A pickup truck hit a sedan and fled the scene injuring the driver of the sedan and one of its passengers. According to police, the accident happened Friday, January 11, 2019, at the intersection of Versailles Road and Alexandria Drive. Police located the truck, which sustained significant damage, in a gym parking lot at Oxford Circle. Authorities are looking for the driver of the pickup, and as of yet, no charges have been filed.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Across the nation, there are over 700,000 hit-and-run accidents each year, and as a percentage, this number is rising. According to the American Automobile Association, around 2,100 die each year in hit-and-run accidents.
Hit-and-run accidents create problems for police, the victims and insurance companies. The victim in a hit-and-run often feels twice victimized, once by the accident and again when the driver flees. This can place the victim in greater danger as help is often delayed as the other driver is not there to call for help.
Police are tasked with finding the driver that fled the scene, and it can prove difficult if there are no cameras or witnesses.
Insurance Problems
Typically, the at-fault driver’s insurance is going to pay compensation for a victim’s losses. However, if the at-fault driver is not found, then it is often the insurance company of the victim that steps in an pays some of the financial losses.
Many victims of a hit-and-run have questions about what will happen if the driver is not found. Some of these are:
- What injuries can I claim?
- Will my insurance pay for just damages to my car or for medical bills and lost wages too?
- What happens if my insurance pays me for my medical injury and then they find the hit-and-run driver? Do I have to pay my insurance company back?
- Is my Insurance company no longer on my side? Are they going to try and say it was my fault?
- What if they don’t believe me?
Many times, insurance companies that get hit-and-run claims are suspicious of the claims because there is a chance for fraud by the victim, and the only other person who knows about the accident isn’t there to tell their side of the story. This can put a strain on the relationship between the victim and their own insurance company.
Do I need an Attorney for a Hit-and-Run?
While you don’t need an attorney for every fender bender, if there are serious injuries, by not getting an attorney, you are relying on the insurance company and their lawyers to treat you fairly. You need to talk to someone on your side who can advise you and evaluate your case.
The attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, have that experience. They have helped countless victims of all types of accidents including hit-and-run crashes. Get this experience and knowledge working on your side. Call (800) 937 8443 or click here to contact an attorney that can start on your case today.
