New York Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run accident in New York City, you may be left with a number of worrisome questions about recovering and getting back on your feet. Will the hit-and-run driver ever be found and held accountable? Will you be reimbursed for your medical bills? Who will pay to fix your damaged vehicle? How will you receive compensation for any work time that you miss due to the accident? Hit-and-run accident victims are typically left with a feeling of a great deal of uncertainty, especially in the face of their significant physical, emotional and/or financial burdens. But there are ways for victims and their families to seek and obtain fair compensation for their injuries, damages and losses. An experienced New York hit-and-run accident attorney can assist victims through the claims and/or litigation process and help them get on the road to recovery and to a return to normalcy.
New York Hit-and-Run Laws
Under New York law, it is illegal to leave the scene of an injury or fatal crash. Motorists in New York are required under the law to stop immediately and remain at the scene of a crash, regardless of who may have been at fault. Drivers must exchange pertinent information with other parties such as driver’s license, registration, insurance, contact information. Most importantly, motorists should stop to aid injured victims at the scene. The medical assistance victims receive in the minutes following the crash can make the difference between life and death.
Spike in Hit-and-Run Injuries and Deaths
Hit-and-run crashes are increasing in many major cities in the United States including New York City, and hit-and-run fatality numbers are rising nationally. According to crash data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of fatal hit-and-run crashes is trending upward, from 1,274 in 2009, to 1,393 in 2010, to 1,449 in 2011, the most recent year for which these statistics are available. The government’s data also show that the 13.7 percent increase in hit-and-run deaths over that three-year period occurred while traffic accident deaths overall were falling 4.5 percent.
Liability Issues in Hit-and-Run Cases
There are several parties that may be held financially liable in a hit-and-run case. The driver and the vehicle owner are both responsible parties even if the owner was not driving when the accident occurred. If the driver was on the job and operating a company vehicle at the time, his or her employer can also be held liable. Drivers have a legal duty of care to operate the vehicle carefully while looking out for the safety and well being of others on the roadway.
In a majority of hit-and-run crashes, we see that drivers leave the scene because they know they were at fault for the crash. Such negligent driving may take the form of speeding, running a red light or a stop sign or driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. When the driver is apprehended in a hit-and-run case and negligence is proven, the victim is able to seek compensation for his or her injuries, damages and losses. Even when the vehicle is not identified, a good personal injury lawyer may help you recover significant money damages.
Dealing with the Insurance Company
Uninsured motorist coverage includes any members of your household or others who are named on the auto insurance policy. If you have been injured in a hit-and-run crash, it is important to report the accident to your insurance company right away. An experienced New York hit-and-run accident attorney will be able to help negotiate and/or litigate with your insurance company and secure the maximum possible compensation for your injuries, damages and losses.
Steps You Can Take
If you are a victim of a hit-and-run crash, there are a number of steps you can take to protect your rights:
- Call for help. If you have been injured, get the medical attention you need right away.
- Be sure to file a police report and obtain a signed copy of the report.
- Identify the other driver to the best of your ability. Try to remember the color, make and model of the other car and write down license plate numbers or partial license plate number. If you saw the driver, write down a physical description.
- Get contact information for eyewitnesses. Make sure you get this information before witnesses leave the scene.
- Call your insurance company and report the incident. You may also need to send them a copy of the police report.
- Contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. Your attorney can help negotiate and/or litigate with the insurance company and ensure that you receive just compensation for all your losses.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. We obtained $2,000,000 for a 6-year-old girl who was injured by a hit-and-run driver. A judge originally dismissed the case, but we aggressively appealed the judge’s decision and had it overturned. Our client received a $2,000,000 settlement when the case was retried.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com