As our readers know, motorists have a duty to pay careful attention to their surroundings, especially at night. If a car accident occurs, any motorist involved owes an additional duty to render what assistance they can, which may just be calling 911. However, if they instead flee the scene, then that may expose them to criminal liability, even if they were not negligent in causing the car accident.

Unfortunately, whether because they panic or another reason, some motorists fail to stop after striking another vehicle or a pedestrian. As was the case with a Florida hit-and-run accident in Ocala just before midnight on May 4.

A man, who was wearing dark clothing and carried no identification, was walking along the side of the road when he was struck by an unidentified motorist. Investigators believe that the man was "walking in the westbound inside lane" when he was struck by a westbound vehicle.

Unfortunately, many details remained unknown, including even whether the man was struck from the front or behind.

Luckily, another motorist traveling on the same road spotted the man and dialed 911. Emergency responders rushed him to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he remained alive but unresponsive as of the time of a local news report about the incident. Authorities are continuing to investigate the accident and have asked anyone with information to notify the police.

Victims of Florida motor vehicle accidents may be able to receive monetary compensation from the driver responsible for their injuries. Compensation can be used to offset any lost income while the victim was receiving medical care, in addition to the cost of immediate and future medical treatment.

Hopefully, the police will be able to apprehend the hit-and-run driver and hold him or her accountable for their actions.

Source: Ocala.com, "Pedestrian seriously injured in hit-and-run crash," Austin L. Miller, May 5, 2012