Hit and Run Car Accident Lawyers
Drivers can face serious penalties for leaving the scene of a vehicle accident that results in injury or death. If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident, our attorneys can help you get justice and financial recovery.
Hit and Run Car Accident Lawyers
After a car accident, everyone involved must identify themselves among other drivers or pedestrians. In most states, it is required by law to stop and render some assistance after an accident.
Sharing insurance information after an accident can be important in ensuring that you and others can obtain auto insurance coverage to cover vehicle-related expenses or property damage. Depending on the nature of the accident, the at-fault driver, or their insurance company, may also be responsible for covering medical expenses for injuries related to the accident.
Leaving the scene of an accident before leaving your contact information, also known as a hit-and-run, can have serious consequences for the person at fault, including possible civil and criminal penalties.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident, the attorneys at the Florian|Robig Law Firm can offer you a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Hit and Run Accidents in the United States
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of hit-and-run accidents is increasing nationwide, resulting in minor or catastrophic consequences.
In 2018, one in five pedestrians was killed in vehicle crashes involving hit-and-run drivers. Hit-and-run accidents can also cause significant property and vehicle damage, resulting in personal injury to others involved.
The financial burden of hit-and-run crashes can be severe. Without information identifying the responsible driver, it can greatly harm injured parties in their efforts to obtain medical care and insurance assistance.
Types of hit and run injuries
Car and truck accidents can cause serious injuries to pedestrians and other drivers. Withholding offers of assistance is required by law in most states. Failure to do so may be charged as an offense.
The types and severity of injuries sustained in accidents can be affected by various factors, including the location of the accident, the speed at which the vehicle was driven, and other details related to the impact and force of the vehicle.
Common injuries from hit-and-run accidents include:
- Scraping
- Wound
- Bruises and cuts
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- The hustle and bustle
- Distortion
Hit-and-run accidents can result in injuries that need immediate medical attention. Depending on the types of injuries sustained, this can lead to expensive ambulance and hospital bills, ongoing care, and rehabilitation costs.
Recovering from a hit-and-run accident can be a long process for those who suffer serious or traumatic injuries. In the event of a car accident, knowing your legal rights as an accident victim and how to proceed in seeking justice for your damages can be helpful.
What to do after a hit-and-run accident?
One of a driver’s first instincts after an accident is to flee the scene as an instinctive flight response. However, it is important not to panic. Leaving the scene of an accident prematurely is illegal in most cases and can leave injured parties at risk of serious injury and harm.
Take the following actions if you or a loved one is injured in a hit-and-run collision:
Get Medical Attention
After an accident, seeking medical attention to care for the resulting injuries may be necessary. Head trauma and other serious injuries may require immediate care to prevent serious health consequences.
If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, call 9-1-1 for help from emergency medical personnel. They can assess your injuries, coordinate transport to the hospital, and get the police to the scene.
Document the accident.
Once you’ve assessed the injuries to yourself and other passengers or pedestrians, it’s important to start documenting the details of the accident as soon as possible.
Document details include:
- Time and date of the accident
- Weather conditions
- Hit and run driver’s license plate (if applicable)
- Where the accident happened
- resulting injury
- Damage to the vehicle
Officers who arrive at the scene can collect additional information, such as witness statements and photographs of the scene if they cannot do so themselves. A police report can be valuable as evidence in a civil or criminal case.
Collecting the contact information of any witnesses or other parties involved in the accident is strongly recommended. Witnesses can back up your version of events in court if you decide to press criminal charges for a hit-and-run driver.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney.
Before contacting your auto insurer, consider contacting an attorney to discuss your situation. An experienced hit-and-run accident attorney can review your situation to determine your legal options and help you prepare a statement for your insurance company.
Whether you’ll be able to get coverage under your insurance policy without a hit-and-run driver’s knowledge may depend on state laws and other factors.
Some states, such as Florida, have uninsured motorist laws that may entitle you to coverage even without the driver’s insurance information. Nevertheless, seeking legal help in these situations is strongly recommended to ensure that you get the full amount of coverage you are entitled to.
Why do drivers leave car accident scenes?
A common question hit-and-run accident victims ask is why the driver would leave the accident scene in the first place. This may be the case for a number of reasons.
Common reasons drivers leave the scene of a crash include:
- Driving while texting
- Driving while intoxicated
- Need insurance?
- There is road rage
- Fear of consequences
- Not sure if there was a collision
- Not having a valid driver’s license
Under car accident laws, none of these reasons justify leaving the scene of a car accident without stopping to assess the situation. An exception to leaving the scene of an accident may be to seek emergency medical attention for a critical health condition.
Any other incident of leaving the scene of an accident early can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony, which can result in expensive fines, a revoked driver’s license, and jail time.
Seeking justice for a hit-and-run accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run accident, you may be eligible to recover compensation by filing a civil claim or lawsuit.
Unlike criminal cases, cases in civil courts can award monetary damages to a hit-and-run victim to compensate for physical, psychological, and other financial damages.
Types of damages awarded in a hit and run accident cases:
- Current and future medical bills
- Serious or permanent injury (e.g., disfigurement)
- Restoration
- Medical equipment or supplies
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Damage to property
Hit-and-run damages are awarded based on the types of personal injury or property damage and other details related to the nature of the incident. An experienced hit-and-run attorney can review your case and determine the amount and types of compensation you may receive.
What can we do for you?
At Florian|Robig, our hit-and-run accident attorneys are committed to seeking justice for injured victims of hit-and-run accidents.
Our top-rated hit-and-run accident attorneys can help you with the following:
Determine your legal recourse options.
Gather police reports, medical records, and other evidence to support your case.
Negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf.
Speed up your financial recovery by helping you secure the compensation you owe.
We’ve raised over a billion dollars for people across the country fighting for justice. Don’t wait to call and find out what we can do for you.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
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Call us today for a free case evaluation with one of our hit-and-run accident attorneys to discuss the specifics of your case.
