Hit-and-Run Accidents / Uninsured Motorist Accidents

Injured in a Hit and Run Accident?

Hit and run accidents present a different set of challenges for personal injury lawyers than ordinary car accident cases.  It is critical that hit and run cases be investigated as early as possible.  Your personal injury lawyer must be prepared to act quickly and gather all available evidence right after the accident happed.  When the other driver flees the scene of the accident, clues about that driver may remain at the accident scene.

The first step is to take witness statements.  Your lawyer’s investigator should go to the scene of the accident at the same time the accident happened and preferably the same day of the week.  Commuters, especially on public transit might remember important clues.  Local business should be canvased to see if they have video surveillance which might have captured video of the hit and run or of the other driver fleeing the scene.

Even if the driver who caused the hit and run accident cannot be found, there are other options.  Your personal injury lawyer should be prepared to make a claim on your own insurance, if you have uninsured motorist coverage.

Many drivers in Los Angeles and the rest of California are uninsured.  Even if they do have insurance, they might maintain minimal insurance coverage. This often leads to the at-fault driver to fleeing the scene. If you were injured by an uninsured driver or underinsured driver, you can still recover compensation for your injuries.  These kinds of claims can be difficult.  You should not try to represent yourself against your own insurance company.  Even though they have a duty to act in good faith, insurance companies goal is to pay you as little as possible.

We have helped many clients recover compensation in hit and run cases in this way. In addition,  accident or other situations in which the at-fault driver is not insured or failed to maintain sufficient coverage to compensate an injury victim. Contact us today to discuss your rights and available coverage in a free consultation.

Accidents Involving Uninsured Motorist

Normally, the insurance company for the party that causes an accident pays for your losses. However, many Southern California drivers carry a limited amount of liability coverage, which often is not enough to compensate you for your injuries and damages. In any of these situations, you may still have protection under your own auto insurance policy for your medical care, lost wages and pain and suffering from a hit-and-run accident. Most individuals have uninsured motorist coverage, but do not know when this applies. Additionally, in California, your uninsured motorist coverage also acts as underinsured motorist coverage, whereby your insurance company will coverage damages above and beyond the at-fault driver’s policy. This coverage applies to all motor vehicle accidents, including hit-and-run accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents.

We want you to focus on recovering from your injuries, while we take care of the legal matters. Call our office at (310) 226-7676 for a free office or home case evaluation.