I was hurt by a hit and run driver – What should I do? What Defines a Hit-and-Run?

A hit-and-run accident occurs when a collision happens, and the driver fails to stop and/or leaves the scene. When the driver leaves the scene, it can be more difficult for the victim of the accident to recover any damages for injuries they might have suffered.

WHEN YOU’RE THE VICTIM OF A HIT-AND-RUN COLLISION, FOLLOW THESE FIRST STEPS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT:

– Call emergency services and have the police make an official report. This allows the police department to start an investigation.

– If there were any witnesses, collect their names and contact information.

– Turn the names and contact information of the witnesses in to the police.

– Get medical attention so that you have a record of any injuries.

IDENTIFYING THE DRIVER

If the police investigation leads to discovering the name and location of the driver who hit you, you’ll want to contact a personal injury attorney. Especially in cases where you’ve suffered a major injury because of a hit-and-run collision, you should talk about your options with an attorney experienced with personal injury cases.

LIABILITY FOR THE ACCIDENT

In most cases, the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident has a legal responsibility to provide a reasonable amount of help to anyone who’s been injured. Drivers are generally held responsible for, at a minimum, reporting the accident to the authorities and calling for emergency medical assistance. A hit-and-run driver who fails to do these things may be held legally liable.

A driver who fails to perform the minimum amount of help at an accident scene can be issued a traffic ticket. Criminal charges may be filed if the accident resulted in a serious injury or a death.

In the event that the police investigation can’t uncover the identity of the hit-and-run driver, you as the victim of the accident may have uninsured motorists’ coverage on your auto insurance policy. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover damages you suffered in the accident through this type of insurance.

CONTACT A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY

If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run vehicle accident, you should be able to focus on recovering physically and mentally from the experience without worrying about expenses, whether the hit-and-run driver’s identity can be found. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer such as the Personal Injury Attorney Houston TX locals trust to discuss your case. You may be able to help you receive the compensation you may be legally entitled to receive for your injuries.

Thanks to authors at John K. Zaid & Associates for their insight into Personal Injury Law.