Hit and Run in WV—Accident Attorneys
Hit and Run in WV: What Happens Next for Injured Victims?
When you or someone you love is injured in an accident, it can feel like your life is spinning out of control. This feeling is amplified when someone else caused the crash and then fled the accident scene, leaving injured victims to deal with the fallout.
You don’t have to face the road ahead alone after a hit and run in WV. The accident attorneys at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson have decades of experience helping victims of West Virginia (WV) hit and run accidents recover and get the compensation they are due for their injuries and losses.
Dealing with the Aftermath at the Scene of a Hit and Run in WV
Certain steps should be taken immediately after a hit and run accident. The first priority is identifying injuries and seeking medical help when needed. If emergency medical treatment is not necessary, the next steps are to notify the police of the accident and stay at the scene until they arrive to investigate.
While you wait for an officer to arrive, begin gathering and documenting evidence if you can do so safely. Victims and witnesses should try to remember and write down any details they recall as soon as possible. This might include the make, model, and color of the car that fled; a description of the driver or other occupants; a license plate number or state; and any notable details that might differentiate the vehicle and make it easier to identify. It is also a good idea to take pictures of the scene in case you need them later.
Who Covers the Costs of a West Virginia Hit and Run Accident?
Contacting the authorities immediately and collecting evidence at the scene are critical steps because they can increase the likelihood of identifying the driver who caused the accident and fled the scene. If this person is identified and determined to be at fault for the accident, his or her auto insurance provider is responsible for compensating those who suffered injuries and losses, like property damage, in the accident.
In some cases, the driver at fault may have fled the scene because he or she does not have the liability insurance coverage required by state law. WV insurance laws also require motorists to have insurance to cover their losses if they are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. When this happens, the injured party’s insurance is responsible for covering the losses under the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage provisions of the policy.
When someone with this insurance is injured in a hit and run accident and the responsible driver is not identified, the law requires that damages caused by the accident are covered under the uninsured motorist policy provision.
How WV Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Can Help
Hit and run accident claims are often complicated. This can cause delays and difficulties in securing compensation, impacting your ability to recover and move forward after being injured in a WV hit and run accident.
The WV hit and run accident attorneys at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson help injury victims at every stage of the aftermath of a hit and run in WV—from investigation and filing of claims to negotiation with insurers and pursuing compensation in court when necessary. Contact our experienced lawyers by calling 304-263-0900 or completing this online contact form to schedule a free case evaluation.