There is nothing worse than coming out of your home, office or a social event and finding that your once-beautiful vehicle has been marred (or mauled) by someone else who wasn’t even courteous enough to take responsibility. And while it is of course true that property can be repaired and broken car parts can be replaced, not being able to have an identifiable culprit to whom you can charge the damages is frustrating. However, you may still have some options for compensation. If you have Uninsured Motorist or Personal Injury Protection coverage through your own insurance, you may be able to seek damages. Even if you don’t think you have these, you might be surprised. Many people have this type of coverage from their own insurance and just don’t realize it. The police will also do their best to track down the fleeing driver. Any information about the fleeing driver can help them including a license plate number, description of the vehicle, or witness testimony.
Unfortunately, hit and run accidents are all too common. While a typical car accident may be classified as a no-fault car accident, the hit and run scenario indicates a decided element of bad faith and dishonesty. For this reason, Texas law imposes penalties for hit and run crashes that it does not impose for other types of auto accidents. For example, Texas considers it a third-degree felony to leave the scene of an accident involving serious injury or death. That charge carries with it up to 10 years in prison.
And while the personal injury accident proceedings will not result in you imposing a sentence on the hit-and-run driver, those penalties indicate Texas is serious about stopping hit and runs. An experienced and effective attorney will be able to impress upon the jury the seriousness of the matter and can ensure you receive all of the compensation you rightfully deserve. Whether you are pursuing damages to replace your property and repair your vehicle, or you are seeking funds to compensate for hospital bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, the Law Offices of David Kohm can help you get back on the right track and put your life together. For more information, call 817-204-0900 today.
