Suffering a car accident is traumatic enough, but when the other driver speeds off without performing their legal duties, it is even more upsetting. How will you find them? What if you are seriously injured, and they were at fault? You need help from a skilled car accident attorney to understand your options for seeking justice.
At Smith Jordan, we are ready to listen to your story and provide solutions from a skilled Greenville hit-and-run accident lawyer. Our team offers compassion and experience to locate the wrongdoer and secure compensation for your damages. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and learn more today.
A trustworthy Greenville hit-and-run accident attorney will not charge you an upfront retainer to get started. We listen to your circumstances during our free initial case review and then advise you if your case is valid. Once you agree to hire us, we explain our contingency fee structure.
This means you do not pay us unless and until we secure a settlement for you. With Smith Jordan, you can get the legal representation you need without worrying about adding to your bills before the claim begins.
In most accident situations, all drivers will stop, share contact and insurance information, and wait for the police. When a person flees the scene, they may have many reasons, but this does not change the fact they committed the crime of hit-and-run. They could be subject to criminal penalties, as well as the aftermath of a personal injury lawsuit from those they harmed.
State law defines a hit-and-run accident as an accident resulting in injury or death to another person, or damage to the property of another, when one driver leaves the scene without providing their contact information, fails to render assistance to anyone injured in the crash, or fails to report the incident.
When you are an upstanding member of society, it seems unthinkable to hurt someone and then run away. Your natural instinct is to provide help if you can. However, people leave accident scenes regularly for a number of reasons that seem valid to them at the time. Our attorneys have handled cases where the person left because:
No matter their excuse, the driver is still negligent and potentially liable for your damages. It is important for your Greenville, SC hit-and-run attorney to work closely with you and the police to locate the person at fault. This allows you to protect your rights and determine the need for a claim against their insurance or a lawsuit.
There are several steps in the process of how hit-and-runs are investigated in South Carolina. The process starts at the accident scene and continues with the help of your attorney, including the following.
Calling 911 brings law enforcement, who can examine the scene, take your statement, and review any immediate evidence.
Police will speak to anyone who saw the crash, noting details about the vehicle, driver, direction of travel, and other information.
Police investigators will review footage from traffic, surveillance, security, and dashboard cameras to uncover more identifying information about the other driver. Your Greenville, SC hit-and-run lawyer can request this video for your case.
Officers will compile the evidence they have into an accident report your lawyer can obtain. It lists information about the crash, including the name and address of the hit-and-run driver, if it has been found.
Law enforcement officials will visit the person to discuss the case and may charge them, depending on the circumstances.
Your attorney will gather and analyze the evidence obtained by the police and continue to investigate your case. They will build a customized approach to hold the hit-and-run driver accountable on your behalf, in addition to any criminal charges the driver must face.
Hit-and-runs are taken very seriously, with the penalties for leaving the scene often more severe than those given to drivers who remain on the scene after an accident.
If convicted of a hit-and-run, a driver could then face significant fines, imprisonment up to five years, or both. In addition, your driver’s license could be suspended for up to five years.
Hit-and-run drivers often think they are getting away after causing a crash, but there are ways to hold them accountable. You aren’t out of luck when you depend on Smith Jordan’s team of knowledgeable and tenacious personal injury attorneys. We put our resources and skills to work to examine every detail that could help us identify and pursue a negligent driver.
We work with police and gather additional information such as:
While we work to locate the driver so we can help you file a claim against his insurance, we also work with your automotive coverage provider to secure a settlement under your uninsured motorist policy. Insurance companies avoid paying claims if possible, but we will forcefully negotiate with them to ensure you get the settlement you need and deserve.
When the driver is located, we can communicate with their insurance provider. If they have no coverage or their policy is insufficient, we can pursue a civil lawsuit against the driver. In South Carolina, you have three years to file a personal injury claim under the statute of limitations. Our attorneys will manage these documents and deadlines so you do not miss your chance to recover compensation.
Even when you are the victim of a hit-and-run, insurance companies will fight hard to keep from paying anything unless they have to. They make lowball offers, question whether you contributed to the crash, and drag their feet responding to your demands. Along with working hard to find the person at fault, a Greenville hit-and-run accident lawyer from Smith Jordan can help you get the most available compensation from insurance.
We build a robust case showing how you are not responsible and support your injury claims with powerful evidence. Once we’ve identified the driver, we demonstrate how they were negligent in four essential ways:
Even if the driver is not found, we are still ready to fight hard to ensure your insurance provider pays you what you deserve. Smith Jordan will be by your side all the way.
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, it is important to act quickly. The first step should always be to check for any injuries and call 911 immediately if anyone needs medical attention.
Next, try to collect as much information as you can from the scene of the accident and any witnesses who may have seen what happened. This includes photos, the contact information of witnesses, and a description of the other vehicle. It is also important to contact your insurance provider immediately after a hit-and-run accident. They can help you determine how to move forward with filing a claim.
Finally, you should contact a skilled hit-and-run accident lawyer in Greenville. An experienced attorney can help you gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process.
It is important to report any hit-and-run accident to the local police department as soon as possible. In some cases, it may be necessary for you to contact the South Carolina Highway Patrol as well.
When filing a police report, be sure to provide detailed information about the other driver’s vehicle, including the make, model, color, and license plate number (if known). You should also provide any other pertinent details about the accident, such as the time of day and any witnesses who may have seen what happened.
Your rates should not increase for a single crash where you are not at fault. However, if you are involved in multiple hit-and-runs, the insurance company may elect to raise your premiums.
Yes, if you carry collision insurance, uninsured motorist insurance, or both. However, if you only have liability, this insurance doesn’t cover losses caused by another driver.
You may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the person who left the scene of an accident if you can identify them. Suing for damages resulting from a hit-and-run accident is complicated, however, so it is important to speak with an experienced Greenville car accident lawyer as soon as possible. If you can’t identify the driver, then you can file an uninsured motorist claim as long as there was physical contact with the vehicle or a witness.
The attorneys with Smith Jordan in Greenville, SC are dedicated to helping accident victims navigate the complexities of the legal system and get the compensation they deserve. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you understand your rights and fight for justice on your behalf.
Contact us 24 hours a day at (864) 343-2222 or online for a no-obligation consultation. We look forward to helping you get the justice you deserve.
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