When you suffer injuries in any kind of auto accident, it is a devastating situation. You could be facing a long recovery process. If the driver fled the scene, though, your case likely would become complex enough that you will want to employ the services of our Carrollton hit and run accident lawyer.
When the identity of the driver who hit you is unknown, determining exactly how to file a personal injury claim can be challenging. The team at Underwood Law Office has experience dealing with cases like this, and we will be ready to work hard to try to help you receive the settlement amount you should have.
Understanding What Your Settlement Could Be Worth
When trying to determine what your car accident settlement could be worth after a hit and run crash, it really depends on the severity of your injuries and on the type of insurance coverage that will be in place.
Some victims may be able to win a judgment worth six or seven figures after a hit and run accident with injuries. Others may win settlements worth four or five figures.
Understand that our hit and run accident attorney in Carrollton, Texas, will not guarantee that you will win a certain amount, as that would be unethical. However, after studying the facts in your case, we should be able to give you an idea of the strength of your case and estimate the potential settlement amount you could win.
Extent of Your Injuries
A victim in a hit and run accident who suffers injuries that lead to disability and an inability to work for an indefinite period of time could receive a larger settlement than someone who is able to heal within a couple of weeks and return to work.
Pain and Suffering Judgment
As with other types of cases our Carrollton personal injury lawyer handles, you may be eligible to win a judgment for pain and suffering after a hit and run accident leaves you with injuries.
This could be a large amount that compensates you for items like a reduction in your quality of life, for ongoing pain related to your injuries, and for emotional trauma you suffer after the accident.
Potential Denial of Your Claim
In a hit and run crash, you may discover that you are unable to file a claim. If you do not have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) on your auto insurance policy, you may lose your ability to file a claim when the other driver’s identity is unknown.
If you have personal injury protection (PIP) on your auto insurance plan or on another insurance plan, you may be able to use this type of coverage to help you receive an award after an accident where the driver who hit you flees the scene. Our Carrollton hit and run accident attorney can help you decipher these scenarios.
You also could see your hopes of winning a settlement disappear if you do not adhere to the two-year statute of limitations for starting a personal injury claim, as spelled out in Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. If you hire the team at Underwood Law Office, we will do everything possible to meet all deadlines for you.
For a free legal consultation with a hit and run accidents lawyer serving Carrollton, call (972) 535-6377
Dealing With Complexities in a Hit and Run Injury Claim
When filing a claim on your behalf after a hit and run case, our Carrollton car accident attorney knows that we will be dealing with some complexities. These difficult circumstances do not deter us. Instead, they simply make us work as hard as we can to try to help you achieve the outcome you are seeking.
Finding the Other Driver
After a hit and run crash, law enforcement officers investigating the crash will interview you to see whether you can give them information about the other driver. Police will want to track down the other driver, as leaving the scene of an injury accident is illegal, according to Texas Transportation Code § 550.022.
If police find the other driver, we can file the personal injury claim against that driver’s insurance company. However, we do not recommend waiting to start the process of filing a claim until police locate the other driver. They may never find the driver. Instead, we have other steps we can take on your behalf.
Bringing a Claim Against Your Own Insurer
In a hit and run case, victims may file an injury claim against their own auto insurance policies. The claim would occur under the UM/UIM coverage that we mentioned earlier. Your policy would help you financially with your medical bills, lost wages, and any pain and suffering award.
You may find it odd to have to file a claim against your own insurer. Unless police are able to locate the other driver, however, this is your only option for filing a claim.
If police find the other driver, but that driver does not have insurance coverage, you still will need to file a claim with your own insurer under your UM/UIM coverage.
We Can Help If Your Insurance Company Tries to Deny Your Claim
After filing under UM/UIM, you may find that your insurer is balking at paying your claim. You expect fair treatment, but it may not happen. If this happens to you, our team will work hard to convince your insurance company that you deserve a payment in your claim.
You might expect your own insurer to give you a smooth claims process, but this does not always happen. This can be very frustrating, but we will stand by your side throughout the entire process and help you work through it.
Carrollton Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Near Me (972) 535-6377
We Do Not Give Up When Facing a Difficult Car Accident Claim Situation
Unusual car accident claims are not easy to deal with, but they do not deter our Carrollton hit and run accident lawyer from doing whatever we can to try to help you win your best possible settlement. We hate seeing our clients treated unfairly, and we will fight hard for you.
Call the team at Underwood Law Office today at (972) 535-6377 for a free consultation or fill out our contact form. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not have to pay anything ahead of time. Make the right choice, by allowing our team to assess the evidence and see if they can start building a case for you today.
Call or text (972) 535-6377 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form