Hit and run “accidents” can be some of the most frustrating cases to deal with for our clients. These can be getting side-swiped on the highway and watching the the other driver zoom away in her car. Or just returning to your parked car in front of your house or in a parking lot after doing some shopping to discover a scratch along the side or a smashed in bumper and no note on your windshield. Or as a pedestrian or cyclist getting run into and the car speeds off in the distance.
Shockingly, the number of hit and run incidents is quite high. Using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System and General Estimates System databases, the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted an analysis of crashes nationwide. It found 11 percent (more than 1 of every 10) of crashes reported to the police involved a hit and run driver.
In almost every hit and run situation you need to speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. There are strategies and opportunities for some people to recover the damages a hit and run driver causes.
FOUR THINGS YOU SHOULD DO IF INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN COLLISION
- Get Needed Medical Care: The number one thing is to take care of your health. Having medical professionals tend to your injuries must be your priority, dealing with the anger and frustration caused by the irresponsible hit and run driver who left the scene is for later.
- Call The Police:. Leaving the scene of a car wreck in Idaho is a crime. The police will want to find the driver to protect the public. If the police can track down the driver caused the accident, you will have someone to file a claim against. A hit and run driver is considered an uninsured motorist until he or she can be identified.
- Call an Experienced Idaho Personal Injury Attorney: You need to contact an attorney. Whether the police catch the bad guy or not there are options. An experienced lawyer can assist you in obtaining compensation from your own insurance company to cover the cost of medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.and other damages.
- Learn about Your Insurance Coverage: Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) typically provides financial compensation if you’re injured in a car accident caused by someone who is driving without car insurance. .Your UM coverage s likely the source of protection in the event you are injured in a hit-and-run incident. If there is damage to your vehicle your collision coverage would kick in. These are two of the many types of insurance coverage available when you buy car insurance. Report the incident to your insurance company within a reasonable period of time. And if there were any witnesses be sure and get their identification. A nonparticipant witness can have a huge impact on the insurance company’s evaluation of your claim.
Call us if you have any questions about your injury claim. The initial consultation is always free.