Being involved in a car accident is stressful enough, but when the driver who caused the crash takes off, the aftermath can feel overwhelming. This can be even further compounded if you have suffered injuries in the crash. A car accident attorney can help you pursue financial damages for any losses you suffer. However, there are also steps that you can take to help ensure a successful outcome of your hit-and-run crash.
If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, we can help you collect the financial compensation you may be entitled to. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we can evaluate your case and determine your best legal options for recovering damages. Call us today at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation.
What Legal Options Do I Have in a Hit-and-Run Accident?
According to national statistics, there are almost 700,000 hit-and-run crashes that occur in this country each year, and that number keeps rising. If the driver is caught, the evidence that you and your car accident attorney have gathered will go a long way in proving your case against the driver and their insurance company, allowing you to pursue damages for any losses you have suffered.
In Virginia, if there’s been contact or a collision and the other person flees and cannot be located, all is not lost. Your own coverage, the uninsured motorist’s coverage, is there to protect you when there’s a hit-and-run accident and the driver cannot be identified. You have coverage up to the amount of your uninsured motorist coverage, and you’re protected. The car accident lawyers at our firm have successfully handled many hit-and-run accident cases in our more than three decades of advocating for our personal injury clients.
If the Driver Flees, How Do I Collect Damages?
There are several reasons why a driver may flee the scene of an accident. One of the most common is that they do not have active automobile liability insurance. In other situations, the driver may be driving on a suspended license, operating under the influence, or having outstanding warrants with the police.
Whatever the reason a driver flees, you can still collect damages by filing a claim with your insurance company under your policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).
Filing under this provision can be complex, and if not done correctly, your claim may be denied. Consider consulting with a car accident attorney who has experience pursuing hit-and-run accident claims.
What Is the Process If I File a Run a Claim with My Insurance Company?
When you submit a UM/UIM claim under your policy, it amounts to suing your own auto insurance company. As soon as your insurer receives your claim, it assumes the role of defendant/respondent. It is, for all intents, just like you submitted your claim to the insurance company for the at-fault driver.
Your insurer will demand all the same kinds of evidence to substantiate your demands for the payment of medical bills, the replacement of lost wages, and sufficient compensation for pain and suffering.
You will need to submit the official police report on the crash investigation, medical records, and financial information. You may need to back all that up with expert testimony. You may even need to take your own insurance company to court and let a jury decide what your claim is worth.
This is why speaking to a personal injury attorney with experience advising and representing people who pursued hit-and-run claims is critical. In addition to knowing how to access, organize, and present all the evidence to substantiate your claim, a lawyer who knows the laws of Virginia will be able to counter the tactics your insurer employs to deny your claim.
What the Fleeing Driver Caused Me to Crash But There Was No Collision?
In many hit-and-run cases, the fleeing driver’s vehicle sustains no damage because there is no actual collision. For example, let’s say the other driver swerved in front of you, and then you swerved to avoid them and hit a tree, suffering injuries and damage to your vehicle. This is referred to as a hit-and-run with no contact.
The law in each state varies, but Virginia is a “no contact required” state. Even though there was no actual collision with the other vehicle, you could still file a claim. However, it is important to note that you must report the accident to the police promptly to safeguard your right to file.
Can Your Personal Injury Firm Help with My Hit-and-Run Case?
If you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident, do not delay in contacting Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to speak with one of our skilled car accident attorneys. We will evaluate your case and determine what your best legal options are for recovering damages caused by the accident.
Call us at 833-997-1774 to schedule a free consultation and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.