Personal Injury Claim

November 8, 2016

Florida Roadways More Dangerous On Election Day – Stay Safe Today!

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Today, November 8, 2016 is an important day for all U.S. citizens, but the focus today is not just on who to vote for. It is important to highlight that roads today are more dangerous than usual as the distractions and emotions run high today!

According to a 2008 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, going all the way back to 1976, on average 24 more people die in car crashes and 800 more people suffer serious injuries during presidential election voting hours than on any other Tuesday in October or November. Our Florida Auto Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want to encourage you to rock your vote safely today!

What are the reasons for this increase in roadway hazards? Researchers have blamed the following:

There are more people rushing to get to and from their polling venue. People can vote early in the morning before work, on their lunch break, or hurry to get there after work before the polls close.
Some voters do not know where they are going and are unfamiliar with how to get to their particular voting spot.
Many voters emotions are running high today, making it easier for them to focus on their worries regarding on the election instead of getting from Point A to Point B safely. Expect to see more distracted drivers on the roads today!

October 26, 2016

Motorcyclist Killed in Crash In Hillsborough County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A motorcyclist was killed Tuesday evening in a crash, and according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, charges could be filed against the driver who slammed into the biker.

The incident occurred just before 7 p.m.

HCSO believes the biker was operating a motorcycle on Boyette Road when he drove in between two vehicles as he was approaching the intersection of Balm Riverview Road.

At the same time, a female driver was heading westbound on Boyette Road, attempting to turn left and travel south. She pulled into the path of the motorcycle and struck the biker with the passenger side of her car.

The biker was apparently not wearing a helmet and died at the scene after he was ejected from the motorcycle, according to reports. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to police, the female driver had an “odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her mouth and admitted to having consumed alcohol.”

The woman agreed to a blood draw and could be charged based on the result, investigators said.

Motorcycle accidents usually involve serious injuries, and in the worst cases, death. A motorcycle offers riders very little protection in the event of a collision, leaving bikers vulnerable to catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord trauma, traumatic brain injuries, loss of limbs, neck and back injuries, knee and shoulder injuries and broken bones.

Our Tampa Bay DUI Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can protect your rights after a motorcycle accident, and help you and your loved ones pursue compensation for losses. As former DUI prosecutors, we know how to hold drunk drivers accountable for the pain and suffering they cause to motorcycle accident victims and their families.

October 24, 2016

Moped Driver Dies A Week After Orange County Hit-And-Run Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 64-year-old moped driver who was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Orange County last week has died, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash happened at 4:40 a.m. at the intersection of Colonial Drive and Forsyth Road.

According to troopers, the moped driver was stopped at the intersection in a left turn lane of westbound Colonial Drive, where he was trying to make a U-turn.

As he made the turn, troopers said a Honda Accord, traveling eastbound, hit the back of his moped. He was run over by the car. The driver of the car fled the scene.

The moped driver was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he later passed away.

The Honda, which was reported stolen, was found the day after the crash.

According to FHP, the crash remains under investigation and charges are pending.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a moped accident, or if you have lost someone close to you in an auto accident, our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help. We are dedicated to helping victims and families throughout the state of Florida who have suffered personal injuries or wrongful death due to the negligence and carelessness of other people. We know that no amount of money can bring back your loved one, but we are prepared to fight for the money you deserve.

October 13, 2016

Biketoberfest Is Here: Look Twice For Motorcycles in Daytona Beach

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Biketoberfest has been bringing bikers together from all over the world in Daytona Beach since 1992.

Biketoberfest is a celebration of Florida’s bike culture that involves trade shows, concerts and other special events. It also involves three days of rides throughout Volusia County. While this will surely be a fun event for everyone, our Florida Motorcycle Injury Lawyers know that there are safety risks anytime a group of motorcycles share the roadways with other motor vehicles.

We urge drivers to be aware that there will be lots of bikers out during Biketoberfest and motorists should be respectful of their right to share the road.

Biketoberfest will occur between October 13 and 16 this year, and drivers should be extra cautious during this time and in the days before and after the special event.

In 2015, more than 100,000 people were expected to turn out to the festival. Researchers last year said the event brings in over $40 million to the local economy.

Our Florida Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton urge you to “look left, look right, look twice, save a life.”

Biketoberfest Safety Tips

Allow for more following distance in between a car and a motorcycle. Motorcycles frequently slow down by downshifting or rolling off the throttle, so drivers should not count on a brake light to let them know when a bike will be stopping.
Leave motorcycle riders their own lane. Don’t try to crowd in or share the lane.
Don’t rely on turn signals. Motorcycle turn signals do not turn off automatically and sometimes riders forget to turn them off. Make sure you see what a rider is doing before you make any moves.

October 11, 2016

Samsung Stops Production of Galaxy Note 7 After Reports of Fire in Replacement Phones

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Samsung wants everyone to turn off their Galaxy Note 7 even if they have received a replacement. This comes right after the company said it was halting production of the smartphone.

Samsung Electronics says it is stopping production of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, a day after it put an end to global sales of the devices.

The South Korean company said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that it has made a final decision to stop production for the sake of consumer safety.

Samsung is struggling to regain consumer trust after a first round of recalls. The company stopped selling the device after finding that even the supposedly safer replacements it was providing for recalled Note 7 phones were catching fire.

There have been at least five reports of people claiming the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 replacements have caught fire.

One report came out of Kentucky – the owner said he woke up to a hissing sound and smoke filling the room when he realized his phone was on fire.

Samsung released this statement Monday night:

“Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note 7 or replacement Galaxy Note 7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available.”

Cell phone retailers including AT&T and Verizon are offering refunds for the Galaxy Note 7 or an exchange for a different smartphone.

On September 2, 2016, Samsung recalled the Galaxy Note 7 in 10 countries, including the U.S., just 2 weeks after the product was launched. Six days later, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised passengers not to use, charge, or even stow Galaxy Note 7 phones on domestic flights.

An investigation was immediately launched in response to dozens of consumer complaints about Samsung phones catching fire. The problem was identified as a potential battery flaw that affects about 1 in 42,000 units.

The Samsung Note 7 recall highlights how dangerous electronic devices can be. Samsung Note 7’s use lithium-ion batteries, which are useful because they can store large amounts of energy in a small space. However, this same quality is what makes lithium-ion batteries hazardous. The more energy stored, the potentially more dangerous the battery becomes.

October 3, 2016

Teen Girl Injured After E-Cigarette Explosion on Universal Orlando Ride

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Police have reported that a teenage girl riding a Universal Orlando amusement park ride suffered burns after an electronic cigarette belonging to another rider exploded and shot a fireball at her.

Police believe that the 14-year-old girl from Tennessee was riding the Hogwarts Express train Saturday with her family when an e-cigarette belonging to a rider in another group blew up in his pocket and the fireball hit her in the face and elsewhere.

The explosion wasn’t big, but scared everyone on the train, according to reports.

The girl was taken to the hospital with mild to moderate burns to her face, arm and leg. The man suffered minor injuries.

An e-cigarette, also known as a vape, is an electronic nicotine delivery system that produces a heated vapor that resembles smoke. They have been for sale in the United States since 2007. E-cigarettes are now used by more than 2.5 million people in the U.S.

If you were burned by an exploding e-cigarette or vape, you could have a legitimate claim against the manufacturers of the vape device and battery, and perhaps other parties. What this means is that you could file a personal injury claim for monetary damages for:

Medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Lost wages
Loss of quality of life
Disfigurement
Emotional & mental anguish

September 27, 2016

South Florida Cities Increase Gator Warnings After Disney Tragedy

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

South Florida cities are amping up their efforts to prevent fatal alligator attacks like the one that occurred in Orlando’s Walt Disney World when an alligator emerged from a lagoon, grabbed a toddler wading in ankle-deep water and killed him.

From Oakland Park to Delray Beach, cities have begun replacing “no swimming” signs with stronger warnings on lakes and canals where alligators and snakes might lurk.

Florida does not regulate whether cities or counties need warning signs.

Delray Beach is taking no chances. The city, which currently has only a few “no swimming” signs, plans to install 20 signs that warn of alligators at eight canals and lakes.

So are Oakland Park, North Lauderdale and Parkland, where staff are adding warning signs at parks by water.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission numbers, there were nine alligator attacks in 2015, one of which was fatal, and 10 in 2014, none of which were fatal. Since 2006, there have been five reported fatalities due to alligator attacks. There have been 23 reported attacks since 1948, when the agency began keeping track.

Living in Florida, we know the dangers of alligators in any body of water, as well as hotels, golf courses and even backyards. Most public places located near bodies of water are pretty vigilant about relocating dangerous animals out of these areas. The added signage going up in south Florida is great, as it could prevent another tragedy from occurring.

August 25, 2016

Driver Killed in Road Rage Crash in Orlando

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A driver was killed in a road rage incident in the early morning hours of Monday near South Kirkman Road in Orlando.

According to reports, the accident happened around 12:45 a.m. Monday when two cars pulled off Windhover Drive near Universal Studios.

Orlando police believe one of the drivers was run over by a vehicle just one mile away from Universal Studios.

According to investigators, the deceased was involved in some sort of road rage incident which led him to pull over. He stopped on the side of Windhover Road to confront the driver of the vehicle which was tailgating him.

Moments later, police believe the driver of that other vehicle stepped on the gas and ran over the other driver, killing him.

For now, investigators are searching through surveillance footage, and are questioning witnesses and his friends in hopes of finding out who did this.

Orlando Police are also asking for the public’s help. Anyone with more information about what may have happened are encouraged to contact OPD at 321-235-5300.

Injuries or wrongful deaths caused by an aggressive driver are sadly not that unusual throughout the United States or in Florida. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 27,000 deaths annually occur due to aggressive drivers.

August 18, 2016

Cruise Ship Catches Fire in Puerto Rico

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

More than 500 passengers and crew were evacuated on Wednesday from a burning ship about a mile off Puerto Rico’s north coast.

The fire occurred aboard the Caribbean Fantasy, a combination cruise and ferry vessel, as the U.S. Coast Guard began bringing passengers into the San Juan harbor.

The Coast Guard said all passengers had been evacuated, though it was still rescuing 26 crew members.

The ship was arriving in San Juan when the fire broke out, according to a Coast Guard spokesman.

Reports indicate that a hose carrying fuel burst open and caught on fire in the control room.

The crew attempted to extinguish the fire for 2 hours.

The extent of injuries are not clear at this time.

Several dozen people were treated for dehydration, high blood pressure and respiratory problems from the smoke, said a fire department spokesman. One stretcher held a man hooked up to an IV who was cradling a bawling newborn baby clad only in a diaper.

The mostly Dominican passengers included dozens of school-age athletes headed to competitions in Puerto Rico, including a 22-member cycling team, a girls’ volleyball team and a boys’ baseball team.

Passengers found to be in good health were loaded onto city buses to be taken out of the area.

The ships run several times weekly between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

While it may seem like a fire would be easy to put out when you are surrounded by water, a fire is a one of the most serious risks onboard a cruise ship. Since cruise ships are enclosed with long hallways and similar small rooms, combine that with a high volume of people and that makes cruise ships one of the worst places for a fire emergency. Cruise ship fires can be particularly devastating, due to the fact that there are not many escape routes.

August 12, 2016

Child Falls From Roller Coaster At Pennsylvania Amusement Park

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A boy has fallen from a classic wooden roller coaster at a western Pennsylvania amusement park.

A spokesman for Idlewild and SoakZone amusement park says the child fell from the ride Thursday afternoon.

A Westmoreland County emergency dispatcher says the child was conscious and airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, about 50 miles west.

A park spokesman said he doesn’t know the boy’s condition or where he was on the ride when he fell. It is unknown whether the ride malfunctioned or if horseplay was involved.

The Roller Coaster opened in 1938 and takes riders up, down and around a wooded hillside. It doesn’t require seat belts, and children under 4 feet tall must be accompanied by an adult.

The accident comes four days after a 10-year-old boy was decapitated as he rode a water slide at a Kansas water park.

Roller coasters are enjoyed by children, adults and all thrill seekers, but what you may not know is that coasters are the most dangerous rides at an amusement or theme park. In recent years, more than 10,000 people have been treated in emergency rooms throughout the United States due to amusement park and roller coaster injuries. If a roller coaster accident, like a fall from the ride, was caused by negligence, an injury victim may be entitled to compensation from the owners of the park.

Roller coasters have various speeds, height, intensity, size, G-force, etc. Children are the most susceptible to injuries from a roller coaster mostly because of the amount of G-forces a body can tolerate at high speeds. All bodies react differently from intense G-forces, so where one person may walk away unscathed, another person could suffer back injuries, neck injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, blood clots and wrongful death. Roller coaster seat belt systems can also cause injuries to riders depending on the differences in height, weight and size. Another issue, as this case highlights, is the risk of falling out of coasters from extreme heights.