Hit-and-Run Accident Injury Lawyers
A hit-and-run accident happens when the driver that caused the crash doesn’t stay at the scene and leaves. When they flee the scene, it means that they are not fulfilling their legal duties that they have to the other people involved in the crash (whether that be a pedestrian or another driver). Washington state law requires that drivers that get into an accident have to stay at the scene. They have to help anyone that may be injured, and call police authorities if anyone was injured or killed in the accident, or if about over $700 of property damage occurred. If these steps are not taken, the accident is classified as a hit-and-run.
There have unfortunately been many hit-and-run accidents that have happened recently in Washington. In July on US 101 West of Olympia, a man on the shoulder of the road was struck by a car. Although the vehicle came to a stop after the collision, it fled the scene. The 50-year-old man, who hailed from Aberdeen, was killed from the crash and declared dead at the scene. The driver was later found and arrested for charges of driving under the influence, felony hit-and-run, and vehicular homicide.
In another hit-and-run accident that happened back in June, another person was struck on the shoulder of the road. The accident happened on State Route 7 near 204th by Spanaway. The pedestrian that was hit died from their injuries. The driver fled the scene, and Washington State Patrol have not reported that they have located the vehicle or arrested the perpetrator. Unfortunately, many hit-and-run accidents are never solved, but hopefully with some investigation the driver in this case can be found and charged.
If you get into a car accident, it’s vital that you pull over to the side of the road. At the very least, you should provide the other driver with your insurance, vehicle, and contact information. It’s a crime to leave the accident scene without doing this. Forensic technology has improved a lot since back when cars first became widely used. With proper investigation, many hit-and-run accident perpetrators are caught and the cases are solved. There are cameras all over the place these days, on buildings, car dashboards, and at traffic lights. Footage from these cameras can help investigators solve hit-and-run cases.
Puyallup Hit-and-Run Accident Law Firm
The charges that someone who left an accident scene could get can be serious. At the lower end of the scale, hitting an unattended car and leaving without leaving a note with information or talking to the owner of the vehicle is a misdemeanor. If the car was attended when the crash happened and the other driver still left the scene, that is a gross misdemeanor. If a hit-and-run resulted in an injury, it is a Class C felony under Washington law punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and five years in prison. The most serious type of hit-and-run is where a fatality happened, and that is considered a Class B felony. It’s important that a driver decides to stay at the scene after being involved in a crash.
Not only do drivers have to provide their information to the other person involved if they were in a car accident, but they also have to make sure that the other driver is alright. They may be injured and need medical attention. Staying at the accident scene is not just the law, but it’s the right thing to do because it could save a life. In Washington state, drivers that get into accidents have to provide “reasonable assistance,” which means they have to stop and give help if the other driver needs it. That means asking if the person is alright, calling 911, and even giving them a ride to the hospital if they need it. The reasonable assistance law is interesting because it requires individuals to take action instead of restricting behavior like other laws.
If you or a loved one was injured in a hit-and-run accident, reach out to police as soon as possible to give them as much information as you can. This includes anything you can remember about the vehicle, such as its color, distinguishing features, make, model, or even license plate numbers you can recall. All of this will be helpful for finding the driver that fled the scene. Make sure to tell authorities what happened leading up to and during the accident as well.
Washington is a fault car accident insurance state, which means that the at-fault party’s insurance has to cover damages. People can also have no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage if they choose to. In hit-and-run accidents, where the at-fault driver flees the scene, it adds extra stress to victims when it comes to figuring out how to cover all of their damages (such as lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and more). A personal injury lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company for you and represent your best interests. When you have an attorney working on your claim, you are more likely to receive fair compensation and be taken seriously by the insurance company.
If police aren’t able to catch the other driver that fled the scene and caused your injuries, then it can be difficult to know how to file a claim. It’s possible that there was a third party partially at-fault for the accident. An investigation into the circumstances and evidence of the case can help determine if someone else shares blame, such as the city or a car parts manufacturer. This could be the case if, for example, the accident was partially caused by a poorly designed sidewalk or a defective car part. If there aren’t any third parties at fault, and the other driver cannot be identified, then your own insurance company could offer some compensation. It’s vital that you have a hit-and-run accident attorney handling your claim and advising you on your best options for getting justice.
Get in touch with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At Sears Injury Law, we have recovered large amounts of compensation for car accident injury victims, including victims of hit-and-runs. When you meet with us, we will determine the best path forward. We specialize in personal injury law, and have the experience needed to successfully win your case. We care about our clients, and take the time to understand them as people and what they went through. The goal of our firm is to win as much compensation as possible for personal injury victims so that they can live their best lives after being in an accident. Our knowledgeable team can take care of your claim from beginning to end while you heal.
Hit-and-run accidents can have disastrous consequences, such as property damage, severe and disabling injuries, and death. Victims shouldn’t have to suffer financially because of the irresponsible actions of another party for the rest of their lives. By pursuing personal injury claims, we help people have a future to look forward to. We are only paid after we secure your compensation, meaning that you won’t have to worry about paying out-of-pocket.