Murfreesboro Hit and Run Accident Lawyers
A driver who causes an accident can make a terrible situation even worse by leaving the scene. Instead of stopping to exchange information and address what happened, the motorist drives away, leaving the injured person with unanswered questions about who will pay for medical bills, lost income, and other losses.
The good news is that a fleeing driver does not necessarily eliminate your ability to recover compensation.
The Murfreesboro Hit and Run Accident Lawyers at Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers help injured people understand their options after a driver leaves the scene. If the motorist can be identified, a claim may be pursued against that person and applicable insurance. If the driver remains unknown, uninsured motorist coverage may provide another potential source of recovery.
Every client at Weir & Kestner receives a dedicated case manager and access to a lawyer from the beginning. We handle the insurance and legal issues while focusing on securing the compensation you need after an accident that was not your fault.
Tennessee Drivers Have Duties After an Accident
Drivers involved in accidents cannot simply leave because they are frightened, uninsured, worried about the consequences, or hoping to avoid responsibility. Tennessee law imposes duties on motorists involved in certain crashes, including requirements concerning stopping, exchanging information, and providing reasonable assistance when someone is injured. A driver who flees may face criminal consequences separate from any civil claim arising from the accident.
For an injured person, however, the immediate concern is usually more practical: how can compensation be recovered when the responsible driver has disappeared? The answer depends in part on whether the driver is eventually identified and what insurance coverage applies.
The Driver May Still Be Identified After Leaving the Scene
Leaving an accident does not guarantee that a driver will remain anonymous. A witness may have seen the vehicle or remembered part of its license plate. Nearby surveillance or traffic-related video may have captured useful information. The fleeing vehicle may have left behind damaged parts or other identifying details. In some cases, law enforcement may locate the driver afterward.
If the responsible motorist is identified, the available options can be evaluated based on that driver’s insurance status and the circumstances of the collision. But an injured person should not assume that identifying the driver is the only path to compensation. That is where uninsured motorist coverage can become particularly important.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage May Apply When the Driver Is Unknown
Uninsured motorist coverage is commonly associated with accidents caused by drivers who have no liability insurance, but it can also become relevant in accidents involving unknown motorists. This is important because a person injured in a hit-and-run may otherwise have no liability insurer to pursue.
Tennessee automobile policies include uninsured motorist coverage unless the policyholder has rejected it as permitted by law. Whether coverage applies to a particular hit-and-run accident depends on Tennessee law, the insurance policy, and the facts of the case.
Weir & Kestner can review the available coverage and determine what benefits may be pursued. The fact that the responsible driver disappeared should not cause you to assume automatically that you will receive nothing.
Hit-and-Run Accidents Do Not Always Involve Physical Contact
Sometimes a dangerous driver causes an accident without actually striking the injured person’s vehicle. A motorist may cross into your lane, pull directly into your path, or make another unsafe maneuver that forces you to swerve. You may then hit another vehicle, a barrier, or another object while the driver who created the danger continues away. These situations are sometimes referred to as phantom-vehicle accidents.
Claims involving unidentified vehicles and no physical contact can raise particular coverage and proof issues. The details of the applicable insurance policy and Tennessee law become especially important. Because these cases can be more complicated than an ordinary two-vehicle accident, it is crucial to speak with an attorney promptly about what happened.
Your Own Insurance Company May Still Dispute the Claim
People sometimes expect an uninsured motorist claim to be simple because they are dealing with their own insurer. It may not be. Even though you purchased the policy and paid the premiums, your insurer may still evaluate whether the claim falls within the coverage, whether the unidentified driver was responsible, whether your injuries resulted from the accident, and how much compensation should be paid. That can feel particularly frustrating after you have already been abandoned by the driver who caused the crash.
Both partners at Weir & Kestner began their careers representing insurance companies. We understand how insurers analyze injury claims and make decisions about compensation. Today, we put that experience to work for injured people.
Serious Hit-and-Run Accidents Can Leave Families Without Immediate Answers
Some hit-and-run crashes result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. In those cases, the uncertainty surrounding the driver’s identity can be especially difficult for families. They may be coping with a life-changing injury or death while also wondering whether anyone will ever be held accountable. A serious injury or wrongful death claim involving a hit-and-run driver may require consideration of several possible sources of insurance coverage. Weir & Kestner helps families understand those options and pursue the compensation available under the circumstances.
Personal Help When the Other Driver Walked Away
A hit-and-run accident can leave you feeling as though the person responsible simply walked away from the consequences while you were left to deal with all of them. You do not have to deal with the insurance process alone. At Weir & Kestner, every client has a dedicated case manager and access to an attorney from the beginning. We can address questions about insurance coverage, deal with insurers, and pursue the financial recovery available to you. Our focus remains on the result that matters: helping you obtain compensation for the harm someone else’s actions caused.
Frequently Asked Questions About Murfreesboro Hit and Run Accidents
Can I recover compensation if the hit-and-run driver is never found?
Potentially, yes. Uninsured motorist coverage may provide compensation in certain accidents involving unidentified drivers. The available coverage and requirements depend on the policy, Tennessee law, and the circumstances of the crash.
What happens if police later identify the driver?
If the driver is identified, additional information about that person’s insurance and financial responsibility can be evaluated. Depending on the circumstances, a claim may be pursued against the driver and applicable insurance coverage.
Can I have a hit-and-run claim if the other vehicle never touched mine?
Potentially. An unidentified driver can cause an accident by forcing another motorist to take evasive action even without physical contact. These claims can involve specific legal and insurance requirements, so it is important to have the circumstances reviewed by an attorney.
Will my own insurance company automatically pay my hit-and-run claim?
No. An insurer may evaluate whether coverage applies, responsibility for the accident, the relationship between the crash and your injuries, and the value of your losses. Having your own insurance policy does not necessarily mean the claim will be undisputed.
What compensation may be available after a hit-and-run accident?
Depending on the circumstances and applicable coverage, compensation may include medical expenses, future treatment, lost earnings, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent impairment, and other losses caused by the accident. If the driver is identified, a punitive damages claim may be appropriate as well.
Contact a Murfreesboro Hit and Run Accident Lawyer
A driver may be able to leave the scene, but that does not mean they leave you without a path to financial recovery.
Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers helps hit-and-run victims identify available insurance coverage and pursue compensation for their injuries and losses. You will have a dedicated case manager, access to an attorney, and a legal team focused on protecting your interests throughout the claim.
Contact Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Murfreesboro hit and run accident lawyer. You owe us no attorney’s fee unless we successfully recover compensation for you.