What is a hit-and-run accident?

Fort Walton Beach, FL—A hit-and-run accident happens when a driver of a car, truck, or another type of vehicle causes an accident and fails to remain at the scene to exchange information and render reasonable assistance. While some hit-and-run accidents only result in property damage, others have caused one or more parties to suffer serious and even fatal injuries. 

Is it illegal to leave the scene of a car accident in Florida?

If a car crash results in property damage, injuries, or death, a driver is required to remain at the scene. During this time, they must also exchange their name, address, and vehicle information with the other parties involved as well as provide reasonable assistance to ensure anyone who did suffer injuries is able to get the treatment they need within a timely manner.¹

Drivers who fail to remain at the scene of an accident could face serious consequences for violating the law.

What are the penalties for causing a hit-and-run accident in Fort Walton Beach, FL?

The penalties for causing a hit-and-run accident were modified on July 1, 2014, after a drunk driver fatally struck a cyclist, fled the scene, and was given a less severe sentence, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).² After the new law took effect, drivers were subject to harsher penalties for causing a hit-and-run crash.

The current penalties drivers in Florida may face if they cause a hit-and-run accident are as follows:

• When the accident results in property damage:

1. Charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.
2. Sentenced to up to 60 days in prison.
3. Pay a fine of $500.

• When the accident results in injuries:

1. Charged with a second- or third-degree felony.
2. Sentenced to up to five years in prison.
3. Pay a fine of $5,000.
4. Having their license revoked for at least three years.

• When the accident results in a fatality:

1. Charged with a first-degree felony.
2. Sentenced to a mandatory minimum of four years in prison.
3. Pay a fine of $10,000.
4. Having their license revoked for at least three years.

What are a driver’s rights after a hit-and-run accident in Fort Walton Beach, FL?

If a driver was involved in a hit-and-run accident, they may be entitled to recover compensation from their insurance carrier as well as the driver who caused the crash given they have been identified. Because it isn’t always clear to a hit-and-run accident victim where compensation can be recovered from, they are encouraged to contact a Fort Walton Beach car accident attorney who can determine this for them.

Browning Law Firm is an accident law firm located in Fort Walton Beach that provides legal services to those who have been injured in an accident that wasn’t their fault.

Browning Law Firm can be reached at:

418 Racetrack Rd. NE, Ste B

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

Phone: 850-344-1736

Website: www.browninglawfirm.com

Sources:

1. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.062.html 
2. https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/hitrun/