Being involved in an auto accident that was not your fault is always a frustrating experience, but seeing the person at fault for a crash illegally speed away from the scene afterwards can be especially infuriating. In a situation such as this, though, it is crucial to stay as calm and proactive as possible, as what you do now will have a big impact on your financial recovery options if the police eventually track down the hit and run driver and a massive impact if they do not.
Either way, support from capable legal counsel could also have a substantial impact on how much money you could recover through insurance claims, a personal injury lawsuit, or both. From helping you collect and preserve important evidence to negotiating with insurance providers on your behalf, a car accident attorney from LMD Injury Lawyers with experience handling hit and run car accidents in Spring Hill could be an irreplaceable ally throughout the recovery process.
As understandable as it is to want to chase after a law-breaking driver yourself, you should always call the police and then stay at the scene of a hit and run car crash in Spring Hill until officers arrive, unless you need emergency medical attention. It is the police’s job to track down people who break the law here, and a high-speed chase could lead to you or other people getting even more badly hurt. Failing to fulfill your own legal obligations after a crash could lead to you being charged with a hit and run offense as well.
While you are at the scene of your accident, you should make sure to exchange insurance and contact information with anyone else directly involved in the incident, and you should also take some photos of damage sustained by your vehicle and others, as well as of surrounding traffic patterns and visual obstacles. It can likewise be very helpful to get contact information from people who either witnessed the crash from a distance or recorded it on a surveillance or dashboard camera, and if you remember any identifying details about the hit and run driver or their car, you should write them down immediately so that you do not forget them later.
Prematurely leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense in Florida and potentially a felony, depending on how bad the accident was. However, the fact that someone broke the law after a car crash in Spring Hill by fleeing the scene of the accident does not automatically make them civilly liable for causing that accident in the first place. As the injured person filing suit, you would still need to prove that the driver harmed you by breaking a traffic law or otherwise acting irresponsibly behind the wheel to make them pay for your damages.
If police are unable to track down the driver at fault for your crash, your best and only option may be to seek recovery through your own auto insurance policy, specifically through an add-on coverage option such as uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. We can help you review your insurance documents, determine the coverage you have access to, and ensure you maximize your recovery with that knowledge in mind.
As difficult as hit and run car accidents in Spring Hill can be to cope with at the time, they can be even more difficult to take effective legal action over later. Fortunately, you have help available to you from dedicated legal professionals who will exhaust every possible option to get you the maximum amount of compensation possible.
A member of the LMD Injury Lawyers team can discuss your potential claim with you in more detail during a private initial meeting. Schedule yours by calling today.
727-849-5353