Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

Getting into a car accident can be shocking and frustrating. Watching the driver who hit you speed away can make the experience even more infuriating. If you don’t have the other driver’s information, you may worry about how you will pay for medical bills and car repairs. Fortunately, you could have legal options for recovering compensation for your injuries and losses. A hit-and-run accident lawyer can help you pursue avenues for obtaining the financial recovery and justice you deserve.

If you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you need experienced legal representation to maximize your compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Contact Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, today for a free initial claim evaluation to discuss your rights and options with a Gulfport hit-and-run accident lawyer.

What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident?

A “hit-and-run” accident refers to a type of motor vehicle crash where one or more drivers involved in the accident fail to stop or return to the crash scene to assist any injured victims and exchange information with the owners of any vehicles or damaged property involved in the accident.

Why Do Some Drivers Leave the Scene of an Accident?

Unfortunately, some people flee the scene of a motor vehicle collision without checking on everyone involved in the crash and exchanging contact/insurance information. Some of the most common reasons why people immediately leave a car accident scene include the following:

• The driver does not realize they’ve collided with another vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist, or fixed object.
• The driver does not have liability insurance coverage or wants to avoid financial liability for property damage or injuries.
• The driver has consumed alcohol or drugs before driving.
• The driver believes they have outstanding arrest warrants.
• The driver fears criminal liability for the crash, such as driving without a license or vehicular assault/homicide.
• The driver wants to avoid involvement with the authorities.

In some cases, the shock of a crash can trigger a “fight-or-flight” response, causing a driver to flee in a panic. However, even after the driver calms down, they may not return to the crash scene due to embarrassment or fear over the consequences of fleeing the accident.

Is There a Hit-and-Run Law in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, the law generally requires motorists to stop or immediately return to the scene of a collision. When colliding with an unattended vehicle or fixed property, a driver must undertake reasonable efforts to locate and notify the vehicle or property owner. If the driver cannot locate the owner, they must leave a written notice on the vehicle or property with the driver’s contact information and a statement of the circumstances of the crash.

In an accident involving injury or death or damage to an attended vehicle, each driver involved in the collision must exchange their name, address, license plate number, and driver’s license number. Drivers must assist anyone injured in the crash, including summoning medical attention or providing emergency care.

Failing to stop at or return to the scene of a collision with an unattended vehicle or property constitutes a misdemeanor offense. However, fleeing from the scene of a car accident resulting in injuries constitutes a misdemeanor offense that carries penalties of 30 days to one year of imprisonment and a fine of $100 to $5,000. Fleeing from the scene of a car accident resulting in fatalities or permanent disfigurement/disability constitutes a felony offense with a penalty of five to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $1,000 to $10,000. Hit-and-run drivers fleeing from accidents resulting in injury or death will also have their driver’s license revoked.

What Happens When a Hit-and-Run Happens in a Private Parking Lot?

Hit-and-run accidents can occur in private parking lots, even when a driver hits an unoccupied vehicle. The law requires drivers who hit vehicles or fixed property to stop and provide their information to the property/vehicle owner and assist anyone who has suffered injuries. Because of this, a driver who immediately flees after hitting something or someone may face criminal and civil consequences.

Steps to Take Following a Hit-and-Run Accident

After getting hit by a driver who fled the scene, you can take steps to give yourself a better chance to obtain the financial resources you need for your recovery. Things you should do after a hit-and-run accident include the following:

• Follow the treatment recommendations and recovery instructions your doctor has given you; do not put off treatment for the injuries you suffered in the crash.
• Request copies of medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
• Obtain a copy of the police crash report.
• Gather your bills, invoices, or receipts of expenses and copies of your pay stubs/income statements if you suffer a loss of earnings due to your injuries.

Finally, contact a Gulfport car accident lawyer as soon as possible after the crash to get help tracking down the driver who fled the scene. Your attorney can work with law enforcement and collect other evidence that may help with the investigation, such as surveillance and traffic camera footage or eyewitness testimony.

Who Pays for Injuries and Damage Caused by a Hit-and-Run?

When you’ve suffered injuries or property damage in a hit-and-run accident, you may wonder who will pay for the losses or expenses you’ve incurred or will incur. Your legal options for financial recovery may depend on whether you ultimately identify and locate the hit-and-run driver at fault for the crash and what coverages you have in your insurance policy.

If you eventually locate the at-fault driver who fled the accident scene, you can file a car accident claim against them. In most cases, compensation in your car accident claim will come from the at-fault driver’s liability insurance coverage.

However, if you cannot locate the at-fault driver, or if you find the driver but discover that they don’t have insurance, you may have the option to seek financial recovery from your insurance provider if you’ve purchased uninsured motorist coverage. Drivers usually purchase uninsured motorist coverage to protect themselves in the event of an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance. But uninsured motorist coverage also applies in hit-and-run accidents when a policyholder cannot locate the at-fault driver who fled the scene. This is because insurance companies treat hit-and-run drivers like uninsured motorists.

What Compensation Is Available in Hit-and-Run Accident Claims?

In a hit-and-run accident claim, you might recover compensation for losses you sustained due to injuries or property damage in the crash. These losses include the following:

• Costs of medical care and rehabilitation for your injuries, including emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, prescription pain medication, and physical/occupational therapy
• Costs of long-term care for prolonged or permanent disabilities, including home health services or housekeeping/home maintenance assistance
• Lost wages/income from missed work while recovering from injuries
• Reduced earning capacity due to disabilities preventing you from returning to your regular job duties or other kinds of work
• Pain and suffering
• Costs of repairs to your car or reimbursement of the car’s value if totaled in the crash

How Long Do I Have to File a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawsuit in Mississippi?

The statute of limitations in Mississippi typically gives plaintiffs three years to file a lawsuit after a car accident. The court may equitably toll or “pause” the limitation period for the time it takes an injured victim to learn the hit-and-run driver’s identity and locate them. However, you should still contact a hit-and-run accident lawyer as soon as possible after a crash to ensure you file your claim on time. If you file a lawsuit after the statutory deadline, you may lose the opportunity to pursue financial recovery for your injuries and losses in court.

Why Hire Our Attorneys to Fight for Your Hit-and-Run Case?

Recovering from a hit-and-run accident can be a stressful experience, especially if you don’t know where to turn to obtain compensation for your injuries and losses. For several years, the attorneys for hit-and-run accidents at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, have aggressively defended the rights and interests of accident victims through Mississippi. Our founding attorneys established the firm with one overriding purpose: to serve individuals and families facing legal challenges.

We work hard to provide our clients with a clear understanding of their rights and zealous legal advocacy that fights to recover the maximum compensation our clients need and deserve. Our legal team has the litigation experience necessary to pursue the best possible results for you, even if that means taking your case to court and trial. When you choose us to represent you after a hit-and-run accident, you will find our attorneys:

• Client-focused
• Driven to achieve success in your case
• Professional and knowledgeable
• Reliable and honest

Contact a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer Today

After suffering injuries in a hit-and-run accident, you deserve to seek accountability and financial recovery from the at-fault driver who fled the scene. Contact Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, today for a free, no-obligation consultation. You’ll learn how our hit-and-run attorneys can help you pursue compensation for your vehicle repairs, medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.