Merging is a common maneuver while on any highway. On very busy highways like I-95, you may have to negotiate a merging maneuver quite frequently. You stand a risk of being hit when merging by a driver who is tired, not concentrating, speeding or for another reason fails to take sufficient care.
If you are seriously injured while on the Florida section of I-95, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the driver who was responsible for your injuries. Talk to a personal injury attorney about your legal options.
Interstate-95 in Florida
I-95 is one of the longest highways in the U.S. It is the seventh longest interstate, at 1,924 miles, with the final southern section terminating in Florida. It generally runs north south parallel to the Atlantic seaboard, with one end in Maine and the other in Florida. The Florida section is 328 miles long and is the longest section of any state along the length of I-95.
I-95 has the distinction of passing through one of the U.S.’s most populous corridors. It also passes through more states than any other interstate. Florida has been reported* to have more accidents on its section of I-95 than any of the other states, although not all these accidents are merging accidents.
What to Do If Hit While Merging On I-95
If you are not ‘seriously’ injured in a merging accident on the Florida section of the I-95, the state’s no-fault law means that you will have to claim compensation from your own insurance provider. The main benefit of this is that there is no necessity to prove negligence so a compensation payment is likely to be released more quickly.
Some merging accidents can lead to quite serious injuries. If this is the case, you may be able to file a personal injury claim for both economic (i.e. medical costs and lost earnings) and non-economic (e.g. pain and suffering) damages. The claim must be made within four years of the injury and proof that the other driver was at fault must be provided.
Florida has a pure comparative negligence rule, so you should be able to obtain compensation in proportion to the amount of blame determined.
Evidence to Gather If Hit While Merging On I-95
If serious injuries compel you to seek compensation from a driver who hit your vehicle while merging you will need to provide evidence that supports your case. Typically useful evidence includes the following:
- crash report from police;
- mechanical report of damage to vehicle;
- photos taken at the crash scene;
- witness statements taken at the scene or later after contact;
- medical report of your injuries;
- bills for medical treatment;
- stubs showing lost earnings;
- projected future costs if claim made before full recovery.
Hire An Attorney
It is important to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as you can after a merging accident on Florida’s I-95. Personal injury cases involving vehicle accidents can be complex in Florida because of the gray area involved in determining whether an injury is ‘serious’ enough to be treated as sufficiently serious to file a personal injury claim rather than claiming from your own insurer. A good attorney can make all the difference when it comes to obtaining sufficient compensation to cover your needs.
Additional Resources
*Source: pajcic.com/floridas-i-95-americas-most-deadly-road-site-of-1713-crashes-in-jacksonville-area-in-1-year/
