No one wants to be involved in a motor vehicle accident. Nonetheless, they do happen on a regular basis throughout the state of Florida. While those resulting in property damage can be a nuisance, when they result in injuries, they can be even more complicated. This is particularly true when the person who causes the car accident flees the scene.
One such incident occurred late last month. The hit-and-run accident occurred near South Dixie Highway and Red Road as a pedestrian crossed the street. The pedestrian, a 19-year-old woman who is a student at University of Miami, was seriously injured in the crash and was taken to Kendall Regional Hospital. After hitting the woman, the car, which was described as a silver Mercedes, left the scene of the accident.
After the accident, a serviceman who was working on a silver Mercedes caught a news report on TV talking about the accident. Realizing that the car he was working on was likely the one involved in the incident, he contacted the police. The police followed-up with the owner of the vehicle who claimed that her 27-year-old son was the one behind the wheel at the time of the incident. He is apparently in hiding.
Though specifics about the college student’s injuries have not been disclosed, it is likely that she is facing a long period of recovery. This can be difficult physically as well as emotionally. It can also be very expensive as medical bills are likely quickly mounting. Accordingly, should the injured woman file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for her injuries, the driver may end up facing more than just the criminal charges that are likely.
Source: Local 10, “Police search for So. Miami hit-and-run suspect,” Ross Palombo, May 8 2012