A 58-year-old man was the victim of a hit and run Thursday, November 29, 2018. The accident happened on Wall Street between the Second and Third avenues, and his body was found around 1:30 am. He was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center where doctors confirmed that he had broken right and left tibia and pelvis.
Then on Saturday, police found a car that matched a description given by the victim parked outside an apartment building in Brown’s Addition. Police arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of vehicular assault and hit and run.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
When the driver runs and is not found, it presents difficulties for the victim. First, the victim often is delayed in getting help because many times the non-injured driver will call for help. Also, there is less evidence at the scene as one of the vehicles is not available for inspection.
Victims will feel twice victimized, once by the crash and again when the driver takes off and doesn’t return. Police will often use the damage to the vehicle as a means of tracking down the driver of the suspected hit-an-run.
Insurance Problems
In a hit-and-run, the at-fault driver is not around, thus the victim has no one to be held responsible for the damages. Typically, the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay for the damages, but in these cases, it’s unknown who that is.
Other issue are:
- What injuries can I claim?
- Will my insurance pay for just damages to my car or for medical bills and lost wages too?
- What happens if my insurance pays me for my medical injury and then they find the hit-and-run driver? Do I have to pay my insurance company back?
- Is my Insurance company no longer on my side? Are they going to try and say it was my fault?
- What if they don’t believe me?
Many times, insurance companies that get hit-and-run claims are suspicious of the claims because there is a chance for fraud by the victim. This can put a strain on the relationship between the victim and their own insurance company.
Do I need an Attorney for a Hit-and-Run?
Not all injuries require an attorney, in cases where the injuries are severe and the law can be a bit complicated such as in hit-and-run accidents, then you need to at the least speak to an attorney who can assess your case and give you advice that you can trust.
It doesn’t matter if the insurance company is yours or the other driver’s, they still have one job to do: pay as little as possible. Insurance companies don’t make a profit if they give out too much money, so they only pay out what they have to.
You need an attorney that understands hit-and-run law and has experience dealing with insurance companies. Talk to an attorney who will represent your interests and be on your side. At Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S., has experienced attorneys trained in the law dealing with drunk driving and personal injury. They can go toe-to-toe with the insurance companies and their lawyers to get you fair compensation for your injuries. Call them at (509) 926 4900 or send them a message.
