Spate of hit and runs in Florida mar New Year celebrations
Daytona Beach, FL – An Ocala man was killed in a hit-and-run crash on New Year’s Eve in Marion County, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The crash happened Saturday night, just 30 minutes before New Year. The driver took off after the crash and, according to the police, there’s no description of the vehicle available at this time.
Roughly at the same time, a bicyclist was fatally injured in a hit-and-run in East Naples, at the intersection of U.S. 41 E and Airport Pulling Rd. The troopers were able to identify the driver, Claudio Andres Nunes-Hormazabal, 33, who was charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene, and driving without a valid license.
In yet another incident, Florida Highway Patrol is asking the public for any information concerning the identity of a driver who injured a motorcyclist in a hit-and-run crash in Orange County. So far, the only information available is that the man was driving a white SUV with fresh damage to the right rear taillight.
Meanwhile, police in Volusia County are still looking for the driver involved in the hit-and-run wrong-way crash in New Smyrna Beach, which claimed the lives of three people, including famous Tik Tok personality Ali Spice.
Main reasons drivers flee the scene of an accident
Seasoned Daytona Beach car accident lawyers say the main reason many drivers flee the scene of a crash is fear of consequences. Some are afraid they won’t be able to pay damages, but even more, are worried they’ll go to jail. Drugs and alcohol seem to play an important part. According to the law, if the driver involved in a crash was intoxicated, they risk being charged with vehicular manslaughter, a second-degree felony, which can result in up to 15 years in prison.
How can you recover damages after a hit and run in Florida?
As Florida is a no-fault state, accident victims can recover part of their financial losses using their Personal Injury Protection policy. It all depends on the type of coverage you have. The main drawback is that you cannot recover non-economic damages, those meant to compensate victims for their pain and suffering.
One way of getting more money is for victims to use their Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. However, this type of coverage is not mandatory in Florida, so many motorists don’t have UM.
The third option is to try and identify the driver and sue them. The police are overwhelmed by the high number of hit and runs they have to deal with, so victims should speak with experienced Florida accident lawyers. A skilled attorney can help by talking to the witnesses and reviewing the surveillance camera or dashcam footage.
If the driver is identified the victims and their families can file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
Knowledgeable lawyers will advise waiting for the conclusion of the criminal case against the hit-and-run driver. If the driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash, there’s a good chance the victim can seek punitive damages as well.
If you were recently injured in an accident in the Daytona Beach area, schedule a free consultation with a trustworthy lawyer at the Pappas & Russell law firm to see how you can recover damages.
Contact info
Phone: (386) 254-2941
213 Silver Beach Avenue
Daytona Beach, Florida 32118
Sources:
TikTok influencer ‘Ali Spice’ killed in wrong-way, hit-and-run crash in Florida
Ocala man killed in hit-and-run crash on New Year’s Eve, FHP says
Naples man arrested after killing bicyclist in hit-and-run crash
