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.

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85 Court Circle N.W., P.O. Box 559
Camdenton, MO 65020   GET A MAP
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Location: Camdenton, MO 65020, USA

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