Kerner Law Group, P.C., a personal injury law firm with an office in Yonkers, is sharing guidance for residents on what to do when the other driver leaves the scene of a motor vehicle accident. The firm is issuing the guidance ahead of the end of daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 1, when evening commutes shift into darkness.
Hit-and-run crashes are a significant share of serious pedestrian incidents nationally. The Governors Highway Safety Association’s review of 2023 federal data found that about one in four pedestrian deaths involved a hit-and-run driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 77% of pedestrian deaths that year occurred in the dark.
“When a driver doesn’t stop, the person who was hit has to build the record themselves, and in New York, some of the deadlines for coverage are short,” said Matthew H. Kerner, Esq., an attorney with Kerner Law Group, P.C. “Acting in the first few days can make the difference.”
The firm points to three time-sensitive steps. New York uninsured motorist coverage generally requires a hit-and-run to be reported to police within 24 hours or as soon as reasonably possible. Surveillance and doorbell footage from nearby businesses and homes should be requested quickly, since many systems overwrite recordings within days. And people injured by a hit-and-run driver who lack applicable insurance may be able to seek compensation through New York’s Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC), which requires notice within 90 days.
About Kerner Law Group, P.C.
Kerner Law Group, P.C. is a personal injury law firm representing clients throughout the Bronx and Westchester County, with an office at 19 Lockwood Ave, Yonkers, NY 10701. More information is available at https://yourbronxlawyers.com.