Several people in Florida were injured in a series of car accidents that occurred along the turnpike on April 3. The accidents happened nearby Stuart, at Mile Marker 126 on the Florida Turnpike. At 2:55 pm, local media reported that the turnpike was closed due to two separate crashes. By 3:40 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol reported that a third accident had forced them to close the turnpike lanes at the Indiantown Road Exit.
FHP says the accident was caused by a tractor-trailer driver veering off to the northbound shoulder and colliding with a semi that was parked roadside. Police say the cause of the erratic driving was not immediately apparent after the preliminary investigation. The force the impact separated the driver’s trailer from the truck, sending it into the path of northbound traffic. A driver in a 2015 Maxima attempted to avoid a collision, but lost control of the vehicle and overturned.
The two occupants inside the Maxima and the driver of the tractor trailer were brought to Martin Memorial Medical Center to receive medical treatment for minor injuries suffered in the crash. The third crash occurred near one of the first detours motorists were sent towards after the initial accident. Authorities cleared the pathways at both sites by 6:30 p.m. that evening. The people injured in the accident may benefit from consulting a lawyer about filing a personal injury claim against the driver who caused the crash.
Plaintiffs who suffer injuries from a car crash may be entitled to receive restitution that compensates for medical costs, loss of income, repair costs or other ensuing hardships. In order to qualify for any award, legal counsel may be required to prove that the defendant is liable for causing the accident. Lawyers may focus on gathering tangible evidence that implicates any of the parties who may be culpable for the damages.
Source: Palm Beach Post, “UPDATE: FHP reports crash on Turnpike clearing,” Jonathan Tully and Hannah Winston, April 3, 2015