Hit-and-Run Accidents
Tallahassee Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys
Have you been injured in a hit-and-run accident in Tallahassee, Florida? You need to act quickly if you want to get as much compensation for your damages as possible.
Call (850) 203-3041 right away to connect with Anderson & Hart, P.A. in Tallahassee. Our lawyers are standing by to seek justice on your behalf, whether from your own insurance company or the other driver.
Florida hit and run statistics
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) department collects important data about car accidents all around the state. The information it gathers is sorted into counties. We can use this information to get a clearer understanding of just how prevalent hit-and-run accidents are in Tallahassee, which is situated in Leon County.
2018 FHSMV data about hit-and-run accidents in Leon County reveal that the following:
- 7,384 motor vehicle accidents occurred
- 2,208 of those crashes were hit-and-runs
- 336 hit-and-run accidents caused serious injuries
- No fatalities were reported due to a hit-and-run
The most upsetting information to gather from this data is the prevalence of hit-and-run crashes in Tallahassee. On average, 25% of crashes in the state are hit-and-runs, but 30% are in Leon County.
If you are hit by a negligent driver here, they are statistically more likely to leave the scene before providing you with necessary:
- Contact
- Insurance
- And identifying information
What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident
Just because someone leaves the scene of your accident without giving you contact information does not mean they can never be identified. With the proper planning, you can help police officers track down who hit you, bring them to justice, and assist with your claim.
In fact, FHSMV data shows 75% of all crashes in Leon County were investigated by the police department, so they should have an idea of how to help you upfront.
Take these four steps after a hit-and-run accident:
Call the Police
If someone has been injured in a crash, then you should call the police. The same is true if any driver tries to leave the scene of the accident early and before they are positively identified. Let the police know you have been in a hit-and-run and that the other driver is trying to flee.
Share and Write Down What You Remember
Discuss with the police – and later write down – any detail you can remember about the other car that hit you. They will want basic information about the driver’s description.
The color, make, model, and year of the car is also extremely useful, as well as any license plate digits you can recall. Don’t forget to also share what part of the driver’s car hit yours and what direction they were headed when they left.
Talk to Bystanders
Sometimes people who stop to help you after an accident have the most information, especially during a hit-and-run. They might have a clearer picture of the car that hit you than you do since you could be in shock from the crash.
See a Doctor
Do not hesitate to see a medical professional for a checkup, even if you feel relatively okay after a crash. Florida law actually requires you to see a doctor within 14 days of your car accident if you intend on filing for damages through your own PIP insurance.
Does PIP Insurance Cover Hit-and-Run Crashes?
In Florida, drivers are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. After a car crash, you can file for damages against your own insurance company using your PIP insurance coverage, even if you were the one who caused your crash.
Since PIP insurance does not consider liability when assigning damages, it can be useful after a hit-and-run accident in which the other driver is never identified. In fact, it might be your only option after a hit-and-run.
You may also be in some luck if you have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. UM is optional in Florida, so you might not have it in your policy. If you do, though, it should be usable after a hit-and-run since a missing driving is essentially the same as an uninsured one.
Our Tallahassee hit-and-run accident lawyers can help you deal with your own insurance company if you file for PIP or UM coverage. We can also help represent families who have lost a loved one due to a hit-and-run accident.
For more information about your rights and options after a hit-and-run accident in Florida, call (850) 203-3041. We would be happy to discuss key details of your case and whether you should file a claim during a free, confidential case evaluation.