Miami Injury Lawyer Blog
Neighbors who live close to the Miami-Dade canal, which is near the intersection of 102nd Avenue and 144th Street, have a cause for concern. Two weeks ago, a twenty-two year old female drove her car right through seven orange and white road markers and metal posts and went straight into the canal. While she was able to swim away as the water swallowed her car, residents are concerned that another driver might miss the signs and suffer a worse fate.
Many neighbors feel the section of the road that feeds into the canal has become a “thorn,” with shattered glass still splayed around following a late night hit and run accident, damp receipts left over from a “careening Mitsubishi that splashed into” the canal, and pieces of cars from other accidents. The canal, which is protected by little signage and some knee-high grass between the roadway and the waterway, has been the site of several accidents. One resident stated that there have been over 10 major accidents in the past ten years. Neighbors fear that drivers are going to start dying in the canal and wish that something would be done about the premises.
A recent crash pulled the guardrail off of its posts and made it unusable as a guardrail. Residents have asked the county to replace the guardrail by the canal. In the interim, roadway markers were put up to warn drivers. Many residents feel as though that isn’t enough, after the young girl drove right by the markers. Residents are pushing for a “10-foot-wide sign installed by the canal that unquestionably tells drivers they can’t go any further.” The county believes a replaced guardrail and the roadway markers are sufficient to protect drivers. Almost of all of the accidents that have occurred at the canal have occurred at night, meaning that as the driver approaches the canal, they cannot see it and continue to drive believing that they are still on the road. Other residents have asked for barricades to be put up believing it will stop drivers at night, but past efforts have proved unsuccessful as drivers continually drove through the barriers. As of now, only the guardrail and posts remain.
Canal crash heightens safety concerns among Kendall residents, www.miamiherald.com July 23, 2012.
The entryway to the canal has been a problem for a long time. Due to the high number of accidents, the state is aware that the current measures are not sufficient. Property owners owe a legal duty to keep their premises safe for visitors. If owners fail to do so, they become liable for any injuries their visitors suffer as a result of the known dangerous condition. If you or a loved one has been injured because of unsafe premises, contact the Miami premises liability lawyers at the Friedland | Carmona today! Jonathan Friedland is an experienced trial attorney who has dedicated over twenty years to helping victims recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. If you’ve been injured, call (305) 661-2008 today for your free consultation!
The Miami personal injury lawyers at the Friedland | Carmona handle all types of personal injury accidents throughout the state of Florida, including Boca Raton, Homestead, North Miami, South Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, Hialeah, Kendall, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. The Friedland | Carmona handles all types of personal injury cases, including wrongful death, defective products, medical malpractice, slip and falls and construction site injuries. Call today and let our family take care of your family!