The Dangers of Storefront Crashes in Florida

Storefront crashes happen when a vehicle drives into a building. While the term “storefront crash” is commonly used, vehicles may also leave the road and collide with office buildings, hospitals, private homes, and any other structure. When these crashes happen, they can cause devastating injuries and even deaths. In fact, more than 16,000 people are injured annually, and about 2,600 people die because of cars colliding with commercial property. According to the Storefront Safety Council, there are around 100 car-into-building collisions a day across the U.S. In the case of Florida, the number is disproportionally high – while the state has 10% of all U.S. drivers, it experiences 17% of storefront crashes.

When it comes to holding someone accountable for personal injuries sustained in these collisions, there are a couple of potentially liable parties. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a storefront crash, read on to learn more about your legal options.

Common locations for storefront crashes

Storefront crashes involve retail shops more often than any other single type of commercial building, but other structures also experience these wrecks. The breakdown of commercial locations is as follows:

• Retail stores (23.5%)
• Commercial buildings (11.2%)
• Restaurants (19.4%)
• Convenience stores (6.1%)
• Offices (8.2%)
• Government buildings (3.1)
• All others (including transit stops, hotels, public spaces, etc.) (28.6)

Many other collisions may involve a car striking residential property. For instance, a driver in an SUV recently smashed into a mobile home in Florida, severely injuring a woman inside. In that case, reports state that the driver might have been under the influence at the time. Alcohol use is, however, just one of the common causes of these collisions.

Driver liability in storefront crashes

Driver errors or negligence is often the cause of storefront crashes. The Storefront Safety Council breaks down likely causes into the following:

• Operator error (21%)
• Pedal error (20%)
• Driving under the influence (15%)
• Traffic accident (12%)
• Medical emergency (9%)
• Ram-raids/burglary (6%)

Reckless driving, speeding, and mechanical failure are other possible causes.

Liability considerations when drivers cause storefront crashes

Drivers will often be responsible when their vehicle strikes a building. However, the facts of each case will impact liability. Some issues that could shape these claims include:

• Was the driver simply negligent, which might mean they hit the wrong pedal? Or were they reckless, which could mean they were drag racing or drunk? In the case of reckless behavior, victims might recover punitive damages, increasing the value of their claim.
• Did someone negligently lend their car to a known dangerous driver? In some cases, the owner might share liability because they allowed someone to use their vehicle.
• Was the driver working at the time of the crash? The law can often hold employers liable for their employees’ actions.
• Did a mechanical error cause the crash? In this case, the manufacturer of the vehicle might bear liability.

Lawyers must review all of this information and determine which parties are liable for the victim’s injuries. It’s also possible to hold more than one party liable.

Premises liability in storefront crashes is the most important aspect of a catastrophic storefront crash case

Business owners, especially large chains, know from past storefront crashes that they have a duty to prevent foreseeable crashes into their stores.  Sadly, many large retail chains ignore the dangers and choose to make more profits by not building in safety measures to prevent these tragic and foreseeable crashes into their businesses.

There are many instances when a business owner may also be liable for injuries to people injured in these crashes. Premises liability law requires that business owners keep their property reasonably safe for customers. Businesses must protect and prevent known dangers to their customers. You might have heard of this type of law as it applies to slip and fall cases where a customer falls on a dangerously slippery floor.

When it comes to storefront crashes, keeping the premises safe might mean using large planters, bollards, or wheel stops as protective barriers. These features can help prevent a car from driving onto the sidewalk and through a storefront into shoppers or diners in a restaurant. This type of crash is often the result of a driver attempting to park and accidentally hitting the gas instead of the brakes. Such events are largely preventable with the right structural features in place. And given the frighteningly high number of storefront crashes, these incidents are arguably foreseeable. Some cities even require safety features to prevent such crashes, so neglecting to install them could be a violation of local ordinances.

Liability may even be combined between the negligent driver and the property owners.

Importance of legal representation in storefront crash cases

As mentioned above, storefront crash cases often involve multiple liable parties. One of the first steps an attorney will need to take is to investigate the accident and identify the potentially liable parties. If there are multiple parties who share liability for the accident or the resulting injuries, the attorney may pursue claims against them all. These cases can, as a result, become complicated.

Having a dedicated car accident attorney work to develop a strong case and sophisticated legal strategy can give injury victims the edge they need in court.

What can victims of storefront crashes recover in Florida?

Storefront crashes often lead to serious injuries. People walking on sidewalks, shopping in a store, or eating in a cafe are not well protected from vehicles that veer off of the road. As a result, the victims may suffer severe and even life-threatening injuries. The available damages might include compensation for:

• Medical care, including doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitative care, and more
• Lost earnings and missed wages
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages in cases where the defendant’s actions were either intentionally malicious or grossly negligent

In the tragic case that someone loses their life in a storefront crash, the victim’s family may be able to recover wrongful death damages.

Hire a board certified civil trial lawyer to handle your case

Storefront crash cases can leave families struggling with serious injuries and worse. The losses can have severe physical, psychological, and financial consequences. At MattLaw, we know how important it is for victims of negligence to be able to recover compensation. Filing a claim allows the injured person and their loved ones an opportunity to hold the person who injured them accountable. It also shifts some of the financial burden of the injuries onto the at-fault party.

With so much at stake, victims need to take their claims very seriously. One way to protect yourself is to hire a dedicated car accident lawyer. Matt Powell, the founding partner of MattLaw, is triple board certified (Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar, Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and Board Certified in Civil Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). To schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys, call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.