When a car crash happens, the parties involved are expected to exchange personal information so that they can hash out the details of paying for the damage. If one person leaves the scene before the exchange of information, they have broken the law and the other party will find it more difficult to file a claim for damages. Your best option is to contact a Bellaire hit and run accident lawyer to help you identify the driver and the valid avenues of compensation.
What is a Hit and Run?
A hit and run accident occurs when the driver of the vehicle that causes the accident drives away and does not exchange contact or vehicle information with the injured party. Most often, a driver will do this if they are uninsured or they have pending criminal charges, though they might flee for any number of reasons, such as being drunk or simply not believing the crash was a big deal.
Bellaire frequently sees hit and runs on the busy freeways, such as the West Loop 610 and Highway 59.
How Hit and Runs Differ from Other Cases
A hit and run car accident case requires fast investigation from a Bellaire attorney. The local police are usually busy handling serious criminal cases and might not dedicate the necessary resources to investigating a hit and run. An attorney investigating the incident is the best chance for identifying that driver and getting compensation. If the at-fault driver cannot be found, an attorney knows how to find other sources of compensation, such as from the plaintiff’s own insurance policy.
It is a crime to leave the scene of an accident without first cooperating with the police or exchanging information. Therefore, the state could file criminal charges against someone who runs away after causing a car accident.
Attorney’s Help in Finding the Missing Driver
After being injured in a hit and run accident, it is best to try to find witnesses to the accident in order to locate the at-fault driver. It is also important to call 911 immediately to get police assistance. The third step is to hire a Bellaire hit and run injury attorney right away so that they could help in gathering all of the information needed to make a successful claim. They may be able to use proprietary databases to find the at-fault driver using a license plate number or other vehicle information. If the claimant does not have information about the vehicle, it is possible to locate nearby security cameras to see if they caught the incident.
Recoverable Damages
The recoverable damages in a hit and run case fall into three general categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Economic damages compensate a person for medical bills and for lost income, which is money someone loses from not being able to go to work while recovering from their injuries.
Non-economic damages are the money to compensate someone for the pain and suffering they experienced, as well as mental anguish, such as stress, worry, or depression because of being in a car accident.
Punitive damages are meant to punish the responsible driver for grossly negligent conduct, which is conduct that goes beyond mere carelessness and into the category of reckless, intentional, or criminal activity. Punitive damages are often awarded in hit and run accidents in order to punish the person who causes the accident for their conduct and not stopping to provide information or render aid.
Prepare for Your Claim with a Bellaire Hit and Run Accident Attorney
Do not let the fact that the other vehicle fled the scene of an accident leave you to pay your medical bills alone. You have the right to work with a Bellaire hit and run accident lawyer and find the at-fault party. Contact our law firm today to discuss your options.