(706) HAWK-LAW
CALL US NOW
Any auto accident is stressful and upsetting. A hit and run accident, where the other driver hits your vehicle and flees the scene, is even worse. Suddenly, your car is damaged, you’re injured, and the person who caused the crash is gone.
Unfortunately, a decent percentage of reported car accidents are hit and runs. Hit and run crashes have serious consequences for victims. They may experience physical injuries, mental trauma, and excessive financial burdens. Obtaining fair compensation after a hit and run accident for medical bills, vehicle damage, lost earnings, and pain and suffering can be complicated after a hit and run.
Anyone who has been in a hit and run accident should review the matter with an Augusta car accident attorney. You may still have options to receive compensation for your losses.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Today!
What Is A Hit And Run?
A hit and run crash is where the liable party leaves the accident scene without providing ID or aid to others at the scene. Most states require drivers in an accident to stay at the accident scene, identify themselves, and help anyone who has suffered an injury. In many states, a single-vehicle accident can also be a hit and run if the driver leaves the crash scene without calling the police. If you are in a single-vehicle accident, you should still report the matter to the police, even if no one else was affected.
Why Do Hit And Runs Happen?
Being in a hit and run where the other driver flees can be scary. You are left with many unanswered questions and feeling completely overwhelmed. Why would a person flee the crash scene instead of taking ownership of what they did? Understanding why hit and run crashes happen can help deal with this unfortunate incident:
- They’re afraid: A common reason people flee the crash scene is simply fear. Drivers might panic when they hit another car or pedestrian and make a split-second decision to take off. They might fear legal and financial consequences, higher insurance rates, etc. In the seconds after a crash, their fear of consequences may cause them to take off.
- They’re drunk or high: Many hit and run drivers are either drunk or high and cause accidents. When drugs or alcohol impairs a driver’s judgment and driving ability, they may not have clear thinking. Drunk drivers might think that leaving the scene will mean they won’t get caught. Often, the police will find drunk or high drivers, and they face not only financial consequences but criminal ones, as well. This is even truer if someone was seriously injured or killed in the accident.
- They’re unlicensed or uninsured: Many hit and run crashes are caused by drivers without a driver’s license or insurance. All states require drivers to be licensed and carry auto insurance. These parties may know they do not have the correct credentials or insurance required under state law, leading them to flee the scene.
- They have no empathy: In some cases, a hit and run driver may simply not feel empathy or responsibility for what they did. They might not understand the seriousness of their actions or consider the possible harm they caused. They may put their own needs and interests first, and we all suffer.
Regardless of why a hit and run crash happens, fleeing the accident scene is always against the law and wrong. If it happens to you, it’s important to seek legal guidance. An experienced auto accident lawyer can assist with navigating complex legal issues, safeguard your rights, and boost the chance of finding the person and obtaining compensation.
By hiring a hit and run accident lawyer, you take a positive step towards obtaining justice and preventing this from happening to someone else. Your attorney can collect evidence, talk to witnesses, obtain surveillance video, and work with the police to find the hit and run driver. Your car accident attorney can also help navigate the insurance claim process and fight for the most money for your losses.
You can deal with your insurance company on your own after a hit and run accident, but you may obtain more compensation by retaining an auto accident attorney. When you have serious injuries and a totaled car, it’s usually better to have an attorney deal with your insurance provider. Even though you are their client, you still might not get the compensation you deserve without an attorney’s assistance.
Dos and Don’ts After A Hit And Run Accident
When the other party in a car accident flees, there are several things you should and shouldn’t do:
- Do call law enforcement. You should always report a hit and run accident to the police. This is especially the case if someone suffers an injury.
- Do not attempt to follow the fleeing driver. Leaving the scene of the crash can lead to negative outcomes for you. For example, you can miss the chance to talk to eyewitnesses. Also, when the police arrive, they’ll know that two people left the accident scene and may doubt your story. You also risk getting into another accident or, worse, a confrontation with someone you know nothing about.
- Do obtain as much information as possible about the driver who left the scene. Important information is the vehicle make and model, license plate number, car color, the vehicle’s direction, photos of your car’s damage, and the time and location of the incident. Seek out others who saw the crash and obtain their contact information.
- Do not wait to call law enforcement or your insurance company. You should immediately file a police report about the accident and tell your insurance company.
- Do ask eyewitnesses if they can give any additional information about the crash and the hit and run driver. If they provide a statement to you or the police, get their names and contact information.
- Do review your insurance policy. You need to know if your policy covers underinsured or uninsured drivers. This coverage may cover some of your damages, including medical bills and vehicle damage, if another driver hits you and flees the scene.
- Talk to a car accident attorney. When you don’t know who the at-fault driver is and you have damages, you will be concerned about getting compensation for your losses. A car accident lawyer in your area is familiar with hit and run accidents and can outline your legal and insurance options.
Will Your Auto Insurance Cover A Hit And Run?
If someone hits your vehicle and takes off, your auto insurance policy can cover some of your losses. Remember that auto insurance coverages vary by state, and you should speak to your insurance company and possibly an attorney to learn more about what your policy will cover. Coverages that can be useful for paying some of your damages are:
- Collision coverage: Pays to repair or replace a car if it is damaged or totaled in an accident. If someone hit you and left the scene, you probably can file a claim with your insurance and get your car fixed. However, this means making a claim that can increase your premiums. If the other driver is ever found, your insurance company may subrogate the claim and seek reimbursement from the other driver’s insurance.
- Uninsured and underinsured coverage: This coverage on many policies pays some medical expenses, lost earnings, and vehicle damages if another driver hits you and doesn’t have insurance or is underinsured. It also can be used in a hit and run crash. However, this coverage is usually optional and isn’t available in all states. If your insurance company offers this coverage, it is highly recommended to carry it so you are covered if you are in a hit and run accident.
Hit And Run Laws
It is illegal in every state to leave the scene of an accident without identifying yourself and helping the injured. Most states also have laws that make it a crime to leave the scene of an accident where there is a serious injury. Georgia, for example, makes it a felony to leave the accident scene if there is serious bodily injury or fatalities.
What If Law Enforcement Locates The Driver?
Sometimes, the police find the liable driver and may arrest them for illegally leaving an accident scene. But a criminal charge will do nothing to compensate you for your losses. If the driver is found, you should retain an auto accident lawyer to help obtain financial damages through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
If the driver is insured, your attorney can file a claim against them. They can fight for a fair settlement for your medical bills and other losses. Your lawyer can file a personal injury lawsuit if their insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement.
What If The Driver Is Never Found?
One of the most upsetting things about a hit and run crash is when the driver flees and is never located. What should you do in this unfortunate situation? As noted earlier, you should speak to your insurance company about covering some of your losses. Your collision coverage will likely pay for or replace your car damage if needed. However, this may cause your insurance rates to rise, so you should let your insurance company know if the other driver is ever found.
You also may tap your uninsured and underinsured auto insurance if you have it. This coverage can cover some of your losses if someone hits you and leaves the scene. Not every driver has this coverage, but they should. It only costs a few dollars monthly and can immensely help in a hit and run crash.
Note that uninsured and underinsured coverage only provides partial benefits for medical bills and lost earnings. It also may not cover any pain and suffering or mental anguish you have suffered from the accident.
Why An Auto Accident Attorney Should Handle Your Hit And Run Claim
Many drivers assume that because the uninsured driver claim is on your policy, it will be a simple matter. This isn’t always so. Every auto insurance company is a business that always wants to maximize their profits. Your insurance provider can be just as difficult for you to deal with as the insurance company for another driver.
Your auto accident attorney, however, will work tenaciously with your insurance company to increase your compensation. They will fight hard for your legal and financial rights and ensure that the insurer pays you the most possible. Your attorney can work with your insurance company to offer a fair settlement to pay for your medical costs, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
It is smart to hire an experienced personal injury attorney from the start of a hit and run accident. Even having a simple chat with your insurance company can lead you to say something that damages your case. Do not risk saying something that can reduce what you are paid.
Other benefits of allowing an attorney to handle a hit and run claim are:
- Collecting evidence: In a hit and run accident, finding the other driver is a priority. Your attorney may access evidence that is hard for you to do independently. For example, if a nearby business has surveillance video, your attorney can file a subpoena to get it. This can be critical evidence to prove who caused the crash.
- Increasing compensation: Most injured drivers get a larger settlement when they retain a personal injury attorney. Your attorney knows how to negotiate with insurance companies and what your claim is worth.
- Peace of mind: A hit and run is upsetting, and when you are hurt, you don’t want to worry about insurance and legal hassles. Your attorney can deal with those things, and you can focus on getting better.
Speak To An Auto Accident Lawyer Today
Being in a hit and run accident is extremely upsetting, and it is hard to know what to do. An Augusta personal injury attorney can review your situation and outline your legal options, so contact an attorney in your community today. Hit and run attorneys don’t charge for the initial consultation, so there is no risk in calling today and scheduling an appointment.
