Everyone involved in any kind of auto accident on public roads must stop at the scene, check if anyone needs emergency medical assistance, and exchange contact and insurance information with all other involved parties. If you skip any of these steps, or sometimes even if you leave the crash scene without being given permission to leave by a police officer, you may find yourself facing criminal charges for a hit and run.
Unfortunately, sometimes, people who negligently cause car crashes also try to escape responsibility for their actions by intentionally fleeing the scene of the wreck. As our experienced car accident attorneys can tell you, this can seriously complicate the process of seeking civil compensation for your crash-related injuries. Fortunately, a Pennsauken hit and run accident lawyer from Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can also help you maximize the money you are able to get in this sort of situation.
What to Do After Getting Hurt in a Hit and Run Wreck
While it’s understandable to want to chase down someone who crashes into your car and then illegally flees the scene, it’s never a good idea to do that after a hit and run accident. On top of the fact that you might get into another wreck that causes you and other people to suffer preventable injuries, you might wind up facing hit and run charges yourself because you also illegally left the scene of your accident, even if you did so for a very different reason than the person who caused the crash.
The best thing to do in the wake of a wreck like this is to do everything you’re legally supposed to do, trust the police to do their jobs and find the person responsible for your wreck, and take some preliminary steps to preserve evidence for a future civil claim. As your hit and run attorney in Pennsauken can explain in more detail, that entails things like taking photos of the damage your car has sustained, getting contact information from witnesses who weren’t directly involved in the crash, and writing down any identifying details you remember about the hit-and-run driver and their vehicle.
Getting the Most Money Possible from Insurance
Your legal representative can provide crucial help in the event that police aren’t able to track down and identify a hit-and-run driver. In this scenario, you won’t be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance because you don’t know who they are or what insurance coverage they have. Instead, you have to seek restitution entirely through your own auto insurance policy, starting with the personal injury protection (PIP) coverage mandated by state law.
After that, you will be in good shape if you have optional coverage called uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage added to your policy since it’s designed to help with this exact type of situation. If you don’t have that coverage or you’re not sure what coverage you do have, a practiced hit and run accident lawyer in Pennsauken can help you examine the terms of your policy and ensure you’re getting paid everything you’re entitled to receive.
Talk to a Pennsauken Hit and Run Accident Attorney About Recovery Options
Hit and run car crashes can be uniquely frustrating, even compared to other types of auto accidents. They can also make for extremely complicated civil claims. If you’re dealing with a situation like this, you need guidance from a winning attorney to get the best possible outcome from an ensuing lawsuit or settlement proposal.
The support you need is available from our Pennsauken hit and run accident lawyers. Call today to get started on your case.
