Being involved in a traffic accident in Tampa can be disorienting. When the driver flees the scene, it makes matters much more complicated. Accident victims may be left with massive medical bills and lost wages, with no one to compensate them for damages. Our Tampa hit and run accident lawyers at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers can help you get the money you need for your injuries.
We have worked with injured individuals and families in Tampa Bay for over 28 years. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars to date.
If you were in a hit & run accident in Tampa, FL, contact our law office at (813) 222-8656. Our Tampa personal injury lawyers offer free consultations.
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How Our Tampa Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Hit & Run
We understand that a hit-and-run crash can turn your world upside down. You should be able to focus on your recovery, not a complicated insurance claim. Our Tampa car wreck lawyers can help you recover the compensation you need for your injuries.
When you hire Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers to handle your accident claim, you can trust that you will receive exceptional legal services. We have recovered over $500 million in settlements and jury verdicts for our clients since opening our doors in 1992. Our attorneys have over 120 years of combined experience with car accident claims.
When you engage us to represent you, we will:
- Communicate with the Florida Highway Patrol, Tampa Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies about the hit and run accident investigation
- Conduct an independent investigation into the cause of the crash
- Work with your physicians and medical experts to document the extent of your injuries
- File insurance claims and negotiate settlements
If you have questions about a hit-and-run accident, contact our law firm for a free consultation with a Tampa car accident lawyer.
How Common Are Hit and Run Accidents in Tampa?
Hit and run accidents happen more often in Tampa than you might imagine — on Palm avenue, Nebraska avenue, or other roads in the city. Motorists fled the scene in 92,219 crashes in Florida during 2020. These accidents included 3,100 fatal crashes and 140,254 injury crashes.
In 2020, Hillsborough County, hit and run accidents involved:
- 6,125 hit and run accidents
- 200 fatal crashes involving drivers leaving the scene of a crash
- 10,810 injury crashes
- 471 bicycle crashes involving hit and run drivers
- 579 hit and run motorcycle accidents
- 545 pedestrian accidents caused by a hit-and-run driver
Drivers can be held criminally liable for leaving the scene of a car crash. They may also be held liable in civil court for damages and injuries.
Other common car crashes in Tampa include:
Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident is Against the Law
Nearly one-quarter of traffic accidents in Florida are caused by a hit-and-run driver. It is against the law to flee the scene of a crash. Leaving the scene of an accident can result in a misdemeanor to a felony.
A driver can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage. If the crash caused injuries, the charges would increase to a second or third-degree felony. The charge for fleeing a fatal hit and run accident is a first-degree felony.
If you are involved in a hit and run accident, remain at the crash scene. Call 911 to report the crash and request help. Give the emergency operator as much information about the vehicle that hit you as you can recall.
Compensation for Hit and Run Accident Victims
Florida is a no-fault state for car crashes. All drivers are required to maintain Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. Therefore, accident victims can file a claim with their PIP insurance carrier.
Unfortunately, PIP insurance does not compensate accident victims for all damages. PIP insurance compensates victims for a portion of their medical bills and lost wages. A victim involved in a crash with serious bodily injury will not receive compensation from their PIP insurance carrier for damages such as:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Permanent disabilities and impairment
- All medical bills
- Emotional suffering and mental anguish
- Full loss of income
- Reductions in future earning potential
- Loss of enjoyment of life and reduced quality of life
To recover full compensation for damages caused by serious injuries, the victim must sue the at-fault driver. However, the hit and run driver might never be identified. Even if you locate the driver, the driver may not have liability insurance or assets to pay a personal injury judgment.
Is there anything else accident victims can do?
Filing an Uninsured Motorist Insurance Claim for a Hit and Run Accident
If you have uninsured motorist insurance, you might be entitled to compensation for damages caused by a hit-and-run driver. Your insurance company stands in the shoes of the hit-and-run driver by compensating you for damages.
However, you have the burden of proving that another driver caused the crash, which can be challenging. Your insurance company might fight the claim or allege that your injuries and damages are not as severe as you claim.
If you want to maximize your compensation, hiring a lawyer after your hit-and-run accident is your best option. A car accident lawyer will know how to best handle your case even if it includes filing an uninsured motorist insurance claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Tampa Car Accident Attorneys
Hit and run accidents occur throughout Florida, including in Hillsborough County and Pasco County. Contact our law firm to schedule your free consultation with an experienced hit and run accident lawyer in Tampa, Florida.
