There are a host of reasons that a driver may choose to leave the scene of an accident, one prominent one being if he doesn’t have a valid license. All are frightened about the repercussions. Sadly, many hit and run accidents involve drunk drivers, which may be why some flee from the scene of the crash.
This can make it difficult to recover damages when unable to locate the driver. But the good news is that some hit and run drivers are eventually caught, which recently happened when a pedestrian was seriously injured on Long Island.
The victim was struck while crossing New York Avenue in Huntington Station. But the police were able to find the driver, who was charged with driving while intoxicated.
Challenges Pursuing Damages for a Hit and Run
Of course, the biggest challenge following a hit and run is holding the at-fault driver liable. Unfortunately, some drivers are never caught. Others plagued by guilt may eventually come forward as was the case this past year when a 22-year-old man from Ohio posted an online video confession that went viral.
USA Today reported in November that, “Matthew Cordle of Dublin, was sentenced last month to 6 ½ years in prison for aggravated vehicular homicide and DUI in a wrong-way interstate crash that killed Vincent Canzani, 61.”
Other times the victim or witnesses are able to catch the plate number. If the story goes public with a description of the vehicle and damage, those who know the hit and run driver may turn him or her in. Or in some cases the driver may take the vehicle in for repairs and is identified by the repairmen at the shop.
When the driver is identified, there can still be challenges in recovering damages. For instance, if the person wasn’t licensed, there’s a good chance he doesn’t have insurance either. With so many difficult issues that can be involved in this type of accident, it’s usually beneficial to seek legal advice. Gacovino, Lake & Associates can help, so call us at 800-550-0000 to set up a consultation.
