When driving on Florida roadways, there are many potential hazards which drivers face. On a normal day, there are other drivers, roadwork, wildlife and debris. When thunderstorms arise and the rain starts to pour, visibility is decreased, and oil on the road is brought to the surface. The result is usually dangerous driving conditions. Such weather conditions may have been a factor in a recent fatal car accident in Florida.
At 4:10 p.m. on June 9, thunderstorms were beginning in Brevard County. A 51-year-old woman driving northbound in a Ford sedan crossed the median, crashing into the passenger side of the southbound Subaru sedan which contained four people. The heavy rain at the time led a Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman to say that the Ford may have hydroplaned.
A 19-year-old girl who was passenger in the Subaru died right away, while the Subaru driver and the two other passengers suffered major injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital. On June 18, one of the severely injured passengers, a 22-year-old male, also died as a result of the collision. The driver of the Ford had minor injuries. There is an investigation on whether seat belts were worn, but alcohol is not a factor in this accident.
When a fatal car accident occurs, it is devastating for the friends and family of the victims involved. Nothing can ever take the place of a loved one who is tragically killed in an accident. In Florida, the families of the deceased as well as those victims who were seriously injured may pursue claims for monetary damages sustained, including medical expenses, funeral expenses and other financial losses recognized by applicable laws. The operator of a motor vehicle is generally required to drive according to prevailing conditions so as to maintain control on the roadway and avoid an accident.
Source: theforecaster.net, “Recent college grad from Cape Elizabeth dies after Florida car crash“, Kate Gardner, June 25, 2015