The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and contractors working on the iRox Interstate-75 expansion between Naples and Fort Meyers, Florida have been sued by a woman claiming that their negligence caused the wrongful death of her husband in car accident in the construction zone. While the number of traffic crashes in Florida has declined in recent years, the state's highways still rank among the most dangerous in the nation, and the risk of being in a car accident is even greater in road-construction zones.
The woman sued FDOT and construction contractors after her husband was killed in an automobile accident on I-75. Naplesnews reports that, on October 11, 2009, the man was driving near mile marker 105 when he drove onto uneven pavement caused by the construction work. He over-corrected, lost control of his vehicle and drove across several lanes before hitting steel cables in the median, which caused his SUV to roll over multiple times. The man was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, suffering fatal injuries in the crash.
Wrongful-Death Lawsuit Alleges Negligence
In her wrongful-death lawsuit, the victim's wife alleges that FDOT and the contractors were negligent in performing their work, which caused her husband to lose control of his car and die. The lawsuit claims that FDOT and the contractors had a duty to ensure the construction work was done in a way that made it possible for vehicles to travel safely in the area and that they failed to meet that duty, resulting in the man's death
Specifically, the lawsuit asserts that warning signs, barricades and road markers were confusing, faulty and misplaced, that FDOT and the contractors failed to lower the speed limit appropriately in the construction zone and that FDOT and the contractors did not comply with safety regulations. It also states that they knew or should have known the construction zone was too dangerous for drivers because of past car accidents that occurred there.
When a person dies in a car accident that may have been someone else's fault, the victim's family members may be able to obtain monetary compensation, called damages, through a wrongful-death lawsuit. In Florida, family members may be able to recover damages for:
- The victim's medical expenses
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship, protection and services
- Loss of the victim's expected future earnings
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, contact a skilled personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights and any compensation you may be entitled to.
