Florida Sued Over I-75 Crashes

Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles received more than a dozen lawsuit notices resulting from a series of severe crashes that took place on I-75 earlier this year. Eleven people were killed and 18 hospitalized in January after officials reopened a foggy stretch of I-75 that was closed following an earlier wildfire, according to the Associated Press (AP).

However, a report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found that highway officials made mistakes in opening the highway shortly before the string of deadly crashes. There were no criminal violations found in the ensuing investigation, but the lieutenant who ordered the roads reopened had no formal training in opening or reopening roads, according to the AP.

The lieutenant’s decision to reopen the road was also supported by other government agencies, including the Florida Forest Service and state Department of Transportation.

There are more than 30,000 fatal vehicle crashes in the United States annually, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with Florida having the third-most reported roadway deaths each year.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a personal injury lawyer may be able to help you. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

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