Fatal Cape Coral Crash Results in Criminal Charges
According to the News-Press, John Patrick Roberts of North Fort Myers, whom police believe caused a fatal crash June 11 in Cape Coral, was arrested on a charges of vehicular manslaughter and DUI.
The allegations assert that Roberts was speeding north on Del Prado on June 11 when his vehicle drifted to the right and skidded before striking a tree. Passenger Brittany Nicole Lehman, 20, died. Roberts and passenger John Turner, 17, were injured. Police said alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) Claims
What happens if I am hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist?
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM) is insurance coverage that you purchase for yourself in the event of an automobile accident where the at-fault driver either has no insurance or not enough insurance. It is elective, not mandatory, auto insurance. Because it is elective and don’t understand it, unfortunately, many people waive this coverage. Waiving UM or failing to “stack” your UM coverage is a big, big mistake.
Many drivers in Florida do not have any auto insurance at all. Others purchase the absolute minimum coverage to stay “legal” per Florida laws – only to find out after an automobile accident that they do not have bodily injury liability coverage (BI).
Although Florida law states that a driver may have his or her driver’s license suspended if they cannot cover damages exceeding $10,000.00 after an accident, I recommend that you purchase UM coverage of your own. Without your own UM coverage, you might be left without any way to obtain payment for the medical expenses, physical injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and inconvenience that you have suffered.
If you or someone you know has been injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist in a car accident and needs a lawyer, contact a car accident attorney at the Harris Law Firm, P.A. serving Cape Coral, Fort Myers, LaBelle, Lehigh Acres, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and the rest of Southwest Florida.
Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawsuits
UM cases are more complex than a liability case against the at-fault driver. In a UM case, your uninsured motorist carrier will stand in the shoes of the negligent driver at trial. In these accident cases, our Southwest Florida firm will file a lawsuit on your behalf against your own insurance company when they fail to pay you the UM benefits that you are due.
Many times, your insurance company will assert that they have not denied your claim but, instead, do not value the claim in the same manner that we do. Your insurance company has a duty to act fairly and honestly while settling your claim; we may pursue your rights with a Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violation with the Florida Department of Financial Services.
In certain cases, the Department of Financial Services may fine or punish the insurance company for denying your claim. After the filing of the Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violation, your insurance company has 60 days to pay your claim.
Uninsured Motorist Claims after a Car Accident: Contact an Accident Attorney
If you are having difficulty resolving insurance claims after being hit by an uninsured driver, contact a car accident lawyer at the Harris Law Firm, P.A. to assert and protect your rights.
Drunk Driver Accident Attorney Serving Cape Coral, Ft. Myers, Lehigh, SW Fla.
Florida Drunk Driver Accident Attorney
Lee County Car Accident Lawyer
Drinking to excess and then driving is a clear example of negligence. It puts everyone on the road at risk of injury and wrongful death. Yet drunk drivers continue to injure and kill thousands of innocent motorists every year.
Have you been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver? Was someone you love killed in an alcohol-related crash? Contact the Harris Law Firm to arrange a free consultation and case evaluation.
Harris Law Firm: Attorneys for Drunk Driver Accident Cases
I’m David Harris, trial attorney and personal injury lawyer. I have years of experience representing people injured in DUI accident or drunk driver accidents. I know how to aggressively prosecute these cases in our civil justice system in an effort to maximize the financial compensation you receive for your damages, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage and more. These money damages are meant to compensate you.
Keep in mind that in drunk driving accident claims, punitive damages may be available. These are money damages used to punish the drunk driver, as well as deter others, from engaging in this type of conduct.
Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit
Don’t assume that the jury will automatically hear that the person who hit you was drunk. The insurance company’s lawyers will maneuver to keep evidence of their client’s drinking and driving out of court. Our attorneys will work to see that the jury hears all the facts so that our client receives justice.
Contact Us
To learn more about how we can help you recover financial compensation after a collision with a drunk driver, please contact the Harris Law Firm today.
From our office in Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida, our lawyers represent people who have sustained injuries in drunk driver accidents throughout the region, including Cape Coral, Ft. Myers, Lehigh Acres, Naples, La Belle, Bonita Springs, Clewiston, Port Charlote, Punta Gorda, and beyond.
Car Accident Lawyer Fort Myers
Car Accident Lawyer Fort Myers
Car crashes and motor vehicle accidents are a common occurrence. As a result, they make up a large portion of personal injury claims.
While auto accidents are among the most common types of personal injury claims, they are nowadays not often simple to resolve. There are numerous statutes, rules, regulations, court precedent – as well as the contracts for insurance themselves – which together form a complex web or maze for a consumer to navigate, risking rights, benefits, and protections along the way if not handled properly.
The Fort Myers auto accident lawyers at Harris Law Firm, P.A. understand the “Rules of the Road” and everyday car wrecks, from simple rear end collisions to the complicated engineering issues needed to prove who was responsible for the crash in more challenging cases.
I’m attorney David Harris, and I handle auto accident claims and motor vehicle accident cases on behalf of good, decent, hardworking people throughout Southwest Florida, including Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Naples, La Belle, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and beyond.
What causes the large number of auto accidents, car accidents, and motorcycle accidents throughout SWFL every week? Generaly, inattention and carelessness. In other words, negligence.
I personally handle your auto accident Florida case from beginning to end. Among the types of cases I handle:
- rear end collision
- intersection accident
- alcohol related crashes
- drunk driver accident
- hit and run
- passenger injury
- driver injuries
- motorcycle accident
- semi accident
- tractor trailer crash
- pedestrian accident
- bicycle accident
In such cases, I set out to prove not only who is directly responsible, but also those who may be indirectly yet undeniably responsible. At the Harris Law Firm, P.A., we think outside of the box.
We also make sure that you maximize your benefits. Signing a release, for example, can wipe out your rights in a single stroke of the pen. Does the release take into account that there may be other parties at fault? Are you protected in the release to esnure you can continue hold others accountable? Key issues that consumers – and sadly many lawyers – overlook. I don’t.
I also look to recover the full range of damages and human losses that must be fixed or helped, which represents full justice in our civil justice system, including:
- physical pain and suffering;
- mental pain and suffering;
- emotional distress;
- economic losses
- medical bills
- future medical bills
- lost income
- future lost income
- loss of enjoyment of life
My goal is to return as much normalcy as possible in the client’s life, as well as trying to restore some financial certainty so the client and his/her family does not have to move forward alone.
Without question every auto accident Florida is different. Every set of losses, injuries, and needs is different.
Contact Me Today For a Free Consultation
If you have been injured in a car accident Florida or motor vehicle crash in Florida, and it resulted in permanent personal injuries, you will need compensation to make up for your physical and mental pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, medical bills (past and future), wage loss (past and future), or rehabilitation costs. Please contact me for a free consultation.