Boca Raton Hit and Run Attorney

There are a shocking number of hit and run accidents in Florida each year: nearly 1 out of every 4 car accidents in Florida involves a hit and run driver.Additionally, hit and run accidents don’t just involve other cars. They can also involve pedestrians and bicyclists.

Florida Drivers Have Legal Duties At The Accident Scene

If an accident involves property damage, bodily injury, or death, the drivers must remain at the scene.

Additionally, when a car accident involves injuries or property damage, Florida Statute Section 316.062 requires drivers to provide specific information. This includes:

• Providing your name, address, and vehicle registration of the vehicle you are driving;
• Providing your driver’s license to the other driver upon request;
• Providingpolice officers your driver’s license, registration, and address; and,
• Helping get medical assistance for injured persons.

Finally, the criminal consequences for hit and run drivers are serious. Depending on the severity of the accident and injuries, hit and run drivers can face significant jail time and loss of their driver’s license.

What should I do if I am involved in a hit and run accident?

If you are involved in a hit and run accident, there are few things to remember.

First, immediately contact the police. The police often arrive very quickly and may help locate witnesses to the accident.

Second, seek medical care.Don’t let time pass without getting necessary medical care. Your health is paramount.

Third, if you are physically able try and document everything you can about the accident. This includes a description of the vehicles involved and the names and contact information of any witnesses.Additionally, if you are near commercial businesses (or even a residential area) see if they have any security cameras pointed in the direction of the street. During the course of my practice, I have seen several accidents recorded by such cameras.

What if I can’t identify the hit and run driver?

Even if you cannot identify the hit and run driver, do not be discouraged or give up. At Barthelette Law, we have experience identifying hit and run drivers, even when there was little evidence that identified the hit and run driver.

A Real Life Case Example

In 2019, my client was lawfully riding his bicycle in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida. As he was bicycling past a motel, a car pulled out of the motel parking lot, nearly hit him, and drove off.

To avoid the impact, my client applied his brakes and fell off his bicycle. His injuries were quite serious – he broke his back. He was immediately taken to the hospital.

Unfortunately, while the police documented the accident, they did not investigate the identity of the driver. My client was understandably angry.

Because of the suddenness of the accident, my client could only recall the car was a white sedan. Indeed, we had very little information to work with.

In the days that followed, we checked nearby security cameras. Nothing showed up. We also had our private investigator follow up on a few leads. But again, we were not making any meaningful progress.

We reached out to the motel to see if it might help. Unfortunately, the motel ignored our communications.

So we used a helpful procedural tool called a pure bill of discovery against the motel. The pure bill of discovery was a lawsuit against the motel asking it to provide any and all documentation or information that might provide the identity of the hit and run driver.

After the motel received our lawsuit, its representatives decided to cooperate. They provided the name of the driver.

Shortly after we identified the driver, we achieved a favorable result for our client.

So as you can see, just because you cannot immediately identify a hit and run driver, it does not mean you should give up. With persistence, you might be able to identify the hit and run driver many days or weeks after the accident.

At Barthelette Law, we will do whatever it takes to find the hit and run driver.

Call A Boca Raton Hit And Run Attorney

If you were involved in a hit and run accident, call the Boca Raton personal injury law firm of Barthelette Law today, at (561) 246-4137. We are ready to provide responsive legal care for your hit and run accident.