Hit and Run Accidents

People involved in hit and run accidents often suffer serious injuries, which can affect the rest of their lives. The driver who caused the crash may never be found, and the victim may be left with not just a long healing process but mounting medical bills. At Frankl Kominsky, we provide dedicated legal representation to people hurt near West Palm Beach or other Palm Beach County communities in hit and run accidents. Our seasoned car wreck attorneys can help you assert your right to damages.

When a driver causes a crash, the state requires that he or she stop at the accident scene and provide aid to any victims, if possible. The motorist must also give contact and insurance information to all injured parties and to police officers. Unfortunately, some people do not stop when they are involved in a crash. A hit and run accident typically occurs if a driver:

• Speeds excessively;
• Drives while under the influence of drugs or alcohol; or
• Continues to drive without realizing he or she struck another person.

It is a crime in Florida to leave the scene of a crash, yet many individuals continue to engage in this reprehensible behavior. A victim may suffer serious injuries, but it may be difficult to obtain compensation if the driver is not found within a reasonable time.

If you are a victim of a hit and run accident, you may not always be able to hold the driver responsible for your injuries. Some drivers are never found. You can, however, seek compensation from your own insurance company. Florida is a no-fault insurance state, which means that all drivers are required to have personal injury protection coverage. This insurance will cover a majority of your accident-related medical bills and lost wages, up to the amount of your coverage. You may also have other car insurance protection plans and medical coverage that can potentially account for the cost of your injuries and damages.

If the driver is found, you can hold him or her liable for your harm by proving negligence. A motorist is negligent if he or she fails to act with the care that a reasonably prudent driver would use to avoid posing unreasonable risks of harm to others. You have to show that the driver’s failure to exercise care caused your injuries, and that you incurred damages.

Many hit and run accidents are caused by drivers who were intoxicated. If the driver in your case was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you can base your injury claim on negligence per se. This may apply when a person violates a statute that was intended to protect a group of people from a particular harm. Florida specifically prevents drivers from getting behind the wheel if they are drunk or drugged in order to avoid injury to others. Under negligence per se, you would not have to show duty of care or breach, but you would still have to prove that the defendant caused your injuries because he or she drove while drunk or drugged.

Damages for your harm may include compensation for any medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering arising from the accident. If your relative died in a hit and run crash, you can pursue the reckless driver through a Florida wrongful death lawsuit. You can potentially recover for your loved one’s medical expenses and burial costs as well as your own loss of companionship.

The auto accident lawyers at Frankl Kominsky can help you seek the compensation you need for injuries that occurred on the highways of West Palm Beach. Our lawyers are committed to dedicated, personalized service and to tenaciously pursuing our clients’ right to compensation. We serve clients in Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, and Delray Beach, among other nearby communities. For a free initial consultation, call our office today at (855) 800-8000. You can also contact us through our online form. We speak Spanish and Creole.