Where Are the Most Dangerous Roads in Melbourne?

Melbourne, FL, centrally located in Bravard County along Florida’s “Space Coast,” contains perilous stretches of Interstate 95, which is one of the most dangerous roads to drive during the Christmas holiday season. I-95 isn’t the only hazardous stretch of asphalt in Melbourne, though. Knowing which intersections and highways to avoid can help you plan safer routes. If you must travel along some of the most dangerous roads in Melbourne, be aware of driving behaviors that are likely to cause a crash.

Even with the best route planning and defensive driving skills, you may still get hit by a careless driver. Our Fort Myers car accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation if the other driver was at fault for the wreck.

The most hazardous roads in Melbourne, FL

The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization’s Vision Zero Map noted several dangerous stretches of city roads and intersections. Portions of U.S. Highway 1, especially the part that connects state road FL-404 and Post Road, pose a serious risk for car accidents. Distracted driving often plays a role in collisions; in fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that in the last several years, an average of 325,000 people were injured in a traffic crash that involved distracted driving, and approximately 3,200 people were killed. The intersection of U.S. 1 and Post Road, in particular, is dangerous due to the high traffic volume and frequent accidents.

Other dangerous stretches of highway and intersections that have a higher-than-average number of collisions include:

• Lake Washington Rd., between Wickham Rd. and Croton Rd.
• Wickham Road, from Pineda Cswy. to Nasa Blvd.
• Aurora Rd., from Wickham Rd. to US-1
• Eau Gallie Blvd.
• South Harbor City Blvd.
• The intersection of South Harbor City Blvd. and US-192
• US-192, along the Melbourne Cswy.
• University Blvd., from Babcock St. to US-1
• Dairy Rd., between Eber Blvd. and Palm Bay Road

Another dangerous area of note is the portion of North Courtenay Parkway from State Road 520 to State Road 528. It’s ranked as the second-highest “crash corridor” in Brevard County, with 148 crashes in a recent year.

What makes these Melbourne streets so dangerous?

Melbourne’s proximity to Orlando’s tourist attractions and Cape Canaveral means that it attracts a large number of tourists each year, many of whom are unfamiliar with the area and its traffic patterns. Many are distracted by their GPS, taking in new sights, or may be distracted by others in their vehicle. But tourists aren’t to blame for all the dangers on these Florida roads. Other things that affect traffic safety include:

• Construction zones and lane shifts: Road construction limits the space for drivers to maneuver. Accidents can occur when one driver cuts off another while trying to merge into an open lane. These lanes are also often narrower, which gives drivers less room to maneuver. Added to this are heavy machines, workers who may suddenly walk into traffic, and frustration from drivers, all of which contribute to a higher likelihood of a crash.
• Speeding: Exceeding the already high-speed limits of many of these stretches of road multiplies the chance of a disabling or fatal injury in a car crash.
• Cell phone use: Cell phone distraction combines all three types of distractions (physical, cognitive, and visual). Any one type of distraction is enough to pull a driver’s attention away from the road for a fatal few seconds; combined, using a phone while driving is a recipe for disaster. Drivers are prohibited by Florida law from manually operating their phones while driving (they are permitted to use hands-free technology for their phones, however).

These are the primary dangers, although general driver distraction and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs also contribute to dangerous road conditions.

Your rights after a car accident in Melbourne

Florida is a no-fault state for car collisions; each driver submits their claim to their respective Personal Injury Protection (PIP) carrier. Even if you know that the other driver caused the wreck, you must first submit your claim to your own insurance company. However, if your damages exceed your PIP maximum, then you may pursue compensation by filing a lawsuit for damages against the at-fault driver.

Your PIP only covers so much; if you had to miss a considerable amount of work to earn and recover from your injuries, then a lawsuit for compensation can replenish your unearned wages from the time you missed. You can also claim compensation for pain and suffering and emotional trauma, which isn’t available as part of your PIP coverage.

Have you been involved in a car accident in Melbourne? You have the right to claim compensation if you were not at fault for the collision. Please contact Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath at (561) 655-1990 to schedule a complimentary consultation.