Nashville Hit and Run Accident Attorney
Recovering compensation after a vehicle accident can be challenging, and this is particularly true for hit and run accidents. At Larry R. Williams, PLLC, we are here to help if you need a Nashville hit-and-run accident lawyer by your side. Our team has extensive experience handling vehicle accident claims throughout Tennessee, and we know what it takes to help recover compensation in these challenging circumstances.
Why Choose Larry R. Williams, PLLC for Your Claim?
- At Larry R. Williams, PLLC, we have a track record of success handling complex vehicle accident claims, including hit and run cases that seem impossible to win.
- We have a history of securing significant settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of vehicle accident victims in Nashville and throughout Tennessee.
- Our team of Nashville personal injury lawyers take hit-and-run cases on a contingency fee basis, which means clients will pay zero legal fees until after we successfully recover compensation on their behalf.
What is a Hit-and-run?
Hit-and-run accidents or any incident where one or more drivers flee the scene of the incident after the crash occurs but before the police can come or information can be exchanged with others at the scene. In some cases, hit-and-run crashes are dramatic, and drivers speed off in another direction. However, most hit-and-run crashes are not so dramatic, and those left at the scene are often left scratching their heads as to why one party slowly rolled away and left the scene.
It is absolutely critical for any person involved in a hit-and-run accident to dial 911 so the police can come to the scene. There should be an investigation, and the police need to try and locate the driver and vehicle that left. We encourage any person involved in a hit-and-run accident to try and remember as much as they can about the make and model of the vehicle that fled the scene as well as any physical descriptors of the driver who left.
Can an Attorney Help My Hit and Run Claim?
Hit and run claims can be challenging, particularly when you have to deal with medical care, property damage, and worrying about whether or not you will be able to pay these expenses. First and foremost, an attorney can handle the entire claim on your behalf, including investigating the incident to gather evidence. Your hit-and-run lawyer will be a liaison with law enforcement officials as they work to track down the hit and run driver and bring them to justice.
Ultimately, your Nashville hit-and-run attorney will explore all avenues of recovering compensation on your behalf, which will vary depending on whether or not the driver is caught, whether the driver has insurance, and what your insurance policy consists of.
How Common Are Hit-and-run Accidents?
According to information released by AAA, there was an estimated 737,000 total hit-and-run crashes across the US during a recent reporting year. The data says that this results in a hit-and-run crash happening across this country every 43 seconds. Unfortunately, these incidents lead to a significant number of fatalities and injuries each year across the US.
Data released by the Tennessee state government does not specifically say how many hit-and-run accidents occur each year. However, over the most recent three reporting years on file, there were more than 63,000 collisions where the driver’s actions were listed on the report as unknown, and many of these incidents could have been hit-and-run accidents.
Why Do Drivers Flee the Scene of an Accident?
There are various reasons why drivers flee the scene of a vehicle accident. In some cases, the reasons drivers flee are due to some sort of illegal driving behavior on their part. However, there are times when drivers leave the scene of an accident because they are scared and are completely unsure of what to do.
Some of the more nefarious reasons why a driver may flee the scene of an accident include because they were:
• Operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Knowingly operating their vehicle recklessly
• Operating uninsured
• Wanted by law enforcement officials
As we review that list, we want to point out that you should absolutely not try to chase a hit-and-run driver if you see them flee the scene after striking your vehicle. This will only create an incredibly dangerous situation and will increase the likelihood that others will sustain injuries as a result of your actions. You need to let the police handle the incident. Call 911, tell the police everything that happened and let them investigate.
What to Do Following a Hit-and-run Accident in Nashville
In the aftermath of a hit-and-run accident, there are various steps that individuals can take to help ensure that they recover the compensation they are entitled to. As we review these steps, we understand that the aftermath of a crash can be chaotic, and some of these steps may need to be shifted around.
1. Check for injuries. Right after an accident occurs, it is important to assess yourself, your passengers, and others nearby for injuries. If you are able to render any kind of emergency treatment to others, you should do so.
2. Dial 911. You need to dial 911 and let the dispatcher know that you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident. Try and remember as much as you can about the other vehicle, the direction the vehicle went, and any physical descriptors of the driver.
3. Seek medical assistance. If you or someone in your vehicle has sustained an injury, medical care is the number one priority. This may include taking an ambulance to the hospital or going to the closest emergency room. Seeking medical treatment immediately not only ensures your well-being, but it also establishes a strong connection between the accident and any injuries you sustain.
4. Try to gather evidence. If it is safe to do so at the scene, and if your injuries are not severe, you may be able to gather evidence after a hit-and-run accident occurs. You can use your cell phone to take photographs of everything at the scene, including injuries, vehicle damage, debris and skid marks, traffic signs, traffic patterns, and more. If there were any eyewitnesses around the incident, including those standing nearby or drivers and passengers in other vehicles, get their names and contact information written down right away.
5. Contact an attorney. You should contact a skilled Tennessee car accident lawyer who has experience handling hit-and-run accidents. These claims can be nuanced, and you need an attorney by your side who can work with law enforcement, insurance carriers, and legal teams.
6. Contact your insurance carrier. You need to call your own insurance carrier and report the incident very soon after it occurs. You should do this regardless of whether or not you have uninsured motorist coverage.
7. Continue medical treatment. Hit-and-run accident victims must continue all medical treatment until their doctor says they no longer need care. Discontinuing care against medical advice could jeopardize any eventual insurance claim or civil personal injury lawsuit.
Tennessee Insurance Laws
Every driver in Tennessee is required to purchase and maintain the following types of coverage and limits concerning auto insurance:
• Bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability of $15,000 per accident
When we examine information available from the Insurance Information Institute, we can see that approximately 24% of all drivers in Tennessee are uninsured, which places this state third in the nation concerning uninsured drivers. This is a significant amount of drivers operating uninsured, and this can be a major problem for you if you are involved in an accident.
You will notice that Tennessee does not require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage. However, we strongly recommend that every driver in this state purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to help in the event they are involved in an accident with a driver without insurance, including hit-and-run incidents.
Hit and Run Claims and Recovering Compensation
Recovering compensation after a hit-and-run crash can be challenging and will depend on the outcome of whether or not the driver is apprehended. If law enforcement officials locate the hit and run driver, and the driver has insurance coverage as required by the state of Tennessee, then their insurance will be responsible for paying your medical bills and property damage expenses.
However, if the hit and the run driver does not have insurance, or if the driver is not apprehended at all, this can put you in a difficult spot. If the driver is caught, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to recover compensation, though it is unlikely they will have the assets to pay for your injuries or property damage expenses.
We strongly encourage every driver in Tennessee to purchase uninsured motorist coverage, even though this coverage is not required by the state. Uninsured motorist coverage is designed for situations just like this. If another driver does not have insurance, your personal carrier will help pay for medical bills and property damage expenses.
Call a Nashville Hit and Run Accident Attorney Today
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a hit-and-run accident in the Nashville area, reach out to a Nashville car accident attorney as soon as possible. At Larry R. Williams, PLLC, we will not hesitate to use our resources to fully investigate the incident. Our goal is to help you recover compensation for your medical bills, property damage expenses, lost wages, and more. We will explore all avenues of recovering compensation on your behalf. When you need a hit-and-run accident attorney in Nashville, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling (615) 237-8619.