Hit-and-run accidents can be a tricky situation to navigate. Even though your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage on your auto policy is supposed to offer some coverage no matter how the car accident occurred, PIP is limited to a finite amount, which often doesn’t come close to covering the actual costs if the accident involved severe injuries, and it only covers medical expenses, which means it doesn’t compensate you for your pain and suffering. To file a successful personal injury claim after a hit-and-run in Florida, you must gather the necessary evidence. An experienced Florida car accident attorney can help you through each step to ensure you have the best chance of success.
What Evidence You Need Depends On The Type Of Insurance Claim You File
If you’re able to identify the driver who hit you, then you may be able to file a claim under their insurance policy (if they have coverage). In the circumstance that they were working at the time of the accident, you would potentially file against their employer. However, if you are unable to identify the hit-and-run driver, then it may fall to your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage – which is why it’s essential to have this type of insurance. In any event, we strongly recommend calling the police to file a report immediately after such an accident occurs.
How To Prove A Hit and Run In Florida
What evidence you need is determined by the type of claim you can file. Let’s break down the key aspects of making a hit and run injury claim in Florida:
- The first step of filing a claim for a hit-and-run accident is proving to the insurance company you were actually involved in an accident that was caused by a car which fled the scene. Actual physical contact with the vehicle is actually not necessary in Florida to meet this requirement. Once that is established, you can file an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim even if you’re unable to identify the driver who was at fault. Some key types of evidence in a hit-and-run accident include:
- The location and extent of the damage to your vehicle
- Forensic evidence such as damaged sign posts or tire marks from the crash site
- Eyewitness testimony from people at the scene
- Photo/video of the accident or the scene of the accident (a quality dashcam can really come in handy in these situations)
If you’re lucky enough to prove who actually hit you, then you won’t have to rely on your personal insurance coverage. (Of course, this only applies if the other driver had insurance; unfortunately, a significant percentage of Florida drivers are unfortunately uninsured or underinsured, which is why we highly recommend purchasing uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance). While it is typically challenging to pinpoint a hit-and-run driver, a Florida car accident attorney with extensive experience in such cases may be able to utilize their resources and find the at-fault driver. Remembering any details about the vehicle that hit you or how the accident occurred may be able to help your attorney do so.
2. You need to prove what damages you are entitled to recover: No matter if you are ultimately able to find the hit-and-run driver or not, you will need evidence to prove the damages you are entitled to recover. Such evidence includes:
- Medical records of your injuries
- Proof of your pain and suffering
- Proof you took time off of work due to the injury and the wages you lost
- Receipts for other expenses resulting from the accident
- Potentially giving a sworn recorded statement to the insurance company
Contact Us Today
A Florida auto accident attorney will help you collect the necessary evidence and help you recover the compensation you are legally entitled to for your hit-and-run case. If you or somebody close to you was injured in a hit-and-run, call Rosenblum & Mayer to consult with an experienced Florida hit-and-run attorney.