An Arlington hit-and-run accident lawyer knows that victims of hit-and-run crashes face two layers of harm: first from the collision itself, and second from the injustice of a driver fleeing without accepting responsibility.
Across Arlington and Tarrant County, victims are often left facing medical bills, property damage, and emotional distress while the at-fault driver tries to escape accountability. An experienced lawyer can investigate every possible lead to identify the driver and pursue justice on your behalf.
At Branch & Dhillon, we are committed to helping hit-and-run victims in Arlington recover the compensation they deserve. Call (817) 533-3430 for a free consultation with attorneys who understand your frustration and will fight aggressively for your rights. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Key Takeaways About Arlington Hit-and-Run Accident Cases
- Texas law requires drivers to stop, render aid, and exchange information after any accident causing injury or property damage, with violations triggering criminal penalties including potential felony charges.
- Hit and run victims may recover compensation through uninsured motorist coverage even when the fleeing driver remains unidentified, making your own insurance policy a vital avenue for compensation.
- Time-sensitive evidence such as surveillance footage, witness statements, and vehicle debris can disappear quickly, making prompt action essential to preserve it.
- Arlington Police Department investigates hit-and-runs as criminal cases while civil attorneys pursue compensation separately, with both processes working simultaneously.
- Compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering through multiple insurance sources and legal avenues.
How Our Arlington Hit-and-Run Lawyers Fight for Victims
Branch & Dhillon brings aggressive advocacy to hit-and-run cases throughout Arlington and Tarrant County, understanding the unique frustration victims feel when negligent drivers flee the scene.
We combine investigative resources with legal expertise to identify fleeing drivers and maximize compensation from all available sources. Our attorneys pursue these cases relentlessly, understanding that victims face both physical injuries and the emotional trauma of abandonment.
Hit and run claims demand prompt investigation and experienced legal handling. Our team works alongside Arlington Police Department investigations while pursuing civil remedies independently.
We gather evidence from accident scenes near AT&T Stadium, along Interstate 20, or in busy shopping districts around Parks Mall, understanding that every piece of evidence matters when tracking down drivers who think they escaped responsibility.
Proven Strategies to Investigate Hit-and-Run Accidents in Arlington
Branch & Dhillon employs multiple strategies to help hit-and-run victims recover maximum compensation. Our investigators canvas neighborhoods for doorbell cameras, check nearby businesses for surveillance footage, and interview potential witnesses who saw any detail that might help identify the responsible driver.
We also help you navigate the complex insurance claim process that confuses many hit-and-run victims. Texas law requires insurance companies to honor uninsured motorist coverage for hit-and-run accidents under Texas Insurance Code Section 1952.101.
Many victims don’t realize their own policy provides this protection when at-fault drivers flee. Our attorneys fight insurance companies that try denying or minimizing these valid claims.
Texas Hit-and-Run Laws and Criminal Penalties
What you do after a car accident matters. Leaving the scene is against Texas law and can bring serious criminal charges. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.021, drivers in an accident must stop right away, help anyone who is hurt, and share their name, ID, and insurance details. Failing to do this turns what could be a civil issue into a criminal crime with long-term effects.
The type of charge depends on the harm caused. If only property is damaged, the driver usually faces a misdemeanor. If someone is injured, the case becomes a felony that can lead to prison time. In accidents where someone is killed, leaving the scene can result in a second-degree felony with a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
How Criminal Charges Support Civil Hit-and-Run Claims
Police investigations uncover evidence identifying hit-and-run drivers through methods unavailable to private attorneys. Detectives analyze paint transfers using forensic methods, match vehicle parts to specific makes and models, and review traffic camera footage from throughout Arlington’s surveillance network.
When police identify fleeing drivers, criminal charges create powerful leverage for civil settlements. Drivers facing prosecution often cooperate with civil claims to demonstrate acceptance of responsibility.
Criminal convictions can provide powerful support for establishing civil liability, simplifying civil cases and preventing defendants from denying fault. Even unsuccessful investigations help by creating official documentation that supports uninsured motorist claims.
Common Arlington Hotspots for Hit-and-Run Accidents
Hit and run accidents plague specific Arlington locations where traffic patterns and escape routes enable fleeing drivers to avoid immediate apprehension. Interstate highways like I-20, I-30, and Highway 360 see frequent hit-and-runs due to high speeds and multiple lanes that allow quick escapes. The anonymous nature of highway driving emboldens some drivers to flee rather than face consequences.
There’s considerate risk in parking lots around Arlington Highlands, Parks Mall, and Lincoln Square. Drivers strike parked vehicles and leave without notifying owners, forcing victims to return to damaged cars without explanation. Security camera coverage varies widely, making some lots particularly vulnerable.
When and Where Hit-and-Run Accidents Happen Most in Arlington
Several Arlington areas experience elevated hit-and-run rates during specific conditions that create opportunities for escape or motivate fleeing.
- Entertainment districts near AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field after events, when impaired drivers fear DWI charges
- Bar areas along Division Street and Abram Street during late night hours
- School zones during morning and afternoon rush periods when distracted parents flee minor collisions
- Construction areas on Cooper Street and Matlock Road where confusion enables quick escapes
These patterns reveal that many hit-and-run drivers flee because they fear additional consequences beyond the accident itself. Impaired drivers, unlicensed drivers, and those with warrants choose fleeing over facing multiple charges.
Key Evidence That Helps Identify Hit-and-Run Drivers
Identifying a hit-and-run driver requires both quick action and careful evidence gathering. Physical evidence often provides the first leads. Paint transfers, broken parts, and tire marks can indicate a vehicle’s make, model, or direction of travel. Debris such as shattered glass or leaking fluids may also connect a specific car to the crash.
Eyewitness accounts provide another layer of information. People at the scene often notice details that cameras miss, such as the driver’s appearance, behavior, or unique vehicle features. Because memories fade quickly and surveillance footage may be erased within days, collecting this information promptly is important.
Examples of helpful evidence include:
- Paint transfers that reveal color and manufacturer details
- Broken vehicle parts with identifying numbers
- Tire or skid marks showing speed and direction of escape
- Eyewitness descriptions of vehicles or drivers
Together, these pieces of evidence create a clearer picture of the incident and increase the chances of identifying the driver.
Using Technology to Track Down Hit-and-Run Drivers
Modern technology has transformed how investigators pursue hit-and-run cases in Arlington and Tarrant County. Traffic and security cameras often capture fleeing vehicles, while residential doorbell cameras provide continuous neighborhood coverage.
Investigators also rely on digital tools that leave behind valuable trails of evidence, such as:
- Event data recorders storing crash details inside vehicles
- License plate readers that automatically log vehicle movements
- Cell phone data placing drivers near the scene
Together, these resources provide powerful leads, making it far more difficult for hit-and-run drivers to escape accountability.
Insurance Options for Arlington Hit-and-Run Accident Victims
Texas insurance law provides multiple coverage types protecting hit-and-run victims. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for injuries and damages when at-fault drivers lack insurance or flee accident scenes.
Texas doesn’t mandate this coverage, but insurers must offer it to all policyholders. Many Arlington residents carry this protection without realizing it covers hit-and-run accidents.
Personal injury protection provides immediate medical expense coverage regardless of fault. This coverage helps victims get necessary treatment without waiting for investigations or liability determinations. Medical providers throughout Arlington accept PIP coverage readily, reducing financial stress during recovery.
Maximizing Compensation After an Arlington Hit-and-Run
Skilled attorneys identify all available insurance coverage to maximize compensation. Your auto insurance provides primary coverage, but household members’ policies may offer additional protection.
Health insurance covers medical expenses initially, preserving auto policy limits for non-medical damages. Homeowners insurance sometimes covers personal property damaged inside vehicles.
When fleeing drivers get identified later, their insurance becomes available for claims beyond your own coverage. Commercial policies often apply when business vehicles cause hit-and-run accidents, providing higher limits for serious injuries. Every coverage source matters when building maximum compensation packages.
Your Legal Rights After a Texas Hit-and-Run Accident
Hit and run victims possess powerful legal rights under Texas law. You can pursue compensation through multiple channels simultaneously without having to choose between options. Criminal prosecution doesn’t prevent civil lawsuits, and filing insurance claims doesn’t preclude legal action.
The Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code allows recovery for extensive damages from hit-and-run accidents. Medical expenses include immediate treatment and future care needs.
Lost wages cover time missed from work and reduced earning capacity. Property damage extends beyond vehicles to personal items. Pain and suffering compensation addresses physical discomfort and emotional trauma.
Deadlines and Statute of Limitations for Texas Hit-and-Run Cases
Texas provides two years from accident dates to file personal injury lawsuits. This deadline applies whether fleeing drivers get identified immediately or discovered later. Missing this deadline typically eliminates legal recovery options permanently.
Insurance claims face shorter deadlines that vary by policy. Most require prompt notice within days or weeks. Delays in reporting a hit and run may provide grounds for claim denial. Evidence preservation creates additional urgency as surveillance footage gets overwritten and witnesses become unavailable.
FAQs for Arlington Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers
Your uninsured motorist coverage provides compensation even when drivers remain permanently unidentified. Texas law treats unknown hit-and-run drivers as uninsured motorists for insurance purposes.
Police reports documenting the hit-and-run satisfy insurance requirements for these claims. An experienced attorney maximizes recovery from your own insurance using policy language and Texas law.
License plates help but aren’t required for successful claims. Partial plates combined with vehicle descriptions often suffice for identification. Your uninsured motorist coverage applies without any vehicle identification as long as police reports prove a hit-and-run occurred.
Yes. You can file a lawsuit directly against an uninsured driver, and if you win, the court may issue a judgment against them. That judgment can remain enforceable for years and may be collected through methods like wage garnishments or property liens.
However, recovery depends on the driver’s financial situation, since many uninsured drivers have limited assets that are protected under Texas law. Fortunately, your uninsured motorist coverage can provide immediate compensation, even if the at-fault driver has no insurance or cannot pay.
Insurance companies sometimes wrongfully deny valid hit-and-run claims. Common denial reasons include claiming insufficient proof or delayed reporting. Experienced attorneys challenge these denials through appeals and litigation when necessary. Don’t accept initial denials as final answers.
Compensation varies based on injury severity and available coverage. Your uninsured motorist limits cap recovery unless fleeing drivers get identified with additional coverage. Attorneys evaluate your damages and identify all compensation sources.
Contact an Arlington Hit-and-Run Lawyer for a Free Case Review
Hit and run accidents betray not only the law but also basic human decency, leaving injured victims abandoned at the moment they need help most. While reckless drivers may hope to avoid accountability by fleeing, our personal injury attorneys at Branch & Dhillon is committed to pursuing justice and securing compensation for victims across Arlington and Tarrant County.
Take the first step toward justice and recovery now. Call Branch & Dhillon at (817) 533-3430 for your free consultation with an Arlington hit-and-run accident lawyer who will evaluate your case thoroughly and fight tirelessly for the compensation you need.