Florida Dangerous and Hated Highways

Steven A. Bagen | February 20, 2024 | Car Accidents

Florida’s most dangerous highways include Interstate 95 (I-95), Interstate 4 (I-4), and U.S. Highway 1. These high-volume interstates are the sites of thousands of accidents each year.

For many motorists, these interstates are dangerous but unavoidable. Motorists must exercise the utmost caution and defensiveness on these roads (or any road, for that matter), but many motorists instead choose to drive recklessly and cause accidents. If you or a loved one were involved in an auto accident in Florida, consider hiring an auto accident attorney to seek compensation for your damages.

 

Interstate 4

Interstate 4 is “Florida’s commuter road of choice,” making it a heavily traveled highway riddled by serious accidents. I-4 connects Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, and Daytona Beach, serving as the busiest road in Central Florida.

U.S. Highway 1

U.S. Highway 1 is the primary artery to (and through) the Florida Keys. Limited road infrastructure in these southern islands means that Highway 1 is consistently busy, which means accidents are bound to happen.

U.S. Route 192

U.S. Route 192 is another Floridian highway noted for its high volume of accidents. The highway runs east from I-4, leading to Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and ultimately Melbourne. As one of the few roads covering the span that Route 192 covers, motorists have little choice but to use this high-danger highway.

Why Highways See a Disproportionate Number of Accidents

Any highway in Florida or elsewhere in the United States can be the site of a traffic accident. Highways may be disproportionately dangerous stretches of road because:

Highways See Higher-than-Average Vehicle Volumes

If you have recently driven on a prominent highway, you know there’s little room to spare on these packed roads. A high volume of vehicles on a road can:

• Result in heavy traffic
• Leave little room between vehicles (even if you attempt to keep a safe distance)
• Leave little area to swerve, brake, or engage in other maneuvers to avoid accidents

The more vehicles in any given stretch of road, the more likely accidents become. This is basic math, and it is a key reason why so many highways in Florida are so dangerous.

Highways Are High-Speed Roadways

Motorists routinely travel 80 miles per hour (and faster, in some cases) on highways. Speeding is a factor in about one-third of deaths from motor vehicle accidents, so the high-speed limit on highways presents a clear hazard for injuries and deaths.

When motorists travel at a high rate of speed, they:

• May increase the risk of vehicle malfunctions, as a vehicle must work harder when traveling at higher speeds
• Have a greater likelihood of losing control of the vehicle
• Have less time to respond to hazards like stopped or slowed vehicles
• Run a higher risk of striking other vehicles in the rear

Distracted driving also becomes more dangerous when motorists are traveling at highway speeds. While driving over 70 miles per hour on a highway is legal, it can also be dangerous (especially when motorists are not completely focused on driving).

Tired Drivers Often Take Highways

Truck drivers, cross-national travelers, and other motorists who drive long distances often use highways. Such drivers may be:

• Fatigued
• More easily distracted as a symptom of being tired
• Emotionally and psychologically stressed due to spending long hours on the road (and perhaps more likely to engage in erratic behavior as a consequence)

Fatigue is a significant risk factor for accidents. Whether a motorist hops onto I-4 after a long day in the sun at Disney or is traveling south to Miami from New York, there is a risk that such motorists are tired.

Highway Roads Take a Beating 

The constant stream of vehicles traveling along Florida’s highways can take a toll on the road’s conditions. Such wear and tear may lead to:

• Uneven pavement (which can result from incomplete maintenance projects)
• Potholes
• Large cracks in the road
• Debris on the highway
• Dangerous work zones

State and federal officials have a duty to maintain the roads they are responsible for. When poor road conditions cause accidents, a negligent municipality may be financially responsible.

Common Causes of Auto Accidents on Florida’s Highways (and Other Roads)

Every auto accident lawyer diagnoses the exact cause of their client’s collision. There are many potential reasons for a highway accident, which include:

• Motorist error: Drivers are overwhelmingly responsible for traffic accidents. Speeding, merging lanes dangerously, and tailgating are some of the many dangerous acts that lead to highway collisions.
• Motorist impairment: If a motorist is drunk, under the influence of drugs, tired, or emotionally compromised, they are more of an accident risk than an alert, calm, sober driver.
• Dangerous road conditions: If flawed driving surfaces, dangerous work zones, or other road conditions result in an accident, an auto accident lawyer will seek compensation from liable parties.
• Vehicle defects (or maintenance-related problems): Some vehicle defects are the manufacturer’s responsibility. In other cases, the vehicle owner’s fault is poor maintenance (such as failing to purchase new tires). Your lawyer will investigate the cause of your collision and identify liable parties.

Florida’s highways are dangerous, but there is no excuse for causing an accident. If you have suffered injuries or lost a loved one, allow a car accident lawyer to fight for a financial recovery that accounts for your damages.

What to Do Following a Highway Accident in Florida

Highway accidents can be traumatic and disorienting. However, you need to act intentionally following a collision, and you should:

See a Doctor

Highway accidents are often high-speed collisions resulting in serious injuries. If you have yet to already, you should:

• Seek medical attention straight away
• Keep a journal of your injury-related symptoms (including pain, daily struggles, sleep loss, and psychological distress)
• Keep all images, records, and bills from accident-related medical care

Documenting your injuries is critical to the success of your claim or lawsuit. Just as importantly, seeking thorough medical care can often prevent serious health complications.

Hire a Lawyer

You should consider hiring an auto accident attorney to pursue a fair settlement or verdict for you. The attorney will immediately take over the claims process, and they will eventually file a lawsuit if it is the right decision based on your circumstances.

Refrain from Actions That Could Harm Your Case

The wrong phrase or action can make your claim or lawsuit far more difficult than it would otherwise be. Every auto accident victim should refrain from:

• Admitting fault for causing the accident (either to others involved in the collision, insurers, or law enforcement officials)
• Delaying medical treatment 
• Accepting an insurance settlement before consulting a lawyer 
• Going against your doctor’s advice

Let an experienced auto accident lawyer lead the way. The attorneys’ advice will protect you from making any errors that can harm your case.

An Auto Accident Lawyer Will Lead Every Step of Your Case 

You can have greater peace of mind with a lawyer leading your claim or lawsuit. Your legal team will remove the entire burden of your case from your shoulders, helping you by:

Communicating with Auto Insurers 

Insurance companies are almost always involved in highway accident cases. Your attorney will:

• Lead all communications with insurers, protecting you from any potential rights violations as a consequence
• Provide information about your injuries, vehicle repairs, and other losses to the insurer
• Prepare any written or verbal statements for insurers

Florida is a no-fault insurance state, meaning a motorist’s insurer may provide compensation regardless of who causes the accident. Your attorney will work with your insurer and any third-party insurance companies to resolve your claim.

Securing and Organizing Relevant Evidence

Your lawyer will work to prove who caused the accident and who is financially responsible for your economic and non-economic damages. Such evidence may include:

• Eyewitness testimony.
• Video footage (of the collision or related events).
• Photographs of vehicle damage.
• An expert’s reconstruction of your accident.

Documenting and Calculating Your Damages

Your legal team will prove the cost of your highway accident using:

• Bills for all accident-related medical care
• Images of your injuries
• Doctors’ notes and diagnoses of your injuries
• Invoices for vehicle repairs and temporary transportation
• Experts’ diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and any other conditions resulting from your accident

An attorney will seek documentation for every economic and non-economic damage stemming from your accident. As they demand compensation from liable parties, your attorney will present this proof of your damages.

Identifying a Strategy for Securing Compensation

The two primary ways of obtaining compensation for a highway accident are:

• Insurance claims, which are typically the first resort after a highway accident
• Lawsuits, which can be necessary if insurers do not offer fair settlements

Once your lawyer has gathered the facts and evidence they need, they will inform you of their strategy for seeking compensation.

Negotiating a Settlement

Your lawyer will demand insurers or other liable parties pay for your accident-related damages. Negotiating a fair settlement will require them to prove fault for the collision and prove your damages.

Going to Court, if Necessary

An attorney must consider proceeding to trial when insurers are unwilling to pay the sum you deserve. Going to court requires more time and resources than settling, so you and your attorney must agree to proceed to trial.

Recoverable Damages for Victims of Highway Accidents

The speed at which a highway accident takes place can mean serious damages, including:

Medical Bills

Your attorney will seek fair compensation for:

• Emergency transport and treatment
• Hospital costs
• Surgeries
• Rehabilitation costs
• Any other medical services you need after your accident

Even with health coverage, you should receive full compensation for medical bills related to your highway accident.

Rehabilitation Expenses

If you need rehabilitation during the recovery process, your attorney will calculate the cost of your rehab. They will also consider the cost of transportation to and from medical and rehabilitation appointments.

Pain and Suffering

Auto accidents can cause several types of pain and suffering, including:

• Pain from your injuries
• Emotional anguish
• Psychological distress
• Lost quality of life
• Sleep problems
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Attorneys frequently work with mental health professionals to understand, document, and value their clients’ accident-related symptoms. They understand the real and costly effects mental distress can have on your life following a crash and ensure to represent your pain and suffering properly in your claim.

Professional Damages

Highway accidents are sometimes fatal. If you lost a loved one because of injuries they suffered in a highway accident, your damages may include:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Depression, grief, and other types of pain and suffering
• Loss of the decedent’s companionship, guidance, comfort, and other forms of non-economic support
• Loss of the decedent’s income, employer-provided benefits, and other forms of financial support
• Loss of the decedent’s household contributions

Non-economic damages are often the most costly feature of a wrongful death case. Attorneys understand how to calculate non-economic damages to reflect your immense pain and suffering.

Do Not Wait to Hire a Florida Car Accident Attorney

Car accident lawyers do not require any upfront fees or payments from you. They also offer free consultations, so you can speak with prospective law firms and determine which is best suited to lead your case.

Don’t wait to hire a personal injury attorney after a highway crash in Florida. There is a lawsuit filing deadline, and you lose your rights if you miss your window. Your lawyer will start work on your case once you hire them, so seek your free case evaluation today.