Options for Recovering Compensation After a Hit-and-Run
Being left injured on the side of the road with a disabled vehicle while the at-fault driver speeds away can induce feelings of hopelessness in anyone. If the driver who would be liable for the accident has disappeared, pursuing compensation from them may seem impossible, but in many cases, it actually is.
Hit-and-run car accidents involving personal injury are troubling to most police departments, and with the help of attorneys, they discover the identity of the at-fault driver more often than one might think. Additionally, the liable driver is not the only potential source of compensation. It would be wise to contact an attorney as soon as you are able to after a hit-and-run accident so that a prompt investigation can begin while evidence is more likely to be available at the location of the accident and from other sources.
Investigating a Hit-and-Run Accident
Hit-and-run drivers often assume that if they were not seen by the person they hit, it is not likely that their identity will be revealed so that they can be held responsible. This is frequently an errant line of thinking. Other options for discovering the identity of a hit-and-run driver include:
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Camera footage - Security cameras, traffic cameras, and dash cameras are all ubiquitous today. One would be hard-pressed to go a single city block without being spotted by at least one camera. Unless your accident happened in a more rural area, there may well exist footage of the accident or of the driver fleeing.
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Witnesses - Even if the accident happened far too quickly for you to have a clear view of the driver or their license plate, there is a possibility that another person observed something.
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Damage-matching - It is rare that a hit-and-run driver causes an accident sufficiently severe as to injure another party without sustaining damage to their own vehicle. In certain cases, the at-fault driver can be identified when they attempt to have the damage to their own vehicle repaired.
Recovering Compensation Through Your Insurance Policy
Even if identifying the liable driver proves impossible, you may still be able to recover compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage. If this is the most viable strategy for you, the claims process will be handled as if the driver who harmed you did not have insurance. In dealing with your own insurance company, it may still be helpful to be represented by a lawyer.
Contact a Kane County Car Accident Lawyer
Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. is skilled in pursuing compensation for those who have been injured in a hit-and-run accident. Our experienced Aurora car accident attorneys will do everything in our power to identify the liable driver or identify another source of compensation. Call 630-907-0909 for a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.carinsurancecomparison.com/traffic-camera-facts-you-should-know/
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/Insurance/Consumers/ConsumerInsurance/Auto/Pages/auto-insurance-shopping-guide.aspx
