If you were injured in a hit-and-run car accident, you need to protect your health and your right to seek compensation for your injuries and other losses. You should always do what makes sense in your individual circumstances, but you might find these tips useful.
We answer this and other questions you might have about your hit-and-run car accident case in our FAQs.
Steps to Take Immediately After Getting Injured in a Hit-and-Run Accident in Maryland
Calling the police immediately is essential in hit-and-run cases. Seconds can make the difference between the hit-and-run driver getting caught by the police and getting away.
Write Down All Details of the Other Car and Driver
No detail is too small in these cases. A tiny thing like a scratch in the pain or a spot of rust on the other car could be the fact that leads to the capture of the hit-and-run driver. You will want to write down everything you can remember right after the event while your memory is still fresh.
Get Your Wounds Treated Right Away
Wounds that get prompt medical attention usually heal better. Also, we will need your medical records to serve as evidence of the extent of your injuries from the hit-and-run crash. If there is any delay in treatment, it could be more challenging to prove that the accident caused your injuries.
Consider Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer
You do not have to handle your case on your own. You have the right to hire a lawyer. Also, an attorney can subpoena evidence that could be vital to your case, like footage from nearby video cameras.
Stay Off of Social Media
The insurance company will likely be able to access your social media accounts when you have a pending personal injury claim. You should not post photographs or comments about the hit-and-run accident. Even unrelated photos and posts could get misinterpreted or used against you.
The best advice is to stay entirely off of social media until after your case gets resolved. You might also want to ask your friends and relatives to refrain from posting anything about you or the accident for the time being.
Complete Your Medical Treatment
It can be tempting to skip the last few physical therapy appointments or wait and see if your wounds will heal without surgery, but doing so creates a risk of getting less money for your injury claim for three reasons:
- The insurer can argue that you would have healed better with all of the prescribed therapy, so they should not have to pay for any residual impairments you have from your wounds.
- Your medical bills are a significant factor in the amount of compensation you can receive in your injury claim. Skipping treatment can reduce your medical bills.
- If you settle your injury claim and later realize that you really do need more treatment to heal better, you cannot go back and ask the insurer for more money for these medical bills. You must sign a waiver of future claims to get the settlement check.
Also, fresh wounds usually respond better to treatment than injuries that have partially healed with adequate treatment.
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(888) 585-2188
Potential Sources of Recovery for Your Losses After a Hit-and-Run Collision
Many hit-and-run drivers eventually turn themselves in or get caught. Sometimes, people flee the scene of an accident out of panic. They later regret their actions and voluntarily go to the police. Other people are afraid of getting charged with drunk driving, so they wait a few days and then go to the police.
When the police identify the hit-and-run driver, you could file a claim against their car insurance seeking compensation for your injuries. Of course, some people flee the scene of a crash because they do not have automobile insurance.
You still could get some help with your losses if you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on your automobile liability insurance policy. If the other driver got identified but was uninsured or underinsured, this coverage could help. If the driver is not caught, your insurance will treat the accident as one with an uninsured driver.
The Statute of Limitations in Maryland Can Affect Your Car Accident Case
If you plan to pursue a claim for your injuries from a crash with a hit-and-run driver, you do not want to wait too long. Even if you plan to settle with the insurance company, you should keep an eye on the calendar. Maryland limits the time a person has to file lawsuits seeking compensation.
The filing deadline applies to cases that the injured person wants to settle instead of litigating because those cases will evaporate after the statute of limitations expires. The defendant and insurer have no legal liability after that date, so they will stop negotiating with you then.
Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 says that the filing deadline is three years for personal injury lawsuits. Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-904 sets the filing deadline for wrongful death claims also at three years.
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Never Admit Fault in a Maryland Collision, Even a Hit-and-Run Crash
Maryland is one of the very few states that follow the contributory negligence rule in injury cases. This rule will bar you from getting any monetary compensation from the at-fault party if you were at fault also. You might be only one percent at fault, while the other driver is 99 percent to blame for the crash, and the contributory fault rule will block your injury claim.
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How to Get Started with a Maryland Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
You do not have to deal with the sophisticated and challenging issues that a hit-and-run accident can present for an injured person. Jenner Law can help with your injury claim, leaving you free to focus on healing and rebuilding your life. You can reach out today for a free initial consultation. There is no obligation.