Many drivers involved in a hit-and-run may not know that they still have the ability to pursue legal action, even when they don’t know who the driver is. In Texas, a person guilty of a hit and run can face both criminal and civil charges for fleeing the scene.
If you were involved in a hit and run, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and property damage. Following your accident, you’ll want to seek representation from an experienced Abogado de atropello y fuga de San Antonio. Uno de nuestros abogados expertos de Ley de Janicek evaluará su reclamo y lo ayudará a proceder con acciones legales contra el responsable. para hablar con un Abogado de accidentes automovilísticos en San Antonio, llamar 210-366-4949 hoy.
¿Qué es un accidente de atropello y fuga?
When a driver leaves the scene of a car accident before calling the police, talking to the other driver, or helping anyone injured, they’ve committed a hit and run. According to Código de Transporte de Texas Capítulo 550, drivers are required to stop when involved in an accident. These accidents can involve a driver hitting a parked vehicle without waiting to meet with the other driver or a driver striking a pedestrian, bicyclist, other motor vehicles, or a piece of property. Any driver who does not stop following an accident could be charged with criminal penalties. If the accident resulted in injury or death, the driver who fled the scene could face prison.
Cuando se haya visto involucrado en un atropello y fuga, llame a los abogados de accidentes automovilísticos de Janicek Law lo antes posible. Aunque no tenga información sobre el otro conductor, nuestros abogados aún pueden ayudarlo a buscar una compensación financiera por cualquier lesión o daño causado por el accidente.
How Common Are Hit and Run Accidents in Texas?
Hit-and-run incidents are a significant concern in Texas, with the state ranking among the highest for such fatalities. According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Texas averaged 181 fatal hit-and-run crashes per year over a recent period, placing it eighth nationally. According to another source, between 2018 and 2021, the city experienced 631 fatal motor vehicle crashes resulting in 661 deaths. Notably, in 2022, San Antonio recorded 39,355 motor vehicle collisions, including 186 fatal crashes leading to 199 deaths.
These alarming statistics highlight the critical need for enhanced traffic safety measures and public awareness to address the growing problem of hit-and-run accidents in Texas and its major cities.
What to Do After a Hit and Run Accident in Texas
If you’re involved in a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident, there are specific steps that you should take to ensure the safety of yourself and your passengers. Following these steps is also important if you want to seek a hit-and-run claim against the other driver involved, who fled the scene.
Llama al 911
Your first step after being involved in a hit-and-run is to call the police. When you call 911, make sure to report any injuries and if they may need medical treatment. Even if you don’t feel like you’ve been injured, it’s important to seek medical attention. Many injuries related to car accidents can show up later. Other catastrophic injuries you may not realize you’re suffering from, like nerve and organ damage, can be life-threatening. Seeking medical attention is also crucial if you want to seek compensation for your injuries by pursuing an accident claim. Your San Antonio hit-and-run attorney will use your medical records as part of their evidence proving that the accident led to your injuries and other damages.
If you sustained a permanent injury, call our Abogados de lesiones catastróficas de San Antonio para una consulta gratuita.
Recolectar evidencia
While you wait for law enforcement to reach the scene, it’s important to document any critical information related to the driver who fled the scene. Write down a description of the motor vehicle, license plate number, bumper stickers, damage, make, model, color, and any other identifying information that can help law enforcement find the missing driver.
Una vez en la escena, el oficial de policía entrevistará a los testigos y recopilará pruebas para el informe del accidente de atropello y fuga. La información que le proporcione al oficial sobre el otro vehículo, los relatos de los testigos presenciales y las fotografías del accidente se compilarán en un informe oficial del accidente. Este informe policial le ayudará a Abogado de lesiones personales en San Antonio si presenta un reclamo por accidente contra el otro conductor.
Pídale al agente del orden una copia del informe policial, ya que la mayoría de las compañías de seguros exigen esta documentación al presentar su reclamo.
No admitas la culpa
When you contact your insurance company notifying them about the accident, do not provide them with any information about the accident or your injuries. You can inform them that you’re seeking legal representation by contacting an attorney and seeking medical treatment.
It’s recommended to wait until after you’ve consulted with your attorney at Janicek Law before giving your insurance company an official statement. Any information you provide your insurance agency can be used against you when pursuing your claim.
Comuníquese con su compañía de seguros de automóviles
It’s still important to contact your compañía de seguros de automóviles después de su accidente. Puede brindarles la información descrita anteriormente, pero evite brindar detalles relacionados con las lesiones y otra información relacionada con cómo ocurrió el accidente. Su abogado especializado en casos de atropello y fuga le aconsejará qué proporcionarle a la compañía de seguros que no afecte su reclamación por accidente.
Your auto insurance company will be able to explain things like will your insurance cover a hit and run, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, and more. You could risk losing your insurance policy if you don’t call your auto insurance following your hit and run accident.
If you don’t have auto insurance, we cover “Is it illegal to drive without insurance in Texas.”
Reporte el atropello y fuga a TxDOT
Después de un accidente automovilístico con fuga en Texas, los residentes deben presentar un informe al Departamento de Transporte de Texas (TxDOT). If the accident resulted in injuries, death, or property damage over $1,000, you must report the accident to the TxDOT if the police did not visit the accident scene and file their own crash report. Those involved in hit-and-runs have ten days to file their report. If your accident resulted in injuries, death, or property damage over $1,000 and you do not file within the ten-day window, you could have your driver’s license suspended.
Contrate a un abogado de atropello y fuga
En los casos típicos de accidentes automovilísticos, los conductores involucrados intercambiarán información como licencias de conducir, detalles de la compañía de seguros y más, lo que puede ayudarlo cuando presente un reclamo por accidente. Sin embargo, en caso de atropello y fuga, a menudo no se sabe nada sobre el conductor del otro vehículo involucrado.
Hit and Run Involving Pedestrians
If you are a pedestrian injured because a missing driver hit you, seek medical attention and move to a safe location if possible. Try to remember details about the vehicle involved, such as the color, make, model, or license plate number. Call the police to report the crash, providing any statements from eyewitness accounts or nearby surveillance footage if available. Document the scene, take photos of injuries, and keep records of medical expenses. Since auto insurance claims for pedestrians can be legally complex, consulting a Abogado de accidentes peatonales en San Antonio can help you explore options for compensation.
Hit and Run Involving Cyclists
If you are a cyclist injured in a hit-and-run accident, move to a safe location and call the police to make a crash report, providing a description of the vehicle, such as the color, make, model, or license plate number. Look for witnesses and ask if they saw the collision, as their eyewitness accounts may help identify the missing driver. Take photos of your bike, injuries, and the scene to document the damage. Seek medical attention even if injuries seem minor, as some may worsen over time. Call a Abogado de accidentes de bicicleta en San Antonio who can help you pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage or legal action if the driver involved is located.
Cómo reportar un atropello y fuga a TxDOT
To report a hit and run on the TxDOT portal, visit their website to find the CR-2 Form, also known as “The Blue Form.” You will be required to submit information that includes the following:
- Fecha del accidente y hora, si está disponible.
- Dónde ocurrió el atropello y fuga
- Coches y personas implicadas.
- Vehículos dañados y cuáles son esos daños
- Lesiones
- Una narración de lo que sucedió (no incluya fotos del accidente)
- Firma
The information in the CR-2 form can hurt your hit-and-run claim. It’s recommended to review the form with your attorney from Janicek Law before submitting it to ensure no information can be held against you.
Compensation in a Hit and Run Claim
Si bien ninguna cantidad de compensación financiera puede deshacer el daño causado por su accidente automovilístico, puede eliminarle la responsabilidad financiera y recaerla en el conductor culpable. El financial losses that you can claim for a car accident in Texas incluir:
- Gastos médicos
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Vehicle damage
- Dolor y sufrimiento
- Estrés emocional
- Gastos de asesoramiento
- Ayudas para la movilidad, como sillas de ruedas y andadores.
- Pérdida de consorcio
- Pérdida del disfrute de la vida.
- Y más
If your hit-and-run car accident resulted in losing a loved one, you could have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim. The compensation for this type of lawsuit will cover funeral costs, burial costs, loss of benefits, and more. Contact a Abogado de accidentes automovilísticos fatales en San Antonio.
Personal Injury Lawyers For Hit and Run Accidents in San Antonio
Cualquier tipo de accidente automovilístico puede tener resultados devastadores. Si usted fue una víctima de atropello y fuga, puede ser incluso difícil recuperar una compensación ya que a menudo se desconoce el conductor culpable. No se le debe considerar financieramente responsable por sus lesiones y otros daños que causó un conductor negligente. Para obtener más información sobre sus derechos legales en torno a su reclamo por accidente de atropello y fuga, comuníquese con los abogados de Janicek Law llamando 210-366-4949. Cuanto antes programe su consulta inicial gratuita, antes podremos ayudarle en su camino hacia la recuperación.
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