What Should I Do after a Hit and Run Accident in Texas? Advice from a Van Zandt Personal-Injury Lawyer

The scene of any road accident is filled with questions: Who caused the crash? Was anybody injured? Did someone contact the police?

These questions are difficult to answer when drivers leave the scene, which is why hit and runs are illegal in Texas. Victims are often left with exorbitant medical bills and lost wages, which they may have to pay out of pocket if the at-fault driver flees.

The Texas Transportation Code states that anyone involved in an accident is required by law to:

• Stop and stay close to the scene of the crash;
• Check to see if anyone has been injured, and if so, call the police;
• And remain at the scene until the authorities have arrived.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,449 fatal hit and run accidents in 2011. This is especially bad news for pedestrians: 1 in 5 of all pedestrian fatalities was struck by a driver who then fled the scene.

If you were injured in a hit and run crash, contact a Van Zandt personal-injury lawyer from the Cooper Law Firm. Accident attorney N. Eric Cooper will determine if you have grounds for a claim.

1. Eric Cooper is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Gregg County Bar Association. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a consultation. You can also visit USAttorneys.com to learn more about injury claims arising from hit and run car accidents in Texas.

What to Do after a Hit and Run Accident in Texas

Most states have laws that require everyone involved in a traffic accident that causes death or injury to stay at the scene until authorities arrive. Choosing to leave the scene is a criminal offense.

Despite these laws, hit and runs are still common. They are often caused by drivers who do not have insurance, are drunk, or believe they killed a pedestrian and want to evade the consequences. Sadly, crash victims are more likely to die if the at-fault driver flees.

If you are injured in a hit and run crash, it is important that you take steps to protect your interests. Keep these five tips in mind:

1. Get as much identifying information about the at-fault driver and his or her vehicle as you can;
2. Record the contact information of eyewitnesses;
3. Take pictures of the scene and your injuries, and make a note of the time and location;
4. Call the police;
5. And contact a personal-injury lawyer who has experience handling lawsuits that involve hit and run accidents.

If you were injured in a car crash with a driver who fled the scene, contact a personal-injury lawyer from the Cooper Law Firm. N. Eric Cooper is an accident attorney in Van Zandt who helps clients throughout east Texas. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a consultation.