Hit-and-run accidents are a growing problem. These accidents present many legal challenges. Recovering compensation for the cost of medical bills or automobile repairs is challenging enough on its own, but the process becomes more difficult when the other party’s identity is unknown.
A skilled car wreck attorney from The Blackwell Law Firm could help you seek justice following a hit and run car accident in Huntsville or elsewhere across northern Alabama. We begin our process by investigating the crash thoroughly. Our work includes investigating the crash, filing a lawsuit, or reviewing your insurance policy language. When you are unsure of the legal options available, we could help advocate for you. We are experienced at investigating and pursuing claims on behalf of our injured clients.
Why Drivers Leave the Scene of an Accident
A clear understanding of why drivers flee after a crash can be helpful if a motorist intends to pursue financial compensation. Every hit-and-run driver has their motivation, which can impact the outcome of a potential civil lawsuit.
Many people refuse to wait for the police to arrive out of fear. They might have a warrant out for their arrest or lack legal immigration status. Others might run because they are intoxicated and believe they will be charged with a DWI and could be arrested.
Other factors include the lack of liability insurance. If a driver is concerned that they will be personally responsible for the damage done to another person’s vehicle, they might leave instead of incurring debt for the collision. Hit-and-run auto wrecks in Huntsville might also happen due to panic or simply because the other party was unaware they struck anything. At The Blackwell Law Firm, our experienced attorneys have the expertise an injured person needs to seek compensation after an accident. We have investigated and pursued compensation from fleeing at-fault drivers for over two decades. We are proud of our track record helping clients.
Options for Compensation
Different opportunities may be available when it comes to recovering damages. Pursuing legal action against the responsible motorist is an option in a typical crash. However, this might not be the case with a Huntsville hit-and-run car accident if the identity of the other party is never discovered. In that scenario, a person’s insurance policy might provide the relief they deserve.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
It is often possible to pursue a civil lawsuit after an accident in which the other party fled the scene. The police are often able to track the driver down using information like their license plate number, and when that happens, legal action can move forward as normal. We pursue all possible avenues to identify fleeing drivers, including available surveillance from area cameras as well as information from witnesses.
Insurance Claims
In these situations, an injured motorist may be able to recover damages from their own insurance policy. This is an important option when the fleeing driver is never identified. However, not everyone has coverage that will go into effect when drivers refuse to wait until police arrive.
Uninsured motorist insurance is designed to pay for a person’s losses when injured in an accident caused by someone without liability coverage. These policies also apply to hit and run accidents. The downside is that this coverage is optional, and many people waive it due to elevated premium costs. Anyone who opted out of protection from uninsured drivers cannot seek coverage in these situations.
With so many uninsured drivers on the roads, we believe uninsured motorist coverage is an essential insurance benefit. We encourage all drivers to review their policies and obtain this valuable coverage. If you have questions about uninsured coverage, call us. We are happy to provide answers.
Contact a Huntsville Attorney About Your Hit and Run Accident Today
You should never have to deal with a hit and run car accident in Huntsville alone. Our attorneys could answer your questions and guide you through the claims process. We believe in guiding our clients at every step, from the time of the accident, during their efforts to obtain medical care, and throughout the claims process. We believe this hands-on, caring approach is best for people suffering a serious injury.
When you are unsure about your legal options, contact the tenacious legal team at The Blackwell Law Firm for a free consultation.
(256) 261-1315