Head-on collisions often cause more harm than might be anticipated from the rapid and relatively brief chain of events that such accidents screate. A recent hit-and-run accident in Lake County that killed the owner of a popular local nursery demonstrates the point.
The accident
The owner of Susie’s Cool Beans Nursery in DeBary was headed home from her nursery and was westbound on State Road 46 near its intersection with Wekiva Pines Boulevard. Her vehicle was traveling through a construction area designated by temporary signs as a no-passing zone. Her car was in the no-passing zone when it was struck a head-on by an eastbound vehicle attempting to pass other eastbound vehicles. The driver of this vehicle had entered the westbound lane and crossed the double yellow no-passing line before he found himself in the westbound lane. He was unable to re-enter the east bound lane, and he collided head-on with a west bound vehicle. The driver of this second vehicle swerved to the right to avoid the head-on collision, but the driver over-corrected when he tried to re-enter the eastbound lane. At that point, his car struck the vehicle being driven by the nursery owner. The passenger in the wrong-way car was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford where she succumbed to her injuries. The nursery owner died of her injuries at the scene.
Police are still looking for the wrong-way vehicle. It is believed to be a red Hyundai.
What next?
Both victims’ families have a strong claim for damages under Florida’s wrongful death statute. Family members of a person killed by the negligent or wrongful act of another have the right to seek damages from the person whose negligent act killed the victim. The family members are entitled to seek damages for loss of companionship and loss of financial support. Anyone who has lost a family member under similar circumstances may wish to consult an attorney experienced in handling wrongful death cases for an evaluation of the evidence and a prediction of the likelihood of recovering damages.