Columbia Hit & Run Accident Lawyer
Whether you were involved in a hit-and-run accident or the driver who hit you stopped at the scene only to tell you that he or she was uninsured, you are facing a difficult road to recovery. But, you have options. And with the help of an experienced attorney, you can recover financial compensation for your accident-related losses.
In order to maximize your chances of success, it is important that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Marc Brown represents clients in hit-and-run and uninsured motorist accidents throughout South Carolina. When you contact us about your case, Marc will explain your legal rights and launch an investigation promptly, and he will rely on his experience to pursue all available sources of financial recovery on your behalf.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim With the Hit and Run Driver
If you were unlucky enough to be injured by a hit and run driver, though fortunate enough that the hit and run driver was caught, your chances of winning a personal injury claim against that party are high. However, they may still deny causing the crash, and their insurance company may try to deny the benefits you are seeking. Because of this, it is always advisable to seek out legal assistance when filing a personal injury claim, or in the event that the hit and run victim was killed, when filing a wrongful death claim.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim With Your Own Insurance Company
Most hit and run drivers are never found. Sadly, tracking down hit and run drivers is not a top property for law enforcement, particularly if the hit and run did not result in death. For the victims of hit and runs in which no driver is found, coming to terms with the fact that justice was not served is difficult. The realization that they may not be able to collect any compensation for their extensive damages can be just as challenging. However, even if the at-fault hit and run driver was never tracked down, you can still file a personal injury claim with your own insurance company under your uninsured/underinsured motorist policy. Your UM policy allows you to seek compensation for your damages, including pain and suffering, property damage, medical expense, and everything else you would be able to seek from the at fault party had they been found by law enforcement. If you go this route, you must keep in mind that your insurance company will not be working for you; they will look to deny your claim and otherwise reduce your benefits, which is why you need to work with an attorney of your own.
How Can You Recover Financial Compensation for a Hit-and-Run or Uninsured Motorist Accident?
When it comes to recovering financial compensation for a hit-and-run or uninsured motorist accident, there are a number of potential options available. These include:
1. Identifying the Hit-And-Run Driver
If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, you should not write off the possibility of identifying the driver who hit you. There are many different types of evidence that can be used to identify hit-and-run drivers. In many cases, it will be possible to piece together evidence from multiple sources in order to determine who hit you.
With this in mind, you should record any details you can remember about the other vehicle (even a partial license plate number can be helpful), and you should make note of whether anyone witnessed the accident and may be able to provide additional information. When Columbia hit & run and uninsured motorist accident lawyer, Marc Brown investigates your case, he will look for traffic camera footage at the car accident scene and any other sources of evidence that may be available as well.
2. Uncovering The Driver’s Insurance Coverage
Sometimes, drivers say they are uninsured because they don’t want to have a claim filed against their policy. If the driver who hit you claimed to be uninsured, one of the first steps Marc will take will be to confirm whether this is really the case. If it isn’t, you can pursue a fault-based insurance claim just as you would under normal circumstances.
3. Filing a Claim With Your Insurance Company
If it isn’t possible to identify the hit-and-run driver or the driver who hit you truly is uninsured, then another option you have is to file a claim with your own auto insurance company. You can file a MedPay claim to help cover your medical expenses. And if you have the coverage, you can file an uninsured motorist (UM or UIM) claim to seek additional compensation. If you have uninsured motorist coverage for more than one vehicle, you may also be able to “stack” your coverage in order to increase your total financial recovery.
While MedPay is no-fault insurance, filing a successful uninsured motorist claim requires evidence of fault. Additionally, while you can simply submit your medical bills to receive reimbursement through MedPay (or at least this should be the case), you will need to prove your immediate and long-term losses in order to secure uninsured motorist coverage. For these reasons, even though you will be dealing with your own insurance company, it is still highly advisable to work with an experienced auto accident attorney.
4. Filing A “Third-Party” Claim
Another option that you may have is to file a “third-party” claim based on someone else’s negligence or a product defect. For example, if a hit-and-run driver forced you off of the road where there was no guard rail or an inadequate shoulder, you may be entitled to compensation from the government agency that is responsible for the road. Additionally, if you crashed or were injured as the result of an issue with your car (such as defective brakes or a defective airbag), then you could have a claim against your vehicle’s manufacturer.
Get Legal Help Today – Contact a Columbia Hit & Run Accident Attorney
Hit and run drivers are the most irresponsible, selfish drivers out on the road. Unfortunately, this accounts for quite a large percentage of the population. Hit and runs are on the rise, particularly when the victim is a cyclist or pedestrian—the lack of the victim having a vehicle enables the hit and run driver to get away. If you were injured in a hit and run crash, Columbia hit & run attorney Marc Brown is here to help you file a claim with the appropriate party, establish fault, seek out witnesses, and do everything else in his power to ensure that you get the compensation that you both need and deserve.
There is no greater insult than being struck by a driver, only to have them flee the scene. All drivers have a duty to stay on the scene and provide aid, either by dialing 911 or providing medical assistance, regardless of who caused the crash. Failure to do so can result in an avoidable death. We can help you pursue justice. Call Columbia hit and run attorney Marc Brown at (803) 848-0008 today to schedule a free consultation.
