Fighting Back From an Injury After a Hit and Run

If you’re injured in a auto accident, it’s hard enough to bounce back under the best circumstances, but when the driver responsible doesn’t stick around at the scene as they are required to do, it can be that much harder to get the compensation necessary to pay for your medical bills, fix your own vehicle, and make up for any life adjustments you’ve had to make as you build your future. The first thing you need to do is get through the moment the best you can. This means seeing that your own injuries are tended to as quickly as possible, and getting as much information as you can about the accident by taking pictures, calling on witnesses to take pictures, and recording as much detail about what happened, the vehicle that drove away and the description of the driver. Report the incident to the police, and let your insurance company know that an accident has occurred.

Putting Together a Case

While your insurance company needs to know about your case, it is a good idea to talk to an attorney before you say too much to an insurance adjuster. Sometimes injuries aren’t completely felt right away, and you’ll have a better sense of how the accident has affected you if you allow the initial shock and adrenaline wear off and you are really feeling your injury. If the driver is not found, your claim will likely be made based on your uninsured driver policy. However, if you work closely with the local police and an attorney, there is a better chance that the driver will ultimately turn themselves in, or that the evidence collected at the scene of the accident will help reveal who was responsible for the accident, If this information is discovered, it will be easier to hold the appropriate person responsible.

Getting Support

Whether you are ultimately able to locate the hit and run driver, and whether they have the insurance required by the state, a lawyer can help guide you through the process, and can often keep the insurance company from undervaluing the extent of your injuries, and providing you with an inadequate settlement that won’t fill your needs.

At Johnston, Moore & Weston Attorneys at Law, we have worked with a wide variety of personal injury cases throughout Northern Alabama and make a strong commitment to help our clients get a fair settlement. If you’ve been hurt in a hit and run accident, call us to set up a consultation to discuss your case.

Sources: http://traffic.findlaw.com/traffic-tickets/leaving-the-scene-of-an-accident-hit-and-run.html, http://blogs.findlaw.com/injured/2012/05/5-things-to-do-when-youre-a-hit-and-run-victim.html