How To Secure Compensation In A Hit And Run Accident

What happens when you are involved in a car accident? Ideally, any involved parties remove their vehicles from the path of oncoming traffic and wait for the authorities to arrive to file a police report and issue any necessary traffic tickets. Unfortunately, not all parties involved in auto accidents are quite so cooperative. A percentage of car wrecks are "hit and run" accidents, where the at-fault driver abandons the scene of the accident. If you are the victim in a hit and run accident, you may need to hire a car accident attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks for help securing financial compensation.

Understanding Hit And Run Accidents

 Drivers may choose to abandon the scene of a car accident for any number of different reasons. For example, the driver in question may:
  • Be operating the vehicle illegally (e.g., without a license) and not want to get caught;
  • Not have auto insurance;
  • Be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs; or
  • Have multiple traffic tickets already and be afraid of getting another one.

Other examples include drivers who are in possession of stolen property or illegal substances, or employees who are driving a company vehicle and do not want their employer to find out they were in an accident. Regardless of the reasons, abandoning the scene of an accident is a crime. Though drivers may vacate the scene of the accident to avoid penalty, they will likely be subject to much harsher consequences if they are caught.

Catching Hit And Run Drivers

Unfortunately, many hit and run drivers do get away without ever being caught. The victims in hit and run accidents are often dazed, injured, or in a state of shock (or a combination thereof), which can prevent them from obtaining the information required to identify hit and run drivers.

If you are involved in a hit and run accident (or if you are a bystander witness), we encourage you to obtain as much of the following information that you can (without putting yourself in the way of danger):
  • The license plate number of the offending vehicle;
  • The make, model, or color of the offending vehicle; and
  • Identifying information about the driver of the vehicle.

A witness may not approach the scene of the accident to offer their testimony, but you can still seek it out. If your accident took place in a residential or commercial district, do not be afraid to knock on doors to ask nearby individuals if they may have noticed anything that could help identify the driver who left the scene.

Obtaining Compensation For Hit And Run Accidents

If you have been injured in a hit and run accident, you may be entitled to compensation if your injuries were due to the negligence of another individual. Unfortunately, obtaining compensation from the other driver's insurance company may be challenging if the identify of the other driver is unknown. In these situations, you may be able to seek compensation from your own insurance company under the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist policy.

If you are having difficulty getting your insurance provider to supply the compensation owed to you, hiring a car accident lawyer in Camdenton MO may be in your best interests. Your attorney will be there to defend your rights while you tend to immediate needs such as seeking medical attention for your injuries. If you have questions about car accidents at the Lake of the Ozarks and how we may be able to represent you, don't be afraid to reach out. Call 573-346-7231 to schedule your consultation.

Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising. When you need a knowledgeable attorney, we invite you to contact us to set up a consultation. Evening and weekend appointments are available. We have access to interpreters.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.

85 Court Circle N.W., P.O. Box 559
Camdenton, MO 65020   GET A MAP
(573) 346-7231 - Telephone
(888) 236-2485 - Toll Free
(573) 346-4411 - Fax

Location: Camdenton, MO 65020, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Reasons To Hire A Criminal Defense Attorney

Image
Criminal charges can turn your life upside down. If you are found guilty, you can suffer numerous consequences, including fines, imprisonment, and effect on your permanent record. If you are facing criminal charges, hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney can make a world of difference. Consider these reason why you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to represent your case. 1. Your Attorney Understands The Law It's no secret that the legal field is complex. Every law has exceptions, and every circumstance has different specific requirements. You need a criminal defense attorney that has experience dealing with these minute details and can help you use them to build a solid case. 2. Your Attorney Knows The Scene The Missouri Courts are like a world of their own. Each court has its own set of rules, social norms, and strict guidelines governing what behavior is and is not acceptable. If this is your first court case, you can not possibly know all of these unspo...
Read more

Legal Tips to Be Aware of When Entering Into a Marriage

Image
Congratulations! It is 2019 and this is the year you are getting married. Among all of the wedding planning, you probably haven't had time to think about the legal side of getting married. While it is not the most glamorous side, it is worth taking a look into. For example, has your fiance brought up the notion of signing a prenuptial agreement (prenup)? It is best to know what all comes with a prenuptial agreement and the advantages and disadvantages of choosing to sign one. Our attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few legal tips to be aware of when entering into a marriage. If you find yourself need a prenuptial agreement drawn up, call Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch   today for your free consultation at 573-346-7231. Legal Tips to Be Aware of When Entering Into a Marriage Do You Plan to Legally Change Your Name After You Get Married? If you plan to change your legal name after marriage, here is what you need to do. According to the Misso...
Read more

Global Entrepreneurship Week: 5 Tips For Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Image
We live in a business-oriented society. From buying groceries to traveling internationally, we rely heavily on local, national, and international businesses for many a spect s of our lives. We have become so accustomed to using these businesses in our day-to-day lives that we now take many of them for granted. No matter how big a corporation is, it's important to realize that every business started out small at some point in time. Every business - even those with thousands of employees - originally began simply as an idea in the mind of one forward-thinking individual. Global Entrepreneurship Week USA We owe entrepreneurs a great debt of gratitude for the roles they have played in shaping our society, our culture, and our nation. Next week (November 14-20, 2016) is designated as Global Entrepreneurship Week USA in recognition of the importance of these forward-thinking individuals. In honor of this important week-long observance, our business attorneys in Camdenton MO ...
Read more