South Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
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.