What You Need To Know About Hit-And-Run Accidents

Unfortunately, a number of hit-and-run accidents occur every year. Statistics grimly indicate that there is a hit-and-run crash happening somewhere in America every 43 seconds. Sometimes these accidents occur right here in Florida and are spotlighted in the local news which serves as a reminder of how serious the consequences can be when someone makes the decision to leave the scene of an accident. For example, Local 10 News recently shared the story of a Hollywood driver who is now facing several charges after fleeing the scene of a crash on North Federal Highway on foot. The hit-and-run driver reportedly hit the back of a car which caused that car to then hit another car and resulted in two people being injured. Multiple witnesses saw him running away from the accident scene before being arrested a short time later. Police apparently uncovered that the driver had an active warrant out of Broward County which (in addition to wanting to avoid liability for the accident) may have been a motivation for his attempted escape.

Understanding Florida Hit-and-runs

Drivers should strive to be alert on the road in order to avoid a car crash. In the unfortunate event that one occurs despite efforts made to avoid one, drivers should always remain on the scene of any accident they were involved in. Any time a driver chooses to leave the scene of a collision involving another vehicle, some other kind of property or even a pedestrian, this may be considered to be a hit-and-run. And importantly, you should stay at the scene of the accident even if you didn’t cause the collision. Overall, hit-and-run accidents occur here in Florida far more than they should with nearly 25 percent of all crashes involving a driver who flees the scene according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. This staggering statistic is especially disturbing because of the residuals often left behind by the fleeing driver – someone who is injured, a vehicle that is likely damaged, and the absence of the at-fault driver who should rightfully be held responsible for the accident.

Are You the Victim of a Florida Hit-and-run?

A good day can turn into a bad one in the blink of an eye due to the mistakes of someone else on the road. And the aftermath of any accident automatically becomes more stressful when the other person involved does not bother to stay at the scene. Even if you are lucky enough to have successfully uncovered the identity of the driver who fled, you still have the burden in this situation of facing a new battle against the insurance company. However, whether you are trying to obtain rightful compensation from your own insurance or another driver’s, having an attorney who is experienced in hit-and-run accidents on your side can prove invaluable. You can depend on the experienced Florida motor vehicle accident lawyers at Halpern Santos & Pinkert, P.A. for legal help and passionate advocacy. We will do everything within our power to help you successfully obtain any compensation you are entitled to. Contact us today for an initial meeting that won’t cost you a thing.

Resource:

local10.com/news/local/2021/03/27/driver-causes-three-vehicle-crash-on-federal-highway-leaves-car-and-takes-off-running-police-say/