Man Dies in Hit and Run Accident

Once again, another Hit and Run accident in Miami.

Carl Jones died early Saturday as a result of a hit-and-run accident on North Miami Avenue and 79th Street. The police estimate the driver was traveling at approximately 60 MPH when he struck Mr. Jones and threw him more than 100 feet from the point of impact.

At last count, Florida was ranked third in the nation in Hit and Run Accidents. Pick up the paper on any given day, and you will read about a Hit and Run accident in Miami.

We have gone thru the why many times:

1. Driver is under the influence;
2. Driver does not have a license;
3. Driver is an illegal immigrant;
4. Driver does not have insurance.

If you are reading this and happen to fall into any of the four categories above, you may want to drive more carefully, and actually lessen the chance of causing an accident. That way you won’t have to RUN after you HIT someone.

Again, if you are reading this and question what constitutes a HIT and RUN accident, see the defenition below:

the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is involved in a collision with another vehicle, property or human being, who knowingly fails to stop to give his/her name, license number, and other information as required by statute to the injured party, a witness, or law enforcement officers. If there is only property damage and no other person is present, leaving the information attached to the damaged property may be sufficient, provided the person causing the accident makes a report to the police. Hit and run statutes vary from state to state. It is not a violation of the constitutional protection against self-incrimination to be required to stop and give this information since it is a report and not an admission of guilt.

In the event the driver is not found, Mr. Johnson’s family can pursue a claim against his own Uninsured Motorist Carrier-provided he purchased this coverage. Uninsured Motorist Insurance provides coverage to victims of Hit and Run accidents. In addition, Uninsured Motorist coverage serves to compensate a victim if the person who caused the accident did not have Bodily Injury Liability coverage or the injuries exceed the limits of Bodily Injury Coverage available.

Given the number of Uninsured Motorist in Florida and Hit and Run accidents in Florida, Uninsured Motorist Coverage is a must have.

Hopefully the person who caused this accident will be apprehended, and the jurors who are members of our community will send a message that this behavior will not be tolerated.