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Being hurt in a car wreck is awful, but what’s even worse is being hurt and watching the other driver speed off, unconcerned about your well-being.
Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents do happen. The resulting injuries can be very serious, especially in crashes where the runaway driver hits a pedestrian or bicyclist.
However, you can be badly injured in a car as well. Then, you may be left with hefty medical bills, while your injuries may leave you out of work for days or even weeks.
If this has happened to you or a loved one, you might be wondering if there’s any way to seek compensation when the other driver disappears.
How Can a Tennessee Hit and Run Attorney Help My Case?
Fortunately, a Tennessee hit-and-run lawyer may be able to help. If you’re able to track down the driver, you might be able to file a claim with their insurance or sue them directly.
There could also be other options depending on your situation. A Tennessee car accident lawyer can go over the details of your case and help you figure out the best approach to getting compensation for your injuries.
Ali Awad, the founder and managing attorney at The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, is an experienced negotiator who has helped many clients pursue claims after hit-and-run accidents. Known as “The CEO Lawyer,” Mr. Awad built a small law firm into an 8-figure firm in only three years.
Notably, his firm was voted the fastest-growing law firm in the United States, coming out ahead of 499 others in 2021. The CEO Lawyer also has more than a million followers on social media, where he delivers practical and engaging legal advice.
If you or a loved one have been injured by a hit-and-run driver, don’t wait – call Ali Awad for a no-obligation consultation of your case. The CEO lawyer and his team work for you utilizing a contingency basis, so they don’t get paid unless and until you do.
There is no risk in calling (423) 777-8888 for a discussion of your case and options.
Common Hit and Run Accident Insurance Questions
Here are some common questions people have about hit-and-run accidents and insurance in Tennessee:
I Was Injured by a Hit and Run Driver, I’m in Pain and Can’t Work, and the Hospital Keeps Calling About These Medical Bills I Can’t Pay. Is There Anything I Can Do?
Yes. This is a frustrating situation, but there may be several options available, depending on your circumstances.
The first thing you should do is contact a Tennessee hit-and-run lawyer so they can go over your specific situation. They may be able to identify possibilities for seeking compensation.
How Do I Sue the Other Driver or Their Insurance Company?
This may not seem like an option if the other driver took off, but sometimes they can be tracked down. We’ll assume you called the police and made a report as soon as you were able after the accident.
Law enforcement works hard to find hit-and-run drivers, but they are often busy and overworked. With no new leads, they may have to focus on newer cases after a few days.
But that doesn’t mean the investigation has to stop. Your lawyer should have an investigative team that will do things like canvas the scene, talk to witnesses, look for sources of video of the accident, etc.
Sometimes, this may turn up additional evidence that can help to identify the driver. We will then share that information with the appropriate authorities so they can speak with the driver and make an official report, which will be useful when we pursue a claim against the driver or their insurance carrier.
If the police have already tracked down the other driver, we can get started filing a claim with their insurance and go from there.
Should I have Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage is not required in Tennessee, but it’s helpful to have in a variety of situations, including this one. If the other driver can’t be found, you can make a claim on your policy up to the limit of your uninsured motorist coverage.
This is true even if you weren’t driving at the time the accident happened – for example if you were walking or riding a bike and were hit by a car, you may still be able to use your uninsured motorist coverage.
What is MedPay?
A lot of clients have never heard of it. This is another type of additional (not required) insurance you can purchase when buying auto coverage.
Sometimes, people mistakenly think their medical bills should be covered because they bought a “full coverage” policy. Unfortunately, “full coverage” refers to property damage and bodily injury liability (coverage if you cause someone else’s injuries), but it does not cover your medical bills in most situations.
MedPay is additional coverage for your medical bills after an accident, regardless of who was driving or whose vehicle you were in. Like uninsured motorist coverage, it even works if you were hurt on public transit or were walking or riding a bike when a car hit you.
Unlike your health insurance, MedPay doesn’t require you to meet any deductibles or co-pays, either.
However, there are a few things Med Pay doesn’t cover, like lost wages from time out of work or property damage. For these situations, we will consider other options.
What is Umbrella Insurance?
If your injuries are very severe and require highly expensive treatment, you may exhaust the limits of your uninsured motorist or MedPay insurance very quickly. In this case, we will usually check to see if you have an umbrella policy that will pick up on the rest of your medical bills.
What is Short-Term Disability Insurance
If you or your employer carry short-term disability insurance, you may be able to make a claim to recover some of your lost wages for the time you’re out of work due to your injuries.
What About Other Liable Parties
In some cases, we’re able to identify other potentially liable parties. For example, the other driver who sped off may have caused the accident, but if a faulty airbag failed to deploy, making your injuries worse, you may have a claim with the airbag manufacturer.
I’m Not Even Sure if the Other Driver Was Entirely at Fault, Why Would They Leave?
First, it’s important to remember that Tennessee is an at-fault state for car accidents, and you can only successfully sue the other party (assuming you identify them) if you are found to be less than 50% at fault for the accident. For this reason, we don’t recommend telling anyone you think you were at fault – especially since many people are mistaken about this.
The police report will reflect any contributing factors to the accident. If you go to court, it will be up to the jury to decide how much, if any, fault each party contributed.
As for why the other driver might have run, there are numerous reasons:
- They did not have a valid driver’s license and/or insurance.
- They had been drinking or were otherwise under the influence.
- They were wanted by law enforcement for some unrelated crime.
- They were using someone else’s vehicle without their permission.
- They also thought the accident was or might be their fault, and they panicked.
What if Someone Hit My Parked Car?
This is frustrating, but it happens. Hopefully, you were not in the car at the time.
If you were, you should have yourself checked by a doctor even if you think you’re okay. Whiplash or other injuries might not show up right away.
If you weren’t around when the car was hit, it may be even more difficult for police to find the driver as you won’t be able to describe the car that hit you. However, in some situations, the driver may have been captured on a video camera if the parking lot or street had one.
In most cases, you will need to make an uninsured motorist claim on your insurance for the damage to your car.
Our Tennessee Hit and Run Law Firm is Ready to Fight For You
If you or a loved one have been injured by the negligent actions of a hit-and-run driver, you should speak with a car accident lawyer right away. Ali Awad, The CEO Lawyer, is an experienced negotiator who will work to find a solution for your damages.
Within three short years, Ali Awad managed to transform a new personal injury law firm into an eight-figure company featuring some of the most experienced personal injury attorneys in Tennessee. These attorneys have over twenty years of experience and a successful track record of more than 99% – put them to work for you today!
The CEO Lawyer has also grown a following of over a million fans on social media who tune in for his entertaining yet useful legal advice. If you have questions about your hit-and-run accident, call the CEO Lawyer and his team now at (423) 777-8888 for a no-obligation consultation.