Palm Beach Gardens Hit and Run Lawyer

Under Florida law, all motorists are required to stop and remain at the scene of an accident. When they do not, it is known as fleeing the scene of an accident or more commonly, a hit-and-run. The aftermath of any car accident can be stressful, but when a driver leaves the scene, it is even more frustrating and presents additional challenges. There is not always enough time to take a picture of the fleeing driver’s car or license plate number. Injured individuals are also sometimes incapable of calling police on their own.

Fortunately, you do still have legal options after a driver leaves the scene of a crash. Below, our Palm Beach Gardens hit and run lawyer explains what they are.

Filing a No-Fault Insurance Claim

The no-fault auto insurance laws in Palm Beach Gardens, and throughout Florida, are particularly helpful after a driver leaves the scene of an accident. All drivers in the state are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. After a crash involving a hit-and-run driver, injured individuals can file a claim with their own insurance company to recover PIP benefits.

PIP benefits provide coverage for all reasonable medical expenses, as well as lost wages. Unfortunately, PIP benefits do not provide compensation for other losses such as pain and suffering. The $10,000 in coverage is also easily exhaustible when a person is suffering from serious injuries.

Uninsured and Underinsured Protection

Another type of insurance motorists can purchase is uninsured and underinsured coverage. This type of insurance is available when a person is involved in a crash with another motorist that does not have auto insurance, or that has not purchased the minimum amounts of insurance outlined by law. When a driver has fled the scene and a person has purchased this type of insurance, they can file a claim with their own insurer to obtain coverage.

Unlike in many other states, uninsured and underinsured protection is not mandatory for Florida drivers. However, due to the fact that this type of insurance does provide a great deal of protection in some of the worst situations, it is recommended that all motorists purchase it along with their PIP coverage.

Filing a Lawsuit Against the Hit-and-Run Driver

If the hit-and-run driver is found, it is possible to file a lawsuit against them if you have exhausted your own PIP benefits. Law enforcement takes hit-and-runs very seriously and will work hard to try and locate the driver who fled. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. It is important to work with a lawyer who can conduct their own investigation to try and find the at-fault driver who fled the scene.

Our Hit and Run Lawyer in Palm Beach Gardens Can Help You Overcome the Challenges These Cases Present

Hit-and-run accidents will present challenges not present in other car crash cases. At Smith, Ball, Baez & Prather, our Palm Beach Gardens hit and run lawyer can help you overcome them so you obtain the full compensation you deserve. Call or text us now at 561-500-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.