What Classifies As A Hit And Run Accident In The State Of Texas?
Any time someone makes physical contact with their car against your car and then flees the scene that is a hit and run.
What Are Some Misunderstandings Or Misconceptions People Have About Hit And Run Accidents?
The biggest misconception is that they can somehow figure out who hit you. Unless you have witnessed or unless someone comes forward, the chances of finding out who actually hit you are pretty slim. That is all the more reason to get a Bedford car accident attorney involved immediately.
Also, even if you have UI/UIM coverage, you have to be sure that you can prove that the damage to your car was as a result of a hit and run as opposed to just maybe you running into something and claiming it was a hit and run. Remember, the insurance company always wants to blame you. Some people do not understand even though it was a hit and run, there may not be much that can be done about it or that they are going to have to fight their own insurance company to even get compensated.
What Is The Role Of An Attorney In These Cases?
If you truly cannot locate the person who hit you, then you may need an attorney to just focus on the UI/UIM coverage that hopefully you have purchased. Unfortunately, a lot of times people try to save money and do not purchase UI/UIM insurance, in which case there is not much that can be done.
Who Can Be Held Responsible In A Fort Worth Hit-and-run Accident If You Cannot Find The Person Who Hit You?
If you cannot find the person who hit you and ran, then nobody is going to be held responsible. You can hope to recover under your UI/UIM coverage if you purchased it. IF you have not, then there is absolutely nothing that can be done. Even if you have purchased it, you still might have a fight on your hands with your own insurance company when they dispute the fact that someone else actually hit your car.
Does the Uninsured Underinsured Motorist Coverage Cover Hit and Run Accidents As Well?
It does as long as there was physical contact between the automobiles. Often times, people might call a hit and run where a pickup truck is driving in front of them and it is moving a bunch of furniture and a piece of the furniture falls out into the road right in front of you and you hit it, the truck driver continues to move on without even realizing what just happened. They might not even know until they get to their location that they have lost part of their furniture. In that situation, the UI/UIM insurance will not cover because there was no physical contact between the automobiles. Something falling out of a truck which is not part of the vehicle does not count for purposes of UI/UIM coverage.
If There Is No Evidence Or Witness To The Accident, Is There Really Anything That You Can Do Outside Of The Uninsured, Underinsured Motorist Coverage To Recoup Anything Financially?
The only thing that you can do is to find some camera that might have caught the accident or someone comes forward. If there are no witnesses and you cannot identify the vehicle that hit you, then there is not much you can do. That is why you need to have your own insurance to make sure you are covered.
Can Someone Recover Any Compensation For Any Injuries Or Damages From A Hit And Run Accident Or Uninsured Motorist Accident? Why Do You Still Need An Attorney?
You probably do not need an attorney in that type of situation and you probably will not even be able to find an attorney who would help you. However, that does not mean that you should not contact an attorney because there could be some angles to look at that you as a layperson may not appreciate because you are not in this business. By contacting a car accident attorney, you can check to be sure that you have covered all of your options. Many times, an attorney may not be able to help, but they can at least give you the comfort of knowing that you have tried everything.
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Area Car Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Bedford, Texas office directly at 817.440.3888 to schedule your free consultation. We help car accident victims throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington as well as all areas of Texas.