When you experience a car accident, your injuries can be life-changing. If you end up needing hospitalization or ongoing medical care because of your injuries, it can leave you facing substantial medical bills and unable to work, affecting your income stream. Normally, you would be able to file a claim with the responsible driver’s insurer, but that is not always the case.
If the driver who caused your collision did not stay at the scene, it will complicate the process of seeking compensation for your medical bills, pain, and suffering. Without the identification of the driver who hit you, you will need to pursue other avenues for damages.
Count on an Anderson hit and run accident lawyer to help you sort through the challenges of this type of personal injury claim. At the Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., our team defends the rights of accident victims, helping them seek a fair settlement. Contact our office at (317) 636-7777 for a free consultation today.
Frequency of Hit and Run Accidents
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, approximately 737,100 hit and run collisions occurred in the United States in 2015, resulting in 1,819 fatalities and approximately 138,500 injuries.
From these numbers, you can see the danger that these types of accidents can have for innocent drivers on the roadways.
Why Drivers Flee the Scene
A driver may flee an accident for a number of different reasons—namely, to avoid the consequences of their actions. For example, drivers may vacate the scene of a collision if they were:
- Driving a stolen car
- Drunk or distracted behind the wheel
- Facing outstanding warrants
- Driving without a driver’s license
- Not in the United States legally
- Carrying illegal drugs or stolen items in the car
- Driving without auto insurance
Finding a Trustworthy Attorney
When you suffer injuries in a crash, you have the right to try to negotiate a settlement on your own without hiring an Anderson hit and run accident lawyer. However, this can be challenging in the simplest cases. If you are unable to locate the driver in your collision, you may feel lost regarding how to proceed.
At the Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., our team takes pride in defending the rights of car accident victims, working to help them receive the awards they deserve for their current and long-term injuries. We can help you identify the best way to seek compensation. Call us today at (317) 636-7777 for a free review of your case.
For a free legal consultation with a hit and run accidents lawyer serving Anderson, call 317-636-7777
How Insurers Handle a Hit and Run Crash
When someone causes an accident and then leaves the scene before law enforcement officers arrive to investigate, that driver is breaking state law. According to IN Code § 9-26-1-1.1, the driver must remain at the scene and exchange identification with the others involved, as this is how the injured parties can determine where to file an insurance claim.
If you suffered an injury at the hands of another driver in a hit and run, you have a few actions you can take when attempting to receive compensation for your medical bills, pain, and suffering.
Compensation When the Driver Is Unknown
If police cannot identify and locate the hit and run driver, you will need to make a personal injury claim with your own auto insurance policy. You likely have an uninsured motorist coverage section on your policy, which can handle hit and run collisions, as well.
Understand that your insurer will not pay your claim with no questions asked. You will still need to provide proof about what happened, including evidence that an unidentified driver caused the crash and your injuries. You also will need to prove the nature of your injuries.
Compensation When Driver Is Identified Later
If police can track down the hit and run driver, you and your attorney can begin handling the case as you would a typical type of personal injury car accident claim. This means seeking damages from the auto insurance company representing the driver.
However, a hit and run driver may have fled the scene because he or she does not have car insurance. It is also possible that the driver has only minimum auto insurance coverage, meaning there is not enough available to cover all of your medical bills.
In cases like these, you may still need to file with your insurance company under your policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. Alternatively, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the driver to seek your damages.
Anderson Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Near Me 317-636-7777
An Anderson Hit and Run Accident Lawyer
After a hit and run accident, you are likely counting on your own auto insurance company to treat you fairly and to give you a settlement that reflects the severity of your injuries. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. As a legal team that handles hit and run accident cases, Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., has seen far too often how insurance companies treat victims in hit and run accidents, even when the victims are their own clients.
We aim to help you recover the damages you deserve, even when we cannot identify the negligent driver in your collision. Our team also works on a contingency basis, meaning that our fees come from the final settlement amount, and never your pocket. As such, you do not have to worry about trying to afford an attorney at a time when your injuries may leave you unable to work and earn a living.
For a free review of your case, contact us today at (317) 636-7777.
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