If a driver hits you and flees, you can identify them and file a claim for various damages. Tampa hit and run car accident lawyers can help you establish liability and build a case against the other party. Continue reading to understand what you should do after such a crash and the damages you may seek.
Precautions to Take After a Tampa Hit and Run Accident
If you sustain injuries in a Tampa hit and run accident, you should contact 911. The respondent can ask various questions to identify your location and the severity of physical harm. After that, they can send emergency medical care and police officers to the scene.
Once these parties arrive, file a statement explaining the events leading to the crash. Give the police details you noted about the other car, such as the registration numbers, vehicle model, and color.
After providing an accident report, get medical care to prevent adverse issues like infection or severe bleeding. More precautions to take after a Tampa hit and run car accident are:
- Avoid admitting fault for the crash
- Get a copy of the police report
- Contact a car accident attorney
- Undergo comprehensive medical tests
- Follow the recommended treatment plan
Another vital step after a Tampa car accident is to contact your insurer. After that, mention you were in a hit-and-run collision and provide the crash's date, time, and location. You can also give the vehicle registration details if you noted them before the driver fled.
Details to Gather After a Hit and Run Car Accident
Gathering various details after a hit and run accident can help you file a claim. Note unique aspects about the vehicle that hit you. Such may include:
- A broken headlight or side mirror
- Rust patterns
- Bumper stickers
- Writings
- Make and model
If you had a good view of the other motorist, you should also record what you noted about them. These details can help your lawyer track them. Some vital information to capture is:
- The driver's hair color
- Their race and skin color
- Unique scars or tattoos
- Their body size and height
Collecting evidence after a hit and run accident may help you prove fault. If witnesses are at the scene, request their contact details and addresses.
Further, take pictures of damages to your vehicle and other parties involved in the collision. You should also note responding officers' names and badge numbers since you might need them for a statement or when obtaining a police report.
How a Tampa Hit and Run Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
A Tampa car accident lawyer can study various facts about your case. This measure allows them to determine if the motorist that fled the scene was the primary cause of the crash. Once your attorney understands each event leading to the collision, they can collect evidence.
The lawyer can visit the accident scene to confirm if nearby buildings or CCTV systems captured the crash. After that, they can request the footage from property managers or homeowners. The lawyer can also get a court order if the other parties refuse to provide a copy of the videos.
Another item your attorney can obtain is a police report. This document may contain more details about the crash, which can help identify the at-fault party.
More ways a Tampa hit and run accident lawyer can assist are:
- Compiling evidence
- Assessing the sustained damages
- Filing an auto accident claim against the liable party
- Explaining Florida hit and run car accident laws
- Identifying other parties responsible for the car crash
Establishing fault for a hit and run accident may involve obtaining witness and police statements. A Tampa lawyer can meet with these parties and record their testimonies. They can then present this evidence when requesting compensation.
Insurance companies may offer a low settlement for damages caused by a hit and run accident. Your lawyer can determine why adjusters downplayed your claim.
After that, they can negotiate with the company for better compensation. The attorney can also file a lawsuit against the liable party if the insurers fail to increase the settlement offer or deny the claim.
Proving Hit and Run Damages
Insurance companies require evidence for each injury you claim after a car crash. A Tampa personal injury lawyer can help you identify the proof needed for each damage and collect it.
If you sustained physical harm after a crash, your lawyer would get a copy of your medical record. Further, they can consult your doctor to evaluate your health condition. This step allows the attorney to assess the likelihood of long-term adverse effects resulting from the injuries.
This can help them identify your future medical needs, quantify them and provide the needed documents when filing the claim.
More items a Tampa attorney can use when claiming reimbursement for hit and run damages are:
- Receipts of medical cost
- Invoices of costs you incurred on vehicle repair
- An assessment report indicating your vehicle is beyond repair
- Pictures of sustained physical harm
- Images of vehicle damages before repairs
Motorists causing hit and run accidents may admit fault when interviewed by the police. A Tampa lawyer can use recordings of such meetings to prove that the other party caused various damages. The attorney may also support their claim with video surveillance footage of the incident.
Contact Dolman Law Group
Tampa hit and run car accident lawyers can help you identify the party responsible for a crash based on details gathered at the scene. They can evaluate your condition to determine the damages to claim from an insurer.
At Dolman Law Group, we can represent you when pursuing justice for a Tampa hit and run crash. Our lawyer can take care of all legal processes so you can recover with less worry. Call Dolman Law Group today to schedule a free case review.
Tampa Office
13513 Prestige Pl. Suite 103
Tampa, FL 33635
(813) 303-0916