In the wake of a motor vehicle accident, it’s important for all individuals involved to identify themselves to the other drivers or pedestrians. In most states, stopping after an accident and rendering some form of aid is mandated by law.
Exchanging insurance information can be a crucial step after an accident to ensure that you and others involved can receive auto insurance coverage to cover costs related to resulting vehicle or property damage. Depending on the nature of the accident, the driver at fault—or their insurance company—may also be responsible for covering medical costs for accident-related injury.
Leaving the scene of an accident before stopping to leave your contact information—also known as a hit and run—can lead to serious consequences for the person at fault—including potential civil and criminal penalties.
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a hit and run accident, the lawyers of Florin|Roebig law firm can offer you a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Hit And Run Accidents In The U.S.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of hit and run accidents is increasing across the nation, leaving minor to devastating consequences in their wake.
In 2018, one in five pedestrians killed in motor vehicle accidents involved hit-and-run drivers. Hit and run accidents can also cause significant property damage, vehicle damage, and result in personal injury to others involved.
The economic burden of hit-and-run crashes can be severe, and without the identifying information of the driver responsible, this can leave injured parties at a major disadvantage in efforts to seek medical care and insurance support.
Types Of Hit-And-Run Injuries
Car accidents and truck accidents can cause serious injuries to pedestrians and other drivers involved. Stopping to offer aid is mandated in most states by law. Failing to do so could be charged as a crime.
The types of injuries sustained in accidents, and their severity, can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as the location of the accident, driving speed, and other details regarding the impact and force of the vehicle.
Common injuries from hit-and-run accidents include:
- scrapes
- bruises
- lacerations and cuts
- broken bones
- spinal cord injuries
- concussion
- disfigurement
Injuries from hit-and-run accidents may require immediate medical attention. Depending on the types of injuries sustained, this can lead to costly ambulance and hospital bills, as well as costs for ongoing care and rehabilitation.
Recovering from a hit and run accident can be a long process for people who suffer severe or traumatic injuries. In the event of a car accident, it can help you to know your legal rights as an accident victim, and how to proceed in seeking justice for the harm perpetrated against you.
What To Do After A Hit And Run Accident
One of the first instincts a driver might have after getting into an accident is to leave the scene, as an intuitive flight response. However, it’s important not to panic. Leaving an accident scene prematurely is illegal in most cases and can leave injured parties in severe distress and risk for harm.
If you or a loved one is involved in a hit-and-run accident, take the following steps:
Seek Medical Attention
After an accident, it may be necessary to seek medical attention to attend to resulting injuries. Head trauma and other severe injuries may require immediate assistance to avoid worsened health outcomes.
If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, call 9-1-1 to seek assistance from emergency medical personnel. They can assess your injuries, coordinate transportation to a hospital as necessary, and get law enforcement on the scene.
Document The Accident
Once you have assessed yourself and other passengers or pedestrians for injuries, it’s important to begin documenting details of the accident as soon as you are able.
Details to document include:
- time and date of the accident
- weather conditions
- license plate of the hit and run driver (if possible)
- where the accident occurred
- resulting injury
- vehicle damage
Police officers who arrive on the scene may be able to gather additional information such as witness statements and photos of the scene if you are not in a state to do so yourself. A police report can be a valuable asset to serve as evidence within a civil or criminal case.
It’s highly recommended that you gather the contact information of any witnesses or other parties involved in the accident. If you decide to seek criminal charges for the hit and run driver, witnesses may be able to support your version of events in court.
Contact A Personal Injury Attorney
Before contacting your auto insurance, consider reaching out to a lawyer to discuss your situation. An experienced hit and run accident lawyer can assess your situation to determine your legal options and help you prepare a statement for your own insurance company.
Whether you will be able to receive coverage from your insurance policy without the information of the hit and run driver 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 insurance information of the other driver. Even still, seeking legal assistance in these situations is highly recommended to ensure you receive the full amount of coverage to which you’re entitled.
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Why Do Drivers Leave Car Accident Scenes?
One common question asked by victims of hit-and-run accidents is why a driver would leave the scene of the accident in the first place. There are several reasons why this might happen.
Common reasons hit-and-run drivers leave the accident scene include:
- driving while texting
- driving while intoxicated
- being uninsured
- having road rage
- fear of consequences
- being unsure of whether the collision occurred
- lacking a valid driver’s license
Under motor vehicle accident laws, none of these reasons justify leaving a car accident scene without stopping to attend to the situation at hand. One exception to leaving an accident scene may be to seek emergency medical attention for a critical health condition.
Any other incident of leaving an accident scene prematurely may be tried as a misdemeanor or felony, which can result in expensive fines, revoked driver’s license, and prison 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 through filing a civil claim or lawsuit.
Unlike criminal cases, cases that are tried in civil courts can award monetary damages to a victim of a hit and run to compensate for physical, psychological, and other financial losses.
Types of damages awarded in hit-and-run accident cases:
- current and future medical bills
- severe or permanent injury (e.g. disfigurement)
- rehabilitation
- medical devices or equipment
- pain and suffering
- mental anguish
- property damage
Hit-and-run damages are awarded based on the types of personal injury or property damage that have occurred and other details regarding the nature of the incident. An experienced hit-and-run lawyer can assess your case and determine the amount and types of compensation you may be able to recover.
What We Can Do For You
At Florin|Roebig, 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 lawyers can help you by:
- determining your options for legal recourse
- collecting police reports, medical records, and other evidence to support your case
- communicating with your insurance company on your behalf
- fast-tracking your financial recovery by helping you secure the compensation you may be owed
We’ve secured over $1 billion for individuals nationwide in their fights for justice. Don’t wait to call and learn what we may be able to do for you.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Contact Us Today For A Free Consultation
At Florin|Roebig law firm, our award-winning lawyers have a strong track record of securing compensation for injured hit-and-run victims.
Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our hit and run accident attorneys to discuss the details of your case.
