Another Houston hit and run driver and another death on our streets

The Houston injury attorneys at Denena & Points report that Houston police are searching for another hit and run driver. This one struck and killed a man and left him lying in the center of Club Creek Drive by Green Fork on Saturday night. Houston police responded to a call from the scene around 11 p.m. on Saturday night and found the unidentified man already deceased. Reportedly the man was crossing the street when the hit and run driver struck him and then fled the scene. (Source: click2houston.com, 10/7/12)

When someone runs over a victim and then leaves the scene of a hit and run accident in Texas that involves property damage, injury, or death, that driver could be charged with crimes that range from misdemeanors to serious felonies. Our Houston injury attorneys present a short list of Texas penalties for hit and run drivers below:

• A driver that leaves the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury or death may be convicted of a 3rd degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in a Texas prison.
• A driver convicted of the felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident that caused a non-serious injury could receive one year in jail or up to 5 years in state prison, along with a $5,000 fine.
• A hit and run accident that causes damage to an occupied vehicle is a Class C misdemeanor resulting in a fine of up to $500 if the damage to all vehicles is less than $200. The charge becomes a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in a county jail if the damage is greater than $200. The same penalties apply for hitting a parked car and then fleeing the scene.
• A conviction on hit and run charges could also result in the suspension of the driver’s license, especially if the accident resulted in serious injury or death.

Our Houston injury attorneys point out that victims of hit and run drivers and the family members of deceased victims of the crime may also file lawsuits in civil court to claim monetary damages for the value of their injuries and losses. For a victim killed by a hit and run driver, the monetary damages could cover funeral expenses, medical expenses up until the time of death, and pain and suffering up until the moment of death. Injured victims might claim their medical expenses, costs of future medical care, pain and suffering, lost wages, amounts for reduced earnings capacity, disfigurement, and disability, among other losses.

For anyone struck by a hit and run driver, the moments after a sudden hit and run accident can be frightening, confusing, and painful. You could have such severe injuries that thinking of anything else might be difficult. Or the victim of a tragic hit and run accident could be your family member.

After a major accident, you might be feeling burdened by the costly medical bills and expense following the accident. You could benefit from reading our Houston injury attorneys’ free book, available for download from this web page, providing useful information on what to do after a Houston accident. The book could inform you of the most important do’s and don’ts of car accident injury claims. Our free book could give you a good head start on choosing a proper direction to get justice after your undeserved hit and run accident.

Then, when you’re ready, call our office for a free consultation with one of our experienced Houston injury attorneys at Denena & Points. We will discuss your case with you and walk you through your legal options in the matter. We could let you know your potential for a full financial fair recovery in your case. Your free consultation could help you understand whether or not you need to seek an attorney’s counsel to obtain just recompense. Call or email us today for your free legal consultation.