Miami Car Accident Lawyer, Jonathan Perazzo, has received information about a Miami hit-and-run that has left a rider on an electric stand-up scooter in critical condition, and a driver was arrested Monday, according to NBC6 South Florida and Miami Police. The 45-year-old motorist considered at fault, has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury. According to the arrest report, officers responded to NW 37th Avenue and NW 36th Street after a crash involving a Lexus and the scooter rider, and the driver allegedly fled before later returning to the scene. Below is general information on how Florida law treats hit-and-run cases — and what rights an injured rider may have.
What the Arrest Report Alleges
The following is attributed entirely to NBC6 South Florida (June 23, 2026) and the Miami Police arrest report. None of it has been proven in court.
- Miami Police officers responded to the intersection of NW 37th Avenue and NW 36th Street after a crash involving a Lexus and a pedestrian riding an electric stand-up scooter, according to the arrest report.
- According to the report, the Lexus was traveling northbound on NW 37th Avenue and the scooter rider was heading eastbound on NW 36th Street. The report states the Lexus failed to stop at the red light before the scooter rider struck it.
- The arrest report alleges the Lexus then fled the scene without helping, and the rider was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
- Campos later returned to the scene — driven by his wife — flagged down an officer, and said he thought a rock had hit his windshield while he was leaving a casino, per the report. He was then arrested.
- Campos, 45, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury.
In Florida, a pedestrian or e-scooter rider injured by a hit-and-run driver generally retains the right to seek compensation even if the at-fault driver flees and is never identified. A victim should call 911 and seek medical care immediately, report the crash to police, and document the scene if able. Florida law (Section 316.027, Florida Statutes) makes leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury a felony, and a driver has a legal duty to stop and render aid. Because pedestrians and scooter riders usually have no car of their own in the crash, recovery often runs through uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage — on a household policy or, in some cases, a resident relative’s policy. A criminal case punishes the driver; it does not pay the victim’s medical bills. A separate civil claim addresses compensation. Deadlines apply, so acting promptly matters.
Why Leaving the Scene Is Treated So Seriously in Florida
Under Florida law, the Perazzo Law Firm’s car accident lawyer in Miami, knows that every driver involved in a crash has a duty to stop, remain at the scene, and render reasonable aid. When a crash involves serious bodily injury and a driver leaves anyway, Section 316.027, Florida Statutes, elevates the offense to a felony. Where a crash results in death, the statute carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence.
The reason the law is strict is practical. A fleeing driver can deprive a critically injured victim of the minutes that matter most, while making the crash harder to reconstruct and the responsible party harder to identify. That is why police and prosecutors treat hit-and-run cases differently from ordinary collisions.
Importantly, the criminal side of a hit-and-run runs on a separate track from any civil claim a victim might bring. They are different cases, in different courts, with different goals.
E-Scooter and Pedestrian Injuries: Where Riders Stand
Electric stand-up scooters have become common across Miami-Dade, and crashes involving them raise injury questions that differ from typical car-on-car wrecks. A scooter rider has little physical protection, so impacts that would dent a bumper can cause catastrophic harm to a person.
In general terms, Florida law treats vulnerable road users — pedestrians and many micromobility riders — as people with rights when they are struck, including potential claims against an at-fault motorist. Fault in any specific crash depends on the facts, the applicable traffic laws, and the evidence, and is decided through the legal process — not by a news report. This article does not assess fault in the crash described above.
How a Criminal Case Differs From a Civil Claim
This distinction trips up a lot of families, so it is worth being clear:
- The criminal case is the State of Florida prosecuting the driver. If there is a conviction, the result is punishment — possible jail or prison, probation, fines paid to the court, and a criminal record. None of that money goes to the victim’s medical bills.
- The civil claim is the injured person (or their family) seeking compensation for harm — medical expenses, lost income, and other losses recognized under Florida law. This is a separate case the victim must generally pursue on their own behalf.
A driver can be acquitted criminally and still face civil liability, or vice versa, because the two systems use different standards of proof. For an injured victim focused on recovery and bills, the civil path is usually the one that addresses compensation.
UM/UIM Coverage: Often the Key for Hit-and-Run Victims
When the at-fault driver flees and is never found — or is found but carries little or no insurance — a victim’s own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage frequently becomes central.
In Florida, a hit-and-run driver is generally treated as an uninsured motorist for UM purposes. A pedestrian or scooter rider with no car in the crash may still be able to access UM/UIM coverage through a household auto policy, and in some situations through a resident relative’s policy. Because UM/UIM is optional in Florida and the rules around stacking and resident-relative coverage are technical, checking every potentially applicable policy early is important.
Florida’s No-Fault System and the Serious-Injury Threshold
Florida is a no-fault state for auto insurance, built around Personal Injury Protection (PIP). For serious injuries, Florida law allows an injured person to step outside the no-fault system and pursue a claim against an at-fault party when the injury meets the statutory serious-injury threshold — which can include significant and permanent injury, among other categories defined by statute.
How PIP and the serious-injury threshold apply to a pedestrian or scooter rider who has no vehicle of their own is fact-specific and depends on the policies involved. The point for readers is simply that a critical injury is exactly the kind of severe harm the threshold contemplates — and that the analysis should be done case by case.
What a Victim or Family Can Generally Do After a Hit-and-Run
General steps, not legal advice for any specific situation:
- Get medical care first. Health and documentation both start here.
- Report the crash to police and obtain the report number. A police report is often central to a hit-and-run claim.
- Preserve evidence if able — photos, the location, scene conditions, and the names of any witnesses.
- Do not give recorded statements to any insurer before understanding your rights.
- Identify every applicable insurance policy, including UM/UIM on household and resident-relative policies.
- Mind the deadlines. Insurance notice requirements and the statute of limitations both run on the clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do after a hit-and-run in Florida?
Call 911 and get medical care first, then make sure the crash is reported to police so there is an official report. If you are able, document the scene, note any witnesses, and avoid giving recorded statements to an insurer before you understand your rights. Acting promptly helps preserve both your health and the evidence. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can I recover compensation if the driver fled and was never identified?
Often, yes — in general terms. Florida law typically treats a hit-and-run driver as an uninsured motorist, which is why UM/UIM coverage is so important for hit-and-run victims. Whether and how you can recover depends on the specific policies and facts in your situation.
How does UM/UIM coverage help a pedestrian or scooter rider?
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can apply when the at-fault driver is unknown, uninsured, or underinsured. A pedestrian or scooter rider with no vehicle in the crash may still be able to access UM/UIM through a household auto policy or, in some cases, a resident relative’s policy. The rules around stacking and eligibility are technical and worth checking early.
Does the criminal case pay my medical bills?
No. A criminal prosecution punishes the driver — through penalties like jail, probation, or fines paid to the court — and does not compensate the victim. Compensation for medical bills and other losses is pursued through a separate civil claim. The two cases run on different tracks.
How long do I have to file a claim in Florida?
Florida sets deadlines through the statute of limitations, and insurance policies have their own notice requirements that can be much shorter. Because missing a deadline can bar a claim entirely, and because the specific time limit depends on the type of claim and the facts, it is best to confirm the applicable deadlines promptly rather than wait.
A Note for Miami-Dade Readers
Crashes like the one reported at NW 37th Avenue and NW 36th Street are a reminder of how exposed pedestrians and scooter riders are on busy Miami corridors. If you or a family member has been hurt by a driver who left the scene, understanding the difference between the criminal case and your own civil rights — and identifying every insurance policy that might apply — is where it starts. For general information on these topics, see our resources on our practice areas, or reach out through our contact us page.
Source: NBC6 South Florida, “Driver arrested in Miami hit-and-run that left scooter rider critically injured,” June 23, 2026; Miami Police arrest report (as reported by NBC6).
Disclaimers: This article is general information about Florida law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with The Perazzo Law Firm. The criminal charge described is an allegation only; the accused is presumed innocent, and nothing here is an opinion on guilt or a declaration of civil fault. Every case is different, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. This material may be considered attorney advertising. Story developing as of June 24, 2026 — details may change as more information becomes available.