Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that happened in January.
The 36-year-old is charged with leaving the scene of a crash without rendering aid and driving with a suspended license, among other charges.
The crash happened January 17 off Charlie Taylor Road near U.S. Highway 92 in Plant City.
A 57-year-old was hit by a 2006 Hyundai Tucson, according to the Plant City Police Department. He died at the scene.
The vehicle was recovered in Lakeland and impounded.
Police said a follow-up investigation led them to the man, who was located in Connecticut. He returned to Florida, was interviewed by police, and arrested.
He was taken to the Orient Road Jail.
The AAA Newsroom recently released a report titled “Hit-and-Run Deaths Hit Record High,” that shows there have been approximately 682,000 hit and run accidents every year since 2006. That’s a shocking daily average of roughly 1,868 hit and run crashes in the United States. When spread across the year, that figure amounts to nearly six deaths every day. The highest fatality rates were found in Florida, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
Our Tampa Bay Wrongful Death Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have handled numerous auto accident claims involving fatal hit and run crashes. We have extensive experience with uninsured driver claims, so we evaluate the crash to determine whether financial compensation may be available through UM/UIM (Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist) coverage, which many Florida drivers elect to carry in addition to mandatory insurance coverage like PIP (Personal Injury Protection).
If a loved one was wrongfully killed by a hit and run driver, we are here to help you understand your legal options. Call us today at 813-221-3200 or contact us online for a free consultation.