Hit-and-run car accidents can be as emotionally distressing as they may be physically harmful. Knowing what to do after another motorist has hit – and fled the scene, however, can be essential to:
What to Do After a Hit & Run Accident: FAQs
To help hit-and-run victims get on the path to healing and recovery, below, we have answered some of the most common questions people tend to have after being victimized by hit-and-runs.
While the answers below are intentionally general (to apply to as many readers as possible), please be aware that you can easily get more answers and information specific to you – and your auto accident – by contacting Lakewood Auto Accident Lawyer James L. Finegan. He is ready to help you.
A: Stay calm and call police ASAP to report the hit and run crash. Other important things to do in the immediate aftermath of a hit and run can include (and may not be limited to):
A: It depends on the nature of your auto insurance policy and, specifically, whether you have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. If you do, this coverage will generally also cover you for the damage you suffer in hit and run accidents.
In other words, if you have UM/UIM coverage, you can file a claim with YOUR insurer for compensation for your hit-and-run-related damages.
A: Not before you meet with a lawyer to find out if the settlement actually covers what you are owed. The reason that consulting an attorney (over insurers’ settlement offers) is so important is that insurance companies are NOT on claimants’ sides following car accidents.
In fact, insurers are usually just looking out for themselves, focused on preserving their own bottom line and profits. This can (and commonly does) come at the expense of crash victims. An attorney can make sure that you are victimized again after an auto accident by helping you stand up to insurers so you can obtain the full amount of compensation you deserve for your injuries, damage to your vehicle, etc.
If you or someone you love has been harmed in a hit and run – or in any type of motor vehicle crash, contact Lakewood Auto Accident Lawyer James L. Finegan to discover more about your options for compensation and justice. Attorney James Finegan has devoted more than three decades of his career helping and protecting the victims of traffic wrecks, including hit and runs. Skilled and trusted, James Finegan can help you recover the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled after any type of auto accident.
Call (303) 980-5511 or (888) 980-5511 – or email our firm (via the contact form on this page) to set up an initial consult and get answers about your rights now.
From offices based in Lakewood, Attorney James L. Finegan provides superior representation to clients throughout Jefferson County and the state of Colorado.