Hit-and-run accidents occur at an alarming rate in Central Florida. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), approximately 25 percent of all accidents reported in our state involve hit-and-runs. Last year, there were more than 105,000 hit-and-run incidents reported, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
According to FLHSMV, between 2015 and 2019, more than 507,000 hit-and-run accidents were reported. More than 1,000 of these involved fatalities.
A recent hit-and-run in the Kissimmee area took the life of a pedestrian. The accident occurred in the evening hours on November 8, 2020 at the intersection of South John Young Parkway and Emmett Street in Kissimmee. Hit-and-runs are common occurrences where a phantom vehicle strikes a pedestrian, bicyclist, or another car, taking off and leaving the damage in his or her wake. In these situations, however, it is not clear how property damages or personal injuries that resulted will be paid. The injured party’s insurance coverage may only cover so much, but if the accident is severe, it may not be enough.
In the event of a car accident resulting in an injury or damages, the injured party must first file a claim through his or her Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. This PIP coverage is mandated by state law. Drivers are required to have a minimum amount of PIP coverage before being allowed to get behind the wheel. However, the problem is this coverage does not always pay for all damages or injuries.
Depending on the type of accident and severity of your injuries, you may be able to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage to fill in these gaps. If the at-fault driver left the scene and is nowhere to be found, uninsured motorist coverage can pay for your injuries and damages sustained in a hit-and-run accident, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and funeral expenses, if the accident is fatal.
By not having this coverage, you are opening yourself up to significant financial stress in the event you cause a serious accident that results in more damages than your insurance will pay for or if you are involved in an accident with someone who is either uninsured or underinsured. As personal injury attorneys who fight for the rights of hit-and-run victims and their families, we always recommend carrying uninsured motorist coverage to ensure that all of your damages are paid in full.
If you or someone close to you was seriously injured in an Orlando hit-and-run accident, our personal injury lawyers are ready to help protect your legal rights. From investigating the cause of the accident to helping you get the medical treatment you need, the legal team at Wooten Kimbrough Damaso & Dennis, P.A. is here to assist you every step of the way, and get you the compensation you deserve.
Call us today at (407) 843-7060. Virtual sign-ups available. To learn more, visit https://www.whkpa.com/.
A civil trial attorney with the firm Wooten, Kimbrough, Damaso & Dennis, P.A., Mr. Damaso concentrates on cases involving personal injury and wrongful deaths and solely represents individual victims and consumers. He takes his clients' cases personally and is committed to their best possible outcome. His strong sense of community has led to his support of numerous charities in the Orlando area.
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