Hit-and-run accidents are back on the roads again, and Florida is no exception. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported about 600,000 hit-and-run accident cases between 2015 and 2020. A Sarasota Florida Truck accident lawyer stated that the number of hit and run claims cases has also jumped in the last five years. Hit and run accidents have become a menace on the roads, with over 100,000 cases recorded annually. The frequency of these accidents pushed the state to amend its hit-and-run statutes three times in four years (between 2017 and 2020). With the latest amendment, the state now imposes a strict penalty on offenders to curb road accidents and hit-and-run related injuries and deaths. While the penalty amendment has proven effective in some ways, it has not eradicated hit-and-run accidents in the state. Defendants charged with such offenses would face a third-degree felony if the accident resulted in an injury. A third-degree felony in Florida attracts a jail sentence of up to five years and $5,000 in fines. Hit-and-run accidents always have victims. These victims often face a hard time in the aftermath of such accidents. With the growing increase in medical costs, they may have to dip into their savings to cater to their medical needs. The substantial medical costs may further be made worse by their loss of income due to inability to work, pain and suffering caused by the accident injury, property damages, and others. As a victim of a hit-and-run accident, knowing what to do can improve your chances of recovering compensation for your damages. Below is a guide to help you through the process.
What Are Hit And Run Accidents?
Florida's vehicle code does not include "hit and run." However, the law clearly states drivers' duties and responsibilities while on the road. Florida's law aims to keep drivers and other road users safe by establishing a series of codes that drivers must follow. Failure to follow these codes puts the driver and others in harm's way. According to Florida's vehicle code, drivers are expected to do the following when involved in an accident.Stop The Vehicle
Drivers who have been involved in an accident are required by the state's law to stop their vehicle immediately at the scene. Drivers who cannot stop immediately at the crash scene are expected to stop as close to the crash scene as possible.Render Aid
Drivers who have been involved in a crash are expected to step out of their vehicles, if not severely injured, to render aid to those who are injured. Rendering aid, in this context, may include calling on emergency responders or driving the injured victims to the hospital. Drivers can also uphold their end of the bargain by arranging transportation to ferry injured persons to the nearest medical facility.Information Exchange
Drivers involved in an accident are required, by law, to stop and provide their information to the people involved in the accident. Provided identifying information may include driver's name, address, license plate number, vehicle registration number, and insurance carrier. Drivers are also expected to show their driving license to other drivers involved in the accident or the police to prevent fraud or misrepresentation.What Causes Hit And Run Accidents?
Hit and run accidents happen for many reasons. However, the primary reason for drivers fleeing the scene of an accident is the fear of the associated consequences. In most cases, drivers flee the scene of an accident because they are;- Unlicensed
- Uninsured
- Have outstanding arrest warrants
- Intoxicated at the time of the accident
- Driving a stolen vehicle