Personal Injury Attorney

March 18, 2025

10 Tips for Dressing for Court

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

For most of our clients, their first encounter with the court system is when they are pursuing a lawsuit for a car accident or another type of personal injury. This usually means that they have never had to think about what they need to wear for a deposition or court hearing. If you need to dress for a court appearance, deposition, mediation, hearing, or any other type of legal proceeding, then you should keep in mind what type of clothing makes the best first impression on a judge, jury, and even the opposing counsel. You want to appear credible and well put together right off the bat, and the following tips we have outlined can ensure that you are confident with how you look and that you are making the best first impression so that the judge or jury will focus on your case and not how you look.

Wear Clothes that Fit and Look Neat: Select clothing that is clean, looks neat, and that fits you well. You don’t have to go out and buy new clothes, but the attire you choose should meet these criteria.
Conservative, Church-Like Clothes Are Best: Keep your clothing selections conservative. No tight dresses, stiletto heels, sleeveless blouses, jeans, or low-cut tops. Men should wear a button up shirt with an undershirt or add a sweater on top if it is cooler temps. Women should wear something with a modest neckline, a blouse that covers your waistline (raise your arms overhead to make sure that the top does not reveal your stomach), and a dress or skirt that is not too short or tight. Even if you normally do not dress conservatively, it is best to do so for court. A judge and jury may have a mindset of what is appropriate or not to wear to court, so conservative is best. You can dress however you want outside the courtroom, but we advise striving to make the best possible first impression.

March 17, 2025

How To Spot a Good Personal Injury Lawyer

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

While you may never think that you will need a personal injury lawyer, the fact is, you never know when an accident will arise where you need the assistance of an attorney.

While you cannot prepare for an accident, you can have a plan for what to do after an accident. One of the best things you can do to protect yourself after an unexpected accident resulting in injuries is to find the right lawyer for your case, but that requires you to know how to spot a good one.

Knowing what questions to ask can make a huge difference in your case, from the level of stress you will have to endure throughout the duration of your case to the amount of money you will be able to recover. You want to select a lawyer that not only has your back, but also has the necessary experience to get you the best possible outcome.

March 4, 2025

International Travel Tips from a Personal Injury Lawyer

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

If you have never traveled abroad and are planning a trip soon, there are probably many questions going through your brain. Lucky for you, our personal injury attorneys at Whittel & Melton are well versed in international holidays and we have some great non-injury-related tips that can help your trip go smoothly.

Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before you head out on your vacation. Drink plenty of water once you arrive at your destination, just make sure that whatever water you are drinking is safe for consumption. In countries where the tap water is unsafe to drink, bottled water is the best option.
Use bright luggage. This helps you identify your bag quicker and will help you get through customs swiftly so that you can get on with your vacation. If you do not have bright-colored luggage, consider adding colorful stickers or a fun tag or ribbon that stands out so that you can easily identify your luggage.

February 18, 2025

Loss of Consortium in Florida 101

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Being in a serious accident, such as a car accident, slip and fall, medical malpractice, or any other injury-causing incident, is something that no one ever anticipates. Some incidents are severe enough to cause permanent injuries or disfigurement. When tragedies like this happen, injury victims and their families are unable to live their life as they did before the accident.

Loss of consortium is one of the long-term consequences of a serious injury. This loss has an impact on everyone in the injured victim’s immediate family, specifically the injury victim’s spouse.

What Exactly Constitutes a Loss of Consortium?

February 17, 2025

Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer is Not Like Playing BINGO

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

After an accident that has resulted in a serious personal injury or wrongful death of a loved one, you need a lawyer to help you handle your case effectively. Hiring a lawyer is not like playing BINGO – what do we mean by that? When you play BINGO the playing field is level, all the cards are equal and you are just hoping that your numbers get called and you can win a prize! We often hear lawyers referencing getting a check from the insurance company as winning the lottery, but when you win the lottery, you did nothing to earn that money – you just got lucky. The same should not be true for your lawyer in your personal injury matter.

All personal injury lawyers are not the same. Their skills, experience, and successes all vary; while some may have extensive experience in car accident litigation, others may be well-versed in medical malpractice or workplace injury claims.

No two lawyers operate the same way, meaning they focus their efforts on different things. Some lawyers may be better at negotiating claims out of court, where others may be seasoned trial attorneys who like to take their cases to trial as they believe they will get a better outcome.

February 13, 2025

How Are Damages Calculated in Car Accident Injury Claims?

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A car accident victim may have to deal with a variety of physical and financial hardships. As a result, victims may be eligible to collect a wide range of damages. These damages are typically classified into two types: economic damages (also known as special damages) and non-economic damages (which are sometimes referred to as general damages). Non-economic damages are related to more subjective types of harm, whereas economic damages take into consideration objective money losses. Economic damages include things like medical bills, prescription costs, and lost income, whereas non-economic damages include nontangible things like pain and suffering, emotional harm, and mental anguish.

Finding out how much your claim is worth will help you determine whether an insurer’s settlement offer is reasonable. Unfortunately, there is no simple formula for calculating damages, and damages vary depending on a variety of conditions. Some insurance companies base their overall payout on the economic losses incurred by the victim, then double that amount by two or three to account for non-economic damages like as pain and suffering. This strategy, however, is arbitrary, and you should not expect an insurer to make decisions based on this method. Our Florida Car Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can provide you with a rough estimate of what we believe your case is worth based on our previous experience with other clients in similar situations. No two cases are exactly alike, which is why we utilize experts to help place a dollar amount on the full scope of your injuries so that you are taken care of now as well as in the future.

How Are Medical Expenses Calculated?

January 30, 2025

Feeling Stuck with Your Current Law Firm? You Have Options

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Your choice of attorneys is one of the most significant decisions you will make when dealing with a personal injury or criminal law case. You want someone who argue effectively on your behalf, listen to your issues, and collaborate with you to address them, and of course, achieve a positive outcome. You also want someone who will handle your case with care and compassion for you and your family. Choosing the best attorney and firm for your case requires striking the right balance between these concerns.

If your attorney is unable or unwilling to address your issues, you should consider hiring different legal counsel for your case. This may feel like a huge decision as you do not know if hiring a new lawyer will yield better results and/or cost you more money. Nevertheless, having an advocate who collaborates well with you is essential. A successful solution for your case depends on trust, communication, and diligence, therefore choosing the appropriate lawyer is crucial. When discussing your case with a new lawyer or firm, find out how they would handle it differently or how their communication style might differ from that of your previous firm. Wait for a response that addresses your specific problems.

What Happens to My File if I Switch Lawyers?

January 21, 2025

Why You Should Hire a Curious Lawyer

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

You should choose your lawyer carefully, just like you would with a contractor or financial advisor. In addition to disclosing private information, you will be putting your trust in their legal counsel and their abilities to help you get through a difficult circumstance that you are unable to manage on your own.

When you are doing your research into finding a lawyer for your case, look for a lawyer who is curious about the law. What do we mean by this? You want your lawyer to be someone that is always engaged with what is going on in their field and constantly evolving with the times. Your dealings with your lawyer should not just be transactional – you are a team working together and collaborating to achieve the best possible outcome. Your lawyer should be someone you like and trust – you should be able to confide in your lawyer and feel comfortable sharing the details of your case. With that said, you want a lawyer who asks probing questions and seems genuinely curious about your case and not just the basic facts.

You want a lawyer that encourages you – the client – to ask questions. There are no dumb questions, and the more informed you are, the better. A lawyer who encourages their clients to seek clarification is one that is fostering a relationship of collaboration and trust. Your lawyer should want you to be curious, too, so that you can actively contribute to the legal process.

January 6, 2025

School is Back in Session – Let’s Review School Bus Safety

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Millions of kids across the country take a school bus to and from school Monday through Friday. School buses are often used for field trips and even school sporting events that require travel. The good news is that school buses are one of the safest vehicles on the road. In fact, the NHTSA reports that less than 1% of traffic fatalities involve children in school buses. While school buses are safe modes of transportation, the truth is that children are in more danger when getting on and off the school bus.

You Must Stop for School Buses

If you are driving and see a school bus in your vicinity that is slowing down or stopped, it is very important to exercise caution and never attempt to pass the bus. Children are boarding or getting off the bus, and it is illegal in Florida and every state to pass a bus while its red lights are flashing and while the stop-arm is extended.

December 30, 2024

Stay Safe on New Year’s Eve

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate the end of the year and all your accomplishments as well as any hardships you have endured. It is a time to reflect on past experiences and plans for the new year. Resolutions aside, New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights for emergency responders as there is an uptick in accidents, DUIs, and other safety issues. With that said, there are a few safety precautions you and your loved ones can follow to stay safe.

Plan Your Night Ahead of Time

By planning your night out in advance, you can make sure you have a safe evening.