Miami Accident Lawyer Blog
Natalie Farber, 75, was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash. Farber is a retired Miami-Dade County Public Schools teacher and tennis coach. She suffered several broken bones due to the crash, including a fractured skull, according to her husband Frank Farber, and recently underwent her third surgery. The crash occurred around 2 p.m. when Farber was walking near Bedlington Road and Fairway Drive in Miami Lakes, FL. The vehicle struck Farber as she was walking. The driver did not remain at the scene of the collision. When Farber was discovered, she was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. The driver responsible for the accident is still being sought by police. Due to the hit and run, the matter is a criminal investigation. If the driver is discovered, Farber has a strong personal injury claim against them and could pursue compensation for her medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. If you or a loved one were recently injured in a hit-and-run crash, you should speak with a Miami hit and run attorney about your rights. One of our highly experienced lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. can help you navigate the aftermath of the accident. We will review whether you have an insurance policy that will cover your injuries. If so, we can represent you during the insurance claim process and fight for you to receive appropriate compensation. You can reach us through our online form or by calling (305) 371-6000.
Miami-Dade County Hit-and-Run Crash Statistics
In early 2018, the Florida Highway Patrol released Florida’s 2017 hit and run statistics. That year, the FHP stated there were 98,000 hit-and-run crashes, which accounted for about 24 percent of all crashes. Additionally, a study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that Florida was in the top three states for hit-and-run crashes, based on per capita rates. Between 2006 and 2016, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida had the highest rates of fatal hit and runs. In 2006, hit and run fatalities in Florida were 195. By 2016, hit and run fatalities in the state had increased to 206. The lowest rates were in 2010 and 2011, when Florida had only 135 hit and run fatalities both years.
Victims’ Options Following a Hit and Run
After a hit-and-run crash that leaves one or more people injured, the hope is always that the police will find the at-fault driver. This is the ideal situation. Not only will the negligent driver be charged with a crime for fleeing the scene, but the victims obtain the driver’s personal and insurance information, allowing them to pursue compensation through a third-party insurance claim and/or personal injury lawsuit. However, for many hit-and-run crashes, the negligent driver is never discovered. Victims have to look for other means of recovering compensation. One option may be the victim’s own uninsured motorist coverage. By filing a first-party claim against your own uninsured motorist coverage policy, you should be able to receive compensation for your bodily injuries up to the policy limit. It can be helpful to work with an experience hit and run attorney during this process to make sure your auto insurer treats you fairly, approves your claim, and pays you an appropriate settlement.
If you have collision coverage, you also may be able to make a first-party claim against this policy to cover the expenses of repairing or replacing the vehicle that was damaged in the hit-and-run crash.
Contact a Miami Personal Injury Lawyer After a Car Accident
If you are injured or lose a loved one in any type of auto accident in Miami, the best thing to do is to contact an experienced attorney. Our personal injury attorneys for Miami at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. are here to help. We will thoroughly investigate the accident and gather evidence of the other driver’s fault. We will use this evidence to pursue compensation for your injuries through an insurance claim, and when necessary, through litigation. To talk with us about pursuing personal injury or wrongful death compensation after a Miami car crash, call (877) 475-2905. We offer free consultations.