Orlando, Florida car accident attorney Martinez Manglardi PA is reminding drivers to never leave the scene of an accident. It makes a bad situation much, much worse. The Florida Highway Patrol wages a Stay at the Scene campaign. According to the FHP, about 1-4 car accidents is a hit and run. In 2014, the Florida legislature passed the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act, which mandates at least 4 years in prison for a driver convicted of leaving the scene of a car accident involving a fatality.
After that, the legislature passed the law in 2014 in response to the perceived leniency of two-year sentence given to a driver who killed a 31-year-old father of two riding a bicycle. Investigators had evidence that the driver had been drinking. But because he fled the scene, police were unable to prove a DUI charge. A DUI manslaughter charge carries a 4-year mandatory minimum sentence.
A recent press conference in Ft. Myers addressed the epidemic of hit and runs like Codie Doolin’s. A driver left him for dead after crashing into his motorcycle. If you see a crash, #StayAtTheSceneFL and call 911. If you have info about a hit and run, call Crime Stoppers or FHP. pic.twitter.com/c915MngA6u
— FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) February 16, 2019
Florida Car Accident Attorney Says #StayAtTheSceneFL
“If you are involved in a crash, Stay at the Scene. Not only is it the law, but doing so could save a life,” says DHSMV Executive Director, Terry L. Rhodes. “Leaving the scene of the crash will ensure you receive more serious penalties, no matter the severity of the crash. Hit and run crashes impact our communities enormously. We are dedicated to solving these cases. I implore members of the public to report any information on hit and run crashes anonymously to Crime Stoppers.”
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) is always looking for information on active cases their website.
Be careful. Stay safe. Accidents take a terrible toll. If you need a Florida car accident attorney to help you recover losses, contact Martinez Manglardi PA. Call 407-846-2240 for a free consultation.
