Polk County, FL — 3-Car Accident, Secondary Crash Leaves 9 Injured

Polk County, FL (September 23rd, 2024) – Nine people were injured, two with life-threatening injuries, in a three-car accident and secondary wreck in Polk County. 

A Ford F-150 and a Ford Explorer were struck by a Dodge Ram after it crossed the center line on Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Road in Frostproof. Before the scene was cleared, a Chevy Silverado collided with the Explorer. 

Two people, who had exited their vehicles after the initial car accident, were hit and then dragged a short distance by the Silverado. Three other people were struck by the Explorer when it was hit by the truck. Of the 10 people involved in the initial and secondary car accidents, nine suffered injuries. 

What Is a Secondary Car Accident?

After motor vehicle collisions, it can take time, or others may not be able, to clear the scene. Sometimes, then, other vehicles may crash into the involved vehicles, due to trying to avoid the debris or accident, scene, or other such related factors. These crashes are referred to as secondary, or subsequent, accidents. While often occurring on multilane highways or in urban areas, secondary wrecks can, and do, happen on all types of roadways.

Secondary accidents can be as serious, if not more so, than the original collisions. Those involved may suffer injuries ranging from minor to serious or, in some cases, catastrophic or fatal. 

How Can You Avoid a Secondary Car Accident?

The aftermath of a motor vehicle collision can be disorienting, and may leave victims at risk of further injury. Knowing what to do after a car accident to avoid a secondary collision can help drivers keep themselves, their passengers, and others safe.

Assess the Situation

One of the first things people should do after getting into a car accident is to assess the situation. They should evaluate the severity of the crash, any injuries, and the presence of hazards. 

Activate Hazard Lights

Especially in areas with curves or other visibility hazards, or where drivers are traveling at high rates of speed, other motorists may come to accidents quickly, leaving little or no time to react. Therefore, it’s important to give others as much warning as possible. To this end, motorists should turn on their hazard lights. If they have safety triangles or roadside safety signs, it’s advisable to set those out, provided it’s safe to do so.

Move Vehicles to Safety

While drivers should never leave the scene of an accident, it is important to move vehicles to safety following a crash. The longer disabled vehicles remain in active traffic lanes, the greater the risk of other vehicles coming upon them, and secondary accidents occurring. After a wreck, drivers should look for oncoming traffic to make sure it is safe and, if so, move their vehicles to a shoulder or nearby parking lot. 

Liability for Secondary Accidents in Florida

Depending on the circumstances, one or multiple drivers may be liable for the damages resulting from secondary accident cases. Factors, including which collision caused the injuries and the fault assessed to the involved parties, will determine who victims can hold responsible.

Florida’s Comparative Negligence Law

Florida has a pure comparative negligence law in place. Under this law, the recovery of damages can be reduced based on respective percentages of fault. 

In the case of secondary accidents resulting in serious injuries, it allows victims to hold one or both of the at-fault drivers involved in the crashes financially responsible. For example, Driver A causes a wreck. While avoiding the initial accident, Driver B hits Driver C. Driver C may recover compensation from both Driver A and Driver B. The amount of Driver C’s total damages that each of the other drivers are responsible for will depend on the percentage of fault that each is assessed for the crash.

Recovering Damages for Secondary Accidents

The damages victims can seek to recover after a secondary car accident can be categorized into two main groups – economic and non-economic. A personal injury lawyer experienced in handling these types of cases can explain how car accident settlements are calculated, and victims understand what they may be entitled to.

Economic damages are those tangible, quantifiable losses that can be easily measured. For instance, medical expenses, such as the cost of emergency treatment, hospitalization, and follow-up care, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. 

Non-economic damages are intangible losses that are more difficult to measure. They may include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement.

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a secondary accident in Florida, you may be entitled to recover compensation. Putting the personal back in injury law for more than 30 years, our attorney, Jim Magazine, has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims and their families. Call Magazine & Light Law Group today at 727-499-9900 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Jim Magazine

James (Jim) Magazine is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer who has spent his career helping injured victims. Jim is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1990 and is also admitted to practice at the Appellate level and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

Years of Experience: More than 30 years
Florida Registration Status: Active
Bar Admissions:
Clearwater Bar Association
West Pasco Bar Association