Speeding is one of the most common traffic offenses on the streets and highways of every state, including Florida. Any driver caught speeding is lucky to receive just a traffic citation. If the speeding has led to a car accident, then a ticket can quickly turn into a criminal charge, especially if other motorists or bystanders are injured. Consider a recent accident 100 miles north of Tampa.
In Chiefland, a pickup truck apparently speeding around 1:45 on a recent Sunday morning in a mobile home park lost control and caused a multiple-vehicle accident that injured three people, including a pedestrian. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the truck veered off the road and rear-ended a parked vehicle, which then hit three other parked vehicles.
Two people in the parked vehicles sustained minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital for treatment. A 29-year-old man standing near one of the vehicles suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Shands UF Hospital in Gainesville. His condition is unknown. The driver of the speeding pickup truck fled the scene.
A single act of negligence such as speeding can permanently change the lives of other people on the road. The same can be said of drunken, impaired and distracted driving and disregard for traffic regulations. Victims who are injured in any of these situations can seek compensation from a negligent driver by filing personal injury lawsuits. Surviving family members of anyone killed from such negligence can pursue a wrongful death suit.
Besides seeking some measure of justice, such legal actions can also lead to monetary awards that can help victims with medical expenses and lost wages, among other accident-related damages such as pain and suffering. A car accident victim or surviving family members can rely on a legal advocate for guidance and sound legal advice during such a challenging time.
Source: Gainesville.com, “Three injured in multi-vehicle crash in Chiefland,” April 6, 2014
