Florida state troopers are on the lookout for a driver who recently hit a pedestrian in Taylor County, causing serious injuries to the victim.
The accident occurred at approximately 10:17 p.m. the evening of August 22 on U.S. Highway 221 at Shiloh Cemetery Road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol crash report, a pedestrian was walking north on the southbound shoulder of the highway, at which point the individual either fell or laid down in the travel lane. An unknown driver in a white Ford Fusion was heading south on the highway and struck the pedestrian. The driver did not stop to help and fled the scene immediately.
The pedestrian was a 41-year-old woman who was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital to be treated for serious injuries.
Drivers must remain at the accident scene
Regardless of who was at fault, all drivers must stay at the scene of any crash. The legal expectation is that drivers will provide any assistance needed, call law enforcement or emergency responders to the scene and exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. A person who leaves the scene of an accident is breaking the law and may face criminal charges — including a felony if the crash led to injuries or death.
Hit-and-run accidents are especially frustrating for injury victims. If police cannot locate the at-fault party, victims may need to seek compensation through their own insurance providers. This is unfair and cause their own insurance rates to rise.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, consult a skilled Bradenton personal injury lawyer with Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.