At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, we know how tough it can be just walking on the streets of Lexington. As a pedestrian, you are extremely vulnerable to serious injury or even death because of the size and speed of most motor vehicles.
In the last few years, pedestrian deaths have skyrocketed while other motor vehicle-related deaths have dropped. This is true in Lexington as well as other cities in Kentucky. Pedestrians face this danger every time they step out for a walk.
Another danger they face is being struck by a hit and run driver, and this increases the likelihood that an injury will be made worse or even fatal once the driver flees.
Man Dies in Hit and Run in Lexington
A man walking along Jefferson Davis Highway died from injuries he sustained from being struck by a car. According to the police, the accident happened near Fortune Rd around 5;30 pm. The driver of the vehicle that hit him fled the scene and is being sought by police.
EMS workers treated the man, but his injuries were too great and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are asking for help in trying to find the driver of the car, but currently have no description of the vehicle of the driver.
Fatal Hit-and-Run Accidents
According to the American Automobile Association, around 2,000 die each year in hit-and-run accidents, and that number has been on the rise for the last several years.
Hit-and-run accidents are more complicated for police, EMS, and the victim at all stages of an accident. EMS often lose precious minutes because they are called late to the scene, police are tasked with locating the absentee driver, and the victims often have trouble getting compensated all because the driver flees the scene.
Insurance Problems
In most collisions, the at-fault driver’s insurance pays for the victim’s injuries and losses, however, if the identity of the driver is unknown, this can mean that the victim goes uncompensated for his or her injuries.
Victims of a hit-and-run often have unanswered questions about what will happen if the driver is not found. Some of these are:
- Who will compensate me for my injuries?
- If my insurance pays, and they find the driver, do I have to pay my insurance company back?
- Is my Insurance company no longer on my side if it turns out they have to pay me? Are they going to try and say it was my fault?
- What if they don’t believe me?
If the driver is never caught, then the victim’s own insurance company will pay if the victim has their own auto policy and has uninsured and underinsured motorist’s coverage. This pays the victim of an accident if there is no insurance or not enough insurance to pay for all the injuries.
Unfortunately, if the victim doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have UM/UIM, then they won’t be compensated for their injuries until the at-fault driver is caught. In most cases, if the driver is eventually found, then the victim’s insurance company will go after the driver’s insurance company for the amount that they paid on the claim.
At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, we will stand with you in getting compensation for your injuries in a hit and run whether it is your insurance company or the at-fault driver’s if they are found. This can be a difficult and confusing time with insurance adjusters and insurance attorneys all telling you different things.
The best thing to do if you are injured in a hit and run is to not talk to anyone until you have spoken to an attorney.
Contact a Lexington Personal Injury Lawyer
Accident victims often wonder if they need an attorney, and the answer is almost always yes. The insurance company agents have years of experience and are good at their job which is to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all. You need someone just as experienced to help you level the field.
Talk to a Lexington Pedestrian Injury Attorney you can trust to be on your side and get you what is yours under the law. The attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, have that knowledge and a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the results they deserve. To discuss your case, contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, by clicking here to contact them online.
