According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), 2,594 fatalities have resulted from crashes in 2023.
What Is A Traffic Homicide Investigation?
A traffic homicide investigation begins when a traffic crash results in death. Typically, a traffic homicide investigator and a prosecutor immediately become engaged in documenting the accident scene and collecting evidence. Everybody is a suspect until there’s evidence suggesting that you’re not a suspect. So even the party that’s not at fault in a car wreck has the potential for criminal and civil liability because somebody has passed away.
Traffic Homicide Evidence
The traffic homicide officers throughout Florida will document different types of evidence that can be gathered from the scene or from interviewing the witnesses and gather and analyze information from the traffic crash investigation including:
- Roadway evidence including the type, width, and condition of the roadway as well as the grade and curvature of the roadway on which the accident occurred;
- Criminal responsibility of the driver due to alcohol intoxication, drug impairment, fatigue, mental state, driving experience, driving history, reaction time, and attitude of the driver of the motor vehicles involved in the crash;
- Criminal responsibility of the other driver including a blood test of any driver killed as a result of the crash to see if alcohol intoxication or drug impairment could have caused the accident;
- Other factors on the roadway include street lights, traffic control devices, traffic signs and signals, and pavement markers;
- Other conditions that could contribute to the accident include lighting, fog, rain, sleet, lighting, visual obstructions and other weather conditions;
- Evidence to estimate the speed of the vehicles by examining scuff marks, skid marks, and airborne objects;
- Determining kinetic energy and linear momentum;
- Examination of the vehicle lamp, tires, and damage;
- Calculations related to the center of mass;
- Evaluations of tire damage;
- Distance, time, and motion equations;
- Analysis of the vector sum; and
- The motion and dynamics of the vehicles involved in the crash are related to deceleration and acceleration
Take It Seriously, Even Though Your Are Not At Fault
It’s really important and vital that you take any death that’s associated with the wreck that you’re involved in seriously, even when you’re not at fault. You take it seriously because you are a suspect and things that you have done either that day or in the past or the way you were driving that you maybe are not thinking could be material to the the investigation may in fact be relevant.
Consult With A Lawyer
It is also important that if you’re involved in a car wreck where somebody dies, even the at fault party passes away, especially if somebody passes away in the vehicle you’re in it’s really important that you consult with a lawyer as soon as possible, in case there’s a need to have a criminal lawyer involved, just to keep some space between you and the investigating officers or troopers.
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What Should You Do If You Are In A Florida Car Accident?
1. Call the police and file a report.
2. Swap information (including any insurance information they may have).
3. Gather details.
4. Take pictures/video
5. Gather the contact information of any witnesses.
6. Seek medical care immediately for any injuries, no matter how minor you think they might be.
GET MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT HERE AT OUR “CAR WRECK CHECKLIST” >
While there are many personal injury lawyers, not all of them have equal training and qualifications. Lawyers are usually prohibited by the Florida Bar from calling themselves “experts” in a particular field. However, the Bar does allow some lawyers who have extensive experience and peer recognition in personal injury to take a test to become Board Certified Civil Trial Specialists. Although only 1% of Florida lawyers are board-certified in a civil trial, two out of the three lawyers at Zarzaur Law hold this certification.
Since all personal injury lawyers have the same “no cost no fee unless you win” payout structure, there is no reason not to hire someone who is not a specialist.
Joe Zarzaur is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney whose firm has been dedicated to promoting community safety since 2007. ZARZAUR LAW’S AREAS OF PRACTICE: Serious Personal Injury, Product Defect, Auto Accidents, Cycling Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Products Liability, Wrongful Death, Community Safety, Boat and Jet Ski Accidents, Slip and Fall Injuries, and more. Licensed in Alabama and Florida.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s important that you don’t make any rash decisions. Put yourself in the best possible position to receive the justice you deserve. It is also important to consult a Board-Certified Trial Lawyer with the knowledge and experience to help you. We know accidents can be stressful, and we want to make the process as easy as possible for you.
Call Zarzaur Law, P.A. today at (855) Hire-Joe for a free legal consultation or visit www.zarzaurlaw.com.
Sources:
https://www.flhsmv.gov/