Florida law is pretty clear about what to do when you get into a car accident. You contact the authorities to report the accident, wait for the police to arrive at the scene, and share contact and insurance information with the other driver.
That last part is impossible, though, if the other driver flees the scene of the accident. When that happens, suddenly everything about the accident becomes a lot more difficult. You can’t trade insurance information and you don’t know who hit you. This means that if you need to sue the other party, there is no one to sue.
What are your options in this situation? You may still have plenty of legal options, but only if you have an experienced car accident lawyer from Neufeld Law Firm handling your case.
If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident in Florida, take the following steps to protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident
Even though you are in the right after the other party flees the scene, that doesn’t mean your insurance company wants to pay the compensation you deserve. It will still look for any excuse to undervalue your claim or even deny it. Don’t give it any excuse to limit your money. Take the following steps to protect the value of your claim.
Contact the Police
While you are always required to contact the police after a serious accident, it is even more important after the other driver flees the scene. You need to let the police know an accident occurred and that the other driver fled.
They will investigate thoroughly and speak to any witnesses to try to identify the other driver. If you are lucky, they may even find the other driver, which will help your claim.
Get Medically Evaluated at a Hospital
When the medics arrive they will evaluate you at the scene and may recommend that you go to the hospital. Whether they do or not, get to the hospital as soon as possible and get evaluated by an experienced doctor.
If you refuse examination or treatment, the insurance company can use that refusal to deny you coverage in part or in whole. Since the visit will be covered by insurance, it is better to see a doctor than to risk lower compensation.
Contact Neufeld Law Firm as Soon as Possible
You should contact our law firm right away. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can assign an attorney to your case. Depending on the circumstances, your attorney may even be able to meet you at the accident scene.
Regardless, when you contact us quickly, we can start investigating immediately. We can also help you avoid making statements that might hurt your claim. For example, you have the right to have a lawyer present while speaking to the police and your insurance company. We recommend that you say nothing, except to medical professionals, with a lawyer representing you.
How Will You Get Money After a Hit-and-Run?
Florida is a no-fault state, which means your insurance company will initially pay for your medical bills and lost wages. But what if you need more money than your personal injury policy covers?
In that situation, your uninsured motorist insurance should cover the difference. Your insurance company won’t be happy about paying for everything, which is one of the main reasons you need to be represented by an attorney from Neufeld Law Firm. We will force the insurance company to pay everything it owes.
Alternatively, if the police identify the other driver, you may have the right to sue the driver if you were seriously injured. Unfortunately, this is reasonably uncommon. But our law firm follows through with every legal option available to get you the money you need to recover.
Contact Our Law Firm Immediately After a Hit-and-Run Accident
The best time to contact an experienced car accident lawyer after someone flees an accident scene is while you are still at the scene. The sooner we can start working on your case, the more money we are likely to recover for you.
Our lawyers, who have over 100 years of combined experience, will immediately get to work on your case. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
