If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident in California, our Sacramento hit-and-run injury lawyers can help you to understand your options for compensation and provide you with legal support throughout the entire claims process. Call us today at (916) 921-6400 for a free consultation.

Below are a few important steps to take after being involved in a hit and run accident that may be useful in finding the driver and recovering the compensation you need:

• Report Your Accident as Soon as Possible
• Seek Medical Treatment for Your Injuries
• Review Your Own Auto Insurance Policy
• How Our Law Office Can Help with Your Injury Claim
• How a Sacramento Hit and Run Accident Attorney Can Help

If you are involved in an accident in California, the law requires that you report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles if property damage valued at $750 or more occurred, any injuries were sustained by any parties, or if a death occurred. However, in addition to complying with the law, reporting your accident to the proper authorities as soon as possible, preferably moments after the accident occurs, it is critical to track down the driver who hit you and fled the scene of the accident. The sooner you report the accident, the sooner the police can open an investigation, and the greater the chances of finding the missing driver.

When you report your accident to the police, be sure to provide officers with as much information as possible about the accident, what happened, and the other driver. If there are any witnesses to the accident, ask them to provide testimony to the police. If any video footage of the accident was recorded, this could prove extremely useful.

Many people who are involved in a hit and run accidents may worry about seeking treatment for their injuries as a result of fears about how the treatment will be paid for (typically, the at-fault driver’s liability insurance covers these injury types, but if the driver is missing, recovering compensation can be more complicated). Even if you are not sure how hospital bills will be paid, you must seek medical treatment.

Making sure that you get the medical treatment you need should be a top priority. Not only will doing so protect your health and wellbeing, but it may also be critical later on when filing a claim. If you do not seek medical attention early on, an insurance adjuster may question the validity of your injuries and deny or reduce your claim as such. To learn more about the factors that may affect the value of your compensation claim, contact our Sacramento hit and run injury attorneys today for a free consultation.

Because California is an at-fault car insurance state, drivers are required to carry liability insurance, which is used to pay for injuries to others when drivers cause accidents. However, if the accident was a hit and run, filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance policy may be impossible. When this happens, hit and run accident victims should turn to their own insurance policy for possible coverage.

One type of auto coverage that may help pay for your injuries after a crash that you did not cause is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. While this type of coverage is not required in California, many drivers choose to purchase it. This type of coverage will pay for your medical expenses and anyone in your car at the time of the accident if you are involved in an accident with a driver who does not have or does not have enough insurance. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage will also pay for injuries for you and any of your family members when hit by a hit and run driver while acting as a pedestrian or bicyclist.

The other insurance coverage offered through your own policy, which is also an option, is medical payments coverage. The minimum policy amount is $1,000, but many California drivers purchase it in greater coverage amounts. Medical payments coverage covers the costs of injuries to you and your passengers in a crash, regardless of who is at fault.

If you do not carry either of these insurance policies and are therefore unable to recover compensation through your insurance company, all hope is not lost. Our hit-and-run injury lawyers in Sacramento will work hard to explore all recovery options.

We realize how devastating it can be to learn that the driver who hit you cannot be found, and therefore your recovery options are limited. Our Sacramento hit and run injury lawyers will work hard on your behalf to open an investigation to track down the responsible driver and hold them accountable for their actions. We have the resources and finances that your case deserves and work with accident reconstruction experts, police officers, and forensic specialists to find at-fault drivers and prove their liability. We will interview all witnesses and gather all evidence related to your claim.

Our law offices have a history of success when it comes to tracking down hit and run drivers. However, doing so is extremely time-sensitive, so it is imperative that you call our hit and run injury attorneys in Sacramento and schedule your free case evaluation as soon as possible. The more time that passes, the more evidence that is destroyed. Additionally, the longer you wait to take action, the closer you get to surpass the state’s statute of limitations for filing a claim. If you wait too long, you may be permanently barred from seeking damages for your injuries at all.

We understand what you are going through after a hit and run crash, and we’ve worked with numerous other hit and run victims in the past, many of whom had suffered serious and tragic injuries in their accidents and had no idea where to turn or how they could recover financial compensation for their losses. While finding the at-fault driver is not always possible, my team works hard to conduct a thorough investigation to track the driver down. If the driver is found, we can assist you in filing your claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or filing a lawsuit directly against the negligent driver to recover your maximum compensation amount. When a settlement cannot be reached out of court, we are prepared to litigate on your behalf.

If the hit and run driver cannot be located, we will review all applicable insurance policies and work with you and insurance adjusters to a fair settlement amount that fully compensates for your losses. We can also aid you in filing a lawsuit when necessary.

Being in an accident in itself is tragic enough; being involved in an accident with a driver who flees the scene and leaves you unable to collect the money you need to move your life forward is horrific. The Sacramento hit and run injury attorneys of our law firm will advocate for you.