San Antonio Hit & Run Accident Lawyer
For more than the past ten years straight, hit-and-run deaths have been going up every year by more than 7% annually. Today, there are approximately 682,000 hit-and-run accidents per year on average. Leaving the scene of an accident is one of the worst things someone can do after hitting a cyclist, pedestrian, motorcyclist or another automobile. The injured victim might be seriously hurt, and precious moments to get medical attention can be lost if the at-fault driver doesn’t stop and render aid or call for help. At the Law Office of Israel Garcia, we’ll do everything in our power to locate a hit-and-run driver and bring them to justice. If the driver can’t be found, we’ll help you file an uninsured motorist claim to collect compensation that can help you deal with the damage done. Call our experienced San Antonio hit & run accident lawyer today.
Texas Hit-and-Run Laws
Texas law requires any driver involved in an accident that results or is reasonably likely to result in injury or death to immediately:
- Stop at the scene or as close to the scene as possible
- Return to the scene if they did not stop at the scene
- Determine if a person involved in the accident requires aid
- Remain at the scene until the driver has exchanged information and rendered aid as required by law
The duty to exchange information requires the driver to provide the victim with the driver’s name and address, vehicle registration number, and name of insurer. The driver must also show the victim their driver’s license if requested.
The duty to render aid requires the driver to provide reasonable assistance to the accident victim, including transporting or making arrangements for transporting the person to a doctor or hospital if it is apparent the person needs treatment or the person requests transportation.
Failure to comply with the above laws is a serious crime in the state of Texas. A hit-and-run is a second-degree felony if the accident resulted in death or a third-degree felony if the crash caused serious injury. A person who flees the scene after causing non-serious injury is subject to up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. If only vehicle damage is involved and no injury, a hit-and-run can be charged as a Class B or Class C misdemeanor depending on whether the damage was more or less than $200.
How Our San Antonio Hit-and-Run Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
The San Antonio Police, Bexar County Sheriff or Texas Highway Patrol might be very interested in tracking down the hit-and-run driver, but they might not have the time or resources to devote to catching every hit-and-run driver. As your law firm, the Law Office of Israel Garcia is committed to finding the driver who hit you and bringing them to justice. We can employ a variety of modern investigative techniques and can often be successful in finding the hit-and-run driver and holding them accountable in court or through an insurance settlement.
Punitive or exemplary damages against the driver might be appropriate to set an example to others and provide a fitting punishment. Punitive damages in Texas are at least $200,000 but can be as high as double the amount of economic damages plus an amount equal to up to $750,000 of the non-economic damages awarded in your case, greatly enhancing the compensation available to you to help you deal with the aftermath of the crash. Our firm is committed to going the extra mile to maximize compensation for you, including pursuing punitive damages in appropriate cases.
Despite best efforts at tracking down hit-and-run drivers, statistically only about half are ever caught (although the odds increase for people with a dedicated attorney and investigator on their side). When the driver can’t be found, we can help you by pursuing a claim under your Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. UM treats a hit-and-run accident as if you were hit by an uninsured driver and should compensate you for your damages up to your UM/UIM policy limits. Be sure to report the accident to the police and get them to make a report. Your insurance company will want to see proof of a hit-and-run before paying. Don’t expect them to make it easy for you to recover the full value of your claim. You’ll be more likely to be successful and more likely to recover a greater amount if you have an experienced car accident attorney representing you. The Law Office of Israel Garcia can take on this task for you, relieving you of the headache and helping you get the most value for your claim.
Contact the Law Office of Israel Garcia Today
If you’ve been seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident, don’t despair and don’t give up hope. Our law firm has different ways to help you get the medical care and compensation you need. Contact our experienced San Antonio hit & run car accident lawyer today for immediate assistance.
