Hit-and-Run Accidents Caused by Driving Under the Influence
Leaving the scene of a collision is one of the most irresponsible actions any driver can take. Many of these drivers are intoxicated, and the reckless behavior of these drunk drivers can lead to serious injuries for their victims.
Why Drivers Don’t Stop
When a driver is involved in a collision, he should pull over, exchange information with other drivers, and lend aid to those who are injured. There are numerous reasons why hit-and-run drivers don’t stop, and a few of the most common are:
- The driver is intoxicated, so he flees the scene to avoid having police test the level of alcohol or drugs in his system.
- The driver is sober when the accident occurs, but he is driving illegally on a suspended license from a prior DUI.
- The driver has been drinking, and he strikes something in the road late at night. He assumes that he has hit an animal and continues to drive, unaware that he has collided with a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or even another vehicle.
Pursuing a Hit-and-Run Drunk Driver
There are a few common defenses drunk drivers who flee the scene typically use in an effort to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. These may include:
- It wasn’t me. Perhaps the most logical defense to a hit-and-run drunk driving charge is the claim that someone else was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.
- I wasn’t intoxicated. The accused may instead acknowledge that he was driving the vehicle when the accident occurred, but that he was not drunk.
- I wasn’t aware that I hit anything. The driver may attempt to defend his failure to stop after the accident by claiming that he didn’t know he hit anything.
Receiving Compensation
Drunk drivers who hit and run are often inept at hiding the evidence of their wrongdoing and are frequently identified and arrested. However, an experienced attorney can launch his own investigation if the police fail to follow up. When you’ve been injured due to the irresponsible actions of a drunk driver, you’re entitled to compensation. If the driver fled the scene of your accident, you may also be entitled to pursue punitive damages. To learn more about what the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., can do for you, visit us on Facebook.