Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota Counties Whittel & Melton, LLC

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.

by

Residents are urging the Florida Department of Transportation for a traffic light at the intersection where two teens were killed this past weekend.

FDOT says it has already taken measures to make that intersection safer and has plans to do more in about five years.

Lakewood Ranch High School students and families are coping with the loss of 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy who were killed in a crash on Saturday.

Troopers said the 17-year-old was making a left hand turn onto Pope Road in the Greyhawk Landing community and didn’t see a pickup truck that crashed into their car.

Residents have complained about the dangerous intersection on State Road 64 for a couple of years.

FDOT says it added a “directionalized medium” — white posts — that prevent people from turning left onto State Road 64. That change was made earlier this year.

There were 17 accidents last year at that intersection and have been seven so far this year.

The FDOT also plans to add a roundabout in 2023.

Each year the Federal Highway Administration reports approximately 2.5 million intersection accidents. Most of these collisions involve left turns. Across the United States, 40 percent of all crashes involve intersections, the second largest category of auto accidents, led only by rear end collisions.

Street intersection car accidents can result in serious personal injuries including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones, burn injuries, internal injuries and even wrongful death. Head-on collisions, T-bone crashes and rear-end collisions are all possibilities at street intersections.

Continue reading

by

The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating a fatal crash involving a motorcycle colliding with a school bus in Pinellas County Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators said the crash occurred at the intersection of 62nd Avenue North and 28th St. North. The bus was traveling west on 62nd Avenue, while the motorcycle, driven by a 21-year-old man, approached the intersection from the opposite direction.

When both vehicles reached the intersection, the bus driver turned the bus left onto 28th St. North, driving into the motorcyclists path, according to investigators. The motorcycle struck the right side of the bus, and the 21-year-old suffered fatal injuries in the collision.

None of the students or staff on board the bus were injured.

Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately far too common. School buses are larger vehicles sharing the road, so one small mistake on behalf of the driver can easily result in serious injuries and even death to motorcyclists involved in collisions.

Our Tampa Bay area Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton investigate bus accidents aggressively, and we will work to make sure you and/or your surviving loved ones get the full and fair compensation for serious injuries or wrongful death. Sometimes just settlements can be achieved through negotiations out of court, but we are not afraid to try the case in court. Our goal is to make sure you and your loved ones are taken care of financially in the future for the suffering endured.

Continue reading

by

A bicyclist was hospitalized Monday morning after he was struck by a vehicle in Pinellas Park.

The crash occurred just after midnight at 62nd Avenue and 66th Street North.

Police said the bicyclist, an adult male, was hit in the northbound lanes, resulting in serious injuries.

He was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Traffic Homicide Investigators are investigating the crash due to the severity of the man’s injuries.

No other information has been released.

If you or a loved one was involved in a bicycle accident and suffered serious injuries, our Tampa Bay Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help. We have the experience, knowledge and resources to help you recover the full and fair financial compensation that you are entitled to for the injuries that you have suffered.

We can help you obtain compensation for all types of serious bicycle injuries, including:

Bicycles offer minimal protection to riders. With just a helmet that the rider is wearing, bicycle accidents are often serious and leave injury victims suffering severe injuries. This is why our injury lawyers fight aggressively fight to help obtain the financial compensation to which you are entitled for your suffering.

Continue reading

by

A 6-year-old boy died Sunday in an ATV crash in Lakeland.

Officials say the child was riding in an ATV driven by an 8-year-old when it crashed.

The boys were apparently riding on a dirt track when the ATV struck two dirt mounds and flipped onto its side, landing onto the 6-year-old boy.

The child suffered “massive head injuries.”

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said his family brought him to a fire station after the crash and he was transported to Tampa Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The 8-year-old boy was not injured.

The boys initially wore helmets but removed them after taking a break and did not put them back on.

According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, nearly 90,000 people a year are injured, and another 120 people are killed in ATV accidents in the United States. Tragically, more than half of all ATV injuries and deaths occur in children under the age of 16. These fatalities can be frequent because children are riding ATVs weighing up to 600 pounds or more that are meant for adults, and can travel up to 60 M.P.H., so life-threatening roll overs and lethal injuries can easily happen.

Our experienced Tampa Bay Injury & Wrongful Death Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can take action for you if your child has been hurt or killed in an ATV accident caused by someone else’s negligence. We work to get maximum compensation for your suffering and financial hardships.

Continue reading

by

A Pinellas County resident is suing a nursing home, alleging insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries and loss of consortium.

A personal representative of an elderly man who passed away filed a complaint July 10 in Pinellas County Circuit Court against FI-Highland Pines, LLC doing business as Highland Pines Rehabilitation Center, alleging failure to provide adequate and appropriate health care and protective and support services resulting in wrongful death.

According to the complaint, the senior suffering from the infirmities of aging, was a resident at Highland Pines Rehabilitation Center. The suit says he developed pressure sores and infections during his stay in the facility, which resulted in pain, suffering, disability, humiliation, mental anguish, health deterioration, malnutrition and wrongful death on April 2.

His heirs say they also suffered the loss of support, love, companionship and incurred substantial expenses in hospitalization, medical care and treatment and funeral expenses.

The suit alleges that Highland Pines Rehabilitation Center failed to provide adequate and appropriate health care and protective and support services resulting in wrongful death.

When you leave a loved one in a nursing home, you expect that they will be safe and well-cared for. You are paying the staff to care for your family member and look after their needs. However, it is all too common for seniors left in nursing homes to suffer from neglect and abuse at the hands of the staff in charge of their care. In the worst cases, incidents of abuse and neglect end up causing death. If the nursing home resident’s death was caused by abuse and neglect, their family members may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the nursing home to recover compensation for the loss of their loved one.

Continue reading

by

A 16-year-old that was struck by a vehicle Friday afternoon in Tampa has died from his injuries.

The teen was hit while trying to cross E. Sligh Avenue near N. Rome Avenue around 3:45 p.m. on Friday.

Police say the teen was running northbound across the street, outside the crosswalk, when he was hit by a Honda Accord.

He was transported to the hospital in critical condition and died on Saturday from his injuries.

Officials say the crash remains under investigation.

Crossing the street where there is heavy traffic, can be quite dangerous. Pedestrians are the world’s most vulnerable road users as they lack the protection that drivers are afforded, which is why they rarely survive collisions. If they do survive, they will likely have serious injuries, including fractures and broken bones, traumatic brain injury or internal organ damage on top of emotional scarring and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Continue reading

by

Two people were injured in a boat crash in Tampa on Sunday, according to authorities.

The crash happened in the area of Channel Drive and Cayuga Avenue, near Davis Islands.

Tampa Fire Rescue believe a boat hit a pole and crashed.

Both people on the boat were injured. They were transported to a hospital unknown conditions.

No other details were immediately available.

Florida is a beautiful state that is abundant in rivers, lakes, and waterways. Many residents and visitors alike take advantage of the state’s beauty and enjoy various boating activities like fishing, skiing, tubing, and relaxing on the water. Sadly, accidents can occur while on the water. Personal injuries resulting from a boating accident are handled in a similar fashion to a car accident.

Continue reading

by

A head-on collision between a Ford Escape and a motorcycle left two people dead and one person with serious injuries.

The crash occurred around 4:27 p.m. on Sunday on US 98 just north of Rockridge Road in Polk County.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the Escape was traveling northbound on US 98 and traveled into the southbound lanes in an attempt to pass another vehicle.

The Escape entered the path of a motorcycle and both vehicles collided head-on, troopers said.

The occupants of the motorcycle, a 72-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman, were ejected from the vehicle. They were pronounced dead on scene.

The driver of the Escape, a 61-year-old woman suffered serious injuries and was transported to Lakeland Regional Hospital.

According to the report, charges are pending.

Motorcycle head-on collisions may not occur as often as other types of motorcycle accidents, but when they do happen the aftermath can be devastating for a rider, any passengers and their families. Serious injuries, including wrongful death, are possible.

Head-on motor vehicle crashes happen when one vehicle crosses the centerline of a road or when one vehicle is traveling the wrong way down a one-way street or highway. This can occur when a driver is:

  • Drowsy
  • Drunk
  • Distracted
  • Otherwise negligent

Any driver whose negligent actions cause a head-on collision can be held liable for any damages that result from the crash. Our Tampa Bay Motorcycle Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you understand what action is needed to recover financial compensation. We know that this cannot bring back loved ones you have lost, but it can help you move forward with your life and work towards grieving your loved one properly.

Continue reading

by

A Lakeland man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing three people in a 2016 wrong way crash.

Witnesses said the man was street racing at the time of the crash. According to witness accounts, he was racing another car when that car cut him off.

The move caused the man to lose control of his car, which went airborne and flipped, landing on the other side of U.S. 98 and colliding with the car carrying the three deceased.

The man plead guilty to three vehicular homicide charges related to their deaths.

The man was facing up to 45 years in prison.

The man’s plea deal also states that he can never drive legally again.

Illegal street racing often occurs with tragic results. Car accidents from these races involve high speeds on unfamiliar roads. In the state of Florida, street racing is considered a very dangerous activity. It has resulted in physical injuries and wrongful death.

Injuries and deaths associated with street racing can be easily avoided. If someone you love has been the victim of an accident caused by illegal street racing, you need to seek legal help as soon as possible. Our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can make sure we gather the important facts of your case and obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

Continue reading

by

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Certified Nursing Assistant accused of sexually assaulting an 85-year-old man.

The 35-year-old is charged with one count of sexual battery.

Deputies say that through June 6 and June 9, the man sexually assaulted the man.

The man was allegedly working as a CNA at a senior living home, where the 85-year-old man lived.

The man is currently being held at Orient Road Jail.

Sexual assault in a nursing home or assisted living facility does happen. This can be the result of the facility not conducting proper background checks on every potential employee. When the facility fails to provide proper screening on any employee with a sexual abuse history, they can be held liable for any sexual abuse and/or negligence.

The facility can also be held liable for the sexual abuse because of improper employee supervision. This is often the result of poor training or understaffing. The nursing facility is required to properly train and supervise all employees on the best methods of spotting sexual abuse. When this does not happen, the facility can be held responsible for failing to take proper security measures to protect residents.

Continue reading

Contact Information