Were you injured in a hit-and-run accident in Pompano Beach?

At Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers, we are trusted hit-and-run accident lawyers serving clients across Pompano Beach and the surrounding area.

If you were injured in a hit-and-run in Pompano Beach, you may be left with serious injuries and no information about the driver who caused the crash. Locating a driver who fled the scene requires investigation, and recovering compensation often means leveraging insurance policies that most people do not realize they carry. Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers has handled hit-and-run cases across South Florida for more than 20 years. Our Pompano Beach, FL hit-and-run accident lawyer can review your options during a free consultation.

Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer Pompano Beach, FL

A hit-and-run accident is any crash in which one driver leaves the scene without stopping to exchange information, render aid, or wait for law enforcement. These crashes leave victims without a clear defendant, which makes the claims process more complicated than a typical motor vehicle collision. Broward County recorded approximately 12,400 hit-and-run crashes in 2023 according to FLHSMV crash reports, accounting for roughly 31% of all crashes in the county.

When the at-fault driver cannot be located, compensation may be available through the victim’s own uninsured motorist coverage. A hit-and-run accident attorney in Pompano Beach understands how to navigate these claims and identify other sources of recovery when the responsible party remains unidentified.

Types of Hit-and-Run Accident Cases We Handle in Pompano Beach

Hit-and-run crashes in Pompano Beach, FL take many forms. The type of vehicle involved, the location of the crash, and whether the driver is eventually identified all shape the strategy for pursuing compensation.

  • Pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians struck by vehicles that flee the scene face some of the most serious injuries of any hit-and-run scenario. Without a vehicle to protect them, pedestrians sustain fractures, head trauma, and spinal damage at high rates. Identifying the vehicle through surveillance footage, paint transfer evidence, and witness descriptions is critical.
  •  Motorcycle accidents. A motorcyclist struck by a driver who then flees has no structural protection from the impact. These crashes often leave riders with road rash, broken bones, and internal injuries. Because motorcycle hit-and-runs tend to involve sideswipe or lane-change contact, vehicle debris and road markings can help reconstruct the incident.
  • Rear-end collisions. A driver who rear-ends another vehicle at a stoplight or in traffic and then accelerates away is committing a hit-and-run. Rear dashcam footage and traffic camera recordings from nearby businesses are often the best tools for identifying the fleeing vehicle.
  • Truck accidents. Commercial trucks that leave the scene of a crash may be identifiable through fleet markings, DOT numbers, or weigh station records. The trucking company may also face separate liability for the driver’s decision to leave.
  • Bicycle hit-and-run crashes. Cyclists are vulnerable when a driver clips them and continues without stopping. These cases depend on witness statements and video from traffic cameras, doorbell cameras, or other cyclists’ equipment.
  • Parking lot hit-and-run crashes. Vehicles struck in parking lots while the owner is away represent a large share of hit-and-run incidents. Surveillance cameras in commercial lots often capture the departing vehicle’s plate.
  • DUI hit-and-run crashes. Drivers who are impaired sometimes flee the scene specifically to avoid detection. When the driver is eventually identified, the combination of impairment and fleeing may support a claim for punitive damages beyond compensatory recovery.
  • Sideswipe hit-and-run crashes. A vehicle that strikes the side of another while passing or changing lanes and then leaves the scene creates a sideswipe hit-and-run. Paint transfer on the victim’s vehicle and the angle of damage help investigators determine fault and identify the responsible vehicle.

Why Choose Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers as My Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer in Pompano Beach, FL?

Attorneys Who Pursue Full Accountability

Elissa Fitzmartin and Aaron Warner founded Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers to pursue full accountability on behalf of injured clients. Elissa earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where she was a member of Law Review and the Federal Appellate Clinic, and she has been named a Best Lawyers Ones to Watch honoree. Aaron is a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2019 and is admitted to both the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. Both hold membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Hit-and-run cases require persistence in identifying the at-fault driver and skill in pursuing claims through UM coverage when the driver remains unknown. That combination is what you need from a personal injury lawyer in Pompano Beach, FL.

Selected Case Results

Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers’ record includes millions of dollars recovered for victims of car accidents, pedestrian incidents, and other injury cases in South Florida. Selected results include:

  • $388,000 recovery: Car Accident
  • $300,000 recovery: Pedestrian/Beach Incident
  • $300,000 recovery: Car Accident (off-duty police involved)
  • $235,000 recovery: Car Accident
  • $170,000 recovery: Car Crash

Our firm takes hit-and-run cases on contingency. You pay nothing upfront, and no attorney fees are owed unless we secure a recovery for you.

What Is Important to Understand About a Hit-and-Run Accident Case?

What Is the Hit-and-Run Accident Case Timeline?

Hit-and-run cases often take longer to resolve than other motor vehicle crash claims because of the additional step of identifying or locating the at-fault driver. The timeline also depends on whether the claim is pursued against the other driver’s insurer, your own UM coverage, or both.

  • Immediate investigation. Your attorney coordinates with law enforcement and private investigators to locate the hit-and-run driver. Surveillance video from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and doorbell cameras is gathered quickly before footage is overwritten. Witness interviews are conducted while memories remain fresh.
  • Medical treatment. Treatment continues while the investigation proceeds. Your attorney monitors your progress toward maximum medical improvement before calculating the full value of the claim.
  • Insurance claim. If the driver is found, a claim is filed against their liability policy. If the driver remains unidentified, a claim is filed under your own uninsured motorist coverage. Understanding the details of winning a settlement through UM coverage helps set expectations for the process.
  • Negotiation. The insurer reviews the claim and makes an offer. UM claims can be contentious because your own insurance company is the party you are negotiating against.
  • Litigation, if needed. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, filing a lawsuit opens the discovery process and puts the case before a judge or jury.
  • Filing time limits. Under Florida Statute § 95.11, you have two years from the date of the hit-and-run to file a personal injury lawsuit. That deadline applies even if the at-fault driver has not been found.

What Are Important Aspects of a Hit-and-Run Accident Case?

Hit-and-run cases present challenges that other car accident claims do not. The absence of the at-fault driver at the scene creates gaps in evidence that must be filled through other means.

Identifying the hit-and-run driver is the single most important factor. If the driver is found, the claim proceeds against their insurance carrier. If not, the victim’s own uninsured motorist policy becomes the primary source of compensation. Many Florida drivers carry UM coverage without fully understanding it, and the benefits available can be substantial.

Proving the crash happened as described also matters. Without the other driver present to dispute or confirm the facts, the victim must rely on independent evidence. Photographs taken at the scene, dashcam footage, vehicle damage analysis, and statements from eyewitnesses all help establish what occurred. Proving liability in a hit-and-run case depends on the strength of this evidence. In some cases, victims wonder whether receiving a settlement is possible when physical evidence is limited, and the answer often depends on the supporting documentation available.

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Hit-and-Run Accident Cases

Hit-and-run victims in Pompano Beach can pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include:

  1. Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization
  2. Ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation
  3. Lost wages during recovery
  4. Future medical costs and reduced earning capacity
  5. Vehicle repair or replacement

Non-economic damages cover physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of daily activities. Florida’s modified comparative fault statute, Florida Statute § 768.81, reduces recovery by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault and eliminates recovery entirely if that share exceeds 50%.

When the hit-and-run driver is later identified and found to have been impaired or acting with reckless disregard, punitive damages may apply. Compensation in unidentified-driver cases is typically capped by the limits of the victim’s own UM policy.

What Should You Bring to Your Hit-and-Run Accident Consultation?

Gathering whatever documentation you have before meeting with a hit-and-run accident attorney gives your lawyer a starting point for the investigation.

  • The police report or incident number
  • Any photographs or video of the fleeing vehicle, debris, or the crash scene
  • Medical records and bills from all treatment related to the crash
  • Your automobile insurance policy, including UM coverage details
  • Contact details for any witnesses who saw the crash or the vehicle leaving

Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers provides free consultations for hit-and-run cases. We will review the evidence, explain how your coverage applies, and outline the steps for pursuing compensation.

Most Dangerous Locations for Hit-and-Run Accidents in Pompano Beach

Hit-and-run crashes in Pompano Beach concentrate on roads with heavy traffic and limited surveillance. NHTSA crash data shows that hit-and-run incidents increase during late-night hours, correlating with impaired driving patterns.

Dangerous streets:

  • Atlantic Boulevard. The commercial corridor and nightlife activity along Atlantic Boulevard generate vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic that increases hit-and-run exposure, particularly after dark.
  • Federal Highway (US-1). High traffic volume and frequent turns along this north-south route create conditions for drivers to strike a vehicle and blend into traffic.
  • Dixie Highway. Sections with limited street lighting and older road design contribute to hit-and-run risk for pedestrians and cyclists.

Dangerous highways:

  • I-95. Sideswipe hit-and-run crashes on I-95 near Pompano Beach exits occur at highway speeds, where the at-fault driver may continue without realizing or acknowledging contact.
  • Florida’s Turnpike. Late-night hit-and-run incidents near service areas and interchange ramps are linked to reduced visibility and impaired driving.

Reach Out to Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation

If a hit-and-run driver left you injured in Pompano Beach, FL, Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Our firm handles these cases on contingency, and consultations are always free. Contact us to get started.