Deadly traffic crashes dropped last year on all three of the counties across which The Villages are spread, according data from Florida Highway Patrol.
Sumter County saw the biggest decline over the year, with fatal accidents plummeting by nearly 46%. Marion County (down 16%) and Lake County (down 6%) also experienced fewer traffic fatalities than in the previous year.
It is not clear what exactly is behind the dip in traffic deaths, which is welcomed news to Villagers who travel by car, golf cart, bicycle or foot. The total number of traffic accidents ticked up in Sumter and Marion counties and stayed nearly flat in Lake.
Serious and fatal accidents continue to be a risk across the region despite the downturn. More than 200 people died in crashes across the three countries last year, including 100 in Marion County, 80 in Lake County and 23 in Sumter County.
A 63-year-old Weirsdale man was killed in a crash in early May when his motorcycle collided with another bike, according to a local news report. The man reportedly was thrown from his motorcycle after rear-ending the bike in front of him.
A 76-year-old Villager died months later after her sport utility vehicle collided with a pickup truck on U.S. Hwy. 441 in Marion County. The woman reportedly made an illegal left turn in front of the truck.
That is not to mention the serious and life-altering injuries that can follow traffic accidents of all kinds. From broken bones to spine damage and traumatic brain injuries, these injuries can change a person’s life in an instant.
At the end of March, for example, three Villagers were hospitalized after a car accident near the entrance to Spanish Springs. One of the vehicles caused the collision by running a red light, according to Villages-News.
Weeks earlier, another Villager suffered traumatic injuries in a golf cart accident in the Village of Pinellas. The man was said to be speeding in the moments leading up to the single-vehicle crash, in which he was pinned under the cart.
Money Damages in Traffic Accident Cases
Anyone who is injured in a car, golf cart, motorcycle or other traffic accident in Florida has the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the crash.
When a person is killed in an accident in Florida, his or her loved ones have the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the crash.
That includes compensation for financial losses associated with the accident, as well as for loss of support, love and companionship and for pain and suffering in some cases.
No amount of money can ever allow you to go back in time and stop an accident from happening. Compensation can, however, help ease some of the financial strain that often comes with losing a loved one.
Speak with a Villages Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart crash, Villages accident attorney Tim Babiarz can help you get back on your feet with the full compensation available under the law.
Our office is conveniently located in the Villages. We are also proud to represent clients throughout the area, including in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield and beyond. Call (352) 205-7559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Villages golf cart accident attorney.
