Any time you have been involved in an accident, you have an obligation to stop at the scene and ensure that no one was hurt or that no major damage occurred. Fleeing the scene is always a crime, especially when the accident resulted in injuries, which means that a police report should be filed.
When the perpetrator of an accident flees, it can leave injury victims with unpaid medical expenses and no obvious way to reclaim damages. Fortunately, working with an experienced hit-and-run attorney means that you could gain the ability to identify the at-fault driver — or, at the very least, seek out other available sources of compensation.
Ali Awad and the team at The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm have represented victims of hit-and-run accidents just like yourself and are standing by to assist you, too. Our firm has established a strong reputation as a trusted personal injury law firm within the community.
We are passionate about serving our community, and to do that, our goal is to make the litigation process as seamless as possible. Our comprehensive approach to legal representation will leave no stone unturned and no mountain unclimbed in order to protect your interests moving forward.
An initial consultation is free and comes with no obligation to commit to our services. To schedule your free case review with an experienced attorney in Lawrenceville, call (770) 525-9098 or contact us online today.
A Lawrenceville Hit and Run Accident Attorney Helps Victims of Hit and Runs
Unfortunately, hit-and-run incidents are on the rise in Lawrenceville and across the country. 2016 had the highest rate of hit-and-run fatalities of all years since 1975. If you have been injured by a hit-and-run accident, the team at The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm may be able to help.
Any type of accident can be an overwhelming experience to process, but a hit-and-run can be especially scary because of the unknown variables that lie ahead. An attorney has the knowledge, experience, and resources to guide you through the recovery process of a hit-and-run accident and can be there to help maximize your chances of damage recovery.
Retaining the services of the CEO Lawyer means having a team of experienced professionals who can help with:
- Identifying the at-fault driver or other liable parties: One key in hit and runs is for the injury victim to be able to determine appropriate sources of compensation worth pursuing. Your attorney can cooperate with police and private investigators to help you identify the party who hit you — and, if we are unable, other possible sources of compensation you can look to in order to recover.
- Organizing all collected documentation: An attorney can help you complete and organize all collected documents.
- Managing communication with all outside parties: An attorney can save you time and energy by managing communication on your behalf. Your lawyer will talk with the authorities, check in for updates, and provide statements on your behalf to relevant parties.
- We help you navigate the laws, regulations, and recommended practices related to your case, recognizing that each state has its own rules regarding accidents, impaired driving, and how these issues intersect. In Georgia, it is illegal under any circumstances to leave the scene of an accident before it is documented and reported on properly.
- Calculating damages and negotiating a settlement: Your attorney will help you identify all damages you have suffered, including the projected future costs of care and financial impacts of lost wages. We can then document and present these figures to the at-fault party, helping you negotiate toward a strong settlement using all of the effective practices we have learned over our years of representing cases like yours.
What Can Be Done if the Hit and Run Driver Is Never Identified?
Over 700,000 hit-and-run crashes were reported in 2015. In a technological age with dash cam footage, street light surveillance, and cameras generally on every corner, we’d expect to never see a negligent driver slip through the cracks again.
Unfortunately, many hit-and-runs go unsolved. The police can diligently search the community for clues and answers, witnesses can come forward, and it can even be on video, but not all hit-and-run cases are so simple to wrap up.
Even with all of the resources on hand in the 21st century, sometimes a driver who fled is never identified.
This tragic circumstance can have an accident victim feeling helpless, but an attorney can still help you fight for a recovery settlement by going after your own insurance in various ways:
- Defective vehicle claims: If a defect in your own vehicle caused the crash, contributed to it, or made your own injuries worse, you could have a claim against the manufacturer.
- Third-parties: Some hit-and-run cases involve other vehicles or other third parties, including property owners, who contribute to liability.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: This type of insurance is added to certain policies so an attorney can review your coverage for clauses that protect you against uninsured motorists. It is in your interest as a driver to carry this type of insurance whether or not it comes with your standard policy.
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- Collision coverage: This type of policy will cover vehicle damage but cannot be extended to other expenses like medical bills or lost wages.
- Medical payments coverage: A medical payments car insurance add-on policy can provide coverage for your hospitalization and treatment costs after a wreck.
Common Damages Recovered After a Hit and Run
While every hit-and-run case differs, you and your attorney will likely consider filing a claim in order to recoup one or more of the following types of damages:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Costs of replacement domestic services
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages, in the event of a case that goes to trial
What Should I Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident?
Realizing that you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run accident can be an overwhelming moment to process, but acting quickly and rationally will come in handy. While every accident is different, there are some standard steps that an accident victim will need to follow to protect their claim.
Following these steps will help ensure their claim process can proceed smoothly, with all of the details the authorities need.
Listed below are some of the most important actions that an accident victim should take after being involved in a hit-and-run.
Call the Police
One of the most critical steps a person can take to protect a hit-and-run case is to report it. People might ignore hit-and-run cases out of fear that they will never be solved, but without a police report, a driver’s chances of recovering anything under the premises of a hit-and-run accident can fall to zero.
The police will take a thorough report of the scene and process the information to look for the car and driver responsible.
Consult With a Medical Professional
Hit-and-run accidents are often especially dangerous because these cases can involve reckless, intoxicated, and inattentive drivers. It is critical that car accident victims seek medical attention to determine if any underlying conditions like head injuries or internal bleeding are present.
Document the Scene
Remember that you’ll only have so much time with the scene of the accident, and when you do, it will be your most important resource. The scene of an accident won’t be around forever.
This limited window means that it is important to act quickly and take photos and videos of the scene.
Photo evidence is considered an effective way to demonstrate details, so be sure to photograph the scene, including debris, tire marks, injuries, and damage to personal items. Also, write or record a statement as soon as you can listing any details you can remember about both the vehicle and possible identifiers for the driver.
Be sure to document your healing journey as your injuries progress. Take photos of all your injuries, and set a schedule for recording progress.
This documentation can help prove the severity of your injuries as well as how they impacted your life in the coming weeks.
Find Witnesses
Having outside parties offer their perspective about the details of the accident can be useful in solidifying information. A witness statement can also provide the police with the key details they need to find the driver who fled.
While witnesses aren’t always necessary, they can be an integral part of promoting a smooth claim, so always talk to anyone who comes to the scene and get their contact information for later.
Work With an Experienced Lawrenceville Hit and Run Accident Law Firm
After a hit and run, it’s understandable to feel unsure about your next steps, but a professional like the legal team at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is standing by to help guide you.
Our personal injury law firm will use all available resources to go through your options for a recovery settlement. Then, you will have the opportunity to weigh in and choose the path you’re most comfortable with.
Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced hit-and-run accident lawyer in Lawrenceville when you call (770) 525-9098 or contact us online
