Many hit-and-run accidents go unsolved. If these do not involve serious injuries, then you can usually recover from them financially by filing claims with your underinsured motorist coverage policy for your property damage, or your MedPay insurance policy, for your medical bills. If your injuries are so severe that the medical bills exceed your policy limits, this is a more difficult situation. Your chances of getting the money you need to cover your accident-related financial losses, including but not limited to medical bills, are greater if you can identify the hit-and-run driver.
Because leaving the scene of an accident is a crime, drivers often go out of their way not to be found. Just as often, they left the scene, knowing that they could risk criminal prosecution, because they were already doing something illegal even before they caused the accident. If there is a silver lining to this, it is that people injured in hit-and-run accidents have a chance of recovering damages in a civil lawsuit even if the at-fault driver does not get a criminal conviction for leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury or a similar offense. If the driver who struck you left the scene without rendering assistance, contact a Santa Fe car accident lawyer.
Couple Face Long List of Criminal Charges After Police Officer Identifies Hit-and-Run Vehicle
In May 2025, a Chevrolet Avalanche struck a motorcycle in Albuquerque and left the scene of the accident. News reports did not publish the name of the motorcyclist; the only information they gave about him was that he was in critical condition several days after the accident.
Shortly after emergency personnel responded to the accident and notified police that it was a hit and run, an off-duty police officer noticed that a vehicle that was pulling into a nearby apartment complex had blood splattered on its front and pieces of clothing stuck in one of its wheels. The officer saw the driver fall out of the car, apparently too drunk to get out and walk away. Then the passenger got out and appeared to be taking empty containers of alcoholic beverages to the trash can. Next, two children got out of the back seat and went into an apartment with the adults.
In response to the officer’s tip, police arrested Anthony Nez, 27, who had been driving, and Raquel Blanco, 22, who was the passenger. When the police reached the couple’s apartment, the children, ages 6 and 5, were there by themselves. Police removed the children from the apartment and placed them in the care of relatives. Nez is facing criminal charges for drunk driving resulting in bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in bodily injury, and child endangerment. Blanco is facing criminal charges for child endangerment.
Contact Slate Stern About Personal Injury Lawsuits
Slate Stern is a personal injury lawyer who represents plaintiffs injured in motorcycle accidents. Contact Slate Stern in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or call (505)814-1517 to discuss your case.
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