(561)988-8000 Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Injury – Client Avoided Jail and Conviction on Leaving the Scene Charge
Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Personal Injury (Fla. Stat. §316.027(2)(a)) and DUI with Property Damage and Personal Injury (Fla. Stat. §§316.193(1), 316.193(3)(c)(1)) – Coral Springs, Broward County, Florida
Leifert & Leifert represented a client charged in Broward County with serious criminal traffic offenses arising from an alleged pedestrian crash in Coral Springs, Florida. Prosecutors alleged that the client struck a pedestrian with his vehicle during the early morning hours near West Atlantic Boulevard and then unlawfully left the scene without providing information or rendering aid.
According to the charging documents and police reports, officers responded to a report of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash involving a minor victim near an apartment complex entrance in Coral Springs. Witnesses alleged that the client’s vehicle made contact with the pedestrian as the pedestrian attempted to cross near the roadway entrance. Investigators claimed the victim was knocked to the ground and sustained injuries to the leg and side of the body.
Law enforcement further alleged that after the collision, the vehicle briefly stopped before leaving the area without remaining at the scene. Witnesses reportedly provided police with a description of the vehicle and partial tag information, which investigators later used to identify the client.
Police later located the vehicle and made contact with the client. According to the reports, officers observed signs they associated with alcohol impairment and initiated a DUI investigation. Officers alleged the client demonstrated indicators of impairment during field sobriety exercises and later submitted breath samples during the investigation.
As a result, the client was formally charged with:
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Personal Injury,
- DUI with Property Damage and Personal Injury,
- and related traffic offenses.
The allegations exposed the client to substantial criminal penalties, including:
- possible incarceration,
- probation,
- lengthy driver’s license consequences,
- significant financial penalties,
- and the long-term ramifications associated with a conviction for Leaving the Scene involving bodily injury.
After being retained, Leifert & Leifert conducted a detailed review of the allegations, witness statements, crash investigation materials, body camera evidence, and the circumstances surrounding the identification of the vehicle and driver. The defense carefully analyzed issues relating to causation, witness observations, accident reconstruction factors, and the State’s burden of proving knowledge and intent under Florida’s Leaving the Scene statute.
The defense also engaged in extensive negotiations and mitigation efforts aimed at minimizing the long-term impact of the case and avoiding the severe penalties that often accompany felony Leaving the Scene allegations involving personal injury.
Despite the seriousness of the accusations — including allegations that the client struck and ran over a pedestrian before leaving the scene — Leifert & Leifert successfully secured a resolution that avoided incarceration and prevented a conviction on the Leaving the Scene charge.
RESULT: The case was resolved without any jail sentence, and the client avoided a conviction for Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Personal Injury.
OUTCOME: The client avoided incarceration, avoided the long-term consequences associated with a conviction for Leaving the Scene involving injury, and obtained a substantially more favorable outcome than originally anticipated given the severity of the allegations and the potential felony exposure involved.
