I’ve lived in Largo a long time. I’ve driven these roads every day. And I’ve sat across my desk from folks just like you who are upset, hurt, and confused. The first thing everyone asks me is, "David, how can they just leave? And who is going to pay for this mess?"

Florida law is tricky, and insurance companies are even trickier. But if you keep your head cool and follow the right steps, we can fix this. I’ve handled enough of these cases in Pinellas County to know exactly what works and what ruins a case.

Here is my guide on what you need to do immediately after a hit-and-run in Largo.

1) Do Not Chase Them

I know what your gut tells you. I really do. You see those taillights fading away, and the anger boils up. You want to slam on the gas. You want to catch them. You want to get that license plate number so bad you can taste it.

Don’t do it.

I have seen good cases fall apart because a victim decided to play vigilante. First off, it is dangerous. If that driver was willing to commit a felony by leaving the scene of a crash, you have no idea what else they are willing to do. Maybe they have a warrant. Maybe they have a weapon. Maybe they are drunk. You do not want a confrontation on the side of the road on US 19.

Second, it hurts your legal case. If you speed to catch them and you end up clipping another car, or you run a red light, the insurance company and the police might turn the tables on you. They’ll say you were driving aggressively.

Just let them go. It hurts to say that, but your safety is worth more than the satisfaction of catching them yourself. Pull your car over. Get out of the travel lanes if you can. Find a safe parking lot or a wide shoulder. Take a breath.

2) Call the Police (Yes, Even for a "Fender Bender")

This is the biggest mistake people make. They get out, look at their bumper, see a dent, and think, "Well, the guy is gone. The cops won't catch him. I just want to go home."

So they leave.

If you do that, you might be throwing away thousands of dollars.

Here is the deal with Florida insurance. Since the other driver fled, we don't know who they are. We can't sue them directly yet. That means we are likely going to be filing a claim under your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage.

Most insurance policies have a strict rule for UM claims, you must report the hit-and-run to the police within 24 hours.

If you don't call the police, the insurance adjuster is going to look at your claim and say, "How do we know another car hit you? Maybe you backed into a pole at the Wawa. Maybe you scraped a guardrail."

Without that police report, it’s your word against their skepticism. And insurance companies are professional skeptics.

• Is anyone hurt? Is the road blocked? Is your car smoking? Call 911. Don't hesitate.

• Is everyone okay, and are you safely off the road? Call the Largo Police Department Non-Emergency line at (727) 587-6730.

Wait for the officer. I know it’s hot. I know you’re stressed. But wait. When they get there, tell them,"I was hit by a vehicle that fled the scene."

Make sure you get the case number from the officer before they drive away. That number is the golden ticket for your insurance claim.

3) You Are Now the Investigator

Since the bad guy is gone, the evidence is disappearing by the second.

Rain is common here in the afternoons. It washes away fluid leaks. Other cars drive over skid marks. Witnesses get bored and leave. Until I can get my team involved, you are the lead investigator on the scene.

Pull out your phone. Start snapping photos. But don't just take a picture of your bumper. Think bigger.

• Look closely at where you were hit. Is there a smudge of red paint on your silver car? Take a close-up of that. That proves another vehicle was involved.

• Look at the road. Is there a pile of broken plastic? A shattered headlight cover that doesn't belong to your car? Photograph it. If it is safe to do so, pick it up and keep it. I once had a case where we identified the make and model of a fleeing truck because we found a piece of its grill on the road.

• Did they peel out? Take a picture of the tire marks. It shows speed and direction.

(4) The Camera Hunt

This is the modern age. There are cameras everywhere. Look around you.

• Are you near a gas station?

• Is there a bank on the corner?

• Is there a traffic light with cameras on the arm?

• Did you pass a Tesla (they record everything)?

Write down exactly where you are. If you come to me and say, "David, the crash happened right in front of the Publix on Ulmerton," I can act fast. I can send a legal "preservation letter" to that store immediately to stop them from deleting the security footage. But these places often wipe their tapes every 48 hours. We have to move fast.

If someone stopped to see if you were okay, ask them what they saw. Did they see the other car? Did they get a partial plate? Do not let them leave without getting their name and cell number. A neutral witness is the most powerful weapon we have in court.

(5) Take The 14-Day Rule Seriously and Go to the Doctor

I cannot stress this enough. This is where the Florida legislature really put the squeeze on drivers.

You might feel okay right now. Adrenaline is a powerful drug. It masks pain. You might think you’re just a little stiff. You figure you’ll take some Tylenol and sleep it off.

Please, go to the doctor.

Florida has a "14-Day Rule" for Personal Injury Protection (PIP). PIP is that coverage you pay for that covers 80% of your medical bills up to $10,000, regardless of who was at fault.

But If you do not seek initial medical care within 14 days of the crash, you lose that $10,000 coverage entirely.

Poof. Gone.

If you wait two weeks because you’re "toughing it out," and then on Day 15 you realize your neck hurts too much to work, you are out of luck. The insurance company keeps the money.

You don't have to make a big scene. You don't have to go to the ER if it’s not an emergency. But you need to get checked out.

• ER: If you hit your head or have sharp pain, go to HCA Florida Largo Hospital.

• Urgent Care: If it’s just soreness, go to Concentra or MD Now.

Just get it documented. Tell the doctor, "I was in a car accident." That creates the paper trail we need to unlock your benefits.

(5) How to Handle the Insurance Call (The Trap)

You have to call your insurance company. Most policies say you have to report a crash "promptly." Usually, that means within 24 hours for a hit-and-run.

But you need to be on guard. In a hit-and-run case, your insurance company becomes the adversary.

Since there is no other driver to sue, your insurance company has to pay out the claim. That means they lose money if they pay you. So, their goal, whether they admit it or not, is to pay you as little as possible.

They will try to trap you.

• They will ask, "Are you injured?" If you say "No" or "I'm fine" because you haven't seen a doctor yet, they will record that. Later, when your back locks up, they will play that tape back and say, "But you said you were fine."

• They will ask for a recorded statement. They act like it’s mandatory. They act like they can't help you until you give it.

Do not give a recorded statement.

You are not required to give a recorded statement immediately. You can simply say this:

"I have reported the accident. I was hit by a vehicle that fled. Here is the police case number. I am going to see a doctor. I will not be giving a recorded statement until I have spoken with my attorney, David Carter."

That stops them cold. It buys us time to make sure you don't accidentally say something that ruins your case.

(6) Why You Need a Local Lawyer

You might be thinking, "David, can't I just handle this myself? It seems straightforward."

I wish it were. But Uninsured Motorist claims are some of the hardest fights in the business.

The insurance company will look for any reason to deny the claim.

• They will say the damage to your car isn't "consistent" with a crash.

• They will say your injuries are from "degeneration" or "old age," not the accident.

• They will offer you a check for $500 and ask you to sign a release.

Don't sign it. Once you sign that release, you can never ask for another penny, even if you need surgery six months from now.

You need someone who knows the game. You need someone who knows that the intersection of 113th and Bryan Dairy is a hotspot for crashes. You need someone who knows which orthopedic doctors in Largo will wait for payment until the case settles, so you don't have to pay out of pocket.

(7) A Note from Carter Injury Law

A hit-and-run makes you feel powerless. It makes you feel like a victim. But you don't have to stay a victim. You have rights, and you have neighbors like me who are ready to stand up for you.

Take a deep breath. We’ll get through this.

If you are about to make that phone call to your insurance agent, stop for a second. I can give you a simple script to read so you don't say the wrong thing. Just ask, and I’ll break it down for you.