In the United States, a driver who is at fault in a car accident and leaves the scene without exchanging information with anyone else involved can be charged with hit-and-run under certain circumstances. In Colorado, drivers have five days to report an accident or they may be found guilty of a misdemeanor. That means that if you’re hit by a car and the driver flees the scene, you have very little recourse for recovering damages from your injuries because there’s no one legally liable for them. Here are three major things you should know about these kinds of accidents.
You will Have to Pay for Your Own Injuries and Damages
When a hit-and-run driver hits you and leaves the scene of the accident, you cannot recover damages from that person. Even though Colorado law requires drivers to stop and provide their name, address, registration number, and insurance information when they’re in a crash, hit and run drivers can’t be held accountable for their actions. According to https://olsonlawfirm.com/personal-injury/car-accidents/hit-and-run-lawyer/, you can file a claim with your own insurance company, but they are only legally required to pay out personal injury protection. This covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident.
If you have uninsured motorist coverage, you may be able to recover damages against the hit-and-run driver’s insurance company. This type of coverage covers injuries resulting from accidents with uninsured drivers or hit-and-run drivers. This means you can recover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages that could not be recovered from the at-fault driver (because they cannot be found or don’t have enough coverage).
Also, because you cannot legally hold a hit-and-run driver accountable, you will probably need to pay for the damage to your own vehicle out of pocket. That’s why it’s important to have reliable legal representation when filing a claim with your insurance company.
Seeking Legal Counsel
When you’re in an accident with a hit-and-run driver, you need to act quickly. The police may not be able to find the at-fault driver, and your own insurance company won’t issue a check for damages until their investigation is complete.
If you’ve been injured in an accident with someone who left the scene, you need legal representation as soon as possible. Even if you have personal injury protection through your own insurance company, that coverage only covers certain types of injuries – and you’ll need to work with a lawyer who can help determine exactly what damages are covered by your policy.
When you’re hit-and-run, time is working against you. Without legal representation, you may not be able to recover all of your damages and injuries – and the person who caused the accident will get away without paying for their actions. And when an injury is serious enough that you need to hire a lawyer, it’s typically because proving your case will be difficult – and that means you’ll need a lawyer who understands the difficulties involved.
You May Be Able To Recover Lost Wages
If an accident with a hit-and-run driver leaves you unable to work, you may be able to recover lost wages. This is only possible if the other driver leaves the scene of the accident, but not all hit-and-run accidents occur in the same way.
After an accident, it’s important to call 911 immediately. Even if you don’t think your injuries are severe, you want the police to come to the scene of the accident so they can investigate. If the other driver flees before cops arrive, officers will begin a search for them. In most cases, hit-and-run accidents occur because the other driver is drunk or under the influence of drugs. That means they’re more likely to be apprehended after the accident.
If an officer finds them, you may be able to recover lost wages for the time you missed at work because of your injuries. This is usually possible if the other driver was negligent in causing the accident – meaning their actions leading up to (and during) the collision caused it.
However, this is only possible if the police can apprehend the other driver after they flee. You’ll also need to show that you were unable to work because of your injuries – which will require medical documentation from all of your doctors.
Hit and run accidents happen more often than you might think, but are the most overwhelming to navigate. If you happen to be in an accident with a hit-and-run driver, it’s important to contact the police immediately so they can investigate the situation. It’s also crucial that you speak with legal counsel who understands the difficulties involved when representing someone in this kind of case because if your injury is serious enough, proving liability may be difficult.
