You’re driving through an intersection in Nevada, and then, out of nowhere, another driver runs a stop sign, hits your car, and then speeds off without stopping. All of a sudden, you’re going to have to figure out how to pay for expensive medical treatment and vehicle repairs while you’re potentially unable to work because the at-fault driver’s insurance company is typically the one who pays for crash-related damages. The decisions you make right now are important; they’ll impact your ability to recover compensation and how much money you can potentially get for your hit-and-run accident injuries.
Here, our experienced Las Vegas car accident attorneys explain the steps you absolutely need to take and what you should avoid to maximize your recovery.
Report the Hit and Run Accident to the Police
You need proof that you were involved in a traffic accident, so you must call 911 and report the crash to the police. Dispatch will send an officer to the scene to take your statement, conduct a preliminary investigation, and write up a report. The accident report will be invaluable as you pursue compensation for uninsured motorist (UM) benefits from your car insurance provider.
Document and Gather Evidence to the Best of Your Ability
Just because a driver takes off after a car accident doesn’t mean they can’t be located. Do your best to remember details about the driver, their vehicle, and the direction they were driving when they left. The police can coordinate a search and, in some cases, an attorney can bring in a private investigator to locate a hit-and-run driver to hold them accountable for your accident and injuries. Provide the information you have to the police, and take the time to photograph the scene, document tire tracks and property damage, and get the names and contact information for any eyewitnesses to the crash.
Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
The longer you wait to seek medical care, the harder it can be to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related damages. The more time that goes by, the more inclined your insurance company will be to devalue your claim and limit your recovery.
Get an Experienced Nevada Hit and Run Accident Attorney Involved
If you have uninsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy, you can recover up to your policy’s limits to pay for medical bills, offset a loss of income during your recovery, cover vehicle repairs, and cope with the pain and suffering caused by the hit-and-run collision. However, just because you’re dealing with your insurance company doesn’t mean the process will be less adversarial. The adjuster works to protect the company’s bottom line, so they’ll try to limit your financial recovery. Getting an experienced Vegas hit and run accident attorney involved early on in the claims process can protect your best interests, force fair and honest negotiations, and help you exhaust all of the coverage options available to you.
Benson & Bingham can also evaluate your situation and determine if someone other than the hit-and-run driver might be at fault. Under Nevada law, you can seek damages from anyone who contributed to your hit-and-run crash, even if they’re indirectly or only partly at fault.
Don’t hesitate to contact our law office after a hit-and-run crash. We offer a free consultation and work on contingency, so there’s no cost to ask for our help today.