If You Were Involved in a Hit And Run Accident in New Jersey, You Might Be Entitled to Compensation For Medical Expenses and Costs Arising From the Incident
A hit and run accident occurs when a car or vehicle of any kind hits a person or another vehicle and then does not stay to exchange information or call the police but instead flees the scene. Hopefully, you have never experienced this. Hit and run accidents usually happen when no one else is watching. For example, you may have woken up one morning and proceeded with your normal morning routine. However, when you go out to the car to begin your daily commute, you may have noticed that your side view mirror is missing or your car has a dent and/or scratch along the side of it. If this ever happened to you, you are a victim of a hit and run accident. At their very worst, hit and run accidents involve a fatality that the perpetrator did not stay around for.
Hit and Run Accidents on the Rise in NJ
If you live in the United States, it is very likely that you may have witnessed an automobile accident or the aftermath of one. Automobile accidents are extremely common, and 5 % of all of these accidents are hit and run accidents. Though the statistic seems like a low number, it still accounts for a very high number of automobile accidents. This number, shockingly, increases at a rate of 7.2 % every year. Take into account the number of hit and run accidents in the year 2015: 737,100. This number, over the last seven years, has only increased. For every pedestrian crash fatality, drivers who fled the scene accounted for 20% of these deaths. In 2016, there were 2,049 fatalities that had occurred as a result of hit and run accidents.
Underlying Reasons for Hit-and-Run Incidents
One of the most common causes of hit and run accidents is distracted driving. This is the cause for many accidents, but more so for hit and run accidents because the driver knows they should not have been distracted while driving and therefore panic when something goes wrong as a result of their obvious negligence. Whether this is using their cell phone or trying to navigate their GPS, drivers have a responsibility to avoid this behavior, yet they often don’t.
Drunk driving is often a common cause of hit and run accidents. Whether the driver is aware that they hit something or not, they are not in their right mind. Drunk driving is the cause of many accidents, but much like distracted driving, there is a high probability that the person at fault will not stick around for the authorities to avoid due to their wrongdoing.
Pedestrians are the Most Affected by Hit and Run Crashes
Pedestrians often are the victims of hit and run accidents, and 20% of the time, these victims are killed as a result. The other 80% of the time, pedestrians suffer broken bones, bruised bones, spinal injuries, physical trauma, traumatic brain injuries, and the like. Medical treatment for these injuries can be lifelong if the victim is lucky enough to survive the hit and run incident. Many times, the injuries are exaggerated because no one tends to the victim right away. Since the driver flees the scene, and no one else might be around, the victim is left there helpless. The longer it takes for the victim to get medical attention, the injuries can get worse.
Immediate Steps after a Hit and Run Accident
After a hit and run accident, and obviously depending on your role in the accident, it is imperative that 911 is called immediately. This can determine the fate of the victim. Any hesitation in calling 911 can mean life or death for the victim of the hit and run. Never follow the fleeing driver because it is extremely dangerous. Chasing the driver can also mean missing opportunities to collect pertinent evidence. Documenting evidence, such as the license plate number, model, color of the car, description of the damage to the vehicle or person, as well as the location, date, and time of the accident, can make the difference in holding the driver accountable.
Dealing with the Complexity of Insurance Issues
Collision coverage and uninsured motor vehicle coverage can cover expenses despite the other party being unavailable. There is no reason that you should be penalized because of the wrongdoing of another person. You must file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible while the police investigate the missing party.
Challenges to Determine Responsibility for a Hit and Run Accident
More often than not, the driver and their insurance company will be liable for the hit and run accident. However, depending on the circumstances of the case, there may be other parties that can be held liable for your injuries as a result of the hit and run accident. What if the driver was extremely drunk and the bar that they were drinking at failed to stop serving them even though they knew they would be driving? There are instances such as this that only a seasoned veteran personal injury attorney can help you see.
Contact Monmouth County Hit and Run Accident Lawyers for Help Proving Your Claim for Compensation
Having an attorney with a successful track record representing parties who have been injured in hit and runs and other types of accidents is very important if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in one. The medical expenses, the communication between parties, and the pain and suffering of your family are all things you will need to be worrying about. Why not get the help required to alleviate these stresses? There is no more important task than getting the right attorney for these matters. You owe it to yourself and to your family.
Contact our car accident lawyers for assistance with your hit and run accident case in Asbury Park, Middletown, Howell, Brick, Holmdel, Tinton Falls, Bay Head, Toms River, Wall, and across Ocean and Monmouth County. We are available to answer your questions and discuss your legal options in a free consultation today; call 732-440-3950.
