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Serving Injury & Accident Victims
in Maryland, Virginia, and DC
Serving Injury & Accident Victims
in Maryland, Virginia, and DC
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You are driving your car when someone runs into you, causing damage to your car or even injuring you. They hesitate for a moment, then speed away, leaving you with no information.
You’ve just been the victim of a hit and run crash, and it happens more often than you may think.
Maryland has some of the toughest hit and run laws in the country. Drivers who are involved in an accident, regardless of how minor it might be, should never leave the scene until police arrive. Leaving could get you charged with a hit and run, then you would be subject to the harsh penalties that the state imposes.
If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, you may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver and/or with your own insurance company. DuBoff & Associates will advocate for your right to full compensation for your losses. Reach out to our law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation with a Silver Spring car accident lawyer.
A hit and run accident occurs when a driver causes a crash, then does not stop at the scene of the accident. More specifically, it is an accident if a driver causes a crash that results in bodily injury or property damage.
It’s a good rule of thumb to call the police regardless of whether or not there’s damage to the vehicle and/or you or the other person is or isn’t hurt. A police report can be particularly helpful if you are a victim of a hit-and-run accident. It can be used as evidence to support a claim for compensation for your losses, including your property damage, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.
There are any number of reasons why a driver will flee the scene after an accident:
If you are hurt in a hit-and-run, get justice you deserve. Our Maryland hit and run accident attorneys will fight for your right to full compensation.
Maryland has very stringent laws regarding what is required of drivers in the event of an accident and regarding hit and runs.
When an accident involves bodily injury to another person or there is a fatality, the driver is required to stop and remain at the scene of the accident. They also must remain at the scene if there is damage to unattended property or a vehicle – even if no one is injured.
Any driver who is involved in an accident that has resulted in a fatality or bodily injury to another person must call 9-1-1. They must also render reasonable assistance to those who are injured.
Of course, a driver involved in an accident is required by law to provide specific personal information to a police officer or injured person such as their driver’s license. If they damage property or a vehicle that is unattended, they must try to find the owner or leave a note containing their contact information. In all cases, they must provide or leave appropriate insurance information.
The penalties for hit and run in Maryland include:
In addition to potential criminal penalties, a person who causes a motor vehicle accident can be held liable for any losses that they cause. This is true regardless of whether or not the driver is charged with a crime. Our Maryland hit and run accident attorneys will thoroughly investigate your case and work to get you top dollar for your injuries.
A study conducted by AAA ranked Maryland as 19th in the nation for hit and run accidents. Other states like New Mexico (number 1), Louisiana (number 2), or Florida (number 3) rank far worse. An average of 682,000 hit and run crashes occur each year.
The study also found that there were 2,049 hit and run fatalities across the nation in 2016. Bicyclists and pedestrians made up around 65 percent of those deaths.
If you are involved in a hit and run accident, compensation may be difficult to acquire. If the police are able to locate the driver who fled, you can go after their insurance company or even the driver. If that is not an option, you may be able to go through your own insurance company to get the help you need.
In any car accident case, you may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver. Generally, if another driver caused the crash, then you can potentially file a personal injury lawsuit against them. Through this type of claim, you can recover money for all of your losses, including:
Of course, the challenge in a hit-and-run accident is often that the driver cannot be located. Our Maryland car accident attorneys will thoroughly investigate your case and attempt to locate the at-fault driver. If that is not possible, then we may explore other options for compensation.
Victims of hit-and-run accidents can usually file a claim against their own insurance policy. In Maryland, all automobile insurance policies are required to provide coverage for accidents caused by uninsured motorists. It is often referred to as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).
This type of insurance coverage pays for damages in cases where the at-fault driver does not have insurance or is unknown (such as in a hit-and-run collision). In these situations, your own insurance will cover your losses through your Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) and Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI). This coverage will pay for losses that the at-fault driver’s insurance company would have paid if they were known (or had insurance), up to the limits of your policy.
Keep in mind that under Maryland’s harsh contributory negligence laws, you can only get compensation for your losses in a car accident if the other driver is 100% at fault. If you were responsible for the crash in any way, then you cannot sue the at-fault driver or file a claim under your UM/UIM coverage.
These policies also usually require you to report the accident to law enforcement as soon as possible (or within a specific time period, such as 24 hours). It is always a good idea to call the police if you are involved in a hit-and-run. If you don’t report the accident, then you might not be able to file a UM/UIM claim.
It may also be possible to file a claim against a third party for your hit-and-run accident. For example, if overgrown shrubbery obscured the view and contributed to the crash, then you might be able to bring a claim against the entity responsible for maintaining that shrubbery (such as a local government). We will thoroughly investigate your case to determine all possibilities when it comes to getting you maximum compensation for your losses.
If you have been in a hit and run accident in Maryland, the first thing you need to do is call 9-1-1. The sooner the police can begin their investigation, the better chances they have of locating the driver and bringing that person to justice. That begins as soon as you make the call to report it.
As soon after the accident as possible, write down as many details as you can remember regarding the vehicle that struck you, and the driver. The more identifying details you can provide, the more you help the police find the hit and run driver. Note things like the make and model of the car, the color, the license plate number if you were able to see it, and what the driver looked like (if you got a good look at them). Write down the details as soon after the accident as possible, even before talking to anyone. You don’t want anything to affect or influence your own memory of the accident.
Your next step is to call a hit and run accident attorney. Call Duboff & Associates and get the help you need. We’ll walk you through the entire process and help you get compensation for your hit and run accident. Let us focus on your accident; you focus on your recovery.
Help for Hit and Run Accident Victims
Being in a hit-and-run accident can be overwhelming. You might be dealing with physical and emotional injuries, plus the stress of worrying about the financial aspect of the crash. Our law offices can help you get the money that you deserve for your injuries.
At DuBoff & Associates, Chartered, we are fierce advocates for injury victims throughout Maryland. We offer free initial consultations and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a Maryland hit-and-run accident lawyer, give us a call at 301-495-3131 or fill out our online contact form.
