Car Accident

Holding Drivers Accountable After Deadly Florida Turnpike Collisions

Published on: August 31, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

If you lost someone in a crash like the one that occurred recently on Florida’s Turnpike near Fort Pierce, you may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim. According to CBS News Miami, three individuals were killed after a semitruck made a prohibited U-turn across the median. The truck’s trailer blocked the northbound lane, and a minivan collided with it. All three occupants of the minivan were pronounced dead at the scene.

When commercial drivers disregard highway safety rules, families are left dealing with trauma that never should have occurred. In this case, the truck reportedly used an unauthorized median crossover to turn around. These crossovers are not meant for such maneuvers, especially by large vehicles that cannot accelerate quickly enough to rejoin highway traffic without creating a hazard.

Florida law provides a legal path for surviving family members to hold negligent drivers and their employers responsible. If someone you love died in a similar incident, a wrongful death lawsuit may allow you to recover damages for funeral expenses, lost income, emotional loss, and more.

What Makes This Type of Crash Legally Actionable

Truck drivers must follow specific restrictions on Florida highways, especially when it comes to median use. Certain crossovers exist for authorized emergency vehicles or maintenance crews. When a truck driver attempts a turn in one of these zones, the risk to other drivers increases sharply. The CBS News report makes clear that this turn happened at a point where trucks are prohibited from maneuvering.

That decision created a deadly roadblock. A vehicle traveling at highway speed has little time to react when a trailer stretches across the lane. In a wrongful death case, evidence that the truck driver violated route guidelines may serve as strong proof of negligence. That evidence could include crash reports, eyewitness statements, dash cam footage, and highway surveillance.

Why These Cases Demand Swift Investigation

After a fatal crash, time works against you. Commercial carriers may repair or destroy the involved vehicle within days. They might also erase black box data or overwrite video that could prove how and why the crash happened. In the Fort Pierce collision, key details about the maneuver and point of impact could shape the outcome of any civil case.

By working with a legal team immediately, you can issue preservation requests and coordinate expert reviews of vehicle data. These steps give you the best chance to demonstrate what occurred and why the victims had no opportunity to avoid the crash.

Damages You May Pursue in a Wrongful Death Claim

Wrongful death cases in Florida allow certain relatives to seek both economic and emotional compensation. If you are a spouse, child, or dependent, you may be entitled to damages for lost income, funeral and burial costs, and loss of companionship. In rare cases involving extreme recklessness, the court may also consider punitive damages.

Florida courts examine the age, health, earning history, and relationships of the deceased when awarding compensation. A thorough case will include financial documentation, medical records, and detailed testimony showing how your family has been affected. Every piece of information helps paint a fuller picture of the loss and its impact.

Speak With a Florida Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

If someone in your family was killed in a crash involving a commercial truck or reckless driver, you have every right to seek accountability. The loss may feel too heavy to process, but acting quickly gives your case the strongest possible foundation. With the right legal support, you can protect your family’s future and pursue justice with confidence.

Call Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada today at (800) 654-1949 to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Let us help you understand your legal rights and begin the path toward recovery.

Filing a Legal Claim After a Fatal Red-Light Collision in Florida

Published on: August 3, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

When a driver ignores a red light and slams into another vehicle, the consequences often change lives forever. If your family suffered a devastating loss because someone failed to follow fundamental traffic laws, Florida gives you the right to pursue legal action. You may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death or personal injury claim. Speaking with a lawyer as soon as possible can help protect your future and your financial well-being.

A violent crash may cause physical harm, emotional trauma, or even the loss of a loved one. A legal claim cannot undo the damage, but it can hold the at-fault driver accountable and provide the support your family needs to move forward.

Legal Options for Families After a Fatal Crash

Florida law allows close family members to bring a wrongful death claim after a fatal traffic collision. The person responsible does not need to act intentionally. Running a red light, speeding through an intersection, or failing to yield creates a situation where a deadly impact becomes almost inevitable.

If your child, spouse, or parent died in the crash, you may be able to recover money for funeral expenses, emotional suffering, and the loss of support that person provided. Even if the responsible driver faces criminal charges, you still have a separate right to bring a civil case. Your lawyer can help you file that claim and demand full compensation.

Wrong-Way Crash on Palmetto Expressway Kills Passenger and Raises Legal Questions

Published on: July 4, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

When a vehicle enters a highway going the wrong direction, the outcome can be devastating. That is exactly what happened in Miami last week, when the Florida Highway Patrol reported a deadly crash involving a wrong-way driver on the Palmetto Expressway near NW 122nd Street. The collision claimed the life of a 36-year-old passenger in the front seat of one of the cars. Investigators say a 2018 Chevy sedan entered the northbound lanes while heading south, slamming head-on into a 2022 Hyundai.

If your loved one was hurt or killed in a similar crash, you may be wondering who can be held legally responsible and how Florida law applies. These are not easy questions, especially in high-speed collisions that result in sudden and permanent loss.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Crash in Miami?

Deadly Head-On Crash on U.S. 98 Highlights Dangers of Lane Departures

Published on: June 22, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a tragic head-on crash on June 21 along U.S. 98 near Pensacola. Early reports indicate a red Honda SUV veered into oncoming lanes and collided with a grey Kia sedan. The Honda’s 26-year-old driver was airlifted to Baptist Hospital but died shortly after arrival. The Kia’s 34-year-old driver declined hospital care at the scene. U.S. 98 remained partially closed for hours as troopers conducted a traffic homicide investigation and cleared the crash site

Why Head-On Collisions Are So Often Fatal

When a vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic at highway speed, the combined force can equal or exceed a crash into a stationary object at twice that speed. This explains why head-on impacts frequently result in serious injuries or death. Maintaining lane discipline and avoiding distractions are essential for highway safety.

Determining Fault After a Major Turnpike Crash in Palm Beach County

Published on: June 15, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Earlier this month, a major collision involving two SUVs, a minivan, and a semi-truck hauling vehicles sent 14 people to the hospital and closed all southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike near the Atlantic Avenue exit. These types of incidents often involve a chain of impacts and overlapping insurance claims, which makes early legal action critical for protecting your rights.

Florida’s comparative fault system means that each party’s degree of responsibility directly affects their ability to recover compensation. When several drivers, vehicles, or even commercial carriers are involved, the outcome depends on who acted negligently and how those actions contributed to the resulting injuries and damage. A delay in securing legal representation can make it more challenging to access evidence, speak with witnesses, or defend against unfair accusations.

Untangling Fault in Multi-Vehicle Collisions on Florida’s Turnpike

When a crash involves multiple vehicles, such as the recent Turnpike collision near Atlantic Avenue, sorting out who is legally responsible is rarely straightforward. Florida law uses a comparative fault model, meaning each party’s share of the blame reduces what they can recover. That matters when drivers, passengers, and even commercial carriers suffer injury or property loss in the same event. Insurance companies will often move quickly to assign responsibility in a way that minimizes their liability, even if it means misrepresenting how the crash occurred.

Miami Pedestrian Hit and Run Highlights Challenges of Seeking Justice Without an Identified Driver

Published on: June 13, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Hit-and-run accidents involving pedestrians continue to pose serious challenges for victims and families throughout South Florida. A recent early morning crash in Northwest Miami-Dade left one man in critical condition after a driver struck him near the intersection of Northwest 32nd Avenue and 95th Street, then fled without stopping to help. According to reports, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene shortly after 5 a.m. and began emergency care, but the driver responsible was already gone.

Pedestrian crashes are often severe due to the vulnerable position of the person hit. When the driver flees, the trauma is compounded by delays in treatment, lack of immediate accountability, and difficulties recovering compensation. These cases involve the initial harm caused by the impact and the emotional and financial toll of unanswered questions.

What Makes Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents So Legally Complicated

When a driver hits someone and remains at the scene, investigators can gather insurance information, interview the person involved, and piece together fault. In a hit-and-run, none of that is possible in the early stages. Without the at-fault party’s name, contact information, or insurance policy, victims are left in limbo. The damage has been done, but the path forward is unclear.

Orlando Crash Raises Questions About Wrongful Death Liability in Florida

Published on: June 12, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Tragedy struck earlier this month when two lives were lost in a violent two-car collision on Colonial Drive in Orlando. According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, the collision occurred near Hiawassee Road and involved a vehicle attempting a left turn into a parking lot. That car entered the path of an oncoming vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. The resulting crash left both occupants of the turning vehicle fatally injured, and the other driver was hospitalized.

Accidents like this are sudden and devastating. For the surviving families, the grief often mixes with confusion, financial pressure, and unanswered questions. In Florida, families who lose loved ones under such circumstances may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim.

What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death in Florida?

Under Florida Statutes Section 768.19, a wrongful death occurs when a person’s death is caused by the “wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty” of another. This can include fatal car accidents resulting from careless driving, improper turns, failure to yield, distracted driving, or any violation of traffic safety laws.

The right to file a wrongful death lawsuit belongs to the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. This representative acts on behalf of surviving family members, such as a spouse, children, or parents, who suffer emotional and financial loss as a result of the death.

When Hit-and-Run Drivers Cause Fatal Injuries in Miami

Published on: May 29, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

A recent hit-and-run crash in Miami took the life of a woman who was simply crossing the street. While the details continue to unfold, this tragedy highlights an issue that affects far too many families in South Florida. Hit-and-run collisions leave victims and loved ones not only coping with physical and emotional trauma but also searching for answers when the responsible driver disappears.

Florida law requires drivers involved in a crash to stop and provide information and assistance. When someone flees the scene—especially in cases involving serious injury or death—they violate both legal obligations and moral decency. For families left behind, the impact can be devastating.

Pedestrians Face Greater Risk on Miami Roads

Miami’s traffic patterns create heightened danger for those on foot. Busy intersections, poor lighting, and aggressive driving habits all contribute to the elevated risk. Many hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians occur late at night or in the early morning hours, when visibility is low and traffic enforcement may be limited. Alcohol, distraction, and speeding are common contributing factors.

Even when a pedestrian follows the rules—using crosswalks and waiting for signals—the actions of a reckless driver can end lives in an instant. The absence of protective barriers between a person and a fast-moving vehicle means any contact can lead to catastrophic injury. If the driver fails to stop, the delay in emergency aid can be fatal.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Injury in a Florida Car Crash

Published on: April 20, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

If you were hit by a car while walking in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Whether you were using a crosswalk or simply standing near the road, drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles safely around pedestrians. Florida law recognizes your right to recover damages if a driver fails to meet that duty and causes harm.

A recent crash in Miami highlights the seriousness of pedestrian accidents. Two women were hospitalized after a collision involving a police vehicle and another car near Northwest 47th Avenue and 7th Street. One of the women was listed in critical condition. Video from the scene showed a chaotic response, with police tape stretched around the intersection and heavy damage to both vehicles. Although full details are still under investigation, the victims face a long road to recovery, and their right to pursue legal action may depend on how quickly they act.

Drivers Must Yield to Pedestrians in Florida

Under Florida Statutes Section 316.130, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and exercise proper care to avoid hitting anyone who is walking on or near a roadway. Failing to do so may lead to civil liability if someone is injured as a result.

Florida Product Liability and Punitive Damages in Tesla Autopilot Case

Published on: March 31, 2025 | by Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A.

Product manufacturers have a legal duty to design and market safe vehicles. When a company promotes a product as advanced or self-sufficient, it raises questions about responsibility when a failure leads to a fatal crash. In Florida, punitive damages are reserved for cases where a manufacturer’s conduct is so reckless that it rises to the level of intentional misconduct or gross negligence. A recent appellate decision reversed a trial court ruling that initially allowed a punitive damages claim against Tesla following a fatal Autopilot-related crash. The ruling highlights the high legal threshold required for punitive damages in product liability cases.

Tesla Autopilot and the Fatal Florida Crash

A driver operating a 2018 Tesla Model 3 engaged the Enhanced Autopilot system while traveling 69 miles per hour on US 441. Moments later, the vehicle collided with a semi-trailer truck that had turned into its path. The impact sheared off the top of the Tesla, resulting in an instant fatality. Crash investigators determined that the vehicle’s Autopilot system remained engaged leading up to the collision, with no braking, acceleration, or steering input detected for at least eight seconds before impact.