Orange County

July 26, 2018

Orlando Man Says Pothole at Circle K Caused Disability

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An Orange County man alleges he was injured at an Orlando convenience store because of a pothole in the parking lot.

The man filed a complaint on July 2 in the 9th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida – Orange County against Circle K Stores Inc. alleging negligence.

According to the complaint, the man alleges that on May 22, 2015, his foot and ankle went into a pothole, causing him to fall. He alleges he sustained bodily injuries in and about his body and extremities, resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of earnings and medical expenses as a result of the fall.

He holds Circle K Stores Inc. responsible because they allegedly failed to repair the hazard in the parking lot or to warn visitor about it.

Potholes can pop up everywhere, and you can find them on roads, alleys, crosswalks, and parking lots. Injuries from a pothole accident can change your life in a matter of seconds.

When a pothole injury happens, you will likely have a lot of questions. Determining who is responsible will be at the top of your list. Responsibility usually rests on the property owner. However, it is not always that cut and dry, which is why you need the help of a Florida Premises Liability Lawyer at Whittel & Melton. We can help you explore your legal options and answer all of your questions.

July 3, 2018

Orlando Couple Suing Wal-Mart for Negligence

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An Orlando couple is suing Wal-Mart, alleging loss of consortium and negligence in the injury of the wife.

The pair filed a complaint June 20 in Orange County Circuit Court against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., alleging failure to maintain its premises in a safe condition.

According to the complaint, on June 21, 2014, the woman was shopping at the Wal-Mart when an unsecured sharp corner edge metal tray at the coffee station fell and landed on her left foot, causing her to suffer injuries, impairment, disability, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of earnings and aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The lawsuit alleges her husband and co-plaintiff suffered the loss of his wife’s services, companionship and consortium.

The couple alleges Wal-Mart Stores failed to provide a safe environment for shoppers, failed to warn the wife of the dangerous condition, and failed to timely repair the condition of its coffee station.

Loss of consortium pertains to the emotional, financial, and physical losses that spouses or family members experience after a negligence injury. It covers both death and personal injuries that may leave the victim without the sexual intimacy, emotional or financial support, or companionship that they had previously, and might still have, had it not been for the negligence of the at-fault party.

April 30, 2018

Woman Hit by Pickup Truck, Killed while Riding Moped

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 73-year-old woman was killed after being hit by a pickup truck while she was riding a moped in Groveland Sunday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Winter Haven woman was driving a 2005 Honda scooter north on State Road 33 behind a Honda pickup.

The truck driver drove onto the road’s shoulder before making a U-turn to drive south on S.R. 33. The truck collided with her scooter about 10:55 a.m.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was taken to South Lake Hospital with minor injuries.

The crash is under investigation and charges are pending.

When drivers are making a turn of any kind they have an obligation to look out for other vehicles. Unfortunately, they are often focused on cars and trucks and fail to see motorcyclists, bikers, moped drivers and pedestrians. When cars make a left turn or U-turn without seeing a rider they are not giving the rider enough time to react and can hit the motorcycle, scooter or moped causing severe injuries or even wrongful death. Even if the rider is able to maneuver in a way where they avoid a collision, they can still be injured or killed for taking such evasive action.

When a motorcyclist or a moped driver is involved in an accident with a larger vehicle, the motorcyclist will suffer the most serious injuries in the majority of instances. Moped riders and bikers are much more vulnerable than automobile drivers and lack the protection of a metal frame.

April 16, 2018

Orlando Walmart Target of Personal Injury Lawsuit

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A customer who was reportedly injured after she tripped over a shopping cart left in a Walmart aisle has filed now filed a negligence lawsuit.

The woman filed a complaint on April 3 in the Orange Circuit Court against Walmart Stores Inc., alleging the Orlando shopping center failed to use due care to maintain its premises in a safe condition.

According to the complaint, the woman claims that on Feb. 5, 2016, she visited the Orlando store and tripped and fell over a cart that was left in the walkway.

As a result, she sustained bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, loss of earnings, and medical expenses.

She holds Walmart responsible because the store allegedly failed to adequately inspect and maintain the walkway, and failed to correct or warn visitors of the danger of carts in the walkway.

When you choose to visit a retail store, you expect that you will be provided with a reasonably safe shopping experience. In fact, retail businesses are legally obligated to keep their premises safe for customers. If you suffer an injury from a hazard on store premises, you could have a valid claim against the business.

While many retail injury claims are slip and fall or trip and fall claims, there are many other injuries that occur within a store, including:

Faulty staircases
Uneven floors
Broken or poorly maintained escalators and elevators
Falling merchandise
Insufficient lighting in parking lots
Shelving mishaps
Lack of security

February 26, 2018

Orlando Property Owner Accuses of Insurance Company of Failing to Cover Hurricane Irma Damage

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An Orlando property owner is suing an insurance company, alleging breach of contract.

The property owner filed a complaint Feb. 2 in the Orange County Circuit Court against Florida Specialty Insurance Company, alleging failure to pay for damage caused by a hurricane.

According to the complaint, on Sept. 11, 2017, while the Orlando property was insured under a homeowners insurance policy, it sustained a covered loss due to Hurricane Irma. However, the suit says Florida Specialty has refused to provide coverage.

The property owner alleges Florida Specialty Insurance has failed to fully pay for all of the insurance losses and forced the property owner to retain the services of an attorney.

Our Florida Hurricane Claims Lawyers at Whittel & Melton represent homeowners and businesses in hurricane damage claims in Orlando and the surrounding areas. We know how hard it can be to get your insurance company to cooperate following a hurricane or storm damage claim. We can help you recover what is rightfully owed to you, according to the terms of your policy agreement.

Insurance companies use tactics that are meant to protect the company’s interests and do not always act in good faith when it comes to paying out for valid claims. We are more than familiar with the unfair strategies insurance companies use, including:

Denial of a claim
Delayed payment of a claim
Underpayment of a claim

February 22, 2018

Tourist Blames Walt Disney for Her Injuries

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Pinellas County woman, who requires a scooter to move about, is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, alleging negligence caused her injuries.

The woman filed a complaint Feb. 1 in Orange County Circuit Court against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US Inc. and Disney Vacation Development Inc., alleging the park failed to provide a safe environment for its business invitees.

According to the complaint, on Dec. 7, 2017, the woman was at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, trying to move from her scooter to a DVD transport vehicle. The suit says the woman fell while trying to get into the vehicle.

The woman says she suffered bodily injury, resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, scarring, mental anguish and aggravation of previous existing condition. The suit claims Disney employees negligently failed to properly assist the handicapped plaintiff.

The woman says the park failed to provide a handicap accessible transport vehicle, failed to train its employees regarding transport protocol for handicapped guests and failed to render aid to her after the incident.

There are many ways someone can get suffer an injury. Sometimes, these injuries are no one’s fault. However, in some situations, injuries can be the direct result of the actions of another person or business entity. These injuries could be the result of an accident or an intentional act.

The law clearly states that an at-fault person or business entity who causes personal injury to another is civilly liable to pay for their financial damages. Our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you if you have been injured due to the acts of another.

December 28, 2017

Orlando Customer Alleges Dollar Tree Negligence Caused Injuries

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An Orlando man is suing Dollar Tree, alleging negligence led to his injuries.

The man filed a complaint Nov. 28 in Orange County Circuit Court against Dollar Tree Store Inc., doing business as Dollar Tree, alleging the retail store failed to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition.

According to the complaint, on Feb. 11, 2017, the man was a lawful business invitee at Dollar Tree’s store at 4568 S. Semoran Blvd Orlando. The suit says the man slipped and fell on a liquid substance on the floor.

As a result, the man says, he sustained bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, loss of ability to earn money, plus medical and treatment expenses.

The man alleges Dollar Tree failed to inspect its floors to ascertain whether it is safe for customers and failed to warn customers of the danger of the liquid substance on the floor.

The man seeks trial by jury, damages in excess of $15,000, interest and court costs.

In order to prove negligence in a slip and fall injury claim, two questions must be answered. First, it must be determined what caused you to fall. The second question is how what caused you to fall got there, and if anyone knew about the problem. This can be more difficult to uncover, but certainly not impossible.

If you suffered significant injuries in a slip and fall accident at a business as a result of negligence, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek financial compensation for the harm you suffered. Slip and fall lawsuits help injury victims recover the costs to pay for medical bills, any lost earnings, disfigurement, emotional distress or permanent physical disability suffered as a result of the property owner’s negligence.

December 11, 2017

Orlando Customer Blames McDonald’s for Injuries Due to Spilled Hot Coffee

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An Orange County woman is suing McDonald’s, alleging failure to properly secure the lid of a hot coffee cup that led to injuries.

The woman filed a complaint Nov. 6 in Orange County Circuit Court against McDonald’s Restaurants of Florida Inc., alleging failure to exercise reasonable care for the safety of customers.

According to the complaint, on Nov. 1. 2016, the woman was at the drive-through at McDonald’s when an employee handed her a cup of hot coffee. As she took a sip of the coffee, she said, the lid was not properly secured, and the hot coffee spilled onto her.

As a result, the woman says she sustained physical injuries, mental anguish, loss of earnings and incurred medical expenses.

The woman alleges the McDonald’s employee failed to adequately secure the lid on the coffee cup, thus creating a hazardous condition to its customers when handing them hot coffee.

If certain details of this case sound familiar, you are probably thinking of the most famous case of a coffee-related burn lawsuit where a New Mexico woman successfully sued McDonald’s for over $2.8 million after suffering serious burns from a 190 degree cup of coffee. That judgement was later reduced to just over $600,000 before a confidential settlement was reached between the two parties.

September 21, 2017

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US Inc. Accused of Negligence

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A woman is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US Inc. for alleged negligence.

The woman filed a complaint on Aug. 3 in the Orange County Circuit Court, alleging that the Disney failed to follow applicable safety guidelines and regulations.

According to the complaint, the woman alleges that she was a guest at the amusement park on May 3, 2016 when she fell due to a broken and defective sidewalk. The woman claims that she suffered disability, mental anguish and incurred medical expenses as a result of the fall.

She holds Disney responsible for allegedly failing to properly inspect the property, maintain its sidewalk and warn guests of the dangerous conditions.

Property owners have an obligation to keep their properties safe from unreasonably dangerous conditions such as defective sidewalks, uneven steps, and even spills on the floor. However, all too often people are injured on another person’s property because of an unsafe condition that the owner knew about and failed to repair.

Our Florida Premises Liability Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you if you have been injured on another person’s property. We will investigate your injury to help determine the cause, and help you pursue compensation for your injuries.

August 30, 2017

Public Investment Pays Off in Pedestrian, Bicyclist Safety, Florida Still On Top List for Most Dangerous Region

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A new study of pedestrian and bicycle travel suggests investment in infrastructure and policies to encourage walking and biking is correlated with lower rates of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths.

The work by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin-Madison also identifies the safest and most dangerous metropolitan regions for pedestrians and bicyclists in the U.S.

Using improved travel data, the study calculated the rates of fatalities for walkers and bicyclists in 46 American regions with populations greater than one million.

The safest regions identified by the meta-analysis were:

Walking

Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Minneapolis
New York City
Portland
San Francisco
Seattle

Bicycling

Portland

The most dangerous regions were:

Walking

Houston
Jacksonville
Miami
Orlando
San Antonio
Tampa

Bicycling

Jacksonville
New York City
Orlando
Tampa
West Palm Beach

The study uses data from the National Household Travel Survey, which includes work, recreational, shopping, school and social trips, so it goes beyond the “journey-to-work” data collected by the U.S. Census.

Analysis of all 46 regions also provided support for the “safety in numbers” hypothesis: More pedestrian and bicyclist traffic overall is related to lower crash risk for each person walking and bicycling.