All Florida truck accidents are devastating and many are fatal. However, when the truck driver refuses to remain at the scene of the accident, the results can be even more devastating. Victims may not be offered timely help. If they need to report an insurance claim to cover medical costs, this can be more difficult in a hit and run accident, as well.
Under Florida law, all drivers must remain on the scene to help and to speak to authorities (if necessary) after an accident. Despite this, many motorists do not remain to help. In fact, according the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Miami-Dade and Broward counties led the state in 2008 for hit and run accidents. There are many reasons why truck drivers choose to leave the scene of an accident: they may be driving under the influence, they may not have adequate licensing or insurance, or they may simply be afraid of the consequences.
Hit and run truck accidents are even more complex for a number of reasons. Truck drivers are regulated by federal laws and in truck accidents there are usually several liable parties: the truck driver, the truck manufacturer, the carrier or truck company, and others. As well, most truck drivers are protected under commercial insurance, which means they carry higher insurance limits.
If you have been in a Florida truck accident, your first priority should be to seek help. If you remember anything about the truck or its driver, write this down. Since hit and run accidents are a crime, the police will often open an investigation to find the truck driver who has left the scene of a crime. As you start to recover, you will want to keep careful records of your injuries and injury-related expenses so that if the driver is found you can seek compensation.
In hit and run cases, it is often best to seek the help of a qualified attorney. Florida personal injury attorneys often work with private investigators, who can run a more thorough investigation if police are not able to find the hit and run driver. As well, attorneys can help you find help and can offer advice on what you can do to help recover from your injuries. Once the driver is found, a good Florida attorney can help ensure that the driver is held accountable for his or her actions.
If you have been injured in a Florida truck accident and need a good personal injury attorney, contact the Flaxman Law Group. With thousands of successfully completed cases, extensive trial experience, and offices in Miami, Homestead, and Hollywood, the Flaxman Law Group is ready to help traffic accident victims throughout South Florida. Call today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.