If you have been involved in a three plus car accident and the car at fault fled the accident scene, you might be left wondering what to do. You will need to consult with a personal injury attorney, but there are several different scenarios that might come into play depending on the laws in the state where the crash took place.
There could be a single car at fault for the entire crash or the other drivers might hold some responsibility for the resulting crash. Also, it depends on if you or one of the other drivers involved got any identifying information about the driver who fled the scene.
Am I Out of Luck If the Driver Cannot Be Found?
If you don’t have any identifying information, or if the driver cannot be tracked down, you are not necessarily out of luck. You might be able to file a claim using your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. If you have this coverage, you should be able to recover compensation for your damages.
Of course, the laws of the state where the crash took place do take precedence. If the driver is found, but did not have insurance coverage, your policy will most likely have to foot the bill anyway. However, since it was a multi-vehicle accident, there was more than one witness to what happened and who can verify the story of who was at fault.
How Negligence Plays A Role
When a car accident takes place, you can pursue damages through a personal injury claim. To have a successful claim, you must prove that the driver at-fault acted negligently. In this case, negligence would be easy to prove. There are four elements to negligence.
First, there is a duty. A driver has a duty to act in a specific way and to adhere to traffic laws to protect others from harm. Second, if that duty is breached, damages can result. The driver obviously breached the duty when he broke the law and fled the scene of the accident. Third, his actions caused harm. In this case, he caused a crash that resulted in damages. Proving the damages were caused by the accident is the fourth element of negligence. The driver fled the scene without rendering aid. So, this driver is obviously liable for what resulted.
Different Kinds of Damages
You can suffer both economic and non-economic damages in an auto accident. Common damages include medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of consortium, and mental trauma. Your personal injury attorney will help you determine which damages you suffered. Maintain thorough documentation, such as accident reports, medical records, medical bills, proof of lost wages, and property damage repair estimates.
Consult With A Personal Injury Attorney
If you have suffered damages in a three plus car accident and the driver at fault fled, consult with a personal injury attorney. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page so you can get the process underway to recoup compensation for your damages.
