Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in the state of Florida and punishable as a third degree felony. This offense can lead to up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, or a fine up to $5,000 if an injury is involved. In situations where there is only property damage, leaving the scene can result in up to 60 days in jail or fines up to $500. If you’re in a hit-and-run, leaving the accident scene carries much harsher legal penalties. Unfortunately, instances of hit and runs are incredibly common. In many situations, the victim driver may be left with few options in terms of treatment and vehicle repair.
It is your duty to Give Information and Render Aid
Florida Statute Sections 316.061–316.063 define leaving the scene of an accident as involvement in a crash with another person’s property, such as a vehicle, building, or structure. A person commits the crime by willfully leaving the crash scene. They do not provide their name, address, registration information, and driver’s license to the property owner. If the vehicle owner is not present at the time of the crash, the driver must report the accident to the nearest law enforcement facility. Alternatively, the driver may securely place a written notice on the vehicle that includes the required information. If the crash injures the other driver, the driver must help the injured person obtain aid. This usually requires calling emergency services.
In some hit-and-run cases, a court may not deem you liable, even if you don’t meet the requirements above. For instance, you may not know that you struck another person’s vehicle or damaged someone’s property. You may not even realize an accident happened. You could also sustain injuries so serious that you’re unable to accurately report the crash to the appropriate authorities or share your identifying information with the other driver. Lastly, if your help meets the statute’s reasonableness standard, the court may not hold you responsible for leaving.
How to insure your protection
If you’re a hit-and-run victim, you may still have options for treatment and vehicle repairs. Unfortunately, it is very hard to hold another driver responsible for leaving the scene. Without an eyewitness, a license plate number, or video evidence, you may not be able to prove what happened. However, depending on your policy, your own insurance will most likely cover the property damage to your vehicle. If you bought uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, it may pay medical bills.
If a hit-and-run accident involved you, contact Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys immediately for assistance. Call (855) LAW-DENNIS or visit www.dennishernandez.com for more information.
