As a pedestrian, you’re susceptible to severe and life-threatening injuries if you’re hit by a car. The costs and consequences can be overwhelming. Under Texas state law, you have the right to seek compensation from the person who caused your pedestrian accident so that you don’t have to navigate those consequences on your own.
What happens if the other party flees the scene of your pedestrian accident without leaving their name or waiting for the police? It can certainly complicate your ability to get compensation and enhance the stress you’re under as you try to recover from your catastrophic injuries.
You’ll have legal options available to you if a hit-and-run driver injures you, but those options will depend largely on the steps you take after your pedestrian accident. If you’ve been injured by a hit-and-run driver as a pedestrian, a Round Rock pedestrian accident attorney can guide you through your legal options and help protect your right to compensation.
Call the Police to Report the Accident
All traffic accidents resulting in significant property damage or any personal injury, or wrongful death must be reported to the police. It’s just as important, if not more so, that you report your pedestrian accident when the other party flees the scene. Reporting the accident will create a formal record of the incident. Police will arrive on the scene to conduct a preliminary investigation and document critical details about the incident.
The accident report they create may contain critical information about your pedestrian hit and run accident, including:
- The time, date, and location
- Weather conditions
- Details about tire tracks, skid marks, and other forensic evidence at the scene
- Eyewitness statements
- Preliminary assessments of fault
The police can also begin to search for the party that fled the scene. If they’re located, they can be charged for a criminal hit and run and forced to take financial responsibility for your injuries and damages.
Get Medical Treatment at the Closest Emergency Room
Don’t hesitate to undergo a thorough medical evaluation after your hit-and-run pedestrian accident. The longer you put off treatment, the harder it can be for you to prove that your injuries were caused by the traffic accident.
Whether they were minor or catastrophic injuries, your visit will be critical for proving your injuries and getting compensation for your current and future costs of medical care, temporary and/or permanent disability, and other injury-related damages.
File a Claim With Your Insurance Company
In Texas, insurance companies are legally required to offer uninsured (UM) and underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage when you buy car insurance. You don’t have to add it to your car insurance policy, but it’s highly recommended. Uninsured motorist coverage essentially takes the place of the hit-and-run driver’s insurance policy. You can file a claim with your insurance company to recover benefits up to your UM policy limits, which is usually at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injuries.
In the likely event that your damages exceed your UM policy limits, you can take additional steps to recover compensation, including filing a personal injury lawsuit for damages.
Consult an Experienced Round Rock Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Just because the other party fled the scene of your pedestrian accident doesn’t mean that they won’t be found. If you’ve called the police and hired a personal injury attorney in Round Rock, TX, they’ll work to find the hit-and-run driver and hold them accountable.
Once the hit-and-run driver is located, you can file a claim with their insurance company or sue them directly for damages. Your pedestrian accident lawyer will have the resources and experience required to navigate what might be a very complicated legal claim, especially if your insurance company is also fighting to get reimbursed for the benefits it’s already paid you.
Increase the odds of a meaningful financial recovery after your pedestrian accident by calling Dow Law Firm for help right away. We can investigate the incident, search for the hit-and-run driver, and work to help you secure compensation from all available sources.
Contact our Round Rock pedestrian accident attorneys today at (512) 240-9951 to learn more. Your first consultation is free.