Close Menu
Gainesville & Ocala Personal Injury Attorneys > Blog > Car And Motorcycle Accidents > Man Killed After Vehicle Hits Tree And Catches Fire

Man Killed After Vehicle Hits Tree And Catches Fire

CarFire2

When motorists are on the roadway, they need to be alert and careful at all times. Any type of distraction or fatigue can cause a driver to take their eyes off the road for several seconds, causing a fatal crash.

Sadly, this was recently the case in Ocala. A man was killed after he veered off the road and crashed. The fatal accident occurred on the morning of October 19 on NE 134th Place.

A 41-year-old man from Ocala was driving a pickup truck. He was heading south on NE 134th Place when he veered off the road for unknown reasons. The truck went through a wooden fence and hit a large tree. The truck then caught fire with the driver still inside. He died at the accident scene.

Why Do Drivers Hit Trees?

No driver sets out to hit a tree. Despite this, many car accidents involve trees. The trees are not ever moving; they are stationary. So why are drivers hitting them at such high rates?

The most common factors involved include:

  • Distracted driving. Being distracted is one of the top causes of accidents. If drivers lose focus for even a few seconds, the results could be catastrophic.
  • Lack of sleep. A tired driver is more likely to veer out of their lane and possibly go off the road.
  • Alcohol use. Being intoxicated by alcohol can cause a driver to lose judgment and sense of awareness, making accidents more common.
  • Trees are always on the side of the road, so if a driver veers off the road, that’s usually the first thing they will hit.

Are Damages Covered if I Hit a Tree? 

If you hit a tree and survive, you may be wondering if your losses will be covered by insurance. You would need to have collision insurance, which covers damages caused by hitting a stationary object such as a tree. Collision insurance is in place to provide you with enough money to cover the repairs you need to restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition.

However, collision insurance is not automatic. If your vehicle is older and not under any sort of auto loan or financing, then you may not have it. It is not mandated and is often considered optional. Talk to your insurance company to determine what coverages you have. If you have only liability coverage, then you’ll likely have to cover your damages out of pocket.

 Contact Us Today

Loss of control is a serious issue for motorists. Once a vehicle veers off the road, it’s hard to recover and the result is typically catastrophic injuries or death.

Get help with your car crash case with help from the Gainesville car accident attorneys at Meldon Law. We’ll help you understand your legal rights. To schedule a consultation, call (800) 373-8000 or fill out the online form. We have four offices to serve you: Gainesville, Ocala, Fort Lauderdale, and Lake City.

Source:

clickorlando.com/traffic/2022/10/19/ocala-man-dies-after-truck-goes-through-fence-strikes-tree-catches-fire-troopers-say/

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn