Hit-and-run accidents are especially difficult accidents to experience due to the fact that drivers flee the scene and it is not always easy to locate these suspects. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, approximately 737,100 hit-and-run accidents occurred within the U.S. in 2015 alone. Hit-and-run accidents are at an all-time high in Florida, with many leading to serious injuries in victims.

If you were injured in an accident and the person who caused your accident immediately fled the scene, you might be feeling concerned and confused as far as your options are concerned. It is easy to prove negligence in these cases but it is not always easy to identify the driver who caused you harm when you are at your most vulnerable. There are some ways that you can work with an attorney and prove who caused your accident.

Steps for Identifying a Hit-and-Run Driver

It is illegal for drivers to flee the scene of an accident but, as we know, these acts still happen in the U.S. As such, it is imperative that you immediately start working with an attorney who will help you navigate the legal system and identify the driver involved. Here are some of the best steps to take:

Police: At the scene of every accident, you should always contact the police. Police, however, cannot solely find a responsible hit-and-run driver in all scenarios. This doesn’t mean that you should completely write them off. Police have the tools to interview people in the area and treat this as a crime, which it is. As such, they might have the techniques to locate the driver who caused your accident.

Eyewitnesses: Eyewitness accounts are some of the most reliable means of finding a hit-and-run driver. The witness might have seen many things that you didn’t, such as the driver’s license plate number, the make and model of the vehicle, color of the vehicle, or a description of the driver that police can use. 

Businesses and Individuals: Perhaps the business owners or people living in the area saw something even if they did not witness the actual accident. They might have seen a suspicious vehicle or have video cameras that can show who fled the area after the accident, which can be entirely beneficial to your case. 

DMV: If you are able to catch the license plate number of the vehicle that fled the scene, then you will be able to work with the DMV and police to catch the owner of the vehicle. This could lead you to the party who caused your accident.

Working with an Attorney After a Hit-and-Run Accident

Hit-and-run accidents are some of the most serious accidents that occur on our roadways. In Florida, our attorneys at Sheftall & Associates understand how imperative it is that you catch the driver responsible for your accident. We will work diligently to assist you when it comes to your car accident claim in Florida, navigating all aspects of the legal system. If you have been harmed in an accident, you should never stand alone. Please contact our accident attorneys at 904-647-2296 to find out what we can do for you.