The chaotic aftermath of a hit and run accident can be horrible. Victims have to deal with pain, emotional distress, mounting medical bills, and significant stress. If this describes your situation, you need a hit and run accident attorney as soon as possible.
This article will cover how a car accident lawyer can obtain maximum compensation on your behalf. You’ll learn how an attorney investigates hit and run accidents, establishes liability, and calculates damages. We’ll also cover how attorneys negotiate with insurance companies and, if necessary, take a case to trial.
To learn more about your specific rights following a crash, contact a car accident attorney immediately.
Investigating Hit and Run Accidents
Researchers estimate that more than 680,000 hit and run accidents occur yearly. These wrecks kill thousands of innocent drivers, pedestrians, and other road users and severely injure tens of thousands more.
When you call a hit and run accident lawyer, they’ll immediately work to identify the responsible party. This complex task is similar to solving a puzzle where time is of the essence. Attorneys employ sophisticated investigative techniques, working with law enforcement agencies to unravel the mystery surrounding the incident.
Witness statements become invaluable pieces of that puzzle, offering firsthand accounts that may provide critical details about the fleeing vehicle, the driver, or the circumstances leading to the accident. Attorneys carefully analyze witness statements, meticulously cross-referencing information to create a cohesive account of what happened.
Forensic experts often play a pivotal role as well. Hit and run accident attorneys work with these specialists to analyze the scene, identifying and collecting evidence. These experts analyze skid marks, debris patterns, and vehicle damage with a fine-tooth comb, providing insights into the collision’s dynamics. The goal is to comprehensively understand the accident, creating a foundation for the subsequent legal proceedings.
How Video Can Impact a Hit and Run Case
In conjunction with witness accounts, cutting-edge technology, such as traffic camera footage, is integral to a hit-and-run accident investigation. This visual evidence serves as a time-stamped record, aiding in reconstructing the events leading up to the hit and run.
Traffic cameras, dashboard cameras (dashcams), and even surveillance cameras from nearby businesses can capture images of the fleeing vehicle, its license plate, or distinctive features that aid in its identification. In some instances, these visuals become the key to unlocking the identity of the hit and run driver. The video evidence identifies the vehicle and provides insights into the driver’s behavior before, during, and after the accident, offering valuable clues for investigators.
Video evidence can unravel mysteries, provide crucial details, and, most importantly, identify the responsible party.
An Unbiased Witness
One of the primary roles of video in hit and run accident investigations is to serve as an unbiased witness to the incident. Surveillance cameras installed on public roads, at traffic intersections, or even on private property can capture the unfolding events. This footage provides a visual record of the accident and helps investigators establish the events leading up to the accident.
Video evidence also transforms witness statements from verbal accounts into tangible and verifiable information. Eyewitness testimony can be subjective and prone to inconsistencies. On the other hand, video footage acts as an objective source that supports or refutes these statements.
The combination of witness accounts and video evidence allows hit and run accident attorneys to construct a more robust and accurate account of the incident.
Video evidence is particularly invaluable in cases where the hit and run occurs during non-peak hours or in less populated areas, where it’s much less likely there are any eyewitnesses.
The role of video in a hit and run investigation extends beyond mere identification. Accident reconstruction specialists (which you’ll learn much more about in the next section) can use the footage to recreate the scene, analyze vehicle trajectories, and scrutinize the dynamics of the collision. This level of detail helps attorneys determine liability, showcasing the fleeing driver’s negligence.
Determining Liability
Determining liability in a hit and run accident can be complicated because the perpetrator left the scene. However, experienced hit and run accident attorneys know how to deal with the complexities.
The Role of Accident Reconstruction Experts
Accident reconstruction experts play a crucial role in hit and run accident investigations, offering specialized skills that can paint a detailed picture of how the incident occurred.
Their comprehensive analysis and meticulous approach provide law enforcement agencies and hit and run accident attorneys with invaluable tools to piece together the puzzle, identify the responsible party, and build the strongest possible case for their clients.
The most significant way accident reconstruction experts help a case is by recreating the events leading to the hit and run accident. As mentioned, they look at physical evidence (vehicle damage, skid marks, etc.) to determine how the wreck occurred. Other pieces of physical evidence include:
- Broken pieces of vehicles.
- Transfers of paint between the cars involved.
- Unique characteristics of tire marks.
By analyzing the evidence left at the accident scene, these specialists can provide insights into the type and potentially even the make and model of the fleeing vehicle. This information becomes a crucial lead for law enforcement to locate the hit and run driver.
Accident reconstruction can also serve as a visual roadmap, offering insights into the speed, direction, and impact forces involved, ultimately helping identify the responsible driver.
Many experts use sophisticated technology to enhance their analyses. They can recreate the accident in a virtual environment using computer simulations, 3D modeling, and sophisticated software. This technology not only aids in visualizing the sequence of events but also allows for testing different scenarios.
Such simulations contribute to a more accurate and detailed reconstruction, assisting investigators and attorneys in presenting a compelling case.
Testimony from accident reconstruction experts carries significant weight. Experts can explain complex, technical details in a way judges and juries can understand. By presenting their findings and analyses in court, these experts contribute to building a persuasive case that establishes liability and helps victims obtain fair compensation.
Damages Resulting From a Hit and Run Accident
If you’ve suffered an injury in a hit and run accident, you’ve incurred medical bills and probably lost income because you can’t go back to work. The wreck might have ruined your car. You’re also dealing with a lot of pain and possibly some emotional issues due to the trauma you experienced.
The above financial losses and emotional problems are known as “damages” in legal terms. You’re taking legal action to recover those damages, which your car accident attorney will have to calculate so you receive fair compensation.
That compensation can be significant when you look at the costs associated with medical treatment. For instance, spending three days in the hospital can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Even an ambulance ride to the hospital can be expensive, costing $2,000 or more depending on the length of the ride and the services you receive. Routine blood and urine tests can run as much as $650 each.
These and other costs add up quickly. You don’t deserve these financial burdens because of an accident that wasn’t your fault. Your car accident lawyer will work diligently to prove all of your damages so you can get every dollar you have coming.
How Attorneys Calculate Damages
How do they go about doing that? They work closely with medical professionals, economists, and other experts to assess the full extent of your losses. Lawyers meticulously scrutinize medical expenses with a keen eye on immediate and long-term needs.
Attorneys may turn to other experts as well. For example, an economist might evaluate the accident’s impact on your earning capacity, considering lost and potential future income. A mental health professional may help quantify your pain and suffering, a significant component of damages.
This comprehensive approach ensures that attorneys don’t overlook any component of a client’s suffering. The goal is to recover your monetary losses and address the impact of the hit and run on your overall well-being.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
After the lawyer investigates the case, determines liability, and calculates damages, they’ll negotiate with the insurance company covering the driver who caused the hit and run accident.
Negotiating with insurance companies is a delicate process, one requiring skill and finesse. The goal is to secure fair compensation. This negotiation process involves a strategic combination of effective communication, comprehensive evidence presentation, and a deep understanding of insurance policies.
Here are a few steps your attorney will take when negotiating.
Stating Your Case
First and foremost, your car accident attorney will have all the facts before starting negotiations. This includes a comprehensive examination of the accident scene, witness statements, police reports, medical records, and other relevant evidence.
Effective communication is a cornerstone of a successful negotiation. Your lawyer will present your case clearly and persuasively, backed by solid evidence. They’ll make a compelling argument that proves the at-fault driver’s liability and spells out all of your damages. A well-crafted communication strategy is crucial in countering any attempts by insurance adjusters to minimize the value of the claim.
A lawyer must have a counter to the insurer’s efforts to deny or reduce your compensation. A seasoned attorney will use their experience to dismantle any insurance company counterarguments, such as liability disputes or arguments regarding the nature and extent of your damages.
Your car accident lawyer must understand the legal precedents, statutes, and regulations governing personal injury claims to make compelling counterarguments. This knowledge allows attorneys to construct robust arguments that stand up to scrutiny.
Understanding Relevant Insurance Policies
Car accident attorneys are adept at navigating the intricate landscape of insurance policies. They scrutinize the terms and conditions, exclusions, and coverage limits to understand every aspect of a policy. This nuanced comprehension allows attorneys to strategically negotiate for the maximum compensation available under the policy terms.
They may also identify additional avenues for recovery, such as stacking multiple insurance policies or exploring underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage.
Back-and-Forth Discussions
The negotiation process often involves a series of offers and counteroffers between the car accident attorney and the insurance company. Attorneys use their negotiation skills to secure the best possible settlement, considering economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages may include medical expenses, property damage, and lost income, while non-economic damages encompass pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium.
Throughout this negotiation, your car accident attorney will fight for your rights, proving your claim is valid so the at-fault driver’s insurer meets its obligations. Their goal is to secure financial compensation and provide a sense of justice and closure.
The Trial Process
If the insurance company refuses to pay what you deserve, your car accident lawyer will take them to court. But don’t assume this will happen in your case. The vast majority of personal injury cases settle without the need for a trial.
But a skilled lawyer will always prepare as if a trial will happen. The trial process is meticulous. Attorneys must present a compelling case while adhering to all court-mandated deadlines. Only the best car accident lawyers have the skill to handle all of the details while making an argument that resonates with a judge and jury.
Your car accident attorney will work to establish that the at-fault driver caused the hit and run and show the extent of your damages. They’ll aim to combine their legal acumen and persuasive skills to build an airtight case.
Going to trial is a strategic decision that attorneys weigh with great care. They carefully evaluate the potential risks and benefits, considering the complexities of the case, the strength of the evidence, and the dynamics of the legal landscape. It’s a calculated move, with the ultimate goal of securing justice and holding the responsible party accountable for the suffering you’ve endured.
Learn More by Contacting a Car Accident Lawyer Immediately
Your only chance of obtaining fair compensation resulting from a hit and run accident is to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. They’ll work passionately to help secure your financial future while you focus on your recovery.