Pinellas County

May 7, 2012

Pinellas County Car Accident Lawyers Whittel & Melton :: St. Petersburg Police Officer Issued Careless Driving Citation for February Crash that Killed Man in Wheelchair

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 26-year-old St. Pete police officer was issued a careless driving citation Thursday for a February collision that left a man in a wheelchair dead.

Investigators claim the 45-year-old victim was impaired and had marijuana in his system when he crossed a street around 4:20 a.m. Feb. 19 apparently wearing dark clothing.

It was also determined that the officer was speeding in his marked police cruiser when the accident occurred. Police estimate the man was traveling at a speed of 61 mph in a 40 mph area.

He has a traffic court appearance scheduled for May 24.

The police officer has been with the department since October 2010. An internal affairs investigation is under way and the man has been placed on administrative leave.

The victim, who the report claims had a blood alcohol content of 0.136, became a quadriplegic in the 1980s after a car crash.

Operating a motor vehicle of any kind requires one’s total attention, awareness and motor skills. Someone driving off-road, speeding, racing, using a cell phone or not paying attention to traffic lights and stop signs can cause potentially devastating injuries to other drivers or people near the road. Unfortunately, reckless or careless drivers do not always admit they are to blame. Likewise, insurance companies can be hesitant to pay claims, even when liability is obvious. If you or a loved one was injured due to someone else’s careless driving, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. To receive the best opportunity in pursuing the full and fair compensation you deserve for physical, emotional and financial injuries, it is essential to speak to the Florida Car Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton.

Injuries sustained from careless or negligent driving accidents depend on the severity of the collision. In accidents occurring at lower speeds, soft tissue injuries such as whiplash, cuts lacerations and bruising are common. Following a negligent driving incident, a person may also suffer sprains, strains and connective tissue injuries. Head, neck, back and brain injuries are often the result of inattentive driving accidents occurring at higher speeds. In addition, very catastrophic and debilitating injuries resulting in loss of limbs, amputation, paralysis and wrongful death can be experienced in a careless driving accident.

At Whittel & Melton, our team of personal injury attorneys works with the most qualified accident reconstructionists available. By contacting us immediately, we can get to the accident site and gather crucial evidence, fully examine the scene and obtain any witness testimony. Our thorough examination and close analysis of the facts can make the difference in your case.

November 18, 2011

Tampa Bay Motorcycle Injury Attorneys Whittel & Melton :: Motorcyclist Suffers Severe Injuries in Tarpon Springs Collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 51-year-old Dunedin, Florida man was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital with severe injuries early Monday morning after a crash with a motor vehicle ejected him from his Harley Davidson.

According to Pinellas County officials, the man was driving his 2007 Harley in Tarpon Springs around 4 a.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle.

A 27-year-old Palm Harbor man was driving behind the man and allegedly rear ended the motorcycle.

According to police, the man was immediately thrown from his bike and hit by the car, which supposedly did not stop.

The driver was unharmed and an investigation is ongoing.

Florida’s beautiful year-round weather makes it a very attractive place for motorcycle enthusiasts of all ages. Because of this, motorcycle safety is an important issue. Motorcycle crash statistics throughout the United States have shown an upward rise in fatalities and injuries throughout the past few years, and while Florida’s crash statistics have shown improvement over the years, there are still a tremendous number of casualties for bikers. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the amount of Florida motorcycle collisions and injuries doubled between the late 1990s through 2008. In 2009, a total of 8,313 crashes left 7,435 Florida motorcycle riders with injuries. In that same year, the total number of fatalities involving motorcycle crashes including passenger deaths reached 402. However, that number fell in 2010 to 383 deaths.

Bikers between the ages of 45-54 had the highest number of injuries totaling 1,667 in 2009, according to the Center for Urban Transportation. The same age group had the highest number of fatalities in 2009 as well. According to the National Trauma Databank, riders between the ages of 50-59 are the fastest growing group of injured with their risk for injury almost doubling what it is for younger age groups. When compared to bikers under the age of 40, those over the age of 40 are found to encounter a higher percentage of traumatic injuries, a longer stay in the hospital and even death.

Florida motorcycle accident injuries are physically, emotionally and financially damaging.
Motorcycles do not have the same steel protection of a car, so even the slightest of injuries can put a rider out of work for lengthy time periods causing a family to lose wages, while the aftermath of an accident demands money for repairs, medical bills and other accident-related expenses. Major motorcycle crash injuries can require constant treatment that can cause medical bills to hit the roof causing you even more stress when the reality is you should be focusing on regaining optimal health. From traumatic brain injuries to broken bones and road rash, the Florida Motorcycle Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can get you the medical attention you are entitled to after you have sustained serious motorcycle injuries. Bikers have the same road rights as all other motorists, and the law acknowledges that fact, so do not hesitate to seek the medical care and financial compensation you deserve.

March 28, 2011

Pinellas County, Florida Personal Injury Lawyer :: Largo Woman Involved in Hit and Run with Pedestrian

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

What do you do when you are the victim of a Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Florida? Pinellas County police have arrested a 25-year-old Largo woman after she allegedly struck a 32-year-old man with her vehicle and left the scene of the accident. Deputies have charged the woman with aggravated battery with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest after she hit and injured the man.

When purchasing your auto insurance it is imperative that you purchase Under and/or Uninsured Motorist (UM) protection. This specific type of insurance is sold by most reputable auto insurance companies and can be used to cover damages sustained when the at-fault party has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover the full extent of your damages. Unfortunately, in today’s economy everyone is looking to stretch the dollar and the amount of coverage on an auto policy can be the first to go. There is no exception to this rule –you must purchase UM to fully protect yourself and family from accidents like the one described here. For instance, had the vehicle never been found which allegedly caused this accident, the victim would have been able to make a claim on his UM policy as the at-fault driver was unknown, therefore was uninsured. This scenario is sometimes referred to as a “phantom vehicle”.

Police responded to the scene around 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday and reported that the Largo woman approached the man on the side of the street, whom she had a prior dispute with, in her vehicle and began yelling at him. According to the St. Petersburg Times, around 25 to 30 people surrounded the woman’s car and the man punched her in the face while another individual pepper sprayed inside the vehicle through the driver’s side window.

The woman allegedly hit the gas and slammed into the man.

The Largo woman allegedly dropped her car off with another person who stopped at gas station to clean up the pepper spray.

Deputies arrested the woman later on and the arrest report shows the woman was uncooperative, pulling her hands and body away from them.

She is being held at the Pinellas County jail with bail set at $20, 150.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

National government statistics show that nearly 11 percent of all motor vehicle accidents are hit and run car accidents. Almost 700,000 hit and run accidents involving a car are reported every year in the United States. The National Highway Administration shows that the state of Florida ranks third in the nation with 3,300 hit-and-run accidents reported yearly.

The woman in this case hit a man with her vehicle and fled the scene, leaving the man injured. Florida law is clear that the driver of any vehicle involved in a collision must stop and wait at the scene of the accident. Breaching this requirement is viewed as a hit and run and could cause a violator to face criminal felony charges, suspension of their driver’s license, court-demanded community service, and other civil or administrative fines.

July 29, 2009

Pinellas County Accident Lawyer update:: Man dies after car malfunctions

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Tampabay.com is reporting that a 74-year-old man died Tuesday afternoon after he was forced to exit his car to address his car’s mechanical issues. According to the report, the man got out of the car but then collapsed into the road. Sadly, he later died at Northside Hospital.

The Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation into the accident reveals that the man was driving eastbound on 54th Avenue N approaching 28th Street N, and when the car came to the intersection, something malfunctioned and the car shut down. Troopers say that when the man left the car he “suffered a medical condition” and fell to the ground. They are still investigating.