Hit and Run Car Accident Attorneys
What starts out as a simple car accident can turn into a hit and run crime scene if you drive away, even if no one is hurt. Asking if the person you hit is okay is NEVER enough. The driver has a responsibility to stop, get help, exchange information, and report the accident to police.
A hit and run accident is a lot like getting into a crash with an uninsured driver. It means you’re stuck holding the bill. Hit and run drivers usually take off because they either don’t have insurance or don’t want to deal with the police. These crashes are often severe and leave victims with a lot of medical and repair bills.
There are questions a victim or a victim’s family needs to ask right away to make sure they get the insurance coverage they’re entitled to, especially if the victim’s injuries are severe:
- Will the victim’s own insurance company cover the costs of this hit and run accident?
- Does the victim have uninsured motorist coverage? What happens if they don’t have this coverage?
- If the suspected driver is caught, arrested, and found guilty at trial, will his or her insurance compensate the victim?
- Will the victim have to wait for compensation until after the suspected driver is convicted at a trial?
We never know when a tragic car accident will happen and change everything. The only thing we can do as drivers is make sure to get the highest levels of insurance coverage possible. But that’s not even enough. After an accident, it’s important to hold the insurance company accountable. A personal injury lawyer who handles accident cases can help a hit and run accident victim navigate through the maze of red tape.
For more information contact the attorneys at Buckman and Buckman, P.A.
Types of Hit and Run Accidents
Most people think of hit and run accidents as between two cars, but it’s common for these drivers to hit bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians before running from the scene. Another form of hit and run is the “phantom vehicle.” That means a driver who forces you off the road or causes you to crash your car without actually hitting you.
What makes a hit and run driver take off instead of stopping? Sometimes the driver panics. They act irrationally and do the first thing that comes to them – they run.
But other hit and run drivers may be scared of getting in trouble, especially if they’ve been drinking or have something illegal in their car. These drivers make a decision to run if they’ve got something to hide, or something to loose. Unfortunately, the person who loses the most is the victim.
In Sarasota and Manatee Counties, hit and run accidents are more common that you’d expect. And for pedestrians involved in hit and run accidents, the outcome is often deadly.
What To Do After A Hit and Run Accident
What should you do after a hit and run accident?
- Call 911 and get immediate medical attention.
- Report everything you can about the car, the driver and the circumstances to the police as soon as possible. If you can, write down the details of what happened immediately so you don’t have to rely only on your memory. Or have someone else write this down for you.
- If it’s possible, get photos of the accident scene and get the names of witnesses.
- Contact an attorney like the lawyers at Buckman and Buckman, P.A., in Sarasota or Manatee counties for more information about what you can do if you’re the victim of a hit and run car accident, motorcycle accident or a pedestrian accident.
If you’ve been hurt in a hit and run accident, you still have options, even if the hit and run driver hasn’t been caught yet. The attorneys at Buckman and Buckman, P.A., can help make sure your insurance company does everything they’re supposed to do in these situations. In many cases, our lawyers fight for your rights to:
- Have your medical bills paid.
- Get your car repaired or replaced.
- Have lost wages repaid to you.
- And get you compensated for pain and suffering from the hit and run accident.
What If a Hit and Run Driver Is Never Caught?
This is why Uninsured Motorist Insurance is important. It is the safety net insurance we have for ourselves in case the other person does not have insurance or in case they’re not caught.
If you have a car insurance policy and purchased the UM coverage, then your own insurance company should cover the costs of his accident. The downside is that if a pedestrian does not have UM, and the driver is never caught or doesn’t have insurance either, then the injured pedestrian could be out of luck.
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you should talk to a car accident lawyer in Sarasota immediately. For a free case evaluation contact us at Buckman and Buckman, P.A., at (941) 923-7700, or e-mail us. You can also complete our online confidential case evaluation form.
We promise to make your case our priority.