Palm Beach County

May 23, 2014

Florida Auto Accident Injury Lawyer :: Car Crashes Increase over Memorial Day, Stay Safe on Florida’s Roadways

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Memorial Day weekend is finally here and many of you will be setting out to enjoy the official start of summer with our state’s numerous recreational possibilities. With that said, it is estimated that close to 34 million people will be hitting the road over the long holiday weekend and traveling at least 50 miles from home. Whether you are staying local or making a trek to a family member or friend’s home, the Florida Auto Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton urge you to drive safely and exercise caution this holiday weekend.

Memorial Day weekend is supposed to be a time for remembrance and celebration. Whatever type of activity you choose to partake in this weekend, we urge you to do so responsibly. Make sure if you are driving to always pay attention, look out for any roadside construction and always see to it that everyone in your vehicle is buckled up. Remember, if you are going to be drinking at any point during the holiday weekend, just be sure to have a designated driver set in place.

According to AAA, the amount of motorists travelling on the roadways this Memorial Day weekend will be at a 10 year high. Dating back to past Memorial Day weekends, statistics show that there is an increase of more than ten percent in motor vehicle accidents vs. other holiday weekends.

You can help exercise safety this Memorial Day weekend just by brushing up on a few safety steps:

Always give yourself enough time to get from Point A to Point B.
Follow all posted speed limits.
Limit Driver Distractions.
Make sure everyone, including those in the back seat, is wearing their seat belt.
Do not drink and drive. In fact, make sure you have a designated driver assigned before you start drinking so that you are not tempted to drive after consuming alcoholic beverages.

May 13, 2014

Florida Child Injury Lawyer :: Look Before You Lock – The Risks & Consequences of Leaving Children Alone in Hot Cars

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

We rely on our vehicles to get ourselves and our loved ones safely where we need to go, however it can be easy to forget that when you leave a child in the car for too long, the results can be deadly. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the leading cause of all non-crash-related fatalities involving children aged 14 and younger is heatstroke.

Vehicles can reach extreme temperatures very quick, even if you have the windows rolled down. A child’s body absorbs more heat on a hot day than an adult’s does due to the fact that children’s bodies have a harder time regulating body temperature. Heatstroke can happen even in cars parked in a shaded area on days that reach 80 degrees or less. Studies have shown that in temperatures around 80 degrees, a vehicle can become lethal in just 10 minutes.

As parents and caregivers, it is vital to understand the risks and consequences associated with leaving kids in vehicles, especially hot cars.

Potential Risks

In just 10 short minutes, a car can jump up by 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cracking or rolling down a window does very little to keep the car cool.
Even with temperatures in the 60s, your vehicle can heat up to temperatures that exceed 110 degrees.
A child’s body temperature can climb up to five times faster than an adult’s.
Heatstroke can occur even in mild temperatures. In fact, studies show that heatstroke can occur when it is as cool as 57 degrees outside!
A child dies when their body temperature reaches 107.

Possible Consequences

Death from heatstroke.
In the state of Florida, it is considered a second-degree misdemeanor to leave a child under the age of six alone in a car for more than 15 minutes or while the motor was running causing the health of the child to be in danger.
This crime is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

How to Avoid a Tragic Heatstroke

Never leave a child alone in a car, even if you need to run a quick errand.
Remind children to not play in an unattended vehicle.
Do not leave infants or young children in a parked car, even if the windows are rolled down.
Place a purse, briefcase or anything else that you will need when you get out of the car in the backseat, so that you cannot forget about a child riding in the backseat.
Make it a habit to look inside your vehicle, both front seat and back, before locking the door and walking away.
If you should see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 911 right away. If you notice that they are in distress due to heat, it is important to get them out of the car as quickly as possible.

February 20, 2014

Fort Lauderdale Cruise Injury & Maritime Law Attorney :: Cruise Ship Worker Accused of Raping Passenger on Holland America Ship and Trying to Throw Her Overboard

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 28-year-old cruise ship worker has been arrested after being accused of raping a passenger aboard a Holland America Line vessel and then trying to throw her overboard, according to authorities.

The FBI arrested the man Sunday when the MS Nieuw Amsterdam returned to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. The incident apparently occurred early Friday morning in international waters off the coast of Roatan, Honduras.

The victim, a 31-year-old U.S. woman, told detectives that she was attacked and raped in her stateroom. She went on to tell authorities that her attacker attempted to throw her from the balcony, but she escaped and received help from another passenger.

The accused eventually turned himself in. According to reports, the 28-year-old Indonesian man told investigators he attacked the victim because she had disrespected him earlier.

The man has been charged with attempt to commit murder and aggravated sexual abuse.

Holland America Line issued a statement on Tuesday stating that they are working with the authorities to understand how the incident occurred and what additional actions the company can take to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

“At Holland America Line, the safety of our guests is our highest priority, and we are shocked and deeply saddened by this incident,” Holland America Line president and CEO Stein Kruse said in a news release. “To our knowledge, no incident like this has occurred in our company’s 140-year history.”

The MS Nieuw Amsterdam took a seven-day western Caribbean charter cruise that left from Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 9.

If you are a cruise ship passenger that has been injured on a cruise ship then you need to seek experienced legal help as soon as possible. Special laws govern injury claims for passengers of cruise lines, limiting the time you have to file a lawsuit, sometimes as soon as six months from the incident date. A Fort Lauderdale Cruise Injury & Maritime Law Attorney at Whittel & Melton proudly helps passengers that have suffered harm in many different cruise ship accident situations. From criminal assaults or sexual attacks committed by other crew members or passengers to slip, trip and fall accidents and other mishaps arising from negligence, we can help you hold the responsible party accountable for their actions.

January 13, 2014

South Florida Cruise Injury and Maritime Lawyer :: Lawsuit Alleges Carnival Triumph Knew of Fire Risk before Sailing

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Court documents allege that Carnival Cruise Lines was aware of the risk of leaks from engine fuel hoses on the Carnival Triumph that later caught on fire at sea before it set sail on Feb. 7.

Documents filed by Carnival Cruise Lines in federal court in Miami revealed a compliance notice report that was apparently sent to the Triumph one month before it departed Galveston that recommended spray shields be installed on engines’ flexible fuel hoses.

A leak from a hose on engine No. 6 led to a fire on Feb. 10 as the ship made its way back from a stop in Cozumel, Mexico. While no one was injured in the fire, it caused the ship to be disabled. This left more than 4,000 people aboard the ship while it was towed to Mobile, Ala., a trip that many referred to as a “floating hell.”

The documents are part of a lawsuit that was filed in February against Carnival Cruise Lines and its parent Carnival Corporation by dozens of the Triumph’s passengers.

The lawsuit claims that Carnival was negligent in maintaining the ship by allowing it to sail knowing there was a fire risk.

In response to these serious allegations, Carnival said the ship’s engines passed inspection before departure and that the recommendations to install spray shields on flexible fuel lines was beyond necessary safety requirements.

Cruise lines have a duty of care they must exercise when it comes to passengers. When they fail to follow proper safety procedures and act in a negligent manner, passengers are at risk for suffering injuries and even death. While many cruise lines lawsuits can be complex due to international laws, the South Florida Cruise Injury and Maritime Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are familiar with both national and international laws and will fight aggressively to get you the compensation you rightfully deserve for your suffering.

This case shows that Carnival chose to withhold vital information to passengers travelling aboard the Triumph. As a passenger on a cruise ship, it is very important to fully understand your rights under maritime law. The key things to remember are that a cruise line is obligated to keeping passengers safe and when you purchase your cruise ship ticket, the fine print on the back serves as your contract, which often has specific time constraints and limits for filing a claim. Under maritime law, cruise line owners are required to maintain safe vessels, and should for some reason the vessel not be seaworthy and passengers become injured, the cruise line owner can be held liable for damages.

January 4, 2014

Florida Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer :: Police Believe Missing Passenger Fell from Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Canadian passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship vanished recently, and police in the Cayman Islands suspect the 65-year-old may have fallen off the boat.

Search crews have been scouring the waters around the British Caribbean territory looking for the unidentified man believed to have fallen around dawn Tuesday about 13 miles northwest of Grand Cayman.

Police have interviewed staff and witnesses aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship and are still investigating the disappearance.

Police issued the following statement: “The Port Authority broadcasted an appeal to all marine traffic to be on the lookout for the missing passenger.”

The man’s wife reported him missing on Tuesday morning, right as the Independence of the Seas ship prepared to dock at George Town Harbor.

A spokeswoman for Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises said the investigation was turned over to local authorities before the cruise ship departed and continued on its path. The man’s wife got off the ship in the Grand Cayman.

According to police, the wife claims they went to sleep around 1 a.m. Tuesday and that her husband was gone when she woke up about six hours later.

Authorities have searched the 15-deck, 1,112-foot-long craft and reviewed closed-circuit camera footage before the ship set out. The ship is on a six-night cruise that left from Fort Lauderdale on Sunday and has port calls in Jamaica and Haiti. It is equipped to lodge 4,375 guests and more than 1,300 crewmembers.

This man is the second Canadian passenger that has gone missing from a Royal Caribbean ship recently.

On Saturday, a 26-year-old jumped from the Adventures of the Seas near a Puerto Rican island on the last night of a week-long Caribbean cruise with his family. The U.S.
Coast Guard finished its search for the man on Monday.

Cruise ships can be a wonderful way to travel in ease and hit many destinations in a short period of time. Due to its beautiful year-round climate and open waterways, south Florida is the perfect starting point for many cruise lines. In fact, more than 5,300 ships call at Port Everglades in a year making this port located within the three cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Dania Beach one of the world’s best and busiest cruise ports. However, with the increasing popularity of travelling via cruise lines, we are starting to see an abundance of cruise ship accidents, ship malfunctions, crimes and a larger number of reported accidents, injuries and wrongful deaths suffered by cruise ship passengers.

December 26, 2013

Broward County Injury Lawyer :: Two Boys Riding Dirt Bikes Struck by Car in Miramar

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Two boys riding dirt bikes are recovering in the hospital after being hit by a car on Christmas Eve.

The boys, 13 and 16, were riding their bikes around Southwest 66th Terrace and Southwest 28th Street when a Nissan Altima hit them around 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to a Miramar Police spokeswoman.

The two boys were transported to Memorial Regional Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

The driver of the Altima reportedly stayed at the scene after the accident. Police are still investigating the incident.

Dirt bikes and ATV’s, otherwise known as all-terrain vehicles, can be fun for individuals of all ages, but they are also notorious for being very dangerous. Dirt bike and ATV accidents can result in serious injuries, paralysis and even death. If you or someone you care for has suffered an injury from dirt bike or ATV accident, it is important to consult with a Broward County Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton immediately. We represent individuals who have been injured on a dirt bike, motorcycle or ATV throughout Broward County, including the cities of Coconut Creek, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Dania Beach, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Lauderhill, Lazy Lake, Lighthouse Point, Margate, Miramar, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Parkland, Pembroke Park, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Sea Ranch Lakes, Southwest Ranches, Sunrise, Tamarac, West Park, Weston and Wilton Manors.

November 4, 2013

Florida Personal Injury Lawyer :: Jury Duty Scam Alert – Be Warned!

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Jury duty scams are more recent trends that first came on the scene in 2005 and have been going around the United States ever since. The goal of these schemes is to catch unsuspecting individuals off guard and scare them into giving them money or providing their personal information, which often leads to identity theft.

Such is the case in a Denver, Colorado jury duty scam case. The Denver Post reports that a jury-duty scammer has been conning unsuspecting residents of unincorporated Jefferson County by threatening that they will be arrested for missing jury duty if they do not pay him.

The man apparently calls himself Major Tom Wilson with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and tells residents to go to Walmart or Walgreens and buy $1,000 “Green Dot MoneyPak” cards for payment of fines related to missing jury duty.

The “major,” which is a rank that does not exist in the sheriff’s office, tells the victim to read him the numbers off the cards so he can access the cash, which works like a debit card.

Police claim that the suspect recently threatened a deputy who was with a potential victim while talking to the man on the phone. The suspect allegedly told the deputy if he did not permit the victim to go to the store that the “major” would have him disciplined.

Authorities are currently investigating the case and working to track down any new leads, but they are stressing that everyone be aware of the situation.

Jury duty scams likes these can occur anywhere, even in Florida. In fact, just last month a Palm Beach County man lost $2,000 in a jury duty scam.

The man apparently received a phone call from a man claiming he was a police officer and that he had missed jury duty and there was a warrant out for his arrest. The so-called officer told the man that there were fines for missing jury duty and if he did not pay them, he would be arrested.

Similar to the Colorado scam, this south Florida man was instructed to go to two different Walmarts in West Palm Beach and get $2,000 worth of Green Dot Money Pak cards, and give the numbers on the back of the cards to the “officer.”

Palm Beach Police are also warning people to keep an eye out for this scam.

October 24, 2013

West Palm Beach Florida Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer :: Woman Injured in Fall on Cruise Ship

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A woman is recovering from injuries she suffered during a fall on a Carnival cruise ship, according to the Associated Press.

On Wednesday, the United States Coast Guard lifted the woman from the Carnival Sensation and flew her to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
According to the Coast Guard, the cruise line notified them that the 52-year-old woman fell in an elevator and injured both of her legs.

She was listed in stable condition.

No further details regarding the incident or the woman’s medical condition are currently available.

Slips, trips and falls are a leading cause of injuries on cruise ships, accounting for numerous injuries to passengers every year. Depending on the severity of these injuries you may incur lost time from work, costly medical bills and a headache from dealing with any insurance companies involved. Unfortunately, the physical and emotional pain that you endure from these injuries can continue long after your cruise vacation has ended.
Cruise ship injuries are usually caused by dangerous or hazardous conditions as a result of negligence or recklessness of crew members on the cruise ship, wet or slick surfaces on the vessel or barriers on the premise that should not be there. If you are injured from a slip, trip or fall caused by an unsafe condition on another person’s property, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your suffering.

September 4, 2013

Florida Injury Lawyer :: Miami Man Killed in Key Largo Boating Mishap

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 43-year-old Miami man was killed Saturday while boating in Key Largo with his girlfriend.

Autopsy reports are pending at this time.

The girlfriend claims the man jumped into the water to cool off, but the current began sweeping him away. He apparently grabbed onto a fishing line they had in the water, but it broke. She tried to throw the man a life preserver, but the man was too far away to reach it.

The girlfriend told authorities this was her first time on a boat and she did not know how to operate it.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to the accident site and located the man’s body.

Boating is practically a state sport in Florida. Numerous people own boats and enjoy cruising the waterways for recreational or fishing purposes on the weekend or while on vacation. However, a day on the water can turn tragic in just seconds when someone on the boat is careless or negligent in their actions. If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed in a boating accident, you may be entitled to recover damages for your losses.

The main causes of boating accidents can be attributed to the following acts of negligence:

• No Proper Lookout
• Excessive Speed
• Operator Carelessness
• General Inattentiveness
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a boating accident in West Palm Beach, Miami or the surrounding areas, consult with a Palm Beach County Boating Accident Injury Attorney at Whittel & Melton today. Our Florida Injury Lawyers have extensive experience handling all types of boating accident cases, from cruise ship injuries to fishing boat fatalities. We thoroughly investigate all boating accident cases to uncover the possible causes of your accident so that you receive full and fair compensation for any pain and suffering the boating accident has caused you and your family.