Florida Hit and Run Accidents

You never want it to happen to you. You walk back to your car after shopping and see that somebody has hit and damaged your vehicle. The other vehicle drove off and you are left hoping your insurance company will pay the damage.

Under Florida law, a driver is required to provide information to another vehicle owner after an accident. The owner must also provide assistance to the other occupants of a vehicle if they are injured in accident. Hit and run drivers can cause serious damage by not taking responsibility for the damage to property and people.

What You Can Do

If you are injured or your vehicle was damaged in a hit and run accident, you need to report the accident to police and your insurance company. This process is necessary in order for you to recover all the damages available to you.

Unfortunately, receiving compensation in a hit and run accident in Florida can be challenging. This is why you need to hire a Florida personal injury lawyer experienced in dealing with these types of lawsuits.

Although the State of Florida’s no fault insurance requires your own insurance to pay for most of your injuries, you are entitled to more damages if the other driver was negligent. Common examples of negligence in these cases include being under the influence of drugs or alcohol – or even sending a text message from one’s phone – at the time of the accident. If the case warrants it, you can file a civil lawsuit against the hit and run driver in order to recover damages. You might be entitled to significant compensation.

In addition to the civil lawsuit, if the hit and run driver is identified, he or she can face serious criminal penalties. Failing to report damage from an accident is a misdemeanor and can result in up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. A hit and run accident involving death can mean up to 5 years in prison.

Florida personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham has over 30 years of experience dealing with Florida hit and run vehicle damage claims. You can contact our firm at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).