Hit and Run Accidents

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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?

Hit and runs can happen for a variety of reasons. It may be that the driver of the car knows they were at fault and just doesn’t want to deal with it. But in most cases, drivers will flee the scene because they know they can get in a lot of trouble if they are found guilty of the accident. Here are some extenuating circumstances that may apply.

Drunk Driving: If a driver is drinking and gets into an accident, he or she knows they could get their license revoked and may even be facing jail time. Instead of dealing with it, they may simply flee the scene.

Uninsured Driver: It’s illegal to drive without insurance. If a driver without insurance causes an accident, they may be facing multiple fines.

A Driver with Outstanding Warrants or Tickets: When a driver does not pay their tickets or show up for court dates, they may have a bench warrant out for their arrest. If they are pulled over for an accident, they know they may end up in jail, so they take off instead.

A Driver with Other Legal Issues: Drivers that cause accidents may be dealing with other legal issues. For example, they may be in the country illegally or have other court cases hanging over their heads.

Panicked Driver: Sometimes a driver simply panics after an accident occurs. Their fight or flight reflex kicks in and, instead of dealing with the problem, they run away from it.

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.

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.

Your lawyer will know exactly how much money you should be receiving. He or she will negotiate with insurance companies to make sure you get what you deserve.

How to Find a Hit and Run Driver

Finding a hit-and-run driver may seem like finding a needle in a haystack. But if you know the steps to take, you may have some success. Here are some things to try.

Ask Witnesses: If there were people at the scene who saw the accident, talk to them to find out if they have additional identifying information such as the color, make or model of the car, description of the driver, license plate number, etc.

Ask Nearby Businesses: It’s possible that surveillance cameras from nearby businesses picked up footage of the accident. Ask business owners if you can go through their recorded data to see if you can find any evidence..

Door to Door Investigations: There may be neighbors in the area who saw the accident that can provide you with additional information.

Department of Motor Vehicles: If you have the driver’s license plate number, you may be able to get their name and address through the Department of Motor Vehicles. However, it’s best to give the license plate number to law enforcement first when going this route.

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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