A hit and run epidemic has plagued our state for the past few years, and it has touched many lives here in Coral Gables. A few weeks ago, we told you the story of bicyclist who was killed in a hit and run incident and how police captured the driver, but the fight against hit and run crashes still rages on.
How Bad Is The Hit and Run Epidemic?
The Florida Highway Patrol estimated that there was around 80,000 hits and run incidents in Florida last year, and over 27,000 of these accidents happened in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. Though many of those crashes involved fender benders and no injuries, there are still too many cases of injuries and fatalities for the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit to handle.
“We just don’t have the time, we have too many to investigate,” says Sgt. David Greenwell. Yet, the Traffic Homicide Unit is still doing a good job of bringing these drivers in. “We have a high closure rate for these fatalities… about 50 percent.”
How Can I Help?
Despite their success, it is clear that our local police still need our help in curbing this epidemic. If you see a hit and run accident, try to take note of the brand and type of automobile involved as well as the license plate number. Be sure to call the police as soon as possible, and try to help anyone who was injured in the accident. The police would like people in auto body shops to report suspicious vehicle damage, which could also help identify hit and run drivers.
Even if you have already been the victim of a hit and run crash, you can still help prevent others from becoming victims. Civil lawsuits against negligent drivers help protect cyclists and pedestrians by raising awareness, so don’t be afraid to call an attorney and find out what legal rights you have against hit and run drivers.
Colson Hicks Eidson — Personal Injury Attorneys