Boca Raton Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer

Hit by a driver in Boca Raton who fled the accident scene? A hit-and-run leaves you hurt, with no name, no insurance information and no one to hold responsible. Leaving the scene of a crash that injures someone is a crime in Florida, but a criminal case won’t pay your medical bills, and many drivers are never caught. You can still recover compensation, but these claims are harder to win than an ordinary crash claim.

Hit-and-run cases turn on two things: identifying the driver and finding the coverage, and what happens at the scene matters. Always call the police and get a report, because insurers often use a missing or late report to deny a hit-and-run claim. If you can, capture the license plate, even a partial plate, along with the car’s make, model and color. Video from nearby businesses, homes and traffic cameras can identify the car, but it is often recorded over within days. If the driver is never found, your claim usually depends on your own uninsured motorist coverage, if your policy includes it.

We have handled many hit-and-run cases. We canvass for video and witnesses, and even when the police report lists the driver or owner as unknown or shows no insurance, we investigate to identify the at-fault driver and vehicle owner. We have found coverage in those cases, although every case is different. At the same time, we pursue every coverage available under your own policies and fight wrongful denials.

Boca Raton car accident lawyer David B. Datny personally handles every case, and you will have direct access to him and the entire team. The sooner you call, the better the chance of finding the video and witnesses that identify the driver.

Leaving the Scene Is a Crime in Florida

A driver involved in a crash that causes injury or death must stop, remain at the scene and give aid (§ 316.027, Fla. Stat.). Leaving is a felony. A criminal case against the driver is separate from your injury claim, and you can pursue compensation whether or not the driver is ever charged.

What to Do After a Hit-and-Run

1. Call 911 from the scene and report the crash as a hit-and-run. Depending on where the crash happened, Boca Raton Police (inside city limits), the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (unincorporated west Boca) or the Florida Highway Patrol (I-95 and the Turnpike) will respond. Ask for the report number before the officer leaves.
2. Don’t chase the other driver. Stay safe and let the police handle it.
3. Write down everything you remember right away: the plate or partial plate, the car’s make, model and color, any damage to it, and which way it went.
4. Photograph the scene, including your vehicle, any debris or paint left behind, and nearby businesses or homes that may have cameras.
5. Get names and phone numbers of witnesses before they leave.
6. Get medical care within 14 days so your PIP coverage applies (§ 627.736, Fla. Stat.).
7. Notify your own insurance company promptly. Many policies have deadlines for reporting a hit-and-run.
8. Talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to any insurance company.

Who Pays When the Driver Can’t Be Found?

• Your PIP coverage pays a share of your medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault.
• Your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can pay for the rest of your injury damages, including pain and suffering, when the at-fault driver is unknown. UM coverage generally protects you as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist.
• Other sources may include a household member’s UM coverage or Florida’s crime victim compensation program. We look for every available source.

Learn more about uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.

When the Insurance Company Says No

Insurers sometimes deny hit-and-run claims or argue that the crash didn’t happen the way you describe it. In one of our Boca Raton cases, GEICO denied our client’s hit-and-run claim by calling the other car “stolen”. We forced GEICO to reverse that denial and recovered the $25,000 policy limits for our client. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Our Results in Hit-and-Run Cases

See more case results. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.