Wilmington, NC Hit and Run Accident Lawyers

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It is always unfortunate when a reckless driver hits your car, but it’s even worse if he or she flees the scene of the accident. Then you have the unpleasant task of tracking them down before you can collect damages from their insurance.

It’s difficult to find hit and run drivers on your own and the police may not be of much help. That’s why you need a good lawyer on your side.

Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys are a team of Wilmington, North Carolina car accident attorneys with extensive hit-and-run experience. We also have intimate knowledge about how insurance companies work, as we started our careers as insurance defense lawyers ourselves. Armed with the knowledge of how insurance companies operate, we can get our clients the compensation they deserve quickly and efficiently. Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation with a member of our team.

Why Do Hit and Runs Happen?

There are many reasons why a motorist will leave the scene of an accident:

  • They do not have car insurance and are afraid of being personally liable.
  • They are afraid because there is an outstanding warrant for their arrest, or they do not legally have the right to be in the country.
  • The driver was working at the time of the accident, and they feared losing their job.
  • The motorist was intoxicated, and they knew that they would be arrested and charged.
  • The driver may have stopped but did not think that they had to stay.
  • The driver either had too much adrenaline after the accident or they were confused.
  • The motorist did not realize that there was an accident.

Regardless of why the motorist has left the scene, it is a crime under North Carolina law. It will be charged as a felony if there has been an injury in the crash, punishable by jail time if the driver is caught and charged. Nonetheless, a hit-and-run can make things more difficult for you.

What Should I Do After a Hit and Run Occurs?

There are many actions you can take after a hit and run occur, but one thing you should not do is try to take off after the other car. Pursuit can be dangerous, and you never know if the driver is belligerent, violent, or carrying a weapon.

However, you should try to get as much identifying information you can on the other vehicle such as color, make and model, year, and any identifying characteristics of the car or driver. If you can get the license plate, even better.

Here are some other actions you can take:

Call the police

For any hope of finding the driver responsible for that accident, it’s best to call the police as soon as possible. They will create a report with all the details of the accident.

Get medical help

You may not think you are that badly injured, but injuries can get worse over time. If you hold off on getting help, it will be difficult to prove your injuries were caused by the accident. If you see a doctor right away, he or she will create a medical report that ties your injuries to the collision.

Call an attorney

The police may try to find the driver that caused your accident but with so many cases on their hands, it will be difficult for them to prioritize a hit and run. The attorneys at Horton & Mendez will do everything possible to find the at-fault driver.

Hit and Run Accident Investigations

In the meantime, law enforcement and the insurance company, in addition to you, may try to find the driver who was responsible for the accident. Although it may not be easy to find the motorist who fled, there are ways to track down the driver. It is difficult, but certainly not impossible. The police will already be investigating the accident as a potential crime, and that can be helpful. However, you also have an additional financial motivation to find the driver who was responsible for the accident.

Here are some ways that you can locate the driver who hit you and left the scene of your accident:

  • Hire a dedicated investigator to try to locate the driver.
  • Speak with other witnesses to the accident and ask whether they have any dashcam or video footage of the accident.
  • Speak with residents and businesses in the area to ask if they saw a car speeding away that matched the description of the vehicle involved in the accident.
  • Ask police investigations to check surveillance or traffic cameras nearby.
  • Post a message on social media asking if people saw the car nearby.

An investigator may be your best bet to find the responsible driver. They may even check with repair shops in the area or try to match paint samples. You have enough on your plate after the accident, and you may be unable to track down the driver yourself.

What Happens if the Other Driver Can Not Be Found?

If it is not possible to find the at-fault driver, then our attorneys can help you find other ways to recover compensation. There are other types of insurance that may apply to your hit and run accident. However, insurance companies are notorious for trying to deny coverage or make lowball offers. Before speaking with the insurance company you should contact a lawyer to make sure you understand your legal rights.

Damages in a hit and run accident

Regardless of whose insurance you file your claim against, you are legally entitled to full damages up to the coverage limit when you can prove that the accident was someone else’s fault.

Your hit-and-run car accident damages can include the following:

  • The full cost of your medical care
  • Lost wages for time missed from work and a reduction in your earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering for your post-accident experience, including physical and emotional effects
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Our attorneys will work to maximize your financial compensation when it comes time to negotiate your settlement.

Why Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys Can Help With Your Hit and Run Accident

Finding a hit and run driver is not easy but your lawyer will help you locate at-fault drivers and so you can become compensated.

A hit-and-run accident is frustrating. You need a good lawyer on your side.

Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys have years of experience dealing with hit and run and car accident law, and we also have experience with the inner workings of insurance defense, as we did it ourselves. We will stop at nothing to track down at-fault drivers any applicable insurance policies to help get you the compensation you deserve. We are known for affordable rates, a caring attitude, and winning results.

Don’t let at-fault drivers leave you with a hefty insurance bill. Call Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation. Our team will see to it that justice is served, and we will work diligently to make sure insurance companies don’t take advantage of you. Get in touch with us today.

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