After former Florida Governor Rick Scott passed the “Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act” in 2014 it became a mandatory minimum 4 year prison sentence for committing a hit-and-run resulting in a fatality in the state of Florida.
Florida has a hit-and-run crisis that puts lives at risk every day. In 2023 alone, there were 104,273 hit-and-run accidents in Florida, resulting in 271 fatalities and 871 serious bodily injuries. Pedestrians and bicyclists are particularly vulnerable, making up 76% of those fatalities. (Driving Safety Hit-and-Run Awareness 2024)
Stats show over 81% of fatal hit-and-run accidents happen at night, dusk, or dawn when visibility is crappy. Year after year, hit-and-runs just keep creeping up – in over 86,000 incidents last year, the driver fled after causing property damage – meaning no one was seriously injured or killed from the accident they were a part of.
Under Florida law, drivers must stop immediately at the scene anytime an auto accident happens on public or private property. They must check to see if anyone involved needs medical help and follow all the protocols for reporting the accident correctly.
It’s that simple.
Yet…too many people panic and make the stupid decision to run. They risk throwing their entire lives away doing so.
The penalties are unforgiving!
If you leave the scene of an auto accident resulting in property damage , it’s a second-degree misdemeanor that can get you up to 60 days in jail and $500 in fines.
In crashes involving injuries, it becomes a second or third-degree felony. You could lose your license for at least 3 years, face up to 5 years in prison, and be fined $5,000.
But if someone dies and you take off, watch out for the rest of your life. It’s a first-degree felony! It guarantees a mandatory minimum 4-year prison sentence under the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act. The maximum is 30 years behind bars plus $10,000 in fines. All for one panicked decision. (Driving Safety Hit-and-Run Awareness 2024)
No hit-and-run is worth risking the consequences and half your life in prison. Stay at the scene, call for help if necessary, and follow the law. Leaving could turn a bad situation into a complete nightmare that derails your entire life.
The stakes are extremely high in Florida. Don’t become another statistic by fleeing and putting your freedom in jeopardy. No matter how scared you may feel, the smart decision is always to stop and do the right thing.
Sources:
FLHSMV (2024) DRIVING SAFETY Hit-and-Run Awareness, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Available at: https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/hitrun/ (Accessed: 26 February 2024).
