Hit-and-Run Car Accidents Article

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Hit-and-Run Car Accidents

Any car accident can leave you injured, confused and unsure of what to do next. But hit-and-run accidents can be especially stressful because you feel you have no means of seeking recourse for personal injury and property damage.

Author: Sara Goldstein

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Although it is illegal in every state to knowingly leave the scene of an accident without first exchanging relevant insurance and contact information, hit-and-run accidents account for between 10 and 15 percent of all auto accidents on a yearly basis.

There are a number of reasons drivers flee the scene of an accident, including simple momentary panic. The most common reasons a driver may leave the scene of a car accident include:

• Driver is uninsured
• Driver is operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Driver lacks a driver’s license or has an invalid driver’s license
• Driver has warrants for arrest
• Car belongs to another person

Victims of hit-and-run accidents suffer twice, once in the accident and again while trying to recover from any injuries and seek compensation for related medical bills and property damage. Without the offending driver’s identity or license plate number, you can’t file a claim with the other driver’s insurance.

Hit-and-run accident victims must typically make an uninsured motorist claim on their own policies. However, not all drivers carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and most insurance providers vary on the information necessary to successfully recover claims under this type of coverage.

And even if you do have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, the compensation you receive may not be sufficient to cover property damage and expenses related to your injuries. Sadly, without this additional coverage, there may be little you can do to recover financial compensation following a hit-and-run accident in which the offending driver is never found.

Although the odds are stacked against the victims in hit-and-run car accidents, it’s still advisable to contact an experienced car accident attorney if someone struck you then drove away. A car accident lawyer can help you evaluate state laws pertaining to hit-and-run accidents, review the circumstances of your accident, assess your insurance options and recommend the best course of action.

In some cases, insurance companies refuse to provide the coverage to which you’re legally entitled, and a knowledgeable car accident attorney may be able to help you pursue compensation for insurance bad faith.

If you were injured in a hit-and-run car accident in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area and would like more information about your options, please visit the website of the Milwaukee car accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm Wisconsin.

About Author

The Cochran Firm Wisconsin, formerly the Techmeier Law Firm, is one of Wisconsin's preeminent personal injury law firms.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-sara-goldstein-4751.html