A hit and run accident can leave you shocked, frustrated, and unsure of what to do next. The situation can be even more stressful when the driver who caused the crash leaves before you can exchange information.
If you are involved in a hit and run accident in Florida, the actions you take immediately afterward can be important for your safety, the investigation, and any insurance or personal injury claim that may follow.
Here are seven important steps to consider after a hit and run accident in Florida.
1. Get to a Safe Location
Your safety should come first.
If your vehicle is creating an immediate danger and it is safe and possible to move it, get yourself and your vehicle away from moving traffic. If you or someone else appears seriously injured, call 911 and request emergency assistance.
Do not attempt to chase the fleeing driver. Following another vehicle at high speed could create an additional danger and may make the situation worse.
2. Call Law Enforcement
Report the hit and run accident to law enforcement as soon as possible.
Provide as much information as you can about what happened and about the vehicle that left the scene.
Florida law requires drivers involved in crashes resulting in injury, death, or damage to attended vehicles or property to provide identifying information and, when necessary, reasonable assistance. Florida law also requires law enforcement crash reports in specified circumstances, including crashes involving injury or complaints of pain.
A police investigation may also help identify the driver who left the scene.
3. Write Down Everything You Remember
Details can disappear from memory quickly after a stressful accident.
As soon as you safely can, write down everything you remember about the other vehicle.
Useful information may include:
The make and model of the vehicle
The vehicle’s color
Any portion of the license plate
The direction the vehicle traveled
Visible damage to the vehicle
The approximate time and location of the crash
A description of the driver, if you saw them
Even incomplete information may help law enforcement investigate what happened.
4. Gather Evidence From the Scene
Evidence can become especially important when the other driver is not available to provide their version of events.
If it is safe to do so, take photographs or videos of your vehicle, the surrounding roadway, debris, skid marks, traffic signs, traffic signals, and any visible injuries.
Look around for nearby businesses, homes, parking lots, intersections, or buildings that may have surveillance cameras.
Video footage can sometimes help establish how the accident occurred or identify the vehicle that left the scene.
5. Talk to Witnesses
If anyone saw the collision, ask for their name and contact information.
Witnesses may have noticed details you missed, including the other vehicle’s license plate, direction of travel, or actions immediately before the crash.
Independent witness statements may also become useful when an insurance company is evaluating how the accident occurred.
6. Seek Medical Attention
Some injuries are obvious immediately after a collision, while others may become noticeable later.
If you are experiencing pain, dizziness, stiffness, numbness, headaches, or other symptoms, consider seeking appropriate medical evaluation.
Florida’s PIP statute generally requires initial services and care within 14 days after a motor vehicle accident for covered medical benefits, subject to the requirements and limitations of the statute.
Medical records can also document your symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment following the crash.
7. Notify Your Insurance Company and Understand Your Options
Notify your automobile insurance company about the accident promptly and provide accurate information about what occurred.
A hit and run claim can involve several types of insurance coverage depending on your policy and the circumstances of the accident.
Do not assume that you have no options simply because the other driver disappeared.
The available coverage and potential sources of recovery will depend on the facts of the accident, your insurance policy, whether the fleeing driver is eventually identified, and other circumstances.
What Happens if the Hit and Run Driver Is Found?
If law enforcement identifies the driver, additional information may become available about the driver, vehicle, and applicable insurance coverage.
Florida law requires a driver involved in a crash resulting in injury to stop and remain at the scene while fulfilling statutory duties. Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury can carry criminal consequences.
From the injured person’s perspective, identifying the driver may also affect the insurance and legal options available after the accident.
Why Evidence Matters After a Hit and Run Accident in Florida
Hit and run cases can present unique challenges because one of the people involved has left the scene.
Photographs, video footage, witness information, police documentation, medical records, and insurance records can all help establish what happened and document the losses associated with the accident.
Preserving this information early can make it easier to evaluate the case later.
Speak With a Florida Personal Injury Attorney
If you were injured in a hit and run accident in Florida, you may have questions about insurance coverage, medical expenses, evidence, and your legal options.
Carl Palomino Attorneys at Law can review the circumstances of your accident, explain the legal process, and help you understand the options that may be available based on the facts of your case.
Every accident is different, and the appropriate next steps depend on the individual circumstances.
Contact Carl Palomino Attorneys at Law to discuss your situation and learn more about your options under Florida law.
This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney client relationship.