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Paducah Hit and Run Accidents

Car Crash Lawyers Serving Paducah and Surrounding Cities

In Kentucky, like most states, drivers have a duty to stop after a motor vehicle collision. This allows the driver to determine the extent of any property damage to the vehicles involved and any injuries to the occupants thereof and render aid or call for help when necessary after the collision. Unfortunately, many drivers still choose to flee the scene of the accident for various reasons. The driver may have been intoxicated or driving without auto insurance coverage and be trying to avoid criminal charges and penalties. The driver may merely be trying to avoid any financial responsibility for the accident. If you have been injured in a hit and run accident in Kentucky or elsewhere, a Paducah car accident lawyer at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz may be able to help you recover for your losses. We may be able to assist you in indentifying the hit and run driver or in filing an uninsured motorist claim with your own auto insurance company.

Hit and Run Accidents in Kentucky

It is against the law to leave the scene of an accident in Kentucky. Uninsured vehicle owners and drivers are subject to fines from $500 to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. They may also have their vehicle registration revoked by law.

Hit and run accidents are on the rise across the nation despite many states imposing stiff penalties for leaving the scene of an accident. One of the main reasons drivers leave the scene of any auto accident is a lack of auto insurance and not wanting to be cited or held financially responsible for any bodily injuries or property damage. In Kentucky, all motor vehicle owners are required to carry minimum liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injuries and an additional $10,000 for property damage. In the alternative, vehicle owners can elect a policy with a single limit of $60,000.

What to Do After a Hit and Run Accident in Paducah

If you have been involved in an accident and the at-fault driver flees the scene, you should try to provide the police with as much information as possible so the driver can be identified and located. Information that can prove useful in locating the hit and run driver include:

  • Tag number
  • Year, make, and model of the vehicle
  • Color of the vehicle
  • Logos (if any) on the car
  • Characteristics of the driver
  • Which direction the car was going

The tag number is the most important, but the color, make and model of the vehicle, physical description of the driver, the direction the vehicle was headed, and any property damage to the vehicle are important details that may assist law enforcement in their investigation of the accident. If the police are able to locate the owner of the vehicle with the information you or eyewitnesses provide, you may file a claim for your property damage and bodily injuries with the owner’s liability insurance carrier. In your bodily injury claim, you can seek compensation for:

Medical expenses (including hospital visits, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, etc.)

  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of consortium
  • Property damage

If the police are unable to locate the at-fault driver or the at-fault driver is uninsured you may be able to file an uninsured motorist claim with your own auto insurance if you carry that coverage on your policy. Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in Kentucky and must be offered as standard coverage on every policy. However, individuals may reject this coverage by signing a written waiver. If you did not reject uninsured motorist coverage in writing, then you should be protected by this additional coverage and be able to file an uninsured motorist claim with your own auto insurance company for any losses you incur in an accident caused by a hit and run driver.

Discuss Your Hit and Run Case with a Kentucky Attorney

The aftermath of a hit and run car accident may be extremely stressful. You may be injured, your car may be destroyed, and you literally do not know who to blame. Allow the personal injury attorneys of NST to assist you during this difficult time. Our firm has been handling personal injury cases, including hit and run accident claims, for more than 30 years, and we have a skillful team of more than 30 lawyers and 120 staff members to assist you with your claim. We represent injured parties across Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, and Arkansas, including in Paducah, Murray, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Lexington, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Jackson, Tupelo, Little Rock, Jonesboro, and Cape Girardeau. Call us toll-free today at 800-529-4004 or complete our online form to set up a free consultation.