It is a crime to leave the scene of an accident, yet it happens all the time. Someone who suffers injuries and other losses in a hit and run car accident in Mesa might wonder how they will get compensation. A local car wreck attorney could help.
If the police find the hit and run driver, our legal professionals could help you obtain appropriate compensation from them or their insurance company. If the driver who fled gets away with it, other sources of compensation might be available, depending on the surrounding circumstances.
What to Do After a Hit and Run Wreck
Hit and run accident victims are often pedestrians or bicyclists, or sometimes the occupants of another vehicle involved in the collision. When someone is injured in a hit and run collision, the steps they take immediately after the accident can make a big difference in the compensation they eventually receive.
Contact Law Enforcement
If the motorist is conscious, it is important to contact police immediately. The injured person should give a description of the fleeing vehicle with as much detail as they remember.
Take Notes
Record the date, time, exact location, and weather conditions when the accident happened. Describe how it occurred as precisely as possible without making any assumptions. Write the information down or speak it into a phone’s recorder as soon as possible after the incident. A motorist who is able should take pictures of the accident scene.
Get Medical Attention
Getting examined by a medical professional immediately after the accident is critical. People sometimes resist this step if they do not think they are hurt badly, but many traumatic injuries are not apparent until a day or two after the accident. An immediate screening by a healthcare professional can rule out serious injuries and provide an important piece of evidence that establishes a connection between a car accident and an injured person’s claim.
Contact an Attorney
A Mesa legal professional can be helpful after a hit and run accident. Our team could follow up with law enforcement and ensure officers are making every effort to identify the driver who fled. If the driver is caught, our lawyers could keep abreast of any criminal proceedings concerning the hit and run.
Most importantly, we could communicate with the insurance companies involved. When a hit and run victim has uninsured motorist coverage, the policy will usually cover their injuries. However, insurers are often reluctant to pay these claims, and it could require some persuasion from a skilled attorney to force the insurer to honor its contract and pay the claim.
Seeking Compensation When a Hit and Run Driver is Caught
Arizona has a fault-based system for vehicle accident claims that makes the at-fault driver responsible for compensating the losses people suffer in the collision. An injured person must show the at-fault driver was negligent.
Leaving the scene of an accident is a negligent act in addition to being a crime, but a Mesa attorney would also look for other evidence of negligence. Witness statements, video footage of the incident, the driver’s admissions, and other information could help prove liability.
Sometimes, the hit and run driver or their insurance company will try to reduce their liability by saying the injured person is partially at fault for the accident. Arizona Revised Statute §12-2505 allows an injured person to claim compensation even if they are partially responsible, but in that case, the court reduces the amount they could collect. A legal professional could fight back against any claim that the injured person bears partial fault and help ensure they receive the full amount of their losses.
Process if the Driver Who Fled Is Never Identified
Occasionally a hit and run accident occurs and the police never identify the driver. In such cases, a Mesa attorney could seek other sources of compensation for the injured person.
Identifying responsible parties other than the hit and run driver can help an injured driver get the compensation they deserve. Investigating whether another motorist, a local government, or another involved party bears partial responsibility could allow an injured person more options for obtaining reasonable compensation.
Additionally, if the injured person bought optional uninsured motorist coverage, the insurance should pay claims for damages resulting from hit and runs.
Get Help After a Hit and Run From a Mesa Attorney
Hit and run car accidents in Mesa are even more stressful than other types of crashes. Besides coping with your injuries and the disruption they cause, you also have to worry about who will pay for your losses.
A hit and run accident does not mean you are on the hook for your accident-related damages. Our local team could hold the driver responsible if they are caught and find other sources of funds to pay your damages if they escape. Call the Phillips Law Group today to discuss your situation with a knowledgeable attorney who has been serving the community for over 3 decades and is not afraid to take a case to court to get everything you deserve.
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