Albany Hit and Run Accident Injury Lawyers

Hit-and-Run Crash Injury Lawyers Serving Albany

Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Hit-and-Run?

Your personal injury lawyer, along with law enforcement, can investigate a hit and run accident and can hopefully successfully identify the at-fault motorist through witnesses, traffic cams, and other evidence. A defendant’s conviction for hit and run could significantly strengthen a plaintiff’s claim regarding both liability and damages.

Injury victims confront a much more difficult task when the hit and run driver cannot be identified and located. When appropriate, our Albany personal injury lawyers may work closely with investigators, vehicle engineers, crash reconstruction experts, and others with specialized knowledge to uncover how a crash occurred and the parties responsible for causing the collision. While this approach will not work for every crash where the negligent driver flees, several parties might be viable defendants depending on the facts and circumstances, such as:

• Companies that design, manufacturer, and market defective parts, components, and/or vehicles
• Government authorities that design unsafe roadways, intersections, or traffic controls
• Careless third-party drivers that trigger chain reaction auto collisions
• Public entities that do not properly maintain roads
• Private and public entities that set up unreasonably hazardous construction zones
• Vehicle repair facilities that perform inadequate repairs that cause crashes

Why Do Drivers Hit-and-Run in Albany, GA?

Hit-and-run accidents happen more often than you might expect– every 43 seconds to be exact, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. This frequency can be confusing. After all, most of us could never imagine striking another vehicle or person and fleeing the scene.

However, there are many reasons why someone might leave the scene of an accident. Most probably – but not always – a driver is attempting to avoid criminal liability.

A person may hit and run because:

• They are driving under the influence: When someone knows that they are illegally driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they may flee in an inebriated attempt to avoid charges.
• They have an outstanding warrant/stolen vehicle: Sometimes, a driver may have an outstanding arrest warrant or be operating a stolen vehicle.
• They are driving without a license: Some drivers have revoked licenses and know they can’t be on the road.
• They are driving without insurance: A person without auto insurance could fear being held responsible for the monetary damages of the accident with no insurance company as a safety net.
• They’re in fight or flight mode: According to a Washington Post interview with a psychologist, some people experience emotional responses after an accident that influence them to flee. Some might even wrongly rationalize the accident as being more minor than it really is and decide their presence at the scene is unimportant.

This list explains but does not excuse a driver committing a hit and run. If you have been struck by a driver who has fled the scene, it is your right to pursue compensation.

Pursuing UM/UIM Claims

Uninsured/Underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage might also provide an alternative avenue of financial recovery when you are involved in a crash with a hit and run driver that cannot be located and identified. If applicable, UM coverage can provide compensation for the following:

Bodily Injury, including

• Pain and Suffering
• Medical & Hospital Bills
• Lost Wages
• Property Damage, including
• Vehicle Repair/Replacement
• Home/Wall (struck by vehicle)
• Laptop/Phone (damaged in the vehicle during a collision)
• and more

UM claims and lawsuits involving hit and run drivers can be complicated, so we suggest you speak with an experienced Albany hit and run attorney at Montlick to learn more about your legal rights.