South Florida Injury Attorney Blog

A worker helping to widen the Florida Turnpike was hurt recently in an unusual accident with a vehicle that failed to slow. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the worker was standing in the northbound lanes when a pickup truck in the southbound lanes slammed into the concrete median. The impact threw a sign leaned against the median on the northbound side into the worker's legs, causing a compound fracture. Fortunately, no one was killed.

As I wrote here in September, Florida is not seeing enough compliance with our Move Over Law, which requires driver to slow down substantially, and move over a lane when possible, when emergency vehicles are at the side of the road. Construction crew members are not emergency workers, but the principle is the same. Indeed, FHP Lt. Roger Reyes told the Miami Herald that this accident illustrates the importance of slowing down for people at the side of the highway. That includes ordinary folks dealing with a flat tire or another emergency. It's a small courtesy that makes a big difference to the people on the side of the road and possibly also to you.

As a Florida auto accident lawyer, I also noted with interest that the driver of the pickup truck was cited for careless driving and for driving with a suspended license. When my clients tell me about their conversations with auto insurance companies, they often mention that the claims agent asked if anyone at the accident got a ticket, or was cited or arrested. They're interested because a ticket shows that the police thought there was careless, reckless or illegal behavior involved in the accident, and that makes it easier to determine who was at fault. It can also be an important factor in a Florida car crash lawsuit.

Car wrecks can be devastating, causing deaths and permanent brain damage, paralysis, severe burns and other life-changing injuries. If you were hurt in a crash caused by someone else's careless behavior, you have the right to sue that person for financial compensation for your costs and your injuries. To learn more about your rights as an accident victim, you can contact our firm, Cohn, Smith & Cohn, for a free consultation.