Although Florida does not have laws requiring witnesses to car accidents to stop and render aid, many people throughout the state feel the need to stop and check to see if accident victims are all right and possibly call authorities. This is especially true when people witness hit-and-run accidents since the accident victim may not know what happened to them. However, as noble as their intentions are, good Samaritans put their own lives at risk when checking on accident victims, as made evident in a recent accident that claimed the life of a motorist trying to render aid.
Initial crash and subsequent fatal collision
Around 12:45 a.m. on June 13, a man was driving a pickup along a road in Jacksonville when he was hit by another car. His truck spun and ended up facing another direction. A good Samaritan who witnessed the collision stopped her car, and she and the man were standing in the inside lane of the road when another car came along and struck the disabled pickup truck. That collision caused the truck to strike the man and the woman.
The 46-year-old woman was killed at the scene, and the pickup driver suffered critical injuries. The driver of the car that hit them was also seriously injured and was taken to the hospital along with the pickup truck driver. Police are looking for the driver of the initial car that caused the first collision and then fled.
Seeking compensation
The report does not specify whether the second driver that struck the man and woman was speeding, impaired or otherwise negligent. Due to the complexities involved in this case and the various aspects that must be considered, the surviving family of the deceased woman and the injured pickup driver will likely want to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney in Florida to gain a full understanding of their rights and options for legal recourse.
