Car accidents are frustrating experiences for many reasons, but none so much as a hit-and-run situation. These collisions can leave a severely hurt victim without a means to get emergency care for their injuries, potentially leaving them to die. While other drivers and nearby pedestrians witness many hit-and-run crashes, the risk to life rises significantly when there are not.
Also known as a “hit and skip,” these crash types require you to react quickly if not seriously hurt and try to get as much information on the other vehicle as you can. Because Florida personal injury law requires evidence of negligence by the at-fault party, recovering damages becomes even more problematic if you are unsuccessful.
Florida No-Fault Injury Claims
If law enforcement couldn’t track down the car or driver that struck you, all is not lost. State law requires all drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP) policies of at least $10,000. This coverage provides a limited amount of benefits for incurred medical bills and lost income. However, drivers visiting the Sunshine State may not have this additional coverage because their home state doesn’t require them to carry it.
Check for Uninsured and Underinsured Policy Coverages
Because most Florida drivers only carry the minimum required PIP coverage, they may still have a significant amount of damages to recover. So, when initially purchasing your car insurance, your carrier should have offered an option for uninsured/underinsured coverage to purchase additionally. This coverage can prove invaluable when the driver who fled the scene is never located or doesn’t have any insurance of their own.
How much of your compensatory damages your company will cover depends on the limits of your policy. Further, your insurer may decide to fight your claim in hopes of reducing your demand. This may come as a shock since you assumed they would be there to help if you ever needed their services. Hiring a skilled Orlando personal injury attorney can help with the negotiation of your claim.
Hit-and-Runs Affecting Multiple Drivers
When a driver commits a hit-and-run, they leave chaos in their wake. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for multiple vehicles to be a part of this scary situation. Depending on the circumstances of your initial accident, you may have to include these other drivers in your suit if it is discovered they contributed to it.
Should the offending driver never be found, state law uses comparative several liabilities to assign a percentage of fault to each driver that was negligent and contributed to your accident. Sadly, in situations where the individual who struck you is located, there is still no guarantee they have any coverage to cover the harm they’ve caused.
Unfortunately, the options one has after being involved in a hit-and-run are extremely limited. The possible outcomes may not ever satisfy the level of economic and non-economic losses you suffered. This is why our firm encourages drivers to invest in additional riders, like uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages.
Speak with a Florida Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney
Florida is a hotspot for fun in the sun and night-time parties. But, no matter where you go, this state always carries significant hit and run risks, including instances where the driver wasn’t insured. While we encourage our clients to buy an additional policy to cover these situations, your compensation claim could get denied without the proper legal guidance.
If you or a loved one was involved in a hit-and-run accident, you might be wondering what recovery options are available for the damages you suffered. From medical bills to diminished work ability, the personal injury lawyers of Jordan Law are here to help you get on the road to recovery. In addition, we can provide you with sound legal advice about your circumstances and determine what next steps need to be taken.
Our firm uses our years of personal injury case practice to make the negligent parties responsible for your injuries pay. We will fight tirelessly on your behalf and pursue the best possible results for your case’s circumstances. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about what rights you have to compensation.