Hit-and-Run Awareness - Stay At The Scene!
From year to year, Florida has seen the amount of hit-and-run crashes remain steady, with nearly 25 percent of all crashes involving a hit-and-run.
Although the majority of hit-and-run crashes only result in property damage, hit-and-run crashes can be deadly.
THE SAD REALITY
According to numbers from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, hit-and-run crash fatalities increased by over 18% in 2020!
Florida had ALARMING hit-and-run trends in 2021:
- 108,155 hit-and-run crashes
- 304 fatalities (up 18% from 2020)
- 1,176 serious bodily injuries (up 20%).
- 70% of fatalities were pedestrians (169) or bicyclists (45)
In 2021, 246 (81%) of the 304 fatalities from a hit-and-run crash occurred during dawn, dusk, or nighttime conditions.
Did You Know?
The penalties for hit-and-run drivers changed on July 1, 2014 when the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act (section 316.027, Florida Statutes) was signed into Florida law.
The statute is named after Aaron Cohen, a 31-year-old avid cyclist, and father of two that was fatally struck by an alcohol-impaired driver that fled the crash scene
in February 2012 in South Florida.
The hit-and-run driver was sentenced to two years in prison, a lesser sentence than what the motorist would have served had he
been sentenced on a DUI manslaughter charge.
The Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act imposes a mandatory minimum of FOUR years for a driver convicted of leaving
the scene of a crash resulting in a fatality.
HIT-AND-RUN PENALTIES
Leaving the scene of the crash with:
PROPERTY DAMAGE:
- Second Degree Misdemeanor
- Up to 60 days in prison and $500 fine
INJURIES:
- Second or third-degree felony
- Revoked license for at least 3 YEARS
- Up to 5 YEARS in prison and a $5,000 fine
FATALITIES:
- First-degree FELONY
- Revoked license for at least 3 YEARS
- MANDATORY minimum of 4 years in prison, up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
Take Responsibility
It’s your duty as a driver involved in a crash to remain at the scene and provide assistance to other motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians or other parties who have been injured or received property damage.
Remember Hit-and-run drivers not only damage property and injure innocent persons but cause hardship on their own families when apprehended.
Don’t risk the lives of others and your freedom by leaving the scene of a crash!
Important steps to follow if you are involved in a crash:
- Make sure you are okay and remain calm and stay at the scene.
- If possible, move to the side of the road. Remove your keys if you get out of your vehicle and stand out of the roadway in a safe area.
- Check on others involved.
- Call 911 and report the accident.
- If you are not injured gather information. Get the name, driver license, insurance, and tag information from the other driver(s). Take photos of the vehicles and information if you can.
*Leaving the scene of a crash will only make matters worse. Staying at the scene will not only spare a driver significant legal penalties, but may save a life!
If you have information on a hit-and-run crash, you can report it by calling *FHP (*347) or report it anonymously to Florida Crime Stoppers by calling **TIPS (**8477) or through the Florida Crime Stoppers smartphone phone app, available free in the Apple and Google Play stores.
#StayAtTheSceneFL
