How to Handle a Hit and Run Accident

A Guide By An Auto Accident Attorney

 

If you’ve been injured in a car accident,
talk to an experienced auto accident lawyer as soon as possible.

In Florida, you can claim injury after a car accident for 14 days. For minor injuries, you have 14 days to seek medical care.

If you don’t get medical treatment within 14 days of the accident, you can no longer claim injury.

Call Me Now For A Free Review Of Your Case: (813) 258-4878

Hit and Run Accident Scene

Table of Contents

Florida’s track record with hit-and-run accidents is not faring well according to a study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Florida is actually among the top three states in the country with the highest rates of “fatal hit-and-run” accidents, leaving many of us feeling a little less confident about who is behind the wheel of the cars we share the road with.

The study concentrated on accidents over a 10-year period. It revealed that 2016 was the deadliest year with almost 2,050 fatal crashes in the U.S. This is a 60% increase in these types of accident deaths since 2009. Florida is third behind New Mexico and Louisiana as the deadliest states. In Florida alone, there were 206 fatal hit-and-runs in 2016 and in the 10-year period evaluated, there were over 1,810-deaths as a result of these accidents.

What Does the Florida Law Say About Hit-and-Run Accidents

Florida law concludes that you are required to provide your name, address, driver’s license and registration details of your vehicle if you’re involved in a car accident.

You are required to stop if there is any damage or suspected damage to either vehicle.

If injuries have resulted in a car accident, Florida law says drivers have a duty to try reasonably to help anyone in need of medical attention (such as calling 911). Failing to act in these ways may result in a hit-and-run charge (also known as “leaving the scene of an accident”) which carries heavy penalties.

The Penalties in Florida Associated With a Hit-and-Run Accident

If someone hits your vehicle and then leaves the scene, they can be impacted severely for making that decision.

Penalties for this sort of crime can come with fines, driver’s license suspension, probation periods, or even jail time depending on the circumstances of the incident.

Further, that driver’s insurance premiums will likely increase, or they may be dropped from their insurance altogether.

A hit-and-run can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the aftermath of the accident.

For example, when a driver leaves the scene of a crash with property damage, it is a second-degree misdemeanor and can result in up to 60-days in jail and a $500 fine. Additionally, if the accident resulted in injury, a driver can be charged with a third-degree felony which may result in up to 5-years in prison, and upwards of $5000 in fines.

If a driver has caused a death, it’s considered a first-degree felony and can lead to 30-years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

What To Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident

Formerly, many people thought that if they were hit in an accident, and the other person fled, they had very little recourse unless the police could find the perpetrator. While part of this is true, from a “holding the other party responsible,” you can still seek support from your own insurance company for your damages or injuries.

Since Florida is a ‘no-fault state’ anyway, insurance companies work with their own customers on auto incidents all the time. You’ll want as much information about your accident for the insurance company, so here are a few things you’ll want to do after a hit-and-run crash.

File a Police Report

It is your legal obligation to file a report with law enforcement when there is an accident, so make sure that this task is completed.

Ideally, you’ll want to have this done before leaving the scene unless you required medical attention as a result of the incident.

Hire a Tampa Bay Car Accident Attorney

There are plenty of times when a lawyer isn’t needed for minor fender benders, but when it comes to hit-and-run accident, having the legal guidance of an accident attorney is in your best interest.

These types of accidents are hard enough to recover from, but trying to handle the insurance company on your own, may leave you jumping through hoops and getting less for your settlement than you deserve.

We would be happy to help you during this time, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for a consultation today.

Do Not Refuse Medical Treatment

No matter how insignificant your injuries might seem at the time, get checked out by paramedics if they are onsite or go to the hospital to get thoroughly checked out by a physician.

Adrenaline has a strange way of masking injuries and shock could also play a role in you not feeling the result of an accident. Your medical records will be crucial to an accident claim, even if they show that you didn’t experience significant injuries.

The fact that you sought medical treatment triggers the insurance company to take your claim more seriously because you took the accident seriously.

Recount the Car Accident as Accurately as Possible

Sometimes this isn’t possible, as the victim may have been far too injured, or worse, died as a result of the crash. You (or whoever was involved in the accident) should try to recount every detail of the accident if you can.

Consider your position on the road, what was happening inside your vehicle, when you noticed the other vehicle (if you did prior to the crash) and what color the car/truck was.

Also consider other particular details about the car/truck and its appearance, the license plate number (or even a portion of it) the direction the vehicle went after the incident, and any details about the driver or their driving behavior.

Also, are there witnesses that may be able to support your story? This information will be essential to an accident claim.

Define the Location

If this incident happened at an intersection or in front of businesses, there might be surveillance or red light cameras that can help your case. Even if you have to travel back to the scene after the crash, look around to see if you can identify any details that might be helpful to your case.

Take photos from multiple angles, as this can be helpful to your legal team especially if they need to request surveillance footage.

Collect Your Evidence

You will want to gather as much evidence about your case as possible which includes details that you can acquire. This can be copies of your police report, your photos of the damage to your vehicle, professional quotes on damage to your property/vehicle, pictures of your injuries, medical documents, x-rays, prescriptions, therapy appointment record, your insurance policy information, etc.

Your legal team can request other pieces of evidence like surveillance footage or red light camera video.

Hit-and-Run Insurance Claim Process

You will be working with your own insurance company on your accident claim. You and your Tampa car accident attorney will review the uninsured motorist coverage of your policy to identify how you are covered after a crash.

As a Florida resident, the law requires you to have at least $10,000 in each personal injury protection and property damage liability categories. Therefore, even if the other person fled the scene, you can still seek compensation from your own insurance company to help you recover your medical and property damages. If the hit-and-run driver is caught, however, you can work with your lawyer to file a claim with their insurance company.

Please contact the Law Offices of Michael R. Herron to get a free evaluation of your hit-and-run accident and to get started on your case.

Feel free to call or connect with us online with any of your questions and we look forward to working with you.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, talk to an experienced auto accident lawyer as soon as possible.

In Florida, you can claim injury after a car accident for 14 days. For minor injuries, you have 14 days to seek medical care.

If you don’t get medical treatment within 14 days of the accident, you can no longer claim injury.

Call Me Now For A Free Review Of Your Case: (813) 258-4878

Reporting a Hit and Run Accident – 4 Important Steps to Take

car has dented rear bumper damaged after accident

When it comes to reporting a hit and run accident, many drivers are unsure of the correct procedure.

The reason is simple: they don’t consider a hit and run as a real threat. Well, these accidents are more common than you might think. In the U.S. alone, an average of 682,000 hit and run accidents have occurred each year since 2006.

Also, hit and run accidents are one of the most frustrating experiences for drivers. In addition to your vehicle getting damaged, there’s a decent chance the culprit will get away with it.

Of course, knowing the hit and run procedure can tilt the odds in your favor. Here is what to do in a hit and run accident.

1. Remain Calm

If you’re the victim in a hit and run, your first instinct may be to chase the perpetrator.

Unfortunately, this will usually do more harm than good. Even if you’re experiencing emotional frustration, try your best to remain calm. Remember, the first few seconds after accidents are crucial.

The first thing you should do is make sure nobody is injured. Then, try to record any information about the vehicle that hit you. This includes the make, model, and color of the vehicle, as well as the description of the driver.

2. Document Everything

If the hit-and-run occurs while your car is parked, try to find someone who witnessed the accident.

If there are witnesses, get their contact information. Also, take some pictures of your car and the accident scene. This will prove useful when filing a police report.

Why is this important? Well, many people claim they were the victim of a hit-and-run after hitting an object themselves. Having the proper documentation will help prove that another vehicle was responsible for the accident.

3. Wait for the Police

Once you’ve gathered the necessary information, your next step should be to contact the police. Once they arrive, give them the full story. The more details you provide, the easier they’ll find the culprit.

If you’re the driver in a hit and run, stay at the scene of the crime. Trying to run away may make you subject to both civil and criminal charges. If you can’t find the owner of the vehicle, leave your contact information.

4. Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Finally, you’ll want to be sure that your rights are protected. The best way to do so is to seek the counsel of an experienced auto accident lawyer. If you’re entitled to compensation, they’ll make sure you’ll receive it.

Of course, you can also file a hit and run insurance claim. However, keep in mind that these accidents are not covered by liability insurance. Collision insurance helps you cover the damages, but you’ll have to pay the deductible.

More on Reporting a Hit and Run

There are many reasons why a hit and run driver would flee from the scene of the crime. They can be unlicensed, uninsured, or even on the run from the law. The only thing you can do is report the accident in as much detail as you can.

After reporting a hit and run to the police, you may struggle to find a lawyer who will protect your interests. We at Michael R. Herron can help you out! Contact us right here, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, talk to an experienced auto accident lawyer as soon as possible.

In Florida, you can claim injury after a car accident for 14 days. For minor injuries, you have 14 days to seek medical care.

If you don’t get medical treatment within 14 days of the accident, you can no longer claim injury.

Call Me Now For A Free Review Of Your Case: (813) 258-4878