Interstate-75 is a major roadway extending from northern Michigan down to the Hialeah-Miami border, weaving south through the state of Florida. This interstate runs for 471 miles in Florida alone, with more than 38,000 vehicles per day entering and leaving the state, according to the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT).
Florida’s stretch of I-75 has been frequently criticized for dangerous road conditions and aggressive driving, factors that contribute to thousands of crashes each year—many of which lead to injury and in dire cases, death.
Common types of accidents seen on I-75 include:
- large truck accidents
- multi-vehicle collisions
- driving off the road
- accidents resulting from faulty car parts
- construction-related crashes
- driving under the influence
In the event of an accident, it’s important for drivers, passengers, and all others involved to have the information needed to seek coverage for crash-related damages to recover their losses.
The car accident lawyers of Florin|Roebig serve clients out of several Florida office locations to help individuals file car accident claims for personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death. People who have been in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident on I-75 are encouraged to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to determine their legal options for seeking compensation.
Causes Of Motor Vehicle Accidents On Florida I-75
With a growing population in Florida and a substantial flock of visitors passing through the state on any given day, I-75 has become one of the major roadways in Florida notorious for congestion.
Congested roadways can trigger a great deal of stress in drivers, leading to aggressive driving, distracted driving, and irresponsible maneuvers as individuals eager to weave through traffic become less cautious with their driving decisions.
There are a number of factors that contribute to I-75 accidents, including those related to driver negligence, faulty road conditions or design, and defective car parts.
Common causes of motor vehicle accidents on Florida’s I-75 include:
- speeding
- distracted driving (e.g. texting while driving)
- large truck collisions
- driver fatigue
- jackknifing
- driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- improperly loaded or overloaded trucks
- faulty road design (e.g. missing railways)
- blown tires
- defective truck equipment
- defective car parts
- failing to follow traffic safety laws
Florida I-75 Car Accident Liability
After an accident, one of the most important considerations for determining how to secure coverage for resulting damages is liability—or, the party responsible for causing the crash and resulting injury.
Florida is a no-fault state, meaning that regardless of who is at fault in an accident, all drivers involved must submit claims to their own individual auto insurance carriers. As part of this no-fault law, Florida drivers are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) as part of their auto insurance policy.
The vast majority of car accidents occur as a result of driver negligence. This refers to instances of reckless action or inaction on behalf of one or more drivers, leading to personal injury or death. Examples include texting while driving, driving under the influence, and speeding on the roadway.
Florida law uses a comparative negligence system, which means that individuals at fault for a vehicle accident—for instance, someone who was texting while driving—can be held liable to the extent of their percentage of fault. Individuals who get into car accidents may be found to be at partial fault, complete fault, or no fault depending on the nature of the accident and other factors.
If an I-75 car accident occurs as a result of poor road conditions, faulty design, or poor road construction—Florida drivers may be able to hold the state liable for resulting injury or death. Similarly, accidents that occur as a result of defective car parts may implicate the car part manufacturers, who may be held liable for resulting injury and death.
Depending on the cause of the accident and other factors, a lawyer can help you determine your potential liability, and that of others involved in the crash.
Types Of Florida I-75 Car Accident Claims
There are several types of car accident claims individuals who have been injured in an I-75 car accident can file, depending on the cause(s) of the accident and other personal and environmental factors.
Negligence
Many car accident claims in Florida are filed on the basis of negligence. Filing a claim for negligence requires proof that the other driver (or relevant party) acted in a way that can reasonably be determined negligent, and as a result, directly caused the accident and resulting injury.
Car accident lawyers are able to carry out investigations into the nature of vehicle accidents that occur on major roadways, which can help injured victims prove the negligence of the liable party. Common examples of negligent behavior named in Florida car accident claims include speeding, driving under the influence, and failing to follow Florida traffic laws.
Defective Car Parts
Although less common than claims for driver negligence, another factor that may often contribute to car accidents on I-75 are faulty or defective car parts. This includes poorly maintained truck equipment, or car parts that are inherently defective as a result of poor design or manufacturing errors.
If your car, or the vehicle of another motorist, had a defective car part prior to the incident, the manufacturer of the defective vehicle may be held liable for resulting accidents and injury.
The car part defect, and its role in causing the accident, must be provable in order for you to file a defective product claim. With evidence to support the defective product, the manufacturer—and the manufacturer alone—may be held completely liable for the accident.
Poor Road Conditions Or Construction
Poorly maintained roads or faulty design of stretches of Florida I-75 can contribute to accidents that occur on this major roadway throughout the state.
As of 2015, Interstate-75 has been the primary focus of the I-75 Task Relief Force, which has been carefully evaluating ways in which the Department of Transportation (DOT) can improve the high-volume freeway, identifying both short- and long-term goals for crash deterrents related to the interstate’s infrastructure and design.
Despite this study, however, and other funds allocated each year to road maintenance, there are a number of ways in which poor construction or design on I-75 can put drivers at risk for crashes and resulting injuries.
Examples of I-75 road conditions or faulty design that can lead to accidents:
- potholes
- missing guardrails
- poorly maintained road signs
- road construction
- lane closures
Depending on the extent of their impact on traffic accidents, these factors can play an important role in the car accident claims process.
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Factors That Can Affect Florida Car Accident Claims
All car accidents are unique in how they occur, the number of parties involved, and their resulting consequences. Factors that contribute to I-75 accidents, including those personal and environmental, can all play a role in the car accident claims process and awarded compensation.
Factors that can affect Florida I-75 car accident claims include:
- driver negligence
- fault for the accident
- condition of the vehicle and car parts
- individual auto insurance policies
- interstate road conditions
Types Of Compensation Awarded In Car Accident Claims
One of the primary questions individuals have when filing claims for personal injury or wrongful death of a loved one is what they can expect to get out of the claims process.
Filing a claim with your auto insurance carrier can help you receive compensation for actual damage to your vehicle and other property damage. However, insurance companies are notorious for trying to avoid providing fair compensation for car accident damages.
Car accident lawyers help injured victims secure fair compensation from auto insurance companies—or the party at fault—and bring cases to trial if needed.
The types of economic and non-economic damages that may be recoverable in car accident claims include:
- current accident-related medical expenses
- projected medical bills
- physical therapy costs
- wage loss
- loss of earning capacity
- childcare expenses
- car repair and replacement costs
- mental anguish
- pain and suffering
- punitive damages (less common)
Individuals filing wrongful death car accident claims may be eligible to recover additional damages, including loss of companionship, funeral and burial costs, and value of the loss of support or services.
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What To Do If You’ve Been In A Car Accident On Florida I-75
If you or a loved one has been in a car accident on Florida I-75, your first priority should be removing yourself and any passengers from any immediate danger. Step away from your car and ensure you, and anyone else involved in the accident, are out of the direct path of other vehicles driving down the roadway.
Next, assess yourself and others for injuries, as the situation may require medical assistance. Regardless of how minor the injury, if anyone (including yourself) has suffered injury to the head or other body parts, it’s recommended you call 9-1-1 right away to seek emergency medical assistance.
Even injuries that seem minor can grow worse if not properly attended to right away. This is especially true with head injuries, which can result in concussion or brain injury.
Thirdly, you’ll want to contact the police so they can investigate the accident and file a report of the incident. This can be important later on as you gather evidence to file a claim against the liable party.
Once you are safe and have sought medical and police assistance, take notes of the accident. Documenting the details of the accident as soon as possible is ideal.
This includes taking photos, as well as the general collection of information, such as:
- contact information of other motorists involved
- insurance information of other motorists
- information of any witnesses
- types of injuries sustained
- photos of the accident scene and all vehicles involved
- license plate numbers
- drivers license numbers
- time, date, and location of the accident
Do not give a statement to an auto insurance company before speaking to a car accident lawyer. What you say to insurance companies about a car accident may be held against you if you aren’t careful, resulting in denied or delayed reimbursement for car damages.
Contacting a lawyer is one of the top-suggested steps to take if you’ve gotten into an I-75 accident that has resulted in injury, significant car damage, or death. A lawyer can help you prepare a statement for your auto insurance company, determine who’s liable for the accident, and determine your legal options for filing a claim for compensation.
Florida I-75 Traffic Crash Facts
Florida’s I-75 is the site of hundreds of traffic crashes each year, with recent years seeing concerning upward trends in both crash-related injury and fatalities.
Alachua County, for instance, saw its deadliest day since 2012 this past January 2020 as three separate vehicle crashes (at least one of which occurred on I-75) resulted in nine deaths. The deadliest crash involved a collision with an 80,000 pound semi-truck, and resulted in seven deaths total—five of which were child passengers.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Services, speeding is a major contributing factor to interstate accidents, contributing to an estimated 28 percent of interstate and freeway accidents nationwide.
Accidents on I-75 involving heavy trucks are also on the rise, with over 10,000 trucks entering and leaving Florida on I-75 each day, and 4,300 people killed in collisions with large trucks in 2016 alone.
The state of Florida saw over 400,000 crashes in 2018, resulting in 258,488 injuries and deaths. Many of these occur on I-75, as well as I-4 and I-95. In 2015, DOT created the I-75 Task Relief Force to identify ways to improve safety on I-75, including options for diverting heavy traffic to other roadways.
Florida I-75 accidents are the basis of a large number of car accident claims and lawsuits each year, as individuals file to receive compensation for personal injury, vehicle damage, and wrongful death.
List Of Florida I-75 Car Accident Lawyers
Getting into an accident on Florida’s I-75 can have an enormous toll, not just financially, but physically and psychologically as well. Filing an accident claim alone can be a tricky process, made even more difficult by auto insurance companies that are determined to avoid paying out what injured drivers are owed.
The Florida car accident lawyers of Florin|Roebig have represented injured clients across the state for decades, fighting for our clients’ entitlement to fair compensation for accident damages.
Our law firm has secured over $1 billion for clients nationwide and has been voted one of America’s top law firms. If you’ve been injured in a car accident on I-75, we’re ready to fight for your rights.
Our team of qualified Florida I-75 car accident lawyers includes:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Chase P. Florin, B.C.S.
- Shaun M. Cummings
- Luca G. Esposito
- Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M.
- Nicholas S. Costantino
- John J. Hart
- Michael A. Ossi, O.C.
- Lawrence J. Najem, O.C.
- Andrew M. Leone, O.C.
- Nollys R. Solarte, O.C.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Find An Experienced Florida I-75 Car Accident Lawyer Today
Individuals who are injured in an I-75 car accident at the fault of another party may have a limited time to file a car accident claim for damages. In personal injury law, this is known as the statute of limitations.
In the state of Florida, injured victims have up to four years to file a claim for injuries sustained from a car accident. Wrongful death claims must be filed by a surviving loved one within two years of the date of the accident.
After getting into an I-75 accident, however, it’s recommended that you make contact with a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to help you prepare a statement for your auto insurance and protect your right to compensation for accident-related damages.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident on Florida I-75, the lawyers of Florin|Roebig can help. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our top-rated car accident lawyers to discuss the details of your case.
