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Hit-and-run car accidents are an unfortunate but not necessarily an uncommon occurrence. There are many reasons why people chose to run away from a crash—maybe they don’t have a valid driver’s license, maybe they are uninsured, maybe they have a warrant for their arrest and sometimes, maybe they were DUI, and not so uncommon in South Florida, maybe the hit and run driver was not of sane mind and didn’t even realize they were involved in a crash. Hit and run accidents can not only cause physical damages to your car but also leave you physically injured and emotionally devastated. You may find it difficult to get back to your normal life, and the worst part is culprit may never be found. Fortunately, an experienced car accident attorney can help you get back on your feet after a hit and run accident.
Every hit-and-run injury victim can get the opportunity to file an insurance claim to recoup their damages. Of course, the preference is to find the at-fault driver and pursue their insurance for damages. However, if the other driver is never found, the victim may still be covered under their own policy. Every driver in Florida is entitled to $10,000 of No-Fault Benefits after being involved in an auto accident. This money is used to cover medical bills and lost wages. The victim may also have collision coverage (note this is an optional coverage) to replace or repair their damaged vehicle. The other optional coverage which is imperative when seeking an injury claim is Uninsured Motorist Coverage. This is also an optional coverage. Uninsured Motorist Coverage will pay cover your injuries, including pain and suffering, in the event the at-fault driver has no insurance or flees the seen and is unable to be identified.
Here are some of the most important things that you must be aware of if you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident.
As soon as such accident happens, the first and foremost thing to do is call 911 or any emergency services for help. Not only is this important for your medical health, but it also provides a paper trail of where and when the crash occurred. It is not a good idea to leave the scene of a hit and run accident because evidence can be lost or destroyed that way. It is helpful for the police to come upon scene and document where your car was hit. Next, verify how many people have been injured and whether the injuries are severe. For people who suffer severe injuries, transport by fire rescue to the hospital would be reasonable. For people who suffer less severe injuries, we recommend letting the police know of the injury, requesting that fact makes it into the report, and then following up with a local urgent care or your primary care doctor.
Under no circumstances should you follow or pursue the vehicle that has caused the hit-and-run. The vehicle would probably be at full speed, and it is next to impossible that you would be able to catch them. Besides, you might have got seriously injured. Hence it is always a better idea to identify the vehicle. You should focus on getting all the details of the vehicle, such as the car color, model, number plate details. Besides, note down if you notice anything special about the car (any unique feature) as that would be helpful for the officials to arrest the driver.
Once you have made it to a safe place and got medically checked out, contact a lawyer. It is advisable to contact a lawyer prior to speaking with your insurance company. That way, the lawyer can assist you in reporting the claim and make sure your rights are protected from the get-go. The insurance company always has an interest in minimizing the amount of claims they pay out. They are not necessarily looking out for your best interest, but instead their own profits.
Many victims of hit and runs are curious how the criminal element plays into their personal injury case. Unfortunately, a hit and run driver does not have to pay additional money to the victim for the “running” away component of the hit and run. Of course, the at-fault driver must compensate the victim for their damages sustained as a result of the “hit” but running away doesn’t give rise to extra money. Running away is however crime and the defendant may be subject to jail time depending upon the severity of the case.
If you find yourself or someone else being the victim of the hit-and-run scenario, then you can contact or reach out to the lawyers/attorneys of the Aronberg & Aronberg, Injury Law Firm. They would be a big help to you in your situation, helping to go through the insurance, and filing the lawsuit. They also have resources at their disposal to track down the hit and run driver.
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