Around 9:30 PM last night, eight people were involved in a three-car collision that sent every victim to a medical facility. The cause of the accident is still unknown, but we do know it happened at the intersection of Indiantown Road and Pennock Lane. Of the eight individuals involved, six were sent to St. Mary’s Medical Center in critical condition and two were sent to Jupiter Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. All vehicles were heavily damaged with one car even catching on fire. Though the intensity of this accident is shocking, those familiar with Indiantown Road are not all that surprised to hear of another accident happening on this very busy road.
The Collision History of Indiantown Road
If you’re familiar with the Jupiter area, then you’re also familiar with Indiantown Road. The long stretch that aligns residential communities, grocery stores, schools, hotels, and restaurants is hard to avoid for any local driver. It is the very location of the road itself that opens itself up to danger because it takes on the weight of so much daily traffic. In fact, the amount of daily traffic has increased dramatically over the last 30 years. While some can chalk this increase up to an explosion of businesses and population, it does not change the fact that a booming increase of traffic can put stress on any major road.
Just a few years ago, Indiantown Road averaged about one car accident every five days. This was back in 2016 when a little over 78,000 vehicles passed through this road on a daily basis. In 2014, the same road took on about 450 accidents that year. In the same year, Jupiter put out a list of the top 10 trouble spots for car accidents in town, and Indiantown Road was part of eight intersections on that list.
To take it even further, there is clear evidence that Indiantown Road has been a challenge since 1990. Back then, the intersection of Federal Highway and Indiantown Road was considered the worst crossroads in the county, and that was just with 43,000 vehicles on Indiantown Road every day.
In the past thirty years, Indiantown Road has taken on an additional 35,000 daily drivers. If you take that population increase and combine it with construction projects and residential areas over the years, it’s no wonder why Indiantown Road has not gotten better with time. Most reports show that a majority of the collisions are based on driver-error. Instead of the blame being placed on construction zones or faulty lights, most of the accidents have been caused by driver frustration to those same elements.
Take a Second for Caution
Many of us are stuck at home this year, and the cabin fever is understandable. But, be sure to take a second and exhibit some caution when you’re out on the road because you’re not the only one itching to get out of the house. Even if you consider yourself to be a cautious driver, there’s a decent chance not everyone sharing the road with you feels the same way. So, stay alert, drive the speed limit, and avoid last minute decisions at lights and intersections.
Keller, Melchiorre, and Walsh Knows the Jupiter Area
If you or a loved one are involved in a car accident on Indiantown Road, or anywhere in Jupiter, contact the law offices of Keller, Melchiorre, and Walsh today. Our lawyers and staff are heavily involved in the Jupiter community. While this fact may not seem crucial to your individual situation, it can end up making a big difference in the outcome of your story. Our office has an outstanding relationship with the Jupiter Police Department and Jupiter Medical Center. Having a positive relationship with the police department is beneficial for you because it increases our chances of obtaining whatever film footage is available from your accident. As part of this community, we work hard to support other pillars so that we can all improve as a team. Most non-threatening injuries from car accidents are sent directly to Jupiter Medical Center, and our relationship with this medical facility makes it much easier to access your medical files. The right video footage and medical files can help you establish who was at-fault for your accident, and being able to obtain that information in a timely manner is something valuable that we can provide our clients. Contact a trusted lawyer today at Keller, Melchiorre, and Walsh and we will help you on your way to recovery. This is hopefully a once in a lifetime experience for you, but it’s something we’ve already seen on a regular basis as a personal injury law firm. We know Jupiter like the back of our hands, so whether you are a Jupiter local or just passing through, you can trust that your case is in good hands.