South Florida Injury Attorney Blog

FDOT has made several safety-minded improvements to an on-ramp for I-375 that was the scene of a fatal car crash in March, the St. Petersburg Times reported April 16. The department has upgraded the downtown St. Petersburg ramp from a suggested 50 mph speed limit to a required one, added two speed limit signs and doubled the number of reflectors dividing the lanes. More is to come, the article said, and law enforcement will likely increase enforcement in the area as well. The changes are intended to increase visibility on the ramp and cut down on accidents.

Three people have died on the short 1.2-mile stretch of highway since 2001, all at night. Most recently, Leonardo Llana died in a one-car crash when he sped down the ramp at 93 mph, jumped the barrier and fell to a maintenance yard below. In 2007, the ramp was closed for weeks after a Florida tanker truck accident, when truck driver Ronald Kennedy drove his diesel tanker into a barrier and caused a 30-foot explosion. And in 2001, a motorcyclist suffered a fatal crash on the ramp. It is not known whether the earlier two drivers were impaired or speeding, but according to reports, Llana was legally drunk and not wearing a seatbelt.

Even if all three of these victims were impaired and speeding, I would still be pleased about these safety improvements. From the improvements they made, it is clear that FDOT’s goals were to reduce speeding and increase visibility at night. Regardless of whether the speeding in the most recent accidents was caused by bad decisions or defective roadway design, it’s clear that speeding was a major factor in that death. If visual cues like signs and reflectors reduce speeding among drivers who aren’t impaired, they are doing some good. As a Fort Lauderdale auto accident lawyer, I would be happy to see fewer families struggle with the deaths and devastating disabilities a car wreck can cause.

Serious car wrecks caused by bad roadway design or maintenance are rare, but they do happen. When a defective road causes a crash, the government agency responsible for building and maintaining that road is legally liable for any Hollywood car accident lawsuits victims choose to file. Unfortunately, the time to file a car crash claim is brief, which is why victims should get help right away from a South Florida auto accident attorney. Our firm, Cohn, Smith & Cohn, can help. To speak to us about your situation and your options at a free, confidential consultation, you can contact us through our Web site or call our main Pembroke Pines office at (954) 431-8100.