A hit-and-run accident in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, can leave you injured and unsure where to turn when the at-fault driver leaves the scene without providing insurance or contact information. Even if the driver cannot be immediately identified, you may still have options for seeking compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and other accident-related losses.
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers has 75 years of combined experience and has recovered more than $200 million for injured clients. Our team can investigate your crash, explain your legal options, and help you pursue available compensation. Contact us today at (850) 604-3844 for a free consultation with a Fort Walton Beach hit-and-run accident lawyer.
How Can Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Help After a Hit & Run Accident in Fort Walton Beach, FL?
Hit-and-run accidents can be difficult to investigate because the at-fault driver may leave behind little identifying information. Witness statements, surveillance footage, and other evidence may help identify the vehicle or driver.
The Fort Walton Beach car accident lawyers at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can investigate the crash, pursue available leads, and review other potential sources of compensation.
Our investigation may include:
- Obtaining the police crash report
- Searching for available video footage
- Interviewing witnesses
- Reviewing photos and other evidence
- Following up on vehicle descriptions
- Reviewing applicable insurance coverage
- Documenting medical and financial losses
- Handling insurer communications
Our team can pursue available compensation while handling the investigation and insurance process. Contact our Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyers for a free case review.
What Causes Hit & Run Accidents?
The act of leaving the scene does not explain why the collision happened in the first place. A driver may cause a crash through negligence and then make a separate decision to flee rather than remain and provide the required information.
Hit-and-run crashes may involve:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Running a traffic signal
- Unsafe lane changes
- Reckless driving
- Driving without a license
- Driving without insurance
Whatever prompted the driver to leave, Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can concentrate on the evidence showing how the crash occurred. Establishing the other motorist’s fault can remain important even when the person’s identity is initially unknown.
What Injuries Commonly Occur in Hit & Run Accidents?
Hit-and-run crashes can involve vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists, so there is no single pattern of injury. A victim may also suffer additional harm if the initial impact pushes a vehicle into another lane, object, or road user.
Injuries may include:
- Brain injury
- Concussions
- Broken wrists
- Shoulder injuries
- Herniated discs
- Knee damage
- Internal injuries
- Facial fractures
- Nerve damage
- Severe lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The uncertainty surrounding the driver should not distract from the seriousness of your medical recovery. We can document treatment, work restrictions, ongoing symptoms, and future needs so those losses are properly presented when compensation is pursued.
What Compensation Is Available to Me?
A hit-and-run can create an unusual insurance problem, but the losses themselves are very real. Depending on the available coverage and facts of the collision, compensation may address both direct expenses and the personal effects of being injured.
Recoverable losses may include:
- Emergency treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Physical therapy
- Emotional distress
- Future medical care
- Reduced earning capacity
- Prescription expenses
- Permanent impairment
- Vehicle damage
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can determine which losses are supported by the evidence and which insurance coverage may be available to pay them. That allows the claim to be evaluated based on what the accident actually cost you, not simply on whether the fleeing motorist was found.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Hit & Run Lawyer?
Our personal injury lawyers handle hit-and-run accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This generally means you do not pay attorney’s fees upfront. Instead, the lawyer receives an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation recovered through a settlement or verdict.
Our law firm offers free consultations, so you can discuss your accident and legal options without an upfront consultation fee. If we take your case, you generally pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
How Long Do I Have to File a Hit & Run Lawsuit in Florida?
In Florida, you generally have two years from the date of a hit-and-run accident to file a personal injury lawsuit based on negligence.
However, hit-and-run cases can involve additional issues when the driver cannot be identified. You may need to pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage or another available insurance policy, and different deadlines can apply to insurance-related claims.
Contact a Fort Walton Beach Hit & Run Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A hit-and-run accident can leave you with injuries, expenses, and questions about your insurance options. Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can investigate the crash, review available coverage, and pursue compensation on your behalf.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a Fort Walton Beach hit-and-run accident attorney.