Being involved in a car accident is a traumatic experience, but it’s even more so when the other driver leaves the scene. A hit-and-run accident can leave you feeling helpless, frustrated, and angry. But it’s important to remember that you are not alone.
There are steps you can take to protect yourself and your interests. And while the legal process can be complex and confusing, an experienced Atlanta car accident attorney can help you navigate it and get the compensation you deserve.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a hit-and-run accident in Atlanta, here are some important steps to take:
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How To Properly Report a Hit-and-Run Accident in Atlanta
If you’ve been in a hit-and-run accident, it can be really hard to know what to do next. You want to make sure that the person who hit you is held accountable for their actions, but at the same time, you want to stay safe and make sure you don’t put yourself or others in danger.
Here are some tips for reporting a hit-and-run accident in Atlanta:
1. Call 911 immediately if anyone has been injured or if there is any chance that someone could be hurt as a result of the accident.
2. Take photos of the scene and of any damage to your car, including any damage from objects that may have fallen from other vehicles involved in the accident.
3. Write down all relevant information about the accident—including dates, times, location information (including street names), weather conditions (if applicable), vehicle information (license plate number, make/model), witness information (names and phone numbers), driver behavior (speed limit violations/signaling before turning), driver characteristics (age/race).
4. Report the accident as soon as possible by contacting your insurance agent directly or filing an online claim with your insurance company (if allowed by law).
What Is a Hit-and-Run?
A hit-and-run is a type of accident where the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident leaves the scene without exchanging any information with other drivers or pedestrians involved in the event. This type of accident may be intentional or unintentional, and it can lead to severe injuries or even death if the victim has not been seen by medical professionals after a hit-and-run incident.
Hit-and-run accidents are rare, but they do happen in Atlanta and throughout the country. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were about 42,915 car accident related deaths in 2021.
That’s more than a 10.5% increase from the previous year!
If you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run accident, you should call 911 immediately so that law enforcement officials can come on board and help you out while they investigate the incident. You should also contact your insurance company as soon as possible so that they can start helping you resolve any financial issues related to your accident, such as payment for repairs or medical bills incurred from being hit by someone who did not stop at all after causing injuries or death through their negligence.
What Evidence Do You Need to Collect Immediately After a Hit-and-Run Accident?
There are some things that you need to collect immediately after a hit-and-run accident so that you have evidence of what happened. This includes:
Call the Police
If you’ve been in a hit-and-run accident, the first thing you should do is call the police and wait for them to arrive. Call 911 immediately so that police officers can come investigate further.
While waiting for police to arrive, write down as much information about yourself as possible—this includes your name, address, phone number(s), and insurance company information.
Remain Where You Are
If possible, try to take photos of any damage done to your vehicle or property.
You should also take down the license plate number of any vehicles that may have been involved in the accident, as well as any identifying characteristics about those drivers (including their clothing and physical appearance). If possible, get a description of the driver and passengers in any other vehicles involved in the accident—this will help you identify them, if necessary, later on down the road.
Write Down Details While You Wait
While waiting for police assistance, write down all details of what happened as soon as possible after they occur—especially those that pertain directly to identifying the vehicle (make/model), license plate number (if visible), driver description (if possible), and any other details that may come up later when discussing what happened with law enforcement or insurance representatives. Be sure to note the time that you made notes, as it will be helpful when recounting details of the accident later on.
How to Report a Hit-and-Run to Your Insurance Company
If you have comprehensive insurance coverage, your insurance company will pay out on a hit-and-run claim. However, it’s important to let your insurer know as soon as possible what happened—even if you weren’t physically injured in the accident.
This is because some states require drivers who collide with other vehicles to report any damage within a specified period of time (usually 24 hours).
Hire a Lawyer with Experience in Hit-And-Run Cases
If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, it’s important to have an experienced lawyer on your side. A personal injury attorney can help you file a claim with your insurance company and pursue any additional compensation from the at-fault driver or their insurer.
Different Types of Hit-and-Run Cases Atlanta Lawyers Represent
Hit-and-run cases can be complicated, and that’s why you need to hire a lawyer who is experienced in handling these types of cases. At Mabra Law Firm, we have many years of experience working with clients who have been injured as a result of hit-and-run accidents.
We know what to do immediately after an accident and how to handle the insurance claim process.
We represent clients who have been hurt by all different types of hit-and-run drivers, including:
• Drivers who hit their vehicles or other property
• Drivers who cause bodily injury or death to other people on the road
• Drivers who are not insured but still flee the scene because they do not have enough money for damages
• Drivers who were under the influence at the time of the accident
Can You Pursue a Lawsuit Against a Hit-and-Run Driver You Cannot Find?
If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, you may be wondering what to do next. After all, the last thing you want to do is to take on this process on your own—especially if the driver who hit you has fled the scene and left you with injuries that need medical attention.
But let’s say that you were unable to get any information about the vehicle or driver who hit you. If this happened in Atlanta or anywhere else in Georgia, can you still pursue legal action?
The answer is yes! You can pursue legal action against a hit-and-run driver even if they are not found by police or anyone else involved in investigating your case.
In fact, it may be possible for you to win compensation for damages even if the identity of the motorist is never known at all. This is because Georgia law requires all motorists to carry insurance coverage for their vehicles.
Even if someone drives away from an accident without reporting it to the police, their insurance company will still be required under state law to pay for damages caused by their driver’s actions (even if those actions resulted in no injuries).
Damages Available to You After a Hit-and-Run
If you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run accident, you may be wondering how much compensation you’re entitled to. The answer is: it depends.
The first thing you should do is file a police report. If possible, get the license plate number of the car that hit you and any other identifying information about the vehicle, including its make and model. Take pictures of the scene of the accident and any damage to your vehicle or personal property.
You should also get medical treatment if needed—your insurance company may require proof that you received treatment before they’ll pay for it. If you have collision coverage on your auto policy, your insurer will take care of most repairs needed on your vehicle.
But if you don’t have collision coverage but only liability coverage, then it’s up to the other driver’s insurance company to pay for repairs (though they may still try to make you pay). Your auto insurance company may also help with any lost income or out-of-pocket expenses related to time away from work while recovering from injuries sustained during an accident.
Your auto insurance company may offer additional benefits like rental car reimbursement or travel expenses if they paid for them on behalf of another driver who injured you.
Time Limit to File a Hit-and-Run Case
The state of Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim against an at-fault driver who has caused an accident. This means that if you don’t file your claim within two years of your accident, you could lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries.
Our Hit-and-Run Lawyers in Atlanta Can Help You Start Your Case Today
If you’ve been in a hit-and-run accident, it can be hard to know where to start. Luckily, our Atlanta hit-and-run lawyers are here to help.
If you’ve been injured in an Atlanta hit-and-run accident, the first thing to do is call the police. The sooner they get on the case, the better chance that they’ll be able to find the person who hit you and hold them accountable for causing your injuries.
If you’re not sure what kind of compensation you could get from a lawsuit, we can help you determine that amount. We’ll also tell you if there are any deadlines coming up that could affect your ability to sue or if there are other factors at play that would make it difficult for us to pursue the case successfully.
Once we start working on your case, we’ll work with investigators and experts to build a strong case against the other driver so that we can negotiate with them on your behalf and get them off the road once and for all. Fill out the form below to get started on a free consultation today.