A hit-and-run crash creates an immediate problem that many ordinary car accidents do not: the person who caused the collision may be gone before you can obtain a name, insurance information, or even a license plate number.
That does not necessarily mean your options disappear with the driver.
At The Black Law Company, we represent Florida car accident victims, including people dealing with uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. After a hit-and-run accident, we focus on preserving evidence, identifying available insurance, and determining what options remain when the other driver cannot immediately be found.
Key Takeaways
- Florida law requires drivers involved in injury crashes to stop and remain at the scene.
- Report a hit-and-run crash to law enforcement as soon as possible.
- Photographs, surveillance video, dashcam footage, and witnesses may help identify the fleeing vehicle.
- PIP benefits may cover qualifying losses even when the other driver has not been identified.
- Uninsured motorist coverage may become important in some hit-and-run claims, depending on the policy and circumstances.
- Early investigation can help preserve evidence that may otherwise disappear.
What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident Under Florida Law?
A hit-and-run generally occurs when a driver involved in a collision leaves without fulfilling legally required duties.
Florida Statute §316.027 requires a driver involved in a crash that results in injury to stop at or near the scene and remain until the statutory requirements are fulfilled. Florida law also requires drivers involved in qualifying crashes to provide identifying information and render reasonable assistance to injured people.
For an injured person, however, the immediate concern is usually practical: how do you pursue a claim when the other driver is gone?
What Should You Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run?
Your safety comes first.
Call law enforcement and seek appropriate medical attention. If you can safely gather information, write down anything you remember about the other vehicle, including its color, make, model, damage, direction of travel, or partial license plate.
Photograph your vehicle and the surrounding scene.
Look around for nearby businesses, homes, intersections, or vehicles that could have recorded the collision. Surveillance systems and dashcams can sometimes capture information that an injured driver could not see during the crash.
Witness contact information can also be valuable.
Can an Attorney Help Identify the Driver?
A car accident attorney cannot guarantee that a hit-and-run driver will be found, but an early investigation can identify evidence worth pursuing.
At our firm, that can mean reviewing available crash information, locating witnesses, examining photographs, and determining whether potentially relevant video exists.
Timing matters. A business may not preserve security footage indefinitely, and witnesses can become harder to locate as time passes.
Even if the driver is never identified, the investigation should continue into available insurance coverage.
Will My Own Insurance Cover a Hit-and-Run?
Potentially.
Florida PIP benefits can provide qualifying medical and disability benefits without depending entirely on whether the other driver is identified or ultimately found at fault. Florida’s current statute generally requires initial qualifying medical care within 14 days of the crash.
Uninsured motorist coverage may also become relevant in some hit-and-run situations, depending on the policy language and facts.
Florida law requires qualifying auto insurers to offer UM coverage with bodily injury liability insurance, but an insured can reject the coverage in writing. That makes reviewing the actual policy essential rather than simply assuming UM protection exists.
Why Involve a Car Accident Attorney?
Hit-and-run claims can involve two investigations at once.
First, we want to understand who caused the crash and whether that person can be identified. Second, we need to determine what insurance is available if the driver remains unknown or has inadequate coverage.
We can also handle communication with insurers, organize medical and accident documentation, and evaluate whether an insurer is properly applying the terms of the policy.
The Black Law Company is based in Tampa and represents clients in auto accident and other personal injury matters throughout Florida.
Conclusion
A fleeing driver can make a Tampa car accident claim more complicated, but leaving the scene does not automatically eliminate an injured person’s options.
Evidence from the scene may help identify the vehicle or driver. PIP benefits may address certain qualifying losses, and UM coverage may become relevant depending on your policy.
At The Black Law Company, we approach hit-and-run cases by investigating both the collision and the insurance coverage behind the claim. The sooner relevant evidence is identified and preserved, the clearer the available options can become.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if someone hits my car and drives away?
Contact law enforcement, seek appropriate medical attention, photograph the scene and damage, collect witness information, and write down everything you remember about the fleeing vehicle.
Is leaving an injury accident illegal in Florida?
Yes. Florida law requires a driver involved in a crash causing injury to stop and remain at the scene while fulfilling statutory duties.
Can I make a claim if police never find the hit-and-run driver?
Potentially. Your own PIP or other applicable insurance may provide benefits, and UM coverage may be relevant depending on your policy and circumstances.
Does every Florida driver have uninsured motorist coverage?
No. Florida law generally requires insurers providing qualifying bodily injury liability coverage to offer UM coverage, but the named insured may reject it in writing.
Why should I contact an attorney quickly after a hit-and-run?
Some evidence, particularly surveillance recordings and witness information, can become difficult to obtain over time. Early investigation can improve the chances of preserving available evidence.
This post was written by Okoye Morgan Jr., a personal injury law firm west lakes market street district fl and lawyer with extensive knowledge of Tampa car accidents. Okoye is one of the founding partners of The Black Law Company, specializing in personal injury law, trust and estate law, civil litigation law, and criminal defense.
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