Hit and Run Accident Lawyer in Miami
Car accidents, no matter the cause or severity, are frustrating. For starters, a car accident completely turns your day upside down, and that's in the best-case scenario. Worse yet, you may sustain serious injuries. That said, an automotive accident where the other driver flees the situation will always add another layer of aggravation to an already bad situation.
Miami Hit & Run Accident Attorneys
Hit-and-run accident claims often hinge on whether or not the hit-and-run driver was found. For instance, if the other driver remains unidentified, then you may be stuck negotiating your compensation with your own insurance company. And of course, this contingency breaks down into further sub-contingencies based on the nature of your accident. Did the accident involve a vehicle of your own? Were you a pedestrian or cyclist at the time of the accident? All of these questions are relevant in determining exactly whom you should seek compensation from if the police never find the offending party.
But, maybe you're luckier and the police identify the driver. Generally speaking, the case may go in the following directions: the driver pleas to a lesser charge, a judge dismisses the case, or the court reaches a verdict of guilty or not guilty. Of course, some of these outcomes do not necessarily lead to the halt of legal pursuit. If the court finds the offending driver not guilty, you may still have grounds for pursuing a civil lawsuit. Additionally, the dynamics of hit-and-run accident cases are much different when the offending driver is never found. Now a completely different set of questions becomes relevant. It gets a little hazy.
Common Types of Miami Hit & Run Accident Claims that We Settle
Within the state of Florida, 25% of all crashes involve hit and run accidents according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department. Between 2016 and 2020, Florida accounted for 600,185 accidents resulting in 1,298 fatalities. 85% of those fatalities occur during the evening hours. The sunshine state stands at second in the United States for fatalities caused by hit and run accidents according to statistics reported by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. However, these accidents come in many different variations. Some of the most common include:
Bicycle Accident: Sadly, most drivers do not recognize that cyclists hold the same rights and responsibilities as automobile operators. A negligent driver may force a cyclist off the road or slam into the rider before fleeing the scene. If the police can identify the driver, then you may be able to obtain compensation from the driver for pertinent damages. Otherwise, your claim will have to be settled through your personal auto insurance policy.
Pedestrian Accident: In the U.S., a fatal pedestrian accident occurs every 1.6 hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If the driver is at fault, then there are a myriad of civil and criminal consequences that may befall them. In fact, most states consider fleeing from the scene of a pedestrian accident as a felony and almost always a guaranteed prison sentence in all the others.
Drunk Driving: An at-fault driver always faces additional consequences if they were under the influence of impairing drugs. These cases almost always involve an arrest and a conviction. Additionally, these offending drivers receive more jail time, higher fines, and more severe driver's license penalties.
Types of Hit & Run Accident Injuries & Compensation
Hit-and-run accidents are a very broad category of motor vehicle accidents; so, each individual case varies widely in many respects. For one, it would honestly be easier to list injuries that you couldn't get from a hit-and-run accident than those that you could. That said, common injuries associated with all forms of motor vehicle accidents include:
- Lacerations
- Herniated Discs
- Disfigurement
- Lethal & Nonlethal Brain Injuries
- Damage to the Spinal Cord
- Whiplash
- Broken Bones
- Internal Organ Injury
- Wrongful Death
... and more
Whenever you suffer a serious injury as the result of third-party negligence, you should always seek the legal counsel of an experienced attorney. This is especially true if the at-fault driver is not found, and you have to take up compensation with your insurance company. These corporations have endless resources to keep you from getting the settlement that you deserve. However, with the right legal team in your corner, you may be entitled to the following forms of compensation:
Property Damage: This is broader than it sounds. Most people think of the vehicles involved when they hear property damage, but it encompasses so much more. The law considers everything from your clothes and cellphone to valuable earrings as property damage.
Medical Expenditures: Hopefully your accident does not lead to injury, but if it does, you are most likely looking at a slew of medical bills. This ranges from hospital stays to any necessary treatment administered for your injury.
Loss of Earnings: This is not limited to wages lost while recovering from an injury. It also accounts for potential wages lost if the injury is permanent.
Psychological Distress: Some victims are eligible for compensation if the accident causes significant emotional impairment or psychological trauma.
In addition to serving English-speaking personal injury victims, The Ward Law Group is passionate about providing bilingual legal services to the Spanish-speaking community. Don't let language become an additional barrier to getting the compensation you deserve for your claim. Contact our team of legal advisors at the Ward Law Group today!
Gregory Ward and Jany Martínez-Ward have recovered millions of dollars in personal injury compensation for car accident victims. They were recognized for a top 5 verdict in Florida in 2021. They obtained more than $2,000,000 in compensation for the victim of a truck accident. Don't leave the fate of your settlement to chance. Contact The Ward Law Group today to secure your legal rights and hire reputable insurance companies.
Maximizing Your Claim: Immediate Steps to Take After a Hit-and-Run Accident
If you or a member of your party are able, you should always immediately start by documenting as much of the accident as possible. Assuming that your smartphone or camera is still working, photos are a very useful form of evidence and with good reason. With current technology, photos are very hard to misinterpret. Make sure to take photos of the entire scene, especially everyone's injuries and personal property damage.
Report the incident to the police and retrieve a copy of their accident report as soon as possible. During this time, it is important to keep track of any bills incurred from the accident. This includes personal property repairs, automotive parts replacements, and medical expenses such as prescription medications. In the event that the hit-and-run involves a pedestrian, make absolutely certain to save the clothes that you were wearing when the accident happened. You may also want to document your injury recovery period as time goes on.
Contact a Miami Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney For Help!
If you have recently sustained injuries from a motor vehicle accident, and have yet to seek legal advice, please contact The Ward Law Group immediately. Our team will do everything in our power to make sure that you receive the compensation that you deserve. Remember, this is true regardless of whether or not the at-fault driver is identified. Either way, you'll need legal assistance as you process insurance claims and/or lawsuits.
The Ward Law Group is here to help you with exactly this, regardless of whether you speak English or Spanish as your primary language. Our bilingual team of legal advisors is incredibly passionate about providing legal services to our Spanish-speaking clients. Don't let language prevent you from seeking legal assistance. The Ward Law Group has you covered!