Penalties are now more severe than ever for drivers that leave the scene of a crash, especially when the incident involves bodily injury. In 2014 Governor Rick Scott signed The Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act into law; aimed at increasing penalties for drivers found responsible for hit and run crashes.
These increased penalties include: a minimum 3-year license suspension, with added educational requirements for the driver for leaving the scene of a crime; a minimum charge of a third-degree felony when the accident results in an injury that is not considered “serious bodily injury,” as defined by Florida statute 316.027; and a charge of a second-degree felony if the hit and run results in serious bodily injury.
The defendant may also face a charge of a first-degree felony if the hit and run results in the death of an injured person; a minimum term of 4 years in prison for the convicted driver if the hit and run results in the death of a person; or a minimum term of 4 years in prison if the convicted driver was found driving under the influence (DUI).