State Troopers to Undergo Car Crash Investigation Training

November 25, 2011

State Troopers to Undergo Car Crash Investigation Training

In a recent example of the danger Florida's highways can pose, a car in Jefferson County swerved onto the shoulder, turned back across both lanes of the road onto the opposite shoulder, spun out and crashed into a utility pole. A 17-year old passenger was killed; the driver fled on foot. Sometime later, the Florida Highway Patrol began investigating the accident.

Why Wait? Highway Accident Investigations to Start Sooner

Florida state troopers who arrive on the scene of deadly highway car accidents will start investigations sooner than ever with the help of a state plan, announced by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Julie L. Jones, to put troopers through additional training. The training will focus on fatal single-vehicle highway crashes and will allow troopers to start investigating right away instead of waiting for a Highway Patrol investigator to arrive.

Florida's push for earlier investigations into highway accidents likely means that details about the causes of fatal car accidents will come out sooner. This could improve the quality of both documentation and evidence in the event that the accident leads to criminal charges, insurance claims or a civil case. Additionally, other drivers out on the road will be happy to hear that this plan likely means less time stuck in traffic caused by accidents.

The Statistics

Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association show a trend in several Florida counties -- during 2009 and 2010, more than half of total automobile crash deaths came from single-vehicle crashes. On a positive note, overall fatalities from automobile crashes in Florida decreased by 4.6 percent during the same time period.

Regardless of whether or not Florida highways are safer, fatal accidents do happen, and several factors are to blame. Sgt. Kim Montes of the Highway Patrol told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that driver error, which can be caused by alcohol impairment, is the source of a majority of fatal crashes. According to Lt. Patrick Riordan, a Highway Patrol public affairs officer, lower gas prices encouraging more travel have also contributed to the fatality rate.

Family members of those who die in fatal highway accidents should contact an experienced personal injury or wrongful death attorney to find out what options they have before speaking with insurance company representatives or seeking compensation for the loss of a loved one. Injured drivers or passengers should also talk to a lawyer to discuss the potential legal consequences of such accidents.

Article provided by Boyette Cummins & Nailos, P.L.L.C.
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