A hit-and-run accident can leave you feeling angry, confused, and completely abandoned.
Someone crashes into you, causes injuries and damage, and then drives away before taking responsibility. In many cases, the police are unable to identify the driver. There may be no license plate, no reliable witness, and no clear video of the vehicle leaving the scene.
At that point, a lot of injured people assume there is nowhere to turn.
That is not always true.
If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident in Florida, you may still be able to pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage on your own automobile insurance policy.
This is one of the most important types of coverage a Florida driver can have, yet many people do not understand it until they need it.
What Happens if the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Never Found?
The first goal after a hit-and-run is to try to identify the driver.
Law enforcement may review witness statements, surveillance footage, vehicle debris, traffic cameras, and other available evidence. Sometimes the driver is located.
Unfortunately, many hit-and-run drivers are never found.
The police may investigate and come up with nothing. There may not be enough identifying information to track the vehicle. Even when witnesses saw the crash, they may not have been able to read the license plate or provide a detailed description.
That does not necessarily mean the injured person has no case.
When the driver cannot be identified, uninsured motorist coverage may take the place of the insurance that should have been available through the person who caused the crash.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage, often called UM coverage, is protection you purchase through your own automobile insurance company.
It may apply when you are injured by:
- A hit-and-run driver
- A driver with no bodily injury liability insurance
- A driver who does not have enough insurance to cover your damages
In a hit-and-run case, the driver who fled is generally treated as an uninsured motorist.
If you purchased UM coverage, your own insurance policy may provide compensation for damages caused by that unknown driver. Depending on the facts and coverage available, that may include compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses resulting from the crash.
This is why I strongly encourage people to look carefully at their policies before an accident ever happens.
You cannot control whether the person who hits you has insurance. You cannot control whether that person stays at the scene. Uninsured motorist coverage gives you a potential source of protection when the at-fault driver does not.
Florida Drivers May Have No Bodily Injury Coverage
Florida drivers are not always required to carry bodily injury liability insurance.
That creates a serious problem.
A person may cause a major accident, leave someone with permanent injuries, and have no bodily injury coverage available to compensate the victim for pain and suffering.
Even if the at-fault driver is identified, that person may not have meaningful assets to pursue. In many situations, someone carrying only the most basic insurance does not have the personal resources to pay a substantial injury claim.
This is another situation where uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may become extremely valuable.
It does not only protect you from a driver who disappears. It may also protect you when the driver stays at the scene but has no insurance capable of covering the harm they caused.
Your Own Insurance Company May Still Fight You
This part surprises people.
They assume that because they paid premiums for uninsured motorist coverage, their own insurance company will step in and fairly compensate them after a hit-and-run.
That is not always what happens.
Once you make a claim for substantial compensation, your insurance company may begin acting much like the at-fault driver’s insurance company would have acted.
The adjuster may question the value of your case. The company may challenge whether all your injuries came from the crash. It may examine your medical history, treatment records, prior accidents, and any gaps in medical care.
If the case proceeds into litigation, the insurance company may hire defense lawyers and medical experts to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim.
That is frustrating because this is your own insurance company. You paid for the coverage. You did exactly what you were supposed to do.
But once money is being demanded, the company may still focus on protecting its bottom line.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run?
Even when the other driver disappears, the evidence at the scene still matters.
Call law enforcement immediately and make sure the crash is formally reported. Give officers every detail you can remember about the other vehicle, including:
- Make or model
- Color
- Partial license plate
- Direction of travel
- Visible damage
- Description of the driver
- Any company markings or bumper stickers
Take photographs of your vehicle, the accident scene, debris, skid marks, and your visible injuries.
Look for nearby businesses, homes, apartment buildings, traffic cameras, and doorbell cameras. Video may show the crash or capture the fleeing vehicle before or after the collision.
Get the names and contact information of witnesses. Someone may have seen more than you did, especially if you were injured or disoriented after impact.
This evidence can help establish that the crash happened as reported and that an unidentified driver caused it.
Get Medical Treatment and Document Your Injuries
A hit-and-run claim still has to be supported with evidence.
That includes medical evidence.
If you are injured, get evaluated as soon as possible. Do not assume the pain will disappear on its own. Some symptoms become worse after the initial shock and adrenaline wear off.
Follow your doctors’ recommendations and keep your appointments.
Your insurance company will examine the treatment timeline. If you wait too long to seek care or create large gaps in treatment, the company may argue that you were not seriously injured.
Medical records help connect the crash to your injuries. They also show what treatment you needed, whether you missed work, and how the accident affected your daily life.
Do Not Assume You Know What Coverage You Have
Many people tell me they do not think they have uninsured motorist coverage.
Sometimes they are right. Sometimes they have coverage and simply did not recognize it on the policy.
Insurance documents can be confusing. The coverage may appear under an abbreviation such as UM or UM/UIM. There may also be multiple vehicles or policies that need to be reviewed.
Do not rely only on what an adjuster tells you during an initial phone call.
An attorney can obtain and review the policy, declarations page, endorsements, and other records to determine what coverage may be available.
There may also be questions about whether coverage was properly rejected when the policy was purchased. Those issues should be examined carefully rather than dismissed too quickly.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire The Jaspon Firm?
One of the most common questions people ask me is, “How much is this going to cost?”
The answer is simple: there are no upfront attorney’s fees.
I handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. That means I only get paid if I recover money for you.
If there is no recovery, you do not owe me an attorney’s fee for the time I spent working on the case.
This arrangement allows injured people to get legal help without paying hourly legal bills while they are already dealing with medical expenses, missed work, and the financial stress of an accident.
It also means our interests are aligned. My goal is to pursue the strongest recovery supported by the facts, evidence, injuries, and available insurance.
You Do Not Have to Live Near My Orlando Office
A lot of personal injury cases can now be handled virtually.
I represent people throughout Florida, from the Panhandle to Miami and the Florida Keys. Meetings can often be handled by phone or video conference. Many court hearings and legal proceedings are also conducted remotely.
You do not need to drive across the state just to sit in an office.
If a case ultimately goes to trial, I will appear where the case needs to be tried. Until then, we can usually handle much of the process without creating additional inconvenience for you.
How I Help After a Florida Hit-and-Run Accident
When you contact me after a hit-and-run, I begin by looking at the entire situation.
I want to know:
- What happened at the scene
- Whether law enforcement investigated
- Whether witnesses or cameras may exist
- What injuries you suffered
- What medical treatment you received
- Whether you have uninsured motorist coverage
- Whether any other policies may apply
From there, I can begin gathering evidence, reviewing the insurance coverage, communicating with the insurer, and building the claim.
If the insurance company is reasonable, we work toward a fair resolution.
If the company refuses to treat you fairly, then we may need to take the case further.
Talk to Jeremiah Jaspon After a Florida Hit-and-Run
The driver who hit you may have disappeared, but your opportunity to pursue compensation may not have disappeared with them.
Uninsured motorist coverage can provide an important source of recovery after a hit-and-run or a collision involving a driver with no bodily injury insurance.
The problem is that even your own insurance company may not make the process easy.
For legal representation and guidance, call me, Jeremiah Jaspon, at The Jaspon Firm today for a free case evaluation at (407) 513-9515.
I will personally speak with you about the crash, review the potential insurance coverage, and explain what options may be available to you.