Hit-and-run accidents are often nerve-wracking and stressful. Whether it is a hit-and-run accident involving two vehicles or a pedestrian, a motorcyclist, a parked car, bicycle rider or scooter rider, the outcome can be disastrous for everyone involved. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA FARS), two in three hit-and-run fatalities in 2016 involved pedestrians or bicyclists.
According to NHTSA, in 2016, there were 2,046 pedestrian fatalities reported. The number is projected to increase. The projected increase in hit-and-runs is related most likely to factors like distracted driving, road congestion, failure to obey traffic signs and signals, and reckless driving. Moreover, law enforcement may only be able to arrest roughly one percent of all hit-and-run wrecks.
Injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents can range from bruises and scratches to severe injuries or even death. Some of the most common injuries in hit-and-run accidents include, but are not limited to:
- Scrapes
- Broken bones
- Fractures
- Concussions
- Paralysis
Determining the cause of a hit-and-run accident can be complicated. Often, the injured party is unable to find the other driver who hit them. Most commonly, however, hit-and-run accidents are caused by drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving while distracted or reckless drivers.
Determining compensation
While it is not always the case, hit-and-run accidents can involve drivers that are not insured or underinsured. This can complicate your claim for compensation. Therefore, it is best to hire an experienced car accident attorney right away. The attorneys at Petrillo & Goldberg Law will be there in the aftermath of the accident helping their clients.
Surviving a hit-and-run accident often leaves accident victims with significant medical bills and other damages. In most instances, the at-fault driver’s auto insurance provides coverage for injuries and damages. Defendants who have no insurance leave the plaintiff accessing their vehicle insurance, homeowners or umbrella policies to provide supplemental benefits.
It can be difficult for a hit-and-run victim to determine who will be responsible for compensation, especially when the police cannot find the hit-and-run driver. Additionally, insurance companies are known to resist paying out compensation.
Petrillo & Goldberg know this and fight to help injured hit-and-run victims recover damages. If apprehended after a hit-and-run accident, the at-fault individual may face criminal charges. Still, it is usually the victim’s auto insurance company that pays for the hit and run accident’s consequences.
Civil claims, also called personal injury claims, deal with the harm a hit-and-run victim suffered. An accident claim can get the plaintiff compensation for all of the damages the crash has caused, such as:
- Medical costs incurred seeking treatment
- Cost of future care for long-term or permanent injuries
- Lost income while unable to work
- Loss of future opportunities relating to work
- Pain and suffering related to the crash experience
- Pain and suffering related to medical procedures undertaken after the accident
If you have been involved in a hit and run accident, do not wait to contact Petrillo & Goldberg Law to find out what your legal rights are and how to file a claim for compensation.
Petrillo & Goldberg Law help personal injury victims obtain the compensation they deserve and are available for a free consultation at our Pennsauken, New Jersey office. You can also reach us by phone by calling (856) 249-9288.
