Syracuse, New York, Hit-And-Run Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer, is Committed to Providing Unparalleled Representation and Peerless Personal Injury Service. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in a Hit-and-Run Accident That Was Not Your Fault, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Investigate Your Collision and Begin Asserting Your Rights to a Fair Recovery.

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Every car accident has the potential to end in catastrophe. After a life-altering collision, victims are often forced to think long and hard about their path to recovery. For many survivors, no-fault insurance claims provide a simple means to repay medical debt and replace income. In cases where policy limits prove inadequate, the Empire State’s courts can sometimes offer more relief opportunities.

However, the rules that apply to routine insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits presume that motorists, even those who made a mistake, are fundamentally honest people—people who will, at the very least, stop to render aid and exchange insurance information before letting negotiations run their course. In a hit-and-run accident, the common-sense approach to recovery does not always work. Challenges are amplified, and obstacles ordinarily overcome through perseverance could easily seem insurmountable.

You do not have to accept uncertainty in place of a fair settlement. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is committed to upholding the rights of accident victims. If you or a loved one have been injured in a hit-and-run that was not your fault, our experienced team of attorneys could help you assess your best options for a fair settlement. We know what it takes to build a compelling case for compensation—and we have the results to prove it. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-800-529-5334 to speak to a hit-and-run accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free consultation.

New York State’s Hit-And-Run Laws

Every state has its laws on car accidents and reporting requirements.

Like most other states, New York has different laws regulating what actions must be taken after an accident. Drivers are typically required to do the following after any collision involving property damage or physical injury:

1. Stop the Vehicle: If a driver is in a crash, they cannot leave the accident scene without first stopping to render aid and exchange insurance information.
2. Exchange Insurance Information: An accident is any collision that causes property damage or results in physical injury. Even if neither motorist believes that the extent of damage warrants an insurance claim, drivers must state their names and provide their policy information.
3. Call 9-1-1: New York state law requires that any automobile accident involving physical injury or death be immediately reported to law enforcement. If a motorist is badly injured and cannot call 9-1-1, they must file a collision report with the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days.

The following two sections of the New York Vehicle & Traffic Law provide further information on the nature and extent of information motorists are required to share with other parties involved in an accident:

1. New York VTL 600-1a: New York VTL 600-1a states that in an accident involving property damage but no physical injuries, motorists must share their license and exchange insurance information with the other driver. The police do not need to be contacted if nobody is injured and the extent of any apparent property damage appears to be $1,000 or less.
2. New York VTL 600-2a: Every accident involving injuries must be reported to the police immediately. Motorists are also required to exchange their licenses and insurance information, regardless of who is at fault.

The penalties for fleeing the scene of an accident without first stopping to exchange information depend on the severity of the crash. If a collision caused only property damage, drivers may be issued a traffic citation, punishable by a fine of up to $250 and imprisonment of up to 15 days.

Motorists who do not identify themselves after an accident that causes either physical injury or death could face criminal charges. Refusing to provide license information or an insurance policy card is a Class B misdemeanor, whereas any other violation—such as failing to stop altogether—is a Class A misdemeanor. If the victim was seriously injured, prosecutors could charge the hit-and-run driver with a felony alongside any additional offenses related to or arising from the collision.

However, even if a hit-and-run driver is identified and charged with a crime, there is no guarantee that a criminal court will be able to order the at-fault motorist to compensate the victim for their injuries and other losses. In cases where restitution is awarded, the amount is not always sufficient to cover survivors’ outstanding costs and anticipated care needs.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you explore your best options for effective legal relief. Our experienced team of hit-and-run accident lawyers could help you locate the at-fault motorist or negotiate a fair recovery under the terms of your insurance policy. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation.

Protecting Your Rights After A Syracuse Hit-And-Run Car Crash

Hit-and-run collisions often seem to deprive victims of their rights to recompense.

According to an American Automobile Association analysis of hit-and-run-type accidents, only 50% of perpetrators are successfully identified. In some states, this rate falls as low as 10%. Accidents involving women and children are more likely to culminate in arrest, but many investigations end in uncertainty.

The inherent uncertainty of hit-and-run collisions can quickly leave victims frustrated, angry, and unsure of their next steps. However, a driver’s refusal to stop and fulfill their legal obligations does not necessarily preclude survivors from asserting their rights to a fair recovery—but victims must typically be much more proactive than in cases where the at-fault motorist’s identity has already been established.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a hit-and-run accident, you should take the following steps to improve your chances of obtaining compensation:

1. Pull over and stop your vehicle. Do not attempt to pursue the at-fault driver, even if you believe that it would be safe to do so;
2. Assess your injuries and ensure that your passengers are safe;
3. Dial 9-1-1 and report the incident to law enforcement immediately;
4. Write down or otherwise record everything you can remember about the perpetrator and their vehicle, including its make, model, color, and a full or partial license plate number; and
5. Ask any eyewitnesses for their names and phone numbers.

After speaking to the police, you must contact your insurance company within a reasonable timeframe. However, speaking to your insurance company almost always poses a risk: any mistakes or inconsistencies, no matter how minor, could be construed as an attempt to defraud the company, whether through exaggeration or other misrepresentation.

You do not have to put your faith in a company that may not have your best interests at heart. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping accident victims fight for their rights, overcoming steep odds to secure the compensation and justice they deserve. Please do not risk your recovery: call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to an experienced hit-and-run car crash lawyer near Syracuse to schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

Obtaining Compensation After A Central New York Hit-And-Run Motor Vehicle Collision

Syracuse is by no means an unsafe city, yet hit-and-run accidents still happen with alarming regularity. In recent months, Syracuse and Onondaga County law enforcement have reported the following incidents:

1. A Syracuse man was struck and killed by a sedan while walking on East Glen Avenue. A 19-year-old man was later identified as a suspect and taken into custody;
2. A drunk driver struck and killed his 22-year-old coworker on Oswego Road in the Syracuse suburb of Clay before crashing into a utility pole and being arrested, and
3. A 24-year-old Syracuse riding a dirt bike on the South Side suffered “severe head trauma” after being hit by a Toyota Highlander. Eyewitnesses claim that the collision on South Salina Street was so forceful that the impact could be heard at the intersection of East Colvin Street and West Brighton Avenue.

Every year, law enforcement agencies across New York State investigate thousands of hit-and-run accidents. While most do not end in death, many leave victims grievously injured and unable to pay the costs of their recovery. Even when a private health insurance company is willing to help, few policies include provisions for lost income and other damages.

However, survivors often have options beyond uncertainty. If you or a loved one have been injured in a Syracuse hit-and-run accident, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you maximize compensation by:

1. Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit: Our attorneys could help you file a personal injury lawsuit against a hit-and-run motorist and their car insurance company if the at-fault driver is located.
2. Pressing a No-Fault Insurance Claim: Insurance companies typically treat hit-and-run accidents like collisions involving uninsured or underinsured motorists. If you have a car insurance policy, you could be entitled to compensation through a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim or Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) claim.
3. Exploring Alternatives: Some car accidents are underlain by multiple layers of negligence. Other defendants in a hit-and-run accident claim could include another motorist, a commercial transportation company, or even a bar that kept serving a visibly intoxicated patron alcohol. If our attorneys uncover evidence that a third party’s misconduct caused or contributed to your collision, we could file additional claims to increase your chances of securing a fair settlement.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you investigate a Syracuse hit-and-run car accident, assess your best options for relief, and negotiate a fair settlement, whether with your own insurance company or an at-fault driver who tried to evade the consequences of their misconduct. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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