Why do you need to hire an experienced hit-and-run lawyer?
In most personal injury cases, your claims are easier to win because there are clear protocols. Insurance plans are already in place to cover the damages. However, in hit-and-run cases, the offender is likely to have no insurance policy to compensate for the losses. Since the hit-and-run driver may also have been intoxicated or illegally driving, they’ll will not act as cooperatively too. Don’t wait until it’s too late, get a free consulation with an attorney. Call our office: (619) 752-2217
Â
Call (619) 752-2217 for a FREE CONSULTATION by San Diego’s leading car accident lawyer
Only an experienced car accident lawyer who’s handled many hit-and-run cases before knows what to watch out for. We understand how to prevent offenders from slipping out of their responsibilities through legal loopholes by acting quickly when it counts most.
Unlike other common accidents, if someone hits you and flees the scene without exchanging information, then the courts can charge them with a misdemeanor or felony according to California state laws. If the offender only damaged your property, then they receive a misdemeanor. If they injure you, it can escalate to a felony charge. In California, this principle applies to every car accident regardless of who caused the accident or how severe the damages and injuries are. Don’t settle for an average attorney when you could get the compensation you really deserve from our staff, who know all the ins and outs of these kinds of cases.
How can an attorney win a hit-and-run case if the driver denies involvement?
Our experienced attorneys make excellent detectives who can gather all the most critical details and evidence to support your case. They will consult respected medical experts to document the full extent of your injuries, including the ones that did not appear immediately. They will create reports listing all the full costs of your treatments and examinations.
How can an attorney win a hit-and-run case if the driver denies involvement?
Using this essential information, the attorney will reach out to their accident-reconstruction specialists to recreate the scene of the crime and determine the most appropriate avenues of further investigation. We will help find witnesses and gather statements from every possible source.
When all of this information comes together, our seasoned hit-and-run team can compile very convincing arguments to prove the liability of your offender. Without their expertise though, you could lose all chances of compensation since these cases are more difficult than most.
What if no one catches the hit-and-run driver?
As a backup support, if the amount of evidence is lacking to identify your perpetrator, you can still file a claim with your insurance company. A lot of plans include underinsured or uninsured-motorist coverage that you can qualify for. Skilled attorneys in these matters will help you file a claim more effectively so that you have a greater chance of approval. Still, even if the insurer denies your claim and refuses payment, a good attorney can assist you in contesting the decision on the grounds of your insurer acting in “bad faith.” Insurance providers can often reject claims because they want to keep their profits, but you shouldn’t accept that as a final answer until you speak with a qualified attorney. Remember it’s better to never interact with any insurance adjuster until you get an attorney’s advice first.
What are some of the potential damages I can get compensation for?
The perpetrator is usually responsible for paying you back for your medical expenses, the repair costs of your damaged property and wages you lost due to injuries that prevented you from returning to work. In some cases, if the offender had malicious intent and assaulted you as well — like in instances of road rage, for example — then you can also ask for additional punitive damages too.
Insurance companies can cover some of these expenses, but there are some exceptions. In California, uninsured-motorist coverage doesn’t always compensate for property damages in hit-and-run case. It’s more common for collision coverage or personal injury protection to pay you for your medical bills or car damages, so show a copy of your insurance plan to your attorney to get the best advice possible.
What should you do if you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident?
Act like a detective. Write down and photograph everything you can to help document what happened. Before you call the police:
- Use your phone to try and get a photo of the offending car right before it leaves.
- Look for the license plate number.
- If you can’t get a photo, write down everything you remember right away about the car’s color, make, model or unusual features of the driver.
- Ask anyone nearby if they saw what happened to you and write down their names and contact details.
- Write down the exact time and place where the accident occurred.
Before leaving the scene, take many photos of your own car and evidence of the immediate damages.
Once you have gathered all your information together, call an experienced San Diego car accident attorney right away. They will start making your life easier by either finding and prosecuting the driver or dealing with the insurance company for you.
Back to: San Diego Car Accident
About Deon Goldschmidt