A Deadly Walk Home
Sometimes, something as simple as a walk home from a convenience store can be fraught with danger. Dangerous situations can arise out of nowhere, with no warning. Such was the case when a Fort Lauderdale teenager was struck and killed while walking home from a neighborhood store. In this case, the driver of the vehicle left the scene of the accident, but was later arrested and charged after turning himself in to the police.
Vision Zero
Fort Lauderdale has, in recent years, taken initiative to reduce these types of tragedies, and traffic accidents in general, through the Vision Zero project. Their three principles are simple and straightforward:
- Any level of fatality or injury is not acceptable;
- Traffic deaths and injuries are preventable; and
- The public should be able to expect safe conditions and join in the effort to increase safety.
The Statistics Driving The Initiative
Vision Zero has come from recognition of Fort Lauderdale’s citizens’ concerns over safety and the high number of pedestrian and bicyclist incidents within their city. Statistics show that Fort Lauderdale fatalities resulting from traffic incidents are among the highest in the United States. Interestingly, it is noted that a high percentage of deaths occur between the hours of 4:00 PM and 4:00 AM and, further, a substantial percentage of deaths involve alcohol. According to their literature, Vision Zero was implemented only recently – in Fall of 2015 – so it will be interesting to see its impact and, hopefully, a decrease in these events which are so devastating for everyone involved.
Shirking Responsibility
Leaving the scene of an accident is the worst thing that a driver can do, not only for the victim, but for him or herself. Section 316.027 of the Florida Code provides for heightened penalties in these types of cases, and a history of this behavior or, as is a factor is in so many cases, the involvement of alcohol in a hit and run case furthers the severity of penalties if a driver is found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident. It is thought that drivers who leave accident sites often do so because they are afraid of the consequences and, if they have been drinking, they have a reason to be concerned. However, because receiving medical help as soon as possible after being involved in an accident can make the difference between life and death for the victim, drivers must take responsibility immediately for their actions and make sure the victim gets the assistance they need.
Turn To The Professionals At Boone & Davis Law For Your Legal Needs
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a hit and run or any other type of auto accident, you need to be able to turn to someone you can trust to give you the information you need about your rights. The attorneys at Boone & Davis in Fort Lauderdale have the experience you can rely on to learn what you are entitled to and how to obtain relief. Contact us today online or by calling 954-556-5260 to discuss your case and to discover how we can help you as you make your way down the road to recovery.
