Every driver who gets into an accident in Texas is expected to stop at the crash scene. Unfortunately, not every driver does.
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident when a driver fails to stop, you have legal rights. Your own insurance may cover the bills or you may be able to pursue a claim against the driver of the other vehicle if law enforcement officials find them.
Hit-and-run cases can be complicated because you may be dealing with different insurers and the police. You need a knowledgeable San Antonio hit-and-run accident attorney at your side. George Salinas Injury Lawyers are here to help you.
Our injury lawyers have more than 110 years of collective experience fighting for injured victims. Members of our team have been chosen as Texas Super Lawyers, named as Texas Super Lawyer Rising Stars, and served on the Board of Directors with the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. We can put our legal skills to work on your hit-and-run case, so give us a call at (210)-225-0909 to learn how we can help you.
What is a Hit-and-Run in San Antonio?
So what is a hit and run in San Antonio?
Texas Transportation Code Section 550.021 requires “the operator of a vehicle involved in a collision that results or is reasonably likely to result in injury… or death” to “immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the collision or as close to the scene as possible,” or to “immediately return to the scene of the collision if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene.”
Transportation Code Section 550.002 also requires vehicle operators to stop at the scene of a crash or immediately return to the scene if there is any damage to a vehicle involved in the incident.
Drivers in accidents that cause injury or damage to a vehicle must also render aid and comply with their obligations under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.023. This section mandates that they provide their name and address, their vehicle registration number, and the name of their insurer to others injured or involved in the accident.
If a driver fails to comply with any of these obligations, they can be charged with a hit-and-run offense. Depending on the circumstances, this could be a misdemeanor or felony.
Getting Compensation After a San Antonio Hit-and-Run
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident caused by another driver, you are in a difficult situation. You typically have the right to recover compensation from a motorist who hurts you under the fault-based insurance system in Texas. Unfortunately, if you do not have the contact details of the other driver, you can’t just make a claim.
If you have purchased uninsured motorist coverage, your own insurer may foot the bill for the losses the at-fault driver should have covered. However, not everyone has this protection in place as the Texas Department of Insurance makes clear it is not a required type of coverage.
If law enforcement identifies the hit-and-run driver, you can pursue a case against them; however, many times motorists who flee an accident scene don’t have proper insurance coverage so you’d have to pursue a case against them directly. You’d only want to do this if they had assets to cover your losses, otherwise you couldn’t collect even if you won your case.
A San Antonio Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Can Help
A San Antonio hit-and-run accident lawyer at George Salinas Injury Lawyers will work with you to explore all your options after a hit-and-run. Our San Antonio car accident lawyers will do everything in our power to get you the compensation you deserve. Give us a call today at (210)-225-0909 to learn more about the help we can offer.