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Nobody enjoys getting into a car accident. If it’s a minor crash, it can ruin your day. You may also need to take time out of your schedule to get your fix. And, if the accident is serious, you could end up in the hospital. You may need surgery or long-term physical therapy. In cases like this, you’ll end up out of work for quite some time. It’s one thing if the driver who caused the accident sticks around. That way, you can get their insurance information and file your claim. But when the other driver decides to flee the scene of an accident, it adds insult to injury. There really is no good reason for someone to do this.
For most people, the idea of driving away after getting into an accident would never cross our minds. We know that, if you get into a crash in Florida, there are a few things you need to do. First, you need to call the police. They’ll come out and do a thorough investigation of the accident scene. Second, you need to go to the hospital. This is true even if you don’t think you’re hurt. You could have internal injuries and have no idea. Your car accident lawyer in Lakeland, FL will also need medical documentation that you were injured. Finally, you must contact an experienced car accident attorney in Florida. They’ll handle the legal side of things so you can focus on getting better.
If your accident is minor, you may be tempted to not call the cops. Nobody wants to spend their afternoon on the side of the road waiting for the police to do their investigation. You may want to get to work or move along with your day. After all, there’s a good chance that the damage is less than your deductible. You may have no intention of filing an insurance claim. However, you really don’t know, at the time of the accident, what kind of damages you’ve suffered. You won’t know this until you’ve talked to your attorney. This is why you always need to call the cops immediately after the crash. The question is – what do you do if the other driver takes off and doesn’t wait for the cops to come? You may wonder why somebody would do that. Here, we’ll talk about the reasons why someone would flee the scene of an accident. We’ll also talk a little about what your options are if this happens.
When the Other Party Flees
When the other driver decides to flee the scene of an accident in Lakeland, you have very few options when it comes to your out of pocket expenses. You won’t have the option of filing a claim against their insurance policy. All you can do is rely on your own policy’s uninsured motorist’s fund. And, sadly, this type of coverage is much lower than a collision claim against the other driver. You’ll be lucky to have about $10,000 in coverage. This may not cover your medical bills let alone the damage to your car and lost wages.
While it won’t help you feel better about the other driver taking off, here we’ll talk about some of the reasons they may do this. We’ll also mention a few things your car crash lawyer in Lakeland, Florida can do to try to help find the culprit.
Why Would Someone Flee The Scene Of An Accident In The First Place?
Most people can’t imagine leaving the scene of an accident. We were taught to stick around and wait for the police to come. Unfortunately, not everybody does the right thing. There are all sorts of reasons why someone may flee the scene of a crash in Florida. Some of these include the following:
- They don’t have a valid driver’s license and would rather risk getting in trouble for fleeing the scene then get a ticket. Or, if they’re driving while suspended or revoked, they figure the penalty is so high, they’d rather get caught leaving the scene of a crash.
- They don’t have insurance. Sadly, the kind of people who don’t carry auto insurance aren’t that concerned with sticking around and waiting for the police to show up. Just like people that don’t have a license, they don’t want to risk getting a ticket. They also don’t want to be held personally responsible if you decide to sue.
- They’re driving a stolen vehicle. For people who would do this, the least of their concerns is making sure you’re okay. They’ll take off and probably dump the vehicle at the closest parking lot. In cases like this, there’s not much your Florida car accident lawyer can do to help.
- They’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They figure, if they turn themselves in the next day, they’ll avoid charges for DUI.
- They may have active warrants. They know that, if the cops come, they’ll be hauled off to jail no matter what.
Regardless of the reason for leaving, this puts you in a difficult position. There aren’t many options for people who are the victim of a hit and run accident in Florida.
What Options Do You Have?
There are a few things your Lakeland car accident lawyer can do to help. They’ll try to track down the person who hit you. They can hire a private investigator. Or, they can use things like intersection cameras or other videos to get the license plate information of the car that hit you. They can also help you file a claim under your uninsured motorists’ fund. While this may not cover all of your damages, it is certainly better than nothing.
Reach Out To An Experienced Car Accident Lawyer In Lakeland, Florida
If you’re involved in a hit and run accident, you’re going to need help. Not only do you want to try to catch the driver – you also need to get coverage for your out-of-pocket expenses. An experienced Lakeland car accident lawyer may be able to do this for you. They can review the police report and try to track down the person who hit you. They can also help you file a claim against your uninsured motorists’ fund. If your claim is denied, they’ll help you file an appeal.
While you can certainly try to handle this on your own, there’s no reason you should. You can focus on getting better while your Lakeland car accident attorney can handle the legal side of things. Call our Lakeland injury law office today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free, and you won’t pay a dime until you settle your case. Let a skilled attorney try to get you the compensation you deserve.
