Earlier this month in Tampa, Florida, a teenager who was allegedly involved in an accident fled the scene, and his car was later discovered in a residential swimming pool a few blocks away. According to one local news source, the original accident occurred at the intersection of North Ola Avenue and Country Club Drive. Evidently, the original accident resulted in only minor injuries. However, after fleeing the scene, the teenager allegedly caused more than $30,000 in damage when he crashed through a fence and drove into a nearby swimming pool. Thankfully, the teen escaped with only minor injuries, and no one else was seriously hurt in either of the accidents.The teen waited outside the pool for police to arrive and was cooperative thereafter. The teenage driver was cited by police for two counts of reckless driving and one count of fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in minor injuries. Reckless Driving Accidents in Florida Reckless driving is one of the major causes of serious accident in Florida. Reckless driving is a broad term that is used to encompass a wide range of dangerous driving behaviors. Most often, reckless driving is a combination of several of the following dangerous behaviors: Speeding, Aggressive driving, Failure to use turn signals, Drunk or drugged driving, Following too closely, Frequent lane changes, Failure to yield the right of way, and Running stop signs or stop lights. Reckless driving puts everyone on the road in danger of getting into a serious or fatal car accident. Therefore, Florida lawmakers allow for the victims of reckless driving accidents to file suit against the allegedly reckless driver for monetary damages. This not only helps compensate innocent victims of another’s reckless driving but also deters drivers from acting recklessly when driving. Financial recovery after a reckless driving accident is not automatic. There must be a formal lawsuit filed against the allegedly reckless driver, and the accident victim—or plaintiff as they are called in the legal system—must prove that the other driver engaged in some kind of negligent conduct that caused the plaintiff’s injuries. If a plaintiff is able to prove this, they may be entitled to monetary damages to compensate them for their past medical expenses, future medical bills, and any pain and suffering attributable to the accident. Have You Been Involved in a Serious Florida Auto Accident? If you or a loved one has recently been involved in any kind of serious Florida vehicle accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. One thing to keep in mind is that you will likely need to deal with at least one insurance company, and potentially several. These insurance companies make it their job to try and make your case go away for as little as possible. To ensure that you are treated fairly throughout the trial process, contact a dedicated attorney at the Dean Law Firm at 352-387-8700. More Blog Posts: Deerfield Beach Accident Involving Car and Pick-Up Truck Kills One Child, Injures Several Others, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published June 15, 2015. Walgreen’s Pharmacy Facing Several Claims of Pharmacy Errors, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published May 18, 2015.
