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*.
* No fee if no recovery. Our attorney's fee is contingent on a recovery, but you may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses, as set out in your written contingency fee agreement. Contingent fees are not permitted in all types of cases.
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.