It is unfortunate if a reckless driver makes you the victim of a car accident event. But it is even worse if they drive off before you can identify them and collect their insurance information (i.e., they hit and run). At this point in time, you may feel hopeless, bewildered, and unsure of what to do next. Well, please read on to discover whether you should follow a reckless driver after your collision and how a seasoned Tampa car accident lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can guide you through the correct course of action.
Should I follow a reckless driver after they caused my accident?
Without a doubt, we strongly advise against chasing down a reckless driver after they flee from the scene of your car accident. This is because, with their reckless behaviors and actions thus far, you must see them as a posed danger. So you do not want to follow their lead in driving erratically and possibly causing harm to more innocent drivers and their property.
Plus, you may not yet know the full breadth of bodily injuries you incurred and damages your vehicle took upon impact. If you were injured, you are in no condition to operate heavy machinery such as this. And if your vehicle was damaged, driving it may cause additional injuries.
Lastly, the reckless driver may be more of a threat than you initially assume. For one, they may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and possibly may act aggressively should you confront them. Or, they may be experiencing road rage and possibly may have a weapon in their vehicle they intend to use against you.
What actions should I take instead of this?
By law, you are required to remain at the scene of your car accident if you or any other involved parties incurred bodily injuries or property damages. So, instead of following a reckless driver, you should remain put and dial 911. Hopefully, you caught the color, make, model, and license plate number of the reckless driver’s vehicle so that law enforcement officers may be dispatched in pursuit of them on your behalf.
If they catch them on time, they may be able to conduct a breathalyzer test and field sobriety test to deduce whether their reckless driver was caused by intoxication. With this, you may be able to find out if they were returning from a restaurant, bar, or another establishment that overserved them alcohol. If so, you may have a solid civil lawsuit on your hands through Florida’s dram shop laws.
At any rate, a law enforcement officer will also arrive at your location. They may record your and eyewitnesses’ statements, along with calling an ambulance for emergency medical services for you. Make sure to capture photos and videos of your car being the only one that remained at the scene, as well.
If you have gotten this far, we now ask you to reach out to a competent Tampa auto accident lawyer to schedule an initial consultation. Overall, we strongly encourage you to retain legal representation from Merricks Law Group, P.A. for your upcoming civil claim.
