3 Questions You May Have After Being Victimized In A Hit And Run Accident
Posted on: 21 July 2015
Being involved in a car accident is never a good experience, but it can be much worse if the person that hit you took after the accident occurred. This is labeled as a hit and run accident, and according to statistics, hit and run accidents are on the rise. If you were involved in a hit and run, you may have questions you would like to have answered. Here are three questions people have after being victims in hit and run accidents.
Why Do These Happen?
It's hard to say why someone would strike a vehicle, bike, or pedestrian and then take off, but it happens all the time. There are many reasons for this, but here are three of the most common ones:
- Drunk driving – If the driver is drunk or on drugs during the collision, he or she might want to avoid legal problems. In this situation, the driver would simply leave the accident scene hoping that he or she does not get caught.
- No license or insurance – In other cases, drivers leave accident scenes because they should not have been driving in the first place. This could happen to a teenager who has not yet received a driver's license, or it could be an adult with a suspended license. It could also be a person that does not currently have insurance.
- Poor decisions during driving – Some people may leave accident scenes because they were speeding, recklessly driving, or doing something else that might be illegal. Some people might not really even be doing anything wrong, but they might simply get scared and leave because of that.
After you are involved in a hit and run, you will probably want to find the person that did this. This person deserves to be held accountable for his or her actions, and you will need to file a police report to begin the investigation.
How Are Hit And Runs Investigated?
The police report should be completed as soon as possible, and it should be done at the scene of the accident. By doing it quickly, you may be able to recall more details of the event, and you may also have a better chance of finding witnesses that can offer information.
From the information given to the police, an investigation will follow. The police may put out a search request for information. When they do this, they will give as many details as possible about the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle. Anyone that has information can call the police and report it. This method is sometimes very effective for finding drivers of hit and run accidents. Once the driver is found, he or she could face major legal issues.
What Are The Consequences Of The Driver That Left?
The person that left the scene of the accident could face numerous problems if he or she is apprehended. In some states, hit and run drivers can be charged with felonies. Other states may only classify this crime as a misdemeanor. The exact type of charge is not only determined by the state the accident occurs in, but it may also be affected by the following factors:
- The reason it occurred
- The severity of the damage to the vehicle
- The severity of the injuries
For example, if a hit and run occurs and no one is hurt, the court may view this as a misdemeanor. On the other hand, if someone is killed during a hit and run, it could be viewed as a felony crime.
Settling a hit and run accident can take time, especially if the responsible party is hard to find. If you are involved in an accident like this, the best thing you can do is talk with a car accident firm such as The Law Offices of Gregg Durlofsky for advice and help.
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