Being involved in a hit-and-run accident is undeniably the most challenging experience for the injured person. Because the injured person won’t be able to find the vehicle and the driver who caused the accident, as the at-fault driver will not be available at the accident spot.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, then you should file a hit-and-run accident claim. It is better to get legal assistance from a lawyer who has extensive experience dealing with hit-and-run accident cases.
Before consulting with any legal professional, it is important to know who is legally liable for your damages and the options available to recover reasonable compensation for your injuries and damages sustained in a hit-and-run accident.
What is a Hit-and-Run Accident?
A hit-and-run is a type of car crash in which the negligent driver causes the accident and leaves the spot without stopping to check for injuries and exchange insurance information with the other driver. The following accidents are included in the hit-and-run accidents:
- Vehicle-on-pedestrian accidents
- Vehicle-on bicycle
- Vehicle-on vehicle
The Recoverable Losses in a Hit-and-Run Accident
Suppose the hit-and-run driver is caught by the police, then you can file a claim or case against the at-fault driver. And then you can recover the following compensation:
Economical Losses
- Medical expenses
- Present and future lost income
- Property damages
Non-Economic Losses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
Who is Legally Liable in a Hit-and-Run Accident?
The at-fault driver’s insurance company is liable for a hit-and-run accident. This means that the insurance adjuster of the at-fault driver will need to pay compensation for your injuries and other damages you incurred as a result of the hit-and-run accident. But unfortunately, you were not able to get the details of the hit-and-run driver and their vehicle.
The Possible Options to Recover Compensation in a Hit-and-Run Case:
Choose Your Own Car Insurance
Most probably, you could not find out any details about the hit-and-run driver. Under this circumstance, you can recover compensation from your own car insurance to cover all the expenses incurred due to the hit-and-run accident.
Collision Coverage
Suppose your car was damaged in a hit-and-run accident, then you should file a claim under your own collision policy to recover the repair expenses of the vehicle. This collision coverage usually comes with some limits.
Before your insurance plan begins, you need to pay the deductible amount of $500 to $2000 on your collision coverage. For instance, if the hit-and-run driver is found and has insurance, you can recover your deducted amount from the insurance of the at-fault driver.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident with an unknown driver, then it is possible to cover your damages using your uninsured motorist coverage (UIM).
This means that in a hit-and-run accident, you cannot find the at-fault driver before he or she flees the accident scene. In this situation, UIM coverage is applicable to recover compensation of medical expenses for you and your passengers and other damage.
Medical Payment Coverage
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, then you have a great option to cover your medical expenses with medical payments insurance (MedPay). The best thing about this MedPay is that you can also cover the medical expenses of your passengers.
Unfortunately, not all the states have MedPay. In a few states only, the insurance company provides the MedPay option with coverage limits.
Personal Injury Protection Coverage (PIP)
PIP coverage is just no-fault insurance coverage, which covers losses like medical expenses and lost income. This is applicable to the insured driver. This means that you can only be covered when insured.
For example, suppose you are residing in a state where they follow no-fault laws; then only you can claim this coverage.
Final Thoughts
We hope our blog post has helped you know who pays for the damages you sustained in the hit-and-run accident. We also discussed some of the options to cover your losses.
It is always better to consult with an experienced attorney who can help you with the legal options to recover fair compensation.
