Florida hosted more than 36 million tourists in the first quarter of one recent year. With so much to offer, including the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, beautiful beaches, natural attractions like the Everglades National Park, theme parks, and sporting events, it’s no surprise that millions of people drive into Florida every year.
Commercial vehicles and residents also crowd our roads as they do their business on any given day. Unfortunately, Florida is the third deadliest state for fatal car accidents in the U.S. We also have 17 of the country’s top 100 most dangerous roads, including I-75, which runs north of Miami through the Ocala and Gainesville areas to the Florida-Georgia border.
The size of the road and the traffic it carries almost guarantee that an accident took place on I-17 yesterday and today. Sadly, we know we will continue to see them daily.
With offices in Ocala and Gainesville, Steven A. Bagen & Associates, PA, helps clients in accidents on I-75 and other major thoroughfares throughout Florida. We protect accident victim’s legal rights and help them seek compensation for their injuries. If you were in an accident yesterday on I-75 or sometime recently, one of our I-75 interstate accident lawyers can answer your questions free of charge.
Why You Should Trust Steven A Bagen & Associates, PA After a Car Accident on I-75
Spanning a total of 471 miles from Florida to Michigan, I-75 is one of the most dangerous highways in America. Due to safety and traffic congestion concerns, I-75 reports an average of 47 fatal vehicle crashes for every 100 miles.
Closer to home, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported 7,132 crashes last year in Marion County, with 93 related deaths. Those crashes injured almost 6,700 people, many on I-75. For the first ten months of one recent year, we’ve seen nearly 5,500 car accidents in this county, so there’s a good chance of a vehicle accident today on I-75 or another major road in our area.
North Central Florida is a busy, congested area with some of the worst traffic in the state. Our team of personal injury lawyers works with many car crash victims around Gainesville and Ocala, and we understand how collisions can happen and the injuries they create. We’ve fought for over 35 years to protect Florida Interstate I-75 accident victims. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars through settlements and court awards for our personal injury clients.
Of course, we can’t guarantee a specific outcome in your case, but we can discuss your situation and create a solid legal strategy to help you recover the maximum damages available. We offer free consultations to help you better understand the legal process and what to expect after your collision.
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What Is Your I-75 Interstate Accident Case Worth?
No two accidents are alike. Therefore, we cannot say how much compensation you can expect from a vehicle crash without knowing the details. During your free consultation, our I-75 interstate accident lawyers will ask questions about your collision to learn who was involved, how it happened, and who you might hold at fault.
We will also need to know about your personal injuries, the treatment you need to recover, and how much it will cost to treat you. We’ll gather medical records, doctor’s notes, treatment receipts, and other evidence to prove the extent of your medical expenses. We can also help you determine future medical costs if appropriate.
If you have property damage, we’ll need to determine your vehicle’s repair or replacement costs and any personal property damaged in the crash. We can help document your property damage through photos and videos as well as expert opinions about the value of your damaged items.
Florida Is a No-Fault State For Personal Injury Claims
Florida’s no-fault liability laws apply if you are in most accidents today on I-75 or anywhere in the state. Under these rules, you do not have to prove who caused your injuries and damages (financial losses related to the accident). However, you must file an initial claim against your own insurance coverage before you can bring an action against another person.
All Florida drivers must carry at least $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. This amount only covers minimal medical expenses and lost wages or income after a crash. Crash victims with severe injuries usually exceed this minimal amount. If your post-accident expenses exceed your PIP coverage, you may bring a claim against the other at-fault driver.
When Can You Bring Legal Action Against the Other Driver?
If your injuries qualify as serious injuries under state law, you may bring a civil lawsuit against the person who caused the accident.
Florida law defines serious injuries as:
- Permanent or significant loss of your bodily functions,
- Certain permanent injuries, as determined by a medical professional,
- Disfigurement and significant scarring, and
- Death.
You may need expert medical testimony and complicated documentation to prove your injuries. An I-75 interstate accident lawyer can help you compile and present the evidence required to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Do I Have to Prove the Other Driver on I-75 Was at Fault?
Under Florida’s comparative negligence laws, even if you bear some responsibility for the accident, you may file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company or bring a lawsuit to recover your expenses.
How Can a Gainesville or Ocala Personal Injury Lawyer Help Bring a Lawsuit?
Before you can bring legal action against the other driver, you must prove their liability for the collision that led to your injuries and monetary damages.
An experienced car accident lawyer can present evidence to prove the three legal elements that will establish the other driver’s legal liability:
- The other driver had a legal duty to drive safely and refrain from harming people like you,
- The other driver was at fault for the accident because they breached their legal duty with unsafe or unlawful driving acts, and
- The other driver’s legal breach caused the accident and your injuries and expenses.
When you work with a dedicated I-75 interstate accident lawyer at Steven A Bagen & Associates, we will gather the evidence needed to prove your case based on the facts and your needs. Together we will convince the other insurance company or a jury that you deserve compensation for your losses.
Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you must bring a lawsuit for personal injuries within four years from your accident. However, we recommend starting an investigation to support your initial claims as soon as possible. If we cannot successfully resolve your case through negotiations, we may need to file a lawsuit within the statutory timeframe. If you miss your filing deadline, you cannot request payment for your damages from the responsible party.
Common I-75 Accidents and Causes
Interstate I-75’s multi-lanes and speed limit help create a dangerous setting. Since many tourists use this road to reach popular Florida destinations, they are unfamiliar with the area, exits, and when they need to make decisions while driving.
First responders attend many types of accidents along I-75, including:
- Head-on collisions. The combined speed of the two vehicles cause particularly violent crashes.
- Rear-end accidents. Tailgating and following too closely can lead to a crash when the first car must slow or stop suddenly, and the second car can’t stop in time or avoid hitting the back of the first car.
- Sideswipe collisions. Improper passing or weaving can cause one vehicle to brush up against another while traveling at high speeds. Despite the slight initial impact, the cars can lose control with devastating results.
- Roll-over accidents. Many situations can lead to a roll-over crash, and even semi-trucks can overturn in some circumstances. These crashes usually result in serious injuries.
- Single-vehicle crashes. Drivers can lose control of their vehicles in many situations. On a major highway like I-75, there are no pedestrians or bicycles, but on city streets, one car leaving the road can hit and injure innocent bystanders.
Several factors can lead to I-75 Interstate highway accidents, including:
- Speeding – Speeding contributes to more than 25% of all traffic fatalities. The legal speed limit on I-75 in Florida is 70 miles per hour. The stretch of road through Alachua and Marion Counties is known as a racetrack because drivers regularly exceed the speed limit around Gainesville and Ocala. The faster a vehicle goes, the less time a driver has to respond to emergency situations, and accidents are usually more violent.
- Distracted driving – Although texting while driving is illegal in Florida, it happens every day. The act of driving requires multitasking skills, but when a smartphone is involved, drivers can’t react quickly enough to avoid a crash.
- Driving under the influence – When drivers get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs, they do not have the skills to drive safely on interstate highways. Many impaired drivers do not stay in one lane, speed, or even fall asleep behind the wheel.
- Sleepy driving – Drivers who operate a vehicle while fatigued can be almost as dangerous as impaired drivers on the road. On multi-lane highways, especially for long-haul truckers who drive at night, they can easily fall asleep and cross several lanes of traffic, putting many other motorists in harm’s way.
- Driving the wrong way – If people don’t know the area, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or otherwise are confused, they might drive the wrong way on I-75. Drivers going the wrong way in the other lane cause most head-on collisions.
- Road rage – When someone drives aggressively to avoid traffic or intentionally damages another vehicle during a fit of rage, they can cause a severe accident. Road rage is more common in highly congested traffic areas such as the roads around Gainesville and Ocala.
- Poor visibility – Drivers who operate a vehicle during weather conditions that are not good such as night time, rain, fog or smoke can lead to poor visibility. Some drivers will not reduce speed or increase caution during this limited visibility, leading to crashes. For semi-truck drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act 49 C.F.R. § 392.14 states that “extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction. Speed shall be reduced when such conditions exist.”
Accidents might not take place in urban areas like Ocala or Gainesville, either.
We frequently see crashes near smaller communities along I-75, where the interstate isn’t as well-lit, including:
- Jennings
- Jasper
- White Springs
- Live Oak
- Lake City
- High Springs
- Alachua
- Micanopy
- Orange Lake
- Irvine
- Reddick
- Zuber
- Marion Oaks
- Wildwood
- Sumterville
- Bushnell
Also, I-75 runs through Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (formerly Lake Alachua). Many accidents happen in Paynes Prairie, in large part due to impaired visibility caused by smoke and naturally occurring fog. Drivers who fail to heed the need to use extreme caution in low-visibility conditions on I-75—especially semi-truck drivers—need to pay for the consequences. That can include your injuries, pain, suffering, and vehicle replacement.
Regardless of what caused your I-75 accident, and whether it happened yesterday, today, or another time, if someone else was at fault, you may seek compensation from the responsible party. Reach out to one of our I-75 interstate car accident lawyers today to learn more.
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Potential I-75 Car Accident Personal Injuries
Interstate crash victims often face serious personal injuries that lead to complicated and long medical journeys. While you receive necessary medical care, you may also miss work and lose income.
Our team of personal injury lawyers has vast experience helping accident victims receive compensation to help pay for medical expenses related to:
- Spinal and neck complications, including spinal cord injuries that can lead to paralysis, herniated discs, sprained muscles, and torn tendons
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a sharp force that makes the brain collide with the inside of the skull
- Burns resulting from spilled chemicals or gasoline or if the vehicle catches fire after the crash
- Internal injuries, including organ damage and bleeding
- Soft tissue injuries like bruising, strains, and sprains
- Cuts and lacerations, and
- Amputations.
If recently you lost a loved one in a vehicle accident on I-75 or another road in North Central Florida, you may bring a wrongful death claim against the responsible party to help pay for medical expenses, funeral costs, and more.
Compensation You Might Request After an I-75 Interstate Car Accident
As we mentioned above, since Florida is a no-fault state, your first source of compensation must come from your own PIP insurance carrier. However, that coverage only helps pay for medical bills and lost income. You cannot request payment for emotional injuries or pain and suffering.
If you max out your PIP benefits or your injuries qualify as serious injuries under Florida law, you might bring a claim against the driver responsible for your crash-related damages.
In that case, you may request compensation for:
- Medical bills for current and future anticipated medical treatment,
- Employment income, wages, and benefits already lost and likely to be lost in the future,
- Pain and suffering,
- Mental and emotional distress, PTSD, and anxiety,
- Loss of normal life, including family relationship stress, and
- For surviving family members who lost someone in a crash, wrongful death benefits.
Your potential damages will depend on your unique circumstances. During a free initial case consultation, our compassionate team of professionals can explain the possible recovery you can expect if you bring a claim against the responsible party that caused your crash.
Whether You Deal With Your Insurer or the Other Driver’s Insurance, It Won’t Be Easy
Insurance companies need to make money to stay in business, and paying claims affects their bottom line. If an adjuster can find a way to deny or reduce your claim, they will. You don’t need to worry about negotiations with insurance companies when you have a team of tenacious car accident attorneys working for you.
While you focus on healing and recovering fully, we’ll deal with the insurance companies. Our mission is to ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible under the circumstances.
Trust the I-75 Interstate Accident Lawyer Rated Among the 10 Best Attorneys for Client Satisfaction
At Steven A. Bagen & Associates, PA, we provide the highest level of personalized attention and top-notch legal services to every injured client we help. We will walk you through every step of your claims and work to recover the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait any longer. Learn more today during a free consultation with an I-75 interstate accident lawyer at Steven A. Bagen & Associates. Contact us online, or call (800) 800-2575 for your free consultation. We look forward to meeting you!
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Bagen Law Accident Injury Lawyers – Gainesville Office
6241 NW 23rd St, Gainesville, FL 32653
Phone: (800) 800-2575