Man Charged in Long Island Hit-and-Run Crash

Police officers have charged a man with leaving the scene of an accident in Long Island Wednesday, November 30. The 77-year-old man from Grant Neck reportedly caused an accident that resulted in a serious injury to the victim, and then fled. He returned an hour later, at which point officers placed him under arrest.

According to the Nassau County Police Department, the suspect was driving a 2005 Honda Odyssey minivan at around 5 p.m. that day, going north on Community Drive/Pond Hill Road. At the same time, another man was attempting to cross the street. The driver apparently did not see the man and struck him. The victim suffered severe internal injuries and was immediately transported to a hospital.

What happens if a driver leaves the scene?

All parties involved in a car accident, whether or not they were at fault, must remain at the scene until police officers and/or emergency personnel arrive. However, that doesn’t always happen — and that can complicate matters if you’ve suffered injuries or property damage and need to seek compensation.

To that end, it’s important to get the contact information of any witnesses and to write down anything you can remember about the crash right away, as you may forget details if too much time passes. You should also call the police and provide as accurate description as you can of the driver and his or her vehicle. If you cannot find the at-fault party, you may need to file a claim with your own auto insurance provider.

To learn more about your legal options if you’ve been injured in an auto accident, consult a dedicated personal injury attorney with Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP.