Hit and run while I was on the job — driver finally caught but charges feel way too light?

I went through something similar where the person who hit me tried to act like they had no idea what happened. The criminal process and the civil process are two totally separate tracks and honestly the criminal side can feel really unsatisfying. The charge often doesn't reflect how badly you were hurt — it reflects what prosecutors think they can prove or what they're willing to bargain down to. It's infuriating but unfortunately pretty common from what I've seen.

So when people say the arraignment was "waived" it usually just means the defendant agreed to enter a plea without making the court hold a formal reading of the charges — it's pretty routine and doesn't really mean anything good or bad for you. Plea court is basically where she'll either enter a guilty plea to a negotiated charge or a not guilty plea and the case moves toward trial. The "serious bodily injury" distinction in the charge tier matters a lot for sentencing ranges — a charge that excludes that language typically carries a lighter maximum sentence even if your injuries are severe. It doesn't mean what happened to you wasn't serious. It's just how the statute is written and prosecutors have discretion in how they charge. Frustrating, I know.

Please be careful if her insurance company or even your own uninsured/underinsured carrier reaches out to you directly. They will be watching how the criminal case plays out and may try to make a lowball move right around sentencing when you're emotionally exhausted and just want it to be over. Don't sign anything without understanding exactly what you're giving up.

From my time on the other side of the desk — when there's a criminal admission involved, insurers know their exposure is real. That can actually work in your favor but it also means they'll be very strategic about timing. They may wait to see if the plea reduces the perceived severity of the offense and then use that to argue your injuries are being overstated. Just something to be aware of.

I just want to say — crush injuries and the kind of nerve damage you're describing don't follow a straight recovery line. Some days will feel like progress and then you'll have a setback and it's completely normal. Please make sure your doctors are documenting everything at every single appointment, including the bad days, the pain levels, and any functional limitations. That record matters way beyond just the medical side of things.

I can't imagine going through all of this — the physical recovery AND having to track down the person who did it AND now trying to decode the legal system. You deserve actual answers and actual support. I hope someone here can give you clarity because you've clearly been carrying all of this basically alone.

Here's the blunt version: the criminal charge is about what the state can prove and what the DA decided to pursue. It is not a verdict on how badly you were hurt. Victims often feel let down by that gap and honestly that feeling is valid. Focus your energy on the civil side — that's where accountability that actually affects your life can come from.