There is one question that the seasoned car accident attorneys at Lavent Law, PA, in Miami, FL, receive on a regular basis:
“Do I need a lawyer after a hit and run accident?”
In almost all cases, the answer to this question is a resounding yes. If you want to find out why this is the case, all you need to do is keep reading.
Why Should You Hire a Lawyer After a Hit and Run Accident?
Hiring a knowledgeable Miami personal injury lawyer from Lavent Law, PA, is one of the best ways to safeguard your financial future in the aftermath of a car crash with a hit and run driver.
Here are just a few of the ways we can help you fight for the compensation you need to pay for your medical bills and vehicle repairs:
- Answer any questions you might have about the claims process
- Communicate with your insurance company on your behalf
- Devise a customized legal strategy for your hit and run crash case
- Help you understand the legal options that are available to you
- Search for evidence that might aid your pursuit of compensation
- Provide you with sound legal advice and guidance at all times
- Carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of your accident
- Help you understand how the Florida legal system operates
- Consult with relevant experts about the details of your case
- Review the specifics of your crash and assess your damages
- Take care of the administrative side of your hit and run case
- Negotiate a settlement with your car insurance company
- Present evidence and argue on your behalf in court, if required
Would you like to have a skilled personal injury attorney from Lavent Law, PA, help you pursue compensation for your hit and run injuries? If so, you only need to give us a quick call or send us a short message to arrange a free consultation at our offices in Miami, FL. Our legal team knows how to secure favorable outcomes in these types of cases, and we are more than ready to fight for you.
Why Do People Flee the Scene of Auto Accidents in Florida?
When a car accident occurs in the state of Florida, the involved motorists have a legal and moral duty to:
- Check on the health and wellbeing of the other parties
- Provide the other drivers with their auto insurance information, and
- Wait for law enforcement to arrive on the scene, if necessary
Unfortunately, Miami motorists sometimes choose to flee the scene of car accidents, rather than follow these guidelines. They usually do so for one or more of the following reasons:
- They are drunk
- They are high
- They are an illegal immigrant
- They do not have a valid insurance policy
- They do not have a valid license
- They are not the owner of the vehicle
- They have prior criminal convictions
- They have an active warrant for their arrest
- They are transporting illegal drugs
- They are transporting illegal weapons
- They panicked
- They did not know they hit another road user
No matter why the other motorist chose to leave the scene of your crash, you can count on the experienced lawyers at Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer to help you fight for the compensation you require.
We have the statutory knowledge and legal skills needed to handle your case with the care and attention it deserves.
Understanding the Importance of an Investigation After a Hit and Run Crash
In the hours and days immediately following a hit and run crash, police officers will launch an investigation into:
- How the accident happened
- The identity of the at-fault driver
- Why the at-fault driver chose to flee, and
- Where the at-fault driver is currently located
The injured person’s lawyers often assist law enforcement officers with this investigation. They do so because it can lead to the identification of other liable parties and may open up another avenue for pursuing compensation.
At Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer, we have been helping the police investigate hit and run accidents on behalf of the people of Miami for years.
If you would like to have us do the same for you, all you need to do is pick up the phone and give us a call.
Common Injuries Sustained in Miami Hit and Run Cases
Leaving the scene of an accident is unlawful in the state of Florida in part because it often forces injured parties to wait longer than necessary for a paramedic to arrive. These delays can cause them to endure a great deal of pain and may result in a significant worsening of their condition.
When they finally reach their hospital, the victims of hit and run accidents regularly learn that they sustained one or more of these types of injuries:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Eye injuries
- Facial disfigurement
- Degloving injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Internal organ injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
Did you get injured in a hit and run collision in Miami, Florida? If so, please do not hesitate to reach out to the legal team at Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer. We might be able to use our in-depth knowledge of the Florida Statutes to help you recover the compensation you need and deserve.
How an Attorney Can Help Victims Recover Damages After a Hit and Run Crash in the State of Florida
It is not at all uncommon for Miami residents to believe that they will take a substantial financial loss if they get into a hit and run collision. In reality, however, things are rarely quite so bleak.
Florida is a no-fault state. As a result, injured parties do not need to work through the at-fault motorist’s insurance company to claim compensation for their property damage and medical bills.
To recover the damages they deserve, victims need only file a claim with their own insurance company. This process should work as follows:
- Filing a compensation claim with their car insurance company
- Providing the insurer with evidence to back up their claim
- Waiting for the insurer to review and approve their claim
- Receiving the money they need to cover their expenses
Unfortunately, it is not at all unusual for insurance companies in the state of Florida to make this process more arduous than it needs to be. As part of their efforts to maximize their profits, they frequently deny valid claims by arguing that:
- The accident never happened
- The victim did not provide them with enough evidence
- The victim is exaggerating their injuries, or
- The victim did not file their claim in a timely manner
These bad faith actions on the part of Florida auto insurers are why Miami residents who get into accidents involving hit and run drivers must always enlist the services of an experienced attorney. Their lawyer can help them through the process while ensuring that their insurer does not do anything illegal or unethical.
A skilled legal representative can also make sure that the injured party’s insurer does not try to short change them on their personal injury protection (PIP) payout. They generally accomplish this feat by consulting with medical experts and comparing their client’s case to similar ones that have occurred in the recent past.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida Hit and Run Cases
Though Florida is a “no-fault” state, there are many instances in which a hit-and-run crash can result in damages that standard PIP and PDL benefits will not cover. Victims can cover this gap using uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM or UIM).
An experienced lawyer can analyze an individual’s case to determine if they may be eligible to receive UM or UIM benefits. If they are, the attorney can also help them through the sometimes complex process of making a claim.
Would you like to have a knowledgeable lawyer from Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer, help you file an uninsured claim after a hit and run accident in Miami, FL? If so, please call us as soon as possible to arrange a meeting with a member of our team. We have been working on these types of cases for many years, and we are ready to go to bat for you.
How Much Compensation Can Lawyers Help Victims Claim After Hit and Run Crashes?
When determining the amount of compensation to pay out to people who suffer injuries in hit and run accidents in Miami, insurance companies can consider a wide variety of factors, such as:
- The cost of the victim’s immediate medical treatment
- The fees attached to the victim’s rehabilitation
- The expenses associated with their ongoing care needs
- The amount of time the victim missed from their job
- The effect the victim’s injury will have on their ability to work
- The cost to repair or replace the victim’s property
- The mental anguish the victim endured because of their injury, and
- The impact the victim’s injury will have on their overall quality of life
Attorneys typically help people who sustain injuries that leave them with long-term disabilities or significantly reduce their earning capacity to receive the most sizable compensatory awards.
When our legal team represents people who were involved in a hit and run accident, we almost always pursue damages for their:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Ongoing care expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
If you want to have a skilled personal injury attorney from Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer, analyze your hit and run suit and provide you with an estimate of its value, please give us a call at your earliest convenience. We are always ready to assist our friends and neighbors in Miami.
Deadline for Taking Legal Action After a Hit and Run Accident in Florida
According to Florida law, the statute of limitations for contract disputes is five years. This rule means that the victims of hit and run accidents in the City of Miami have five years to sue their insurance company if they deny their valid compensation claim.
There are, of course, a wide variety of factors that may alter an individual’s statutory window. In some cases, the statute of limitations can even be tolled (or paused) until the police locate the hit and run driver.
Do you believe the statute of limitations for your hit and run case is set to expire over the next few weeks or months? If so, please call Lavent Law Personal Injury Lawyer, as quickly as you can. Our seasoned attorneys would be happy to help you file your forms before your statutory window closes.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Hit and Run Accident? Contact Our Car Crash Attorney in Miami for a Case Evaluation
“Do I need a lawyer after a hit and run accident?” We hope we helped you understand why the assistance of an experienced attorney is so vital after a collision involving a hit-and-run driver. However, if you would like to have our team review your case and provide you with a rundown of how we can help you, please give us a call or contact us online today.