A Florida man had to undergo surgery to have a portion of his leg amputated after he was the victim of a hit-and-run boating accident in St. Augustine, Florida.
According to officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the man lost a part of his lower leg after a ski boat hit his vessel. The propeller of the ski boat reportedly cut off a section of his leg, and when he went into surgery, more of the leg had to be amputated to save his life.
The victim’s fiancée says the ski boat’s driver fled the scene immediately following the accident. However, thanks to the description of the driver and the boat, officials were eventually able to track down the suspect and question him. He now faces potential criminal charges. Meanwhile, the victim’s fiancée has set up a GoFundMe page to help fund medical costs and rehab.
Always stay at the scene
If you are ever involved in an accident, whether you caused it or not, it is your responsibility to stay behind at the accident scene to wait for police and provide assistance to anyone who has been injured. It is a crime to leave the scene before law enforcement officers arrive.
In this recent boating accident, the individual at fault could also face civil action from the victim and his family, in addition to any pending criminal charges.
For more information on how to proceed after you have been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, consult an experienced Manatee County personal injury lawyer with Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.