How Do You Recover Compensation for Your Losses?
When you’ve been hurt in any way in a Dallas motor vehicle accident, as the result of the negligence or carelessness of another driver, one of the first things you’ll want to do is get information on the at-fault driver and his insurer. Unlike many states, Texas does not take a “no-fault” approach to motor vehicle accidents. To cover your losses, you’ll bring legal action against the other driver and his insurance company. What happens, though, when the person who caused the wreck flees the scene of the crash. What recourse do you have when you can’t identify the party at fault?
What to Do in the Immediate Aftermath of a Texas Hit and Run Accident
The first thing you’ll want to do is call 911, regardless of the seriousness of your injury, as that will bring law enforcement to the scene of the accident. If you are seriously injured, stay exactly where you are, unless doing so puts you in danger of further injury. Tell police officers everything you can remember, particularly about the color and make of the other vehicle, as well as any occupants.
How Can You Recover Compensation for a Hit and Run Accident?
Ideally, based on the evidence you provide and testimony from eyewitnesses, the police will be able to locate the other driver. If that happens, your lawyer will file a personal injury lawsuit, seeking compensation from the other driver and his/her insurer.
If, however, you cannot locate the other motorist, you can file a claim with your own insurer, provided you had additional coverage under your policy for accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists. This type of rider to your coverage is not required in Texas, but your insurance company must offer you the opportunity to purchase it. Don’t expect your insurance company to take the initiative to determine whether you have this coverage and extend it to you. Your insurer is a for-profit entity, seeking to maximize shareholder value by paying as little as possible to settle claims. After a hit and run accident, you want an experienced personal injury attorney to review your auto insurance policy to ascertain the full extent of your coverage.
Other potential sources of recovery after a hit and run accident include:
- The manufacturer, distributor, designer, wholesaler or retailer of any consumer product, including automobile parts, that were dangerous or defective and caused or contributed to your accident
- The responsible governmental body, if the accident was caused by any roadway hazards or conditions that could reasonably have been avoided
Contact the Aggressive Auto Accident Attorneys at Bailey & Galyen
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we understand how a motor vehicle accident can change your life. We’ll be at your side throughout the legal process, helping you pursue full and fair compensation for all your losses. We can also be your intermediary with insurance companies, so that you get all the benefits to which you are entitled. Contact us by e-mail or 844-402-2992 call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
