Baton Rouge Hit and Run Lawyer

Why Do Clients Trust Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys?

At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, our Baton Rouge injury law firm understands how devastating a hit and run accident can be. You’re left with injuries, unanswered questions, and the frustration of not knowing who’s responsible. That’s why we’re dedicated to protecting your rights and fighting for the compensation you deserve. Here’s why clients trust us:

• Decades of Experience: With over $10 billion recovered for our clients, we have the skills and resources to handle even the most complex hit-and-run cases.
• Compassionate Advocacy: We treat every client with the care and respect they deserve, guiding you through the legal process with clear communication and personalized attention.
• Available 24/7: We know accidents don’t happen on a schedule, so we’re available around the clock to answer your questions and provide support. We’ll even come to you—whether at home, the hospital, or another convenient location—to discuss your case.

When you choose Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, you’re choosing a team that will fight tirelessly for your rights and recovery. Let us take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on healing.

What Is a Hit and Run Accident?

A “hit-and-run,” “hit-and-skip” or “leaving the scene of an accident” in Louisiana is when a driver hits another person or vehicle and then immediately flees the scene. This is different from a “hit-and-run with property damage,” which is when the driver hits another person or vehicle and leaves the scene without stopping to exchange information or check on the other person’s well-being. These cases are often referred to as “hit-and-run with injury” or “hit-and-run with personal injury.”

One of the most common reasons drivers flee the scene of a hit-and-run is because they don’t have insurance. Many of these incidents happen at night, when it’s easier for drivers to avoid being identified. An uninsured driver involved in a collision, especially an accident with a pedestrian in Baton Rouge, may panic and leave the scene to avoid legal and financial consequences.

However, hit and run accidents can happen at any time of day, and they can still happen when the driver is insured. In these cases, the driver might be trying to avoid responsibility, or they might not realize they hit someone or something.

Louisiana Hit and Run Laws

In Louisiana, a hit-and-run is a criminal offense. The severity of the hit-and-run offense depends on the circumstances of the accident and the resulting damage or injuries.

If you are involved in a car accident in Louisiana, you are legally required to take the following steps:

1. Duty to Stop: If you are involved in an accident while driving, Louisiana law requires you to stop immediately at the scene of the collision. You must remain at the scene until you have fulfilled your obligations under the law.
2. Providing Information: After stopping at the scene, you must exchange information with the other parties involved. This includes providing your name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information to the other driver(s) and any other person injured or owning damaged property.
3. Rendering Aid: If anyone is injured in the accident, you are required to provide reasonable assistance. This could include calling for emergency medical services (911) and providing aid within your capabilities.

Under Louisiana Revised Statutes §100, penalties for hit-and-run offenses in Louisiana vary based on the severity of the accident and the damages involved. If only property damage occurs, it may be charged as a misdemeanor with potential penalties such as fines, license suspension, and even imprisonment. However, if the accident results in injury or death, the offense can be charged as a felony with more severe penalties, including significant fines and possible imprisonment.

In addition to potential criminal penalties, hit-and-run drivers can also face civil liability for the damages caused by the accident. This may include compensation for property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, among other damages.

If you lost a loved one due to a hit and run accident, consider speaking with a wrongful death lawyer in Baton Rouge. They will be able to listen to your story and provide guidance on filing a wrongful death claim.

Proving Liability in a Baton Rouge Hit and Run Accident

If you have been injured in a hit and run accident, it can be tricky to prove liability when you can’t find the at-fault driver. An experienced Baton Rouge hit and run accident attorney will thoroughly investigate your accident to help determine its causes and potentially liable parties.

Once the liable parties are identified, your attorney can build your strongest case to help you recover maximum compensation for your damages. 

Evidence that may be used to prove liability and the value of your damages include:

• Eyewitness testimony
• Video footage from nearby businesses or homes
• Police reports
• Evidence of your property damages
• Medical records and invoices
• Proof of loss of income

At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, our hit and run attorneys in Baton Rouge act quickly to secure important evidence before it is lost or destroyed. We know how to investigate car accidents to help identify causation, liability, and damages and maximize your recovery.

Recoverable Damages After a Hit and Run Accident

The type and amount of damages recoverable depend on the specific facts of your accident. However, in a successful hit and run case, you should be able to recover economic and non-economic damages. 

If you are able to prove that your injuries were caused by another driver’s intoxication, you may also be able to recover punitive damages.

Economic and non-economic damages, also known as special and general damages, are intended to compensate injury victims for their losses. 

In contrast, punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are intended to punish the wrongdoer and to deter future similar conduct. Punitive damages are only allowed in Louisiana if specifically provided for by law.

Economic and non-economic damages recoverable after a hit-and-run accident may include:

• Medical care costs
• Lost income
• Property damages
• Other expenses incurred because of your injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional and mental distress
• Physical disability, scarring, or disfigurement
• Other intangible losses

The car accident lawyers at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys work hard to help our clients recover all available types of damages. Our attorneys build your strongest case with essential evidence such as police reports, medical reports, and wage reports. 

We often consult with experts, such as medical experts and economists, to help ensure that your damages are accurately calculated so we can determine their true value. 

Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations For Hit and Run Accidents

A statute of limitations in a personal injury case is a law that sets the deadline for filing a claim to recover compensation for your injuries. 

Louisiana recently extended its statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including hit-and-run accident claims. In Louisiana law, personal injury claims are also referred to as “delictual actions.”

According to Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1:

“Delictual actions are subject to a liberative prescription of two years. This prescription commences to run from the day that injury or damage is sustained…”

This statute became effective on July 1, 2024. So, if your hit-and-run accident happened on or after July 1, 2024, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for your damages. 

However, if your hit-and-run accident happened before July 1, 2024, you only have one year to file a personal injury claim. 

The new two-year deadline for most personal injury claims does not apply to wrongful death actions or survival actions. If you lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident, you still only have one year from the date of their death to file a wrongful death claim or survival action.

There are some exceptions to the two-year deadline for personal injury claims in Louisiana. In some circumstances, you may have a much shorter deadline to file a claim. In other rare circumstances, you may have additional time to file a claim. 

You must consult an experienced Baton Rouge hit and run accident attorney to determine your filing deadline.

Why You Need a Baton Rouge Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

After a hit-and-run accident, you might be tempted to handle the situation on your own. You might be worried about dealing with insurance companies or you might not know where to begin. You might think you can handle it without a lawyer.

You might be able to handle the paperwork on your own, but you will not be able to handle the negotiations. Insurance companies are not in the business of helping people. They are in the business of making money. They will try to make you take as little money as possible. They will try to avoid paying you as much as possible. They will try to avoid paying you at all if they can.

After a hit and run accident, you need an attorney who knows how to fight. Our team at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys is here to help. We can investigate a hit and run accident, negotiate with insurance companies, and get you the compensation you deserve.

Call our Baton Rouge hit and run accident lawyer at (225) 999-1111 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.