Frederick Hit & Run Accident Attorney
Hit-and-run crashes are those that involve one driver who flees the scene. In many cases, these collisions involve a driver striking a parked car or a minor impact with another vehicle. Sadly, there are other cases where the hit-and-run driver flees after causing severe injuries and even fatalities.
The AAA conducted a study on hit-and-runs and found that these crashes have been on the rise nationally. The data also indicated that pedestrians are those most at risk in fatal hit-and-runs. In fact, about one out of five pedestrians killed in a traffic accident died in a hit-and-run crash. Cyclists are also vulnerable on the road and tend to account for a disproportionate number of those injured and killed in serious hit-and-runs. Overall, 65 percent of people killed in hit-and-runs are either pedestrians or cyclists.
For the victims and the families of the victims, not knowing who caused these tragedies only makes a horrible situation even worse. It is a struggle for the families of those killed in these crashes to come to terms with the heartlessness of the driver who chose to leave the scene. In some cases, the drivers who choose to flee do so because they were drunk, impaired, and fear facing legal consequences. While fleeing the scene is a crime in Frederick, Maryland, that does not mean that people do not risk the consequences for a possible chance to escape justice.
It is important to understand that hit-and-run victims are not without hope for recovering financial help for their injuries. At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our Frederick hit & run accident attorneys are here to help you recover for your injuries. We know that car crash victims face financial hardship, including lost wages and high medical bills. Recovering financially is an important way for you and your family to move on after a serious crash.
Call us today at 301-668-2100 to discuss your claim.
Will the Driver Ever be Caught?
In most car crash cases, if a driver caused injuries to the other person, then the liable driver will have to compensate the other motorist, pedestrian, or other person injured as a result of the wreck. In cases where the driver who caused the crash left and has not been identified, the situation can be more complicated.
Police do not simply give up on pursuing drivers who flee the scene, and even in cases where the person seems to have vanished without a trace, there is a good chance that later evidence will lead to that person’s identification.
When a driver causes a hit-and-run, they often leave behind evidence in the form of damaged parts from their vehicle. Paint, broken mirrors, or fragments from headlights can often be enough for the police to identify the type of car involved in the crash and possibly the color. This evidence can help lead to an arrest.
Security cameras also frequently capture an image of cars in the area at the time and can help police determine what type of car was involved, and they might even catch a license plate number. Witnesses can also be instrumental in providing useful tips.
In Maryland, a rapid alert system was also initiated to help the police get the word out to the public following a serious hit-and-run. The system can help ensure that the driver does not easily escape without being identified.
Once the driver is apprehended, the victim or victims have the opportunity to pursue a claim against that person. A Frederick, Maryland car crash attorney can help you build your case and develop a plan for collecting compensation.
What if Police Never Identify the Driver?
In some cases, the driver will not be identified. The lack of an arrest is a devastating outcome for a victim or the victim’s family. Emotionally, finding closure in these cases will be a challenge. However, when it comes to financial compensation, you may still have the ability to recover.
In Maryland, all insurance policies must include coverage for uninsured motorist claims. Such coverage can also apply in the case of a hit-and-run. In these cases, the driver who fled the scene will be treated like a driver who stayed at the scene but was driving without coverage or assets to cover the injured person’s damages.
While you would be making this claim with your own insurance company, you still should have legal representation. Your insurer will effectively be entering the shoes of the driver who left the scene. The system, therefore, makes your insurance company the opposing party in your claim. It can be frustrating and challenging to deal with an insurer who questions the amount of damages you claim or the medical care you needed to recover from your injuries. An experienced Frederick, Maryland car accident attorney will be able to help you get the compensation to which you are entitled.
Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP’s Attorneys can Help After a Hit-and-Run Car Accident in Frederick
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, we know the importance of recovering compensation for your injuries. Call us today at 301-668-2100 to discuss your claim with an experienced Frederick, Maryland car crash attorney.
