Can You Receive Compensation for a Hit & Run?

Georgia law prohibits leaving the scene of an accident. Nonetheless, countless drivers drive away without swapping their insurance information or calling an ambulance to help an injured victim. Sadly, accident victims find themselves backed into a corner. The most common way to receive compensation is to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer. But since the driver fled, you don’t know who that is. Is it possible to receive compensation to cover your expenses?

Below, our Macon car accident lawyer reviews possible sources of compensation following a hit-and-run accident. Give us a call if you have questions or want an individualized analysis of your case.

File a Claim with Your Uninsured Motorist Insurer

Georgia requires that insurers offer uninsured motorist coverage, called UM in the industry. You probably have a policy unless you decline it in writing. After a hit and run, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief that you have this policy. It can step in and pay compensation for certain losses.

Uninsured motorist coverage should pay for:

• Medical care
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering

You can’t be at fault for the crash if you use this insurance. Sometimes, accident victims need a Macon personal injury attorney to help negotiate a settlement, especially if their insurer blames them for the accident or doesn’t think they were injured in a hit-and-run.

Use Medical Payments Insurance

This is an optional insurance policy in Georgia. If you have it, then you can tap these benefits to pay for medical treatment for your injuries. Med pay coverage is no-fault, so you can use them even if you are primarily responsible for the accident. Many people use medical payments to pay the deductible on their health insurance as they wait for a settlement with their UM insurer.

Get Your Car Fixed with Collision Coverage

You probably have collision insurance if you have an auto loan. A bank protects itself by forcing borrowers to carry this insurance, which will pay to repair your car if it was damaged in a collision. You can even be to blame for the collision because it is no fault.

Make a Claim on the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance—If You Find the Driver

The police will probably search for the driver who fled after hitting you. You can help their search by sharing important details, including:

• The direction the car fled
• Any identifying information, like a partial license plate number
• The color and make of the car
• Any details about the driver, such as gender, hair color, or glasses

The police have often managed to find fleeing motorists and take them into custody. Once the driver is identified, you might also file a claim on this person’s insurance or even sue in court.

We Will Fight for Compensation

Hit-and-run collisions cause outrage and for good reason. It is shocking to realize someone has hurt you but didn’t even bother to stop as required by law. Fortunately, our law firm can help you with the claims process if you contact us today.