The Cold Hard Truth About Solving Hit and Run Car Accidents
Hiring a hit and run attorney is something you should consider following one of these types of accidents. As with other personal injury cases, having a lawyer working on your behalf means much of the burden of dealing with insurance companies or the court system is shouldered by that attorney—you don’t have to go it alone. That in and of itself is a great psychological relief—not to mention that a hit and run lawyer will most often be able to secure compensation greater than you could on your own. But all of this is predicated on whether there is evidence to determine responsibility for the hit and run accident.
Here’s the hard truth about hit and runs. On average, only about 8% of these cases get solved. These cases are maddening when you’ve been the victim. Aside from the pain and suffering incurred, when you are hit by someone else’s automobile and they flee the scene, unless there are witnesses or surveillance footage, there may be no way to determine who caused your injuries. There’s also the anger of knowing that someone caused injury to you and did not stop to help. There’s an overwhelming sense of injustice.
Even with security camera footage, nine times out of ten the camera does not capture the license plate of the car. As one officer of the Los Angeles Police Department said, some victims—especially non-injured ones—tend not to prosecute because it’s inconvenient to go to court.
When things fall in place, however—when there are injuries and either witnesses or camera footage with a license plate visible—a hit and run attorney can pursue legal action and fight to recover damages and compensation for you as the accident victim.
Disturbing Hit and Run Numbers
In Los Angeles from 2014 to 2018 there were over 100,000 hit and run cases. Over one quarter of those were felony hit and run accidents (where someone was injured). These statistics are disturbing and all the more frustrating since the vast majority will never be solved. Unfortunately, in 2018, 54 people lost their lives in hit and run accidents in Los Angeles, and similar statistics apply to us here in Orange County.
With increased use of traffic and CCTV cameras in many areas, the odds may go up for attributing blame in these types of car accidents. Also, as I made mention of in another car accident article the use of dash cams could be useful in proving fault. For injured pedestrians or bicyclists this, of course, wouldn’t apply. Still, when there is evidence for a hit and run attorney like myself to use, we will aggressively go after those responsible to make sure you, the accident victim, are compensated to the fullest extent possible.
Hit and run accidents occur with unfortunate regularity here in Orange County (you need only check out the CHP’s traffic web page for the latest statistics) and should you be the victim of one of these unnerving incidents you’ll want to consult with an attorney who has the experience to see your case through to its successful outcome. In Tustin, that attorney is me, Kyle Scott. If you’ve suffered due to a hit and run and need a lawyer in your corner, please call my offices at 714-544-1460 so that I can review your case. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.