A Fort Lauderdale Accident Caused By Debris In The Road – Is Anyone Responsible?

Let’s say you were injured on a Fort Lauderdale or Broward County roadway due to debris lying in the roadway. On Friday, June 4,2010 westbound I-595 in Broward County, Florida was temporarily shut down due to boxes containing glass products that were dumped all over the roadway, from approximately Nob Hill Road to Hiatus Road. All I-595 westbound traffic was diverted off the highway causing enormous backups, delays and lots of lost tempers. Let’s say an accident ensued as a result of this event. Who would be responsible?

Well, if it was two vehicles striking each other because of their own carelessness the matter would be handled as any other Florida automobile accident pursuant to Chapter 627 of the Florida Statutes -The Florida Automobile Reparations Reform Act. Under those circumstances responsibility would lie with the at fault driver for causing the accident and damages would be paid if the victims suffered “threshold injuries” as defined in that act: i.e.; damages would be awarded if the victim either: 1) suffered a wrongful death; 2) permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement; 3) a significant loss of an important bodily function; or 4) a permanent injury, within a reasonable degree of medical probability.

These points have been discussed in one of our blogs and can be further explained by contacting our office. This blog will be continued in our next entry, please follow with us!