Hit and Run Awareness Month
February 19, 2020 – Adam Mann

Between 2015 and 2019, there have been over 1,000 hit and run fatalities in Florida.
According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), hit and run accidents account for 25% of all crashes, and although they mostly involve property damage, they can be deadly when pedestrians are involved. Between 2015 and 2019, there have been over 1,000 hit and run fatalities in Florida, with over 200 of them occurring in 2019. Despite advances in automotive safety technology, pedestrians are still in great danger when a driver is distracted or unable to operate their vehicle correctly due to poor weather or visibility. In fact, over 84% of hit and run accidents occur during dawn, dusk, or at night. Due to the steady amount of hit and run accidents in Florida, the DHSMV has named February “Hit and Run Awareness Month,” in order to promote safer driving habits.
The Stay at the Scene campaign was formed in addition to the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act, which aims to inform drivers of their duty to stay at the scene of a crash, as well as imposing more severe consequences on those who flee the scene of an accident. The Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act imposes a mandatory minimum of 4 years in prison for a driver convicted of abandoning the scene of an accident resulting in a fatality. Other penalties include revoked licenses, felony charges, and heavy fines. It’s important to always pay close attention to road signs and signals, as well as the vehicles around you when walking near or on a road. Oftentimes, drivers can have their lines of sight obstructed, or may become focused on another hazard on the road, and misjudge their surroundings, leaving pedestrians and even other drivers vulnerable.
Here at Cohen and Cohen, we hope that you always drive safely and avoid any precarious situations while on the road so that more of these easily preventable accidents are avoided. If you or anyone you know has been involved in a hit and run accident, you can find out what steps to take next here, or contact our auto accident attorneys.
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