I Committed a Hit-and-Run. How Long Will It Take for the Police to Find Me?
More than likely, if you committed a hit-and-run wreck, the police will never find you. Law enforcement investigators solve fewer than 10 percent of hit-and-run cases. Usually, police investigators don’t have very good attitudes about these cases at the start. Many believe a vehicle collision is a civil matter that doesn’t merit police involvement. Furthermore, in most cases, investigators have very little evidence to go on. So, the case could take weeks or months to solve. So, the mountain they must climb is so steep, in terms of the burden of proof, that many officers don’t make much of an effort.
So, if you committed a hit-and-run, you might be safe from criminal action. Legal responsibility in civil court, however, is a much different matter. A Sugar Land head-on collision lawyer resolves over 90 percent of hit-and-run cases. Attorneys are dedicated to injury victims, have the tools to collect the evidence necessary, and perhaps most importantly, don’t give up until they obtain the best possible results under the circumstances.
Hit-and-Run Evidence
As mentioned, lack of initial evidence is a serious impediment to a hit-and-run investigation, for police investigators or a Missouri City personal injury lawyer. Usually, no one saw the wreck, or at least got a good look at the hit-and-run driver, especially if the crash happened at night. Occasionally, a witness provides a general description of the vehicle, such as a late model sedan. But that vague description doesn’t exactly narrow it down.
Police investigators often give up at this point. Attorneys, usually working in partnership with private investigators, keep digging for evidence like:
- Surveillance Camera Footage: Cameras are almost everywhere in Greater Houston. Such electronic evidence is like an eyewitness who is never incorrect or biased. In most cases, some camera, somewhere, recorded the key evidence in the case. It’s just a matter of finding that camera.
- Body Shop Repairs: Tortfeasors (negligent drivers) almost always get their damaged cars repaired somewhere. But they usually don’t take them to the neighborhood Service King. Instead, they use a small body shop in another part of town. Once again, once an attorney finds that body shop, a treasure trove of evidence is usually available.
- Additional Witness Statements: Just like a camera usually recorded vital evidence, someone saw something at the scene, at least in most cases. The witness may not have seen the driver or the license plate number, but in most cases, the witness did take note of the driver’s behavior, which is relevant to the amount of compensation.
Damages in a hit-and-run case usually include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Burden of Proof in Court
A criminal case is a marathon. Prosecutors must establish guilt beyond any doubt. A civil case is like a half-marathon. Victims must establish liability by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not).
So, an attorney must identify the owner, not the driver. A partial plate number and a general vehicle description is usually sufficient. In court, it’s more likely than not that the owner was driving a vehicle at a particular time.
Work With a Savvy Harris County Attorney
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Missouri City, contact the Henrietta Ezeoke Law Firm. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.
Source:
psychreg.org/percentage-hit-runs-solved/
