Shreveport Hit and Run Attorney

What is a Hit and Run Car Accident?

A hit and run car accident occurs when a driver collides with a motorist, bike, pedestrian, or other type of public property and then takes off without presenting identification or offering to help anyone who was injured or otherwise harmed. In many cases, the motorist flees before law enforcement arrives on the scene.

Aside from the possibility that the driver is simply scared of the repercussions that may come from this accident, it’s also possible that the driver:

• Doesn’t have vehicle insurance
• Is impaired due to drug or alcohol use before driving
• Doesn’t have a license or their license is suspended
• Has past citations that can cause them to lose their license
• Is driving a borrowed or stolen car
• Has stolen property or drugs in their possession

What To Do After Being Involved in a Hit and Run Car Accident

It can be easy to be overwhelmed or flustered after a hit and run accident. However, it is important that you keep a level head during this time, as your next moves can make all the difference in your case later on. As a result, remember to take the following steps to protect yourself after a hit and run car accident:

• Remain at your current location. Never pursue the other driver, as it can be incredibly risky and hurt your case in the long run.
• Report the accident. Call the police right away. Describe your injuries as well as the car that hit you to the best of your ability.
• See a doctor. Even if you don’t feel pain right away, you should seek immediate medical treatment. You may not notice injuries right away due to shock and adrenaline.
• Make a list of everything. Write down details about the other driver’s car, including the color, make, model, and license plate number, if at all possible. If you were able to get a look at the driver, write down their description to the best of your ability, as well. This improves your chances of identifying them.
• Locate witnesses. Request that any witnesses to the accident write down what they saw.
• Take photos. If you’re able to, get pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the collision area while still at the scene of the accident.

If the driver is identified but uninsured, a personal injury claim may need to be filed against them in order to receive compensation for your losses.

What Happens if You Can’t Identify the Driver?

Can you get compensation without knowing who caused the accident? Yes, it is possible. In short, it is determined by the terms of your insurance policy as well as state legislation. There are some ways to protect yourself if you are in a hit and run car accident, such as:

• No-Fault Insurance: This is a type of insurance provided by your own insurance company that allows you to get compensation for things like lost wages, medical expenses, time off work, and replacement services.  Depending on the quantity of insurance you have and state rules, these benefits may be limited.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Uninsured motorist coverage compensates victims of accidents caused by drivers who do not have automobile insurance. An unknown at-fault driver is treated the same as a known at-fault driver without insurance when it comes to this kind of coverage.

What Damages are Recoverable for a Hit and Run Accident?

The good news is that you can recoup your monetary damages by filing an auto accident claim. After a hit and run in Louisiana (and after seeking medical treatment for any injuries from the accident), you should consult with a hit and run attorney to understand your legal options. 

Keep in mind that each vehicle accident claim is unique. The amount of money you can get back depends on a number of criteria, including the extent of the property damage and whether you share any blame for the accident.

Because the facts of your accident can influence which damages you can claim, you may not be able to recover all types of damages. Discuss this with your lawyer during your initial consultation.

Car accident victims may be able to claim the following damages:

PROPERTY DAMAGES

The victim’s car is often damaged in a hit and run car accident. Other property, such as personal belongings within the vehicle or the property where the accident happened, may also be damaged. You can seek compensation for this with a property damage claim.

Images of your car at the scene of the accident, photos of any other property destroyed by the collision, and witness evidence about the accident is used to prove your property damage claim.

If an auto body shop repaired your vehicle, include the bill as part of your claim. An appropriate compensation figure cannot be computed without a record of the cost of fixing your car.

If your automobile is totaled, you can use sources like the NADA guide, Kelley Blue Book, or estimates from local auto dealers to figure out how much your car is worth and how much compensation you might be entitled to.

If your car is severely damaged or totaled, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of value. This is the loss of value you suffered due to your vehicle being wrecked and repaired. A statement from a car dealer is needed to establish your loss.

MEDICAL EXPENSES

The price for your diagnosis, hospitalization, and treatment can be costly after a hit and run car accident. Physical therapy and medication may be needed after your initial diagnosis and treatment. Your medical expense claim may cover all of these charges.

Your attorney must produce proof of your appointments with doctors and other medical personnel, your diagnoses, and statements from these professionals to prove you require compensation for your medical expenses. 

LOST WAGES

Time off work may be needed if you are seriously injured in a hit and run car accident. You are losing both earnings and prospects for promotion during this time. Your hit and run attorney looks at both of these factors when they’re figuring out how much compensation you are due.

A car accident claim in Louisiana has a one-year statute of limitations from the date of the accident. This means you can’t seek compensation for your losses after this period passes. 

Pay stubs and—if a lost promotion is a part of your claim—evidence that you were close to promotion are needed to prove your need for lost wages compensation. To link the lost time to your injuries, you’ll also need a work excuse from your doctor.

PAIN AND SUFFERING

You may need psychological counseling to address any mental health concerns that developed because of the accident or you may have pain for the rest of your life. However, damages for pain and suffering are much harder to quantify. As a result, the details of the accident and how bad the injuries were to the victim are part of the calculation for pain and suffering damages.

WRONGFUL DEATH DAMAGES

A wrongful death in Louisiana occurs when a loved one is killed in a car accident caused by someone else. Medical expenses, funeral fees, and compensation for conscious pain and suffering as well as loss of enjoyment of life that your loved one endured between the time of injury and the time of death are all factored into wrongful death damages.

You can also seek the “pecuniary value” of your loved one’s life in a wrongful death claim. Basically, this figure indicates what he or she would have earned over the course of his or her estimated lifetime, minus projected expenses.

If your spouse was killed in a hit and run car accident, damages for loss of consortium, or loss of affection and companionship, are also typically available.

Victim of a Hit and Run Car Accident? Call 716-HELP Today

Need a hit and run attorney? Look no further. While we offer a wide range of services to our clients, the types of claims we handle at Gordon & Gordon are mostly those involving Louisiana auto accidents or other personal injuries. We feel that concentrating our business on Louisiana auto accident cases allows us to be considerably more helpful to our clients.

Our Shreveport personal injury lawyers have built a strong reputation for handling claims all around the Ark-La-Tex over the years. Insurance adjusters take us seriously because of our degree of experience and industry saturation. They know that when we file a personal injury claim, we’ll go to tremendous efforts to prove fault and get our clients the money they deserve.

If you were hurt by a driver who fled the scene of an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. To get a hit and run attorney at Gordon & Gordon to help you through this difficult time, call (318) 716-4357 right away.