Hit-and-run drivers can make a bad situation even worse for victims

Most of us are taught as children to take responsibility for our mistakes. Unfortunately, not everybody takes that lesson to heart, especially in emergency situations they might be responsible for. We are talking specifically about hit-and-run car accidents.

Very few auto accidents happen on purpose. But some negligent behavior, such as drunk driving and speeding, are crimes that can lead to serious penalties, especially if the resulting crash kills or severely injures somebody. Some motorists try to evade responsibility by fleeing the scene of a collision they caused.

Leaving the accident site instead of remaining until police and emergency services arrive, as Florida law requires, can have deadly consequences. A severely injured driver, passenger or pedestrian may be unable to call 911. If nobody else calls for help, the delay in emergency medical treatment can make the victim’s injuries worse. It could mean a lifetime of disability or even cause the person’s death when a prompt 911 call could have prevented either outcome.

Hit-and-run driver critically injures bike rider

In a recent example from the Miami area, a man riding his bicycle on a road on Key Biscayne suffered severe brain trauma recently when a hit-and-run driver sideswiped him. First responders took him to the hospital, where he was listed in critical condition with a head injury as of Feb. 1. The driver’s identity and whereabouts were unknown as of that date.

Another consequence of a hit-and-run crash is the victim and their family might never be able to hold the driver liable for the damages they caused. However, if you have UM/UIM coverage on your auto insurance policy, you can make a claim on that for compensation for things like your medical and auto repair bills. Your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage can also help cover your losses.