Woman Charged in Clearwater Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident
We have reported it here repeatedly – the absolute worst thing you can do if you hit a pedestrian, a bicyclist, another motorist, or a motorcyclist – is to leave the scene. People often make that split second bad decision because they have something to hide. It has happened again, according to a report by WTSP-TV in Tampa.
A 32-year-old woman reportedly was driving in downtown Clearwater on Friday morning, June 17, when she struck a 47-year-old court bailiff as he walked in the crosswalk at Court Street and Osceola Avenue. Instead of stopping to render aid, as required by law, the woman left the scene, according to a witness. Later the same day, the woman was found working at a restaurant on north Clearwater Beach. She has now been charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license, for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and with leaving the scene of a crash with injuries. She reportedly did not have a license. Leaving the scene with injuries is a third degree felony, according to Florida Statute 316.027.
The bailiff was taken to Morton Plant Hospital and treated and released. Fortunately, his injuries were not more serious.
Just by leaving the scene of a pedestrian accident in Florida, as many who panic do, this woman may be spending a prison term not to exceed five years behind bars.
Farah & Farah takes the offense of leaving the scene following an accident very seriously. So much so that we have decided to join forces with other American personal injury attorneys to encourage the public to turn in someone who has left the scene of an accident they were involved in. With Florida ranking third in the nation in the number of hit-and-runs, our Florida accident lawyers are members of Hit-and-Run Reward. If you turn in a hit-and-run driver who is later convicted, you could receive a financial reward of $1,000 for, in addition to the $1,000 offered by Crime Stoppers. The number for Hit-and-run Reward is 1-800-644-8678. Send a message to those among us who don’t respect a human life enough to simply stop and help.
Source: http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/197409/8/Restaurant-worker-charged-in-deputy-hit-and-run-
