According to the Herald-Tribune, a 61-year-old man died from injuries sustained in a head-on collision while driving down a stretch of road on which cattle had wandered. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that the man, a resident of Enterprise, was driving on a Friday night earlier this month when the accident occurred.
On a highway just west of Daytona Beach, a different vehicle struck one of the loose cattle before hitting the man’s car in a head-on impact. His vehicle then proceeded to strike one of the animals, too.
An approaching tractor-trailer struck a third cow before coming to a stop at the scene. Responders transported the man to a local hospital, where he later died. The other two motorists involved did not sustain serious injuries. All three cattle died.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a motor vehicle collision that was not your fault, contact Probinsky & Cole. Depending on the circumstances of the collision, you may be eligible to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call 866-805-8947 to schedule a free case evaluation with a car wreck attorney in Sarasota.
Who Is Liable for Collisions Involving Livestock?
If you were hurt after striking cattle that had wandered onto the road, you may be wondering whom you can sue for the damages you have incurred. When it comes to livestock-related accidents, the animals are not necessarily at fault, but their owners or keepers may be.
People who own or care for livestock have a certain duty of care to the motorists who drive by the pastures where the animals are kept. Although the exact laws vary from county to county, such individuals are typically required to:
- Warn passing motorists of their livestock crossing;
- Maintain adequate fencing around their property; and
- Ensure their livestock is contained a reasonable distance from traffic.
In general, cattle should not be wandering around on public roads without anyone looking after them. If they must cross traffic in order to get from one area of the property to another, a keeper should accompany them and maintain some sense of order.
If a distracted driver strikes cattle while the herd is trying to cross in a controlled manner under the watchful eye of the keeper, the motorists would likely be liable for the incident. Even if drivers are not expecting to come upon livestock in the road, they still have an obligation to remain aware of their surroundings at all times so they can respond to hazards that arise.
Of course, if there are merely a few scattered cattle wandering around with no keeper, they are much harder to see, and motorists may be unable to stop for them in time once they register the situation. In this kind of scenario, the owner or keeper might be liable for the incident because the cattle should not have been loose in the first place.
If you were hurt in a livestock-related accident, contact Probinsky & Cole. A Sarasota accident lawyer will evaluate the circumstances of the collision and help you pursue the maximum compensation from the liable party.
Call 866-805-8947 to schedule a free consultation. You can learn more about car accident claims in Florida by visiting the USAttorneys website.
