Although Virginia state laws levy serious criminal penalties on any driver who flees the scene of a motor vehicle accident without waiting for the police to arrive, some drivers still think they can evade responsibility after being involved in a crash. Sadly, if you were seriously injured or your vehicle was heavily damaged in a Virginia hit-and-run accident, your ability to collect compensation is going to be rather limited unless the police are able to track down the driver who hit you.
With that being said, it is still important to know ahead of time what you should do following a hit-and-run accident, just in case the situation ever arises. If forewarned is forearmed, then knowing what to focus on will help you build a stronger insurance claim or personal injury case, and what Virginia personal injury law firm is best suited to help you out of this tricky situation.
The Virginia car accident lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp are here to help you understand your rights. We know that the process of filing a personal injury suit is unfamiliar to most people and are here to guide you through the process. Contact our Norfolk-area personal injury offices as soon as possible to schedule a free, review of your potential claim.
Find Identifying Information On the Driver Who Fled the Scene
Even though law enforcement typically responds quickly to car accidents once they have been reported, police often have a hard time tracking down hit-and-run drivers directly after a crash. Instead, most hit-and-run drivers are apprehended due to identifying details noticed by those involved in the accident or eyewitnesses.
If the other driver leaves the scene after striking your car, do your best to document every single detail you can remember about them or their vehicle. This includes the color, make and model, any distinguishing features, and as much of their license plate as you can remember. After the police arrive, give them all the information you managed to write down. Soliciting information from other drivers and bystanders who may have witnessed the accident is also a good idea.
In most cases, it is worth taking the time to check with businesses and shops in the area to see if they have exterior security cameras that could have recorded the accident. Lastly, it is vital that you take pictures of any visible injuries, the damage to your car, and any surrounding property damage since they could serve as critical evidence for both your insurance claim and any potential lawsuit.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
After the police give you permission to leave the scene, the next thing you should do is go directly to the hospital and get a medical assessment from a licensed physician. This is extremely important, even if you think you managed to escape unharmed. There are several different kinds of injuries, particularly neck, back, and head injuries, that do not begin to show symptoms until several hours or even days after an accident. This is one of the reasons that being promptly evaluated by a doctor is so important. Also, if you are diagnosed with an injury, formal documentation of that fact will play a pivotal role in any subsequent negotiations or litigation.
Recovery Options
If you carry uninsured motorist insurance, your insurer might cover damages arising from a Virginia hit-and-run accident even if the other driver is never found. If you don’t have that kind of coverage, you may still be eligible to file a claim as long as you can show you weren’t at fault for the crash.
In the event that you do work out who hit you, you might be able to pursue compensation through their insurance or by bringing a personal injury claim against them. This can be done even if the offender is not criminally charged with fleeing the scene. An experienced Virginia car accident attorney can go over each of these options with you in detail and recommend the best course of action for your situation.
Consult a Respected Virginia Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured due to someone else’s carelessness in a Virginia hit-and-run accident, you should not be held accountable for the injuries and damages you sustained. Contact a Virginia personal injury lawyer from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today at (833) 997-1774 or via our online form for a free case evaluation. Let us put our experience to work for you.