Rock Hill Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

A hit-and-run accident occurs when someone causes a wreck and then leaves the scene. There is a criminal penalty for fleeing the scene of a car accident, but a personal injury claim can be difficult to pursue if the identity of the at-fault driver is unknown. The good news is that in South Carolina, every driver must carry uninsured motorist insurance.

If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, you should reach out to a dedicated auto collision attorney. A Rock Hill hit-and-run accident lawyer could help you identify all available sources of compensation and pursue fair payment for your losses.

Pursuing an Uninsured Motorist Coverage Claim After a Hit-and-Run Accident

If a driver causes a wreck and then leaves the scene, the victim of that wreck still has some recourse through their own uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage is like a liability policy, and it will cover the same type of damages that a liability policy would have if the at-fault driver had not left the scene.

However, there still needs to be some evidence that the wreck occurred, either by physical damage to the vehicle, witness statements, or police reports. The victim needs to be able to provide that evidence to their own uninsured motorist coverage in order to bring that claim.

How an Attorney Could Help With a Hit-and-Run Accident Claim

There are two ways an attorney can help with hit-and-run accident claims in Rock Hill. One is to attempt to gather evidence and use it to locate the at-fault driver. The other thing is to navigate the insurance coverages that go along with unnamed or uninsured drivers.

While it can be difficult to locate drivers who flee the scene, it is possible. If the police responded to the crash, they may conduct a criminal investigation and attempt to find the at-fault driver. Additionally, an experienced attorney could attempt to locate evidence themselves. For example, witness statements could help identify the vehicle, or local businesses may have captured the incident on surveillance cameras. Because evidence can become difficult to locate over time, it is important to act quickly after a collision.

Lawyers could also try to protect victims from the insurance companies, even if the provider is their own. The insurance company may try to argue comparative fault or otherwise minimize the amount they need to pay. A Rock Hill hit-and-run accident attorney could help to protect a victim’s interest and fight for fair compensation.

Our Firm Offers Client-Focused Legal Services

Even with hit-and-run accidents, we know that no two cases are quite the same. This is why our Rock Hill car accident lawyers never apply a one-size-fits-all approach with our cases. Instead, we tailor a legal strategy to suit each client’s needs. 

We also work on a contingency fee basis, so we do not have to charge upfront fees to start working on your case. We simply take a percentage of any compensation we win on your behalf. 

Recoverable Damages in an Auto Collision Case

The recoverable damages in a hit-and-run case are the same as those in other crashes. Victims are still entitled to recover compensation for economic harms, including but not limited to:

• Medical treatment,
• Lost income
• Travel expenses to doctors’ offices
• Damage to their vehicle

Additionally, victims can recover non-economic damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish. Finally, punitive damages may be tied to a hit-and-run accident if it can be shown that an at-fault driver engaged in some type of reckless behavior, such as drunk driving or racing. However, this can be very difficult to prove when someone flees the scene.

Work With a Rock Hill Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney

If you were hurt in a motor vehicle crash, you may be entitled to fair payment for your losses. If the other driver fled the scene, however, it can make a case much more complex. For this reason, many victims choose to work with an experienced Rock Hill hit-and-run accident lawyer. 

A dedicated attorney could work to identify the responsible party, negotiate with insurance providers, and pursue full compensation. Call Schiller & Hamilton today to schedule a consultation.