Hit-and-Run Near St. Johns Town Center: A Jacksonville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer on Your Rights

A man in his 30s was killed Friday afternoon, Nov. 13, 2026, when a commercial vehicle struck him on Gate Parkway near the Costco in Jacksonville’s St. Johns Town Center area, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO). The driver did not stop.

JSO told News4JAX, First Coast News, and Action News Jax that the man was crossing the road just before 2 p.m., between the Daily’s gas station and BJ’s restaurant, when he stumbled and fell and was then hit. He died at the scene. Police said speed did not appear to be a factor because traffic was moving slowly, and that investigators have good leads, including surveillance video. JSO said the death was Duval County’s 144th traffic fatality of 2026 and its 36th pedestrian death.

Our sympathies go to this man’s family and loved ones. Police have not released his name, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact JSO or First Coast Crime Stoppers.

Key takeaways

• Florida law requires any driver involved in a crash that causes injury or death to stop and remain at the scene (Florida Statute 316.027).
• A pedestrian’s own auto policy, or a resident relative’s, can provide PIP and uninsured motorist benefits even when the driver is never found.
• You must get initial medical treatment within 14 days to use PIP benefits.
• Most Florida negligence and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years.

How common are pedestrian deaths in Jacksonville?

JSO’s numbers mean that about one in every four people killed on Duval County roads this year was on foot. Those losses happen in neighborhoods, on major corridors, and, as Friday’s crash shows, in busy shopping districts in the middle of the afternoon.

Shopping and entertainment areas like the Town Center, on Jacksonville’s Southside near J. Turner Butler Boulevard and I-295, bring together heavy traffic, delivery and service trucks, and large numbers of people walking between stores, restaurants, and parking lots. Drivers focused on lanes, signals, and turning cars can fail to notice someone on foot.

Why are commercial vehicles so dangerous to pedestrians?

Trucks and other commercial vehicles sit higher than passenger cars and have larger blind spots, including directly in front of the cab and along the right side. A person who is low to the ground, such as someone who has tripped or fallen, can be especially hard for a driver in a tall cab to see.

Florida law puts responsibilities on both drivers and pedestrians. People crossing outside a crosswalk generally must yield to vehicles, but Florida Statute 316.130 also requires every driver to use due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian. And under Florida Statute 316.027, any driver involved in a crash that causes death must stop and remain at the scene. Willfully leaving the scene of a fatal crash is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison, with a four-year mandatory minimum sentence.

What are your rights after a pedestrian accident in Florida? A Jacksonville pedestrian accident lawyer explains

Your own PIP coverage may apply. Florida is still a no-fault state. If you own a car or live with a relative who does, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage generally pays 80 percent of reasonable medical bills and 60 percent of lost wages, up to $10,000 combined, even when you are hit while walking. To use PIP, you must seek initial medical treatment within 14 days of the crash, and benefits are limited to $2,500 unless a qualified provider determines you had an emergency medical condition. If no one in your household has auto insurance, the PIP coverage on the vehicle that hit you may apply once the driver is identified. PIP also includes a $5,000 death benefit.

Uninsured motorist coverage can help after a hit-and-run. When the driver cannot be found, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy, or a household policy, may cover losses beyond PIP. UM coverage is optional in Florida, so it is worth checking your policy today.

If the driver is identified, more parties may be responsible. A driver who was working at the time of a crash may expose the employer to liability. Under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine, the owner of a vehicle can also be responsible for the negligence of a driver who had permission to use it. Commercial policies often carry higher limits than personal auto policies. A Jacksonville pedestrian accident lawyer can help identify every available source of coverage.

Pain and suffering has a threshold. To recover pain and suffering damages from an at-fault driver, Florida generally requires a permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death (Florida Statute 627.737).

Shared fault matters. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law (Florida Statute 768.81), a person’s compensation is reduced by their share of fault, and someone found more than 50 percent at fault cannot recover. Insurers sometimes try to shift blame onto pedestrians, which is why careful investigation matters.

Deadlines are short. For incidents on or after March 24, 2023, most Florida negligence claims must be filed within two years (Florida Statute 95.11), and wrongful death claims also have a two-year deadline, measured from the date of death. Under the Florida Wrongful Death Act, a claim is brought by the personal representative of the person’s estate on behalf of the surviving family members. A criminal hit-and-run case and a civil claim are separate, and the civil claim does not have to wait for an arrest.

What should you do if you are hit by a vehicle while walking in Florida?

1. Call 911 and get medical care right away. Remember the 14-day window to seek treatment for PIP benefits.
2. Try to note the vehicle’s details: color, type, company name or logo, plate number, and direction of travel.
3. Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers. In a hit-and-run, witnesses can be the key to finding the driver.
4. Ask nearby businesses about cameras. Surveillance video is often recorded over within days.
5. Get the police report number and stay in touch with investigators.
6. Notify your own auto insurer promptly and ask about PIP and UM coverage.
7. Keep all records of medical care, bills, missed work, and how your injuries affect daily life.
8. Talk to a lawyer before giving recorded statements to any insurance company.

Should you talk to a Jacksonville pedestrian accident lawyer?

At Zara Injury Law, attorney Mike Zara has nearly 20 years of experience helping people injured by careless drivers, and the firm’s Florida cases are handled by attorney Lawrence Kaizen, who is licensed to practice in Florida. If you were hit while walking in Jacksonville or anywhere in Duval County, including in a hit-and-run, or lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash, we will explain your insurance options and legal rights in plain language and help you decide what comes next. Consultations are free, and you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us for a free consultation with a Jacksonville pedestrian accident lawyer.