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Florida hit-and-run accidents can lead to criminal charges, especially when fatal injuries result from the accident. Christopher James Holland, 22, died after suffering injuries in an accident that caused him to be ejected from a truck. The driver of the truck, Jacob Gaulden of Pensacola, was later arrested for leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. His charges may be increased to leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a death.
Florida law requires drivers to stop at the scene of an accident involving injuries and failure to do so is a third-degree felony. If a death results from an accident and a driver fails to stop at the scene, then the driver can be charged with a first-degree felony. Also, any person that fails to stop at the scene of accident resulting in a death and that driver is found to have been driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then the driver shall be sentenced to a minimum of two years imprisonment, in accordance with Florida Statute 316.027(1)(a) and 316.027(1)(b).
The Florida Highway Patrol has vowed to crackdown on them due to the increase in these types of accidents in the last few years. The push on such investigations should help protect victims and their families, such as Christopher James Holland and his surviving family. Florida does allow for wrongful death actions to be brought within two years of an incident, and they can be brought by the family of the victim.