Austin Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
Hit-and-run accidents can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of your next steps. Without the responsible driver’s information, securing compensation for your injuries, vehicle damage, and other losses can seem impossible. You may face mounting medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress while trying to understand what happened. An experienced Austin hit-and-run attorney can help. They will handle the legal complexities, gather key evidence, and relentlessly pursue justice and fair compensation, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
About Hit-and-Run Accidents
Hit-and-run accidents occur when one driver involved in a vehicle collision leaves the scene of the accident without providing contact information to the other person or people involved in the accident or assisting injured parties. Leaving the scene of an accident is prohibited by Texas law, which mandates that drivers involved in accidents must stop, render aid, and exchange relevant information with other parties to the accident.
The Impact of Injuries on Your Case
The injuries you sustain in a hit-and-run accident significantly impact your case, influencing both the legal strategy your lawyer takes and the amount of compensation you will get. Injuries suffered in hit-and-run crashes can range in severity from minor scrapes and bruises to near-fatal and fatal trauma. Generally speaking, the more severe the injuries, the higher the medical costs and the greater the degree of pain and suffering. A skilled Austin hit-and-run lawyer will make sure that these factors are accounted for in your settlement.
Understanding the types and severities of injuries is critical to building a strong case and securing appropriate compensation. Some common injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents include:
- Fractured and Broken Bones: Fractured and broken bones can require extensive medical treatment and long recovery periods, leading to significant medical expenses and prolonged time off work.
- Whiplash: Common in rear-end collisions, whiplash involves neck injuries that can cause pain, stiffness, and sometimes long-term complications.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: Injuries affecting the brain can have long-term effects on cognitive function, require ongoing medical care, and impacting quality of life.
- Spinal Injuries: Damage to the spine can cause chronic pain, mobility issues, or paralysis, necessitating lifelong medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Maintaining accurate and thorough medical records is essential to proving the extent of your injuries. Keeping track of your medical records is also important for memorializing the costs associated with treating your injuries, as well as your doctors’ predictions regarding any future treatment you might require.
Compensation for Hit-and-Run Victims
Victims of hit-and-run accidents in Austin, TX often face significant financial burdens due to overwhelming medical expenses, lost wages, property, damage, pain and suffering, and various other related costs. Understanding the types of compensation available can help ensure that you receive the full amount that you deserve. Some common types of compensation include:
- Medical Expenses: Covers costs associated with hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, medications, physical therapy, and any future medical treatments related to your accident.
- Lost Wages: Refers to compensation for income lost due to the inability to work during recovery, including both past and future lost earnings.
- Property Damage: Covers repair or replacement costs for not only your vehicle but any personal property damaged in the accident, as well.
- Pain and Suffering: Refers to non-economic damages associated with physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life resulting from the accident.
- Other Related Costs: Includes out-of-pocket expenses such as transportation to medical appointments, home modifications made for disability accommodations, and any other costs incurred due to the accident.
It is important to document all costs associated with a hit-and-run accident for several reasons. Primarily, an accurate and detailed account of the costs you’ve incurred helps substantiate your claims to insurance companies. In addition to this, documenting these costs can prevent or resolve disputes with insurance companies or the at-fault party regarding the extent of your damages. This ensures that you will receive the maximum compensation for your losses that truly reflect the financial burden you endured as the result of your hit-and-run accident.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Hit-and-Run Accident
Taking immediate action after falling victim to a hit-and-run accident is important for both your safety, as well as the success of any legal or insurance claims you may choose to pursue. If you were involved in a hit-and-run accident in Austin, TX, following these steps can ensure that you both receive the necessary medical care and collect any evidence that might be important for your case.
- Call 911: Calling 911 immediately following a hit-and-run accident will ensure that you receive prompt medical attention and will serve as official documentation of the accident and the extent of your injuries.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if you believe that your injuries are not significant enough to warrant a trip to the hospital or doctor, it is always smart to get checked out by a doctor. This is not only prudent to ensure that any injuries are identified and treated but also creates medical records for any potential legal or insurance claims.
- Collect Evidence: When you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, it is crucial that you collect as much evidence as possible that might help police identify the at-fault driver. Relevant evidence includes photos of the accident, witness statements, and a detailed description of the at-fault driver and their vehicle.
- File a Police Report: Filing a police report is an important step to take if you are involved in any kind of vehicle accident; but, it is even more important when it is a hit-and-run accident. A police report serves as an official record of the incident, which is essential for legal and insurance purposes. Filing a police report also initiates a formal investigation into the identity of the at-fault driver and increases the chances that they will be identified.
- Notify Your Insurance Company: Notifying your insurance company as soon as possible will begin the process of filing your claim for any damages and injuries you may have sustained. Once your insurance company is put on notice that you were involved in a hit-and-run accident, it may conduct its own investigation, increasing the chances of identifying the at-fault driver. Your insurance company is also able to guide you through the claims process, ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to secure compensation. Be sure not to make any statements of fault or regarding assessing the extent of your injuries. Check with your attorney if you have questions about what not to say to an insurance company.
Texas- and Austin-Specific Considerations
The state of Texas has unique legal, geographic, and demographic factors that play a role in the complexity and handling of hit-and-run accidents. Some of these factors include:
- High-Risk Intersections: Texas has several intersections with high incidents of accidents, as compared to the national average. These accidents naturally can include hit-and-runs. For example, I-35 and US-290 are well-known for their heavy traffic and complex driving conditions, which contribute to a high rate of rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, side-impact collisions, rollover accidents, and multi-vehicle pileups.
- Pedestrian and Cyclist Traffic: Because Austin, TX has a very active pedestrian and cycling community, accidents involving these groups are more common. This adds even more complexity to hit-and-run cases due to the high likelihood of more serious injuries and, thus, the need for more extensive and specialized medical and legal attention.
- Population Density: Higher population in Texas cities, such as Austin, translates to more vehicles and pedestrians on the road. This increases the chance of automobile accidents, and hit-and-run accidents, in particular.
- Tourist Activity: Austin’s popularity as a tourist destination results in a higher number of drivers who are unfamiliar with the roadways. This also contributes to more frequent accidents.
The Role of an Attorney in Hit-and-Run Cases
If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident in Austin, TX, an experienced lawyer can help you through the incredibly complex claim process. Hit-and-run attorneys are incredibly skilled at:
- Managing Interactions: An Austin car accident lawyer can handle all interactions with law enforcement and insurance companies for you so that you can focus all of your efforts on making a full recovery.
- Evidence Gathering: A qualified hit-and-run lawyer will take all available steps to identify the at-fault driver including obtaining traffic camera footage, collecting witness testimonies, and analyzing physical evidence from the scene.
- Coordination with Doctors: One essential role of a hit-and-run attorney is coordinating with your medical experts to document your injuries. This is incredibly important for ensuring that all current and future medical costs are covered in your claim and accounted for in your settlement.
- Handling Your Case: Your lawyer will handle all aspects of your case from start to finish. This includes ensuring that all relevant documents, such as medical records, police reports, and witness statements are in order and utilized effectively.
- Maximizing Compensation: A skilled hit-and-run lawyer will advocate for you to receive full compensation for any costs you have accrued as a result of your hit-and-run accident. Costs could include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other types of damages.
- Support and Guidance: Your hit-and-run lawyer will provide you with ongoing support and legal guidance throughout the entire process, alleviating as much of your stress as possible.
Loewy Law Firm’s Expertise and Approach to Hit-and-run Cases
Loewy Law Firm has a proven track record in handling Austin, TX hit-and-run cases, providing comprehensive support to its clients all the way from the initial consultation to litigation. Our approach is thorough and client-focused, ensuring that victims receive the compensation that they deserve. Our firm has successfully represented numerous hit-and-run victims, securing significant settlements and verdicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after a hit-and-run accident?
Call 911, seek medical attention, collect evidence (photos, witness statements, vehicle details), file a police report, and notify your insurance company.
Can I still get compensation if the driver is not found?
Yes, there are options that can be explored by your attorney, including through uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
What kind of compensation can I claim?
You may be able to claim medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and other related costs.
How long do I have to file a claim after a hit-and-run accident in Texas?
Texas has a statute of limitations, typically two years from the date of the accident, to file a personal injury lawsuit.
How can an attorney help in a hit-and-run case?
An attorney gathers evidence, identifies the responsible party, handles interactions with law enforcement and insurance companies, and ensures you receive maximum compensation.
What if I can’t identify the hit-and-run driver?
An attorney investigates the accident, using available evidence like traffic camera footage and witness statements to identify the driver. If the driver cannot be found, your UM/UIM coverage may still provide compensation.