No matter how safely most Alabama residents drive, it is impossible to avoid encountering those who act recklessly behind the wheel. Unfortunately, many of these negligent drivers fail to take into account the conditions of the roads on which they travel, making some areas more dangerous than others. Although there is nothing that can undo the devastation of a fatal accident, personal injury law allows for compensation to victims and surviving family members.
Alabama Highway 167 is an area well known for serious accidents. Although it is only a two-lane road, it hosts local traffic, commercial vehicles, commuters, tourists, and beach goers daily. However, a local wrecker says that the highway is simply not equipped to handle all of the traffic it sees.
The speed limit is 55 miles per hour on Highway 167, a significant drop compared to the nearby interstate where drivers typically drive up to 80 mph. When they exit, many struggle to adjust to the lower speeds, and instead swerve in and out of traffic as they pass vehicles traveling closer to the posted speed limit. Unfortunately, with limited visibility in many areas, this leads to a surge in head-on collisions.
A recent accident killed three people, including one child. A woman driving a van crossed the center lane of traffic to pass a vehicle but instead collided with an oncoming vehicle. Both drivers were killed, as was a 3-year-old passenger in the van. Two other passengers in the van were taken to an area hospital for treatment, although the nature of their injuries is unclear.
Drivers are responsible for assessing the conditions and visibility of the roads, adhering to the speed limit, and driving in a safe manner. Those who ignore these tenets put not only themselves at risk but everyone else on the road. Under current Alabama personal injury law, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death suits against negligent drivers, which can provide valuable compensation to victims’ estates.
