It is well understood that the first few moments following a car accident in Naples can be quite traumatic. Yet once one has had the chance to collect their thoughts and assess their physical condition, it is time to act. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that there have been 302,430 car accidents in the state this year alone. That number represents 302,430 situations where those involved in such collisions had the opportunity (insofar as they were able to) assist others who were also affected.
Some might argue that while rendering such assistance may be the honorable thing to do, there is no moral obligation to do it. They would be right; the obligation is actually a legal one. According to Section 316.062(1) of Florida’s State Uniform Traffic Control Code, anyone who is involved in a car accident (in any degree) has a legal duty to render aid to other accident victims (provided they themselves are capable of doing so). One may not be expected to provide actual hands-on care, but they are expected to summon first responders, as well as to transport (or arrange for the transportation of) any accident victims to the nearest medical facility. All those involved in a crash must also be prepared to provide (on top of their drivers’ licenses) the following information:
- Name
- Address
- Vehicle registration information
That information should be shared with both other accident victims as well as any law enforcement officers that appear at the scene.
While a failure to provide the aforementioned information (or care) following a car accident typically qualifies as a noncriminal traffic infraction, the penalties one may face if they flee from the scene altogether can be much more serious.