Accidents caused by other people's negligence are by their very nature, unplanned. It's for this reason that when an accident happens, victims may find themselves bridled with injury, pain and financial losses, not knowing which way to turn.
Being involved in an accident can be one of the most unsettling and devastating times in a person's life. During this time, having a seasoned attorney on your side, looking out for your best interest, can be the difference between becoming whole or struggling with pain and financial loss for years to come. If you are a victim of an accident, who you select as your attorney is the most important decision you need to make.
We are here to help.The Tampa Bay Personal Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton guarantee that our clients receive the personalized attention they deserve. Our first priority is doing everything in our power to fight for full and fair compensation for your injury and loss.
Our Pinellas and Hillsborough County personal injury practice involves every type of injury case-- from serious car or motorcycle accidents to slip and falls to premises liability. The first step we take with our prospective clients is to schedule a free consultation to discuss the facts of the case. Our St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyers then will offer advice about options to seek financial recovery following a serious accident, catastrophic injury or the wrongful death of a loved one. We represent clients on injury claims arising from of a wide range of incidents and accidents. Click any area to the left to learn more about the scope of our practice.
If you have been in an accident, we don't think that you should have to suffer unnecessarily just because you were involved in an accident and are awaiting resolution to your case. While we cannot take the pain away, many times, we are able to refer you to Doctors who will treat and manage your pain, even if you don't have health insurance.
We Stand with You.Most importantly, at Whittel & Melton, you can be confident that we will stand behind you and your case. Once we commit to representing you, we will never put you or your claim on the back burner, and we are available by phone 24 hours a day.
We promise to aggressively pursue the parties and insurance companies involved in your case to obtain justice for you and your loved ones. Through financial settlement or trial, we will prepare your case to achieve maximum compensation. You will never be responsible for any attorney's fees unless and until there is a successful financial recovery for your damages. Simply put, we will not be satisfied until you are.
We are proud to help accident victims throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota Counties – including Tampa, Brandon, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida.
Please call us at anytime. We are available 24 hours a day. (813) 221-3200, (727) 823-0000, (866) 608-5529.
TAMPA, FL – Tampa Police were summoned to a collision at the Long Street and North 22nd Street intersection after 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Police are investigating the exact details of this crash and have not provided more information at this time.
Our newsroom will issue updates to this developing story as more details emerge.
TAMPA, FL – A hit-and-run collision near Palmetto Beach claimed the life of a cyclist early Monday, according to Tampa Police.
Investigators say the victim was riding a blue Huffy bicycle south on the shoulder of Causeway Boulevard at the Licata Bridge sometime after midnight when he was hit by a Honda Civic.
First responders discovered the adult male cyclist dead at the scene at about 6:50 a.m. His identity is being withheld pending further investigation.
TAMPA, FL – A motorcyclist lost his life when he was fatally hit by a Hyundai Santa SUV driver turning left on the 1100 block of eastbound West Sligh Avenue along ZooTampa.
This collision took place after 4 p.m. Saturday. Tampa Police said the motorcyclist, who was only identified as a Hispanic man in his 20s, was going west on Sligh Ave. when he collided with the SUV’s driver’s side. The man succumbed to fatal injuries at the scene.
Police believe speed could have contributed to this fatal wreck. The SUV driver remained at the scene, and no charges are pending.
SARASOTA, FL – Sarasota Police were summoned to a collision on the 202nd block of North Tamiami Trail at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
Police are investigating the specifics of this crash and have not reported any injuries, how the collision came to be, and other details.
Updates will be provided should they become available.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Florida Highway Patrol revealed that at least one person suffered injuries in a collision on I-275 North at mile marker 26 Friday.
Troopers were dispatched to the scene after 6 p.m. and are just arriving. They have not said what contributed to this collision or listed the number of people and vehicles involved. Updates will be provided as they become available.
RIVERVIEW, FL – No one was injured in a collision that took place on the 3723 block of South U.S. Highway 301 Friday.
Hillsborough County deputies arrived at the scene after 5:30 p.m. It is not immediately clear what led to this crash, nor have officials revealed the number of people and vehicles involved.
More details will be provided as it becomes available.
BRANDON, FL – Florida Highway Patrol revealed that at least one person suffered injuries in a collision on I-75 North near milepost 256 and 257 Thursday.
Troopers were dispatched to the area at 4:42 p.m. and arrived at the scene at 5:40 p.m. There were no reports of road closures. Officials are investigating the exact details of this crash and have not provided more information at this time.
MANATEE COUNTY, FL – A collision involving two trucks on I-275 claimed the life of a 38-year-old man from Cape Coral after 6 a.m. Monday.
News-Press said a driver of a pickup truck went from southbound I-75 onto westbound I-275 when the left side of his truck collided with the truck driven by the 38-year-old man. The truck operated by the Cape Coral man then went onto the north shoulder and rolled over, ejecting him. As a result, the 38-year-old man was declared dead at the scene.
It is not immediately clear which driver emerged first on the westbound lanes of I-275.
TAMPA, FL – A man’s life was claimed when he was ejected from his Ford Explorer SUV after it overturned on the Courtney Campbell Causeway after 3 a.m. Thursday.
First responders declared the man dead at the scene, WTSP revealed. Officials shut down the State Road 60 ramp leading to the eastbound causeway for several hours for investigation and to clear the scene.
It is not immediately known what led to this collision. Updates will be provided as they become available.
Overnight, two long-track tornadoes swept across the Bay area, causing some damage in Citrus, Pinellas, and Pasco counties.
Fast-moving tornadoes produced by the early-morning storms left a path in Citrus County and came ashore around two in the morning. A different tornado that originated near Clearwater Beach and traveled into Pasco and eastern Hernando County was also produced.
Tornadoes in Crystal River and Clearwater/northern Pinellas have been officially identified. Later Thursday, storm survey teams will be in the neighborhood to see whether any additional locations had tornadoes.
Citrus County and the Clearwater/Dunedin area will be the subject of two damage surveys, according to the National Weather Service.
The Harbor Pointe condos by Frenchy’s Market, a condominium complex in Dunedin, had a section of the third story wall blown off during the storms. The structure, which was situated on Causeway Boulevard, had a huge hole left in it. According to a neighbor, nobody was home when the damage was done to the property.
According to Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast, a tornado’s winds caused a few buildings in Crystal River to fall.
At 2:12 in the morning, Crystal River emergency management reported a tornado at US 19 and W Island Ford Trail. In the area, there were reports of downed power lines and damaged roofs.
At the same time, in Dunedin, trucks were turned over and storefront windows were blasted out in a parking lot near Causeway Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard.
When a tornado appeared to have touched down on the northern portion of Clearwater Beach, Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire & Rescue were called to the site. No injuries have been recorded, although at least two homes on El Dorado Avenue were damaged. The initial calls came in soon before two in the morning.
Officials in Citrus County have closed several roads in Crystal River because of severe damage caused by a tornado that touched down there earlier today.
From the US Highway 19 interchange to Turkey Oak Drive, Highway 44 is closed in both directions. From West Fort Island Trail to Northeast Fifth Street in Crystal River, Highway 19 is restricted in both directions.
All counties in the Bay region, except for Polk, are under a tornado watch until 3 p.m.
Following a tornado, homeowners must endure the arduous process of evaluating the damage to their houses, listing the personal belongings they have lost, completing mountains of paperwork, and filing insurance claims for property damage. Although the recovery process is difficult, most homeowners follow the advice their insurance providers give them and hope for the best. Unfortunately, sometimes that is not enough.
It is likely that a tornado will affect an entire neighborhood, town, or region if it is severe enough to cause havoc. Due to the size of the damage, insurance companies may have to pay out a significant amount in damage claims. As a result, it is possible that they will fight tooth and nail to keep from paying out the maximum on every claim they handle.
Homeowners who are unaware of their rights may accept whatever the insurance company offers—even if it does not fully compensate them for their losses—because the insurer employs skilled legal teams and adjusters who are prepared to restrict how much the company must pay on claims. Furthermore, severe tornado damage can put strains on contractors, adjusters, and other service providers in severely affected areas, which means that homeowners may have to deal with hasty or inaccurate estimates that do not accurately reflect their losses. Continue reading
Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
