You’re the Victim Of A Hit-And-Run Accident. What Now?
Being involved in a hit-and-run accident is accompanied by the same trauma and potential for physical injury as any other accident that takes place on the road. However, it comes with the added anxiety of the other person driving off instead of taking accountability for their actions.
Hit-and-run accidents can be serious, and it’s important that you lodge a hit-and-run claim to receive the hit-and-run compensation that you deserve. But what are the next steps? Who will reimburse you for medical bills, psychological trauma, and beyond? Let’s take a closer look at how a hit-and-run injury claim works and how a hit-and-run accident lawyer can help.
What Should You Do After A Hit-And-Run Accident?
It’s important to remember that, no matter whether you’re looking into motor vehicle claims because someone fled after colliding with your car or you were hit while crossing the street, a hit-and-run encompasses a wide range of accidents in which you were struck by a vehicle and the driver fled the scene.
It’s also important to note that you might be working with far less information than the average accident victim would. It’s critical that you act fast and take the right steps. But what are these? Always:
- If possible, try to take down the type of vehicle, the colour of the vehicle and the registration number - even a partial registration number can assist. The more you can remember the better.
- Examine yourself and your passengers for any injuries. Call the paramedics so that these injuries are properly treated immediately.
- Call the police. It’s crucial that you do this as soon as possible so they can examine the crime scene, gather evidence, and get your statement while the accident and any essential details are still fresh on your mind, if this is possible at the time.
- Take pictures and make sure that all injuries are properly documented at the hospital so that you can receive the proper hit-and-run compensation.
- See if there were any witnesses in the area who might have more information about your accident as well as a description of the driver’s car or license plate number.
The more information you have, the easier it will be to lodge a hit-and-run claim.
How Does A Hit-And-Run Claim Work?
Knowing what claiming a hit-and-run for insurance entails is necessary so that you know how to properly navigate the process. So, how does a hit-and-run claim work?
- You gather all of the information you need in order to lodge your hit-and-run car accident claim. This includes documentation like all of the receipts for your medical expenses, proof of your loss of income (if you’re filing for back pay), and evidence of the hit-and-run.
- You lodge your claim for hit-and-run compensation within 28 days for back pay or within three months so that you’re able to be reimbursed for your loss of wages from the date of the hit-and-run accident.
- You work with a hit-and-run lawyer who can help you get all of the compensation you deserve, whether this is the initial payment for medical expenses and back pay or the lump sum that you receive for the pain and suffering that you’ve endured and any loss of income that you have suffered or may suffer in the future as a result of your injuries.
Another common question that we receive about hit-and-run claims is, who pays in this scenario? After all, without a driver present at the scene of the accident, this complicates things. We will discuss this aspect of hit-and-run compensation later on in this guide.
How Much Compensation Can I Receive For A Hit-And-Run Accident?
The hit-and-run compensation amount that you can expect to receive will depend entirely on your personal circumstances. Let’s imagine, for example, that you were driving a car and you were hit by a negligent driver who then proceeded to leave. However, you received only minor injuries in the process.
Compensation for hit-and-run victims in this situation might be relatively low. If they only had minor injuries, they may still be able to work, have fewer medical expenses, and experience less trauma from their situation.
Now, let’s imagine that you were struck by a driver while you were crossing the street. Pedestrian hit-and-run compensation is generally expected to be substantially more given that the scope of the injuries is far greater because pedestrians have no protection. This may impact your ability to work, can cause psychological issues, and so on.
Working with a hit-and-run accident lawyer will help you better understand what type of compensation you might expect to receive once you lodge your hit-and-run claim.
Who Pays In A Hit-And-Run Accident?
In a typical motor vehicle accident, the person who is injured or whose car is damaged exchanges insurance information with the other driver. However, in a hit-and-run accident, there is no one there that you can get information from. This can go in one of two directions, depending on the accident.
If you manage to get enough information about the make and model of the car or some/all of the license plate number, police may be able to track the driver down. The driver’s CTP insurance will then pay any of the necessary hit-and-run compensation from your hit-and-run claim.
If, on the other hand, the driver is untraceable, what happens next? Fortunately, you can still lodge a hit-and-run claim. What happens is that someone else takes the place of the person who would be paying your claim. This entity is called a Nominal Defendant. The Nominal Defendant is funded by the CTP insurers as well as state and federal governments.
While this body is there to step in, you can still expect to have to defend your claims in a court of law. This is why it’s so important to thoroughly document every aspect of your hit-and-run accident so that you can properly prosecute your claim. You should also enlist the help of a hit-and-run lawyer to help you seek hit-and-run compensation with as few obstacles along the way as possible.
But when it comes time to make a claim for your hit-and-run accident, who are you supposed to trust with your case?
Lodge Your Hit-And-Run Claim With The Support Of Stacks Goudkamp
Depending upon the type of hit-and-run accident that you’ve experienced, injuries can range from minor to severe. But regardless of your type of accident, you deserve comprehensive support and appropriate motor vehicle accident compensation for what you have gone through. That’s where we come in.
Stacks Goudkamp is your hit-and-run accident injury firm, composed of lawyers who have over 40 years of experience helping those involved in hit-and-run accidents claim the compensation they deserve to cover pain and suffering, medical bills, mental health support, loss of wages and beyond. Not only are we successful at helping you receive the hit-and-run compensation you deserve, but we’re also here for you every step of the way.
We know that a hit-and-run accident can be painful in many ways, and we want to make sure that you have peace of mind knowing that we offer full transparency, walk you through the entire process, and do the hard work so that you don’t have to wonder whether or not your claim will be successful.
Are you ready to begin the hit-and-run claims process? Reach out to us at (02) 4058 2715 or contact us online for a free comprehensive initial consultation!
