If there is an accident, and those involved did not have information on the person who caused the accident, it is considered a hit-and-run. After seeking medical treatment, you should consult a seasoned car accident attorney. A dedicated DC hit-and-run car accident lawyer could help determine the cause of your accident and help you seek the compensation you need. Roger Gelb has years of experience helping those who have been injured due to another’s reckless actions. Reach out to learn how Roger Gelb could help your case.
In hit-and-run situations, the responsible driver is unknown. Often, those injured in a collision may be able to describe the vehicle or even the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident. However, that’s not enough information to pursue a claim against someone else.
A hit-and-run car crash attorney in DC will need to have at least a tag, or in some way, be able to identify that party. If the attorney cannot identify the fleeing driver, the injured party still has legal options. But those are easy enough to handle. As long as my client or potential client has their own liability insurance, then we can pursue an uninsured motorist claim on their behalf.
There are many reasons why a driver might flee an accident. It is not unusual to have a stolen car involved in a hit-and-run. If the vehicle is stolen, the driver does not want to stop and exchange information and risk having the police involved.
Additionally, another reason why a person who caused the accident may flee the scene because they may be under the influence and attempts to flee.
The third reason that a driver may leave the scene of an accident is if they had no liability insurance. And the driver may be afraid that they are going to be personally responsible.
In a hit-and-run accident, with no information on the at-fault party, the case is going to become an uninsured motorist claim under the claimants or the policy of the vehicle in which the injured party was a passenger. If an attorney is unable to resolve that claim, they are not suing another driver, but rather suing the insurance company for a breach of contract.
Additionally, if the injured party is in a vehicle and that vehicle is struck by an uninsured motorist, the attorney will look for tertiary coverage and use the claimant’s own personal automobile policy.
The party that is struck by the uninsured vehicle, even though the vehicle may actually be insured if the driver is unknown, there is no coverage for that vehicle. The party that is either injured or has sustained property damage on their vehicle is entitled to make a claim for the damage of their car. They may be eligible to recover compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering. Additionally, a separate property damage claim would compensate the claimant for the damage done to their vehicle.
Seeking legal help after a hit and run car accident in DC is crucial. An attorney can assist a claimant in getting a copy of the police report, as well as running tag checks that may help identify the fleeing motorist. You do not need to handle your car accident case alone. Let the legal team at Gelb & Gelb, P.C., could help. Speak to a DC hit and run car accident lawyer about your rights and legal options for compensation.
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