Wrong-Way Driver Causes Major Damage on Interstate 95

A wrong-way driver wreaked havoc on the Palmetto Expressway before heading south on Interstate 95 (I-95). The driver traveled in the wrong direction through the Golden Glades spaghetti bowl and onto I-95. The driver reportedly smelled of alcohol and police found a bottle of Southern Comfort and a baggie of marijuana in the vehicle when it came to a stop, according to the Miami Herald.

The wrong-way driver caused multiple accidents while traveling on the Golden Glades Interchange including an accident that sent another driver to the hospital, according to CBS Miami.

Wrong Way Driving Accidents are a Serious Safety Issue

Wrong-way driving accidents result in between 300 and 400 death each year in the United States. That means wrong-way accidents comprise approximately one percent of the total number of traffic-related deaths that occur each year. While this may appear to be a small percentage, wrong-way accidents often involve head-on collisions at high rates of speed so they are generally more severe than other automobile wrecks, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The data in Florida is not much better. In 2015, there were approximately 1,490 wrong way driving accidents in the state which resulted in 1,454 injuries and 96 deaths, according to News 4 Jax.

Damages That Can Be Pursued in a Personal Injury Case Against a Wrong-Way Driver

If you or a loved one was seriously injured by a wrong-way driver, you can pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses. The forms of financial restitution available through a personal injury claim are typically broken down into three categories: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic damages include those itemizable harms you suffered as a result of the accident. They include medical bills (both incurred and future expenses such as rehabilitation and prescription medication costs) and lost wages as result of time missed from work due to your injuries.

Non-economic damages include the emotional distress, psychological trauma and pain and suffering associated with the collision. These losses are generally difficult to calculate, as there is no true economic value that can be placed on the amount of distress you or a loved one suffered.

Both economic and non-economic damages are intended to return you to where you were before the accident. Essentially, they are meant to make you whole. This is why you need an experienced Miami car accident lawyer on your side who has the skills to present your case to a jury is so important. You want a lawyer who will make sure all of your harms and losses are properly compensated.

In some major accident cases, the injured party can also pursue punitive damages. These are damages meant to punish the reckless driver. They are not recoverable in all cases. In fact, punitive damages are only pursuable by an injured party when there is evidence of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.

Another hurdle is the fact that the Florida legislature placed a statutory limitation or “cap” on punitive damages. In Florida, an award for punitive damages cannot exceed three times the amount of the award of compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is larger.

Speak to an Experienced Miami Car Accident Lawyer Today

The experienced car accident lawyers of the Miami office of Alan Goldfarb, P.A. are here to help you recover maximum compensation for your harms and losses. Contact our office today to schedule a free, confidential case review.

Resources:

miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-gardens/article160928199.html

miami.cbslocal.com/2017/07/12/wrong-way-driver-slams-vehicles-golden-glades/

news4jax.com/news/florida/nearly-1500-wrong-way-crashes-in-florida-last-year