Drivers who flee the scene of an accident may do so because they know they are responsible for causing the collision and believe that they can avoid the consequences of their actions by running. If these drivers are eventually identified, they may face criminal charges for their actions and be held financially responsible for the damages of accident victims.
Even for hit and run drivers that are never located, accident victims may have options for recovering compensation. If you qualify, a Meaux hit and run accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the aftermath of this type of accident. We may be able to help you recover compensation via an insurance settlement or a personal injury lawsuit.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (318) 777-7777 for a free consultation on your case with a member of our team. We represent clients on a contingency-fee basis and require no up-front payments to start.
Methods for Recovering Compensation in a Hit and Run Accident
The police may be able to locate the hit and run driver that caused your accident. If this happens, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to help you bring a personal injury lawsuit against them for your damages.
If police are unable to locate the responsible party, you may still have options for financial recovery.
According to the Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §22:1295, all car insurance policies in Louisiana must offer Uninsured/Underinsured motorist (UM) coverage. You must specifically reject this coverage if you wish to not purchase.
If you carry a UM policy, you may be able to file a UM claim with your own insurance company after a hit and run accident. However, doing so still may require evidence that you were not at-fault for the accident. Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to help you file a UM claim with your insurer, or sue them and take them to trial if they are unwilling to make you a fair settlement offer based on the details of your policy.
It may also be possible to locate a third party that shares liability for your accident and pursue compensation from them. Examples of this may include a municipality, car manufacturer, or mechanic whose negligence somehow caused or contributed to your accident.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientWhy Drivers May Flee the Accident Scene
When drivers flee the scene of an accident, it could indicate that they fear significant consequences, and may be the result of a motorist being drunk or under the influence of drugs while driving. Aside from drunk and drug-impaired driving, a motorist may flee the scene of an accident because:
- They are not insured
- Their vehicle is not registered properly
- They do not have a valid license
- They panic
- They want to avoid the financial consequences of causing an accident
Whatever a motorist’s rationale for fleeing the scene of an accident, doing so may be illegal. RS §14:100 notes that drivers who hit and run in Louisiana may be subject to fines and prison time. The consequences for a hit and run accident that results in serious injury or death may be greater than those that do not have such consequences.
Whether or not the motorist who hit you and fled the scene faces criminal charges, you may be able to obtain compensation from them in civil court.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWorking with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers on Your Case
A Meaux hit and run accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can examine your accident, come up with a strategy for your case, then execute the plan while defending your rights.
Some of the services we can provide you with during representation may include:
- Gathering and organizing evidence, including any video that shows the motorist left the scene of your accident
- Interviewing witnesses who saw your accident occur
- Calculating the value of your accident-related losses
- Hiring experts to assist with your lawsuit
- Filing your lawsuit
- Negotiating a settlement with the responsible party’s insurance company
- Taking your case to trial, if needed
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can handle many of the lawsuit-related duties that you may otherwise have to shoulder on your own. To receive a free consultation on your case with a member of our team, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (318) 777-7777.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientRecoverable Damages in Hit and Run Accident
The recoverable damages in a hit and run accident case may depend on your injuries and what methods of recovering compensation are available to you. In general, the following damages may be recoverable in this type of case:
- Damage to your vehicle
- Lost income during your recovery period
- Long-term or permanent harm to your earning power
- Long-term or permanent disability
- The cost of your medical care, both current and future
- The cost of rehabilitating your physical injuries
- The cost of counseling for psychological injury
- Medication costs
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can evaluate the losses caused by your accident and collect evidence of their value when we represent you.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientCall Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
A Meaux hit and run accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to handle your case and pursue compensation on your behalf while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
We may be able to take your case on a contingency-fee fee basis, where we do not charge you for our labor unless and until you recover compensation via a settlement offer or court award.
For a free case review with a representative of our firm, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (318) 777-7777. We encourage you to call as soon as possible after your accident, as Louisiana Civil Code (CC) §3492 sets a general two-year time limit on filing a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana.
