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You’re driving to work in Los Angeles on I-5 or heading into San Francisco on I-580, or you may just be leaving a grocery store in Sacramento when someone hits your car. You do the responsible thing and pull over. They don’t. They leave, and you’ve just become the victim of a hit and run accident in California.
Many of these hit and run accidents involve cars hitting pedestrians or cyclists, but it’s not uncommon for it to happen between two vehicles. The event can leave law-abiding citizens like you confused and unsure of where to go for help. In the event that you are an accident victim of a hit and run, call the hit and run accident lawyers at Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers today.
Our California car accident lawyers can manage your personal injury claim while you recover from your injuries. We can help you pursue fair compensation for such things as your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more, consult with a member of our legal team during a free case consultation. We can listen to your story and explain your legal options for the future.
What to Do If You Are Involved in a Hit and Run Accident
In most instances, the at-fault driver in the accident will stay around and exchange information with everyone involved in accordance with CVC § 20001. Most will also wait for the police to arrive so that the officer can generate a police report on the accident.
However, there are times when the at-fault driver leaves the accident scene almost immediately. If this happens to you, where the hit and run driver leaves and does not participate in the exchange of information, here’s what you should remember to do:
Photograph and Record Everything You Can
If your injuries permit, do your best to photograph or remember everything you can about:
- Make, color, and model of the other vehicle
- Vehicle’s license plate, even a partial number is helpful
- Details about the driver, such as height, weight, and clothing
- Direction the at-fault driver fled
- The accident scene itself
- Your injuries
Details about the other car may be enough to help the police and our law firm’s investigators to track down the negligent driver.
Call Emergency Services
Per CVC § 20008, make sure that you call 911. Let the operator know how you feel, where you are, and what has happened. Request the police to come to the accident scene and create their report. The police will collect all the information possible, including contact information for witnesses and their opinion on who was at fault. Provide the officer with all the information you could gather prior to their arrival.
See a Doctor as Soon as Possible
Your injuries may make it a necessity to go to the emergency room following your hit and run accident. Whether your injuries are minor or severe, we advise our clients to see a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you see one, the better it is for your health and your case.
For one thing, you may be suffering from injuries that have not become apparent yet. You could have internal injuries that won’t be seen without diagnostic testing. Your doctor can diagnose your injuries and start you on a treatment program for your recovery.
Legally, seeing a doctor early also protects your personal injury claim. Your medical records help to create a link between your injuries and the accident. If you wait too long, the insurance companies can argue that your injuries are from something other than the hit and run auto accident.
Call Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
You can handle your insurance claim on your own, but you may find it more difficult than expected. Our personal injury attorneys can manage your case for you and give you the time you need to heal.
So, call us today to get started.
Get a free case evaluation
Schedule NowYou Still Have a Right to Damages in a Hit and Run Accident
In the case of a hit and run crash, there is obviously only one insurance company and policy involved, yours, the victim. As the policyholder, you are required to make a claim under the uninsured motorist coverage (UM) of your policy.
Whether the police or our investigator find the at-fault driver or not, you have a right to financial compensation for your losses. Typically, car accidents result in such damages as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
If you have lost a loved one in a hit and run accident in California, please accept our company’s condolences. We understand how tragic this can be for a family. Our California wrongful death attorneys want to help. We can manage your case and pursue such losses as:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Decedent’s final medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
You deserve to feel whole again, and accident attorneys with Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers are dedicated to helping injured people recover. We welcome you to read our clients’ testimonials and learn how we have helped others in the past.
Benefit of a California Hit and Run Lawyer
When you hire the personal injury lawyers with Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers to provide legal representation, we manage the legal process from your initial consultation until you receive a settlement or court award. Best of all, we provide our services to accident victims on a contingency-fee basis. Under a contingency agreement, you pay nothing up front. We only receive attorney’s fees when you win.
As your lawyer, we will:
- Investigate the accident
- Gather evidence
- Compile your damages
- File your accident claim
- Negotiate on your behalf
If we find the hit and run driver, we will even file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to court if necessary. However, the California statute of limitations on personal injury, CCP § 335.1, is only two years, so contact us as soon as you can.
Fight for Your Fair Settlement
If you’re unsure what to do after you’ve been hurt in a hit and run accident in the California area, don’t hesitate to call Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers today. A member of our legal team is standing by to help. We will fight to get the maximum compensation possible in your case.
