2024 What to Do if You’ve Been Injured in a Hit and Run Accident in Wilmington, NC?

If you are ever struck by a vehicle that flees the scene of an accident, it is important to know what to do if you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident in Wilmington, NC. Drivers who hit another vehicle have the responsibility to stop and exchange car insurance information. Drivers who fail to follow state accident laws can face criminal charges and civil liabilities.

Important Steps to Follow After a Hit-and-Run Accident

Being hit in a hit-and-run crash can lead to serious injuries. If you are safely able to do so, identify the make and model of the car that hit you. Call the police and report every detail about the accident that you can. Police dispatchers record conversations, and the information you share could be useful later on when assessing liability for the accident.

Stay at the scene of the accident until the police arrive. The officer who arrives should ask questions about the accident so they can generate a police report. Follow up to make sure that an official report is made.

Take notes describing any characteristics of the driver or the car for use later. If there were witnesses to the accident, gather their names and contact information. Take pictures of your damaged car and the crime scene.

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. They will explain your coverage options, including uninsured motorist coverage for damages if the driver isn’t found and personal injury protection for medical expenses.

If the other driver is identified, you can claim through their liability coverage. You may be able to claim through your coverage if you have uninsured motorist coverage. If you have concerns about your ability to be compensated for your injuries, schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney who can review your case and pursue compensation on your behalf.

Common Physical Injuries Following a Hit-and-Run Accident

Following a hit-and-run accident, you should seek medical attention. Certain symptoms may not be apparent immediately following an accident when your adrenaline kicks in.

Schedule a comprehensive examination by your primary care physician to document potential injuries that could include whiplash, back injuries such as herniated discs, head injuries like concussions, fractures and broken bones, cuts and bruises, and occasionally more severe internal injuries such as organ damage.

Psychological trauma and emotional distress can also follow a hit-and-run accident. Post-traumatic stress disorder is reported in upward of 46% of car accident victims. Any injury that results from a hit-and-run accident can provide legal grounds for a personal injury claim.

How Can I Be Compensated Following a Hit-and-Run Accident?

If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, your car insurance company is unlikely to conduct an exhaustive investigation into the accident. In the event that you have clear evidence that includes the license plate of the at-fault driver, your insurance may pursue the at-fault driver for damages.

If you want to be compensated for your injury, your option may be to hire a personal injury attorney who can investigate the cause of your injury. Injured victims of car accidents can be compensated for economic and non-economic damages. In some cases, plaintiffs may be eligible for punitive damages.

• Economic damages: Compensation for financial losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral costs due to an accident. It also covers losses like household provisions, inheritance, and other financial responsibilities incurred by the family.
• Non-economic damages: Compensation for intangible losses that significantly affect life, including lost companionship, permanent disfigurement, and emotional pain.
• Punitive damages: Pursued as punishment if the at-fault driver acted negligently or with malice. These damages are awarded at the court’s or jury’s discretion based on evidence of gross misconduct.

The priority for any personal injury attorney is to find compensation for your injuries. In some cases, compensation may come from your uninsured driver coverage. In other cases, the at-fault driver can be found and held accountable for their misconduct.

FAQs

Q: Does Insurance Cover Hit-and-Run Accidents in North Carolina?

A: Insurance might cover a hit-and-run accident if you can identify the at-fault driver. Another source of compensation could be your insurance carrier if you cannot identify the driver and you purchased uninsured liability insurance. Navigating either source of compensation could prove difficult without legal representation.

Q: What Is the Penalty for a Hit-and-Run in North Carolina?

A: Failing to stay at the scene of an automobile accident can result in a Class 1 misdemeanor criminal charge. The offense is punishable by up to one year in jail, a $4,000 fine, or both. Anyone who causes criminal charges can still be liable for civil liability when the injured victim hires a personal injury attorney. In cases where there are aggravating factors, such as an injured victim, the charges could become more serious.

Q: What Is a Non-Reportable Accident in North Carolina?

A: You generally do not have to report minor car accidents that resulted in minimal car damage and no bodily injury. Fender-bender collisions typically occur at slow speeds and only cause superficial damage to the exterior of a car. Fender-bender collisions should still be reported to your car insurance carrier as soon as possible.

Q: What Happens When the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Insurance?

A: When the at-fault party does not have liability insurance, you can hire a car accident attorney to take direct legal action against the driver. Not having insurance does not allow them to get away with not paying for damages they caused.

Drivers who do not have automobile insurance may also be issued a citation by the police. In cases where the driver is underinsured, your lawyer can explore the possibility of taking further legal action in civil courts so you are fully compensated for your injuries.

Schedule Your Hit-and-Run Accident Today

The moments after a hit-and-run can be traumatizing. Feelings of surprise can turn to anger when you see that the driver who hit you did not follow state law by immediately stopping. You may feel like you have few options for compensation, but you can hire an attorney who can take steps to find the at-fault driver.

Compensation can come from your own insurance company if you have uninsured motorist coverage. To learn what options you have for compensation, contact Christina Rivenbark & Associates, where you will receive caring and diligent legal representation.