In some cases, the defendant driver can be caught after fleeing the scene of a wreck. In such cases, the person injured in the hit and run could seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses, as well as punitive damages.
Economic damages could compensate a claimant for their out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident, like psychological counseling, time lost from work, medical bills, and vehicle repairs. Non-economic damages, or human losses, compensate for pain, suffering, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
Fleeing the scene of an accident is almost always grounds for punitive damages in Parker. Therefore, a claimant could seek exemplary damages, claiming the driver acted with reckless disregard for their well-being.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Unfortunately, sometimes a hit and run driver gets away with the crime and is never caught. In a case like this, a claimant could demand payment from their insurer under the uninsured motorist and personal injury protection provisions of their policy. All vehicle insurance policies in Texas include personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist coverage, but a buyer may opt out.
Assuming the injured party has PIP and uninsured motorist coverage, it should cover their financial expenses resulting from the hit and run. If the insurance company does not offer fair compensation, the claimant’s lawyer could negotiate to secure an acceptable offer. However, a claimant who is uninsured or who has opted out of the coverage might be responsible for paying all their accident-related expenses if the driver cannot be located and held accountable.