Imagine leaving church only to find yourself the victim of an automobile accident. That's the last thing Adel Czubrenski of Haines City, FL expected after walking out of St. Ann's Catholic Church last Saturday as she was run over in the church parking lot.
According to the Lakeland Ledger, Czubrenski was leaving St. Ann's Catholic Church at approximately 5:15p.m. in Haines City, FL, when Albert Peterson, 77, of Clermont, FL, apparently stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake while he was backing out of a handicap parking space.
After striking Czubrenski, Peterson continued to accelerate and struck a tree before coming to final rest and causing further damage to his silver 2006 four-door Lincoln.
Immediately following the incident, Czubrenski was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, FL, with reported serious injuries.
Cormac O'Duffy, the church's music director, reported that Czubrenski's legs were injured and she was expected to undergo surgery on July 19th. Undoubtably, Czubrenski's church family at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Haines City, FL, will be praying for her safe and speedy recovery.
"As far as I know, she's OK," O'Duffy said Sunday. "It was an unfortunate accident." Rev. Robert Mitchell, visited with Czubrenski Saturday night, according to O'Duffy.
According to officials, the crash remains under investigation and charges are still pending.
This is such an unfortunate incident. Hopefully, Florida Statute 627.7407 (Motor Vehicle No Fault Law) may provide some comfort to Czubrenski. Many Floridians do not carry any type of health insurance. Florida's Motor Vehicle No Fault Law assists in providing $10,000 in health insurance benefits to individuals injured in automobile accidents, regardless of fault (hence the term "No Fault").
In the instant case, Czubrenski was airlifted to the hospital and is scheduled to have surgery. She is almost certain to have used all the $10,000 in No Fault benefits available to her. Hopefully, Peterson, the at fault driver, was insured at the time and carried bodily injury coverage. If not, further investigation must be done to see what other coverage, if any, is available to Czubrenski to compensate her for her injuries. In my practice as a personal attorney in Polk County, Florida, my job is to identify all potential coverages available and seek a maximum recovery for the client.
