The dangers of texting and driving are evident. A lack of focus can easily result in a car accident. Car accidents are more common than you think. They can be extremely stressful and leave you with devastating injuries. Things can get worse in densely populated areas such as Denver and other parts of San Luis Obispo.
A hit and run is a situation where the offending driver causes a collision and flees the scene. Most drivers do not know what to do when they become a hit and run victim. This means that they might not take the necessary steps for building a case to claim damages with the help of a personal injury attorney. Since fatalities have increased from hit and run crashes, it is important that you contact a personal injury lawyer in San Luis Obispo in case you have been hurt or suffered a loss from such an accident.
Who Is Liable In A Hit And Run Accident?
From a legal perspective, the negligent driver is to blame for the hit and run accident. However, in order for your case to be considered a hit and run, the other driver must have driven away in order to escape. Although you might have coverage for bodily injury and property damage, your insurance provider might not automatically cover you as you still need to prove that the accident occurred and that you are not at fault and that the other driver escaped. They might even think that you were drunk and drove into the other car.
Steps You Need To Take in a Hit and Run
Now, your adrenaline is likely to be pumping through your veins when you go through an accident. It would cloud your ability to make the right decision. But, to receive fair compensation, you must take the following steps.
- Ensure You and Everyone Else Is Safe: Get out of your road and move harm out of your way.
- Contact the Police: Next, you must report the accident to the police and let them know that the other driver escaped. You must make sure that you report the incident as soon as possible. However, you have up to 24 hours to do so.
- Seek Medical Care Immediately: Whether you have been badly hurt or not, you would still require medical attention. Even though you might not want to undergo medical treatment, you must consider it. Besides, if your injury does not get treated right away, you would have trouble linking your medical bills to the accident. Having a solid paper trail that includes your medical bills will prove useful.
- Find Witnesses: Despite the fact that you might have trouble finding witnesses on a busy highway, it is important that you search for witnesses. Ask people around you if they saw the accident take place and can corroborate the details. Make sure to take their contact details so that your attorney can reach out to them to testify if needed.
- Search for Video Cameras: Since traffic cameras are a common sight, you must look for video cameras that might have recorded the accident take place. There are likely to be a few video cameras hidden somewhere nearby. You must ask around and see if any of the stores caught the accident.
- Capture Pictures of the Vicinity, Yourself, and Your Vehicle: To gather more evidence, you must take pictures of everything. It will help ensure that your claim is successful. There might be paint on your vehicle, a visible injury, or skid marks. Thus, you have to immediately take pictures of everything. Without the pictures, your case would be weak.
- Reach Out to An Attorney: Next, you must contact a personal injury lawyer in San Luis Obispo to share your story for guidance on contacting your insurance company.
- File a Claim with the Insurance Company: As you might already know, insurance companies make a profit by offering as little money as possible and are always looking for an easy way out. Hence, you have to follow the advice provided by a lawyer. You must tell an accurate story to ensure that you do not get tricked later down the road. Think through everything before you contact the insurance company. It will allow you to receive compensation for the damages.
Get Help from an Expert
One of the best decisions that you can make if you have been a victim of a hit and run accident is to contact an experienced injury attorney. This is where a personal injury lawyer in San Luis Obispo can help you out. Not only do we have extensive knowledge of the claims systems and priceless experience, but we will act as your personal advocate and negotiator when dealing with the insurance company. Reach out to us today for a free consultation.
