Speeding is one of the main causes of car accidents throughout the country. High-speed driving increases both the severity and the likelihood of car crashes. Driving at higher speeds makes it more difficult to react to mistakes on the road from yourself or other drivers, such as quickly stopped cars and rapid deceleration. Additionally, higher speeds lead to more serious crashes when drivers do collide with other vehicles or obstacles. Florida is no exception, with the state experiencing extremely high levels of car accidents and auto fatalities. According to a report from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV), in 2021, car accidents spiked throughout Florida after two straight years of decline. Throughout 2021, Florida saw 401,170 total car accidents. Additionally, approximately 40% of car accidents in Florida result in fatalities. The FDHSMV found that fatal car accidents have been on the rise throughout Florida. A recently published news article discusses a dangerous multi-car crash in Okaloosa County.
According to the news report, the accident occurred in the evening on Friday, November 3, when a black Jeep traveling north on State Road 4 nearly collided with a white Chevy that was stopped. The driver of the black Jeep nearly collided with the rear of the white Chevy, swearing into the southbound lane, crashing head-on with a white Hyundai. The spinning black Jeep then struck the white Chevy. According to the Florida Highway Patrol stated that the crash resulted in serious and critical injuries for both the driver and passenger of the black Jeep. Authorities shut down State Road 4 for an extended period of time for roadway cleanup, and the investigation is still ongoing.
In Florida, surviving family members can sue for wrongful death following a fatal car accident by filing a lawsuit in a civil court. Prior to filing a claim, the family members need to gather evidence to support the claim, prove liability, determine the value of their claim, meet the statute of limitations, and then file the claim with the court. According to Florida statutes, a wrongful death claim brought by surviving family members of a car passenger can result from accidents where the death is caused by “the wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract” of another party. An attorney can evaluate the details of your case and determine if you are eligible to file a wrongful death claim based on the details of the case.