Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyer

May 16, 2018

Man Killed in Wrong-Way Crash in Plant City

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A wrong-way driver was killed late Monday in a crash in Plant City.

According to Plant City police, A 2002 Volkswagen Passat traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of N. Alexander Street collided head-on with a semi truck just before midnight.

The man driving the Volkswagen was killed at the scene.

The driver of the semi was not harmed.

An investigation is ongoing but officials said there is no indication yet why the man was driving in the wrong direction.

There were no passengers inside either vehicle at the time of the crash.

According to data from the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of people killed in motor vehicle accidents has decreased by a whopping 25 percent over the past 10 years. While those statistics are great, the number of deaths associated with wrong-way driving crashes has remained steady over that time, according to the NHTSA, with around 360 deaths associated with these types of collisions every year.

March 27, 2018

1 Dead, 4 Seriously Injured in Largo Crash Involving Wrong-Way Driver

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 17-year-old girl is recovering at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Monday after a Largo crash involving a wrong-way driver left her and three of her friends all with serious injuries.

The girl was a passenger in the front seat when the cars collided head-on.

Her three friends were also hurt and hospitalized.

Troopers said the other driver in the crash, a 26-year-old woman, was driving the wrong way on 66th Street North. They believe alcohol was a factor.

The woman died in the wreck.

Wrong-way driving collisions usually end in fatality, as this case shows. Most wrong-way driving crashes occur as a result of motorists operating their cars under the influence of alcohol or because they are confused and unaware that they’ve turned onto an exit or one-way street.

Wrong-way driving accidents take the lives of numerous people in Tampa Bay every year, and leave many more seriously injured. The recent rise of wrong-way crashes is alarming, as all of these crashes should be preventable.

March 1, 2018

Speeding Car Crashes into St. Pete Home

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A speeding car was apparently trying to flee law enforcement early Thursday morning when it crashed into a St. Petersburg house, according to law enforcement.

The 27-year-old driver suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

Deputies say that drugs were found inside the car and that the investigation is ongoing.

He was charged with trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in MDMA, possession of hydromorphone, possession of marijuana, and reckless driving.

Just before 2:45 a.m., the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was conducting a traffic stop when the car took off, with one of the deputies trying to stop it, authorities say.

A violent crime task force unit happened to be in the area and it spotted the car being driven recklessly at a high speed, according to deputies.

The unit and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies did not try to stop the speeding vehicle, but did keep an eye on it, authorities said.

At around 2:52 a.m., the car crashed into a home on 5301 10th St. North, deputies say, adding that the person in the house at the time was not hurt.

Speeding is one of the largest contributing factors to any auto accident. Speeding is a negligent driver behavior that is not only illegal, but extremely dangerous, as this case shows. It is also more likely that those who drive faster than posted limits do so on a regular basis.

If your accident was the result of another person’s negligence, you have the right to file a claim for financial compensation. Filing an auto accident accident lawsuit can help victims recover damages for property loss, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and so much more. Our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you through the claims process so that you receive full and fair compensation for your losses.

February 22, 2018

Pedestrian Killed in Tampa Hit-And-Run Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Tampa police are currently investigating an early-morning fatal hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian.

According to Tampa police, the crash happened in the 6900 block of east Adamo Drive just before 5 a.m. The pedestrian died as a result of the crash.

The eastbound lanes of Adamo Drive were closed at 50th Street for several hours.

No further details regarding the crash have been released.

Pedestrians are injured and killed every day by negligent motorists. At Whittel & Melton, our Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Attorneys take a hard stand against at-fault drivers, especially those that flee the scene of an accident, leaving an innocent person suffering. We work hard to protect victims and their surviving family members recover the full and fair damages that they are entitled to recover under the law. We firmly believe that reckless drivers have to be held accountable for their actions.

Pedestrian accidents can be quite complex. The insurance company involved will certainly have a team of adjusters and lawyers involved simply to protect their best interests and minimize payouts. You are no match for the insurance company and their team of professionals by yourself. In fact, the insurance company knows this and hopes that you will not get a lawyer on your side. This is why you must level the playing field and let our Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton help you through this difficult time.

November 20, 2017

Thanksgiving Is One Of The Deadliest Days To Be On The Road

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Many Americans look forward to Thanksgiving every year as it truly is one of the happiest days of the year. While endless families throughout the United States are enjoying the day with their family, eating turkey, and getting ready for the rest of the holidays, others are battling with dangerous and reckless drivers sharing the roadway. As with any other holiday, accidents and injuries run rampant during the Thanksgiving holiday period.

The reality is, holidays always make the roads a bit riskier. There is always an influx of traffic because everyone is heading to a destination on or around the same day. Sadly, more drivers on the roads means more accidents. Many people are driving in unfamiliar areas, so they are probably more likely to be distracted by their phone, texts, phone calls, or GPS navigation systems. More drivers also means more traffic, which can lead to high-stress situations and reckless driving. Lastly, more people consume alcohol on holidays, so there is an increase in the number of drunk drivers on the roadways. DUI accidents usually spike on Thanksgiving weekend.

Our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want to advise anyone out on the road during Thanksgiving weekend to be safe and obey the rules of the roads. Keep an eye out for dangerous drivers, and make sure you are not one yourself.

If you or a loved one is injured this Thanksgiving holiday, we are here to help. We know how devastating car accidents can be, which is why we are dedicated to doing everything in our power to help you through this difficult time. Whether you are seeking legal counsel and care for your medical bills, emotional distress, or loss of work and wages, we are here for you in your time of need.

October 4, 2017

Pedestrian Accidents On The Rise: Pedestrian struck, killed early Monday in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A pedestrian was killed early Monday after being struck by two vehicles on a major Tampa street.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened on Hillsborough Avenue near 50th Street.

Troopers said the pedestrian was struck in the eastbound lanes just before 3 a.m.

Both eastbound and westbound Hillsborough Avenue were closed for several hours after the crash.

Authorities have not released any further information as of yet.

The Governors Highway Safety Association shows that the number of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents increased 11 percent last year, to nearly 6,000. That’s the biggest single-year increase in pedestrian fatalities ever. It is also the highest number in more than two decades. The National Safety Council reported that traffic deaths overall went up 6 percent nationwide in 2016.

In Florida alone, we saw 301 pedestrian deaths from January 2016-June 2016, an 8.7 percent jump from 2015, which yielded 277 pedestrian deaths.

After speeding and the failure to yield, distractions are the number three cause of pedestrian fatalities, particularly due to electronic devices. Drivers distracted by their devices are a well-documented, rising cause of traffic fatalities.

Vehicle speeds are also a factor. According to reports, if a pedestrian is struck at 20 miles an hour, they have a 10 percent chance of dying. If they are struck at 40 miles an hour, they have an 80 percent chance of dying. According to the GHSA, 74 percent of pedestrian fatalities happen at night, and 72 percent of those killed were not crossing at intersections. Another significant factor is alcohol. The GHSA reports that 15 percent of pedestrians killed each year are hit by a drunk driver.

August 8, 2017

3 Pinellas Teens in Stolen Car Die in Violent Crash: Why You Need UM Coverage

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Florida authorities said three teenagers – one 14-year-old and two 16-year-olds – stole a sport utility vehicle, sped away from officers and died in a fiery, violent crash early Sunday morning.

The 4:30 a.m. crash happened in Pinellas County.

A fourth teen in the SUV, who is 14, survived and is hospitalized.

All the teens all had criminal histories – including one who had gotten out of jail on July 31.

Reports indicate that a Ford Explorer and a Chrysler Sebring were stolen from a Clearwater car dealership Thursday. Both vehicles were spotted by deputies early Sunday morning. Deputies tried to apprehend the drivers of the cars, but didn’t pursue them. The sheriff’s office’s pursuit policy generally does not allow deputies to chase stolen cars.

Deputies believed the teens were using the stolen cars to commit burglaries. At one point, they set up a perimeter to try to catch the teens, but a deputy spotted the vehicles outside of the perimeter.

According to reports, the cars were in a “cat and mouse” game with each other, accelerating and slowing down, hitting speeds of 100 mph or more.

The deputy that spotted them did not initiate a high-speed chase, but the Explorer continued at about 100 mph when it hit another vehicle, caught fire and went airborne. The Explorer also hit a billboard pole.

The driver hit by the Explorer suffered minor injuries, reports indicate.

Officers found the Chrysler Sebring and arrested the two in that car; one is 16 and the other 18.

Drivers in the state of Florida are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and a minimum of $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Sadly, many drivers fail to abide by this law and drive without insurance. When someone is injured in a car accident with someone who does not have insurance or does not have adequate insurance, things can become quite difficult for the injury victim.

May 13, 2017

Car Strikes Pedestrian in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A pedestrian was killed late Tuesday in Tampa.

According to police, the pedestrian was struck near the intersection of West Hillsborough Avenue and North Tampania Avenue.

Officers have not released details of the crash, but said the driver did stay at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.

The identity of the person killed has yet to be released.

Even the most careful pedestrians risk their lives when crossing a busy street, especially at night. If a driver is distracted or simply cannot stop on time, they can hit a pedestrian, which likely will result in serious personal injuries or fatalities. Pedestrians injured in a vehicle crash can suffer physical injuries as well as emotional trauma, lost wages and other damages. If death occurs, the pedestrians surviving family members may be able to collect damages for their pain and suffering.

Florida is home to the top four metropolitan areas on the list of most dangerous large metro areas for walking in the country. The top spots go to:

Orlando-Kissimmee
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Jacksonville
Miami-Fort-Lauderdale-Pompano Beach

May 5, 2017

Enjoy An Injury Free Cinco de Mayo

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Tampa Bay residents are gearing up for Cinco de Mayo fiestas today! This is the perfect time to enjoy Mexican-inspired food, drinks and fun with friends and family.

Unfortunately, drunk driving rates increase over the holidays. Every day in the United States, an average of 27 people lose their lives to drunk drivers.

While you cannot control the actions of other motorists, you can reduce the likelihood of getting in a crash with a drunk driver.

April 10, 2017

Man Killed Crossing Road In Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 23-year-old man was killed Wednesday morning in a pedestrian-involved crash near Ulmerton Road in Clearwater.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened at 6:45 a.m. near westbound Ulmerton and 34th Street North.

Troopers believe the Alachua man was walking northbound across Ulmerton Road when he stepped into the path of a Honda Element SUV being driven by a 23-year-old man from St. Petersburg.

He was rushed to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg where he later died. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.

The crash is currently being investigated.

When a person dies because of another person’s carelessness, certain family members are entitled to recover compensation by filing of a wrongful death lawsuit. Different from a personal injury claim, a wrongful death suit is filed by a family member of the deceased instead of the victim of the accident. Wrongful death claims can provide financial compensation to surviving family members for emotional and financial injuries suffered whereas personal injury lawsuits provide the victim with monetary compensation based on the injuries suffered as a result of the accident.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another, our Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help. We can walk you through what steps need to be taken and make sure you understand what to expect.