Hit-and-Run Accidents on the Rise in Florida

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) March 19, 2015 – Florida law enforcement officials have noted an alarming increase in hit-and-run car accidents.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there were more than 80,000 hit-and-run accidents in the state during 2014. Between 2013 and 2014, a 23 percent increase in fatal hit-and-run collisions appeared. Almost half of the victims were pedestrians.

“Hit-and-run accidents are bad for everyone involved,” said Robert Joyce, a Tampa car accident attorney with Joyce & Reyes. “The victims left behind may have injuries that need immediate medical attention, and the perpetrators face serious criminal charges when they are apprehended.”

The Florida Highway Patrol is campaigning to educate people about the consequences of leaving the scene of an accident. A law passed in 2014 made leaving the scene of an accident a second-degree felony, requiring a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in the event of a conviction. Under the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act, a driver’s license can be revoked for three years for leaving the scene of a crash. Officials said that remaining at the scene and calling 911 could make the difference between life and death for an accident victim.

“Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime, and it is never a good idea,” said Joyce. “If you are involved in a collision, you should call the police and collect information from the other drivers and

Learn more at http://www.joyceandreyespa.com Joyce and Reyes Law Firm, P.A. 307 S Hyde Park Ave Tampa, FL 33606 Call: 813.251.2007