fire started.

An investigation will take place into what started the fire.

Approximately 11 million people live in mobile homes across the United States. On average 22,000 fires occur in mobile homes each year, killing 500 people and injuring another 1,000. Sadly, we see more fire deaths in mobile homes each year. In fact, fire death rates for mobile homes are twice those in other types of houses. The main culprit of mobile home fires is electrical and heating equipment.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a mobile home fire, you may be able to file an injury or wrongful death claim against the manufacturer for various defects. Some of the most common defects involve the following:

Smoke detectors
Egress doors and windows
Interior wall and ceiling covering materials
Plastic tub/shower fixtures
Draftstops
Appliances and electrical

November 10, 2016

New Bike Lanes Coming For Downtown Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

According to new reports, the Florida Department of Transportation is holding a public workshop to discuss a new bikeway through downtown Tampa.

The proposed bike lanes would be on the north side of Jackson Street, running from Ashley Drive to Nebraska Avenue.

The addition would look a lot like the new lanes already on Cass Street.

These bike lanes are considered a win win for the area due to the tremendous growth the area has seen.

In the early phases, locals will see protected bike lanes on Cass Street, or ‘the green spine,’ complete with bike signals.

While the addition will give cyclists a safe place to ride, cyclists can still face many dangers riding on the new lanes, and some of these risks include:

New drivers unfamiliar with traffic laws
Drivers unfamiliar of the new lanes
Intoxicated and negligent drivers
Need for bicycle maintenance
Failure to wear a helmet
Open door accidents

Bikers should always perform proper maintenance checks before they head out onto the roadways to make sure there brakes are in working order. In addition, they should wear protective gear.

Every cyclist should be aware of his or her surroundings at all times. If a cyclist is involved in an accident, our Tampa Bay Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help. We can identify all negligent parties responsible for the accident.

November 3, 2016

Allegiant Air Forced To Make 77 Unexpected Landings

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

According to reports, Allegiant Air’s planes are four times as likely to break down in flight as those operated by other major U.S. airlines.

The Tampa Bay Times reported Wednesday that Allegiant jets were forced to make unexpected landings at least 77 times in 2015 for serious mechanical failures.

None of the incidents prompted enforcement action from the Federal Aviation Administration, which doesn’t compare airline breakdown records to look for warning signs.

Times reporters built a database of more than 65,000 records from the FAA.

The newspaper reports that during interviews at the company’s Las Vegas headquarters, Allegiant acknowledged that its planes break down too often and said the company is changing the way it operates.

In situations where an airline has received ongoing criticism for equipment failures, a serious risk is posed to all passengers. While it does not appear anyone was harmed in these unexpected landings, it is important to note that it is very possible to suffer serious injuries in rough landings.

In the case of equipment/mechanical failures on a plane, the airline is liable for any injuries that may have occurred in an airplane accident.

September 22, 2016

Pinellas Park Motorcyclist In Critical Condition

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A motorcyclist is in critical condition after a crash in Pinellas County ejected him from his bike.

According to the Pinellas Park Police Department, the 41-year-old was driving his motorcycle near the western entrance of the Home Depot on 73rd Avenue North when a car pulled out in front of him.

The man was launched from his 2000 Honda motorcycle.

He was not wearing a helmet. After the crash, he was taken to Bayfront. The other driver and his passenger did not suffer any injuries.

The motorcyclist suffered severe injuries. He remains in critical condition. There are no criminal charges associated with this investigation, but officers said traffic citations are pending.

This article sheds some light on why it is so important to wear the proper safety gear on motorcycles. Even the most skilled riders cannot control the reckless and negligent actions of other drivers sharing the roadway.

The subject of whether a person should wear a motorcycle helmet comes up all the time. Some riders believe that they should have the freedom to ride without the constraints of wearing a helmet. Other riders recognize the dangers of riding without a helmet. Numerous studies have shown that a helmet can save a life. It can prevent a motorcyclist from brain damage and some severe neck injuries.

In the state of Florida, the law regarding motorcycle helmets is this:

A person over 21 years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle without wearing a helmet if they are covered by an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle.

August 29, 2016

Motorcyclist Killed In Lakeland Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 53-year-old motorcyclist died in a crash with a truck early Monday morning.

It happened around 7 a.m. on Walt Williams Road and Walt William Loop.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 2014 Ford F-150 was traveling south on Walt Williams Road.

At the same time, the 53-year-old biker was traveling north on Walt Williams Road on a 2014 Harley-Davidson FXDB.

Troopers believe that as the Ford turned left into a business parking lot, it traveled into the path of the motorcyclist.

Troopers believe the motorcyclist applied the brakes and began to skid in an effort to avoid the collision, but the truck and motorcycle collided.

The biker was transported to Lakeland Regional where he later died from his injuries.

Regardless of how safe a motorcyclist is on the road or how much safety gear they are wearing, many motorcycle accidents result in death. These sudden, unexpected tragedies leave family members and other loved ones feeling lost, sad, confused and even angry.

August 26, 2016

Attention Tampa! Labor Day Weekend Is Next Week: Avoid Water-Related Accidents

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Can you believe that Labor Day weekend is next week? Sadly, that means that summer is coming to an end. If you are like most Americans, you will have a three-day weekend to celebrate all your hard work this year. While you may be planning a trip to the beach or hanging back to relax at the pool with friends and family, just know that with all gatherings, the risk for injuries increases over holiday weekends.

If you are injured or someone you love is killed in a boating or swimming pool accident, you should discuss your legal options with our Tampa Bay Watercraft & Boating Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton as soon as possible following the accident.

We know that many Floridians favorite pastime over Labor weekend is to head out and enjoy the water on one of the last summer weekends. The waterways and public pools can be crowded this LDW, and crowds can increase the hazards, including drowning or near-drowning accidents.

If you are heading out with friends and family to spend the weekend on beaches, lakes and rivers, put safety first. Boats, jet skis, tubes, and other water sports equipment are fun, but they can be dangerous. Most people tend to listen to music and drink when on the water, which can cause everyone to get distracted and ignore safety measures. Another thing to remember is that drunk, distracted, or inexperienced boat drivers can often be involved in boat crashes that can injure passengers.

Keep in mind, anytime water is involved, there is always the risk of serious drowning incidents or other catastrophic injuries.

August 16, 2016

Wrong Way Tampa Crash Results in DUI Arrest

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Tampa man was arrested and charged with DUI after a head-on traffic crash late Saturday night.

Deputies believe the 36-year-old crashed head-on into another vehicle while driving southbound in the northbound lanes on Anderson Road near Hoover Boulevard at approximately 11:15 p.m.

One person suffered minor injuries and was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The man was suspected of being under the influence and a breath test was submitted resulting in a BAC of .173/.168.

The man was arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence (over .15) and No Valid Driver’s License.

The Tampa area has seen an unusually high number of wrong way collisions recently. Sometimes knowing what to do in these situations can be the difference between life or death. The following tips can help you and your loved ones stay safe on Tampa highways.

Many wrong-way drivers are on the wrong-side of the road because they are intoxicated. If you have time to react, flash your lights to try and get their attention.
Swerve to the right to help avoid a collision with a wrong-way driver. You will often see wrong-way drivers entering the freeway veering to their right side of the road, or in the fast lane because they think it is the slower traffic lane. If you veer to your right this could prevent a terrible tragedy from occurring.
Stay alert, keep your head up, look ahead on the interstate at least a quarter of a mile so that you can give yourself time to try to see a wrong-way driver that could be coming your way.
Most wrong way collisions result in head-on crashes and sideswipe accidents. Always wear your seatbelt, as this could keep you alive in the event an unfortunate crash cannot be prevented.
Call the cops immediately If you see a driver going the wrong way! Try and report as many facts as you can, such as the year, make, model, location, direction, and license plate number, if possible.