Hit-and-Run Accidents
“In a perfect world….” We’ve all heard that expression before, but consider for a moment what it means in terms of being involved in a serious traffic accident. Perhaps in a perfect world we wouldn’t have accidents, but that is sadly not the case here in Maryland. The fact is, innocent people are injured and killed on a daily basis due to the negligence of others; and many of these tragedies happen on public roadways at the hands of careless and even reckless drivers.
The aforementioned phrase may best be applied to the aftermath of a car or commercial truck crash when first responders and police arrive to help the injured and assess the crash site to determine responsibility. As experienced personal injury attorneys, we know that getting the injured to a hospital for emergency medical treatment is paramount under circumstances such as these, since saving lives following a deadly traffic collision can be a function of minutes in worst-case scenarios. In a perfect world all auto accident victims would survive their ordeal and go on to live full and happy lives.
As skilled legal professionals, the lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, understand that most car accidents usually are the fault of one particular driver. We know that in a perfect world the responsible party would immediately own up the negligent actions that caused the crash in the first place. Unfortunately, there are instances when the at-fault motorist leaves the scene before authorities arrive, never intending to even report the accident. The immediate threat to the well-being of any injured individuals is obvious in situations where a roadway accident takes place in a somewhat remote area with few, if any, third-party witnesses.
As most any thinking individual should understand, especially here in Maryland, leaving the scene of an accident one has caused is not only irresponsible, it’s against the law. This should be even more clear, since even those who do not cause a collision are required by law to stay at an accident scene until police arrive in order to file an accident report. For those negligent drivers who do decide to flee, either in their vehicle or on-foot, a “hit-and-run” charge may be pending once police locate the responsible party.
As experienced trial attorneys, the lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen know that the consequences for the negligent motorist following a traffic accident will only be made worse by an additional charge of hit-and-run driving. For example, being convicted of a hit-and-run automobile accident that resulted in injuries can add up to five years in prison, as well as a $5,000 fine. Fatal hit-and-run collisions can mean jail sentences up to ten years and a fine of up to $10,000. This is in addition to any other potential criminal charges, including vehicular manslaughter, which might precipitate from a fatal car or trucking-related crash.
Some of the reasons that individuals may leave the scene of a car accident include, but are not limited to not understanding his or her obligation under the law; not realizing that property damage occurred as a direct result of the collision; or being fearful of the legal consequences for causing such an accident. Fear is, of course, a great motivator especially if the at-fault driver was operating a vehicle under a suspended license, without proper insurance coverage, or if the negligent motorist was drunk at the time of the crash.
Regardless of whether one is injured in a car, truck or motorcycle accident caused by a hit-and-run driver, the best course of action is to contact a skilled personal injury lawyer with experience in automobile and trucking-related road accidents. A qualified injury attorney understands the pain and suffering that can come from a serious traffic accident; outside of this, obtaining compensation for a client’s medical expenses, possible lost wages, as well as for the injury itself are just a few of the more important aspects of any auto injury case.
The professional legal staff at the law offices of Lebowitz & Mzhen is ready and willing to assist victims of automobile accidents, commercial trucking crashes and motorcycle wrecks. In cases of hit-and-run injury accidents, we work with auto insurance companies to ensure that past, present and future medical expenses, as well as lost wages will be covered. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car or truck crash, we strongly advise that you to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys. Give us a call, toll-free, at (800) 654-1949 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation; or feel free to email Jack Lebowitz or Vadim Mzhen regarding your auto injury accident.