In April 2018, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a troubling report. Researchers found that in 2016, 2,049 people died in hit-and-run crashes. That was an increase of more than 60 percent from 2009 and the highest number of deaths in these crashes since the NHTSA started keeping statistics on hit-and-run deaths.

1. HIT-AND-RUN
COLLISIONS
What happens when a driver flees the scene after
injuring another person?

2. An Alarming Increase in Hit-and-
Run Deaths in the U.S.
In April 2018, the AAA Foundation for
Traffic Safety released a troubling
report. Researchers found that in
2016, 2,049 people died in hit-and-
run crashes. That was an increase of
more than 60 percent from 2009 and
the highest number of deaths in these
crashes since the NHTSA started
keeping statistics on hit-and-run
deaths.

3. A Plague on U.S. and Texas Roads
Approximately 682,000 hit-and-run
crashes occur annually in the United
States. These crashes result in more
than 120,000 injuries every year.
Unfortunately, Texas has a high number
of hit-and-run crashes and fatalities. In
2016, for example, 233 people lost their
lives in hit-and-run collisions. These
statistics beg several questions. Who is
most vulnerable to hit-and-run
collisions? When do they happen?
What can victims do when a driver flees
the scene?

4. Who is Affected?
Any type of road user can be injured
by a hit-and-run driver, but it’s
typically pedestrians and cyclists that
are the most vulnerable. In fact, 65
percent of deaths in hit-and-run
collisions are pedestrians and
cyclists. One out of five pedestrian
deaths occurs in hit-and-run
collisions.

5. Where and When do Hit-and-Run
Crashes Happen?
The most common setting of a hit-
and-run crash is on roads with lower
speed limits, where pedestrian traffic
is heaviest. They are more likely to
occur between midnight and 4 a.m.
when the driver is less likely to be
spotted when they flee the scene.

6. Types of Injuries in Hit-and-Run
Collisions
Hit-and-run crashes, particularly those
involving pedestrians and cyclists,
result in some of the most serious
injuries imaginable. This includes…
■ Traumatic brain injuries
■ Spinal injuries
■ Internal injuries and organ damage
■ Fractured bones - fractured hips,
ankles, wrists and other bones
■ Wrongful death.

7. Why Hit-and-Run Drivers Flee the
Scene
When a driver strikes a pedestrian
cyclist or other motorist, they often go
into panic mode. In some cases, a
driver makes a split-second decision to
flee the scene. There might be very
little deliberate thought in their decision.
However, that doesn’t mean their
impulse is without motivation. Hit-and-
run drivers are often intoxicated or face
legal consequences for other reasons,
such as the lack of insurance or the
existence of a criminal record.

8. The Fallout for Hit-and-Run Victims
For someone who has been injured
by a negligent driver, the fallout is
often catastrophic. When the
perpetrator flees the scene, the victim
faces a great deal of uncertainty. It
might seem as if there are very few
options to get compensation for
medical bills, lost income or other
costs stemming from the crash.
However, there are a couple of
options for hit-and-run victims.

9. Legal Options for Hit-and-Run
Victims
If the fleeing driver is never identified,
a hit-and-run crash victim can still
receive payment to cover many of
their costs through their own
insurance company. If an insurance
company refuses to pay or offers less
than the victim deserves, they do not
have to accept that result. An attorney
can help the victim get the payment
they deserve.

10. Hit-and-Run Drivers are Sometimes
Caught
In some cases, hit-and-run drivers
are identified and caught by the
authorities. In these situations, a
victim can seek payment either
through the guilty driver’s insurance
company or, if the driver is uninsured
or underinsured, the victim can
pursue compensation from the driver
directly. In the meantime, a victim’s
insurance company should help them
with their costs.

11. Injured by a Hit-and-Run Driver? An
Attorney Can Help.
Regardless of whether the driver is
identified by the authorities, you might
consider hiring an attorney if you are
being offered less money than you
deserve. An attorney will conduct
their own investigation of the crash to
see if they can find the responsible
party. They will also be your advocate
when dealing with insurance
companies to get the payment you
are owed.

12. Contact Guajardo & Marks to Learn
More
If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run
crash in Texas, contact Guajardo &
Marks to learn more about your legal
options. We assist injured clients
across the state to make sure they
get compensation for their suffering
and the costs of their injuries. Contact
us today to schedule a free
consultation.
972-426-2621