A Car Cut Me Off and then Drove Away Do I Have a Case Through My Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

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“A CAR CUT ME OFF AND

THEN DROVE AWAY DO I HAVE A CASE

THROUGH MY UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE?”

Even Though Florida’s Laws Punish Hit-and-Run Drivers, Many Drivers Still

Choose to Leave the Scene of an Accident

A Car Cut Me Off and then Drove Away Do I Have a Case Through My Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

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Uninsured motorist coverage is very important because of the risk of being

injured in a hit-and-run accident in Florida. According to the Florida Department

Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, approximately 70,000 hit-and-run accidents

occurred across the state during 2012. Of these hit-and-run accidents, 168

resulted in a fatality. The FDHSMV advises anyone involved in an accident to

follow the CRASH steps:

1. CALL law enforcement.

A Car Cut Me Off and then Drove Away Do I Have a Case Through My Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

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2. REMAIN calm.

3. ATTAIN vehicle, witness and driver information.

4. SKETCH the scene, showing vehicle crash locations.

5. HELP the injured.

What Is A Hit-And-Run?

In Florida, a hit-and-run (known as leaving the scene of an accident) is defined

as the failure to comply with the statutory requirements to remain at the scene of

an accident that involves a

collision with a vehicle,

person or property. Leaving

the scene of an accident is a

serious criminal offense that

can result in felony or

misdemeanor charges. Even

though Florida’s laws punish

hit-and-run drivers, many

drivers still choose to leave

the scene of an accident. For

the injured party, this is

devastating because they are

left to deal with the medical bills and expenses caused by another driver’s

negligence without having the ability to hold the at-fault party accountable for

their actions.

A Car Cut Me Off and then Drove Away Do I Have a Case Through My Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

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For motorcyclists, this can be particularly frustrating because automobile drivers

do not keep the proper lookout for motorcycles. Driver will often cut off a

motorcyclist and then keep going as if they did nothing wrong. In some cases,

the motorcyclist is able to regain control of the motorcycle before any damage is

done; however, this is not always the case. In many cases, the motorcyclist is

unable to avoid an accident when he or she is cut off by another driver. When

this happens, the motorcycle rider will often suffer physical injuries in addition to

the property damage to their motorcycle.

Without knowing the identity of the other driver, the motorcyclist is unable to hold

the person responsible for his or her injuries liable for expenses incurred due to

the accident. The result is the motorcyclist suffers financial stress in addition to

the physical and emotional pain from the accident.

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However, if the motorcyclist has uninsured motorist insurance coverage, he or

she is able to obtain payment from his or her own insurance company to cover

the medical expenses, lost wages and property damage associated with the hit-

and-run accident.

What Is Uninsured Motorist Insurance Coverage?

Uninsured motorist insurance coverage is a type of insurance coverage that you

can purchase as part of your own automobile insurance coverage. It covers

damages you sustain as the result of another driver’s negligent, reckless or

careless acts when that driver does not have insurance coverage. In other

words, if you are involved in an automobile accident and the driver who caused

the accident does not have

insurance, your insurance

policy will “stand in the place of”

the at-fault driver. Your

insurance company will pay

your medical bills, lost wages

and pain and suffering as if they

represented the at-fault driver.

For example, while you are

A Car Cut Me Off and then Drove Away Do I Have a Case Through My Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

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riding your motorcycle, a driver cuts you off causing you to wreck. The motorist

drives away without stopping. Another driver stops who sees the accident stops

but he did not get the license plate of the driver who caused you to wreck. The

driver who stopped when he witnessed the accident calls for emergency help.

You are transported to the hospital, you have surgery and you are out of work for

several months while you recover from your injuries.

Because this was a hit-and-run, your insurance company pays for your medical

expenses and lost wages under your uninsured motorist coverage. You also

receive compensation for your pain and suffering and other damages in an

amount that does not exceed your insurance policy limits.

Do I Need An Attorney In A Motorcycle Hit-And-Run

Accident?

Yes, you do need to retain a motorcycle accident attorney if you are involved in a

hit-and-run accident. It is

always important that you

contact a personal injury

attorney as soon as

possible following an

accident; however, it may

be more important in a hit-

and-run accident. Most

insurance companies

A Car Cut Me Off and then Drove Away Do I Have a Case Through My Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

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require that you provide notice, often within a very short period of time (i.e. 24

hours), and an attorney will know that this must be done. Your insurance

company has the legal right to purse a claim against the other driver and it will

want to begin an investigation immediately. Your attorney will act as the go-

between for you and your insurance company to ensure that all of the

requirements under your uninsured motorist policy are met so that you can

collect compensation.

Furthermore, even though this is your insurance company and you expect that it

will protect your interests and deal with you fairly, that expectation is not always

true. Your insurance company is in business to make a profit just like every other

insurance company. Therefore, you want a motorcycle accident attorney who

will protect your rights to receive fair and just compensation for your injuries.

Contact a North Miami Beach Motorcycle Accident Attorney

If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident in the North Miami Beach or Fort

Lauderdale area, contact the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at

Bolton & Gross. Our North Miami personal injury attorneys have extensive

experience handling uninsured insurance claims and motorcycle accidents.

Call 954-526-9479 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free

consultation. You do not pay attorney fees or costs until and unless we get you a

settlement for your injuries.

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Sources

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

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About Bolton & Gross

Richard Bolton and Mitchell Gross have been practicing together for approximately 20 years. Initially, the firm was focused on representing insurance companies, their insureds, self insureds, and Fortune 500 companies. At that point, Bolton and Gross represented these entities as defendants. We took many cases to trial on behalf of these entities as defendants.

Over the years, we learned how insurance companies and self insured corporations handled their legal matters. They showed no compassion to the injured parties and would go to all lengths to win a case. This type of work left us totally unfulfilled.

Approximately 10 years ago we changed the focus of our practice. We now represent, exclusively, the injured parties. We use our experience representing the defendants to obtain the maximum possible recovery for our client.

At Bolton and Gross we view each case individually. We realize each and everyone of our clients are people who have different needs and different motivation, etc. We try to advise our clients as to their possible decisions and do everything we can to get them the best recovery that is consistent with their desires.

Here at Bolton and Gross we provide our clients with compassionate, aggressive, and individualized

representation.

Bolton & Gross

bglawpa.com

801 NE 167th Street 2nd Floor

North Miami Beach, FL 33162

Phone: 305-653-8223

7800 W. Oakland Park Blvd, Building B Suite 104

Sunrise, FL 33351

Phone: 954-640-0178