Hit and run accidents are more common than what people realize. While we all want to think that honesty is going to win out in the end, many people who are involved in a hit and run accidents simply leave the scene and never speak of what happened again. It leaves the victims feeling even more alone and if the hit and run involved a bicyclist or a pedestrian, it can mean dealing with injuries for the rest of their lives.
For drivers of vehicles, they need to remember that a hit and run is against the law. When you hit someone or even a car, the law requires that you stop and stay at the scene until the authorities arrive or the driver and you exchange insurance information. You are responsible for what damage is caused! But, what happens when you are the victim of a hit and run? While there are several types of hit and runs, we are going to focus on those associated with pedestrians.
The scenario is that you are walking across the street, you have the right of way and then out of nowhere, a car hit you. For a split second you are lying on the ground and then you hear the car speed away, tires squealing. Unfortunately, this is a stereotypical scene when talking about a hit and run. How should you respond? Here are some steps that you can take if you become the victim in this situation.
In a hit and run accident, the police are going to be fully involved in this process. A hit and run is a serious offense that can result in time spent in jail. The law states that any driver needs to:
Police will try to find ways to determine who the driver was that was responsible for the hit and run that affected the pedestrian. They may use eyewitness reports and the license number that someone found and look up this vehicle and who it is registered to.
If this information is not available, if this was a busy intersection with local businesses around, it could be that the car was caught on security footage that can help to identify who was driving. Just know that the police are going to be doing everything in their power to bring this person to justice.
While you cannot control the drivers around you, you can do things that are going to help prevent you from being involved in a hit and run! Here are a few rules to remember while walking around:
When you have been hit by a car, this is a personal injury that could result in significant damages. For example, there are those who are hit by cars and end up with broken backs and lifelong problems. There are those who end up with traumatic brain injuries.
Cars are thousands of pounds that are hitting someone who is a few hundred pounds. The damage that this can do is traumatic. For those who walk away with a scratch and some pain, they need to consider themselves lucky.
Those who are responsible for a hit and run will be punished by the law. However, what about you, the victim? This is when victims need to consider what their options really are.
They have two: they can let the legal system give punishment and the insurance of the responsible party pay for their injuries or they can get a lawyer who is going to fight on their behalf.
When you work with a lawyer, you are going to find that they are going to get more than simple medical expenses paid for the victim. They can also try fighting for:
These are all issues that a personal injury lawyer can work with you on and ensure that you get what you deserve.
If you have been the victim of a hit and run, Conte Jaswal are here to help you get what you deserve. The statute of limitations for these types of accidents is 2 years. Therefore, if you feel that you deserve more than what you are getting or want more justice, call us today for a free consultation so that we can see how we can help you!
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