Hit & Run Accidents in Miami

Were you or a loved one hurt in a hit and run accident in Miami, Florida? You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. At Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how to help clients recover maximum compensation for hit & run accidents in Miami.

We’ve been handling cases like yours since our firm was founded in 2007. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in fair compensation for accident victims across South Florida.

It’s normal to be shaken up after an accident. Call our law offices in Miami, Florida, for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.

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How Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Hit & Run Accident in Miami

Any car crash can be overwhelming. Things can become much more difficult when the other driver doesn’t even bother to stop at the scene. You may be entitled to compensation even if the other driver flees the scene. You’ll need an experienced car accident lawyer in Miami to help you get the money you deserve.

At Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys have over 100 years of experience between them. Our team includes Board Certified attorneys, Super Lawyers, and Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

When you call us after a hit & run accident, you can expect us to:

Work with local law enforcement in finding the driver
Carefully investigate to identify all potential sources of compensation
Find out whether anyone other than the driver can be held liable
Hire experts and specialists as needed
Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf

We’re equipped with the skills you need in your corner–and we have the resources to handle any complexity that arises in your case. Ready to learn more? Call for a free consultation today.

How Common Are Hit & Run Accidents in Miami?

A study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 737,100 hit and run accidents occurred in a single year. Statistics show that approximately 2,049 people died in crashes involving hit & run drivers nationwide.

Hit and run crashes are also a big problem in South Florida. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, nearly 25% of all motor vehicle accidents involve a hit & run. Between 2015 and 2020, there were over 600,000 hit and run crashes.

Other common types of car accidents in Miami and across Florida include:

Overview of Florida Laws on Hit & Run Accidents

After an accident, all drivers in Florida are required to stop at the accident scene. They’re also required to exchange insurance information, share contact information, and render assistance to injured parties until officers arrive.

It’s illegal to leave the scene of a car accident in Florida. A driver who leaves the scene of an accident can face serious criminal charges, including:

Second-degree misdemeanor charges if the crash resulted in property damage
Second or third-degree felony charges if the accident caused injuries
First-degree felony charges in deadly hit and run cases

Injured parties have the right to sue for damages in civil court, even if the hit & run driver is facing criminal charges,

What is My Miami Hit & Run Accident Case Worth?

At Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our goal is to recover the maximum compensation you deserve.

The value of your personal injury case will depend on:

The severity of your injuries
Whether you’ll make a full recovery
The cost of medical treatment and your out-of-pocket expenses
How the accident impacted your emotional wellbeing
Available insurance coverages

Even in a hit-and-run case, the insurance company will try to minimize your settlement. Our attorneys can help you fight back. Just give us a quick call today to learn more.

How Can I Recover Damages After a Hit & Run Accident in Miami?

Once you’ve established the fair value of your personal injury claim, the question becomes: who will pay my damages?

It may be difficult to recover compensation for one of two reasons:

The hit-and-run driver was never located
The driver did not have car insurance

Even if the at-fault driver is found and ordered to pay restitution, it may not be enough to cover your expenses.

Our lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you explore all possible options for recovering the maximum compensation available.

You may be entitled to compensation from:

Your own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance company
An uninsured motorist policy (UM coverage)
An employer, if the hit & run driver was working at the time of the crash
The manufacturer of a defective vehicle component that played a role in the accident
Negligent third parties
Government agencies

You’ll first file a claim under your own PIP policy. Some policies cover uninsured motorist accidents; you might not even know that you’ve purchased this additional coverage.

Do you need help after a hit-and-run accident in Miami? Call our law offices and schedule a free case evaluation today. We’ll do everything we can to recover the fair compensation you need.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Hit & Run Accident Victims in Florida?

After a hit-and-run accident in Miami, you’re entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic losses.

Examples of the types of damages you might have suffered include:

Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages
Reduced earning potential
Rehabilitation
Property damage
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Diminished quality of life
Disfigurement and scarring
Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
Damages for wrongful death if your loved one was killed in a hit and run

Florida courts may also award punitive damages in hit-and-run cases. Those damages are designed solely to punish defendants for their actions.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Hit & Run Accident Injuries

Hit & run accidents in Miami can cause serious injuries. Some of those common injuries may include:

Do you need help fighting for fair compensation? Call a Miami hit & run accident attorney at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation today.

What Causes Most Hit & Run Accidents in Miami, Florida?

Unfortunately, Florida has one of the highest rates of fatal hit-and-run accidents in the U.S. Many factors can cause a hit & run accident in Miami. Some of the leading causes of accidents include things like:

Distracted driving
Drunk driving
Speeding
Traffic violations
Inexperienced drivers

Additional factors tend to motivate a driver to leave the scene of the accident; drivers may flee the scene if:

They don’t have proper car insurance
They don’t have a valid driver’s license
The car is stolen
They were drunk or driving under the influence of drugs
They’re fleeing from a crime scene or have a prior criminal record
There’s a warrant out for their arrest
Concerns over immigration status
They’re carrying illegal drugs, firearms, or other illegal items

Sometimes, an at-fault driver may flee because they don’t have the money to cover the damage–or because they’re afraid of the consequences. That doesn’t make it right.

Regardless, you can count on our lawyers to do everything we can to help you recover fair compensation. To learn more, call our Miami hit & run accident lawyers for a free case review today.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Hit & Run Accident in Florida?

Most car accident claims are based on negligence. However, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in Florida. Accordingly, a legal doctrine called “negligence per se” can help you establish negligence more easily after your hit & run accident.

Negligence is presumed in cases where a person breaks a safety law. Therefore, you’ll have to prove:

The at-fault driver broke the law
The law was designed to prevent the type of harm involved
You suffered damages or injuries

If the driver is located and has the resources to pay, the “negligence per se” concept can make it easier for you to recover fair compensation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Hit & Run Accident in Florida?

Florida only gives accident victims a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations is two years in car accident cases.

Historically, Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits was four years. However, the law was revised on March 24, 2023, giving less time to take legal action. If your Miami hit-and-run accident occurred after that date, you need to file a lawsuit within the two-year window.

Wrongful death cases also have a two-year time limit.

Hit and run crashes in Miami-Dade County often require an in-depth investigation. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get started building your case as soon as possible.

Hit & Run Accidents Are Complex — Contact a Skilled Auto Accident Lawyer in Miami, FL for a Free Consultation

Hit & run accidents in Miami are more complex than regular car crash cases. You need skilled legal representation to take the burden off your shoulder and get you the compensation you deserve. Call an experienced car accident lawyer at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers today to learn more about how we can help.