The Car Accident Lawyer in Miami, Jonathan Perazzo, knows that when a hit-and-run driver disappears into the night — as happened, according to Hoodline, to the 20-year-old pedestrian killed on SR-574 in Dover Saturday night — Florida law does not leave the family with no one to pursue. An unidentified driver is treated as an uninsured motorist, so a claim can run against the victim’s own auto insurance policy instead. The catch: many policyholders who believe they turned down that coverage may be wrong, because a rejection only counts as valid if the insurer’s paperwork met exact legal requirements. If you’re sorting through a similar loss, call The Perazzo Law Firm at 888-PERAZZO or start a free review through our contact page.
What Happened on SR-574
The Perazzo Law Firm has learned, according to Hoodline, that a 20-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed crossing westbound State Road 574 near Bethlehem Road in Hillsborough County around 11:15 p.m. Saturday, September 5, 2026. The driver did not stop, and according to Hoodline, Florida Highway Patrol has not released a description of the vehicle or driver and investigators are still searching for both. No charges have been filed; the investigation is open, and these facts may change as FHP’s search continues.
When the Driver Is Never Found, Your Own Policy Becomes the Defendant
Florida law generally treats a driver who flees the scene and is never identified the same way it treats an uninsured motorist. That shifts a claim onto the victim’s own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, or a resident relative’s policy, rather than a driver who can’t be named. In a fatal case, the estate’s personal representative brings that claim under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, Fla. Stat. §§ 768.16–768.26, generally within two years of the date of death under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(e).
The UM Rejection Most Policyholders Never Actually Made
Not every “we don’t carry that coverage” answer is legally binding. Under Fla. Stat. § 627.727(1), a valid rejection must be made on a form approved by the state insurance office, with a heading in 12-point bold type carrying a specific statutory warning, signed by the named insured. Only then does the signature create a conclusive presumption that coverage was knowingly rejected.
If the form doesn’t match that format — wrong type size, missing the warning language, or signed by someone other than the named insured — the insurer cannot rely on it as proof of a valid rejection. Depending on the facts, that can mean UM coverage exists at the policy’s own bodily injury liability limits, even on a policy the holder believed carried none.
What To Do If a UM Claim Gets Denied
- Request, in writing, a copy of the actual signed rejection form on file — not just a statement that “no UM was purchased.”
- Check who signed it. A signature from anyone but the named insured does not satisfy the statute.
- Check the heading against the required 12-point bold warning language before accepting a denial.
These questions apply anytime an insurer denies a UM claim by citing a rejection the policyholder doesn’t remember signing. See also our UM claims when a driver is never found breakdown and our Florida pedestrian claims overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know who hit me to file a claim?
No. Florida law generally treats an unidentified hit-and-run driver as uninsured, so the claim can run against your own UM coverage instead.
How long does a family have to file after a fatal hit-and-run?
Generally two years from the date of death, under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(e).
What if my insurer says I rejected UM coverage?
Request the signed rejection form and have it checked against the statutory format — a defective form may not hold up as a valid rejection.
Talk to The Perazzo Law Firm
If someone you love was hurt or killed by a driver who fled the scene, you may be entitled to pursue compensation through your own insurance even though the driver hasn’t been found. Call The Perazzo Law Firm at 888-PERAZZO or request a free case review at theperazzolawfirm.com/contact-us. No attorney’s fee unless we recover for you.
Miami Car Accident Lawyer Advertising material. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case depends on its own facts. This post is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Perazzo Law Firm maintains its bona fide office in North Miami Beach, Florida.