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APD: Hit And Runs A Huge Problem
Austin police say hit and run crashes are a huge problem in Central Texas.
"I came down on the hood on my tailbone and then came back and hit my head," said one victim who didn't want to be identified.
Even victims who get a good look at the get-a-way car may be left footing the bill for the damages.
Adding insult to injury, victims of hit and run accidents are often left with hefty bills for a crime they didn't commit.
"I think you just feel completely violated," said APD Senior Officer Vaneza Bremmer.
Bremmer admits hit-and-run accidents are a common crime.
But even if you get a good look at the driver -- and the get-a-way car -- you might not get the justice you think you deserve.
Last week a KEYE TV news photographer was sitting in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant when a guy backed up into his news vehicle and drove off.
He snapped a couple of pictures of the car and even got the guy's license plate number. But Austin police didn't go after the driver.
"If they were to find the vehicle, who's to say they were the one driving the vehicle when the crash occurred," said Bremmer.
So the victim ends up paying for the damage done to the vehicle.
"It really depends on the type of coverage you have," said David Zeornes.
Zeornes, who is the field operations and sales manager for Texas state low cost insurance, recommends investing in uninsured motorist coverage.
"If you have uninsured motorist coverage and this person hits you and flees the scene, you should be able file a claim under that coverage," added Zeornes.
The deductible will run $250 -- much less than a collision claim. But it won't do much to fix your bruised ego.
Zeornes says some insurance companies will go after the run-a-way driver if the cost of the claim is much more than the cost for them to investigate it.
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, one in every five drivers is uninsured.
By Alex Boyer
APD: Hit And Runs A Huge Problem
Austin police say hit and run crashes are a huge problem in Central Texas.
"I came down on the hood on my tailbone and then came back and hit my head," said one victim who didn't want to be identified.
Even victims who get a good look at the get-a-way car may be left footing the bill for the damages.
Adding insult to injury, victims of hit and run accidents are often left with hefty bills for a crime they didn't commit.
"I think you just feel completely violated," said APD Senior Officer Vaneza Bremmer.
Bremmer admits hit-and-run accidents are a common crime.
But even if you get a good look at the driver -- and the get-a-way car -- you might not get the justice you think you deserve.
Last week a KEYE TV news photographer was sitting in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant when a guy backed up into his news vehicle and drove off.
He snapped a couple of pictures of the car and even got the guy's license plate number. But Austin police didn't go after the driver.
"If they were to find the vehicle, who's to say they were the one driving the vehicle when the crash occurred," said Bremmer.
So the victim ends up paying for the damage done to the vehicle.
"It really depends on the type of coverage you have," said David Zeornes.
Zeornes, who is the field operations and sales manager for Texas state low cost insurance, recommends investing in uninsured motorist coverage.
"If you have uninsured motorist coverage and this person hits you and flees the scene, you should be able file a claim under that coverage," added Zeornes.
The deductible will run $250 -- much less than a collision claim. But it won't do much to fix your bruised ego.
Zeornes says some insurance companies will go after the run-a-way driver if the cost of the claim is much more than the cost for them to investigate it.
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, one in every five drivers is uninsured.
By Alex Boyer
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