On average, almost two people a day are accidentally shot in Florida
There are a lot of guns in Florida. No doubt about it. But for the most part, people who own guns are pretty cautious. Most people keep their guns in a safe or locked up. Many others have concealed weapons permits that allows them to carry guns in public but only after extensive safety training. So how were there over 800 accidental shootings in Florida in 2017?
This is not an anti-gun article.
As an accident attorney, I view this article as proving one point:
Even some of the safest, most cautious people still cause accidents and injure people on a daily basis.
No human being is above negligence.
Victims are rarely ever the same after an accident – whether it be a car accident, a slip and fall, or even an accidental shooting. That said, we have an insurance system in this Country that offers victims the ability to recover financially when they have been injured by another’s negligence.
If you are injured in a car accident, you may be compensated for your injuries by the at-fault driver’s or your own car insurance company. If you are injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be compensated by a general liability commercial policy.
But how do victims recover financially from an accident gunshot?
Most people live in homes or apartments. [Florida is home to over 40,000 homeless people, so this rule doesn’t apply to everyone]. But if the person who causes an accidental shooting has renter’s insurance or homeowner’s insurance, there may be insurance coverage available to compensate injured victims.
When a client contacts me about any injury – whether it be a car accident, slip and fall, nursing home abuse, wrongful death, etc. – the first thing I do is hunt for insurance coverage. Sometimes I’ll find several dead-ends before I’m able to find a source of insurance coverage that applies to someone’s injuries.
In sum, this article is proof that accidents happen every day in nearly infinite scenarios. We all have to remember that our choices have consequences. Its our job to make sure that when our conduct places other people at even the slightest risk of danger, that we go above and beyond to reduce the risk of harm to others.
… if not… people end up getting accidentally shot while standing in line at Publix. True story. Or, more recently, people get shot while taking a walk in their neighborhood.
Matthew Waring is a personal injury attorney located in Boca Raton, Florida. He gets people compensated after they have been injured in accidents. Matthew’s number is 954-388-0646. Consultations are free.