Two men were recently nabbed on the same day for driving cars in The Villages despite not having driver’s licenses.
The first arrest came on the morning of Nov. 6, following a crash at Colony Plaza, according to Villages-News. A 38-year-old Orlando man reportedly was behind the wheel of a black Hyundai Accent when it backed into another vehicle.
A police records check showed that the driver, reportedly a Colombian national, had never obtained a license to drive in the U.S. He was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license. The man was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on a $150 bond.
Hours later, a 23-year-old man was arrested on similar charges. That came after cops pulled over his black BMW in the area of Central Parkway and McNeil Drive, noticing that the license plate had expired.
The man gave cops an ID from Chile, according to the arrest report. They found that he had never obtained a driver’s license in the U.S. despite previously being ticketed. He was arrested and charged with driving without a license and ticketed for the expired license plate. He was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on a $300 bond.
Involved in an Accident With an Unlicensed Driver? Know Your Rights
Anyone who is injured in a car, truck, motorcycle, or other traffic accident in Florida has the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the crash.
The monetary damages typically available in these cases are designed to put the injured person back in the financial position that he or she was in before the accident. That includes money for medical bills, missed wages, and other economic consequences of the collision. In a tragic situation in which a person dies in a traffic accident, certain family members can seek similar compensation for wrongful death.
Unlicensed drivers pose a risk to everyone else on the road because they have not proved that they meet the minimal requirements for operating a vehicle. They also are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured.
When an uninsured driver causes an accident, those injured in the crash can have a more difficult time collecting money for their injuries and any property damage.
Florida’s “no-fault” Personal Injury Protection system is designed to ease some of the burdens on injured people in these cases. The system generally makes up to $10,000 in benefits available per accident, but various restrictions can make it difficult to get the full amount of those benefits.
Speak with a Villages Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash in Florida, Villages accident lawyer Tim Babiarz can help.
Our firm is pleased to represent clients in the Villages and throughout the area, including in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield, and beyond. Call (352) 205-7559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Villages accident lawyer.
