Elderly Woman Held Responsible for Deadly Hit-and-Run in Tampa

Senior citizens often continue to operate motor vehicles after it is no longer safe for them to do so. These individuals often suffer from cognitive decline, physical impairments, and vision problems – making them some of the most hazardous motorists on the road. Although this is a somewhat controversial subject, seniors are at least as capable of causing traffic fatalities as other motorists. A recent hit-and-run in Tampa serves as a grim reminder of this fact.

 Police Say Senior Is to Blame for the Deaths of Two Children

 Police in the Tampa Bay Area say that an elderly woman is responsible for a recent hit-and-run that claimed the lives of two children. The crash also critically injured the mother, who was pushing her young children in a stroller when the collision occurred. One of these children was 5 months old, while the other was two years old. Police also revealed that they were not in a crosswalk when the collision occurred – essentially implying that they were jaywalking at the time of the accident.

It took two days for the police to find the vehicle, and they used surveillance footage to guide their investigation. They also located a 73-year-old woman who is now cooperating with the police investigation.

Even if the pedestrians were not in a crosswalk at the time of the collision, the hit-and-run may still be a felony offense. Fleeing the scene of an accident involving death or serious injury can lead to many years in prison in Florida.

Police also say that they want to give the defendant every opportunity to tell her side of the story. It is now a homicide investigation, but the authorities noted that some people in this situation have fled unintentionally. Police gave the example of a person driving away after hitting someone because they thought they hit a speed bump.

 Can I Sue a Senior After an Auto Accident in Tampa? 

In this situation, the senior may eventually escape criminal penalties after arguing that they were unaware of the pedestrian collision. Under Florida law, defendants can only face criminal penalties if they knowingly flee the scene of serious accidents.

However, the senior cannot have it both ways. If she really struck this family without even noticing, her senses are obviously diminished. She may be visually or cognitively impaired. If she uses this defense strategy, she still has to explain why she was behind the wheel of a vehicle in the first place. Her impairment could lead to a successful injury and wrongful death claim.

 Can a Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer Help Me Pursue Justice? 

After a hit-and-run in Tampa, the pursuit of justice can be challenging. However, you should remain optimistic – and police often track down those responsible for causing deaths and serious injuries. Although the recent incident in Tampa was tragic, it highlights the fact that hit-and-run motorists often face justice in the end. An experienced Tampa auto accident lawyer may be able to help you pursue compensation after a hit-and-run. Contact Anderson & Anderson today to learn more.

Source:

fox13news.com/news/elderly-woman-from-sarasota-believed-responsible-crash-killed-2-children