How does having a suspended driver’s license affect an accident lawsuit in Delray Beach?
Delray Beach, FL – A number of drivers in Florida have had their driver’s licenses suspended due to things like unpaid traffic tickets, administrative suspensions for driving under the influence, or even from errors made by the department of motor vehicles. Some drivers are even unaware of their suspensions and they drive illegally while they are serving the suspension. It is somewhat common for a person with a suspended license to be involved in an accident, and they may face several different consequences
Criminal penalties
The state of Florida has made driving any vehicle without a license a crime. Driving with a suspended license is a second degree misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and sixty days in jail. If a police officer needs to respond to the scene, they will need to make an accident report, and they will likely discover if the driver did not have a valid license at the time of the crash.
Evidence of negligence
When someone files an accident lawsuit against another driver with their attorney, they will argue that the other driver breached their standard duty of care on the roads by not having a valid license at the time. It is common for any traffic violations to be used to help an accident victim prove all elements of negligence in their lawsuit. There is a doctrine called negligence per se which allows plaintiffs to introduce relevant violations of any statutory law to help their case.
Paying out damages
If a driver who was at fault is also found liable in a civil lawsuit, they may be either personally liable for the victim’s damages, or their insurance company may cover these losses and increase the driver’s rates accordingly. Damages typically include things like property repairs, medical costs, hospital costs, lost income and wages, and non-economic damages for pain and suffering. If the accident was severe, these kinds of losses can total in the thousands or millions of dollars.
Insurance consequences
It is common for insurance providers to increase a driver’s costs after any kind of accident or certain types of traffic citations. Each person should discuss this with their insurance company to find out what procedures they use. Some drivers also choose to look around and switch insurance companies to get a lower rate for coverage.
Assistance with injury lawsuits in Florida
There are attorneys in Delray Beach and other parts of Florida who are available to meet with local accident victims. The Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Rosenberg is a trusted firm that handles all aspects of personal injury lawsuits.
Firm contact info:
The Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Rosenberg
5255 North Federal Highway, 3rd Floor, Boca Raton, Florida 33487
561-508-8800
rosenberginjurylaw.com
