Tampa Bay Wrongful Death Lawyer

May 23, 2018

41.5M Travelers for Memorial Day Weekend, a 5% Hike

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

According to AAA travel club, more than 41.5 million people will travel for the 2018 Memorial Day weekend, which is 4.8% more than last year. This will be the most travelers since 2005 for the holiday period that runs from May 24 through May 28 this year.

AAA goes on to say that 7 out of 8 travelers will be driving despite the most expensive gas since 2014. Gas averaged $2.72 per gallon in April, which was 33 cents higher than last year.

These numbers mean that 2 million more people will be traveling this year, so travel delays could triple along major roads, according to INRIX, a transportation analytics company. The busiest days will be Thursday and Friday, May 24 and 25, according to INRIX. The worst delays will be in NYC, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.

Our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton want you and your loved ones to be safe this Memorial Day Weekend. We have compiled a few safety tips to get you to and from your destinations safely:

Always obey the rules of the road. Slow down when weather conditions are bad or if you are unfamiliar with the road.
Pull over or switch drivers when you get sleepy.
Put your phone down to limit distractions. Ask a passenger to handle snacks, music, and directions to reduce any further distractions.
Roadside assistance memberships can be a real lifesaver should you have a breakdown. This can also save you time, so consider investing in one.

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.

May 14, 2018

Motorcyclist Killed in Tarpon Springs Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a bus in Tarpon Springs on Thursday.

According to Tarpon Springs police, the crash occurred around 5 p.m. at the intersection of Tarpon Avenue and Huey Avenue.

The motorcyclist, an 18-year-old man, collided with a privately operated bus. No passengers were aboard the bus at the time of the collision.

Paramedics transported the biker to Florida Hospital North Pinellas, where he later died of his injuries.

No further information on the crash is available.

Intersections are dangerous places for bikers to be. If other motorists are distracted, running red lights or not implementing safe left-hand turns, they place motorcyclists and everyone else sharing the roadway at risk for suffering serious personal injuries or even wrongful death from potentially fatal accidents. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a motorcycle intersection accident, our Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you with your case.

Intersection accidents can happen for numerous reasons. Running red lights is a common cause for intersection accidents. Dangerous left-hand turns can also lead to serious intersection crashes. Motorcycles can easily get rear ended at intersections as well. Another common cause of intersection crashes is attributed to aggressive or distracted driving habits. Drivers travel in different directions at intersections, leaving very little to no margin for error. If motorists aren’t being safe, they’re putting other drivers at risk.

May 9, 2018

Two Killed in Personal Watercraft Collision in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Two people have died after two personal watercrafts collided in Tampa.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said a 42-year-old Tampa man was fatally injured when his watercraft collided Monday in the waters off Tampa with a watercraft driven by a 41-year-old Clearwater woman.

The man died at a hospital Monday.

The wildlife commission said the woman was critically injured in the crash and died Tuesday at a hospital.

Authorities are still investigating the crash.

Boats are not the only causes of water-related accidents in Tampa. Jet Skis and other personal watercraft vessels are often to blame. Many people view these pieces of equipment as toys, so they fail to take the necessary safety precautions, but the truth is, they can be quite dangerous when used incorrectly.

April 16, 2018

Pinellas County Parents Accuse Hospital of Medical Negligence in Son’s Delivery

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Pinellas County parents are suing a St. Petersburg hospital, alleging negligence in the delivery of their son.

The couple filed a complaint on April 2 in Pinellas Circuit Court against CHS/Community Health Systems Inc., doing business as Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, alleging the hospital breached professional standards of care and treatment.

According to the complaint, on May 4, 2017, the woman was at Bayfront Health for the delivery of her son who suffered a brain injury during the birth procedure. The lawsuit says the parents suffered irreparable harm, including additional medical costs, time and resources in an attempt to secure medical records as a result of the unlawful practice of the hospital to withhold portions of the records that are crucial evidences to evaluate medical negligence for the woman’s labor and delivery.

The parents allege Bayfront Health St. Petersburg violated state and federal laws pertaining to their right to health information.

Medical malpractice or negligence cases involve a complex set of rules regarding standards of care. To be successful in these cases against negligent medical providers, you need a Pinellas County Medical Malpractice Attorney at Whittel & Melton who understand the complicated legal facets of your case and can tackle even the most daunting of opponents on your behalf.

We pride ourselves on helping those who have been injured by the negligence or carelessness of doctors, nurses, OB-GYNs and other medical providers in Pinellas County and throughout the state of Florida. Many labor and delivery medical malpractice cases involve:

Birth injuries
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
Brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Defective medical devices
Dangerous drug interactions
Prescription medication errors
Surgical mistakes
Anesthesia errors

April 12, 2018

Man Dead After Boat Capsizes in Tampa, Near Davis Island

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A man is dead after a boat capsized Saturday afternoon in Tampa, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The incident happened shortly before 2 p.m. in Hillsborough Bay just south of Davis Islands.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene after receiving 911 calls about six people clinging to a buoy.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office used boats to pull some five people out of the water. One of the people recovered from the water, a 57-year-old man, died from his injuries.

One person was able to swim to Beer Can Island and was rescued by MacDill Air Force Base Marine Patrol.

One person was transported to a hospital for treatment.

FWC is conducting an investigation of the boating incident.

The boat, which sunk, will be retrieved once the weather improves.

Just like anyone driving a vehicle on the road, boat operators have a responsibility to control their vehicles safely on the water. Operators must understand how to navigate the vessel properly, travel at appropriate speeds, comply with all laws, and never operate the watercraft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Not all boating accidents can be attributed to operator negligence or inexperience, though. Boating and watercraft accidents can also result from poor maintenance or defective boating design.

Issues that arise in boating accidents, such as proving negligence and responsibility, are similar to car accident and truck accident cases. However, when water is involved, there are additional factors that require the expertise and knowledge of a Tampa Bay Boating Accident Attorney at Whittel & Melton.

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.

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.

December 26, 2017

Motorcyclist Killed in Tampa Bay Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Tampa police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash early Saturday morning.

The crash occurred at South Manhattan Avenue and West Euclid Avenue.

Police believe the motorcyclist hit a tree.

The victim, a 36-year-old man, suffered fatal injuries.

The crash caused the road to be closed for several hours Saturday morning while police conducted the investigation.

No further information is available at this time.

Motorcyclists take on a certain amount of risk when they hit Tampa’s open roads. They are much more vulnerable than passenger vehicle drivers in crashes, as they have nothing except their personal gear between them and the asphalt. After a motorcycle accident, talk to our Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton. We can help you understand your rights.

Every motorcycle accident claim is different. It takes an aggressive attorney to argue with insurance claims adjusters and fight for the fair compensation you deserve. An investigation of the crash and injuries or wrongful death, along with any eyewitness and expert testimonies, can help prove a case and determine just damages.

December 21, 2017

Tree Trimmer in Critical Condition after Being Shocked in Clearwater

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A tree trimmer was in critical condition after being shocked by a power line while working Monday morning.

Clearwater Fire & Rescue identified the 38-year-old victim and confirmed he is being treated at Tampa General Hospital.

Authorities said the man was trimming trees while on a ladder on Milton Street when the incident occurred.

It happened just before 11 a.m.

Work accidents involving electric shocks can be deadly. In most cases, workers who are exposed to electricity suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries, such as severe internal injuries and heart failure or cardiac arrest. Workers who are working at dangerous heights when they come into contact with electricity often suffer other serious injuries. Once they are shocked, the worker is likely to fall to the ground, and could easily suffer severe personal injuries including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and fractures.

Tree trimmers regularly work at heights, so they are especially at risk for being injured or killed in electric accidents. In fact, dozens of workers are injured or killed in work accidents involving contact with an overhead line every year. Tree trimmers, roof workers, and construction workers working on cranes are likely to come into contact with an electrical line.