Yet another fatal crash in the Villages serves as a reminder of the danger that comes with getting behind the wheel.
An unidentified 73-year-old Villager was recently killed in a Saturday afternoon collision on State Road 44 in Lake County, Villages-News reports. The driver, in a Honda CRV, reportedly was attempting to make a U-turn on State Road 44 north of Rory Lane at the time of the accident.
“When he was making the U-turn, his vehicle entered into the path of a sport utility vehicle driven by an 18-year-old male from Eustis,” according to Villages-News. “The vehicles collided and a 19-year-old man traveling as a passenger in the SUV was ejected from the vehicle.”
The Honda driver was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The SUV passenger, who was said to suffer serious injuries, was transported to a hospital in Sanford. It is not clear whether he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The driver of the SUV walked away without injury.
Fatal accidents like this one are unfortunately all too common in the Villages and across Florida.
Just two weeks earlier, a 20-year-old motorcycle rider died in a wreck on County Road 466A at Buena Vista Boulevard. The biker reportedly collided with an SUV driven by a 71-year-old Villager.
Last month, three people were killed in an Interstate 75 crash involving a tractor-trailer pulling a dump truck.
Also in October, two local residents were killed in less than three days in separate crashes. The first was a teenage driver who reportedly was speeding and not wearing a seat belt when he lost control of his vehicle. The other was leaving a Circle K/Shell gas station parking lot when her car was struck by a pickup truck.
More than 2,800 people have died in car accidents across Florida just this year, according to data compiled by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Another 207,000 people have been injured in collisions statewide.
Suing for Wrongful Death After a Fatal Car Accident
Anyone who has been injured in a car accident in The Villages or across Florida has the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the crash. Similarly, certain family members of a person who is killed in an accident can also ensure that those responsible are made accountable for their actions by suing for wrongful death.
The compensation available in these cases includes money for the loss of the deceased person’s earnings and companionship, as well as for mental anguish and suffering and medical and funeral expenses.
There is no amount of money that can ever undo a fatal car accident or replace a loved one killed in a crash. Compensation can, however, help ease some of the financial burdens that often come with losing a family member.
Speak with a Villages Car Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Florida, Villages accident attorney Tim Babiarz can help you understand your rights and explore your options for maximizing compensation.
We are proud to represent clients in the Villages and 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 car accident attorney.
