Your life changed in an instant, and the driver who hit you didn’t even bother to stop. Now, you are left with significant medical bills, physical pain, and a lot of unanswered questions.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Hit and Run

As soon as you possible after your hit-and-run accident, you should:

• Call the police. If you are physically able to do so, you should call the police or ask someone else to call the police from the accident scene. The police will investigate the accident and look for the hit-and-run driver.
• See a healthcare provider. You may be seriously hurt and taken to the emergency room. However, even if you don’t immediately feel injury symptoms, it is essential to see a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. You may be hurt in ways that you don’t know yet. Additionally, your car insurance policy likely requires you to see a doctor within 14 days for personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to apply.
• Call a pedestrian accident lawyer. An attorney will make sure that a full investigation is done, all recovery options are considered, and all of your rights are protected after a hit and run accident.

After these initial steps are taken, you can turn your attention to paying your medical bills without jeopardizing your financial future.

Your Car Insurance May Pay Your Medical Costs

Even if the other driver is never found, there are ways to pay your medical costs without going into debt or taking money from your bank account. For example, your healthcare costs may be covered by different parts of your car insurance policy, such as:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP). If you have car insurance, your PIP coverage may pay a portion of your medical bills even though you weren’t in your car at the time of your accident. PIP covers up to 80% of the first $10,000 of medical costs if you suffer an emergency medical condition or up to 80% of $2,500 of medical costs if you suffer a non-emergency medical condition.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional in Florida, but it is included in your car insurance policy unless you specifically reject it in writing. If you have uninsured motorist coverage at the time of your hit and run, your medical expenses may be covered.

The Crimes Compensation Trust Fund

Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in Florida. If you have expenses after being the victim of a hit-and-run crime, you may be able to apply for relief from the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund within one year of your accident. To be eligible for this type of relief, you must have reported the hit and run to the police within 72 hours of your accident.

While you can’t file a personal injury lawsuit if the other driver is never found, you may still benefit from contacting a pedestrian accident lawyer. Attorney Louis Berk can make sure that your insurance company treats you fairly and that you get what you deserve from the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund. To learn more, please contact us today.