If you have suffered injuries in a hit-and-run accident, you are probably angry that the other driver left the scene. After undergoing medical care you are left worrying about the mounting medical bills and potentially being out of work. The best way to protect your rights is to work with a hit-and-run accident attorney at Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook.
Our firm works with a respected network of private investigators to identify and locate hit-and-run drivers and hold them accountable. Once we do, we will fight to win you just compensation. At the same time, you can still recover damages if we don’t find the driver, provided you carry Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage under your auto insurance policy.
Since 1979, our firm has served our clients and the Bay Area community with the highest standards of professional excellence. When you become our client, you can be confident knowing your hit-and-run accident claim is in good hands.
Contact us today to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
what Is A Hit-and-run Accident?
What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident?
As the name implies, a hit-and-run accident happens when a driver hits another vehicle, pedestrian, or structure and flees the scene. Leaving the scene of a car accident resulting in injuries is illegal in California. All drivers must stop and remain at the scene. In addition, drivers must:
- Exchange identification and insurance information with the other driver(s)
- Offer assistance to injured parties, if possible
- Call law enforcement
- Remain at the scene until police arrive
Hit-and-run offenses not resulting in injury may result in misdemeanor charges. By contrast, felony hit-and-run, which involves a severe or permanent injury or death, is punishable by up to 4 years in prison and other penalties.
Our Walnut Creek hit-and-run accident attorneys know what’s at stake and will do everything in our power to identify the driver who caused your injuries, fled the scene, and jeopardized your well-being.
Why Do Drivers Flee Accidents in the Bay Area?
Even though leaving the scene of a car accident resulting in injuries is illegal and never justifiable, drivers often flee accidents because they are:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Driving with a suspended license
- Driving without automobile insurance
Today, however, surveillance cameras are typically installed at traffic lights, intersections, commercial buildings, and private homes, which means law enforcement has a better chance of apprehending hit-and-run drivers.
What Should I Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident?
Take the following steps after a hit-and-run accident:
- Try to get the license plate number of the vehicle that hit you.
- Contact the police – the police report will be valuable evidence in your hit-and-run accident claim.
- Seek immediate medical attention to diagnose and treat your injuries.
Finally, contact Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook. We will take action to identify the hit-and-run driver if the police have not already done so and explore all your legal options.
What If the Hit-and-Run Driver Cannot Be Found?
If the police or our investigators do not identify the hit-and-run driver, you must look to your Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. California law requires insurance companies to offer optional UM coverage and hit-and-run drivers are considered uninsured motorists under state law.
If you have chosen this option, your UM coverage will equal the amount of your liability coverage. But there are strict deadlines for filing UM claims; your insurer will deny your claim if you miss the deadline. Insurance companies also put profits ahead of policyholders and attempt to deny valid claims.
Our attorneys will demand full payment of your claim. If the insurer refuses to make a fair offer, we will take them to court. Rest assured, we will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
How Our Firm Can Help
If the driver is apprehended, our hit-and-run accident attorneys will file a lawsuit against that individual. Based on the evidence, we can still win you compensation if the driver isn’t convicted.
The value of your hit-and-run accident claim depends on factors such as whether the at-fault driver is insured. In any case, we will fight to get you the maximum compensation you deserve, including economic and non-economic damages such as:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If the hit-and-run driver is convicted, you may entitled to punitive damages. Such damages will punish the hit-and-run driver’s misconduct and deter other drivers from fleeing the scene of an accident.
