Fatal Hit-and-Run Accidents on the Rise in Central Florida

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on February 20, 2021

Although it is still quite early in the year, Florida has suffered an alarming amount of deadly auto accidents in just the first 7 weeks of 2021, according to the latest statistics released by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Their data indicates that there have already been 195 fatal collisions throughout the state, with the heaviest numbers located in the counties of Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia.

Stay at the Scene Campaign

Every February is “Hit-and-Run Awareness Month” in Florida and the FLHSMV has teamed up with other statewide traffic agencies including the Florida Department of Transportation, AAA, the Florida Sheriffs Association, and the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, in order to inform Floridian drivers about the severity of these types of collisions. The Stay at the Scene Campaign focuses on educating the public about their responsibilities as a driver if they’re ever involved in a hit-and-run accident and the legal ramifications they will inevitably face if they decide to flee the scene of a collision.

From February 1^st through February 16^th, 2021, authorities in Central Florida have responded to 35 accidents involving fatalities, according to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol. And although there hasn’t been one common factor leading to the increase in accidents, troopers with the FHP believe that a majority of these incidents were absolutely avoidable had the driver not ignored or disregarded the basic laws and rules of the road. “Everyone needs to look at their driving behavior. We have innocent people that are being killed out there because drivers aren’t following the basic drivers-ed kind of rules,” state Lt. Kim Montes with the Florida Highway Patrol. Additionally, Lt. Montes is concerned about the emotional effects that these types of collisions are having on her officers. “It’s pretty daunting right now for our traffic homicide investigators to go to two and three fatal scenes a day sometimes,” she said in a statement to local media outlets.

Florida drivers are being asked to slow down, stay aware, and stay alert to their surroundings while they’re behind the wheel of their vehicles. In the event that you are involved in an auto accident, you should immediately call 9-1-1 regardless of how severe you perceive the collision to be – someone could be injured in another vehicle and might require medical assistance, for example. Try to move your vehicle over to the side of the road whenever possible so you aren’t put in further danger from other traffic traveling through the area. And last, but not least, try to remain calm until the authorities arrive and take control of the situation.

Sources:

• Florida Highway Patrol is urging caution after uptick of deadly crashes on Central Florida roads
• Hit-And-Run Crash Fatalities Rise In 2020, Floridians Reminded To Stay At The Scene: FHP

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.