Last month, five people suffered injuries in a car crash after an SUV slammed into an Orlando store. According to Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of an SUV had been traveling west on Edgewater Drive. As the SUV drove across railroad tracks near Edgewater Shores Court, the driver apparently lost control of his SUV and slammed into a van stopped at a stop sign. The impact caused the SUV to slam into the Scott’s Automotive Center located in the 7100 block of Edgewater Drive
Five people suffered serious injuries in the crash, including the van’s driver and his three passengers. Officials did not immediately know if any of the passengers had seatbelts on at the time of the accident. Florida Highway Patrol drew blood from the driver of the SUV to determine if alcohol played a role in the crash. No charges have been filed, and it could take up to eight weeks before the toxicology results come back.
The driver of the SUV, however, has had numerous driving violations over the past few years. In December 2013, the driver was fined and arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license. And in 2012, he was pulled over three times, twice for speeding.
Florida Ranked as Riskiest State for Drivers’ Wallets
According to a recent study from WalletHub, Florida is the worst state for drivers to recover compensation after getting in a car accident. The study looked at each state’s insurance requirements, including coverage for minimum liability, medical expenses, and uninsured or underinsured drivers. Florida came in dead last in the study. The best states include Maine, North Dakota, New York, Maryland, and New Hampshire.
According to WalletHub’s managing editor Karl Eisenhower, “Florida has the worst combination of lots of uninsured drivers, and low-minimum requirements for drivers who do have insurance.” The effect on drivers is that this could cost them significantly when trying to pay for damages suffered in a car accident. Eisenhower stated “that if you’re involved in a serious accident, there’s a better-than-average chance the at-fault driver will either have insufficient insurance or no insurance at all, potentially leaving you holding the bag.”
Injured in a Car Accident? Contact a Car Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, a Florida car accident attorney can help you with your case. Reed & Reed’s experienced Florida car accident attorneys can help protect your rights to make sure that you obtain the compensation you deserve. If you have been involved in a car accident as a result of another driver’s negligent conduct, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries, including medical expenses, property damage, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Contact our car accident attorneys to find out how we can help you. From our office in Brandon, we help clients in Tampa, New Tampa, Plant City, East Hillsborough County and throughout the state of Florida. Contact Reed & Reed for a free consultation.
