Truck Accidents

November 26, 2014

46.3 Million to Hit Roads Thanksgiving Weekend: Travel Smart, Stay Safe

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Gas prices across the country are at an average of $2.85 a gallon, which is the lowest cost for the entire year and down 43 cents from this time last year. According to AAA, travelers should anticipate more traffic on the roads as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

AAA estimates that nearly 46.3 million people will travel a distance of at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving weekend, Wednesday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 30. This is a 4.2 percent increase from last year and the highest anticipated volume since 2007.

According to AAA, around 90 percent of those travelling for the Thanksgiving holiday will do so by automobile. In accordance with that, Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to be at the highest level since 2007, with 3.55 million people flying.

Those who are driving to get to their Thanksgiving destination should plan their time out properly. It is estimated that it will take at least 25 percent longer to get to your final stop. In fact, Wednesday pre-Thanksgiving rush hour is expected to begin about two hours earlier than on a typical Wednesday. The worst delays are expected to occur between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The National Safety Council expects 418 people will be killed during the Thanksgiving holiday and another 44,700 seriously injured. The best thing that you can do to protect yourself and those you love is to buckle up.

The following safety tips can help make sure your Thanksgiving holiday is safe and sound:

Check to see that your vehicle is in proper working order.
Make sure you have a full tank of gas, check the tire air pressure and make sure the windshield fluid is full.
Always wear a seatbelt and follow the speed limit.
Stay well-rested so that you can be alert behind the wheel.
Exercise caution in construction areas and work zones.
Avoid distractions – do not text and drive, refrain from calling or receiving phone calls and always pay attention to the road.
Take a break. Long trips may require you to stop frequently or even switch drivers.
Keep an emergency preparedness kit inside the vehicle with useful items, such as water, snacks, a flashlight, first aid kit, extra cash and blankets.

November 7, 2014

Survey: Despite Knowing the Risks, Motorists Still Driving Distracted

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

While numerous safety campaigns and drivers’ personal experiences have made motorists more aware of the dangers that distracted driving poses, a recent survey has found that many adults do not fully appreciate the fact that distracted driving can greatly increase the risk of automobile accidents. The survey concluded that many adults continue to use their cellphones while driving, even though they know the dangers of doing so.

The Harris Poll surveyed 2,045 adult drivers about their driving habits during May 2014. Of those adults surveyed, 94 percent said that sending texts while driving is either dangerous or very dangerous. Moreover, 91 percent of those surveyed said the same about reading text messages while driving. However, despite knowing the dangers of texting while driving, 45 percent of those surveyed said that they regularly read text messages while behind the wheel. Another 37 percent admitted to sending text messages.

The poll also found that 69 percent of those surveyed agreed that using a handheld cellphone while driving was dangerous, but 74 percent admitted to talking on the phone while driving and 21 percent confessed they did so frequently.

These results combined with the fact that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that driver distraction killed 3,328 people across the nation in 2012 are especially alarming. The NHTSA also estimates that distracted driving injured 421,000 Americans in 2012.

In order to combat the havoc that distracted driving unleashes on roadways, many states, including Florida, have instituted laws limiting cell phone use while driving. In October, 2013, Florida enacted a limited ban on text messaging while driving. Florida drivers cannot type, send or read messages when behind the wheel. However, Florida’s law is a secondary law, meaning that a law enforcement officer can only pull a driver over and issue a ticket if the officer witnessed some other violation, such as running a red light while texting. A police officer cannot stop a driver for simply texting while driving. Violation of this law is punished as a nonmoving violation, but if a crash occurs because of a moving violation and texting the driver will be penalized six points.

October 17, 2014

Pregnant Woman Suffers Critical Injuries after Being Struck by Tow Truck in Downtown St. Pete

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Police are further investigating an accident that critically injured a 7 and a half month pregnant woman in downtown St. Petersburg Wednesday afternoon.

The 36-year-old mom-to-be was struck by a tow truck near the intersection of 3rd Street North and 1st Avenue North around 2:30 p.m.

According to police, the woman was crossing 1st Avenue North just west of the crosswalk when the truck attempted to turn left onto 1st Avenue North.

The woman was halfway across the center lane when she was hit and knocked down, striking her head on the pavement, according to police.

The light for the truck driver was yellow at the time, according to reports.

The woman was taken to Bayfront Hospital with critical injuries.

No further information regarding the woman’s injuries or the crash is available at this time.

Car crashes, no matter how minor, can present a number of unique risks to pregnant women. The most serious types of after-effects can include preterm labor, miscarriage, internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, birth defects, and the possibility of a high-risk pregnancy that did not exist before the collision. A high risk pregnancy can create a number of complications to both the mother and unborn child before, during and after the birth.

The less serious risks for a pregnant woman can include stress and emotional duress. Mental anguish can often result from the trauma of a car accident, child birth complications, or, in some cases, the loss of the child.

Studies have shown that an expectant mother’s immediate actions following an auto accident are crucial to ensure the best possible treatment and overall outcome for the mother and child.

August 11, 2014

Man Struck by Truck and Killed in Tampa Intersection

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A man was killed early Monday after he walked into the path of an oncoming pickup truck in Tampa, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The man was struck along 50th Street just north of Palm River Road at 4:27 a.m.

Troopers believe a 54-year-old Ruskin man was driving his Ford F-150 pickup northbound on 50th Street when the man attempted to cross the street.

The man died at the scene. The driver of the F-150 was not harmed.

Parts of Palm River Road and 50th Street were closed Monday morning while authorities investigated the crash site.

Intersections can create dangerous conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists and other motorists. Even though there are guidelines that detail how to proceed at intersections as well as who has the right of way, it is common for these rules to be ignored. In many cases, negligent driving practices such as speeding, drunk driving or distracted driving create life-threatening situations when cars and pedestrians enter an intersection at the same time.

The most common intersection accidents entail:

– Running a stop sign or a red light

– Making a right or left turn without checking to make sure the intersection is clear of other vehicles or pedestrians

– Failing to adhere to stop signs or traffic lights

When pedestrians are involved in intersection collisions, the potential for serious injury is increased due to the fact that they lack the protection that a vehicle provides for drivers and passengers. Unfortunately, many drivers do not always keep an eye out for pedestrians in the roadway that are entering an intersection with them, and they often fail to yield the right of way. Intersection car accident claims are usually highly complex. Insurance companies often use this to their advantage and will try and reduce your financial compensation.

June 5, 2014

Sarasota County Injury Lawyer :: Dancer with the Sarasota Ballet Killed in Bicycling Accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 20-year-old dancer with the Sarasota Ballet died in a bicycling accident on Wednesday after he collided with a delivery truck, according to reports.

The dancer, from Brazil, was transported to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton where he died from his injuries Wednesday evening.

The accident occurred in the 5400 block of North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota around 2 p.m.

According to Sarasota Police, the delivery truck, driven by a 58-year-old Tampa man, was making a right turn onto a service entrance road leading into the Ringling Museum.

Police believe the delivery truck pulled in front of the dancer as he was approaching the road. Reports indicate that the driver may have failed to see the man or the bicycle.

The man’s bicycle hit the side of the delivery truck, causing significant injuries.

The driver of the delivery truck has been charged with violation of right-of-way to a bicyclist.

The accident is currently still under investigation.

Bicycle riders suffer an astounding number of serious injuries and fatalities every year in accidents involving motor vehicles. Many of these accidents are the fault of the motor vehicle drivers. In 2012 alone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted that 49,000 bicyclists were injured in traffic accidents in the United States and another 726 were killed.

As many bicyclists are aware, drivers of cars, trucks and SUVs can easily fail to notice cyclists, and many choose to ignore their rights. When motorists do not pay attention to their surroundings, they can make moves that threaten the lives of bicycle riders and others sharing the roadways. Bike riders can suffer severe injuries or even death when motorists fail to check their blind spot before changing lanes, execute right turns directly in front of bikers, sideswipe cyclists travelling on the shoulder, drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, open car doors in front of them, fail to stop at stop signs or even back out from driveways without looking. Even worse, many motor vehicle drivers do not respect the fact that Florida laws protect bicyclists and award them the same rights to use the streets as motorists.

May 29, 2014

Tampa Bay Auto Accident Attorney :: Tampa Bay Area Ranks Second in New Study On America’s Deadliest Cities for Pedestrians

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A recent study shows that the Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater, is one of the most dangerous cities for pedestrians. In fact, Tampa took second place in the top 10 deadliest metro areas for walkers.

The new report from the National Complete Streets Coalition, Dangerous By Design 2014, used a Pedestrian Danger Index to rank the deadliest places to walk in America. Florida is home to the top four cities.

Top 10 Deadliest Cities for Pedestrians:

Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida
Memphis, Tennessee-Arkansas-Mississippi
Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, North Carolina-South Carolina

And here are the 10 safest metros for pedestrians:

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachussetts-New Hampshire
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, New York-New Jersey, Pennsylvania
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, California
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Oregon-Washington
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin
Rochester, New York
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio

You can view the full list here.

The study looked at people who walk to work as well as respective cities’ fatality numbers. Through this research it was found that 47,025 pedestrians died as a result of car crashes between 2003 and 2012. Another 676,000 were injured in pedestrian-related accidents.

Pedestrian accidents are most likely to occur in the following settings:

Urban Areas
Nighttime
Clear Weather
Non-intersections

If you are going to be travelling on foot in Tampa or anywhere else in Florida or across the U.S., please follow the below tips:

Always use crosswalks and sidewalks when they are available for use.
Watch out for things going on around you. Just because you are on a sidewalk does not mean you are in the clear. Pedestrians are often overlooked by passing cars, so keep your eyes open and stay alert.
Never assume that a driver can see you.
Do not walk near freeways, restricted-access highways or other dangerous roadways where signs indicate that pedestrians are prohibited.
Avoid distractions while you are walking, such as texting, playing video games, talking on the phone and other disruptions.
Do not walk near traffic while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

May 16, 2014

Tamp Bay Trucking Accident Attorney :: One Killed, One Injured in Dump Truck Collision in Plant City

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

One person was killed and another remains in critical condition following a serious collision in Hillsborough County Tuesday night.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, a 53-year-old man was killed when his car struck a disabled dump truck along Bruton Road in Plant City.

Deputies believe the driver of the GMC dump truck was putting gasoline in the truck, which was broken down on the north side of Bruton Road facing west. The rear of the truck was still in the road when the deceased man’s 1996 Nissan collided with it at about 45 miles per hour.

According to authorities, the deceased man failed to see the edge of the truck and ran into it.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger was transported to Tampa General Hospital via helicopter and remains in critical condition with severe trauma to the neck.

The dump truck driver was not harmed.

Charges are pending.

A fully loaded dump truck can be very heavy, weighing as much as 65,000 pounds. Unfortunately, an accident between a large truck and a passenger vehicle can result in serious injuries, ranging from broken bones and amputation to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma and even death.

Like all commercial vehicle operators, dump truck drivers are held to a higher standard than non-commercial drivers. If you or someone you love was involved in an accident with a dump truck or any other commercial vehicle, you need to discuss the facts of your case with an injury lawyer who has a firm understanding of state and federal laws. While every case is unique, there are many truck accident cases that involve drivers violating regulations or laws that you may not have been aware of.

April 30, 2014

Manatee County Car Accident Injury Lawyer :: Two Injured after Truck Crashes into Bradenton Home

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Two people were injured after a driver attempting to park in a driveway smashed into a Bradenton home’s kitchen Monday night.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 46-year-old woman was critically injured as a result of the crash, and was taken to Blake Medical Center for treatment where she was listed in stable condition. Another woman, 46, suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the vehicle, a 41-year-old woman, was not injured in the accident, according to reports.

The crash took place just before 5 p.m. as the driver tried to park a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck at a home in the 2600 block of Fifth Street East. According to troopers, she accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal as she pulled in.

The truck rolled forward and slammed into the home, entering the kitchen and injuring the two women.

An FHP press release indicates the driver of the truck faces a charge of careless driving.

Accidents caused by a careless or reckless driver can result in serious and permanent injuries, including head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, back injuries and damage to arms and legs. After a serious car accident, your injuries may require extensive medical treatment and physical therapy, which is why the careless driver should be responsible for any accident-related damages you have suffered. If you have been harmed by a careless or negligent driver in Manatee County, you have a legal right to financial recovery.

In order to recover damages for your injury, you must take the first step and contact a Tampa Bay Car Accident Attorney at Whittel & Melton. We have helped numerous personal injury victims move forward from catastrophic injuries suffered in all types of auto accidents. We know exactly what goes into investigating and preparing negligent driver injury claims, so let us help you.

April 10, 2014

Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Attorney :: Student Struck by Car Remains in Critical Condition

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An 18-year-old man hit by a car while walking home from school on Wednesday remains in critical condition.

According to Tampa police, the student and his friend were running northbound on 40th Street trying to cross Hillsborough Avenue against the light when he was struck.

The man was hit by a woman driving a Toyota Camry. She apparently stopped immediately once she realized she had hit the man.

Police claim the woman probably won’t face charges as it appears the crash was a tragic accident. The woman was not harmed.

This unfortunate collision comes about three weeks after two other students were struck trying to cross a busy stretch of Hillsborough Avenue.

The students and sisters, 14 and 15, were hit by a vehicle on Hillsborough Avenue near 25th Street on March 18 while walking to school.

The 15-year-old died four days after the crash.

Tampa police, along with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Hillsborough County Schools, are working to launch a PSA campaign to educate students about traffic safety.

If you or someone you love was injured as a pedestrian while jaywalking or not in a crosswalk, you may be lead to believe that you have no right to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit because the accident was ultimately “your fault.” However, whether or not you were in a crosswalk, you were jaywalking or whether a traffic light was red, yellow or green, you should be sure to speak with an injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. Regardless of fault, you could possibly have a strong case against the driver of the vehicle that struck you while you were on foot.

Following a serious injury in the Tampa Bay area, it can take weeks, months or years for a victim to recover both physically and emotionally form the accident. In some cases, injuries can be permanent. Financial troubles following a pedestrian accident only make matters worse. It is critical to act fast following a pedestrian accident so that you can take the necessary steps towards recovering just compensation. A Tampa Bay Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can make a great difference in your personal injury case.

April 4, 2014

Polk County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer :: Biker Dies in Collision with Truck in Auburndale

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Winter Haven motorcyclist was killed Thursday morning after a box truck smashed into him, according to investigators.

The crash occurred at the intersection of State Road 559 and County Road 559A in Auburndale shortly after 11 a.m.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the driver of a 2003 white Chevrolet box truck was travelling north on State Road 559 when he pulled into the right hand turn lane. However, the driver apparently realized he was turning the wrong way and attempted to make a left turn onto County Road 559 A from the right turn lane.

The 68-year-old motorcyclist was riding a 2009 Harley Davidson on the same road when he saw the truck slow in the turn lane but kept heading north on State Road 559.

The driver of the truck ran into the motorcyclists’ path when he cut across the lanes to make a left turn. The biker attempted to stop, but ultimately smashed into the right rear end of the truck.

Emergency crews tried arrived at the scene and determined the man was killed on impact. According to investigators, the man was wearing his helmet at the time of the incident.

County Road 559A and State Road 559 were closed at the intersection for nearly three hours before it reopened.

The investigation is ongoing.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to seek financial compensation for your losses. The law allows injury victims and surviving family members of those killed in these types of accidents to obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages. A personal injury or wrongful death claim can successfully get you the proper compensation needed to move on from such a tragic accident.

When a motorcycle is hit by a semi, garbage truck, delivery truck or another large commercial vehicle, the injuries are often very serious, if not fatal. Motorcycles leave riders completely vulnerable in the event of a collision. Unfortunately, the trucking company’s insurance carrier will likely try to deny responsibility for the accident and refuse your claim for financial compensation. A Polk County Motorcycle Accident Attorney at Whittel & Melton can fight for you.