One driver was killed and another was critically injured in a crash in Miami Gardens early Thursday, authorities said. The crash happened just before 1:30 a.m. at the intersection of 27th Avenue and Miami Gardens Drive.
Miami Gardens Police officials said a Volkswagen Jetta and a Mercedes collided at the intersection, killing the driver of the Jetta. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue rushed the driver of the Mercedes to a local hospital where they were in critical condition, officials said.
Footage from the scene showed both vehicles heavily damaged, with one ending up on the property of a nearby business. Police didn’t release the identities of the drivers and said the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
STATE OF FLORIDA
Unfortunately, Florida auto collisions take place thousands of times per year. Recent statistics have found that a car crash in the Sunshine State is happening approximately once every 84 seconds. Over 400,000 auto accidents take place in Florida each year. More than 250,000 are hurt in these wrecks and more than 3,000 lose their lives. Car crashes in Florida can happen for many different reasons, but currently, the leading cause is driver negligence. Nearly all of the traffic collisions that occur in the United States happen as a result of some form of driver negligence, or about 92%. Therefore, almost all of the auto accidents that happen could be prevented by drivers choosing to be more attentive and responsible while behind the wheel.
MIAMI – FLORIDA
Miami is known for a lot of things: its beaches, the exotic wildlife, and the thriving nightlife. It’s a great place to live, work and visit. Of course, with so many people on the roads, driving is more hazardous. Whether you are a Miami native or just in town for the weekend, it’s important to always be vigilant when you are driving.
Fatal car accidents are an unfortunately common tragedy across the US and Florida, and especially in large cities like Miami. According to the Annual Report 2020 prepared by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were 3,098 deadly auto crashes that claimed the lives of 3,332 victims. Though the figures are not yet available for 2021, it is likely that the statistics will come close to the three-year average of 2,989 fatal accidents and 3,217 deaths. These numbers may not seem so high in the bigger scheme of things, until you realize the number of lives affected by one person’s death.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Miami Gardens, which is located in Miami-Dade County, is the home to a significant number of car accidents. In 2021, of the 3,748 car accident fatalities which occurred across the state of Florida, 376 of those fatalities were in Miami-Dade County. This put Miami-Dade County in the number one slot for fatal auto accidents. Saturday is the day in which a fatal auto accident is most likely, with March taking the number one slot for deadliest month. Spring break likely has something to do with the month of March having the most fatal auto accidents. Driver distraction, aggressive driving (such as speeding), drunk driving and inexperienced drivers are the factors most often associated with auto accidents of all types.
So far this year through June 11, 2022, of the 1,474 car accident fatalities which occurred across the state of Florida, 148 of those fatalities were in Miami-Dade County.
WHAT TO DO?
The high rate of injuries, fatalities, and collisions in Florida and especially in the Miami-Dade area highlights that we all have a role to play in preventing collisions and injuries. According to safety experts, here are the behaviors that can make a difference:
- Evaluate before you drive: Check in before you drive. You should never get behind the wheel if you’re tired, angry, upset, ill, or unfocused. Make sure you are physically and emotionally able to put your full focus on driving to get to your destination safely.
- Drive sober: Never drive after drinking, even if you are only “buzzed,” and check your over-the-counter and prescription medication to make sure they don’t make you drowsy.
- Put distractions away: We have more distractions around us than ever before and it’s essential we put away phone conversations, mobile devices, and any other distractions away before focusing on driving. Anything that takes your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road, or your mind off driving is a potentially dangerous distraction. Even daydreaming or an animated conversation with passengers can be distracting enough to cause a collision.
WHO SHOULD I CALL?
For over two decades, the lawyers at Suarez & Montero have been helping accident victims and their families collect just financial compensation and see justice for their injuries and losses.
You could be facing a number of difficult challenges following a serious accident in Florida. You may be severely injured, resulting in debilitating pain and suffering and forced time off of work. Time off of work results in lost wages, which then could cause emotional stress and mental anguish. All of this could be happening to you while you have recently lost a loved one due to your crash, which is possibly the worst-case scenario. We know that what you are going through may seem overwhelming and extremely difficult, which is why we do the hard work for you. We will negotiate with the insurance companies and assist you with all of the necessary legal paperwork. We will do everything necessary in order to get you the maximum financial compensation available for your specific case.
Call our law firm today at (305) 631-1911 to speak with one of our personal injury lawyers who will be able to inform you of your eligibility towards compensation for your injuries and losses that you may have incurred due to a recent accident.
