Hit-and-run accidents seem to embody the saying, “adding insult to injury.”
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you’ve not only suffered potential injury or damage to your person, vehicle or property, but now also have to contend with the driver responsible for the damage having fled the scene. Finding a hit-and-run lawyer is your best defense against injustice.
Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime
As the victim, know first that the violation is committed when the driver leaves the scene, regardless of whether he or she was the party who caused the accident. Unless the driver temporarily left the scene in order to get emergency help, his or her actions can earn a misdemeanor or a felony charge.
The guilty party must find you
Even if your accident involved your parked car being hit or dinged in a parking lot, you still have grounds for a case. By law, the guilty party is responsible for trying to find you, and if he or she cannot, they must leave a note with their name, number and insurance information on your windshield, and then report the accident to the local police.
If he or she doesn’t report the accident, and the note blows away from your windshield, it’s considered a hit-and-run accident.
Getting help
The hit and run lawyers at Wilson, Reives & Doran have a great deal of experience in these cases and can help you resolve your claim or lawsuit quickly and to your satisfaction. Your health, property, and financial well-being may have already been compromised. Let a hit-and-run lawyer help you move on from this disturbing accident.
If I’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, what should I do next?
You’re likely feeling stress, and possibly righteous anger as well, but it helps to stay calm and gather as much information as you can. The more information you have, the better chance you have of bringing the driver to justice, and helping your insurance company make the right decisions about your claim.
Record the information
First, write down as much information as possible about the car that hit you, including the make, model, color and license plate number. Anything you remember about the driver’s looks should also be recorded.
Then, before you leave the scene, try and do the following:
Find witnesses
Eyewitnesses can be powerful allies in helping you collect evidence. Get the name and contact information of anyone who may have seen your accident. If it happened in a neighborhood, knock on doors. If you can even partially identify the car, someone may be familiar with it, and its driver.
If the accident happened in a parking lot, ask business owners to check their video cameras. A security surveillance camera may have caught the accident, or recorded an image of the car and the driver as they left the scene around the time of the accident. Your hit-and-run lawyer can help you gain access to video footage.
Report the accident
Finally, make sure to report the accident to the police.
What compensation can I claim in a hit-and-run accident?
If you’ve suffered damages, you should be compensated for them. If you choose to file a claim or lawsuit, you can request monetary compensation for the following:
Where do I begin filing a personal injury claim?
It will not cost you anything to come in for a consultation. At Wilson, Reives & Doran, PLLC, all consultations for personal injury cases are given free of charge.
A hit-and-run lawyer at Wilson, Reives & Doran is here to provide you with trusted, effective legal counsel. We’ll focus on your claim, allowing you to focus on recovery and getting back on your feet.