Hit & Run Accident Attorney Near Me
Injured in a Hit & Run on Long Island?
Some drivers are so irresponsible that when they cause an injury accident, they don’t stop to render aid or even to contact emergency personnel. When someone is injured in a car accident, those involved are required by law to stop and render assistance. Sometimes, when a driver is intoxicated, reckless, or speeding, he or she may leave the scene of an accident in an attempt to avoid legal repercussions. Their failure to stop and call 911 or the police can lead to the victim suffering more severe injuries than they would have had the negligent party been responsible and called emergency assistance.
These cases are termed “criminal negligence,” and if law enforcement finds the hit and run driver, which is a frequent result, a lawsuit can be filed against the negligent party for compensation for damages. These damages include compensation for medical bills, anticipated medical costs, lost wages, and punitive damages, due to the criminal aspect of the incident. It is critical that you contact a Long Island car accident lawyer at once if you or a loved one has been the victim in a hit and run accident.
Hit & Run Injury Cases in Long Island
Many individuals have insurance that will provide compensation for the injuries and other damages suffered in such accidents, should the negligent party not be found and arrested for the crime. When your own insurance policy does not have adequate coverage to address all the damages suffered, finding the liable party and suing them for every type of damage that has been sustained is an urgent necessity. Medical costs can easily overwhelm and individual or a family, and we at The Odierno Law Firm, P.C. strive to ensure that you won’t have to suffer any more because of someone else’s reckless or negligent behavior.
Pedestrians and bicycle riders are the most common victims in hit & run accidents, and the injuries sustained in such cases can be extremely severe, or in the saddest cases, fatal. Drivers who are uninsured or involved in a police chases, driving stolen cars or other circumstances are often part of serious hit & run accident cases. At The Odierno Law Firm, P.C., our legal team has extensive experience and knowledge related to addressing hit & run accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and wrongful death cases.
How Do Police Find a Hit & Run Driver?
When you are involved in a hit and run, it’s important that you contact the police right away so that they can begin their investigation. Police may employ several tactics when looking for a hit and run driver. If you were able to take down the hit and run driver’s license plate number, police can use this information to look up the vehicle and see who it is registered to. Even if you were not able to get the license plate number, if you can remember the make, model, and/or color of the car that hit you, provide this information to the police, as this can be useful to the investigation.
When looking for a hit and run driver, police may examine surveillance cameras from nearby stores, office buildings, and other commercial properties. They may talk to eyewitnesses who saw the accident or were able to note more information about the vehicle, including which direction it drove off. Police may also ask local business owners or residents if they saw or heard anything related to the accident, or they may bring the story to local news outlets or social media. The length of the investigation, as well as whether or not the police are able to locate the hit and run driver, depends on numerous factors, including what time of day the incident occurred, how many details are provided in the police report, how much manpower the police are able to provide to the investigation, how quickly you report the incident, how many people witnessed the crash, and more.
If the police are able to find the hit and run driver, two separate legal proceedings will likely occur. One will be criminal charges brought against the hit and run driver and the other will be civil proceedings brought by an injured party seeking compensation for damages. Remember, the outcome of one proceeding does not affect the other; just because a hit and run driver is convicted of the crime of fleeing the scene of the accident, that does not mean you are automatically entitled to compensation, and vice versa.
Unfortunately, hit and run drivers are not always caught. However, this does not mean you are totally without options for financial recovery. You may be able to seek compensation through your own insurance provider. We encourage you to contact our Long Island hit and run accident attorneys right away for more information and help with your claim.
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