Hit and run accidents occur when one or more motorists are involved in a collision, and at least one of them leaves the scene of the accident. While hit and run accidents can be aggravating at least and deadly at worst, penalties for fleeing the scene of an accident vary from state to state. For this reason, if you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, you should consider hiring a hit-and-run lawyer to help you determine the best legal strategy for your particular situation.
As a general rule, it is never a good idea to leave the scene of an accident. In most states, it doesn’t matter whether or not you are the at-fault driver in the accident – if you leave the scene of the accident, you have committed a hit and run. Exceptions to this rule include if you left the scene of an accident in a rural area in order to call emergency services, or if you were involved in a slight fender-bender in a parking lot and left your contact information for the other driver.
Hit and run accidents can be more complicated than other types of motor vehicle accidents because you may or may not be dealing with another party and their insurance company. If you are unable to identify the other driver, your fight may be with your own insurance company.
You may feel overwhelmed during these moments, but attorney Ali Awad, the CEO lawyer, is here to stand up for your legal rights. Ali does not accept lowball offers and has experience dealing with stubborn insurance companies intent on settling for less than you deserve. Arm yourself with the legal representation you need to get a fair shake at the settlement you deserve. Contact our injury and accident attorneys online or call (833) 254-2923 today.
Why Do Drivers Leave the Scene of an Accident?
A hit-and-run accident can be especially stressful because you are left wondering why the other driver did not stay and accept responsibility for their actions. There are many reasons why a driver may flee the scene of an accident.
Some of the most common reasons that a person will leave the scene of an accident are: impaired driving, driving without a license, and driving without insurance. There are other factors that may cause a person to flee the scene that are less common, such as driving with illegal drugs in the car, driving with an outstanding warrant for their arrest, or driving an unregistered or stolen vehicle.
None of these are valid excuses for leaving the scene of an accident. Statistically, hit and run drivers are more likely to be under the age of 25 and male. Also, most hit-and-run accidents happen to parked cars with minimal damage.
Types of Hit and Run Accidents
There are three general types of hit and run accidents that you can be involved in.
- A hit and run accident in which only property damage occurs: In this scenario, no one was injured. You may or may not have been in the vehicle at the time of the accident. This is the least severe of hit and run accidents and common to parking lots and minor traffic fender benders.
- A hit and run accident in which damage to property and injuries were sustained: In this case, it wasn’t just your vehicle that incurred damage. You, your passenger, or a pedestrian were injured in the accident, whether minorly or severely.
- A fatality hit and run: This is the most severe type of hit and run accident. In this scenario, the hit and run driver is likely looking at serious prison time if they are identified and captured by the police.
As a victim, you are entitled to compensation for all three types of accidents. Depending upon the state you live in, penalties for the at-fault hit and run driver can be substantial.
A Hit and Run Attorney Knows Your State’s Law When it Comes to Hit and Run Accidents
After you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident, you can be left stressed and confused about proceeding with your case. Perhaps you did everything right, but the police were still unable to locate the other driver. Perhaps the police were able to identify the other party in the hit and run, but they do not have insurance. For these reasons, hit-and-run accidents can be more difficult to navigate on your own. A personal injury attorney has seen cases like yours many times before and knows which steps to take first in order to recover compensation to repair damages to your vehicle and pay for your medical expenses.
Every state has its own laws when it comes to hit and run accidents. You are not expected to be well-versed in personal injury law, but an attorney can help you understand your case and develop a winning legal strategy to compensate you for your injuries, damages, and losses. There are generally three types of penalties:
- Criminal: In some states, leaving the scene of an accident comes with serious, even criminal, penalties. In some states, a hit and run accident can even constitute a felony charge if a person leaves the scene of an accident where a person is injured. The injured person does not have to be the other driver or even an occupant in the other vehicle. This standard also applies to pedestrians. Most states with felony hit and run laws impose fines that range between $5,000 and $20,000. Depending upon the accident and the type of injuries involved, leaving the scene of an accident may land you in prison.
- Administrative: Administrative penalties will differ from state to state, but if you are convicted of a hit and run accident, you may lose your driver’s license. The period for which your license is suspended or revoked will vary, determined by the particular circumstances of the crash.
- Civil: Civil penalties refer to the financial compensation a hit and run driver may owe the injured party if they choose to sue. In this circumstance, you will want to hire a hit-and-run injury lawyer to represent you and your interests.
How Can a Hit and Run Accident Attorney Help Me if the Other Driver is Never Identified?
Despite the fact that we live in an age with dash cams, highway surveillance, and private property security, sometimes hit and run drivers are never identified. If you have been injured in an accident, it can seem like you have no way to recover your losses. However, if this happens, you can often file a claim against your own insurance company. The following are the most common ways to compensate you for your losses after an accident.
- Personal-Injury-Protection: If you live in a no-fault car insurance state, you will have coverage in your own policy to provide compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and damages to your personal property. These policies, typically called “Personal Injury Protection,” only cover economic losses, so you will not be compensated for your pain and suffering.
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage: It is always a good idea to carry uninsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy. Not only does this type of coverage become useful if you are in a hit-and-run accident, but you can also use this to protect your losses if someone hits you that doesn’t have car insurance.
- Collision Coverage: Collision coverage applies to damage to your vehicle but does not cover any other losses or damages.
Together, these policies can often cover all your economic damages but may not cover your non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of income, or loss of earning capacity.
Even though you are dealing with your insurance provider, you need to take certain precautions to ensure that you will receive a fair settlement in the end. Never admit fault for the accident. While it is important to report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible, you may also consider contacting an attorney before you take this step, especially if they want you to provide a written or recorded statement regarding the accident.
What Should I do if I am in a Hit and Run Accident?
Hit and run accidents can be especially confusing. You are likely left scared and angry that the other driver left the scene so carelessly and selfishly. There are certain things you should make sure to do before you leave the scene of the accident if it is safe to do so:
- First, check on any passengers in your vehicle or any other parties that may have been involved in the accident.
- Call emergency authorities as soon as possible. You may feel like you do not have any injuries or you are not injured severely, but you should always allow a medical professional to check you out. Some injuries may not seem severe at first, and others may not even appear for a few days.
- Keep all documentation of your injuries and copies of all medical expenses.
- If you have a dashcam or any other recording information in your vehicle, be sure to notify law enforcement of these devices.
- If it is safe to do so, take down as much information as you can at the scene. Try to remember as much as possible about the car that fled the scene and keep notes for yourself. You should also give these details to the police. If possible, record the hit and run vehicle’s make, model, color, and anything else you might remember, such as the license plate number. It is helpful even if you are only able to remember parts of this information. Also, try to remember which direction the vehicle was headed before and after they collided with you.
- If you were able to see the driver, record any information about their gender, race, age, and appearance, including clothing.
- Record the names and contact information for any witnesses, as well as details from their statements. Sometimes witnesses aren’t as forthcoming as they should be, so try to ask questions to get their full account. Ask:
- Did you witness the accident happening?
- Did you see the car and can you describe it?
- Did you see the driver, and can you describe him/her?
- Did you notice the license plate number or any other identifying information?
- Did you see which direction the car came from/fled to?
- Take photos of the scene and document all damages and injuries. Keep copies of these for your attorney.
The CEO Lawyer and His Team of Hit and Run Attorneys are Here to Help You After Your Accident
Ali Awad, also known as the CEO Lawyer, is the founder and managing attorney of one of the fastest-growing law firms in the United States. Ali has over one million followers on social media that come to him for personal injury advice of all types. The CEO Lawyer’s team of experienced hit-and-run attorneys have handled cases just like yours and boast a success rate of over 99.5%.
Car accidents that involve a hit and run can be particularly confusing. This is why you need a team of experienced individuals who know the law in your state and are not afraid to stand up to insurance companies that want to lowball your settlement offer. For most of us, dealing with insurance companies is not something we do every day. For Ali, dealing with tough insurance companies is business as usual. In hit-and-run cases, you may not be dealing with someone else’s insurance company. You may have to go toe-to-toe with your own, and it is easy to forget that insurance companies do not carry your best interests at heart, no matter how heartwarming their commercials may be.
If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, you need the CEO Lawyer on your side to fight for all the compensation you deserve to pay for your medical expenses, property damage, and pain and suffering. Contact Ali Awad and his team today for a no-obligation consultation at (833) 254-2923.
