what attorney do i need to fight a hit and run lawsuit

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer for a hit and run accident?

Because state laws vary greatly in terms of how hit and run accidents are charged and penalized, a local lawyer will be best suited to helping you understand your state’s specific laws regarding the matter.

What happens to a civil case after a hit and run?

The civil case will usually be put on pause while the criminal case in prosecuted, but a criminal conviction is powerful evidence of liability that can lead to a faster resolution of the civil action. For more on the criminal consequences of a hit and run, see Hit and Run Laws (on CriminalDefenseLawyer.com, opens in new window).

What are the defenses to a hit and run charge?

Responding To an Emergency: If you fled the scene of the accident because you were responding to an emergency, such as driving to the hospital, you may be able to use that as a defense against hit and run charges.

How do I get a lawyer for a car accident case?

Either that, or call anyone who advertises on television for automobile accident cases, and ask them for the name of an insurance defense attorney.....but if you have insurance on your automobile, tell them about the suit and if you have insurance of property damage or personal injury, your insurance company should provide a lawyer for you.

What defenses can an attorney raise for a hit and run?

What is the importance of knowing someone's fault in a hit and run?

What is hit and run?

What is the legal requirement for a party to stay on the scene of a vehicular accident?

What information is required to resolve an accident?

Is hit and run a felony?

Can you be charged with a hit and run?

See more

About this website

Hit and Run Accident: Statistics

Accident, what is an accident? An accident is kind of a common term nowadays since they happen every second in some part of the globe.

What are hit and run accidents?

As we have mentioned before, hit and run accidents are directly road-related accidents.

Why do the hit and run accidents happen?

Every kind of accident takes place due to the irresponsible/casual behavior or negligence of one or both parties involved in the accident.

What should you do after a hit and run accident?

There is always a proper way to handle a situation, one step wrong and you might mess up the whole scenario even more. There are a few steps you need to make sure of and these are preferable to be taken when dealing with a hit and run accident.

Can you sue someone for a hit and run?

After you have gotten yourself involved in a hit and run accident, and you are the victim of that accident, whether you are a pedestrian, a motorist, cyclist, or a biker -doesn’t matter.

Should you get lawyers for hit and run accident?

Once you have decided to sue the victimizer, the next question you will ask yourself is whether to hire lawyers for hit and run accident. The answer is YES, you should get yourself a hit and run accident lawyer/attorney or a traffic accident lawyer.

How can a hit and run accident lawyer help me?

Hit and run accident cases are a part of personal injury cases. Basically, a personal injury lawyer who has enough experience in handling accident injury cases can help a lot in these cases.

What defenses can an attorney raise for a hit and run?

If you have been charged with a hit and run offense, there are some possible defenses that an attorney can raise on your behalf: Involuntary Intoxication: Although this defense may not be very likely to be used successfully, it has been used before.

What is the importance of knowing someone's fault in a hit and run?

Unaware of an Injury: Knowledge is an important component of establishing someone’s fault in a hit and run. Of course, it is difficult to establish that you were totally unaware that you caused injury to someone else, or damage, with your vehicle.

What is hit and run?

A hit and run accident occurs when the driver of a vehicle hits another vehicle or a pedestrian, bicyclist or even non-moveable property, then leaves the scene where the accident occurred without checking on anyone or leaving any identifying information. A party to a vehicular accident is legally required to stay on the scene ...

What is the legal requirement for a party to stay on the scene of a vehicular accident?

A party to a vehicular accident is legally required to stay on the scene and exchange contact and insurance information with any other parties to the accident. This way, when fault is established, parties may obtain monetary damages from each other/each other’s insurance companies.

What information is required to resolve an accident?

Each party to the accident should provide: Driver’s license number (not a photo of your ID-protect your information); Insurance information; Name and contact information; and. License plate number.

Is hit and run a felony?

It is very serious to be charged with a hit and run offense. Depending on the resulting damage and injury, or even loss of life, the driver at fault may be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. A situation where the victim of the accident sustained serious injury or death is much more likely to be charged as a felony, ...

Can you be charged with a hit and run?

You can be charged with a hit and run offense even if you were not at fault, or if the other driver was at fault, or if you didn’t even hit another vehicle. There are still duties that must be met. Parties involved in an accident are required to: Remain on the scene (and, usually, wait for police officers);

What are the consequences of a hit and run?

The main consequence of a hit-and-run in a civil injury lawsuit is the fact the plaintiff will likely recover punitive damages. Punitive damages are generally available when the person being sued (the "defendant") intentionally or recklessly causes harm, or acts in a particularly egregious manner. ...

What are the duties of a driver in an accident?

The Normal Duties of Drivers Involved in an Accident. All drivers have certain duties when they are involved in a traffic accident. First, if the accident involve s an injury, an uninjured driver is typically required by state law to at minimum alert emergency services -- many states require more , such as transporting the victim to medical help ...

What are the consequences of fleeing an accident?

Criminal Consequences of Fleeing the Accident Scene. Depending on what kind of damage or injuries the accident caused, the criminal penalties for fleeing the scene of an accident can range from a misdemeanor to a felony. For the criminal consequences, see.

What is punitive damages?

Punitive damages, however, are designed to punish and prevent bad conduct by serving as a warning to others. They are calculated not only in proportion to the defendant's lack of morality, but how much money it would take to effectively punish the defendant.

Is it better to flee the scene after hitting a motorcycle?

Fleeing the scene after hitting a motorcycle is that much more morally blameworthy, since the defendant should have good reason to believe the plaintiff might be badly hurt.

Is hit and run a moral reprehensible offense?

Because everyone is deemed legally aware of their responsibilities at the scene of an accident, committing a "hit-and-run" will almost always be considered morally reprehensible and worthy of punitive damages.

Can a jury make a judgment call?

Because a jury is allowed to make a "judgment call" about punitive damages, they may be (consciously or unconsciously) inclined to assess higher punitive damages against a motorcyclist. Basing higher damages on an unrelated bias is not legal, but there is often no way of proving that is what a jury did.

What to do if you don't have an attorney?

If you have insurance, you should submit the lawsuit to your insurance company and they will provide an attorney free of charge. If you do not have an attorney, you should contact one as soon as possible. Report Abuse. Report Abuse.

What to do if your insurance company does not provide legal counsel?

If the insurance company does not provide legal counsel, you should identify, interview, and engage a litigation attorney.

What to do if you have auto insurance?

If you have auto insurance put them on notice and they will hire an attorney to defend you. If not you need a lawyer that practices in the area of civil defense.

What to do if you don't have insurance on your car?

If you did not have insurance then you need to hire an attorney that handles civil matters to determine what is the best approach to take. Report Abuse.

What to do if you have not been served with suit papers?

If you have not yet been served with suit papers, notify the agent and claims department immediately and give them all of the information they ask for.

What happens if you don't have insurance?

If you do not have insurance, then you should not have been on the road at all. You will have to hire a personal injury attorney; they usually advertise on TV, billboards, lavatory walls, buses, and any structure or medium possible. Of course, you will have to pay up front. so, it is always best to have auto insurance.

What defenses can an attorney raise for a hit and run?

If you have been charged with a hit and run offense, there are some possible defenses that an attorney can raise on your behalf: Involuntary Intoxication: Although this defense may not be very likely to be used successfully, it has been used before.

What is the importance of knowing someone's fault in a hit and run?

Unaware of an Injury: Knowledge is an important component of establishing someone’s fault in a hit and run. Of course, it is difficult to establish that you were totally unaware that you caused injury to someone else, or damage, with your vehicle.

What is hit and run?

A hit and run accident occurs when the driver of a vehicle hits another vehicle or a pedestrian, bicyclist or even non-moveable property, then leaves the scene where the accident occurred without checking on anyone or leaving any identifying information. A party to a vehicular accident is legally required to stay on the scene ...

What is the legal requirement for a party to stay on the scene of a vehicular accident?

A party to a vehicular accident is legally required to stay on the scene and exchange contact and insurance information with any other parties to the accident. This way, when fault is established, parties may obtain monetary damages from each other/each other’s insurance companies.

What information is required to resolve an accident?

Each party to the accident should provide: Driver’s license number (not a photo of your ID-protect your information); Insurance information; Name and contact information; and. License plate number.

Is hit and run a felony?

It is very serious to be charged with a hit and run offense. Depending on the resulting damage and injury, or even loss of life, the driver at fault may be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. A situation where the victim of the accident sustained serious injury or death is much more likely to be charged as a felony, ...

Can you be charged with a hit and run?

You can be charged with a hit and run offense even if you were not at fault, or if the other driver was at fault, or if you didn’t even hit another vehicle. There are still duties that must be met. Parties involved in an accident are required to: Remain on the scene (and, usually, wait for police officers);