Statistics highlighting the frequency of Florida car accidents are alarming. Each year anywhere from 250,000 to 300,000 crashes strike on our state’s roadways. Thousands of drivers and passengers involved in those accidents are killed and many more suffer serious injury. A close look at local driving figures reveals that the youngest drivers, those between 16 and 19 years old, are involved in more accidents than any other group. In addition, more fatal accidents occur on weekend nights than at any other time.
Our Florida car accidents lawyers know that certain highways within the state are also more prone to accidents than others. For example, this weekend the Gainesville Sun reported on a rash of accidents on Interstate-75 that has only added to the highway’s reputation as a dangerous location that many residents avoid. Earlier this month four people, including two children, were killed on I-75 in northern Marion County when a young driver accidentally veered onto the median and lost control of the vehicle. The following day a pair of accidents on the same highway took the life of one area resident and injured fourteen others. John H. Rogers was killed at the scene after losing control of his vehicle. His two children who were also in the car with him at the time were seriously injured. Later that same day, another accident involving eleven cars struck between mile markers 358 and 360. More than a dozen of those victims were sent to the hospital with injuries.
A few days later another Interstate-75 accident seriously injured a local resident. A box truck was traveling on the highway just northing of Interstate-10 when it slammed into a parked vehicle on the side of the road. According to authorities, the driver of the parked car, David Paul Chadwick, had properly pulled off the road due to a mechanical problem. The driver of the box truck claims that a car cut in front of him suddenly, causing him to slam on his brakes and veer off the road. The truck ultimately hit the disabled vehicle and seriously injured its driver. The box truck driver was cited by the police for contributing to the accident.
As these incidents demonstrate, Florida Interstate-75 accidents are frequent and often deadly. Local officials explain that the roadway is particularly dangerous because of the speeds and the volume of cars and trucks that use it. Florida Department of Transportation investigators note that traffic volume on the interstate varies considerably, depending on whether an area is urban or rural. However, while the speed limit is 70 miles per hour everywhere, many drivers travel much faster than that—often causing serious accidents. Inclement weather increases the danger even more as rain makes the road slick and hampers visibility.
Some local emergency responders worry that the problem is only getting worse. There has recently been an increase in the total number of multi-vehicle crashes on the interstate, as opposed to one or two vehicle crashes. This is often attributed to a general increase in traffic volume. It is incumbent upon all travelers to take all possible precautions when using this dangerous highway. However, even when exercising the utmost care it is possible to get caught in a crash. When that occurs it is important for those involved to seek out a Florida car accident attorney to help guide them through the legal ramifications of the incident.
See Our Related Blog Posts:
No comments:
Post a Comment