The California DMV provides details on what drivers should do after a collision. The number one piece of advice is to stop at the crash scene, because otherwise you could be charged with a hit-and-run crime.
Unfortunately, not all drivers obey these rules. Some leave the scene of a crash — and leave behind victims who may have suffered serious injuries. If you are one of those victims, it’s important to get legal help so you can understand what your rights and options are after someone has hurt you and left you behind.
JSM Injury Firm APC has extensive experience in these situations. Our Anaheim hit-and-run accident lawyers will work with you to explore coverage options such as uninsured motorist coverage. We can also help you to take legal action if the police are able to find the driver who fled the scene.
Give us a call today at (949) 404-4826 to schedule your free consultation and learn more about the legal assistance our Anaheim accident attorneys can offer in these difficult situations.
Your Legal Rights After an Anaheim Hit-and-Run
If you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident, you may be able to get compensation from your own insurer.
That’s because, as the California Department of Insurance explains, uninsured motorist coverage is available under California law. In fact, insurance companies are required to offer uninsured motorist coverage (UMC) and if you decide to opt out of buying it, you must submit a waiver indicating you were offered the coverage and decline.
If you submitted a waiver and didn’t buy coverage, it will be too late to sign up after your accident. If you do have coverage in place, though, you should be able to get compensation for injuries under your uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) policy.
Unfortunately, uninsured motorist property damage coverage is available only if the uninsured driver has been identified, so you can’t pursue recovery for your property damage this way after a hit-and-run if the driver isn’t found.
Navigating the process of getting fully covered can be complex when you are making a claim with your own insurer, so you may want to think about hiring a hit and run accident lawyer to help you.
If the police are able to conduct an investigation and find the hit-and-run driver, then your lawyer can also help you to prove they were at fault for the accident and to take appropriate legal action to recover payment for your losses from the person who was involved in the accident. You would have to show they were at least partly legally liable for the incident, though, in order to be able to get paid for damages.
How an Anaheim Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Can Help You
An Anaheim hit and run accident attorney at JSM Injury Firm APC will provide you with the help and support that you need when a driver harmed you and fled the scene. We’ll work with you to get compensation under your uninsured motorist coverage and to make sure the insurer treats you fairly. We can also help you explore other avenues to get the money you deserve.
Give us a call today at (949) 404-4826 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about the legal advocacy our injury lawyers in Anaheim can offer.
