A 26-year-old Jacksonville man was killed on March 7 after the pickup truck that he was a passenger in swerved to avoid another vehicle that had changed lanes. The pickup truck was driving on J Turner Butler Boulevard at about 7:20 a.m. when its driver swerved in an attempt to avoid being involved in an accident, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, which flipped, killing one passenger inside. The vehicle that caused the driver to swerve did not stop or remain at the scene. The driver of the pickup was treated at UF Health Jacksonville. An additional passenger was unharmed.
The law requires those involved in an accident to stop and wait for police. Penalties for leaving the scene of an accident can be serious, especially when someone is injured or killed in the accident. But what happens when the vehicle that causes the accident is not actually involved in the collision?
Florida hit-and-run law only applies to drivers who know that they have been involved in a crash, meaning that someone who causes a crash but is unaware of it happening behind him may not face criminal penalties for leaving the scene.
Never leave the scene of an accident
To make sure you are complying with the law, you should always stop if you have been involved in an accident or think you may have contributed to it. Make sure your car is stopped somewhere safe, and, if possible, help the accident victims get off the roadway. Exchange identifying information and insurance coverage information with other drivers while waiting for law enforcement to arrive. If you can do so safely, take pictures of the accident scene and attempt to get the contact information of any witnesses.
After any type of vehicle accident in the Manatee County area, contact the experienced Bradenton auto accident lawyers at the firm of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh to learn about your rights and your options.