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South Florida Hit And Run Accident Lawyer, Florida Hit And Run Accident AttorneysSouth Florida hit and run accident lawyer David I. Fuchs has over 17 years of experience in successfully representing motor vehicle accident victims, their families and friends who suffered a death in the family or sustained serious bodily injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages and medical bills because of the negligence of a hit and run driver. A hit and run car accident can be a devastating event for the victims of these crimes. National government statistics indicate that approximately eleven percent of all vehicle accidents are hit and run car accidents. This equates to nearly 700,000 hit and run car accident cases each year in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the hit and run car accident rate has increased by fifteen percent since 1998 nationwide. In some states, like California, the rate of increase for hit and run car accident cases is even greater. A hit and run car accident is defined as a party’s failure to stop after an accident. When a person is involved in a hit and run car accident, they are required by law to stop and exchange pertinent information with all other involved parties. If a hit and run car accident occurs and there are no witnesses present, the person is required to stop and leave a note including all relevant information. This requirement is not considered an infringement upon a person’s right not to self-incriminate because it is considered a report rather than an admission of guilt. If you find yourself the victim of a hit and run car accident, it is important to know what to do in order to protect your interests. Immediately following a hit and run car accident it is important to assess any physical injury that may have been caused in the accident. The police should be called to the scene immediately. All known information about the hit and run car accident perpetrator should be written down and included in the police report. All witnesses to the hit and run car accident should be identified and asked to report any helpful information they can provide. After a hit and run car accident the victim may be faced with physical and/or property damage losses. These may or may not be covered by a hit and run car accident victim’s insurance company. Some insurance policies do not cover damages that involve an uninsured, underinsured, or hit and run car accident motorist. Many plans do have coverage for hit and run car accident losses, and it is important to know whether or not your plan includes these types of accidents. Law enforcement officials will work to the full extent to track down hit and run car accident offenders. A suspected offender may be required to come to the police station with their vehicle to make a statement. The punishment for a hit and run car accident will depend on the state where the accident took place, the extent of damage that resulted, an offender’s cooperation with authorities, and the offender’s past criminal history. A hit and run car accident perpetrator may receive civil and criminal penalties that may include any or all of the following: compensatory fines, punitive fines, loss or suspension of driver’s license, insurance and/or DMV points, loss of insurance coverage or driving privileges, probation, and jail time. Hit and run car accident penalties can be enhanced under a number of circumstances Florida law is very clear on a driver's responsibility to stop following a car crash. Forida Statute 316.027 (1)(a) states the driver of any vehicle involved in a crash resulting in injury of any person must immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the crash, or as close thereto as possible, and must remain at the scene of the crash until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of s. 316.062. Any person who willfully violates this paragraph is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (b) The driver of any vehicle involved in a crash resulting in the death of any person must immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the crash, or as close thereto as possible, and must remain at the scene of the crash until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of s. 316.062. Any person who willfully violates this paragraph is guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (2) The department shall revoke the driver's license of the person so convicted. (3) Every stop must be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary, and, if a damaged vehicle is obstructing traffic, the driver of the vehicle must make every reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it moved so as not to obstruct the regular flow of traffic. Any person who fails to comply with this subsection shall be cited for a nonmoving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318. (4) A person whose commission of a noncriminal traffic infraction or any violation of this chapter or s. 1006.66 causes or results in the death of another person may, in addition to any other civil, criminal, or administrative penalty imposed, be required by the court to serve 120 community service hours in a trauma center or hospital that regularly receives victims of vehicle accidents, under the supervision of a registered nurse, an emergency room physician, or an emergency medical technician pursuant to a voluntary community service program operated by the trauma center or hospital. Most states require every driver to carry automobile liability insurance, the State of Florida does not. If you have suffered a personal injury in an automobile accident with a driver who either does not have insurance, does not have enough insurance, or who was a hit and run driver, you may still be able to recover damages for your injuries under what is known as uninsured motorist coverage. The personal injury law permits you to file a claim with your own insurance company to recover for injuries caused by drivers with insufficient or no insurance. In some instances, before you are able to make such a claim you must fill out a police report describing the accident and promptly report the accident to your own insurance company. In all cases, you should act immediately, because there are time limitations within which you must make your claim or it will be barred.
After a collision with another party it is imperative to call the police to the accident scene, seek immediate medical treatment. It is then important to seek legal counsel to protect your legal rights by calling Florida hit and run accident lawyer David I. Fuchs who will take your call and speak with you immediately about your hit and run crash. Florida hit and run accident lawyer David I. Fuchs will then stand ready to fight for you to see that you get compensation for your pain and suffering, any lost wages and medical bills. Call South Florida hit and run accident Attorney David I. Fuchs Toll Free at 800-570-2858 for a free consultation to discuss your hit and run accident case. You may also write to South Florida hit and run accident Attorney David I. Fuchs by filling out the form on the "Contact Us" page." If you can not come to us South Florida hit and run accident lawyer David I. Fuchs will send a representative to see you. We speak English and Spanish. Se habla ingles y espanol. Llame David Fuchs Florida abogado accidentes de caros. |