Hit and Run Accident Critically Injures Two 15-Year-Old Brothers

The two 15-year-old boys were waiting for the school bus outside their east Orange County, Florida home when they were struck and critically injured by a hit and run driver.  Part of the right front bumper of the hit and run vehicle fell off in the accident.  Witnesses believe the vehicle to be a Pontiac.  One brother was taken to Florida Hospital East while the other was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital.  The parents of the children tended to their childrens' injuries immediately.  The accident happened shortly after 6:30 a.m. in the 9100 block of Valencia College Lane.  Investigators have not revealed whether the children were in the roadway or on the sidewalk at the time of the accident.

Regardless of whether the children were in the street or on the sidewalk, children play games at the bus stop.  I did it when I was a child and that is simply what children do.  The driver of a motor vehicle has a duty upon seeing children who might go out into the roadway to slow down.  When drivers do this, they are doing everything that they can do to avoid injury to a child.  I do recognize that children do sometimes dart out into traffic and that even the most prudent driver cannot prevent that.  However, the more likely scenario is that the driver could have done something to prevent an injury of this nature.  This case will likely have a determination of some degree of comparative fault between the driver and the children.  Notwithstanding, Florida law allows the critically injured children to make claims against the driver and the driver has an obligation to pay for the damages suffered because of the driver's degree of negligence.  If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a result of a car accident in the greater Central Florida area, please contact a personal injury or car accident lawyer to discuss the particular facts of your case.  A consultation with a Central Florida personal injury or car accident lawyer is free.