Under Arizona state law, everyone involved in a motor vehicle collision of any kind must stop at the scene of the wreck, exchange contact and insurance information, and seek help from police and emergency medical services if anyone is injured. However, not everyone follows the law after getting into a car crash, especially if they think they are at fault for it and are trying to avoid being held responsible.
Being hurt in a hit-and-run car accident in Avondale can be a uniquely frustrating experience as well as a legally complex one, and support from seasoned legal counsel is helpful in both respects. Once retained, a skilled car accident attorney from Phillips Law Group can help you maximize available recovery through insurance and — if police are able to track down the hit-and-run driver — a civil lawsuit or settlement demand.
While it is certainly understandable to be upset when someone flees the scene of a car accident they caused, it is never a good idea to chase after them personally, as it may lead to additional injuries and even criminal liability. Instead, the best course of action is to stay calm, stay at the accident scene as the law requires, and let police take the lead in finding the hit-and-run driver. In the meantime, there are several things crash victims can do to improve their chances of civil recovery later on:
It is also vital to seek professional medical attention as soon as possible after lawfully leaving the scene of a hit-and-run car crash in Avondale. In addition to minimizing long-term physical harm, this will also produce medical documentation detailing crash-related injuries, which could be crucial for insurance claims and a possible civil lawsuit.
If police can track down someone who unlawfully left the scene of a wreck, anyone injured in that wreck can name that hit-and-run driver as the defendant in a civil claim and demand compensation through that claim for the effects of their injuries. Unfortunately, hit-and-run drivers do sometimes get away with their actions in the short term, and even if they do not, they may not have much in the way of assets or insurance to put towards paying for damages.
For this reason, car accident lawyers generally recommend that all drivers purchase underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage as part of their car insurance policy. This can provide crucial additional coverage in the event that a hit-and-run driver cannot be found after causing an Avondale accident — but if someone does not have it when their wreck occurs, they cannot retroactively add it to their insurance policy.
Being a law-abiding citizen can be harder than you would expect sometimes, especially when other people around you are anything but law-abiding. Fortunately, you have help available from dedicated legal representatives who know exactly how aggravating hit-and-run car accidents in Avondale can be, and who also know exactly how to handle them in proactive ways.
If you have additional questions about your rights and legal options after this kind of accident, a qualified lawyer from Phillips Law Group can provide answers and further information during a private initial meeting. Call today to schedule yours at no cost or obligation to you – you only pay us if we take on your case and win. Call now to learn more!
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