In Florida and other states, news reports seem to discuss wrong way driving accidents with alarming regularity. The reasons people end up driving on the wrong side of the road vary, from intoxication, fatigue and mental incapacity due to old age, to drivers simply being unfamiliar with the roadways. Whatever the case, another wrong-way crash occurred in the Sunshine State recently and seriously injured three people.
Accident details
Early in the morning of Feb. 16, just before 1:30 a.m., an 81-year-old man was heading east on the westbound side of I-10. He struck the left fender of a vehicle driven by a 40-year-old Miami man. A tractor-trailer was heading west alongside the second car when its trailer also struck the second vehicle. Both the 40-year-old driver and his 32-year-old female passenger in the second vehicle were seriously injured in the wreck that followed.
The 81-year-old man from Pensacola who allegedly caused the crash suffered critical injuries. The semi-truck driver was not injured. All injured parties were taken to a local medical center, with each of the drivers’ conditions listed as critical at the time of the report.
Compensation for the injured
No word was given as to why the 81-year-old man was driving on the wrong side of Interstate 10. However, his actions suggest he was acting negligently behind the wheel regardless of the reason. As such, those severely injured in this crash may have an easier time obtaining compensation through a personal injury claim. Affected parties will want to work closely with an experienced personal injury attorney in Florida to gain a full understanding of their rights and options and increase their chances of obtaining a successful outcome.