News 6 in Orlando recently released a report discussing damage done to cars due to poorly maintained roadways. According to this report, which specifically examined the number of damage claims made during this past year, 2017 saw an extremely high number of individuals recording significant and dangerous damage done to their cars as a direct result of improperly maintained roads throughout Orange County. Even though this number is distressingly high, what makes the report even more disturbing is that only 10% of the hundreds of people who filed claims with the state received compensation for the damages done to their cars.
Stories about the dangerous roadways throughout Orange County are rampant, and many of them have been reported on in this blog. Unfortunately, even though the maintenance and care of these public spaces is the responsibility of the state and the county, these official organizations have found ways to shirk their legal obligations, ensuring that as few of those as possible whose cars have been damaged by roads and medians in terrible disrepair will ever see reimbursement for the money and time needed to fix their broken vehicles. This is not to mention the possible damages to their physical health or the loss of wages due to an inability to get to work if a primary transportation option has been temporarily removed.
When questioned about these shocking statistics, an officer with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) named Steve Olson told investigators that the embarrassingly small number of claims that received compensation was something he was unsure how to discuss. He went on to try and place the blame for the lack of reimbursement on the shoulders of the people who were involved in the accidents, saying that it was possible that they did not properly document the incident when it occurred.
According to some who have found themselves trying to receive repayment from the government after their vehicles were damaged while traveling over roads funded by their taxes, they were told that the reason they were denied coverage is that the FDOT was unaware of the road’s condition leading up to the crash. In other words, the FDOT has stated that their own lack of knowledge of the condition of their roadways absolves them of all responsibility to the drivers along these roadways.
Dozens of people are still looking for ways to receive payment from the Florida and Orange County for their badly damaged cars.
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a vehicle accident, call at (386) 243-4994.
Verdicts & Settlements
- Rear End Car Accident:
$3.75 Million Recovery - Semi-Truck Accident:
$1.5 Million Recovery - Van Rollover:
$1.2 Million Wrongful Death Recovery - Rear End Bus Accident:
$775,000.00 Recovery - Truck Collides with Cow:
$500,000.00 Recovery