Drivers may flee accident scenes when they don’t have a valid driver’s license, are intoxicated, or lack the requisite insurance coverage. Leaving an accident scene without providing your personal information or offering assistance to injured persons is a felony or a misdemeanor offense.

Persons injured in these accidents are entitled to recover losses incurred in an attempt to restore themselves back to pre-accident health. However, it is critical to follow the right steps and do what is legally required.. The dedicated personal injury lawyers in Arizona can advise on what to do now and in the future.

What are Some of the First Things a Hit and Run Accident Victim Should Do?

Writing down all the information relating to the accident is one of the first things to do after a hit-and-run accident. You could take note of:

  • The weather conditions
  • The traffic conditions
  • The road conditions
  • The specific location of the accident
  • The date and time of the crash

Do not forget to also record details of the vehicle and driver that hit you. Depending on what you saw, you could write:

  • The description of the driver
  • The description of the car
  • The details on the license plate

If witnesses saw the incident, write their names and phone numbers because they might help with your personal injury case later. The detailed description of the car and the driver could also help the police track them faster. Another benefit of putting the details in writing is that you will have a reliable source of information in case your memory fails as you recover from the shock.

When Should I Contact an Attorney?

Once you record the important details about the accident, the next step is to call seasoned car accident lawyers in Phoenix. Your legal representative will try to come to the scene as soon as possible. While you seek medical help, they can take pictures of the accident scene and keep the records for use long after the scene is cleared.

They would also look for other evidence, such as the video surveillance, recorded witness testimonies, and your damaged vehicle. Your lawyer may piece together the hit-and-run accident puzzle in collaboration with accident reconstruction experts.

How Do the Police Trace Hit and Run Drivers?

The license plate number is one of the items the police use to track run-away drivers. They will simply find out who the vehicle is registered under and call the phone numbers. The law enforcement officers could also go to their home address to hear their side of the story.

Once the police are at the driver’s house, they might knock and wait for a response. But if nobody answers, they could leave a business card at the door. In other instances, the police might get an arrest warrant to impound the run-away driver at their home, business, or place of work.

How Can I Make a Claim for My Hit and Run Injuries?

The options for seeking compensation for property damage and injuries vary from one case to another. Once the hit and run driver is found, their insurance status might determine the options for you to pursue all the losses suffered. Typically, you would bring a claim against the other driver’s insurance company for your lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical bills.

If the coverage is not enough to cover all the damages or the driver has no insurance, you could bring a claim against your insurance company if you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Experienced car accident lawyers in Phoenix will know the course to pursue.

What Insurance Alternatives can I Explore?

Arizona is a comparative fault insurance state. This means that insurance companies should compensate if you were not at fault in the accident. Depending on your coverage, you can receive compensation from various insurance types.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage

While this coverage isn’t required for you to be on the road, it might come in handy if the driver flees the scene. .

Medical Payments Coverage

If medical payments insurance is part of your auto insurance coverage, the insurance company might cover reasonable medical bills and funeral expenses no matter who is at fault. Other passengers in your car could also get coverage, no matter who was at fault.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage with your insurance company is one of the insurance options available for repairing your car. And you do not have to prove that you were not at fault. Simply showing that your car was damaged in a hit-and-run accident is usually sufficient.

Can I Claim for Wrongful Death from Insurance Companies?

If a loved one succumbs to injuries suffered from a hit-and-run crash, you may bring a wrongful death claim against the at fault insurance carrier or your own carrier if you have underinsured/uninsured coverage.

The compensation should cover the financial losses from the day of the accident to the day the person dies. The compensation covers expenses incurred for medical bills including funeral expenses. The decedent’s spouse and children of the decedent are entitled to compensation under Arizona’ Wrongful Death Statute.

Injury Attorneys Restoring Hope in Injured Victims

Watching the driver involved in a crash with you flee from the scene can be scary. It might feel like a lost course, especially when you consider handling it yourself.

With the assistance of our lawyers, you will focus on healing while our attorneys handle everything else. Do not feel like the situation is hopeless. We can help you explore every alternative available. Speak to us today, and we will ensure that you do not jeopardize your rights to recover full compensation.