Woman turned in to police by her own car following hit and run accident.
In the event of a car accident, the at-fault driver has some pretty serious responsibilities towards the other parties involved:
- First, there is the moral responsibility to stop and make sure anyone who has been injured receives medical care
- Then there is the legal responsibility to provide your insurance information and contact information to everyone involved in the accident so that they can be fairly compensated for any injuries or property damage you may have caused
- And finally, there is the responsibility to abide by the law, which makes fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in injury or property damage to another party a crime
As one Florida woman recently found out, modern vehicle safety technology is making it really hard to shirk these responsibilities.
According to authorities in Port St Lucie, Florida, 57-year-old Cathy Bernstein hit a truck and then a van, causing her Ford’s airbag to deploy. This triggered one of the vehicle’s safety features, namely the 911 Assist feature, which automatically dials 911 and transmits the vehicle’s location and other information in the event of a serious accident.
When her car put her on the phone with the 911 dispatcher, Bernstein initially denied she had been in an accident. Instead she claimed that a car had cut her off, but she had not actually hit it. The dispatcher was not fooled, knowing that the Ford 911 Assist feature and other similar features from other car manufacturers only dial 911 following a collision, not a near miss.
The 911 dispatcher notified the authorities, who went to Bernstein’s home and confirmed that her vehicle had damage consistent with rear-ending another vehicle. The Ford even had silver paint on it matching the van Bernstein had hit and sped away from. After initially claiming she hit a tree, Bernstein eventually did tell the truth. However, she this did not prevent her from being arrested and charged with fleeing the scene of an accident.
Hit and run accidents are a serious problem across the country, and it is encouraging to think that technology like 911 Assist may help catch hit and run drivers. This is not only important for the sake of criminal justice, but also for the broader sense of justice. If victims can identify the driver who caused their accident, they can then target that individual with a personal injury claim and make sure they receive the compensation necessary for them to recover from their injuries and adjust to any changes in their quality of life.
If you have been injured in any kind of car accident, remember to make Fernando D. Vargas your first call after 911 so that he can help you with any potential personal injury claims.
