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Following any car crash, the scene of the accident can be chaotic and stressful. However, after a hit-and-run collision, the whole situation can feel almost unbearable. Yet, as a victim of this hit-and-run crash, you need to take action, not only to protect your health and safety but your legal rights as well.
One such peril is the risk posed by drowsy driving. Fatigue can impair a driver’s reaction time, judgment, and vision, similar to the effects of alcohol. It’s essential to recognize the signs and avoid driving when feeling drowsy.
For instance, accidents involving larger vehicles like limousines can lead to more complex legal scenarios. Similarly, determining fault in rear-end collisions can sometimes be tricky, given the dynamics of such crashes. It’s also worth noting that after an accident, there might be delays in accident claims due to various reasons, which can be frustrating for victims. One should also be aware of the intricacies of homeowner liability insurance, as it can come into play in certain accident scenarios.
That is why in this blog post, we will go over the steps you should take after a hit-and-run accident and discuss how they can help you recover the financial compensation you deserve after this devastating collision.
Following a hit-and-run accident, the first thing you need to do is call 911. This is the fastest way to alert the police of the accident, notify emergency medical personnel that you or someone else needs immediate medical treatment, and get the crash on record.
Once the authorities arrive, they can perform a preliminary investigation into the accident and jot down their findings of what happened in their police report. If you decide to pursue legal action following this crash, this police report can provide you and your attorney with important details about the accident.
If you do not require immediate medical treatment, try to take as many pictures and videos of the accident scene as you can. This should include photographs of your visible injuries, the position of your car, the damage to your vehicle, skid marks on the street, traffic signs near the area, the weather conditions at the time of the collision, and any other evidence that can help show what occurred.
If there were people at the accident scene who saw what happened, try to get their names and numbers. These individuals can often provide you with further valuable details about the crash and help substantiate your claim.
However, as you talk to these individuals, make sure you watch what you say. This means you need to avoid making any definitive statements about the incident, apologizing for anything that happened, or taking the blame for anything that occurred. These types of statements can come back later, hurt your case, and impact the amount of money you can receive.
Even if you do not require emergency medical treatment or do not believe your injuries are that severe, you should still get to a doctor to get examined as soon as possible following your hit-and-run accident. These medical professionals can ensure you do not have any serious hidden injuries like brain trauma which can take days to manifest. Yet, the longer you wait to get this condition treated, the more deadly it can become.
In addition, getting to your doctor can help your legal claim. In many instances, following a car accident, the insurance company will try to do anything it can to deny your claim or get you less money than you are entitled to. This is because the less money they pay you, the more money they make. As a result, if you do not get immediate medical treatment, these insurance companies will try to argue that your injuries are not that serious or a result of a subsequent event. Thankfully, if you get treated by a doctor immediately after your hit-and-run, these doctors can write down information regarding your injuries in their medical report and provide you with evidence of a direct link between your hit-and-run accident and the harm you sustained.
Although it is important to work with the insurance company following an accident, it is even more critical after a hit-and-run collision. However, as discussed above, it does not mean you should trust these insurance adjusters.
For these reasons, when you are going over the accident with the insurer, you should only discuss the facts of the incident, explicitly indicating that the other driver fled the scene. However, you will want to avoid going into any specifics of the accident, how you think it happened, or who you believe is to blame. Better yet, leave these conversations to an experienced car accident attorney. These lawyers can ensure you do not say anything that can impact your claim while they fight for the compensation you deserve.
If it is not possible to find the hit-and-run motorist, you may need to seek coverage under your own car insurance policy. For instance, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, you may be able to recover some of your losses from the accident, while Med Pay can help you pay for your medical expenses that resulted from your injuries following the accident.
However, both of these policies are optional in Nevada, so you should review your policy with a skilled car accident lawyer to determine what coverage you have available to you following the accident.
To bring a successful injury claim following a hit-and-run accident, you need to be able to provide detailed and relevant evidence as well as sound legal arguments proving your case. However, after a hit-and-run, this is likely the last thing you want to prepare. Thankfully, with an experienced car accident attorney on your side, you will not have to worry about dealing with this complex situation alone.
Once retained, these lawyers can:
For these reasons, if you or a loved one suffered any damages in a hit-and-run accident, do not wait any longer to secure the legal assistance you need. Instead, reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer today for a free case consultation and let these attorneys show you how they can fight for your rights and pursue the justice and damages you are entitled to.
As founder of Gina Corena & Associates, she is dedicated to fighting for the rights of the people who suffer life-changing personal injuries in car, truck and motorcycle accidents as well as other types of personal injury. Gina feels fortunate to serve the Nevada community and hold wrongdoers accountable for their harm to her clients.
