A hit and run accident is one of the most frustrating situations an injury victim can face. You are hurt, your vehicle is damaged, and the person responsible drove away. It can feel like you have no options.

You do. At Juan Cordero Lawyers, we help hit and run victims throughout Florida recover full compensation — even when the at-fault driver is never identified.

Under Florida Statute §316.061, any driver involved in a crash resulting in injury, death, or property damage must stop immediately, render aid, and exchange information. Leaving the scene is a criminal offense:

• Crash with property damage only: second-degree misdemeanor
• Crash with injury: third-degree felony
• Crash with serious injury or death: second-degree felony (up to 15 years in prison)

Despite these penalties, hit and run crashes are alarmingly common in Florida — particularly in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

Your own uninsured motorist coverage is the primary source of compensation when the at-fault driver is unknown or uninsured. Florida law requires insurers to offer UM coverage; if you purchased it, it steps in to cover your damages as if the hit and run driver had insurance.

UM coverage can pay for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent injuries

Important: Florida requires that you report a hit and run to law enforcement within a reasonable time and that there be physical contact between the vehicles (or in some cases, corroborating evidence) to make a UM claim for an unknown driver.

Law enforcement solves many hit and run cases — especially with the proliferation of traffic cameras, Ring doorbells, and dashcams. If the driver is identified, we pursue them directly for full damages including their insurance policy and personal assets.

In some hit and run cases, a third party shares responsibility:

• A bar or restaurant that over-served the fleeing driver (dram shop liability)
• An employer if the driver was working at the time
• A vehicle owner if the driver was operating their vehicle with permission

1. Call 911. Report the crash immediately. A police report is essential for your UM claim.

2. Stay at the scene. Do not chase the fleeing driver — it is dangerous and unnecessary.

3. Document everything. Photograph your vehicle, the road, skid marks, debris, and any injuries. Note the time, location, and direction the driver fled.

4. Get witness information. Anyone who saw the crash or the fleeing vehicle is valuable. Get names and phone numbers immediately.

5. Note the vehicle description. Even partial information helps — color, make, model, partial plate, damage to the vehicle, direction of travel.

6. Seek medical attention. Even if you feel fine, get checked out. Adrenaline masks pain. Delayed treatment hurts your claim.

7. Call Juan Cordero Lawyers. Do not speak to your own insurance company without an attorney. UM claims are adversarial — your insurer will try to minimize your payout.

• Whiplash and soft tissue injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Broken bones
• Spinal injuries
• Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities

Many people assume their own insurance company will treat them fairly after a hit and run. They are wrong. Your insurer has the same financial incentive to minimize your UM claim as any other insurer. They will:

• Dispute the severity of your injuries
• Argue pre-existing conditions
• Claim you contributed to the accident
• Offer a lowball settlement

We handle UM claims aggressively. We know the tactics insurers use and how to counter them.

If you did not purchase UM coverage, your options are more limited but not zero. We investigate whether any third party (employer, bar, vehicle owner) shares liability. We also work to identify the fleeing driver through surveillance footage, witness canvassing, and law enforcement cooperation.

You have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Florida's 2023 tort reform. For UM claims, your policy may have shorter notice requirements — contact us immediately.

Yes. Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers your medical bills up to $10,000 regardless of fault — including hit and run accidents. But PIP rarely covers the full extent of serious injuries. UM coverage and civil claims fill the gap.

Your UM coverage still applies. That is exactly what it is designed for — uninsured drivers, whether known or unknown.

Injured in a Florida hit and run? Call Juan Cordero Lawyers at 305-525-8957 — available 24/7. We fight for full compensation even when the driver fled. No fee unless we win.