Wednesday, October 19, 2011

FHP - Fatal Car Accident Involving Fourteen Year Old Driver

Two Lake City residents died and another two are critically injured after a fourteen year old driver lost control and crashed a car about a mile south of Columbia County's Road 349. The accident is still under investigation, but evidence on the scene indicates that the car flipped over and rolled before the automobile's roof hit a large oak tree. The driver, 14 years old, and a passenger, 6 years old, were taken to the University of Florida in critical condition. Two other passengers, aged 26 and 10, were pronounced dead on the scene. According to the Gainesville Sun, nobody in the car was wearing a safety belt.

This horrible accident reminds us all about the importance of observing basic automobile safety precautions. First and foremost, only properly licensed drivers who are old enough to obtain a license should operate an automobile. Additionally, all passengers should be properly restrained.

From a legal perspective, any accident involving an underage, unlicensed, or an uninsured driver presents unique challenges. Florida state law encourages all automobile insurance policies to include a certain amount of benefits for individuals who become involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. In fact, under Florida Statutes section 627.727, if an auto insurance customer refuses to buy uninsured motorist protection, he or she must separately sign a statement in bold type font which acknowledges the risks of doing so.

If an individual fails to specifically reject uninsured motorist coverage, he or she will also be insured in the event of an accident with an "under-insured" driver. An under-insured driver is a driver with some type of an insurance policy, but due to insolvency or a low amount of coverage, the driver does not have enough insurance to cover the total amount of legally collectible damages.
If you were involved in a car accident, a local lawyer familiar with Florida insurance policies can help you to determine your potential recovery. Florida injury attorney Bryant Esquenazi knows the intricacies of Florida automobile insurance law because he started his career as an insurance defense lawyer. Contact the Esquenazi Law Office today at (305) 532-1900 or info@esquenazilaw.com for a free consultation.


By Bryant Esquenazi on January 21, 2011 2:54 PM

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