You may have heard Highway 98 referred to as “Bloody 98.” This highway sees serious car accidents in Pensacola, FL, for a range of reasons, including congestion, high-speed traffic, and dangerous intersections. One of its biggest problems is risky driving.
If you’ve been in an accident, the compensation from an injury claim in Pensacola, Florida, can cover your medical bills, lost income, and other accident-related losses. Here’s a closer look at the difference a Pensacola Highway 98 accident lawyer from Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can make in your highway crash case. contact (850) 434-3333 to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers After a Highway 98 Accident in Pensacola?
After a crash on Highway 98 in Pensacola, Florida, you need a law firm with the experience, resources, and determination to take on the insurance company. Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers has served injured accident victims for more than four decades. Our attorneys bring over 75 years of combined experience to every case we handle.
Our Pensacola car accident lawyers have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for injured clients. That record reflects a long history of standing up for people facing medical bills, lost income, pain, and uncertainty after serious accidents.
Highway 98 crashes can involve severe injuries, disputed fault, multiple vehicles, and aggressive insurance adjusters. Our legal team understands how these cases work and what it takes to build a strong claim. We are prepared to fight for the compensation you need while you focus on your recovery.
Contact us today to schedule a free case review with a Pensacola personal injury attorney and learn more about your right to seek compensation.
Why Is Highway 98 So Dangerous in Pensacola?
Highway 98 is dangerous in Pensacola because it carries many types of traffic through some of the city’s busiest areas. Also called US-98 or U.S. Route 98, the highway runs east and west through Pensacola and serves as a major route for commuters, tourists, commercial vehicles, and local drivers.
The road also changes names and traffic patterns several times as it moves through the city:
- Drivers entering Pensacola from the west travel along Navy Boulevard.
- Farther east, the highway becomes Garden Street, turns north at Alcaniz Street, continues along Chase Street, and follows the waterfront on Bayfront Parkway.
- Then the road turns south near Gregory Street before crossing the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
Because Highway 98 connects residential areas, downtown streets, waterfront roads, and the Pensacola Bay Bridge, accidents can involve a wide range of vehicles and crash types.
Common Types of Accidents on Highway 98
Highway 98 accidents can happen in the following ways:
Speeding Accidents
Exceeding the speed limit and traveling too fast for the conditions can lead to traffic crashes. High-speed vehicles are more difficult to control, especially when the roads are slick with rain. Braking distances also increase with speed. In heavy traffic, a speeding driver might be unable to stop before causing a rear-end collision.
Intersection Collisions
Despite its name, Highway 98 is not an elevated highway. Instead, each cross-street intersects with it. Some of these intersections are signalized. The greatest risks at these intersections tend to include red-light runners and drivers turning right on red. In either case, these drivers may hit vehicles with the right of way.
However, other intersections are unsignalized. These intersections are especially dangerous because traffic does not stop for vehicles at stop signs. Similarly, cars exiting driveways and parking lots must wait for traffic to clear.
In either case, heavy traffic and high speeds can increase the risk of an intersection accident.
Distracted Driving Crashes
Distracted and inattentive drivers can hit other vehicles on Highway 98. When a driver is focused on tasks other than driving, they may not see other vehicles or react in time to avoid them.
How a Lawyer Can Help After an Accident on Highway 98
A Pensacola car accident attorney can analyze your injuries and losses to determine your options under Florida’s no-fault insurance system. Under this system, minor injuries typically fall under the personal injury protection (PIP) coverage of your auto insurance policy.
However, you can file a fault-based claim against the at-fault driver when you suffer a significant, permanent injury or your losses exceed your PIP coverage limits. This claim will usually be filed with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Your attorney will gather records, including your medical records and the crash report, to support the accident claim.
Most insurers will fight accident claims to try to wear you down. Your lawyer can submit evidence and counterarguments to counter claim denials. If the insurer accepts liability, your lawyer can negotiate for a fair insurance payout.
If the insurer persists in denying your claim, your lawyer can then file a lawsuit. Most cases settle before reaching a jury, as the insurer often offers a settlement to avoid a large damages award at trial.
Contact Our Pensacola Highway 98 Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Crashes on Highway 98 can involve severe injuries that require extensive recovery time. If you were hurt in such a crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other losses stemming from the accident.
Contact Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn more about how we can fight for your future today. Our Pensacola Highway 98 accident attorneys can listen to your story and help you understand your options.