The Fort Myers New Press is reporting a local man has been arrested in a hit-and-run crash that involved eight cars and 18 passengers.

The 19-year-old driver has been charged with nearly 20 violations, including two counts of hit-and-run resulting in serious bodily injury. The crash occurred around 2 a.m. on I-75 in North Fort Myers. The Florida Highway Patrol reports the at-fault driver was traveling at speeds in excess of 130 mph.

Our car accident lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral note this incident highlights several common issues involved in serious traffic collisions in Southwest Florida, including night-time crashes, speeding, hit-and-run, and the presence of multiple injury victims.

Car Accident Injury Claims

Florida law requires injury victims to prove an accident claim against an at-fault driver. The plaintiff must show that the driver owed a duty of care, that the driver breached that duty, that the breach resulted in injury, and that the victim suffered compensable damages.

Of course, those are the basics. This case highlights a number of common complexities, which illustrate why consulting an experienced Fort Myers car accident attorney is the best bet when it comes to protecting the financial well-being of you and your family.

• Hit-and-Run: Hit-and-run crashes are an epidemic in Florida. Despite toughening the law, far too many motorists continue to be victimized by a driver who flees the scene. This is particularly true of our most vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders. In fact, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports Florida recorded more than 100,000 hit-and-run crashes last year.
• Uninsured motorists: Many motorists who flee the scene may never be located. Those who do, frequently lack insurance, which is one of the reasons they fled in the first place. The Insurance Information Institute reports 1 in 5 Florida drivers are uninsured.
• Not enough insurance: As our car accident lawyers have reported in the past, Florida’s mandatory minimum insurance is the lowest in the nation, requiring just $10,000 in property damage coverage and $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection, which is designed to pay for medical care in the immediate aftermath of a collision, regardless of fault. In most states, bodily injury minimums of $25,000 or $50,000 are required to protect injury victims of an at-fault driver.

Lack of insurance, or lack of adequate insurance, is a major issue following a serious collision, particularly when multiple victims are involved. Unfortunately, Florida law also makes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage optional. This vital insurance should be carried by all motorists as it is a primary means of recovery in collisions where a driver flees the scene and is not identified, or in cases where an at-fault driver does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to adequately compensate all victims. This coverage can benefit you and your family even in cases where other victims have exhausted the available insurance of a negligent motorist and can be purchased for a modest increase in premiums. Having uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is the best thing you can do to protect your family because it covers YOU and YOUR FAMILY!

Call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. 1-888-579-8699.