Can You Receive Compensation After a Hit-and-Run?
Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
Being the victim in any type of car accident can be extremely traumatic. You may be very nervous when it comes to getting back on the road and you may constantly be wondering if you are going to get into another type of accident. However, being the victim in a hit-and-run can add another layer to this: not only are you nervous to be on the road, but you are that much more distrusting of other drivers. After all, what kind of person speeds off after they have injured someone else in an accident? This kind of car accident claim can be especially difficult to file because you would like to receive compensation and also hold the liable party accountable for what they did. So, what can you do?
What precisely is a “hit-and-run”?
A hit-and-run car accident occurs when two or more parties get into an accident and one party flees the scene. This could mean that both parties are in their cars, or one party is in a car and the other is on another mode of transportation or is a pedestrian. Although the other party may not be intentionally speeding off because they do not want to help, they may be speeding off to protect themselves because they are nervous about going to jail or they are nervous about filing a claim with their insurance company and watching their premiums go up. Regardless of their excuse, a lawyer, like a hit-and-run accident lawyer from a law office like Yearin Law Office knows that there are never good excuses for fleeing the scene of an accident.
What can you do?
If you remember anything, even the smallest detail, about the driver or the car, it is important that you write this down or tell it to the police officer once they get to the scene of the accident.
Depending on the state you live in (there will be a difference between at-fault and no-fault states), you will go about filing a claim differently. In at-fault states, every driver must have car insurance but you will have to file a claim through your own insurance while you are looking for the other driver. In a no-fault state, you will likely be relying on your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to cover things like lost earnings and medical bills. This insurance will likely not cover your property damage.
While you are working to file a claim to recoup compensation for the accident, you should also be working side by side with a lawyer you can rely on to help you navigate filing a claim and navigate looking for the person who is responsible for your injuries. It is important to reach out to a local law office as soon as you can to set up an appointment with a trusted lawyer.