Car accidents are traumatic and terrifying when they cause injuries to one or more motorists. When the driver who caused the accident flees the scene without attempting to help injury victims or face accountability for their careless or reckless actions, it’s even more devastating.
Unfortunately, under the fault-based insurance laws in Texas, the distress of a hit-and-run accident continues long after the dust settles on the accident, when an injury victim seeks compensation for their damages, like medical expenses and lost wages.
If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident in El Paso, call our El Paso auto accident attorneys at Cal Mundell Injury Law to set up a free consultation to learn about your legal rights and options for financial recovery.
Why You Should Choose Our Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys
Founding attorney, Cal Mundell, has been named a Texas Rising Star by the prestigious publication, Super Lawyers. By choosing Cal Mundell Injury Law, you’ll find the following:
- A free evaluation of your case and a contingency-based payment system, so you pay nothing until after your attorney recovers your compensation through a settlement or court award for your damages
- A personalized legal strategy to pursue all available avenues for your compensation under the state’s comparative negligence laws
- An entire legal staff working to advance your case with creative solutions
With Cal Mundell Injury Law, you’ll find the compassion and integrity of a small-town law office and the resources, professionalism, and technology of a large-city law firm.
What Causes Hit-and-Run Accidents In El Paso?
El Paso residents lead active, productive lives, but this often contributes to congested traffic, frustration, and aggressive driving behavior. The most common causes of car accidents in El Paso include the following:
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Tailgating
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper merging
- Tire blowouts
- Improper passing
- Impaired driving
- Fatigued driving
After an accident, Texas law requires drivers to remain at the scene of an accident if there are injuries or fatalities. Under Texas Sec. 550.021, the law states the following:
“The operator of a vehicle involved in a collision that results or is reasonably likely to result in injury to or death of a person shall: immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the collision or as close to the scene as possible; immediately return to the scene of the collision if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the collision; immediately determine whether a person is involved in the collision, and if a person is involved in the collision, whether that person requires aid…”
Why Do Drivers Leave the Scene of an El Paso Car Accident?
As noted in the above legislation, some hit-and-run drivers return to the scene of the accident. This typically occurs when the accident triggers a fight-or-flight response or confusion due to a head injury, causing them to leave the accident scene. These hit-and-run drivers may either return to the crash site or call the police to report the accident. More commonly, however, drivers have more nefarious reasons to flee the scene of a car accident. Often, these include one or more of the following:
- They lack a valid Texas driver’s license
- They lack insurance
- They were driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
- They were in possession of illegal drugs, weapons, or other contraband
- There is an existing warrant for their arrest
Hit-and-run accidents are more common than most people think. There were an astonishing 4 million hit-and-runs in the U.S. between 2018 and 2022. Nearly 12,000 of those hit-and-run accidents involved fatalities.
What Are the Options for Compensation After a Hit-and-Run Accident In El Paso?
Becoming the victim of a hit-and-run accident can leave an injury victim feeling overwhelmed and uncertain where to turn. This is due to the state’s fault-based injury laws requiring drivers to file claims against the at-fault party to recover compensation for car accident damages. In many cases, even if the hit-and-run driver is identified and apprehended, they don’t have valid insurance or significant financial resources. A car accident lawyer with experience navigating hit-and-run accident claims will explore all avenues for obtaining compensation, including the following:
- Filing a claim against the injury victim’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if they chose to keep this coverage (all insurance companies in Texas are required to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, but drivers may decline this coverage by signing a waiver)
- Filing a claim against any other parties that caused or contributed to the accident, such as a negligent road maintenance agency that left a hazardous road condition like an unrepaired pothole, an obstructed sign, or road construction debris
- Filing a claim against the manufacturer of your vehicle, seatbelt, or airbag if a design defect, manufacturing mistake, or marketing error contributed to the severity of your injuries
- File a lawsuit against the at-fault driver if they are apprehended and have significant resources or viable insurance
Your El Paso hit-and-run attorney will work tirelessly on your behalf, seeking the compensation you deserve.
Common Damages In El Paso Hit-and-Run Accidents
Serious injuries cause financial consequences that add up quickly when medical bills arrive at the same time that you are unable to return to work due to serious injuries, medical procedures, and the recovery period. The physical and financial consequences of a car accident are the “damages” in your claim. Common damages recovered in hit-and-run accident cases include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future income loss
- Reduced future earning ability
- Compensation for pain and suffering
Sometimes, a hit-and-run accident results in catastrophic injury damages requiring additional compensation for permanent injuries like limb loss, the loss of one of the senses, disfigurement, disability, or diminished quality of life.
Contact the El Paso Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys at Cal Mundell Injury Law
It may feel hopeless when you’re facing the physical and financial consequences of a car accident alone, especially if the at-fault party was a hit-and-run driver. Fortunately, you do not have to face this challenging legal process without skilled legal representation.
There is always hope for full and fair compensation when an experienced personal injury attorney in El Paso navigates your claim with unwavering determination. Call Cal Mundell Injury Law for a results-oriented attorney on your side.