Most of the time, people who are involved in a car accident do the right thing. They call the cops and exchange insurance information with the other driver. They know that it’s against the law to flee the scene of an accident or Hit and Run.
For other people, the law doesn’t matter. They flee the scene and have absolutely no regard for the person they hit. Even if they weren’t necessarily at fault, they’re afraid to stick around. There are several possible reasons for this:
- They don’t have a valid driver’s license or their license is suspended
- They have no insurance
- They’re in the middle of committing a crime
- The car they’re driving is stolen
- They’re high or drunk at the time of the crash
- They have active warrants and are afraid of getting arrested
While all of these may make sense, none of them are justified reasons to leave the scene of an accident. In Greenville, you’re required to report a car accident. You’re also supposed to call the cops so they can complete their accident investigation.
If someone hits you and then takes off, you need to call an experienced car accident lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina. Not only can they help identify the driver, they can also help you file your insurance claim.
How Can Your Attorney Help Track Down the Culprit?
Even if you’re involved in a hit and run, you need to call the cops. They will complete a thorough investigation of the accident scene. They’ll look for any evidence that can help find the driver of the other car.
Your car accident attorney in Greenville will get a copy of the police report. This report may provide some information that will help track down the person who hit you. For example, there may be debris at the scene that helps identify the car. Or, there could be witnesses who got the make and model of the car. You may even luck out and have a witness who caught the driver’s license plate.
Even if this information isn’t in the police report, your lawyer can still try to find the person who hit your car. You can provide any information you may have. You probably got a good look at the car that hit you – even if you didn’t see the driver.
Your lawyer will do some of the following in order to find the driver:
- They’ll check with local mechanics to see if any of them did work on a car that fits your description
- They’ll look to see if there are any intersection cameras or other types of videos that may have caught a visual of the car
- They will talk to witnesses to see if anyone can identify the driver
- They’ll check on social media to see if anyone posted about the crash
If none of this works, your car accident lawyer in Greenville will have to help you file a claim with your uninsured motorist’s policy.
Can You File an Insurance Claim?
Most drivers have an auto insurance policy that include uninsured motorist’s coverage. This means that, if you’re hit by an uninsured driver or you’re involved in a hit and run, you can get coverage for your damages.
Your claim should include the following, depending on the facts of your case:
- Medical bills – You are entitled to compensation for your medical bills. You can also demand payment for your future medical bills.
- Lost Wages – If your injuries are serious and you miss time from work, you can claim these wages. You do have to miss a rather significant amount of time before you put this kind of claim in. For example, if you missed three days of work, you probably won’t be reimbursed for lost wages.
- Permanent Disability – If you’re unable to return to work as a result of the crash, you can demand permanent disability. This will be equal to the difference between what you’ll receive on disability compared to what you would’ve earned working full-time.
- Property Damage – You can demand that money it costs to replace or repair your vehicle.
- Pain and Suffering – If your injuries were serious, you may be entitled to pain and suffering. These damages are intended to compensate you for mental and physical anguish caused by the accident.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Greenville Today
If you’ve been involved in a hit and run, you need to call an experienced car accident lawyer in Greenville at Brumback & Langley. Call today and schedule your free consultation. And remember – you pay nothing until you settle your case.
