DNA, Fingerprints, and Witness Photographs Help Florida Police Confirm Identity of Driver That Fled the Scene of Fort Myers Crash One Year Afterwards

Hit and run driving is truly an epidemic in Florida. An alarming number of the accidents that occur every day in the Sunshine State involve drivers that cause the accident and then flee the scene, even though doing so is a felony under Florida law, if the accident resulted in injury or death to someone else. If you have been hit and injured by a driver who flees the scene of the accident, there are many more ways to track down the identity of a driver who flees the scene of an accident than ever before, thanks to advances in technology, police training, and good old fashioned detective work. In a reminder of just how powerful some of these tools can be, a hit and run driver who fled the scene of an accident he caused in Fort Myers was identified and arrested more than a year after the accident due to good police work and the latest in police technology. 

In a report from WFLA about the recent arrest, the accident occurred on June 4, 2021. The victim was pinned in her car and the motorist who caused the accident then abandoned his car and fled the scene on foot. More than a year later, based on witness photographs, fingerprints, and DNA samples taken from the fleeing driver’s car, the police were able to confirm the identity of the driver that caused the accident and then fled the scene. He was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident in which someone suffered serious bodily injury and property damage, a felony in Florida. While this scenario was a win for police, they are not always able to track down the identity of every hit and run driver, particularly given how many hit and run accidents occur in the Sunshine State annually.

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Have Resources to Track Down the Identity of the Motorist That Injured you, just as the Police

Although, police have more resources at their disposal than they ever did previously, an experienced personal injury attorney often will have the experience, staff, and resources to be able to track down the identity of a driver who fled the scene of an accident. At Schwed, Adams & McGinley, we have experienced attorneys and talented staff who will shake every tree to ensure that we do whatever is necessary to unmask the identity of the individual that caused the accident in which our client was injured. Simply because that person made the foolish decision to break Florida law and leave the scene of the accident, does not mean that you need to go without compensation for the injuries and damages that person may have caused you.

Whether a nearby traffic camera or security cameras from nearby businesses or residences has a clear shot of that driver’s license plate or there are witnesses who have more information than what they share with police, there are always leads to follow up that could unmask the identity of the hit and run driver. In addition, even if there is no video surveillance that shows exactly what happened, a talented private investigator can find witnesses much easier than many people would expect. People are often surprised that complete strangers will go out of their way to help someone they do not even know by sharing their recollection of the incident or photographs or video they may have taken, particularly when the driver whose negligence caused the accident fled the scene, leaving a victim holding the bag for that driver’s negligence.

Contact Schwed, Adams & McGinley

At Schwed, Adams & McGinley, our experienced personal injury attorneys have more than 200 years of experience representing more than 16,000 victims of motor vehicle accidents and other personal injury scenarios in Florida. We have represented numerous accident victims who were injured in hit and run accidents. We have the experienced staff and resources to help you unmask the driver that hit you and fled the scene, even if the police have not done so. If you have been injured by someone else’s negligence in Florida, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Schwed, Adams & McGinley, P.A today at 877-694-6079 or contact@schwedlawfirm.com for a free consultation.