What is a hit-and-run?
If the driver didn’t stop after the collision, this is called a hit-and-run and can make recovering damages for your injuries more difficult. Here is a quick checklist of the first things you should do if you are the victim of a hit-and-run:
- Call the police and make a formal report. That way, the police can begin an investigation.
- Get the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
- Give all of the information you have collected to the police.
- Seek medical attention.
Who hit me?
If you are later able to identify and locate the hit-and-run driver, or if the police are able to identify them from their investigation, it is critical that you discuss your options with a personal injury attorney, especially if you suffered significant injuries from the accident.
Who is liable?
After an accident involving injuries, drivers usually have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to help any injured person. These steps include calling for assistance from emergency medical services, and reporting the accident to local law enforcement.
Any driver who fails to fulfill their duties after being involved in an accident can receive a traffic ticket, at a minimum. In some cases, especially when an accident causes injury or death, a driver who leaves the scene of an accident can be subject to serious criminal charges.
If the “hit and run” driver cannot be found, the victim of the accident may have a type of insurance coverage called “uninsured motorists” coverage which may provide a source of recovery in a hit and run accident.
Contact Houston Attorney Stewart Guss
If you have suffered an injury in a Houston auto accident, even if the person who hit you cannot be found, your main concern should always be on your physical and mental recovery. You should not have to constantly worry about your legal case. Stewart Guss will do whatever it takes to get you fully compensated for your injuries, and he takes pride in treating his clients like family. Pick up the phone and call 281-954-3799 to talk to us about your car accident case. Remember, your consultation is FREE, and you pay NOTHING until we win your case.
