Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer in Douglasville

Hit-and-run accidents can leave victims hurt, vulnerable, and frustrated with no one to hold accountable. You may still have options to obtain compensation for your injuries and losses if struck by a hit-and-run driver in Douglasville. You should contact an experienced car accident lawyer to review the accident and discuss the steps you can take with your personal injury lawsuit.

At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., we have been helping victims of hit-and-run accidents recover financially since 1992. Our team is committed to helping people harmed by the negligence of others use all available legal resources to pursue the money they deserve.

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run Douglasville car accident and don’t know where to turn for answers, contact a Douglasville car accident lawyer with Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. We offer a free consultation. We are dedicated to protecting your rights and helping you move forward after the trauma involved in a hit-and-run collision.

Why Do Some Georgia Drivers Flee Accident Scenes?

Car accidents are frightening. Being involved in a car crash can cause a surge of adrenaline and trigger a flight response. Instead of suppressing this response and fulfilling the legal duty to stop at the scene of the accident and render assistance to anyone injured, some motorists panic and drive off.

Some drivers involved in serious car accidents may flee the scene because they know they will be in serious legal trouble for being impaired by alcohol or drugs while driving. It is a response triggered by fear of legal consequences.

Leaving the scene of a car accident is never a smart thing to do. By Georgia Hit and Run Statute § 40-6-270, it is illegal to flee the scene of an accident. If caught, the hit-and-run driver may face criminal charges and criminal penalties, if convicted. A misdemeanor charge can carry a fine of up to $1,000 and 12 months in jail, while a felony conviction can carry significantly more severe punishments.

 

What To Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run Accident?

If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, it is important to try not to panic. First, pull over at the safest and most convenient area possible. Then follow these tips:

• Call the authorities – If you are hit by a hit-and-run motorist, stop and report the accident to authorities immediately. Wait for the police to arrive. Do not try to chase the hit-and-run driver.
• Get medical attention – If you are not taken to the hospital by ambulance, seek medical attention for your injuries as soon as possible. Inform the doctor that you’ve been involved in a car collision.
• Take photos – If you are able and it is safe to do so, take as many pictures of the car accident scene and damage to your car as possible. Try to write down anything you remember about the car that hit you such as the color, make, model, damage to the car, identifying marks, or bumper stickers. Any description you provide may help police locate the hit-and-run driver.
• Gather witness information – If you notice witnesses who saw the car accident, try to get their names and contact information.
• Contact an attorney – A personal injury attorney can assess your options for seeking fair compensation and can help you file an uninsured motorist claim against your own insurance.
• Follow all medical advice – Do not stray from your medical treatment plan.
• Stay off social media – Refrain from posting comments about the car accident on social media.
• Keep records – Be sure to keep records and receipts of all your bills and expenses related to the car crash.

What Different Types of Hit-and-Run Cases Do Our Douglasville Lawyers Represent?

The legal team at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., has experience handling a variety of hit-and-run auto accident cases, such as:

• Hit-and-run drivers who cause serious injuries and fatalities
• Hit-and-run drivers who hit bicyclists or pedestrians

Can You Pursue a Lawsuit Against a Georgia Hit-and-Run Driver You Cannot Find?

Can you get compensation after a hit-and-run accident if the driver is never found? You can file a claim against your own uninsured motorist insurance policy answer if you have uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage functions as a substitute for the auto liability insurance coverage the hit-and-run driver should have provided to you.

In Georgia, drivers are not required to carry UM coverage. However, Georgia law requires insurance companies to offer this type of insurance to drivers in the same amounts as the auto liability coverage. Many Georgia drivers have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage without realizing it.

If you are covered by a UM policy, you can file a claim against it and seek the same types of compensation that would have been covered by the at-fault driver’s insurance. As with any insurance claim, it’s important to build a case for the full compensation you’re owed. Insurance companies are for-profit entities that will do everything they can to reduce or deny a payout.

It’s important to talk to an experienced Douglasville personal injury attorney as soon as possible following a hit-and-run to protect your rights. If the hit-and-run driver is identified and linked to the crash, you may have more options for pursuing justice and compensation.

What Are the Most Common Reasons for Fleeing an Accident?

Motorists flee car accident scenes for a variety of reasons, some of which include:

What Evidence to Collect from a Georgia Hit-and-Run Accident?

Contacting authorities is important after a hit-and-run car accident. The police report can be crucial for your case, but what you remember about the vehicle involved is also vital to help authorities track down the negligent driver.

Evidence that can be critical to your case may include:

• Details about the car’s color, model, make, and identifying features like stickers or damage
• Full or partial license plate numbers
• Photographs of the scene and damage
• Eyewitness reports of the accident
• Surveillance video from surrounding homes or businesses
• Pieces of the other vehicle that may have been left at the scene

What Sort of Compensation Can I Receive for Georgia Car Accident Claim?

With Douglasville personal injury claims, you may be able to obtain compensation for losses such as:

• Past and/or future medical care expenses as they relate to the treatment of your injuries
• Out-of-pocket costs that you might incur as a result of the accident and subsequent injuries.
• Repair or replacement costs from property damaged by the incident that caused your injuries
• Lost wages due to missed work as a result of your accident
• Losses in future earning ability, should  your injuries leave you with a long-term or permanent disability that may limit your ability to work or the type of work you can handle
• The personal costs from the physical pain, mental misery, and emotional trauma you have endured as a result of your injuries

Contact a Douglasville Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident, you may feel overwhelmed as you try to work through the process of talking to insurers and seeking compensation. At the law office of Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., we want you to know you are not alone. We work hard to investigate the accident and help you recover the compensation you deserve. Whether we pursue compensation through an insurance claim or by suing the at-fault driver, we promise to use our legal knowledge and experience to help you work through this difficult situation.

Don’t delay. Contact a Douglasville car accident attorney at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., at the phone number below, or online. We offer a free consultation to help get you started.

Visit Our Douglasville Hit and Run Accident Injury Law Offices