A hit-and-run accident in Portsmouth, Virginia (VA), on the afternoon of August 26, 2016, left the innocent driver of an SUV seriously injured and city police searching for the at-fault driver. The crash occurred at the intersection of Lincoln Street and Chestnut Street, just west of Effingham Street.
According to police and witnesses, the at-fault driver was speeding and ran a stop sign before crashing into the SUV. The impact flipped both vehicles, and the driver who caused the accident fled on foot. A passenger from the speeding car also ran away from the scene. The woman in the SUV was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with undisclosed injuries.
Even if police identify and apprehend the person who hit and hurt the woman, she may not be able to hold him directly accountable for paying her medical bills or paying other forms of compensation and damages. If the car turns out to be stolen, the at-fault driver’s insurance would have grounds for denying coverage. If the at-fault driver lacks auto insurance altogether, he may not have the financial resources to pay a settlement or court judgment.
The innocent victim of this hit-and-run collision in Portsmouth may have to rely on the uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) provisions of her own insurance policy. Insurance companies treat UM/UIM claims the same way they treat third-party claims, meaning they conduct full investigations and question the need for compensation. Working with a dedicated and caring Virginia personal injury lawyer while pursuing a UM/UIM claim can protect a hit-and-run victim’s rights and interests.
EJL