Austin Hit and Run Accident Attorneys

Relentless Pursuit for Justice for Austin’s Hit-and-Run Accident Victims

A hit-and-run is a crime in Terrell and Austin, and it’s also a terrifying act of abandonment that leaves you with severe injuries and overwhelming uncertainty. You likely have a lot of questions right now, and we have answers.

At Lee, Gober & Reyna, our Austin hit-and-run accident attorneys have in-depth knowledge about how to find hit-and-run car accident offenders, and we are relentless in our pursuit of justice. Don’t let the driver escape accountability—contact our experienced legal team today for a free, no-obligation case review.

How Are Texas Hit-and-Run Cases Different?

Hit-and-run accidents present unique legal and investigative challenges that distinguish them from typical car accidents. While the physical injuries are the same, the path to financial recovery is fundamentally different.

Some ways that hit-and-run crashes are different than cases where the at-fault driver stops at the scene include:

• Missing Defendant: The at-fault party flees, making direct liability claims impossible until they are found.
• Reliance on UM/UIM Coverage: The victim must often rely on their own optional Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist policy for bodily injury and property damage.
• Investigative Necessity: The claim relies on intensive work to identify the phantom driver using witness accounts, surveillance footage, and forensic evidence.
• Insurance Adversary: The victim’s own insurance company, which should be an ally, becomes the financial adversary during the UM claim process.
• Evidence Preservation: The urgency to secure video evidence and paint transfer evidence is extremely high, as it is likely to be lost or destroyed.

How Lee, Gober & Reyna’s Austin Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers Can Help

Hit-and-run cases present a unique legal challenge: securing compensation when the liable party is unknown. Lee, Gober & Reyna employs a specific strategy so victims are not left financially ruined by a cowardly driver.

Aggressive Driver Identification and Investigation

Our process begins with an immediate, aggressive investigation far beyond what local police can manage. We work with private investigators to scour the accident scene, canvas nearby businesses for surveillance footage, and locate potential witnesses who may not have remained at the scene. 

We analyze paint transfers and vehicle debris, and utilize proprietary databases to narrow down the vehicle’s make, model, and even plate fragments. Our goal is always to identify and locate the at-fault driver, holding them criminally and civilly responsible.

Maximizing Uninsured/Underinsured (UIM) Recovery

Even if the driver is never found, our firm is uniquely skilled at pursuing Uninsured Motorist (UIM) claims through your own insurance policy. We treat your UIM carrier as the defendant, aggressively negotiating or litigating to ensure they pay the full benefits you are owed. 

We meticulously document your injuries and prove the severity of the loss, countering any attempts by your insurer to undervalue your claim. This dual focus ensures we exhaust every possible avenue for maximum financial security.

Compensation in Austin Hit-and-Run Accident Claims

Lee, Gober & Reyna works relentlessly to maximize hit-and-run accident settlements and verdicts by meticulously documenting the full scope of your damages. Our goal is for you to get compensation that reflects the trauma and financial burdens you now face.

Economic Losses

Economic losses cover all quantifiable financial expenditures resulting from the crash. These damages are easily calculated using bills and financial statements. Key components include: 

• All past and future medical expenses, covering ambulance rides, emergency room visits, surgery, prescription medication, and ongoing physical therapy or rehabilitation. 
• Lost wages (income you missed while recovering) and the loss of future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your former career. 
• Damage to your vehicle or property, such as a laptop, glasses, phone, and more

Non-Economic Losses

Non-economic losses address the subjective, intangible impact the crash has had on your life. For hit-and-run survivors, these damages are often substantial due to the added trauma of abandonment. This category includes compensation for: 

• Intense pain and suffering
• Severe mental anguish (such as PTSD, anxiety, or emotional distress from being left at the scene)
• Physical impairment
• Diminished quality of life

We use strong evidence, including psychological assessments and survivor impact statements, to ensure the UIM carrier or a jury appreciates the full emotional cost of the incident.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are unique in hit-and-run cases. If the at-fault driver is successfully identified and apprehended, we will aggressively seek punitive damages if their conduct was grossly negligent (e.g., drunk driving or reckless speed). 

However, if the claim proceeds only against your UIM carrier, punitive damages are typically not recoverable under Texas insurance law, as they are not meant to punish your own insurer. Our primary focus in UIM claims is maximizing the economic and non-economic recovery.

Why Do Hit-and-Run Drivers Flee the Scene of the Accident?

Hit-and-run accidents are often a desperate reaction to a crash. The drivers flee the scene because they believe they have something significant to hide, increasing the trauma for the survivor. In Austin, these incidents are frequently tied to specific types of serious negligence.

At Lee, Gober & Reyna, our investigation into the cause of a crash often reveals the motive behind the driver’s decision to flee:

• Driving While Intoxicated (DUI/DWI): Drivers flee to avoid immediate arrest, breathalyzer tests, and felony charges related to intoxication manslaughter or assault.
• Driving Without a License or Insurance: Drivers panic and leave the scene to avoid citations, vehicle impoundment, or financial penalties associated with being uninsured.
• Warrants or Parole Violations: The driver may be afraid to interact with police due to outstanding warrants, probation issues, or immigration concerns.
• Reckless or Excessive Speed: High-speed collisions, especially those resulting in severe injury, prompt drivers to flee to avoid severe criminal charges.
• Extreme Distracted Driving: While distraction is negligence, the driver may flee if they were engaged in an illegal or shocking activity (like watching a video) that directly caused a catastrophic crash.
• Stolen Vehicles: Drivers involved in a crash while driving a stolen vehicle will almost always flee to avoid theft charges.

Common Severe and Catastrophic Injuries in Hit-and-Run Accidents

Hit-and-run accidents in Austin often lead to exceptionally severe injuries because the negligent driver offers no immediate aid, and the victim may be left vulnerable and unattended at the scene. This delay in emergency medical response can turn a serious injury into a catastrophic one.

At Lee, Gober & Reyna, our Austin hit-and-run accident lawyers understand that victims of these callous acts suffer unique physical and psychological trauma. We frequently handle cases involving the following severe injuries:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Caused by the forceful impact, TBIs range from debilitating concussions to permanent cognitive damage, often requiring years of rehabilitation.
• Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs): Severe trauma to the neck or back can result in fractured vertebrae and nerve damage, leading to lifelong conditions like paraplegia or quadriplegia.
• Internal Trauma and Hemorrhage: The force of the crash can cause serious damage to internal organs, including punctured lungs, ruptured spleen, or severe internal bleeding, which are aggravated by a delay in treatment.
• Compound and Complex Fractures: Serious breaks to the limbs, pelvis, and ribs often require multiple surgeries, pins, and plates, leading to chronic pain and mobility issues.
• Severe Psychological Distress: Survivors often suffer from extreme anxiety, PTSD, and depression stemming not just from the crash, but from the emotional trauma of being abandoned and left for dead.

Burn Injuries and Severe Road Rash: If a cyclist or pedestrian is involved, they may suffer extreme abrasions or friction burns that require painful skin grafts and lead to permanent scarring.