Key Takeaways: What Every Hit And Run Accident Victim Should Know
- Uninsured motorist coverage pays for hit and run accidents even if the fleeing driver is never found or identified by law enforcement.
- Leaving the scene is a serious crime in Texas: penalties range from Class C misdemeanors to felonies with up to five years imprisonment, depending on injury severity.
- Evidence preservation is crucial: security footage, witness statements, and physical evidence can help identify the fleeing driver and strengthen your case.
- You don’t need to locate the hit-and-run driver to recover compensation through your own insurance company’s uninsured motorist coverage.
Contact our Houston hit and run accident lawyers today for a free case evaluation. We’ll help you understand your options and fight for maximum compensation after your hit and run case.
Why Choose Simmons & Fletcher After a Hit And Run Accident in Houston?
When you’ve been the victim of a hit and run accident in Houston, you need experienced legal representation to navigate both criminal and civil aspects of your case. Our Houston hit and run injury law firm has been serving accident victims since 1979, fighting to recover millions in compensation for clients throughout Harris County and across Texas.
Our hit and run accident attorneys understand the unique challenges these cases present. While police may have limited resources to track down fleeing drivers, our experienced legal team has the tools and expertise to:
- Conduct thorough investigations to identify hit-and-run drivers using private investigators and surveillance analysis;
- Preserve crucial evidence quickly, including security camera footage and witness statements;
- Handle complex uninsured motorist claims with your insurance company;
- Fight for full compensation covering medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering;
- Navigate the intersection between criminal charges and civil claims for maximum recovery.
Our track record speaks for itself:
- Paul H. Cannon is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization;
- Multiple attorneys recognized as Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters;
- Nearly five decades of experience handling car accidents and hit and run cases;
- Millions recovered for Houston area accident victims.
Don’t wait for the police to find the driver. Contact our hit and run accident attorney Houston team immediately to protect your rights and start building your case.
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What is a Hit-and-Run Accident?
A hit-and-run accident occurs when a driver involved in a collision flees the scene without stopping to provide required information or render aid. In Texas, all drivers have a legal duty to stop after any accident that results in injury, death, or property damage.
Hit and run accidents can involve:
- Car accidents where another vehicle strikes you and flees;
- Pedestrian accidents where a driver hits someone walking and leaves the scene;
- Motorcycle accidents involving fleeing drivers;
- Parking lot collisions where drivers damage parked vehicles and leave without providing contact information.
These accidents often leave victims struggling with medical expenses, vehicle repairs, and insurance complications while dealing with the trauma of being abandoned by the person who caused their injuries.
Steps to Take After a Hit and Run in Houston
Your actions immediately following a hit and run accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation and help law enforcement identify the fleeing driver. Follow these critical steps:
- Ensure everyone’s safety and seek medical attention: Check yourself and any passengers for injuries. Call 911 immediately if anyone needs medical care. Even if you feel fine, many injuries from car accident cases don’t show symptoms immediately.
- Contact Houston police: Call 911 to report the hit and run accident. Police will create an official report, which is essential for insurance claims and any potential criminal prosecution of the fleeing driver.
- Document everything at the scene: Use your phone to photograph:
- Vehicle damage from all angles;
- The accident scene and road conditions;
- Any debris left behind by the fleeing vehicle;
- Your injuries (if visible);
- Street signs and landmarks for location reference.
- Gather witness information: Speak with anyone who saw the accident. Get their contact information and ask for a brief statement about what they witnessed. Witnesses may have seen details about the fleeing vehicle that you missed.
- Note details about the fleeing vehicle: Write down everything you remember about the hit-and-run driver and vehicle, including:
- License plate number (even partial numbers help);
- Make, model, color, and year of the vehicle;
- Description of the driver;
- Direction the vehicle traveled when leaving.
- Look for security cameras: Check nearby businesses, traffic lights, and residential areas for surveillance cameras that may have captured the accident or the fleeing vehicle.
- Contact your insurance company: Report the hit and run accident to your insurer as soon as possible. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, this may be your primary source of compensation.
- Call a Houston hit and run accident lawyer: Contact our experienced legal team immediately to preserve evidence and protect your rights while the trail is still fresh.
Time is critical in hit and run cases. Contact our hit and run injury attorney Houston team immediately to start investigating your case before evidence disappears.
Information Required After a Hit and Run Accident
Under Texas Transportation Code, drivers involved in accidents must provide specific information to other parties. When someone flees the scene, they’re violating this legal requirement and committing a crime.
The required information includes:
- Driver’s name and current address;
- Vehicle registration number and license plate;
- Name of the driver’s motor vehicle liability insurance company;
- Driver’s license (if requested and available);
- Contact information for emergency purposes.
When this information isn’t provided due to a hit and run, you’ll need to work with law enforcement and your hit and run accident claim attorney to gather evidence that can identify the responsible party.
What Are My Options if I Am a Victim of a Hit and Run?
As a hit and run victim in Houston, you have several legal options for recovering compensation, even if the fleeing driver is never identified:
Track Down the Hit-and-Run Driver
Your hit and run accident attorney can conduct an independent investigation to identify the fleeing driver by:
- Hiring private investigators to canvass the area;
- Subpoenaing security footage from nearby businesses;
- Working with forensic experts to analyze vehicle debris and paint samples;
- Interviewing witnesses more thoroughly than police may have time for;
- Checking with local auto body shops for vehicles matching the damage pattern.
File an Uninsured Motorist Claim
Even if the driver is never found, you can recover compensation through your own insurance company’s uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage treats hit and run drivers the same as uninsured drivers and can pay for:
- Medical expenses and future medical care;
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity;
- Pain and suffering;
- Vehicle repair or replacement;
- Other damages related to your injuries.
This is especially important given that 15.4 percent of motorists (more than one in seven drivers), were uninsured nationally in 2023 according to the Insurance Research Council. The uninsured driver problem is particularly concerning given recent trends.
Crime Victims Compensation Program
If you don’t have adequate insurance coverage, you may qualify for assistance through the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Program. This state program can help pay for medical expenses and other costs related to violent crimes, including hit and run accidents, with compensation available up to $50,000 for crimes that occur after September 1, 1997.
Explore all your options. Speak with our hit and run settlement specialists to determine the best strategy for your specific situation.
Do I Need to Hire a Hit-and-Run Lawyer?
Yes. Hit and run cases involve complex legal and insurance issues that require experienced representation. Whether you were a driver, passenger, or pedestrian when struck by a fleeing vehicle, a Houston hit and run accident lawyer can significantly improve your chances of full compensation.
Here’s why you need professional legal help:
Insurance Companies Don’t Look Out for Your Interests
Even when filing an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company, remember that insurers are businesses focused on minimizing payouts. Insurance adjusters may:
- Offer lowball settlements that don’t cover all your damages;
- Rush you into accepting inadequate compensation;
- Question the severity of your injuries or necessity of treatment;
- Use tactics to reduce their financial obligation to you.
Evidence Disappears Quickly
Security camera footage is often recorded over within days or weeks. Witnesses’ memories fade, and physical evidence at the accident scene gets cleared away. Our legal team acts immediately to:
- Send preservation letters to businesses with relevant surveillance footage;
- Photograph and document the accident scene thoroughly;
- Interview witnesses while their memories are fresh;
- Work with accident reconstruction experts when necessary.
We Handle Complex Legal Procedures
Hit and run cases involve both criminal and civil legal aspects. Our experienced attorneys will:
- Coordinate with law enforcement investigations;
- Navigate uninsured motorist coverage requirements;
- Handle all communications with insurance companies;
- Calculate the full value of your damages, including future losses;
- Negotiate medical liens and subrogation claims to maximize your recovery;
- File lawsuits when necessary to protect your rights.
Don’t face this alone. Contact our experienced hit and run claim attorneys for a free consultation about your case.
Texas Laws Pertaining to Hit-and-Run Accidents
Texas takes hit and run accidents seriously, with criminal penalties in the Texas Transportation Code that increase based on the severity of injuries and property damage. Understanding these laws helps explain why fleeing drivers face serious consequences and why your case deserves professional legal attention.
§ 550.021. ACCIDENT INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH
Drivers involved in collisions that result or are reasonably likely to result in injury or death must immediately stop at the scene, return if they left, determine if anyone needs aid, and remain until they comply with information-sharing requirements.
Violations involving serious bodily injury constitute felonies of the third degree, while other injury-related violations are punishable by up to five years imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or up to one year in county jail, plus fines up to $5,000.
§ 550.022. ACCIDENT INVOLVING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE
Even when accidents involve only property damage, drivers must stop and provide information. Violations are Class C misdemeanors if damage is under $200, or Class B misdemeanors if damage is $200 or more.
This section also addresses accidents on freeways in metropolitan areas like Houston, requiring drivers to move vehicles to safe locations when possible to minimize traffic interference.
§ 550.023. DUTY TO GIVE INFORMATION AND RENDER AID
This section specifies exactly what information drivers must provide after accidents, including:
- Name, address, and vehicle registration number;
- Insurance company information;
- Driver’s license when requested;
- Reasonable assistance to injured persons, including medical care arrangements.
Failure to provide this required information is what makes an accident a criminal “hit and run” under Texas law.
The criminal penalties are just one aspect. Contact our hit and run compensation attorneys to understand your civil rights and options for financial recovery.
Related Resources
- Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Claims: Understand how you can get compensation when hit and run drivers don’t have coverage.
- Insurance Bad Faith Claims: Learn your rights when insurance companies wrongfully deny or delay your hit and run claim.
- Rear-End Collision Accidents: Discover how fault is determined when hit and run drivers strike you from behind.
- Spinal Cord Injury Claims: Explore legal options for serious back and neck injuries from hit and run accidents.
- Catastrophic Injury Claims: Understand compensation for life-altering injuries caused by hit and run drivers.
- Wrongful Death Claims: Learn how families can seek justice when hit and run accidents result in fatalities.
- Passenger Insurance Claims: Learn how passengers can file claims against multiple drivers and insurance policies after an accident.
- Houston’s Most Dangerous Roads: Identify high-risk areas including I-45, I-10, and other Houston roads with elevated accident rates.
- Minor Impact Collision Claims: Understand how serious injuries can occur even in low-speed accidents with minimal vehicle damage.
FAQs About Hit And Run Accidents
What is the minimum penalty for a hit-and-run?
The minimum penalty for a hit-and-run in Texas depends on the circumstances. For property damage under $200, it’s a Class C misdemeanor. For property damage of $200 or more, it becomes a Class B misdemeanor. When injuries are involved, penalties increase significantly, potentially including years of imprisonment and thousands of dollars in fines.
What percent of hit-and-run get solved?
National statistics show that only about 10% of hit-and-run cases result in arrests, which is why having experienced legal representation is crucial. Our Houston hit and run accident lawyers use private investigators and advanced techniques that often succeed where police investigations may fall short due to limited resources.
How much can you sue someone for a hit and run?
There’s no specific limit on hit and run settlements in Texas. Compensation depends on factors like medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the severity of injuries. Victims can recover both economic damages (medical bills, lost income) and non-economic damages (pain, emotional distress). Proving pain and suffering requires experienced legal representation.
What is the compensation for hit and run?
Hit and run compensation typically includes medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other damages related to your injuries. The exact amount depends on your specific circumstances, insurance coverage, and whether the fleeing driver is identified and has assets or insurance coverage.
Are hit and runs taken seriously?
Yes, Texas law enforcement and courts take hit and run cases very seriously. The criminal penalties reflect this seriousness, especially when injuries are involved. Additionally, civil courts often allow punitive damages against hit-and-run drivers who are caught, recognizing the particularly egregious nature of fleeing an accident scene.
What is the minimum sentence for a hit-and-run?
The minimum sentence varies by circumstances. Class C misdemeanors may result in fines only, while Class B misdemeanors can include jail time. When serious bodily injury or death is involved, minimum sentences under felony guidelines can include years of imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of these crimes.
Is Leaving the Scene of an Accident a Crime?
Yes, leaving the scene of an accident is always a crime in Texas when injury, death, or property damage occurs. Texas Transportation Code makes it an offense for any person involved in a collision to fail to stop or comply with the legal requirements for providing information and rendering aid. The severity of the criminal charge depends on the extent of injuries and property damage involved.
