Hit and Run

Item: Law Office of Doug Goyen
Rating: 5
Author: Socorro V.

Unfortunately, each day drivers cause hit and run car accidents with injuries and then flee the scene. Maybe they just panicked, or maybe they had a warrant out for their arrest, or maybe they just did not want to be found at fault and have their insurance rates go up. When a person flees the scene of a car wreck this can leave the victim of the collision in desperation wondering how they will get the medical bills and property damage paid. Contact our auto accident attorney at (972) 599-4100 today.

Call For A Free Case Review (972) 599 4100

HIT AND RUN ACCIDENTS IN TEXAS

A hit-and-run accident is a criminal offense in Texas. Drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions are required to stop, render assistance if needed, and exchange information. If someone flees the scene of a collision after causing death or serious injury they can be charged with a 3d degree felony in Texas and face from 2 to 10 years in prison.

Texas statutes covering hit and runs include:

Section 550.021 – Accident involving personal injury or death drivers shall (1) immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the scene as possible; (2) immediately return to the scene of the accident if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the accident; (3) immediately determine whether a person is involved in the accident, and if a person is involved in the accident, whether that person requires aid; and (4) remain at the scene of the accident until the operator complies with the requirements of Section 550.023 . Violations of this statute can be 2nd and 3rd-degree felonies.

Section 550.022 – Accident involving damage to vehicle – “in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle that is driven or attended by a person shall: (1) immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close as possible to the scene of the accident without obstructing traffic more than is necessary; (2) immediately return to the scene of the accident if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the accident; and (3) remain at the scene of the accident until the operator complies with the requirements of Section 550.023. Violations can be a class B or C misdemeanor.

Section 550.023 – Duty to give information and render aid. Section 550.023 of the Texas Transportation Code requires the operator of a vehicle involved in an accident that causes injury or damage to another vehicle to a) provide their name, address, vehicle registration number, and motor vehicle liability insurance to 1) any person injured, 2) the operator or occupant of, or 3) a person attending a vehicle involved in the collision”; b) “show the operator’s driver’s license to” the other people involved if requested and available

Section 550.024 – Duty on striking unattended vehicles a driver shall immediately stop and (1) locate the operator or owner of the unattended vehicle and give that person the name and address of the operator and the owner of the vehicle that struck the unattended vehicle; or (2) leave in a conspicuous place in, or securely attach in a plainly visible way to, the unattended vehicle a written notice giving the name and address of the operator and the owner of the vehicle that struck the unattended vehicle and a statement of the circumstances of the collision. Violations of this statute can be class B and C misdemeanors.

Section 550.025 – Duty on striking structure, fixture, or highway landscaping a driver shall (1) take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of the property of the accident and of the operator’s name and address and the registration number of the vehicle the operator was driving; and (2) if requested and available, show the operator’s driver’s license to the owner or person in charge of the property. Violations of this statute can be class B and C misdemeanors.

Fortunately, there are options that are available where you still may be able to obtain compensation for your injury. Attorney Goyen has handled hit and run car accident injury cases for over 23 years and can help you determine what can be done in your case. Contact a personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Doug Goyen. We can start work on your case today.

Call For A Free Case Review (972) 599 4100

WHAT TO DO AFTER HIT AND RUN ACCIDENTS

In addition to what you would normally do in a car accident injury case, you need to make sure a police report has been filed. If you have Uninsured Motorist coverage on your insurance policy they will require proof that the collision was reported to the police before they will pay in a hit and run accident.

Can I Recover in a Hit and Run Case?

In many cases, you can still recover compensation after a hit-and-run car wreck injury. If the police can track down the driver, there may be automobile insurance that can cover the claim. If you are able to locate the owner of the vehicle, then the owner may have insurance coverage that may cover the accident. If there is no way to track down the driver or owner of the hit-and-run vehicle, you may have Uninsured Motorist coverage on your own insurance policy that may cover your car accident injury claim.

If you need to make a claim under your Uninsured Motorist Coverage for a car accident injury claim you will need an attorney. Even though the Uninsured Motorist coverage is your own insurance, they will not treat you as they would under a normal claim.

In Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury claims your automobile insurance company steps into the shoes of the insurance that should have covered the other driver – the hit and run driver. Since they are acting as the liability insurance on behalf of the hit and run driver they will look for any way to show that you possibly contributed to the collision in some way, or that your injuries being claimed are not related to the accident, or that your injuries are exaggerated, or that your injuries were preexisting, or any other reason they can find to minimize the value of your claim.

If you were injured due to a hit-and-run driver, call the Law Office of Doug Goyen today. We have extensive experience over the last 23 years helping victims of hit and run injury accidents recover the compensation they deserve. A personal injury attorney will fight to get you the compensation you deserve in your case. Call today at (972) 599 4100.

Call For A Free Case Review (972) 599 4100

FREE CASE REVIEWS

If you are looking for Dallas car accident lawyers, call (972) 599 4100. We offer free phone consultations. We also provide a free strategy session. The strategy session includes a summary of your case, legal issues involved, and legal issues we identify as being critical to maximizing the compensation owed.

THERE IS NO FEE IF WE DO NOT WIN

You owe us nothing if we are unable to recover. We charge a contingency fee structured to take a percentage of what we recover. As a performance-based contract, the better we do for you, the better we do for ourselves. This aligns our interests in the case with our client’s interests.

DIRECTIONS TO OUR OFFICE

Law Office of Doug Goyen
15851 Dallas Pkwy #605
Addison, Texas 75001
(972) 599 4100 phone
(972) 398 2629 fax

Directions to our office: We are on the southbound side of the service road to the Tollway. Stay on the Dallas North Tollway until you come to the Keller Springs exit. Take the Keller Spring exit. Stay on the service road on the southbound side and go just past Keller Springs. Our office is the 2nd building south of Keller Springs, located on the service road to the North Dallas Tollway in the Madison Business Center on the 6th floor.

By Doug Goyen, douggoyen@goyenlaw.com

Call For A Free Case Review (972) 599 4100

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★★★★★

You want a great lawyer who keeps you informed on whats going on speaks with you personally and gets the job done call Doug Goyen. He is excellent & very professional you wont go wrong choosing him!! Thanks again for all your help Mr. Goyen! Socorro V.

★★★★★

Very efficient staff. I am VERY pleased with this firm. Gina W.

★★★★★

Very professional job handling my accident claim. I had some ER bills, and some visits to my ortho after (and various other bills that kept coming in). I was afraid I was going to get stuck owing money, but Doug Goyen took care of the case and had everything paid, including compensating me for the injury. Great lawyer IMO. I felt like my case was taken care of very well. Thx!! Bernard M.

★★★★★

Doug is a great attorney. He took care of my auto accident claim promptly, and answered any questions I had. I also had one of my hospital bills go into collections for non-payment. I was able to contact Doug a year after the accident, and received a copy of the check the hospital claimed they didn’t receive. I highly recommend this guy. David J.

★★★★★

The Law Office of Doug Goyen helped me recovery every bit I was owed on my claim. Very happy I used them. They knew what they were doing, and kept me informed. I felt taken care of the whole way. You wont go wrong using them. Arthur H.

★★★★★

Mr. Goyen helped me take on my own insurance company, the great and mighty Allstate. My prior firm basically dumped me, with a permanent injury because the case didn’t meet their financial guidelines for a settlement. I was a bicycle rider hit by a car driver at an intersection, and Allstate was the company on BOTH SIDES OF THE CLAIM. My own insurance company tried to throw me under the bus to limit their payout! Without Mr. Goyen’s help, I would have been left with NOTHING! I had thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills, unable to receive treatment to correct the issue. He was unafraid and helped me get the best settlement I could … I am tremendously thankful! Pamala M.