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Hit And Run Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians and bicyclists are the most common victims of hit-and-run collisions, accounting for more than 65 percent of fatalities. Pedestrians and bicyclists are most vulnerable if they are struck because they do not have the protection of a car body around them. One of the most serious things that a driver can do is to continue driving and not stop to help or at least call the cops and paramedics after hitting someone.
Cars may also suffer damage as a result of a hit-and-run accident, despite the fact that cyclists and pedestrians are most concerned about such incidents because of their severity. It’s possible that your vehicle was damaged in the parking lot, or that the driver ran into it and just sped off without stopping to exchange information. It’s also not unusual for homeowners or company owners to be harmed by a hit-and-run offender. When you are involved in an accident that results in significant property damage, it is vital to seek compensation immediately. You may want to pursue damages for bodily injury or death depending on the circumstances.
Texas Personal Injury Lawyers is here to assist you in any way possible after a hit and run accident.
What Should You Do If You Are The Victim Of A Hit-And-Run Accident?
Hit and run incidents are frightening, especially since you are left to care for the consequences on your own. Take the time to relax and check to see if you have any injuries that require medical attention. Take notes on the scene of the hit and run, including any relevant information, and obtain the contact details of any witnesses.
Report the accident to the cops as soon as possible. The sooner you report it, the more accurate your memory will be regarding the defendant. If you recall the vehicle that collided with you, you must immediately inform the police, especially if you know its registration number. Here are five things to do immediately following an incident with a hit-and-run motorist.
1. Contact The Police Immediately
The first thing to do following any kind of accident is to call 911. A police officer will attend the scene of the collision in order to complete a report. When insurance adjusters examine your claim, they’ll look at the police report.
When talking with the police officer who has responded to your call, it’s critical to be upfront and accurate. Give the officer any information you have about the individual who assaulted you and the vehicle they were driving.
The officer can also question any witnesses to the accident about what occurred. You may get a copy of the police report for your own records after the investigation is completed. You may also utilize it when submitting an insurance claim.
2. Get Medical Treatment As Soon As Possible
It’s critical to contact 911 and request an ambulance if you or one of your passengers is hurt. If the emergency medical personnel believe you should be transported to the hospital, you can go with them.
Even if your injuries aren’t immediately apparent after a collision or are minor enough that an ambulance trip to the hospital is unnecessary, it’s still important to visit a doctor as soon as possible. The adrenaline produced by a collision may mask symptoms of ailments, and getting examined can help you rule out anything serious.
Whatever your doctor says you must do, whether it’s arranging follow-up treatments, taking medicines, or consulting other specialists, you should do it. This is critical not just for your health but also to preserve evidence of your injuries and the treatment you received if you need to file an insurance claim.
3. Take Pictures And Gather Witness Information
Take photos of the scene of the accident and any damage you may have sustained if possible. In insurance claims, this includes your injuries as well as vehicle damage. These photographs will assist with assessing the extent of your injuries and property damage in court.
You can also ask potential witnesses for their contact information the same way as a police officer would when they arrive on the scene. This is especially useful in situations involving hit-and-run drivers, since every little bit of evidence aids the police, your attorney, and the insurance company in finding out who caused the collision.
If you’re severely injured after being hit by a hit-and-run driver, you won’t be able to record the event or talk to witnesses. You may be able to obtain this for you if you have passengers who aren’t badly hurt.
4. Contact An Attorney
Hiring a professional and experienced personal injury lawyer is one of the most effective strategies to get the most money from your insurance policy. They know what’s required in hit-and-run claims so they can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
In many—but not all—hit-and-run scenarios, the identity of the driver who caused the accident is unknown. The at-fault driver will always be sought by your attorney and police. Finally, your attorney will be up to speed on the most effective techniques for receiving all of the compensation you are entitled to, regardless of whether the at-fault driver is found or not.
Typically, most of the compensation that hit-and-run victims receive comes from uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage. If you have this coverage, you’ll be in a better position to obtain compensation. Other insurance policies can also be utilized to enhance the amount of money paid for your losses.
Hit-and-run injuries and fatalities may be difficult to address due to the complexity of the legal system. You need all possible advantages, which is why having a seasoned Hit and Run Accident Lawyer on your side can make all the difference.
5. Make A Written Claim
Make certain to inform your insurance company as soon as feasible in writing about the accident and the necessity to utilize your uninsured motorist coverage. Any delay may jeopardize your rights under your insurance policy.
Texas Personal Injury Lawyers Fight For The Rights Of Those Who Have Been Harmed By A Hit-and-run Accident
At Texas Personal Injury Lawyers , we know what it takes to get our clients the compensation they’re entitled to by law.
Contact Texas Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with our team at (888) 997-2148.
What If You Can’t Identify The Driver Following A Hit And Run Accident?
You could be wondering if you can get compensation without knowing who was behind the accident. In a nutshell, it depends on your insurance policy and state law.
No-Fault Insurance:
In a no-fault insurance state, you can collect medical expenses, missed wages, and the cost of substitute services through your own insurance provider. These benefits might be restricted depending on your policy and state legislation.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage:
Uninsured motorist insurance (UIM) is a form of liability insurance that provides financial compensation for property damage sustained as the result of a vehicle driven by someone who does not have automobile insurance. An unknown at-fault motorist is treated similarly to a known at-fault driver without insurance in UIM coverage.
How Do Police Find a Hit & Run Driver?
When you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, it is critical that you contact the police right away so that they may begin their investigation. When looking for a hit-and-run driver, cops may utilize a variety of techniques. If you can get the hit-and-run driver’s license plate number, police may use it to look up the car and identify the owner. Even if you don’t know the license plate number, if you remember the make, model, and/or color of the vehicle that collides with you, please tell police. This information can be beneficial to the investigation because it may assist in determining who was at fault.
Surveillance cameras from businesses, offices, and other commercial properties may be used to trace down a hit-and-run driver. They can question bystanders who witnessed the accident or were able to provide additional information about the vehicle, such as which direction it went after. Police will contact local businesses and residents if they inquire about or witness anything associated with the incident, or they may bring the story to your neighborhood news station or social media. The length of time it takes the police to finish their job, as well as whether or not they are able to track down the hit-and-run driver, is determined by a variety of things, including when the accident occurred and how many facts were supplied in the police report.
If the hit and run driver is located, he or she will be subject to two independent legal processes. The hit and run driver will face criminal charges, while an injured party might pursue civil claims for compensation. Remember, the result of one case does not impact the other; simply because a hit-and-run driver is convicted of fleeing the scene of an accident, you are not automatically eligible to compensation, and vice versa.
Unfortunately, hit-and-run drivers are not always caught. However, this does not imply that you are powerless in pursuing financial compensation. You may be able to pursue compensation from your personal insurance company. Please contact Texas Personal Injury Lawyers at (888) 997-2148 after your hit and run accident for more information and assistance with your case.
How a Lawyer Can Help If You Were Hurt in a Hit and Run
Hit-and-run car accidents are frightening and painful. Even if the driver is apprehended, settling with the insurance company may be difficult. You shouldn’t have to endure this problem on your own. Texas Personal Injury Lawyers can assist you in a variety of ways.
Gathering evidence:
Even if the driver is never found, there will still be a lot of evidence that needs to be presented when dealing with your own insurance company. Medical records, photographs from the accident scene, witness testimonies, and even video footage may all be used to establish a case. While you rest and heal, your attorney will gather this information for you.
Proving liability:
If the hit-and-run driver is identified, your attorney will gather evidence and reconstruct the accident site to establish liability.
Handling the legwork:
In a personal injury situation, there is a lot of technical legal work to be done. In response to legal motions, defend your position in court, and file all documents with the court on time, your attorney will handle letters from the insurance company, respond to legal motions, and file all documents with the court.
Holding insurance companies accountable:
Even if you’re dealing with your own insurance carrier, you’ll quickly discover how difficult it is to get the compensation you deserve from them. They may try to give you a lowball settlement and engage in other unethical tactics, or they might just delay.Your attorney is well-versed in these techniques and will not tolerate the insurance company’s attempts to get out of paying your claim.
Demanding full compensation:
You might believe you just need compensation for your medical expenses, but there’s a lot more you are entitled to. Your lawyer will hold accountable parties, including insurance companies and corporations, who must pay money for the time you lost from work as a result of their negligence.
How Can I Obtain Compensation In a Hit and Run Accident?
Even if the hit-and-run driver has not been formally charged or convicted of a crime, you may pursue a personal injury claim against him or her if you can identify him or her.
We can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for missed income, medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses. Punitive damages may be awarded in some jurisdictions to punish the hit-and-run driver and assure that others do not get away with leaving the scene of a vehicle accident.
If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident and the fleeing motorist has not been identified, you may be eligible to seek compensation from your own insurance if you purchased Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. Texas law requires that all automobile insurance policies cover this. In conclusion, if you are hurt in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, you may file a claim with your own insurance company for drivers and passengers damaged as a result of uninsured motorists — including hit-and-run drivers.
If you picked UM, the required minimum coverage must be equal to or greater than the state-mandated minimum coverage:
- $30,000 for each injured person
- $60,000 for injuries per incident
- $25,000 for property damage
It’s crucial to remember that UM claims must be filed by a specific date, so it’s critical not to procrastinate. The insurer will most likely refuse your claim if you do not file it within the appropriate time frame. This is why you should contact the cops as soon as possible following a hit-and-run collision and seek medical treatment. The police reports and first responders’ accounts will be useful evidence in your personal injury lawsuit.
What Can You Expect If The Police Discover The Hit-and-Run Driver?
If the other individual involved in the accident can be found, he or she may face criminal charges. In Texas, fleeing the scene of an accident is a violation of state laws. The term “hit-and-run” may also refer to a crime involving a motor vehicle accident, as well as various other scenarios. A hit-and-run might be anything from a pedestrian, bicyclist, stationary car, or stopped property.
A prosecutor can charge the other motorist with a felony or a misdemeanor for leaving the site of the collision. You may get their automobile insurance details to file a claim or go after them directly for their negligent behavior.
If the car was merely damaged, the driver would most likely face a minor infraction. If you were badly injured as a result of the collision, the driver would be charged with aggravated assault, which is a felony. The driver who flees after causing a death may be liable for felony vehicle homicide.
What Is The Insurance Claim Process In A Hit And Run Accident Case
Whether you file a claim with your insurance or the other driver’s insurance, you may seek compensation for your losses. Damage is an umbrella term that refers to losses incurred as a result of an accident or injury.
Compensatory damages include both economic and non-economic damages, which are known as “pain and suffering” or “suffering and emotional distress.” The suffering or physical pain endured is known as “mental anguish,” but it can also Include things such as humiliation, indignity, embarrassment. The following are examples of the many sorts of damage you may claim after a hit-and-run accident:
Medical bills:
Treatment that is required by law, including physical therapy, surgery, and house health care to recover from your injuries.
Property damage:
The repairs for your car, including any personal belongings that were damaged in the hit-and-run accident.
Loss of income:
Because your injury prevents you from returning to employment, you are not eligible for payment.
Emotional distress:
Fear of driving a car again is sometimes experienced following the accident, which stems from emotional trauma or agony.
Pain and suffering:
Extreme physical discomfort that originates from the injury and has a detrimental influence on your everyday life.
Wrongful death:
A family of a hit-and-run victim has the right to seek compensation for funeral expenses and other related costs.
After you submit your claim, the assigned adjuster will conduct an investigation. They may request the completion of forms and papers to verify that your injury was caused by the accident. They’ll determine whether your case is legitimate or not based on all the evidence. They’ll either approve or deny your claim, and if it’s approved, settlement talks will begin to figure out how much compensation you deserve. If it gets rejected, you may proceed with a lawsuit.
If you choose to hire a lawyer, they will take care of everything for you. They’ll file a claim on your behalf, provide all required documentation, and negotiate a fair settlement. When you hire an attorney, you’ll be more likely to receive the highest compensation available.
Who Is Liable For A Hit And Run Accident?
The driver who caused the accident is responsible for the consequences of the collision. A hit-and-run accident poses a problem because it’s possible that the at-fault driver will never be identified. In that situation,
In most cases, your uninsured motorist coverage takes the place of the hit-and-run driver. As if it were the insurance company for the hit-and-run driver, your insurance provider compensates you for your losses.
You could receive compensation for your:
- Medical expenses and costs
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of income and benefits
- Decreases in earning potential
- Emotional and mental trauma
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
- Loss of quality of life
What Are My Options After Being A Victim of A Hit And Run?
After a hit-and-run incident, your options will be determined by whether the driver who struck you can be found and what type of insurance you have.
Your best-case situation is if the vehicle that hit you was stopped and had insurance. If the other driver is identified, you can file an insurance claim against the driver for any injuries and financial losses caused by the collision. You may be compensated for medical expenses, missed income, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and any property damaged in the collision if you were injured in a bicycle accident. Filing a lawsuit and going to trial may be required if the driver’s insurance company will not agree to a reasonable amount.
If the driver is stopped and they do not have insurance or are underinsured, you still have a few alternatives for recovering compensation. You can still file a claim against them and receive whatever money is available under the other driver’s insurance policy in situations where the driver is underinsured. A lawsuit may also be filed to gain more compensation, but an underinsured driver is likely to have little or nothing that you can collect through a lawsuit.
Even if the driver who hit you has not been identified, there are a few methods to obtain compensation for your injuries. You may file a claim under your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with your own insurance company, however the amount of money that is covered by your policy will be limited. If you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which is essential for virtually all drivers, you may also file a claim with your insurance provider to receive these perks.
Because there are so many different methods to recoup compensation following a hit-and-run accident, it’s a good idea to contact an attorney who can examine your insurance policy and ensure that you collect money from all possible sources.
Injured in a Hit-and-Run? Call Texas Personal Injury Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in a hit and run accident, Texas Personal Injury Lawyers is here to assist you in obtaining full and fair compensation.
We understand the challenges of trying to heal while also pursuing legal action. We’ll handle every detail of your case so you don’t have to, making the whole process easier for you. We’ll make sure to go through each stage and answer all of your questions so you know what’s coming next.
All potential clients receive a free consultation. There’s no obligation or risk in speaking with us. We’d be delighted to go over the specifics of your hit-and-run accident and see if we can proceed with your case. If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, call Texas Personal Injury Lawyers at (888) 997-2148.
Call us at (888) 997-2148 now to schedule a free consultation today.
We take cases on a contingency fee basis and there are no costs unless we win, and the consultation is completely FREE. Contact us to learn what Texas Personal Injury Lawyers can accomplish for you.