Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Bronx County

When a driver flees the scene after causing a collision, the immediate concern is often locating that driver at all, but even when the driver is never identified, an injured person in Bronx County may still have avenues for civil recovery. This page addresses the civil injury-claim side of a hit-and-run collision, which is a separate matter from any traffic-law violation or criminal charge the fleeing driver may face for leaving the scene. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. reviews civil injury claims for Bronx County residents hurt in hit-and-run collisions, evaluating available insurance coverage and, where the driver is later identified, a direct claim against that driver. If you or a family member was injured in a hit-and-run accident, you can reach the firm’s 24/7 intake line at (888) 437-7747 to request a scheduled consultation.

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What a Hit and Run Accident Claim Means in Bronx County

A hit-and-run collision remains, for civil purposes, a personal injury action arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle, so it is generally subject to New York’s no-fault framework regardless of whether the responsible driver is identified. N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102 governs no-fault benefits for basic economic loss such as medical expenses and lost earnings, available to a covered person regardless of fault, and N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102(d) sets the “serious injury” threshold, currently defined by eight statutory categories, that must be met before a claim for pain and suffering may proceed against a driver, once identified.

Because the claim is a personal injury action subject to Insurance Law article 51, the modified comparative fault rule in N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(b) applies if the fleeing driver is later identified and sued: a claimant whose own fault is found to be greater than that driver’s fault is barred from recovery entirely. Where the driver is never identified, an injured person’s own automobile insurance policy, including any uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, is often central to pursuing compensation, since a claim against an unknown defendant cannot proceed in the same way as one against an identified driver. If the vehicle’s owner is identified even though the driver is not, N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 388 may make that owner liable for injury caused by another person’s negligent operation of the vehicle with the owner’s permission. The general limitations period for a personal injury action arising from a motor vehicle accident is three years under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5). Claims are filed and litigated in the New York State trial courts in Bronx County.

How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle These Cases

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin a hit-and-run case by reviewing the police accident report, any available witness accounts, and any surveillance or traffic camera footage that might help identify the fleeing driver or vehicle. Where the driver remains unidentified, the firm reviews the client’s own automobile insurance policy for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, since that coverage is often the primary avenue for compensation beyond no-fault benefits in this scenario.

Where the driver is later identified, whether through law enforcement investigation or other means, the firm evaluates the claim under the same no-fault and modified comparative fault framework that applies to other motor vehicle accidents, while remaining mindful of how the driver’s decision to flee the scene may factor into the overall case. The firm does not offer free consultations and does not guarantee any particular outcome; prospective clients may request a scheduled consultation by calling the intake line.

About the Firm and Mr. Sris

Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. was founded in 1997. Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder, is a former prosecutor admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. His background in accounting and information systems from George Mason University has been applied to complex financial and technology-related cases, including the review of insurance policy provisions relevant to uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with the firm and are referred to collectively as Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys; no individual Of Counsel attorney is named on this page. The firm’s principal office is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and the firm does not maintain a physical office in Bronx County. Matters involving Bronx County residents are handled through the firm’s intake and case-management process, and appointments can be scheduled by calling (888) 437-7747. The intake line is staffed 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still recover compensation if the driver who hit me was never found?
Potentially, through your own automobile insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage, and through no-fault benefits under N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102, which are generally available regardless of whether the at-fault driver is identified.

Is this the same as a criminal leaving-the-scene case?
No. This page addresses the civil injury claim available to a person hurt in a hit-and-run collision, which is separate from any criminal or traffic-law proceeding against the driver for leaving the scene.

What if the driver is identified after my claim has started?
If the driver is identified, the claim generally proceeds under the same no-fault and modified comparative fault framework, including N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(b), that applies to other motor vehicle accident claims.

How long do I have to bring a hit-and-run injury claim?
The general limitations period for a personal injury action arising from a motor vehicle accident is three years under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5), though insurance-related claims, such as an uninsured motorist claim, can carry separate contractual notice requirements under your own policy.

What should I do immediately after a hit-and-run accident?
Reporting the accident to police promptly, seeking medical attention, and notifying your own auto insurer are important early steps, since uninsured motorist coverage often depends on timely notice.

This page provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

Attorney Advertising. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

If you want to see how a Bronx claim fits into the wider process, our page on hit and run accident lawyer New York covers it from start to finish.