Scooter accident and the need for Boynton Beach Hit and Run Accident Lawyers
An unidentified person found seriously injured on the side of the road in Boynton Beach this week is thought to be the victim of a “possible hit and run,” according to a Boynton Beach police spokeswoman, as reported by The Palm Beach Post. A scooter, apparently belonging to the unconscious driver, was located in the northbound lanes of Seacrest Boulevard, while the victim was found lying east of the thoroughfare.
Witnesses reported hearing sounds of “screeching tires,” but when they went outside and reached the scene they only saw the person and the scooter lying on the ground. The victim was taken to Delray Medical Center for treatment. The accident remains under investigation.
If you or someone you know have been the victim of a hit and run accident, call the experienced Boynton Beach Hit And Run Accident Lawyers at Boynton Law, P.A. for a free consultation and evaluation of legal options.
According to traffic accident statistics reported by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the number of fatal hit and run crashes on Florida roadways has significantly increased in the last two years. Approximately twenty-five percent of all car-related accidents involve hit and run crashes. In 2014, about half of the fatal hit and run crashes, involved pedestrians.
In July of 2014, the Florida Legislature passed tougher penalties for leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injuries. The new law was created in memory of Aaron Cohen, a 31 year old bicyclist killed in 2012 by a hit and run driver. The new law, known as the “Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act,” is codified in Chapter 316, Florida Statutes (Drivers Leaving the Scene of a Crash – 316.027). Among other increased penalties, the law for leaving the scene of a crash changes the charge from a third degree felony to a second degree felony, imposes minimum mandatory prison sentences when the accident results in death, and requires a minimum driver license revocation period of at least 3 years, in addition to driver education courses.
Being the victim of a motor vehicle accident is oftentimes a traumatic experience – made that much worse when the crash is a hit and run. Many injured parties mistakenly think that if the at-fault driver is never located by the investigating authorities, they do not have legal recourse or the right to seek compensatory damages, but this is not true. Even if the at-fault driver is never found by the police, victims in these circumstances usually have what is called “UM insurance” – uninsured or underinsured insurance coverage provided in their own insurance policies. If you have UM coverage then you may be entitled to monetary compensation regardless of whether the at-fault driver is ever identified.
If you or a loved one need practical legal advice and assistance to file a claim for money damages to pay for medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, or loss of consortium resulting from a hit and run accident, call the experienced Boynton Beach Hit And Run Accident lawyers at Boynton Law, P.A. for a free consultation.
