Hit And Run: What To Do If You’re A Victim

It is a beautiful day outside and along comes a jogger exercising to take advantage of such a fantastic day. Suddenly from out of nowhere comes a car speeding, loosing control. This car strikes the jogger, an instant kill. Suddenly the car leaves the scene of the crime at a very fast pace. A clear case of a hit-and-run crime scene. We see these kinds of reports daily on our local news stations. Hit-and-runs can cause death or serious injury. Often times, a passerby may be a witness to such an incident, and it is easy to panic and not remember what the important steps are to handling such an incident.

Dealing With A Hit-And-Run

If you are injured by a hit-and-run driver, it is going to be imperative to hire a personal injury attorney. Additionally, you should contact the police and seek medical attention immediately. Whether you are a victim or a witness, it is also a good idea to take photographs of the accident scene if you are physically capable of doing so. Asking witnesses if they would be willing to testify in court is a good way to begin building a solid case. Make sure that you tell the police anything that you can remember about the vehicle that hit you or witnessed, and be prepared for a potential insurance battle if the police are unable to discover the identity of the responsible driver.

Insurance Complications

Every state has different insurance guidelines. For example, North Carolina requires each driver to carry liability insurance to protect other drivers. Therefore, if you are unable to identify the person who hit you, it could be very difficult to receive compensation for your medical bills. This is one of the many reasons that hit-and-run drivers are so vilified by the media, and it can cause big legal complications for the driver if their identity is determined. It is important that, if you are a victim of such a crime, you contact a local personal injury law firm, such as Powers McCartan, PLLC for a North Carolina accident, with attorneys who are knowledgeable about such kinds of cases and are equipped to represent you as a client.

The Importance Of Working With An Experienced Lawyer

If the police find the driver who hit you, that driver will face legal consequences. However, a criminal case is not going to assist you with your medical bills, so you will need to file a civil lawsuit. An experienced hit-and-run attorney will provide you with the opportunity to collect a settlement because they have a full understanding of how the legal system works. Additionally, they will help you gather crucial evidence that will prove the extent of the negative impact that the accident has had on your life. In these cases, you might even be able to receive compensation for pain and suffering in addition to your medical expenses.

If you are a hit-and-run victim, you will need to start the legal process as soon as possible. After all, every state has a statute of limitations, and it is important to ensure that you do not let your legal rights lapse. By working with a lawyer from the beginning, you will have the best chance of building a timely case that will result in a fair settlement.

Legal writer Lisa Coleman shares the importance of actions a person should take if found to be victim of a hit-and-run crime. Powers McCartan, PLLC, a Charlotte, North Carolina based law firm, will aggressively defend any client who may be the victim of a hit and run collision.