According to the Lakeland Ledger, Eric Kessler, 42, was killed Monday, August 24, 2009 in Lakeland, FL, in a single vehicle accident on Interstate 4.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that Kessler was driving east on Interstate 4 near the Polk Parkway at about 2:30 a.m. when he lost control of his SUV. He then swerved onto a shoulder, hit a hill, and flew into the air over the Polk Parkway, FL, exit ramp, striking a concrete barrier. The SUV then continued to flip onto its roof in the west bound lane of South Frontage Road where it came to final rest.
Due to Kessler's lack of seatbelt restraint, he was flown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to the National Highway Safety Traffic Association (NHSTA), 42% of all single vehicle fatalities in 1999 involved intoxicated drivers.
Also, out of the 1,140 motor vehicle accident fatalities that occurred in 1999, 938 (or 82%), of the accidents were off roadway. When the term "off roadway" is used, it means the crash occurred on the shoulder, median, roadside, or outside the right-of-way. The term could also indicate an unknown location, in a parking lane, gore and separator. A gore, used in this context, is an area of land where two roadways diverge or converge.
95% of the off roadway fatalities in motor vehicle accidents occurred as a result of a collision with a fixed object, which is the collision of the vehicle with stable structures or vegetation attached to the terrain. Examples include a bridge rail, guardrail, utility pole, culvert, concrete traffic barrier, fire hydrant and/or shrubbery.
As an attorney practicing personal injury in Polk County, FL, I have represented victims of single car crashes. As noted by the NHSTA, single vehicle fatalities often involve intoxicated drivers. In such cases, the passengers may be able to bring a claim against that driver. However, single car crashes are not limited to DUI. There could be an underlying factor, such as a vehicle defect that contributed to the crash. For these reasons, it is crucial to obtain legal representation from the onset of a crash to properly secure one's rights in the event of a potential future claim.
