Every year, the Florida turnpike sees hundreds of car accidents, some of which are fatal. High speeds, lack of guardrails, wrong-way driving, and other factors lead to serious motor vehicle accidents that result in personal injury and property damage.

If you or a loved one have experienced a car crash on the Florida turnpike, you may be able to file a claim for compensation.

Find out more about :

• the most common causes of Florida turnpike accidents
• what to do if you get into an accident on the Florida turnpike
• how to file a claim for a Florida turnpike injury

Common Causes Of Florida Turnpike Accidents

Many factors lead to highway or turnpike accidents, and a lot of these are caused by someone’s negligence, or failure to exercise the proper amount of care for other motorists.

The following are some of the most common causes of Florida turnpike accidents:

Ramp Design Defects

Sometimes, ramps do not provide an adequate distance for a person to speed up to enter the adjoining highway or have other design flaws. On ramps and off ramps that are not long enough, or which have dangerous curves, can lead to serious accidents.

Poor ramp design could be an example of negligence on the part of the local or federal government entity that designed the road and could lead to a turnpike accident injury claim.

Median And Guardrail Issues

When medians or guardrails are not designed properly, or a turnpike or highway does not have these necessary structures, a car crash can result. In fact, Florida turnpike accidents due to lack of guardrails have decreased in recent years.

New guardrails were implemented in 2008 and 2009, leading to less than half the fatal accidents involving guardrails or lack of guardrails from previous years.

Medians are important for keeping cars from colliding on busy highways and turnpikes for any number of reasons, such as swerving into oncoming traffic. Roadways that lack medians and see heavy traffic are more likely to become home to high car accident rates.

Issues With Shoulder Design Or Shoulder Damage

Shoulders of the turnpike serve as a place for vehicles to pull over when drivers or passengers experience emergencies or car maintenance troubles. When shoulders are not designed properly, are not wide enough for cars to park, or are not flat enough to prevent rolling, these factors can contribute to an accident.

If the transition from road to shoulder (known as the lip of the road) is not smooth enough, a car exiting to the shoulder may experience a rollover accident. Car accident victims who get into an accident due to poor shoulder design may have the legal right to file a Florida turnpike injury claim.

Sign Issues

The purpose of signs on any roadway is to warn drivers of oncoming obstacles, speed limit changes, lane changes, and other roadway factors that may affect their travel. Not having proper warning of such factors means a driver may not be able to react in time to maneuver their vehicle or make necessary driving adjustments.

In order for turnpike signs to work, they must be posted in the right place, visible both during the day and at night, and kept in good condition at all times. Failure to maintain signs or place signs in the right spot or within enough space to warn drivers of oncoming obstacles can contribute to turnpike accidents.

Types Of Florida Turnpike Accidents

The Florida turnpike, which spans 312 total miles from Florida City to Westwood, sees high numbers of accidents every year. Though fatal accidents are on a downward trend, serious injuries and fatalities (including wrongful death) still occur on this stretch of highway each year.

Some of the most common types of Florida turnpike accidents include:

• auto accidents
• motorcycle accidents
• truck accidents
• semi-truck accidents
• SUV accidents
• rear-end collisions
• head-on collisions
• wrong-way driving accidents
• multiple-vehicle accidents
• hit and runs
• drunk driving accidents

Regardless of the type of car accident you experience, a Florida turnpike car accident attorney can help you seek compensation and hold the responsible party accountable for the accident.

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What To Do If You Get Into An Accident On The Florida Turnpike

After a crash on the Florida turnpike, accident victims may be left in shock, unsure what steps to take next. Protecting your health and safety are the number one priority after a motor vehicle accident.

Once you have ensured your safety and that of any passengers, it’s important to take a few steps to also protect your legal rights in the aftermath of the accident.

Consider the following tips for what to do immediately after getting into a Florida turnpike car accident:

Seek Emergency Medical Care

After moving out of the roadway (if possible), call 9-1-1 or other emergency medical services right away. You may not be able to feel any injuries at the time of the accident, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you were not injured.

Some personal injuries, including head and brain injuries such as concussions, do not present symptoms until hours or days after the accident.

Getting medical care ensures you will be evaluated to check for any symptoms of serious injuries. This is also important documentation in case you decide to file a personal injury claim.

Wait For Florida Highway Patrol

According to Florida law, all car accidents in the state of Florida that lead to personal injury must be reported to law enforcement. Most car accidents that involve property damage, such as damage to your car or truck, must also be reported.

Further, having a police report on file can be crucial to your personal injury case. Police officers can take down all details to file an accident report, including contact information for all parties involved. They can also ensure your car gets moved off the road, and reroute traffic to secure your safety until you can be transported for medical care.

Contact A Florida Turnpike Accident Lawyer

A Florida turnpike car accident can lead to serious injury, high medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Expenses from an accident that wasn’t your fault should not be your responsibility.

A Florida auto accident attorney can provide sound legal advice to help you understand whether your turnpike accident will lead to an accident claim. If negligence wasn’t involved, they may advise you that you will be better off filing an insurance claim.

Through a free consultation to establish the attorney-client relationship, a turnpike accident lawyer can walk through the details of your case and give you honest counsel about where you stand.

They may be able to provide an estimate for how much compensation you may win and give you an idea of whether you’ll receive a settlement offer.

Should your case go to court, the very best Florida car accident attorneys will not be afraid to go head to head with insurance companies and other involved parties to ensure you receive a fair settlement for your injuries.

Before contacting your insurance adjuster to file a claim, contact a Florida personal injury lawyer with experience in this practice area to see how they can serve you.

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Find A Florida Turnpike Car Accident Lawyer Near You

If you have been in an accident on Florida’s turnpike, you may be in need of compensation to cover any personal injury or property damage caused by the accident. The law offices of Florin|Roebig can help you file a personal injury claim.

Our personal injury attorneys have over 30 years of experience in helping Florida residents with personal injury cases and have an impressive track record.

We serve many areas throughout Florida, including:

• West Palm Beach
• Orlando
• Fort Lauderdale
• Broward
• Miami-Dade
• South Florida

Learn what Florin|Roebig law firm can do for you. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.