Duval County Car Injury Lawyers The Lawrence Law Group HomeHit and Run Accidents in Jacksonville and Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Hit and run accidents in Jacksonville are particularly harrowing for the victim. The hurt from the injuries you suffered is compounded by the fact a driver fled the accident scene and there may be no obvious party to file an insurance claim against.
Our Jacksonville injury lawyers help many people who were hurt in hit and run accidents. We can identify sources of insurance and help you get your life back on track.
Often hit and run drivers are apprehended by the police and face serious criminal sanctions. Even if the at-fault driver is never arrested, we can help you.
Hit and run accidents in Jacksonville are more common than many people think. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles states as many as a quarter of all crashes in the state involve a hit and run. While most hit and run crashes only lead to property damage, these crashes may leave victims seriously injured or dead. As personal injury lawyers in Jacksonville, we have seen some appalling injuries in these crashes.
The State of Florida has implemented a Stay at the Scene campaign which aims to cut the number of hit and run crashes across Florida by educating drivers on their responsibilities if they are involved in a hit and run wreck.
In recent years, Florida has increased the penalties for hit and run drivers in an effort to deter them from fleeing the scene.
The Penalties for Hit and Run Accidents in JacksonvilleOur Jacksonville accident lawyers welcome that the sanctions for hit and run drivers changed in 2014 when the state enacted the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act.
The new law was named after a 31-year-old cyclist who was hit and killed by drunk driver who fled an accident scene in February 2012 in central Florida. The hit and run driver was jailed for two years.
The light nature of the sentence, which was less than the penalty associated with a DUI manslaughter charge, led to a change in the law.
The Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act imposes a mandatory minimum of four years in jail for a driver who is convicted of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in a fatality.
As Jacksonville personal injury lawyers, we are concerned with the needs of the injured party rather than the defendant.
The victims of hit and run accident in Jacksonville include:
- Other drivers
- Passengers
- Pedestrians
- Motorcyclists
- Bicyclists
Operators of smaller vehicles like motorcycles and cyclists are among the most vulnerable of road users in Jacksonville and are most likely to be seriously injured and killed by hit and run drivers.
In November 2017, a 64-year-old man from Jacksonville was killed when he was thrown off his scooter in a collision with a car and then hit by a pickup truck. The pickup truck driver fled the scene on Normandy Boulevard near Herlong Recreational Airport, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.
Hit and run drivers often have something to hide. They may be driving drunk or without a valid driver’s license. The motive of the hit and run driver in Florida matters little to the victim. If a driver is arrested a claim can be made against his or her insurance policy. Although many hit and run drivers are caught and arrested, some are never apprehended.
If you do not know the identity and the insurance details of the driver who hit you or your family member, there are options. Our Jacksonville car accident injury lawyers will help you navigate this complicated process.
H2 - Insurance Options For the Victims of Hit and Run Accidents in JacksonvillePersonal Injury Protection Coverage
All drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) because Florida is a no-fault state. PIP will cover part of your medical bills and lost wages.
Under Florida law, every motorist is required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage. The downside is $10,000 may not go far in meeting your medical needs after a serious accident. PIP does not cover noneconomic damages like pain and suffering. You must visit a doctor within two weeks of your accident to claim PIP. This is the so-called 14-day rule.
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage
If you have uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your auto insurance policy, it will allow you to claim damages if you have been hurt by a hit and run driver. The insurer treats the hit and run driver as a driver with no insurance.
UM/UIM coverage protects you if you are hit by an uninsured or an underinsured motorist.
UM/UIM coverage is not compulsory in Florida. If you buy it, the coverage limits are comparable with your bodily injury liability coverage policy. You will likely have at least $10,000 for your injuries. It is prudent to purchase uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in Florida with a higher limit. We will help you make an UM/UIM claim.
Your Health Insurance
Some people who have been hurt in a car accident caused by a hit and run driver in Jacksonville are not aware their health insurance may be able to assist them.
Some health insurance policies cover your medical expenses if you were injured in an auto accident but other policies specifically exclude these injuries.
Check the fine print in your statement of coverage as well as the exclusions listed in your health insurance policy. We can advise you about post-accident health insurance policy.
Contact Our Jacksonville Injury Lawyers After a Hit and Run WreckIf you were hurt in a hit and run crash or lost a loved one, we can help you. At The Lawrence Law Group, our experienced lawyers are committed to assisting clients after a traumatic event of this nature. We represent hit and run accident victims throughout Northeast Florida, including the counties of Duval, Clay, Nassau, Flagler, Baker, St. Johns, Putnam, Union, Brevard, Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, Jefferson, Volusia, and Alachua. Contact us for a free initial consultation at 904-632-0077.
