Memphis Hit and Run Accidents
Under Tennessee law, anyone who is involved in a car accident is supposed to stop and stay at the scene. When the crash results in injuries or death to anyone, a driver is supposed to give their name, address, and registration number to the person who has been struck or the occupant of the car that has been struck. They are also supposed to offer reasonable assistance to anyone who is hurt. If they do not stop, they may be caught and prosecuted through the criminal justice system. Unfortunately, some drivers do not stop, and they decide to flee the scene. Sometimes this is because they are drunk or do not have insurance, and they do not want to get caught. If you are hurt in a hit and run accident in Tennessee or a neighboring state, the Memphis car accident lawyers at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz may be able to help you recover damages.
Hit and Run Accidents in Tennessee
There may be a few different options if you were hurt in a hit and run crash. The first is to call the police to the scene. The police may be able to investigate and locate the driver. In a civil claim for damages, the focus if the driver is located is whether the driver was negligent in causing the injuries. You will need to prove that the defendant breached their duty to drive safely and in so doing caused your injuries. Once liability is established, you may be able to recover compensatory damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If the driver was a drunk driver who caused your injuries, you may also be able to recover punitive damages, which are designed to punish the defendant for egregious conduct.
However, there are some situations in which the hit and run driver cannot be located. And even if the hit and run driver is located, if the reason that they fled is a lack of insurance, you may not be able to recover from them at all. Most victims of hit and run accidents may file an uninsured motorist claim with their own insurance company.
Generally, your insurance company is in an adverse position to yours when you file an uninsured motorist claim. It is in its interest to show that your comparative negligence was a cause of the accident so that it may reduce the amount of damages that it owes you. You should retain an attorney to help you present your case before you give a statement about the accident to your insurance company.
Discuss Your Hit and Run Case with a Memphis Attorney
You may feel anxious after a hit and run, wondering how you will be able to afford medical care and time off from work. If you were injured or a loved one was killed as a result of a hit and run accident in Tennessee or a neighboring state, the Memphis attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz may be able to develop a strategy to help you seek the damages to which you may be entitled. Our firm consists of over 30 experienced trial attorneys and more than 100 staff members. We can assist people who suffer injuries in Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas, including in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Caruthersville, Hayti, Oxford, Starkville, Grenada, Columbus, Tupelo, Meridian, Jackson, Little Rock, and Jonesboro. Contact our office toll-free by calling 800-LAW-4004 or using our online form to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision attorney. NST is the way to go.
