In a hit and run accident, the driver leaves the scene without stopping to assess damage or injury, call the police, or provide his or her contact information. While leaving the scene of an accident is illegal almost everywhere, it still happens all too often. In fact, over 2,500 people died in hit and run crashes in the U.S. in 2020. In Massachusetts, nearly 10% of fatal pedestrian accidents in 2022 involved hit and run drivers.
Sometimes drivers flee the scene because they are intoxicated, don’t have a license or insurance, or simply panic and keep driving. Even if the driver is never identified, victims of hit and run accidents in Massachusetts can still make a claim with their insurance company. If the driver is later identified, he or she may face criminal charges or a lawsuit in civil court.
Recent MA Hit and Run Accidents
According to WalkBoston, a Massachusetts pedestrian advocacy group, 10 pedestrians died in hit and run accidents last year. Drivers may also flee the scene after colliding with other cars, bicyclists, motorcycles, and stationary objects like mailboxes or telephone poles.
News coverage has spotlighted the following Massachusetts hit and run crashes so far in 2023:
- Needham: In February, a 28-year-old Canton man walking on the shoulder of I-95 was struck and killed by a vehicle. The driver did not remain at the scene, but police located potential debris evidence they hoped would identify the vehicle and driver involved.
- Bridgewater: On March 17, a 19-year-old woman was injured after being hit by a car while walking near Bridgewater State University’s campus. Police later located the 20-year-old hit and run driver and arrested him at his home in Abington.
- Lynn: A 55-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle on March 29 while she was in a crosswalk on Western Avenue. The driver fled the scene, leaving the pedestrian to die on the street. After reviewing witness statements and traffic cameras, police identified the driver.
- Chelsea: A 59-year-old man went to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after being hit by a vehicle while he was walking home on March 31. He died of his injuries days later. The driver failed to stop, but police later identified both driver and vehicle.
- West Bridgewater: A 46-year-old woman died on April 3 when a Toyota Scion TC hit her Honda Accord, sending it into a concrete barrier, where it was struck by a pickup truck and burst into flames. Although the Toyota driver fled the scene, a 33-year-old Brockton man was identified and arrested a few days later.
Massachusetts Hit and Run Accident Lawyers
Being involved in a car accident is always stressful, even if it’s not a hit and run. But when the driver leaves the scene, it increases the stress and can make the whole process more confusing. If you (or a family member) were the victim of a hit and run accident, a local personal injury attorney can help evaluate your options to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Boston car accident lawyer at Altman & Altman LLP.