The Risk of Auto Accidents on Florida’s Highways
Florida’s highways are among the most heavily traveled in the United States. Last year, the Florida State Senate voted to give the Department of Transportation the power to decide where the speed limit on the state’s highways can be raised from 70 miles per hour to 75 miles per hour, making an already risky tangle of roadways even riskier. Throughout Central Florida, auto accidents and highways have gone hand in hand for decades.
In many cases, these auto accidents could have been avoided if not for the negligent or deliberately wrongful actions of the driver that caused the accident. Unfortunately, the victims of these accidents are often left with overwhelming physical, emotional, psychological, and financial hardships. While the personal injury attorneys of Chanfrau & Chanfrau cannot help with all of the burdens faced by auto accident victims and their families, we certainly can help with those involving financial losses and expenses resulting from their injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident on one of our state’s highways, or if you have tragically lost a member of your family in such an accident, our team of experienced attorneys would be honored to represent you in your pursuit of fair and just compensation.
The Dangers of Florida’s Highways
Florida is home to some of the nation’s most notoriously dangerous highways, including Interstate 75, I-95, I-10, I-4, the Suncoast Parkway, the Palmetto Expressway, Florida’s Turnpike, and the Dolphin Expressway. These roadways are crowded with a wide range of drivers, including:
- Frustrated commuters who make these drives on a daily basis, many of whom have become complacent and are distracted by their smart phones and other forms of technology.
- Tourists, including college students on spring and summer breaks and families on vacation.
- New arrivals among our state’s expanding number of retirees.
- Operators of large commercial trucks, which are by nature more inherently dangerous than any other type of vehicle on the road.
When you also factor in that large stretches of our state’s highways are in various stages of disrepair due to age, wear and tear, and poor weather conditions, it is little wonder that tens of thousands of auto accidents occur on these roads each year. Sadly, many of these accidents result in serious injury or even death.
Typical Damages in Auto Accident Cases
Although there are no guarantees of damages in any personal injury case, damages typically awarded in auto accident cases include compensation for:
- Hospital bills, surgeons’ fees, and other medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Other losses and expenses directly resulting from the accident
In wrongful death cases, damages may also include compensation for:
- Funeral costs
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of support
- Loss of future wages and benefits
- Other projectable future losses and expenses
Learn More about Auto Accidents and Highways
If you would like to learn more about auto accidents involving Florida’s highways, or to arrange an evaluation of your case, please contact the law firm of Chanfrau & Chanfrau today.