Personal Injury Law

Flee an Accident? Hit and Run Drivers Face Serious Penalties

By Jim Reed

A pick-up truck was totalled and a man injured in a recent car accident on Maple Avenue in Elmira. The Star-Gazette reported (see story below) that police are looking for an SUV that contributed to the accident but fled the scene.

It’s a terrible shame that some drivers seem to believe that they can vanish after a collision or car accident and avoid the inevitable meeting with law enforcement. Fleeing from a car accident is the absolute worst thing you can do, from both an ethical and a legal standpoint.

There’s no defense for running

It’s cowardly and illegal to leave the scene of a accident in which property was damaged. Even worse, if someone gets hurt and you bolt the scene, that person may not get the prompt medical attention they need and you could be facing VERY serious criminal penalties.

It may be human nature to have the impulse to flee, but it’s only human decency to make sure an injured person receives treatment as quickly as possible. In addition, in order to protect your legal rights, you have to take the correct steps after an accident.

Three things you MUST DO after a car accident

In the Ziff Law Firm’s Accidents and Car Crash FAQs, you can find a detailed list of what you should do and what you shouldn’t do after a car accident. Here are some points to stress:

• DO stop your car.

• DO aid the injured.

• DO call the police.

And these are just the tip of the iceberg. The aftermath of an accident can involve many complicated issues. If you are involved in an accident that results in personal injuries or serious property damage, another MUST DO is to consult an experienced personal injury attorney quickly.

Thanks for reading,

Jim
_________________________________________
James B. Reed, Esq.
Personal Injury & Malpractice Attorney
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14902
Tel. (607) 733-8866 Fax. (607) 732-6062
Toll Free 1-800-943-3529
mailto:jreed@zifflaw.com http://www.zifflaw.com

Police Seek SUV in Crash

Star-Gazette (Staff, 2/12/09)

The Elmira Police Department is seeking a full-sized sport utility vehicle in connection with a car accident Wednesday morning that sent an Elmira man to the hospital.

City police said Paul Montgomery, 24, was driving a 2002 GMC pickup truck north on Maple Avenue about 8:30 Wednesday morning when his truck struck a tree.

Police said the SUV, described as green or gray, was traveling south on Maple Avenue and contributed to the accident. The driver fled the scene, police said.

Montgomery was transported to Arnot Ogden Medical Center by Erway Ambulance and was being treated for a leg injury, police said.

Montgomery was in stable condition Wednesday night.

• Anyone with information is asked to call Elmira Police Sgt. Sharon Moyer at (607) 737-5640.

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Full post as published by New York Injury Law Blog on February 13, 2009 (boomark / email).