Articles Tagged with Hit and run

Hit-and-run accidents have become a major problem in Florida. The number of drivers who flee the scene of a car accident rises every year. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, an estimated 70,000 hit-and-run accident occurred in 2012, killing about 3 people each week statewide.

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There are many theories about why more people are fleeing accidents, but the most likely answer is that they face harsher charges if they stay at the scene then they do if they leave. For example, an intoxicated driver who causes an accident will certainly face a DUI by remaining to speak with police. However, drunk drivers who flee and are caught later only face a charge for leaving the scene, which carries much lighter penalties than a DUI.

In other words, they only need to evade police long enough to sober up. Drunk drivers are not the only ones causing these accidents, though.

Hit-and-run accidents are a growing danger on U.S. roadways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at-fault drivers flee the scene in about 11 percent of accidents. In Florida, news about hit-and-runs was all over the media in January. Below, you’ll find a summary of three of those stories.

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If you have been in an accident and the driver who caused the wreck fled the scene, we can help. At Wolfson & Leon, we’ve represented car accident victims since 1963. If you are looking for a car-accident lawyer in Miami, give us a call. We offer a free consultation so that you can decide if we are a good fit. To schedule your consultation, Call Us At 305-285-1115 Today!

State Senate Supports Bill That Increases Penalties For Hit-And-Run Drivers

new-florida-plateMIAMI BEACH – Following a poll, Floridians have chosen a new license plate tag. The poll was done online. The plates have seven characters so that the State does not run out of combinations to distribute. Highway Safety Chief Julie Jones Jones pushed for flat plates so that red light cameras could see them easier. Apparently, a good number of red light violations cannot be substantiated because the cameras cannot read the raised letters and numbers. But the group PRIDE opposed her. PRIDE manufactures the plates with help from inmates. Apparently, they do not have the technology to make a flat plate.

There were quite a bit of complaints about the plates. A photo is attached. They don’t look so bad to us. The main point of a license plate is so that police and others can identify a vehicle. License plates become important following hit and run accidents. Many times, witnesses on the scene write down a plate of a car that hits other cars or pedestrians. Then, the police or a private investigator tracks down the runaway driver. Leaving the scene of an automobile accident with injuries is a crime. But it happens often. The new plates appear to be more legible. From a safety and accountability standpoint, that is all that counts.

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