What to Know About Hit-and-Run Accident Claims
The immediate shock of being involved in a hit and run can be overwhelming due to not only the physical injuries and damage to your car, but also the feeling of having been victimized.
You will find yourself wanting to know how you will pay your medical bills and repair your car as a result of the accident. In addition, you may even have the urge to look for an abogado de accidentes near me.
Your main issues after an accident where the other driver left the scene are medical bills and proof to file a claim against the at fault driver's insurance carrier.
Understanding hit-and-run accidents will help you move from panic to actions. Be healthy, financially secure, and at peace after an accident with these advice.
Immediate Steps at the Scene: Preserving Your Claim
The moments directly following a hit and run are critical. What you do at the scene can heavily influence the success of future insurance claims or legal action. Knowing what to do right away after an accident before you call a lawyer ensures you protect critical evidence from the very start.
First and foremost, move to safe location if possible and check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Once safety is established, take the following steps:
- Call the Police Immediately: Never skip this step. A formal police report is the foundational document for any hit and run claim. Tell the dispatcher explicitly that the other driver fled
- Write Down Every Detail: Memory fades quickly under adrenaline. Write down or record a voice note detailing everything you remember about the fleeing vehicle: make, model, color, partial license plate numbers, bumper stickers, or distinct damage. Note the direction the car fled and what the driver looked like, if you caught a glimpse
- Photograph the Scene: Take extensive photos of the damage to your car, paint scrapes left by the other vehicle, skid marks on the road and the overall layout of the intersection or street
- Gather Witness Information: Look around for pedestrians, construction workers, or other drivers who may have witnessed the crash. Get their names and contact information. Their unbiased testimony can be invaluable
Read: How to Choose the Right Law Firm for Your Needs
How Insurance Works When the Driver Flees
A common misconception is that if police cannot find the fleeing driver, you cannot get compensation. While identifying the perpetrator is ideal outcome, you can still seek financial recovery through your auto insurance policy.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
The law in most states regards hit and run motor vehicle operators to be an uninsured driver. For medical expenses such as hospital bills, wage loss and pain and suffering, the uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage will compensate you.
The uninsured motorist property damage part will pay for the repairs of your vehicle. Some states require a physical contact between the two vehicles for UM claims to be covered, which means you cannot collect for an accident if only 1 vehicle is involved in the accident.
Personal Injury Protection and MedPay
If you live in no fault insurance state your Personal Injury Protection or Medical Payments coverage will pay medical bills and portion of lost wages, regardless of who caused the accident or whether they stayed at the scene.
Collision Coverage
If you do not have UMPD, your standard collision coverage can be used to repair or replace your vehicle. However, you will likely have to pay your deductible out of pocket, though some insurance companies waive this for proven hit and run cases.
The Reality of Dealing with Insurance Adjusters
Even though you are filing a claim with your own insurance company, it is vital to remember that insurance companies operate as businesses.
Their primary goal is to minimize payouts.
When dealing with a hit and run, insurance adjusters often scrutinize claims heavily.
They may worry about fraud specifically, whether a driver hit a guardrail or a pole on their own and is claiming a phantom vehicle caused the damage.
Do not give recorded statements or accept a lowball settlement offer before a doctor examines your injuries due to this suspicion. Whiplash might take days to appear. Signing a release too early forfeits a right to extra compensation if your health worsens.
Conclusion
As a victim of a hit and run accident, processing and navigating through the insurance claims process while you're healing can be difficult, if not impossible. If your insurance company has denied or delayed payments or offered you only a small amount for your injuries, then now is the time to get professional help.