what lawyer do i need if i hit a person with my car

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer for a car accident?

If you had insurance, your insurance company will hire a lawyer to defend the case. If you don't have insurance, and you want to hire a lawyer, you need to hire an insurance defense lawyer anyway, since those folks will be well versed in defending auto accident cases.

How can a personal injury attorney help after a hit and run?

Additionally, if you are the victim of a hit and run accident, a personal injury attorney will help you determine your best course of action, such as filing a civil lawsuit in order to recover any available damages, and guide you throughout the entire legal process.

Do I need a lawyer for a personal injury case?

You need a personal injury defense lawyer. Notify your insurance company,and the insurance company should assign a lawyer to represent you. * This will flag comments for moderators to take action. You need a personal injury attorney.

What should you do if you’re in an accident?

If you do so, you will face severe consequences. Pull over safely, and stop your vehicle. Call for emergency medical help, and render aid: Put your emergency lights on, call 911, and help the person in any way you can.

What to do if you accidentally hit someone's car?

If you have accidentally caused damage to someone’s property while they are not around, such as hitting a parked car, it is your responsibility to leave a note with your contact information.

What to do if you are charged with a hit and run?

It is in your best interest to contact a skilled and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney if you are being charged with a hit and run. They will help you understand your state’s specific laws regarding the matter, and will help you determine any defenses available to your case.

What to do if you have minor damage to your car?

Even if only minor damage is involved, it is important to remain at the scene. Stop the vehicle after the accident and call the police to report the accident. Exchange information with the other driver if possible, such as names, addresses, and insurance information.

How much is a hit and run fine?

Hit and run accidents that result in major property damage are often misdemeanors with fines of up to $5,000, one year in jail, or both. Additionally, nearly every state also imposes administrative penalties related to the offending party’s license.

What is hit and run?

Traffic law refers to a hit and run as a crime in which a driver causes or is involved in a collision with another vehicle, property, or person, then fails to stop and provide the following:

What is evidence in a hit and run?

A dashboard camera may also be another source of footage to be used as evidence. Vehicle and property damage, such as the paint left behind when the hit and run was committed, are other forms of evidence. Witnesses are often invaluable assets when the police are attempting to track down the driver responsible for a hit and run collision.

What is the source of evidence for a car collision?

Local businesses may also be a source of surveillance camera footage that could lead to identifying the vehicle that caused the collision. Another source of evidence may come in the form of videos obtained by witnesses on their cell phones.

The Hit and Run Driver May Never Be Located

After your accident, the police will do everything they can to track down the hit and run driver. However, it’s possible that the driver will never be identified or located. Does this mean that you are out of luck? Not necessarily. You may be able to recover compensation from your own insurance company.

A Criminal Case Could Affect Your Personal Injury Claim

Everything will go smoothly once the hit and run driver is located, right? Not necessarily. The driver may be arrested and face criminal charges for the hit and run accident. This criminal case could impact your hit and run injury claim.

Need Help?

Have you been injured in a hit and run accident? Are you struggling with medical bills and other accident-related costs? Contact Citywide Law Group for immediate legal assistance. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers have more than 17 years of experience handling complex hit and run car accident claims.

Is a Lawyer Necessary?

Since drunk driving is against the law, you have the legal right to pursue funds from the driver that caused the accident. To help you with the legal process, a trusted attorney with knowledge in the field of drunk driving accidents will typically get you the maximum compensation possible.

Should I Take the Settlement?

After the car accident, be prepared to receive a call from the drunk driver’s insurance company regarding a settlement. To avoid a lengthy and costly trial, many insurance companies will offer a monetary settlement just to get you off of their backs.

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 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 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 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 does a pedestrian argue in a motor vehicle accident?

In short, the pedestrian will argue that the motor vehicle operator owed them a duty to keep a proper lookout and obey all traffic laws. Next, the pedestrian will argue that the motor vehicle operator breached their duty of care by striking the pedestrian .

Why do people get distracted while driving?

Common causes for distracted driving include texting while driving, or other use of a cellular phone, changing the radio station, and eating. Another common pedestrian accident is when a pedestrian suddenly runs out in front of a motor vehicle. For example, there are numerous pedestrian accidents that occur in neighborhoods when ...

What is pedestrian accident?

Although it may seem obvious, a pedestrian accident is an accident that involves one or more pedestrians being struck by a motor vehicle. Pedestrian accidents are fairly common in the United States. Further, it is not surprising that a high percentage of pedestrian accidents result in severe injuries to the pedestrian.

Why do pedestrian accidents occur at night?

The same reports indicated that the highest amount of pedestrian accidents occur during night, when there is reduced visibility for the driver. Another significant factor involved in pedestrian accidents is distracted driving.

What damages can be claimed in a civil lawsuit?

Emotional Distress : Another damages claim that may be included in a civil lawsuit is emotional distress. In order to prove emotional distress, the pedestrian will have to demonstrate they suffered a psychological injury as a result of the accident, evidenced by psychological treatment.

Can a driver be held liable for hitting a pedestrian?

However, if in the same case it is proven that the driver of the motor vehicle was speeding while driving downtown, and then struck the pedestrian who ran out in front of them, the driver may be held both civilly or criminally liable for hitting the pedestrian.

Is a pedestrian at fault for a car accident?

It is important to note that just because a pedestrian was struck by a car, does not mean that the driver of the motor vehicle is the party at fault. Thus, before any criminal or civil liability is assigned to the driver, the at-fault party will have to be determined. For example, if a driver is driving along a downtown street ...

How much money do you need to settle a lawsuit without counsel?

For example, if you're expecting a $100,000 settlement without the benefit of counsel, a lawyer would need to get you more than $150,000 to make it worth the bother. Believe it or not, most attorneys give honest opinions on whether or not it would be worth your while to hire an attorney or take any easy settlement.

Do you have to have counsel in small claims court?

You're certainly entitled to have counsel present to protect your rights in small claims court . The law firm, however, is likely going to expect a fee for their services rather than working on contingency, since the expected recovery would be very small. It depends on the situation.

Can you file a personal injury claim if you have no injuries?

Generally, if no people were hurt, or there was no damage ( no broken bones or potentially lingering injuries that cause you to miss more than a couple days of work), then it may not be worthwhile pursuing a personal injury claim. Just be careful making this judgment of “no injuries” yourself.

Do insurance companies do their jobs?

In a lot of instances, insurance companies do in fact do their jobs as expected. There are definitely situations where you'd want an attorney to be involved, but there are also times when obtaining counsel is simply overkill. Let's take a look at some of the cases where you may NOT need to hire an attorney after an accident.