JZ helps (a Florida injury law firm)

Call Now! (888) 594-3577Get a Free Consultation - 24 / 7
Se habla Español
Call Now! (888) 594-3577
Get a Free Consultation - 24 / 7
Se habla Español


  • Home
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Settlements
    • Injury Settlements
    • Car Accident Settlements
    • GEICO Car Accident Settlements
    • State Farm Settlements
    • Rear End Car Accident Settlements
    • Progressive Insurance Settlements
    • Motorcycle Accidents Settlements
    • Uber Accidents
    • Slip, Trip & Fall Settlements
    • Bike Accident Settlements
    • Pedestrian Hit By Car Settlements
    • Uninsured Motorist Insurance Settlements
    • Truck Accident Settlements
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • See Inside
    • Types of Injuries We’ve Dealt With
    • List of Cities Where We’ve Settled Cases
    • Press Room
  • Fees
    • Our Fees
    • Referral Fees
  • Cases We Handle
    • All personal injury cases
    • Car Accidents
    • Truck Accidents
    • Uber Accidents
    • Slip and Falls and Injuries on Property
    • Cruise Accidents
    • Florida Motorcycle Accidents
    • Pedestrian Accidents
    • Accidents at a Store
    • DUI Accidents
    • Accidental or Wrongful Death
    • Florida Condo and Apartment Accidents
    • Hotel Accidents
  • Get a Free Case Review
  • Reviews
You are here: Home / Hit and Run Accident Claims and Settlements (in 2020)

May 14, 2020 By Justin Ziegler, Lawyer Leave a Comment

Hit and Run Accident Claims and Settlements (in 2020)

We are going to take a look at hit and run accident cases in 2020.

Let’s start by looking at some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about hit and runs:

How much compensation do you get for a hit and run?

The amount of money that you may be able to get depends on several factors. In most hit and run cases, there are two factors that most commonly affect the payout amount. They are the seriousness of your injury, and the amount of available uninsured motorist insurance.

If you have a small injury, don’t expect a big settlement. Small injuries typically result in small payouts. Even in a hit and run case.

On the other hand, big injuries can result in large settlements.

In most hit and run cases that I have handled, proving liability has not been hard.

The amount of insurance is also a huge factor in determining whether you will get paid. For example, states like Florida don’t require you to have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Thus, in Florida, most cars do not have uninsured motorist insurance.

That said, some people carry high uninsured motorist coverage limits. Several years ago, I settled a hit and run accident case with GEICO for $50,000. But that was only because my client had $50,000 in uninsured motorist coverage.

In that case, my client broke his hip. He said that a vehicle cut him off. This is the type of hardware that a doctor put in his hip:
Hip Fracture with a Rod

How long does it take to settle a hit and run case?

Two factors will typically determine the time that it takes to settle. The first factor is the time that it takes you to complete your medical treatment. In most cases, you won’t get a fair settlement until you have completed all of your medical treatment.

Why?

Because insurance companies are much more likely to pay you for treatment that you’ve already had as opposed to treatment that you may get in the future.

The second factor that will determine the time that it takes to settle is the uninsured motorist (UM) coverage policy limits. If your injuries are serious, and your UM limits are low, the case should settle faster. This is because your UM insurance company has more pressure to pay.

This assumes that you have UM bodily injury liability coverage. In states (like Florida), uninsured motorist coverage is not required.

What should a pedestrian do if they are hurt in a hit and run?

Of course, the pedestrian should get medical treatment if he or she needs it. Call 911 from the accident scene so that the accident is reported.

Hopefully, the pedestrian owns a car with uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. This coverage will pay for the pedestrian’s medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.

In addition, the pedestrian is also entitled to UM bodily injury coverage from a relative’s insurance policy. However, the pedestrian must have been living with the relative at the time of the accident for this uninsured motorist coverage to apply.

$50K Hit and Run Settlement (Without Lawsuit)

Several years ago, a driver lost control of his car in Miami, Florida. He crashed into the guardrail.  An ambulance took him to the hospital.

An x-ray showed that he broke his hip. At the hospital, a doctor performed surgery on his hip.  Specifically, they put hardware put inside his hip.

He claimed that he was cut off by another car that left the scene. My client received a ticket. After his accident, he began looking for a Miami car accident lawyer. I gave him a free consultation and he hired me on the spot.

His mother had purchased $10,000 worth of stacking uninsured motorist (“UM”) coverage with GEICO.  She had 5 vehicles under the policy. Thus, there was $50,000 in uninsured motorist insurance.

We settled for the $50,000 uninsured motorist insurance limits.

$10K Hit and Run Settlement (Without Lawsuit)

Several years ago, a driver crashed into a woman’s car in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida.

After the accident, the other driver left the accident scene.  The lady’s car was heavily damaged. She got a free consultation from me and hired me.

A tow truck removed our client’s car from the accident scene.  Our client was injured.

An ambulance transported her to Memorial Regional Hospital in Broward County.

A doctor diagnosed with her with a sprained wrist.  Her wrist pain went away.

The doctor also diagnosed with her back, neck pain and headaches.

Our client had uninsured motorist (UM) insurance with American Vehicle Insurance Company.  They paid us the $10,000 policy limits.  This insurer has since changed its name to Federated National Insurance Company.

They are based in Sunrise, Broward County, Florida.  They have a reputation as being below average in paying Florida personal injury claims.

We made a UM injury claim with her insurance company.  All the letters that her UM carrier sent to us had their name listed as Superior Adjusting, Inc.

Our client had Personal Injury Protection (PIP) through her auto insurance policy.  Her PIP paid $10,000 of her medical bills.

$7,500 Hit and Run Settlement (Without lawsuit)

Several years ago, my client was driving his car. A hit and run driver hit his car and fled the scene.

Our client’s first medical appointment was about seven days after the crash.  He was diagnosed with a cervical sprain-strain, Thoracic sprain-strain and Lumbar sprain-strain.

About 1 month later, he had an MRI of the cervical spine.  It showed a C5-C6 paracentral disk protrusion, moderate in size, compressing upon the thecal sac.

He treated for four months from the date of the accident.  At the end of his treatment, the diagnosis was a lumbar strain.

The careless driver was insured with Metlife.

Metlife

I settled the his personal injury case with Metlife for $7,500.

Is an injury case more valuable if the at fault driver left the scene of the crash?

The answer may depend on the state where the hit and run occurred.

In a small percentage of cases, hit and run injury cases are worth more than car accident cases where the at fault driver doesn’t leave the scene.

However, it depends on the particular factors of the case.

In some situations, the injured person may be able to sue for punitive damages if the driver who caused the accident left the scene without stopping or rendering aid.   If punitive damages are allowed, it often adds value to the case.

Punitive damages are in addition to medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.  In other words, punitive damages are a completely different type of compensation that you can’t get in most injury cases.

Here, I’m going to focus on Florida hit and run cases.  In order to get punitive damages, the injured person must show through clear and convincing evidence that the punitive deserving conduct caused the injured person’s injury or damage.

Basically, the injured person must have been damaged by the driver leaving the scene.  The clear and convincing standard is a high standard.

As a comparison, to get money for pain and suffering, the injured person must meet the greater weight of the evidence standard.  It is a mere tipping of the scale.  That is a much easier standard to meet.

What’s an example of hit and run accident where punitive damages may be awarded?

Let’s say that the at fault driver leaves the crash scene without rendering aid or stopping.  Then, the injured person is trapped in his car for an additional 15 minutes before paramedics arrive.  Assume that there is no one else around the accident scene.

As a result, the injured person fears for his life or safety during these 15 minutes.  As a result, the injured person gets mental health counseling for his emotional distress.  Perhaps he or she now needs medication to deal with anxiety from being in a car on the road.

In this case, a judge may allow punitive damages.

That above situation is just one example of punitive damages in a hit and run case.  There are countless other examples.

If the at fault driver won’t admit liability, then the jury hears about hit and run

In most cases, the jury will never get to hear that the at fault driver left the scene without stopping.

Is there an exception?

Yes.  If the at fault driver denies liability, his flight from the scene is an inference of guilt.  Lynch v. McGovern, 270 So.2d 770, 772 (Fla. 4th DCA 1972).

This would likely add value to the personal injury case.

Why?

Because the jury would likely give a larger pain and suffering award.  Juries don’t like hit and run drivers.

All things equal, someone who is hit by a drunk driver has a better case than someone who is hit by a “hit and run” driver.  This is because Florida courts consistently allow punitive damages against drunk drivers.  And punitive damages increase case value.

Also, the severity of the injury usually affects settlement value much more than the “hit and run” factor.

Basically, a big injury without a hit and run driver is worth more than a smaller injury caused by a hit and run.  At least in most cases.

Therefore, someone with a wrist fracture who was in a hit and run accident has a better case than someone with back pain who was in a hit and run crash.  Again, this is a general rule.  This is because a broken wrist is worth more than back pain in most cases.

Bottom Line?

In certain cases, insurance companies may offer more money for hit and run accidents.  However, don’t expect State Farm, GEICO or Uber and others to offer more just because you were involved in a hit and run accident.

What is the Worst Thing About Hit and Run Cases?

The worst thing about hit and run cases is that the injured person often isn’t entitled to uninsured motorist insurance.  In fact, way too often.

This is because many Florida car owners don’t carry uninsured motorist insurance.

If an Uber driver is struck by a hit and run driver, what happens?

All of the Uber drivers claims will likely be against Uber’s uninsured motorist insurance company. This is because most Uber driver’s don’t have UM coverage on their personal car insurance policy.

The Uber driver has the best case if he or she was en route to pickup passengers or during trips. Currently, the Uber driver is entitled to uninsured motorist coverage. However, this may change in the near future. This is because Uber’s (and Lyft’s) trend is to decrease its UM coverage.

If the Uber had passengers at the time of the accident, the most that Uber’s insurance company has to pay is $250,000 to all of the occupants of the Uber vehicle. However, the Uber driver and passengers still must prove the value of their claim.

In other words, their injuries must warrant payment. Bigger injuries typically warrant a greater payout. In other words, a broken hand is worth more than back pain that goes away in two days.

Also, if you’re a passenger in an Uber you’re entitled to uninsured motorist insurance.  At least for now.

Lyft occupants are also entitled to uninsured motorist insurance.

Hurt in a Hit and Run Accident in Florida? Injured in another type of Accident?

The best time to get an attorney is as soon as possible after the hit and run.

Are you considering hiring me for an injury that happened in Florida? If you are, just click on the button below to see if I can represent you.

Let Me Fight to Get You a Fair Settlement

FIND OUT FOR FREE IF I CAN REPRESENT YOU
personal injury lawyer Justin Ziegler

Completing that form (by clicking the button) is the fastest way for me to tell you if I can be your Florida bike accident attorney.

If you prefer calling me to see if I can represent you for an accident in Florida, call me at 888-594-3577.

There are No fees or costs Unless We Recover Money. We speak Spanish. I invite you to learn more about us.

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized

I will not become your attorney by you leaving a comment. There is a time limit to file a lawsuit. All comments will be public. This includes the name that you enter. I only represent people who were hurt in Florida or on a cruise ship; or if the injured person lives in Florida or a family member (in the case of a death) lives in Florida. This is because I am only licensed in Florida.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Serving Florida

Get a Free Consultation. JZ helps (a Florida injury law firm)

Get a Free Consult Now

Complete this form to see if I can represent you. We usually respond fast.

"*" indicates required fields

MM slash DD slash YYYY
We only represent people for injury or death that happened in Florida (or on a cruise). However, if you live in Florida and the incident happened in another state, we may be able to represent you.
If your accident did NOT happen in Florida or on a cruise, and you don't live in Florida, I likely won't be able to represent you.
Select your most serious injury.
For example, damage to a car(s), hazard that you tripped on, incident scene, crash report, major scarring, etc.
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 50 MB.
    By submitting this form I agree to the Terms of Use.

    We’re Open!

    No Fees or Costs if No Recovery

    Florida Injury Lawyer

    Injury lawyer Justin "JZ" Ziegler has recovered over $11 Million in settlements for people seriously hurt in accidents in Florida (or on a cruise).

    We want to represent you. Our office is in Coral Gables (Miami-Dade County), Florida. However, we can meet you anywhere in Florida. Call (888) 594-3577 for a Free Consultation Now!

    Search

    Florida Injury Case Types

    • Auto Accident Claims
    • Cruise Accident Claims
    • Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
    • Foot and Ankle Injury Claims
    • Hand & Wrist Injury Claims
    • Herniated Disc Claims
    • Lyft accidents
    • Personal Injury
    • Premises Liability
    • Shoulder Injury Claims
    • Slip, Trip and Fall
    • Spinal Injuries
    • Truck Accident Claims
    • Uber Accidents
    • Uninsured Motorist Claims
    • Wrongful Death Claims

    Connect With Us

    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    2010

    Super Lawyers

    2005 & 2006 Up & Coming 

    Interviewed by:

    WSVN 7 Miami

    Miami Herald

    NBC6

    CNNwall street journalQuoted in:
    Miami New TimesTBO - Tampa Tribune

    Telegraph

    Member of:Florida Justice Association

    Florida Justice Association, and Florida Bar

    Subscribe to Blog via Email

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    We Handle:

    Car accidents, slip and falls, motorcycle accidents, Uber accidents and more.

    We’ve settled many cases with GEICO, State Farm, Progressive, USAA and others.

    We’ve settled cases for people who’ve injured their shoulder, hand, broken a leg, arm, foot and much more.

    Disclaimers

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    Attorney Justin “JZ” Ziegler

    Get a Free Consultation Now!

    We’ve had over $11 million in injury settlements for accidents in Miami, Homestead, Hialeah and throughout Florida.

    We’ve settled many personal injury claims in Miami.  However, we’ve also settled cases throughout the entire state of Florida.  This includes several settlements for over $195,000 for accidents that happened in Fort Lauderdale, the Orlando area, Clearwater, Pensacola and other cities.

    Contact Us

    JZ helps (a Florida injury law firm)
    1450 Madruga Ave., Suite 306B
    Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Our office is near the University of Miami.  Serving all of Florida.

    1-888-JZ-Helps (1-888-594-3577) or 305-661-9977

    24 hours / 7 days a week

    En Español

    We’re also proud of our results in other parts of the state (as well as the Miami area).  Therefore, I call myself a Miami injury lawyer who serves all of Florida.

    Copyright © 2022 · JZ helps (a Florida injury law firm)