Buffalo Hit & Run Accident Lawyer

Hit-and-Run Guidance Backed by a Personal Injury Focus Since 1968

A hit-and-run crash can leave you with injuries, vehicle damage, and no information about the driver who caused it. At Faraci Lange, LLP, we help Buffalo drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists examine the evidence and determine which insurance and legal options may apply. Our personal injury focus equips us to address both the collision claim and the coverage questions created by an unidentified driver.

Your options may depend on whether physical contact occurred, which insurance policies cover your household, and whether police identify the fleeing motorist. Surveillance video, dashcam recordings, vehicle debris, and witness information can disappear quickly.

What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Buffalo

Prioritize safety and request emergency medical assistance when needed. Report the collision to law enforcement instead of following the fleeing vehicle. The Buffalo Police Department identifies hit-and-run crashes as incidents requiring investigation and reporting.

When circumstances allow, preserve the following information:

• Vehicle details: Record the color, make, model, license plate characters, direction of travel, and visible damage.
• Scene evidence: Photograph vehicle positions, debris, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, property damage, and visible injuries.
• Witness information: Collect names and contact details from anyone who saw the collision or fleeing vehicle.
• Video footage: Save dashcam recordings and identify nearby homes or businesses that may have surveillance footage.
• Medical documentation: Keep treatment records, discharge instructions, bills, and notes showing how your injuries affect your work and daily activities.
• Crash records: Retain the police accident report, insurance correspondence, repair estimates, and towing documents.

Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, a driver may also need to file a separate crash report with the Department of Motor Vehicles when an accident causes death, personal injury, or property damage above the applicable threshold. The obligation depends on the facts and current reporting rules, so a police report shouldn’t automatically be treated as a substitute.

Insurance Coverage When the Driver Isn’t Identified

New York no-fault insurance may cover qualifying medical expenses, lost earnings, and certain other economic losses, subject to statutory limits, policy terms, and filing requirements. These benefits generally address economic losses, not vehicle repairs or damages for pain and suffering.

Uninsured motorist coverage is intended to address bodily injury caused by an uninsured vehicle or hit-and-run driver in covered circumstances. Depending on the facts, a claim may involve your policy or a qualifying policy held by a family member in your household. Physical contact, notice, cooperation, and other policy requirements can affect coverage.

The Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) may provide another avenue for certain people injured by an unidentified or uninsured motor vehicle when no applicable household policy is available. Eligibility requirements and deadlines apply. We review the policies and facts rather than assuming that an unidentified driver ends the claim.

Damages for pain and suffering may depend on New York’s serious injury threshold, which generally limits recovery for non-economic harm to injuries that meet specific statutory categories. If police later identify the driver, additional claims may become available based on liability, insurance coverage, and the evidence.

How We Investigate & Develop a Buffalo Hit-and-Run Claim

Faraci Lange, LLP has helped injured clients since 1968. We examine the collision facts, physical evidence, police records, medical documentation, and potentially applicable insurance policies. We also assess what the evidence can establish about the fleeing vehicle and whether notice or filing deadlines require prompt action.

We communicate with insurers, document claimed losses, evaluate settlement positions, and preserve potential personal injury litigation. When litigation is appropriate, we represent clients through each stage of the process. The viability and value of a claim depend on the injuries, available coverage, liability evidence, and governing New York law.

12 Attorneys Selected for Super Lawyers & 11 Listed in Best Lawyers

Our firm focuses on personal injury law and provides individualized service to injured people and their families. We answer questions, explain developments, and guide clients through the decisions that arise during an insurance claim or lawsuit.

Twelve of our attorneys have been selected for the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list, and 11 are listed in Best Lawyers in America under personal injury law. We have also been named among the Best Law Firms in Buffalo and Rochester.

Other Liability Issues in Buffalo & Erie County Claims

The fleeing driver may not be the only party whose conduct requires investigation. When supported by the evidence, we evaluate whether vehicle defects, an employer’s responsibility, roadway surfaces, signage, or traffic-control problems contributed to the crash.

Erie County Supreme Court hears civil matters beyond the authority of lower courts, including cases involving higher amounts in dispute. Claims involving public entities or roadway conditions may carry separate notice and procedural requirements under current law. Our local courtroom presence informs how we assess those requirements in Buffalo-area cases.

Request a Confidential Review of Your Hit-and-Run Claim

Bring any police records, photographs, witness details, medical information, insurance documents, and repair estimates you have. Missing information shouldn’t stop you from calling. We can review the available facts, identify potential insurance or personal injury claims, and explain the next steps that may apply.

Consultations are free and confidential, and we work on a contingency fee basis. We serve injured clients in Buffalo and throughout Western New York.