Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
To improve safety and traffic flow, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is moving the medians between 30th Avenue North and 94th Avenue North in St. Petersburg.
However, some drivers are skeptical about those modifications.
There are new concrete medians being put up all the way down 4th Street.
Turns that were previously possible are now blocked by some of the newly installed medians. Because the spaces between the lanes and barriers on other medians are yet to be completed, currently there is not enough space to turn left.
According to FDOT authorities, the main goal of the project is to increase safety. According to reports, 4th Street between 30th Avenue North and 94th Avenue North saw 1,501 collisions with nine fatalities between 2014 and 2018.
Crash frequency can be decreased by lowering the number of median openings, which is what FDOT hopes to achieve.
FDOT claims that paving will enhance the medians’ existing state. The gaps will be filled in once completed.
It is anticipated that the road improvements will be completed by summer 2024.
Florida is ranked second out of the top five states in the nation for the most road construction site fatalities, according to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety. Collisions involving big machinery or other vehicles can cause catastrophic injuries even in cases where no one is killed.
Roadway construction accidents are frequently caused by drivers’ carelessness or irresponsibility. When distracted, aggressive, or intoxicated drivers speed beyond the posted limit, disregard traffic signals or signs, or improperly merge, they run the risk of causing serious injury or even death.
Certain road construction accidents may also be caused by worker negligence. Employers may neglect to provide personnel with the necessary safety gear or training, which raises the possibility of mishaps for everyone surrounding the job site. Like this, workers may misuse equipment or disregard safety procedures, putting pedestrians, other drivers, and themselves in danger.
Sadly, not every person involved in a road construction accident makes it out alive. In cases where an individual passes away due to the carelessness of another, grieving family members might be able to file a wrongful death action against the party responsible for the death.
Family members may pursue monetary damages in a wrongful death action to cover costs associated with the victim’s funeral and burial, pre-death medical bills, lost wages, and loss of companionship. While this compensation will not bring the deceased back to life, it will help to alleviate the financial burden of the loss and provide closure for bereaved family members.
Make sure that you do not miss the deadline to file a claim
The statute of limitations, which is a stringent deadline, usually applies to civil claims for compensation in Florida. You have two years from the date of the accident to initiate a personal injury or wrongful death claim against a responsible party. You might not be able to get compensation for your injuries or the loss of a loved one if you miss this deadline.
Our St. Pete Car Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here to help
Let us help you seek financial justice for your losses. Call us now in St. Petersburg at 727-847-2299 or contact us online for a free consultation.