Georgia ranks 4th in the US for fatal hit-and-run crashes, partly because walking and bicycling are popular activities in the state. However, hit-and-run collisions can also involve other vehicles.
Under Georgia law, drivers are required to stop at or near where the accident happened (as safety allows), exchange contact and insurance info with the other driver, and summon assistance for anyone involved in the accident who needs help. But what if you are hit by someone who doesn’t stop?
Unfortunately, you could be left with serious injuries and difficulty recovering compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Sometimes, hit-and-run victims believe their case is hopeless, but in many situations, there are options to recover at least some of their damages.
If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, we encourage you to speak with a personal injury lawyer to learn more about the possibilities in your case.
Your attorney will work to find any possible solution for pursuing damages in your hit and run case.
We know that hit-and-run accidents can lead to severe injuries, ever-growing piles of medical bills, time off work, financial difficulties, and chronic pain. You shouldn’t be the one to pay the price for someone else’s mistake, and we will do everything we can to pursue justice for you.
This is a common question after a hit-and-run accident. With any personal injury situation, the at-fault party should be liable.
In most car accidents, this means that you pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. There may be some difficulties in obtaining the total amount of compensation you deserve, but at least you have a place to start.
With a hit-and-run accident, you have a problem – you don’t know who the at-fault driver is. Fortunately, your attorney can help you in several ways:
After a hit-and-run accident, most people call 911 and report the incident to police, who will ask for a description of the car, license plate number, etc. Being able to provide those details is helpful, but in many situations, it simply isn’t possible.
Some hit-and-run victims never see the license plate, while others may be knocked unconscious due to their injuries. Or, the accident might happen so quickly that they only see the car that hits them for a split second.
It can be challenging to explain what happened or describe the vehicle when you’re in pain or shock from the accident.
In these situations, the police will do their best to find the driver, but the case may go cold due to a lack of leads. Detectives often have multiple cases and limited time to spend on each one – if there is no new information, they have to work on something else.
For this reason, we often have our investigative team look into the accident as well. Sometimes, our skilled investigators find additional evidence to help the police make an arrest, such as a video of the crash or a witness who wasn’t interviewed at the scene.
Our investigators will return to the accident scene, looking for clues and canvassing the neighborhood. We may spot additional cameras or talk to residents who can provide more information, and this evidence is also useful in proving fault if the driver is located.
Once the driver is found, we’ll make a claim on their liability insurance for your damages.
Unfortunately, some hit-and-run cases are never solved, even with our best efforts. When this happens, we will look at your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UI), which typically covers hit-and-run incidents.
We’ll help you file a claim with your insurance company, providing them with the police report and other information about the accident. If the missing driver is ever found, they can seek reimbursement from the driver’s insurance company in a process called subrogation.
Your attorney will help to ensure that you receive all the damages you’re entitled to after a hit-and-run accident, including:
Sometimes, people think they can trust their own insurance company to make a fair settlement offer, but unfortunately, insurance company adjusters work to save money for the insurance company. They frequently undervalue damages or overlook some damages entirely, and it’s not unusual for the insurance company’s first offer to be a lowball one.
Your lawyer will correctly calculate all your damages so you have a clear understanding of what your claim is worth. If the insurance company offers too little, we will negotiate with them to get you the settlement you deserve.
Some of our clients are surprised to learn that the answer is yes. You do not have to be in your car at the time of the accident to use your UM/UI coverage. If you were walking or riding a bike and a car hit you, your UM/UI insurance should cover your claim.
If you don’t have UM/UI insurance, we recommend calling your insurance agent and adding it to your policy right now.
If you are in a hit-and-run accident and you don’t have UM/UI, your options are very limited. In most cases where the driver is never located, UM/UI coverage is the only option we can find to recover damages for the injured person.
If you have Medical Payments coverage (MedPay) and Collision coverage, you can use these options to pay for your medical bills and property damage, respectively. However, people with these other coverage options often have UM/UI coverage, too.
People working as W2 employees are eligible for Worker’s Compensation in most cases. It doesn’t matter that the hit-and-run driver was at fault or that you were not at your place of employment as long as you were performing work for your employer.
For example, if your boss asked you to go pick something up, and you were struck by a hit-and-run driver on your way, Worker’s Compensation should cover that situation. This no-fault compensation system pays for medical care and two-thirds of your lost income but does not cover other damages.
Please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation about your hit-and-run accident. We know how stressful and frightening a hit-and-run collision can be, and we’ll do everything we can to help.
Our skilled investigators will review the evidence and search for new leads if the driver remains at large. We’ll also explain your options and assist you with filing a UM/UI insurance claim if necessary.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm was founded a few short years ago by lead attorney Ali Awad, who quickly made it one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country. Through his dedication to helping injured people and their families, he has recovered millions of dollars in compensation.
In his spare time, you can find him making no-nonsense posts about legal topics for more than a million followers on social media. Contact him today by calling The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm at 833-254-2923.
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After a personal injury, you're bound to have legal questions. The CEO Lawyer Ali Awad can provide you with answers to these questions, just as he's given answers to his millions of curious social media followers. Take a look at some of the most common personal injury law questions for general information, and then reach out to one of our seasoned attorneys for specific guidance on your case!
To quickly resolve matters following an accident, insurance companies will offer you less than you deserve in compensation for your injuries. Many victims feel pressured to accept these offers as the bills begin to pile up, but that is rarely a good idea. The insurance company is looking to protect its bottom line; and will offer injured victims less than they deserve. An experienced personal injury attorney understands how to negotiate with the insurance company and can look out for your best interests by getting you the compensation you deserve after an injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it is important to avoid negotiating or providing recorded statements to the insurance company without first seeking help from a qualified personal injury attorney.
The best way to determine if you have a personal injury case is to speak with a knowledgeable attorney. Our legal professionals have the expertise to evaluate your case and determine a strong legal strategy so that you can obtain the greatest amount of compensation possible under the law. We will enlist investigators, assistants, and other specialists to collect accident reports, speak with witnesses to your accident, and put together a plan. While you focus on your physical recovery, we will remain committed to fighting for the compensation that you deserve.
Accident victims have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time period is referred to as the statute of limitations, and in Atlanta, it lasts only two years. This means that if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you have only two years to pursue a personal injury suit. If you wait too long to reach out to an experienced attorney, you might be forever barred from seeking the compensation you deserve.
During your initial consultation with CEO Lawyer team, we will go over the important details of your personal injury accident, which include the nature and extent of your injuries, how your injuries have impacted your ability to earn a paycheck, the cost of your medical treatment, and whether further medical treatment will be required. We will answer any questions you might have, as well, in regards to our experience, our track record of success, and what to expect from the legal process. Many personal injury victims wonder if they will be able to afford the legal fees required to pursue a lawsuit. CEO Lawyer injury and accident attorneys will not ask for any type of upfront fee unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. That means that if you have been harmed in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall accident, defective product accident, or any other type of personal injury accident, you can absolutely afford to contact our law office today for assistance. In fact, you cannot afford to wait. Reach out today. We understand that some accident victims might have already obtained the assistance of an attorney but may be dissatisfied with the services provided. We are standing by and prepared to help you change legal representation, regardless of where you are in the process.
If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of personal injury accident, you should not hesitate to speak with the experienced attorneys at CEO Lawyer personal injury law firm. Call, email, or fill out our online contact form today so that we can begin helping you pursue the compensation you deserve.